IOWA CITY -- The Harlan Community Schools had 24 Special Olympics athletes compete last weekend (March 15-16) at the State Mid-Winter Tournament in Iowa City. On Friday evening, the Harlan group attended the opening ceremonies, a dinner banquet and a luau dance to welcome the teams.

 STORM LAKE (March 15) -- Led by Amos Rasmussen’s double gold in the long jump and 60-meter dash, area athletes won four events at the BVU High School Elite Indoor Track Meet here Friday. Girls and boys athletes from Harlan Community, IKM-Manning and AHSTW competed in the first meet of the year. The Cyclone boys, who also competed at Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, took a partial squad to the Buena Vista meet but did have a one-two finis

Hawkeye Ten Conference Boys Basketball

 DES MOINES (March 12) -- Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s career record holder in steals and assists added another title to his name this week as senior Cole Burmeister was named second team All-State by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. The IPSWA announced its 2019 boys basketball all-state teams on Tuesday following a selection meeting in Des Moines last Saturday. In addition, Bettendorf’s D.J.

 TABOR -- Three senior basketball players from the Harlan Newspapers’ coverage area have been selected to play in this year’s KMAland All-Star Basketball Classic, set for Sunday, March 17, at Fremont-Mills High School. IKM-Manning’s Gabby Cadwell will play for CAM coach Joe Wollum’s team while Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s Cole Burmeister and Harlan Community’s Brett Sears will both play for Glenwood coach Curt Schulte’s team. The All-Star Class

 HARLAN -- Harlan Community senior Preston Mulligan signed a national letter of intent on February 6 to play football at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City. Mulligan put together an outstanding senior season at quarterback last fall, earning second team All-State honors and first team All-District recognition after passing for 2,676 yards as the Cyclones finished 8-3 and reached the quarterfinals of the Class 3A playoffs.

 HARLAN -- Harlan Community senior Eli Boldan signed a national letter of intent on February 6 to play football at Dordt College in Sioux Center. Boldan (6’2”, 173) was part of a three-headed monster at tight end/receiver for the Cyclones last fall, leading the team with 828 receiving yards. His 36 receptions and nine touchdown catches both ranked second.

 VERMILLION, S.D.

 HARLAN -- Harlan Community senior Derec Weyer signed a national letter of intent on February 6 to play football at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota. Weyer earned second-team All-District 9 honors as an offensive lineman last fall - starting at left tackle - and was also part of the Cyclones’ rotation at defensive tackle as the team finished 8-3 overall and advanced to the Class 3A playoff quarterfinals.

 HARLAN -- Harlan Community senior Jon Owens signed a national letter of intent on February 6 to play football at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. A versatile three-year starter for the HCHS football team, Owens has played outside linebacker, fullback and tight end while also serving as the long snapper and switching to punter for the latter part of last fall’s 8-3 playoff quarterfinal campaign.

 DES MOINES -- Grand View junior wrestler Evan Hansen became a three-time national champion last Saturday, claiming his third straight title at 197 pounds and helping the Vikings claim their eighth consecutive team crown at the 2019 NAIA National Championships, held March 1-2 at the Jacobsen Exhibition Center in Des Moines. Hansen capped a 19-1 season by outlasting Isaac Bartel of MSU-Northern 6-4 in the championship final at 197.

 GRINNELL -- Fifteen members of the Harlan Swim Club have qualified individual events for the Greater Iowa Swim League State Championship Meet on Saturday, March 9, in Grinnell. In addition, four others will be competing in relay events only at the state meet, which features 15 teams from Iowa competing at the Grinnell College Natatorium. The Harlan Swim Club team is coached by Amber Schmitz, Deb Morgan, Matt Schmitz, Katie Arentson and Braydi

 DES MOINES (March 5) -- The Iowa Print Sports Writers Association announced its 2019 girls basketball all-state teams on Tuesday, selecting three eight-player teams in all five classes and naming West Des Moines Valley’s Zoe Young this year’s Miss Iowa Basketball. No players from the Harlan Newspapers’ immediate coverage area were recognized on the all-state list, but several players from local conferences were honored. First-team selections

 HARLAN -- Harlan Community senior Luke Schaben signed a letter of intent on February 6 to join the baseball team at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. Schaben had a breakout season for the Cyclones last summer, playing second base and outfield while batting in the middle of the order and helping the team to a state runner-up finish in Class 3A.

 HARLAN (Feb.