Southwest Iowa Herald Winter Sports All-Area Team
Shenandoah finished the winter sports season with an individual state runner-up and a third-place state finisher while Clarinda boasted a state qualifying team to headline the winter sports season.
Shenandoah paces the four area teams with the most athletes on the Southwest Iowa Herald Winter Sports All-Area Team, which is released here.
For the ninth straight winter season, the Southwest Iowa Herald releases an all-area team that spans all school-sanctioned, in-season sports. The Winter All-Area Team is made up of 20 athletes, 10 boys and 10 girls, evenly split between a first and second team. The All-Area team is comprised of basketball, bowling and wrestling athletes and all Clarinda, Essex, Shenandoah and Sidney athletes are eligible. At least one boy and one girl are required from each school.
The Winter All-Area Team, along with the spring and fall teams, are unusual because wrestlers are compared with bowlers are matched up against basketball athletes to make a single team. There were 50 athletes considered for the all-area team. With only 20 spots available, there were quite a few athletes who enjoyed a highly successful season but weren’t included.
The basketball, bowling and wrestling seasons were recapped over the past few weeks. Like in the fall, this isn’t the end of the winter sports postseason awards, as we’ll crown the top male and female athlete from the winter season in the next week or two.
Shenandoah’s nine athletes are most on this winter’s team, including five first team selections. Clarinda follows with seven selections, four on the first team. Essex and Sidney have two selections each with Essex earning a first team pick.
There are six repeat selections from last winter’s all-area team, including one three-time selection and one four-time selection, who is making a third straight seasonal all-area team and ninth overall. Four of the all-area athletes were also on the fall all-area team.
There are eight winter sports all-area athletes making their first seasonal all-area appearance.
It’s a balanced group this year, when looking at the all-area team by class with seven seniors, including four first team picks. The juniors and sophomores have three first team selections each with six sophomores in all, compared to five juniors. There were two freshmen selected to the second team.
The full team is below, starting with first team selections, listed alphabetically.
Southwest Iowa Herald Winter Sports All-Area First Team
Kylar Downey, Junior, Clarinda Wrestling
Clarinda junior Kylar Downey competes at the state tournament, where she earned her second state medal. Downey is a two-time winter all-area selection.
Downey earned her second career state medal, placing sixth at the state tournament. Downey secured her 100th career win during the season and broke the program record with 40 falls this season. She won seven tournaments, including at home and the regional tourney. Downey enters her final season with a program record 123 career wins, including 49 this season. Downey was a first team all-area selection last winter.
Clay Foutch, Junior, Shenandoah Bowling
Shenandoah junior Clay Foutch competes at a home meet this season. Foutch finished second at the individual state tournament and earned his second straight winter all-area selection.
Foutch finished his junior season competing for a state championship. He bowled an impressive 246 in the title match but was three pins back of the champion. His appearance at the individual state tournament was the third of his career. Foutch had a big final game of the series in his last two events of the season, rolling a 264 at state to secure a spot in the bracket and a 278 at the state qualifying meet to secure the state bid. A 714 three-game series at the state meet is a program record. Foutch earns his second straight first team winter all-area selection.
Matt Holmes, Sophomore, Shenandoah Bowling
Shenandoah sophomore Matt Holmes rolls during the Hawkeye 10 Conference Tournament. Holmes earned his first seasonal all-area selection.
As good as Foutch was, Holmes sported a better per game average than his teammate during the season. He rolled a 446 two-game series to win the Hawkeye 10 Conference Tournament, leading the Mustangs to a runner-up team finish. He was shut out of the state field, but broke two program records during the season. Teammate Teagan Brunk just missed a spot on the winter all-area team. This is the first time Holmes has been named to a seasonal all-area team.
Jacob McGargill, Senior, Shenandoah Wrestling
Shenandoah senior Jacob McGargill celebrates his final win, the 200th of his career, giving him third place at the state tournament. McGargill earned his third winter all-area selection.
McGargill finished with his 200th career win over four seasons. He didn’t earn the ultimate prize of a state championship, a dream that ended with a state quarterfinal loss, his only defeat of the season, but he battled back from the loss, winning four straight matches, all by fall, to take third. He won his third Hawkeye 10 and Harris Tournament championships. He lost just twice during his final two seasons, racking up 114 wins over that span. This is McGargill’s third straight first team winter all-area selection.
Rylee Pulliam, Senior, Clarinda Bowling
Clarinda senior Rylee Pulliam competes at the Individual State Tournament, where she finished seventh. Pulliam is back on the winter all-area team after appearing on it as a sophomore.
Pulliam qualified for her second individual state tournament, finishing seventh, in her second time making the bracketed top eight final at state. She led the Cardinals to their fifth straight team state tournament appearance and was a big part of the last four of them. She finished 10th at the Hawkeye 10 Conference Tournament, leading the Cardinals to a runner-up team finish. Pulliam was a first team winter all-area selection two years ago.
Hayden Roush, Junior, Shenandoah Wrestling
Shenandoah junior Hayden Roush looks to score at the state tournament. Roush is an all-area selection for the first time.
Roush nearly won 50 matches this season and qualified for his second state tournament, missing out on a state medal by one match for the second year in a row. Roush won the district tournament and finished second at the Hawkeye 10 Conference Tournament. He won his 100th career match this season and is another great season away from ending his career in the top five all-time in program history for career wins. Teammate Lukus Major was strongly considered for the winter all-area team. This is Roush’s first seasonal all-area selection.
Kalyn Scamman, Sophomore, Shenandoah Basketball
Shenandoah sophomore Kalyn Scamman shoots from outside during a home game this season. Scamman earned winter all-area recognition for the second straight year.
Scamman scored 490 points this season, 22.3 per contest, the top mark in Class 3A. Her average was 14th best in the state, all classes. Scamman was a 37 percent shooter, 27 percent from behind the 3-point line and 70 percent from the free throw stripe. She made 138 free throws, fifth most in the state, all classes, and added 7.5 rebounds per contest, leading the Fillies to a 14-win season. Scamman was also a first team pick last winter.
Isaiah Sholes, Senior, Essex Basketball
Essex senior Isaiah Sholes drives the lane during a Trojan home game. Sholes earned a place on the winter all-area team for the second straight season.
Sholes was one of the state’s best in blocking shots and rebounding the basketball again this season and led the Trojans to an eight-win season, the most for the program in 10 years. He is the Essex boys representative on the all-area team. Sholes’ 4.4 blocks per game were third best in the state, all classes, while his 11.5 rebounds per game were 17th most in the state, all classes. He also scored 17.8 points per game, reaching 1,000 for his career. This is Sholes’ second straight first team winter all-area selection.
Addison Wagoner, Senior, Clarinda Basketball
Clarinda senior Addison Wagoner looks for points inside during a home game. Wagoner earned a spot on the winter all-area team for the fourth straight year.
Wagoner led the Cardinals, scoring 12.9 points per game and chipped in 5.6 rebounds per contest, as the Cardinals won 14 games in her final campaign. She exits Clarinda basketball as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 981 points. She added 60 assists and 39 steals this season, finishing second on the team in rebounds, steals and assists. Teammates Maddie Cole, Kylie Meier and Carsen Wellhausen were three of the final cuts from the all-area team. This is Wagoner’s fourth straight time on the winter all-area team, but first as a first team selection. She was also a first team pick in the fall, making this her third straight seasonal all-area selection and ninth total, tying her for second most overall.
Lily Weinreich, Sophomore, Clarinda Wrestling
Clarinda sophomore Lily Weinreich competes at the state tournament. Weinreich earned winter all-area recognition for the second straight year.
Weinreich didn’t lose a match until the state semifinals, ending her sophomore season with a fifth-place state finish and a 54-2 overall record. Her fifth-place mark gave her a second state medal in her already impressive two-year high school career. Weinreich broke the program record for season wins (54) and season takedowns (90), helping lead the Cardinals to a 14-2 dual season. Teammate Aliyah Payne just missed a spot on the winter all-area team. Weinreich earns her second straight first team winter all-area selection.
Second Team
Gabe Buttry, Sophomore, Shenandoah Basketball
Shenandoah sophomore Gabe Buttry (12) attacks the glass during a home game this season. Buttry is a first time seasonal all-area pick.
Buttry’s 11.4 points per game ranked second for the Mustangs this season and he shot 51 percent from the field. Buttry continued to improve as the season progressed and was a big factor in several games, helping lead the Mustangs to a 13-win season, the most for the program in 10 years. He added 4.4 rebounds per contest. This is Buttry’s first seasonal all-area selection.
Gabby Derry, Senior, Clarinda Bowling
Clarinda senior Gabby Derry sends the ball down the lane Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Individual State Bowling Championships.
Derry joins teammate Pulliam on the Winter Sports Team. She qualified for her second straight individual state tournament and finished ninth there with a 600 three-game series, one pin shy of making the bracketed tournament. Derry helped lead the Cardinals to a fifth straight state team tournament. She was a major contributor on the last three. Teammate Cailyn Meyers just missed a spot on the winter all-area team. Derry was a second team pick last winter.
Addy Foster, Junior, Sidney Basketball
Sidney's Addy Foster looks to drive at East Mills. Foster earned winter all-area recognition for the second straight year.
Foster’s 188 points scored this season led the Cowgirls, averaging 8.2 per contest. She was one of just three on the team to play in all 23 games as the Cowgirls played their best ball at the end of the season as more players returned to the lineup. She is the Sidney girls representative on the all-area team. Foster added 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 steals per game. The steals mark was fourth best in the Corner Conference. Teammate Alyssa Melvin was one of the last cuts from the winter all-area team. This is the second straight second team winter-all area selection for Foster. She was also a second team pick on the fall all-area team.
Fisher Graves, Freshman, Clarinda Wrestling
Clarinda freshman Fisher Graves earns a pin at Lewis Central. Graves earned his first seasonal-area recognition.
Graves is the first freshman recognized on this winter’s team. He was the leader for the Cardinals for much of the season, winning 30 matches and finishing third at the district tournament, one win shy of qualifying for the state tournament. He also finished third at the Hawkeye 10 Conference Tournament. Graves earns his first seasonal all-area selection.
Jaylan Gray, Senior, Shenandoah Bowling
Shenandoah senior Jaylan Gray rolls her ball at the state tournament. Gray earned her first seasonal all-area selection.
Gray led the Fillies to another strong season, including a runner-up finish at the regional tournament and a fourth-place mark at the Hawkeye 10 Conference Tournament. Gray won the regional title to qualify for her third individual state tournament. She finished seventh at the conference tournament. During her career, Gray competed in five team or individual state tournaments. This is the first time Gray has been named to a seasonal all-area team.
Calvin Johnson, Junior, Sidney Basketball
Sidney junior Calvin Johnson runs the break during a Sidney home game. Johnson is a first-time seasonal all-area selection.
Johnson became Sidney’s leader over the course of the season, averaging about seven points per game for a Sidney team that lost several players over the last few weeks of the season. Johnson is the Sidney boys representative on the all-area team. He added four rebounds per game for the Cowboys. Johnson earns his first seasonal all-area selection.
Sam Kline, Senior, Clarinda Basketball
Clarinda's Sam Kline puts up an outside shot during a home game. Kline is a winter all-area selection for the second straight year.
Kline paced the Cardinals at 14.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, leading Clarinda to an eight-win season. He shot 45 percent from the field and 34 from behind the 3-point line. It was the second straight year Kline has led the Cardinals, scoring 589 points and securing 309 rebounds during that two-year stretch. Teammate Cooper Baumgart was one of the last cuts from the winter all-area team. Kline’s second team selection is his second straight. He was a first team pick in the fall.
Ava O’Rourke, Freshman, Shenandoah Basketball
Shenandoah freshman Ava O'Rourke goes up for a layup during a home game this season. After earning all-area recognition in the fall, O'Rourke did it again in the winter.
O’Rourke had an impressive debut season as the only freshman girl to make the all-area team. She scored 12 points per game, hitting 39 percent of her 3-point shots. She also wasn’t afraid to mix it up inside, securing 5.7 rebounds per contest. O’Rourke was a big reason for the success of a Shenandoah team that won 14 games this season. O’Rourke was also a first team fall all-area selection.
Carter Sells, Sophomore, Shenandoah Basketball
Shenandoah senior Carter Sells drives through the defense during this season's district tournament home game. Sells is a seasonal all-area selection for the first time.
Sells gives Shenandoah boys basketball a second all-area selection after a 13-win season, including one in the district tournament. Sells led the Mustangs at 14.1 points per game, shooting 40 percent from the field and 32 percent from the 3-point line. He added 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, mainly playing point guard. Teammate Brody Burdorf was one of the final cuts off the winter all-area team. Sells was named to a seasonal all-area team for the first time.
Ryann Welchans, Sophomore, Essex Bowling
Essex sophomore Ryann Welchans competes at the state tournament. Welchans is a winter all-area selection for the first time.
Representing Red Oak, Welchans finished third at the regional tournament to earn a spot at the individual state tournament. Welchans is the Essex girls representative on the winter all-area team. She rolled a 162 per game average as Red Oak’s leader all season. The Tigers won two duals this season and finished third at the regional tournament and sixth at the Hawkeye 10 Conference Tournament. Welchans earns her first seasonal all-area selection.
The Winter Sports Male and Female Athlete of the Year will be released in the next couple weeks, coming from the 10 first team selections above.
Congratulations to all 20 athletes.
