By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Stat leaders

Panorama and ACGC’s baseball and softball seasons have officially ended. All four of the squads experienced ups and downs throughout the season. With the seasons over, here is a look at the team leaders in a few important stat categories, according to Bound.

Panorama baseball

Hits: 21, Cruz Crandall

RBIs: 9, tie between Joel Cooper and Mason Meinecke

Batting average: .352, Parker Cary

Slugging percentage: .419, Cruz Crandall

Stolen bases: 11, Cruz Crandall

Strikeouts: 40, Bryce Dawes

ERA: 3.52, Bryce Dawes

Panorama softball

Hits: 41, Lexi Galvan

HRs: 6, Bridgete White

RBIs: 28, Bridgete White

Batting average: .461, Lexi Galvan

Slugging percentage: .809, Lexi Galvan

Stolen bases: 16, Emma Walker

Strikeouts: 55, tie between Lexi Galvan and Andrea Knode

ERA: 7.03, Lexi Galvan

ACGC baseball

Hits: 30, Tommy Skram

HRs: 1, Jackson Pfrang

RBIs: 21, Noah Kading

Batting average: .417, Tommy Skram

Slugging percentage: .500, Tommy Skram

Stolen bases: 28, Tommy Skram

Strikeouts: 43, Noah Kading

ERA: .318, Noah Kading

ACGC softball

Hits: 20, Karli Kautzky

RBIs: 6, Jacie Baker

Batting average: .318, Belle Fagan

Slugging percentage: .323, Karli Kautzky

Stolen bases: 5, Karli Kautzky

Strikeouts: 20, Camdyn Richter

ERA: 9.53, Camdyn Richter

Jordan Carstens

In response to my last column about professional athletes from ACGC and Panorama high schools, Panorama Activities Director Greg Thompson told me I should look into Jordan Carstens. What a great tip that was.

Carstens was born in Carroll and attended high school at Panorama where he was a standout defensive tackle. In his time as a Panther, he was named third-team All-State by The Des Moines Register. Carstens would walk-on at Iowa State University to play for the Cyclones from 1999-2003. By his sophomore season, Carstens became a staple on the cardinal and gold’s defense. He had 71 tackles and was named to the Big 12 Conference third-team. The Panorama graduate had his best season as a junior when he recorded 97 tackles, 13 tackles for losses and six sacks. He was named All Big 12 second-team. He finished his career at ISU with 306 tackles, 23 for losses and 10 sacks. During his time at ISU, he was also named to several all-academic teams. Carstens would go undrafted but would land with the Carolina Panthers from 2004-2006. He played in 29 games and had 50 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles. Carstens would retire to kidney-related health problems. Click HERE and scroll to slide two to see Carstens in action for the Carolina Panthers.

If you know of any other standout athletes from Panorama or ACGC who made it to the professional leagues, or were program standouts, feel to reach out to me at cyote@dmcityview.com.

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Professional athletes from Guthrie County

Who are the greatest athletes from Guthrie County to make it to the professional level of their respective sports? I found three in my quick research. Here are the names and what they were able to accomplish:

Elvin Hutchinson. Hutchinson was born in Guthrie Center in 1912. He attended school in Red Oak and played football at Whittier College in California. He was the quarterback there and was nicknamed the “Red Oak Express.” I love a good nickname. Hutchinson went on to play in the NFL for the Detroit Lions as a halfback in 1939. He also spent a few years playing in the Coast Professional Football League. After his time as a professional athlete, Hutchinson joined the United States Navy in 1942.

Merv Krakau. Krakau was born in Jefferson but attended Guthrie Center High School where he excelled in football. He played at Iowa State University as a defensive end and racked up many awards in the process. He was named third-team All-American, first-team All-Big Eight, and was inducted into the Iowa State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007. Krakau played six seasons in the NFL from 1973 to 1978 for the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots and in the USFL for the Tampa Bay Bandits.

Kip Janvrin. As a newcomer to the area, I first heard Janvrin’s name while covering Panorama track and field, as one of the meets is named after him. I now see why. Janvrin was born in Guthrie Center and is a native of Panora. He graduated from Simpson College in 1988 after winning three NCAA Division III titles in the decathlon and won individual titles in the pole vault and 400-meter hurdles. His success at the international level is extensive. Janvrin won the decathlon at the 1989 Olympic Festival, placed fourth at 1998 and 1999 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and won the championship in 2001. Locally, Janvrin won the decathlon a record 15 times at the Drake Relays and has been inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame. And this is just a short list of Janvrin’s accomplishments.

Of course, most of you know these names and their many accomplishments, but what folks did I miss? Let me know of other prominent athletes from Guthrie County, and I will profile them here as well. They do not have to be professional athletes. Former program standouts are welcome, too. Just shoot me a message at cyote@dmcityview.com.

Iowa native Kadyn Proctor rated best offensive lineman

Player overall ratings have begun to trickle out with the anticipated release of EA Sports NCAA College Football 26 coming soon. Iowa native Kadyn Proctor’s overall rating was revealed as a 94, the highest of any offensive lineman. The former five-star recruit out of Southeast Polk High School has caused headaches for Hawkeye fans over the years. Proctor originally committed to play at Iowa but then flipped to Alabama. Then, in January of 2024, he transferred back to Iowa. But then, Proctor again flipped and transferred back to Alabama before ever hitting the field at Kinnick Stadium. It is a whirlwind story for one of the country’s top linemen and certainly a future NFL player.

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Baseball and softball

ACGC and Panorama baseball and softball fans were treated to some great action at their respective diamonds this week. Early in the week, Panorama softball overcame a six-run deficit to defeat West Central Valley. “These girls stayed mentally tough and kept pushing forward and never faltered,” Head Coach Ismael Galvan said.

That sounds like a recipe for success. Panorama baseball fans were able to see their team get back into the win column thanks to some excellent pitching via state golfer Parker Cary, who struck out nine batters.

ACGC baseball fans must have been pleased to get a win over nearby conference rival Panorama thanks to a complete game shutout pitched by Noah Kading. Charger softball fans had the delight of watching a back-and-forth classic against, again, nearby conference rival Panorama. Lead changes and ties were abundant in the contest with the Chargers ending up on top.

The NBA’s Achilles’ heel

NBA fans were treated less gracefully over the past week. Game seven of the NBA finals was on Sunday, June 22. The Thunder came out on top, 103-91, for its first championship since moving from Seattle. Unfortunately, what was gearing up to be an all-time finish to one of the best finals of the past 20 years will forever have a mark.

Tyrese Halliburton was shooting the lights and silencing a raucous Thunder crowd early in the game. In just seven minutes of action, the former Cyclone scored nine points, all threes. Soon after his early outburst, Halliburton stunned fans in the arena and those watching at home when he tore his Achilles tendon — a brutal injury which will almost certainly keep the star point guard out all of next season and potentially some of the season after that. This may be the first time that, when I think of an NBA final, I will remember the team that lost first. We will never know how that game might have finished had Halliburton not been injured.

It is bad enough that the peak of NBA basketball had to marred by such an event, but what might be even worse is the NBA’s growing Achilles tendon injury problem. Statistics show that, between 1990 and 2023, there were 45 Achilles tendon tears, an average of 1.36 per season, but never more than three in a single season. In this year’s playoffs alone, there were three — and seven total throughout this season.

Video analysis of all seven of these injuries showed it happened during a “false step,” a reactive movement athletes use to accelerate quickly. If you have ever played or watched basketball, this type of movement happens constantly throughout games.

Theories have swirled around the rise of this injury, the most popular being that the players are simply overworked. Much has been said about the workload on today’s players. The game moves faster, and, in turn, the players move more.

Some say the players back in the day were just tougher. I say they were just slower. The game moves at an incredibly higher pace than it did 10 years ago, let alone 20 or 30 years ago. Don’t believe me? View any one of these most recent finals games side by side with any of the finals games from the 1990s. The difference is stark.

In my opinion, athletes need to stop specializing sports at such a young age. It was much more common for athletes to play multiple sports throughout the year, as you see at ACGC and Panorama. This keeps wear and tear on specific movements and body parts down while strengthening others. Many of today’s NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB players have been playing one sport since they were in grade school. And, simply put, they have to. The competition level is simply too high for them to focus on other sports if they want to become a professional athlete. Science needs to catch up to these athletes soon, or it will continue to haunt our professional leagues. The NBA and its Achilles tendon injuries, the MLB and Tommy John surgery, the NFL and CTE, and the NHL… well, hockey rinks are just too darn cold.

Reach out with comments, complaints, ideas and more to cyote@dmcityview.com.

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Offseason workouts

I often check up on the social media accounts of ACGC and Panorama to see what the schools are up to. One thing I have noticed lately are the sports camps and offseason workouts the programs have been hosting. I have many incredible memories from attending similar summer camps while I was in middle school and high school.

One instance that I remember well, which is also forever documented, was an offseason soccer workout I did while attending Lincoln High School. ACGC basketball fans likely made the trip to the school’s Roundhouse two years ago for a substate game. These workouts took place on the tennis courts nearby.

Unfortunately, for me, The Des Moines Register showed up to the workout to snap a few photos. Click HERE if you want to see them. You will not have to scroll far to see the less-than-stellar photo the reporter took of me. I am now well past the feelings of embarrassment I felt when I first saw these photos. Now they are just a funny memory — and hopefully an afternoon laugh for you.

Over the years, I attended several YMCA day camps and Iowa State and Drake basketball camps. These camps were the most fun I had in a given summer. I even made friends who I still speak with to this day. I rubbed shoulders and received advice from future NBA players like Georges Niang, Monte Morris, Naz Long and Drake legend Adam Emmenecker. Emmenecker never made it to the NBA, but his namesake is honored by a food challenge at the Des Moines Jethro’s, once featured by “Man vs. Food.” I have a signed shirt by him hidden somewhere in my parents’ house. I still have not tried the sandwich, though.

I’m sure the Panorama and ACGC athletes have had a great time at these camps as they enjoy their time away from school. But, if someone shows up with a camera, try not to make the face I made.

College world series

If you are a fan of baseball or softball and have not yet tuned into the College World Series, you should start. Admittedly, I am not a huge baseball follower, but the wildly entertaining tournament is a breeding ground for the next major baseball stars — and some great times.

The tournament takes place just a short drive away in Omaha, Nebraska. The city has hosted the tourney since 1950. I’ve been to Omaha for three of the last four MCWS. A friend of mine has a birthday that coincides with the championship weekend. At the same time as the baseball tournament, a massive beer garden takes shape just a block away from the stadium. Massive screens show the games on TV, tequila or rum buckets are served for $20, food trucks line the back, and once the games end, musical performances take over the stage.

I only attended a game for the first time last weekend. It felt weird being in Omaha at this time and not purchasing several rum buckets but instead being inside the stadium and actually watching baseball. The game was good. A few beverages and good friends made it even better. We sat in right field, trading “LEFT FIELD SUCKS” chants with the left field fans who returned with “RIGHT FIELD SUCKS” chants.

If you get the chance to attend one of these games, I highly recommend it. If you are 21 or older, make it a point to grab a Jello shot at Rocco’s nearby, too. The local sports bar hosts a Jello shot challenge every year between the competing teams. The proceeds from every shot sold goes to the Food Banks for all eight teams and Omaha metro food banks. In 2024, they raised $145,477. LSU normally dominates this challenge when they are in town. The running counter says Tiger fans have bought more than 25,000 shots. Arkansas is second with 8,713. These totals are slightly inflated, as shots can also be purchased online. Follow along for shot madness at www.x.com/CWSShotBoard. Game one of the finals is between No. 13 Coastal Carolina and No. 6 LSU and is on Saturday, June 21, if you’re interested in that, too.

Reach out with your thoughts, comments and ideas to cyote@dmcityview.com.

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Conference realignment has become a major topic of conversation over the last few years, both in college and high school athletics. Since 2023, some of the most high-profile Division One conferences saw a major upheaval including the Big 12, the Big 10, the Pac-12 and the SEC.

For many reasons, I loathed these changes. College athletics is largely about pageantry, rivalries and traditions. Sports are an incredible way to tell stories, and college athletics creates them better than most. I will spare you the long rant I could go on about why it’s best to keep these conferences regionally based, but, for this column, I’ll stick to the reason of money of. 

The driving factor for a lot of these shakeups was due to media rights and the major dollars that follow them. This is why you have teams from California now regularly playing against teams in New York. Those media rights deals are, by far, the biggest money-maker in college athletics, and are the main factors in these changes, specifically with football. TV rights deals were up for renewal, and the Big 10 and SEC drew the most eyes and the best deals. So, we now get to see UCLA play Rutgers. Hooray. 

Online sportsbook and casino platform BetMGM created a table showing every change from one major conference to another since 1991. From 1991 to 2014, 34 changes were made. Eight of these were the formation of the Big East by previously independent schools, so the real number is more like 26. Including changes to come in 2026, since 2023, there will have been 23 changes. 

High School athletic conferences have seen their own fair share of changes in recent memory as well. You may have read in the most recent Guthrie County Times Vedette (June 10) stating how Des Moines Christian is leaving the West Central Activities Conference to join the Little Hawkeye Conference. The conference also previously invited another WCAC power, Van Meter, but the Bulldogs declined. 

When it comes to conference realignment of Iowa high schools, the driving force is not media rights deals (and unless Iowa PBS and Mediacom want to get into a bidding war, I don’t see that sentiment changing soon). For schools, the main factors are the school sizes and travel distances. The conferences are likely most interested in maintaining competitive balance. 

It’s no secret that Des Moines Christian has dominated inside the WCAC across several sports. I see this as a win-win. Their move will create opportunities for some of the smaller schools in the conference, and Des Moines Christian will soon compete in a conference with more schools closer to them in not only size but also travel distance. From the conversations I’ve had with ACGC and Panorama coaches, they enjoy the extra competition that comes with playing larger schools. I would not be surprised to see the Lions still popping up on the Panthers’ and Chargers’ non-conference schedules in the future.

That change might not be the last we see from the WCAC. Radio station KMA Land reported that ACGC, Panorama, Earlham and West Central Valley all received invites to join the Western Iowa Conference. The radio station stated that 10 schools in total received invites to the conference. The conference currently includes AHSTW, Audubon, IKM-Manning, Logan-Magnolia, Missouri Valley, Riverside, Treynor, Tri-Center and Underwood. What these schools will decide to do is not yet clear. I have personally reached out to the activities directors of Panorama and ACGC for comment on these reported invites and will report back what I am told.

Reach out with your thoughts, comments and ideas to cyote@dmcityview.com.

By Cyote Williams | Times Vedette

Welcoming all club sport submissions

When it comes to our sports coverage at the Guthrie County Times Vedette, we have been committed to covering all school-sanctioned sports. For example, baseball and softball seasons are currently in full swing, and we gather those results to share with our readers.

As for club sports, that can be tricky. As I stated before when I learned about Panorama’s trap shooting team, following can be a challenge. For that club alone, when we were trying to confirm the dates of its state competition, we found two separate organizations/leagues that Panorama could have been competing in.

The best way for us to bring these results to you is through submissions, which we welcome. We have posted them in the past for the Guthrie County Barracuda Swimmers, and now with the trap shooting program. Feel free to send any results, news or photos to me directly at cyote@dmcityview.com, and I will share with our readers. 

Halliburton does it again

As I mentioned a few times, basketball is one of my favorite sports. I played in YMCA leagues at a young age, for my middle school and high school teams, and still play pickup at least once a week with friends. Derrick Rose becoming the youngest MVP is NBA history led me to becoming a Chicago Bulls fan, and I have been cursed to watch some less-than-stellar hoops ever since.

This is where being an Iowa State fan has served to my benefit. I understand the frustrations from some of you more seasoned Cyclone fans, and I’ve certainly had my share of trials and tribulations with the programs, too, but even the most cynical ISU fan must admit that the basketball and football programs have been flying high as of late. In steps Tyrese Halliburton.

Coming out of high school, Halliburton was a skinny, three star guard out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an awkward jump shot. His two years at ISU weren’t the craziest in terms of team success, but he did cement himself as a player with a future in the NBA. Now, he is helping produce one of the most unlikely championship runs the NBA has ever seen.

Halliburton and his Indiana Pacers tore through the Eastern Conference during the playoffs, pulling off improbable win after improbable win. They just picked up another in the first game of the NBA Finals thanks to Halliburton. Watch it HERE. How improbable was it? Entering tonight, teams were 0-182 when trailing by 9 or more points in the final three minutes of an NBA finals game since 1971. Make that 1-182.

It’s not the first time he has been clutch this post season, either. Halliburton has hit four game-tying or go-ahead shots in the final five seconds of games. As a matter of fact, he has been doing it all season. On shots to take the lead or tie in the last two minutes of games this season, Halliburton is 13/15 or 86.67%. That’s an impressive stat-line for any game, but he is shooting the lights out during the most important moments. Watch every single one of those shots, HERE.

If those numbers don’t jump off the page for you, here’s something that might. Halliburton is the ONLY player with three go-ahead shots in the final five seconds in a single postseason. That’s more than Kobe Bryant had in his entire career. Since the play-by-play era began in 1996, there’s only one player with more than Haliburton: Lebron James. Game two is on Sunday.

Reach out with your thoughts, comments and ideas to cyote@dmcityview.com.