Spring sports begin final phase in coming days

Trojan linksters headline packed sectional

The Fairfield boys? golf team will be looking to finish out one of the program?s most successful seasons ever with another trip to the state tournament.

But first, the fifth-ranked Trojans must get past a stacked field at Friday?s sectional tournament hosted by the Demons at Washington Country Club.

The Trojans will square off against a field that includes No. 6 Washington, No. 9 Williamsburg and No. 20 Oskaloosa. The four schools figure to be in the district-qualifying hunt, with the top two teams set to advance. If host Washington is in the top two, the top three teams move on.

Fairfield?s Davis Lowenberg and Cody Kool are looking to close out their senior seasons on a high note with a third trip to the state meet in four seasons. Both have been big for the Trojans all season and rightfully so find themselves ranked among the best in the state. Lowenberg (10th ranked) and Kool (28th) will be taking on other strong individuals including Williamsburg?s Drew Slings (8th) and Washington?s Alex Thode (12th). The lowest four individual scorers head to districts regardless of team result.

The Trojans will need a full team effort to grab a top-two finish, however, and Fairfield has the depth to do just that.

CJ Shipman brings experience as the varsity squad?s third senior, and sophomores Matt Carr, Landon Gamrath and Alex Shier have been huge for Mick Flattery?s Trojans in their second full season.

Joining the field will be the rest of the Southeast Conference ? Mount Pleasant, Keokuk and Fort Madison ? along with Clear Creek-Amana. Tee-off is scheduled for 10 a.m.

The Trojan girls? golf team, on the other hand, will take on seven other teams for districts Monday at the Mount Pleasant Country Club. The SEC schools plus Benton, Clear Creek-Amana, Solon and Williamsburg will be in attendance.

State berths up for grabs in Mt. Pleasant

The Fairfield girls? and boys? track teams will put it all on the line when the state-qualifying meet opens at 4 p.m. today in Mount Pleasant.

For the Fairfield boys, expect Corbin Harwood to be plenty busy as his senior season comes to a close. Harwood could be active in the high jump, 110-highs along with Jonny Swanson, as well as the shuttle hurdle relay. Also watch for big things from Alex Love in the open-800 and Fairfield?s 4x100 and 4x200 teams.

The Trojan girls showed just how dominant they can be at last week?s conference meet with victories in nine events and will look for similar contributions throughout the lineup today.

Trojans Sydney Howard and Jessica Lamb are everything but locks to make return trips to Des Moines, but the duo won?t be alone. Sidney Baumann has been consistent, if not dominant, in the discus, while Marisa Repp brings with her a conference title in the 400-meter hurdles. Several Fairfield relays, including the 4x800 and 4x400, should be stacked as well.

Pekin track teams returning to WACO

When examining the Pekin track teams? state-qualifying chances, it might be easier to look at which events they don?t have a shot at rather than the ones they do. That is to say, not much.

Both teams are perennially well represented at the state meet and should experience more of the same as they head to the state-qualifying meet at WACO today.

On the boys? side, Bryce Sines hopes to cap his senior season with qualifying marks in a variety of events, including the 100- and 200-dashes as well as the high jump and long jump. Bailey Donovan and Derek Morales are both favorites to qualify in the throws, and Pekin?s depth means it has a solid chance to send runners in just about any relay.

The Panther girls are just days removed from claiming the Southeast Iowa Superconference North division title and are a favorite to win the district title, as well.

The Maharishi School boys? and girls? track teams also will be at the WACO meet in hopes of sending athletes to Des Moines. Essa Johnson brings with her high expectations in the long jump following a ninth-place finish at the state meet last season.

Van Buren, Cardinal also traveling

Cardinal and Van Buren will see their toughest competition to date at separate Class 2A meets today.

The Comets travel to Interstate 35 to take on the likes of Albia, Davis County and Eddyville-Blakesburg.

Van Buren will be in a 12-team field in Tipton along with rival Central Lee, perennially powerhouse Mediapolis, Notre Dame and others.

Trojan, Pioneer boys? tennis playing today

A string of final four appearances by Maharishi School boys? tennis is only expected to grow as they opened up district play along with Fairfield on their home courts today. Play began at 9 a.m. at both the Fairfield courts behind Fairfield Middle School as well as the Punj Tennis Center on the M.U.M. campus.

Like usual, the district tournament will send two singles players and two doubles teams to the state tournament scheduled for May 25-26 at Byrne?s Park in Waterloo.

The top finishing team will automatically qualify for next weekend?s substate team tournament while the second and third-place teams will duke it out Saturday for their ticket to substate. The top two surviving will then take on the top two from another district to decide which advances to the final four May 29 in Urbandale.

A group of experienced Pioneers, including last year?s district champ Sam Arsanjani and Thomas Weiss, as well as freshman sensation Sam Stickels turn Maharishi School into the heavy favorite. The team finished as the automatic qualifier last season.

Beyond Maharishi School, Fairfield has a good shot at keeping its season alive with a team finish in the top three, as does SEC title-holder Keokuk. Fairfield?s Alexander Punj, a freshman, and junior Sean Soupiset will look to make a splash in their first season playing the tournament.

Fairfield, MSAE may meet in girls? tennis

The Maharishi School and Fairfield girls? tennis teams have a good shot at facing each other Saturday in regional play but must first get past their opening round matchups.

Both teams open regional play at 9 a.m. Saturday in Fairfield, with the Pioneers set to take on Davis County and Trojans drawing Mount Pleasant.

Whichever team wins their two matches Saturday will then move on to the regional final set for May 19 in Fort Madison. Likely regional final opponents for the surviving team from Fairfield include Holy Trinity and Keokuk.

Warrior golfers taking on fields in Burlington, Columbus

The Van Buren boys? golf team will head to Flint Hills Golf Course Friday for its Class 2A sectional hosted by Burlington Notre Dame.

Noah Whitten and Brandon Plecker headline a Warrior squad set to take on the eight-team field. Golfers from Albia, Central Lee, Davis County, Eddyville-Blakesburg, Mediapolis, Notre Dame and Wapello also will be competing.

Teams and individuals advancing from the sectional tournment will play their district meet at Geneva Golf Course in Muscatine on May 18.

Led by junior Payten Hughes, the Warrior girls are headed to Cedarcrest Golf and Country Club for their district meet hosted by Columbus Junction. Other teams include Notre Dame, Central Lee, Davis county, Louisa-Muscatine, Mediapolis and Wapello.

Pioneer golfers headed to New London

New London will play host to the Maharishi School boys? golf team and seven other squads Friday at the Deer Wood Golf Club.

Other teams in attendance include Danville, Holy Trinity, Keota, Lone Tree, Sigourney, WACO and Winfield-Mount Union.

The top teams and individuals at New London will advance to the district meet May 17 at Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Iowa City.