WMU climbs in girls rankings

WINFIELD — What a start to the season it’s been for the Wolves of Winfield-Mt. Union.

Through five weeks of rankings, which includes the preseason rankings, the Wolves have found themselves inside the top 15 in Class 1A each week.

In this weeks ranking, released on December 22 by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, the Wolves sit at No. 11. In the previous week, WMU was No. 13.

It’s warranted with what the Wolves brought back for talent and the success they’ve shown through 10 games thus far.

As of right now, the Wolves have amassed a 10-0 overall record and currently hold the top spot in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North standings with a 7-0 record.

Thus far, the Wolves are averaging 56.9 points per game, while holding opponents an average of 24 points per game.

In that span, Winfield-Mt. Union has taken care of business, with its closest game coming against in conference rival and current second-place WACO, 46-39.

On the court, an all-senior starting 5 spearheads the Wolves. The Top-4 WMU scorers are seniors, and the senior class sports five of the Top-6 scorers.

Bradie Buffington paces WMU with 16.3 points per game on a 52 percent average from the field. She’s also pulling down 8.7 rebounds, 3.9 offensive and 4.8 defensive.

Melina Oepping follows Buffington in the scoring column with 12 points per game on a 47.9 percentage from the field. She pulls down 8 rebounds a contest, 3.8 offensive and 4.2 defensive.

The third leading scorer for the Wolves is Keetyn Townsley. Townsley is averaging 10.1 points per game with a 48.4 percent clip from the field and 50 percent from beyond the ark. Townsley also averages 3.1 steals a game.

Keely Malone averages 8.1 points per game with a 47.9 field goal percentage. She leads WMU with 5 assists per game. Malone grabs boards at a 3.6 per game clip.

Also for Winfield-Mt. Union, Josie Nelson averages 3.1 points a game, while Mariana Hagmeier and Anna Anderson both average 2.9 points.

The Wolves will look to keep their undefeated streak alive on January 6 on the road against Lone Tree.

Following that game, the Wolves will travel to Mediapolis to take on the Bulletts, who are currently rated No. 13 in Class 2A.

The full list of rankings from each class can be found below.

IOWA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS RANKINGS

Class 1A

School Record Last Week

1 Algona Bishop Garrigan 9-1 1

2 Newell-Fonda 5-0 2

3 North Linn 9-0 3

4 Remsen-St. Mary's 7-0 4

5 Westwood 9-0 5

6 Woodbine 7-0 6

7 Council Bluffs St. Albert 9-0 10

8 Central Elkader 7-0 9

9 West Fork 6-0 11

10 Burlington Notre Dame 7-0 12

11 Winfield-Mount Union 10-0 13

12 North Mahaska 9-1 14

13 Riceville 8-1 15

14 Stanton 7-1 7

15 Martensdale-St. Marys 8-2 8

Class 2A

School Record Last Week

1 Dike-New Hartford 9-0 1

2 Central Lyon 7-0 2

3 Sibley-Ocheyedan 6-1 3

4 Treynor 10-0 4

5 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 9-0 5

6 Cascade 8-0 6

7 Iowa City Regina 10-1 7

8 Pocahontas Area 5-1 8

9 Underwood 7-2 9

10 West Monona 6-0 10

11 South Hamilton 7-1 15

12 West Burlington 7-1 13

13 Mediapolis 6-1 14

14 Aplington-Parkersburg 6-1 11

15 Panorama 8-1 12

Class 3A

School Record Last Week

1 Estherville-Lincoln Central 7-0 1

2 Benton Community 9-1 3

3 Unity Christian 5-1 4

4 Solon 7-1 6

5 West Marshall 8-1 2

6 Center Point-Urbana 7-4 7

7 Cherokee 4-1 8

8 Des Moines Christian 7-2 12

9 Osage 6-1 5

10 Vinton-Shellsburg 6-4 9

11 Mount Vernon 5-4 10

12 Dubuque Wahlert 6-3 11

13 Roland-Story 6-1 14

14 Monticello 8-1 NR

15 Harlan 6-2 NR

Dropped Out: West Liberty (14), West Lyon (15)

Class 4A

School Record Last Week

1 Cedar Rapids Xavier 8-1 1

2 Dallas Center-Grimes 7-2 2

3 Ballard 7-1 4

4 Sioux City Bishop Heelan 5-2 5

5 North Polk 6-2 3

6 Decorah 8-2 6

7 Indianola 5-2 9

8 Clear Creek-Amana 6-2 7

9 Carlisle 7-2 8

10 Central DeWitt 6-1 12

11 Waverly-Shell Rock 6-1 13

12 Gilbert 5-3 14

13 Winterset 5-3 11

14 Glenwood 6-2 NR

15 Marion 5-4 15

Dropped Out: Lewis Central (10)

Class 5A

School Record Last Week

1 Waterloo West 8-0 1

2 Johnston 10-0 2

3 Pleasant Valley 8-0 3

4 West Des Moines Valley 6-3 5

5 Southeast Polk 8-1 4

6 Ankeny Centennial 8-3 8

7 Waukee Northwest 4-3 9

8 Davenport North 8-1 10

9 Dowling Catholic 5-4 11

10 Ankeny 5-4 7

11 Iowa City West 6-2 6

12 Iowa City Liberty 6-3 13

13 Des Moines North 8-1 14

14 Sioux City East 6-1 15

15 Linn-Mar 7-3 NR

Dropped Out: Waukee (12)