GRUNDY CENTER – Cross country, wrestling, and track and field. 12 state appearances across three sports is how Grundy Center senior Grace Storjohann chose to leave her mark on a school known for their athletic dominance.

NEVADA – The Grundy Center girls tennis team began their season with an 8-1 win over the Nevada Cubs on Thursday, August 6.

Last season, the Spartans went 6-7, losing both conference matches. Only losing four seniors in the offseason, they will look to use their first victory as a boost into the upcoming year with a senior-heavy roster.

GRUNDY CENTER – In the few weeks of the true offseason that high school athletes are granted over the summer, three student-athletes from Grundy Center used their time to participate in various all-star events that they had been invited to across the state.

The first of these events was the coveted Shrine Bowl.

Despite the BCLUW Comets returning plenty of production, the team’s success this year will depend on how quickly a bunch of new faces develop in the trenches.

The Comets went 3-5 last year, their best record since the 2022 season.

The Grundy Center Spartans football team will enter the 2026 season with some adversity, having ended the 2025 season in an unfamiliar spot, with a loss. The Spartans fell, for the first time in 50 games, in the 1A State Semifinal game 31-12 to Regina Catholic, but the 2026 team is focused on moving forward.

The Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association and Iowa Girls' Coaches Association released their All-District Teams and other various awards given to individual athletes across the state.

With softball and baseball seasons now at an end, a number of athletes from across Grundy County found themselves earning awards, including multiple athletes from both Grundy Center and AGWSR.

BASEBALL:

For much of the year they were considered a lock for a trip to Carroll.

Despite being one of the top teams all year long, Grundy Center was upset in the substate final game against Ridge View, keeping the Spartans out of contention for a potential State championship run.

Despite not making the State tournament, Grundy Center still finished the season with an 18-5 record. They were able to win the North Iowa Cedar League championship.

One run ended their season a little earlier than expected.

The 2026 Dike-New Hartford baseball team had a relatively successful year, it was just cut short in the class 2A substate 6 quarterfinals.

The state tournament was within sight, but ultimately unreachable this year.

Grundy Center still had a successful softball season as the Spartans went 18-9 on the season. Their season wrapped up with a close one run defeat at the hands of Wapsie Valley.

For a little bit they seemed almost like they were unstoppable.

Then came the class 3A region four semifinal against Mount Vernon. The Mustangs scored a run in the fourth inning, and then added six more in the bottom of the fifth. That was all it took to end the season for Dike-New Hartford.

GRUNDY CENTER – Saturday night, July 11. Bottom of the tenth. The Spartans and the Trojans are hours into their battle for the district title and a place in the state qualifier.

Seniors Judd Jirovsky and Brayden Davie have held their opponents to just one run, with Jirovsky’s 16 strikeouts paving the way. Grundy is holding strong with a run of their own.

The catcher, senior Pete Lebo, is at the plate. Davie is on base.

DIKE – Dike-New Hartford softball defended their home turf against a strong Grundy Center team on Thursday, June 18.

The Wolverines got on the board early with a two-run home run in the first inning from senior Faith Gray, who also pitched against the Spartans. Dike-New Hartford scored an additional run in the third.

DIKE – The Grundy Center Spartans came to Dike-New Hartford ready to brawl on Friday, June 18, but the matchup proved easier than anyone may have thought.

It took the Spartan boys no time to start making an impact. In fact, they scored at least one run in every one of the five innings before mercy-ruling the Wolverines 11-0.

DIKE – On Monday, June 8, Dike-New Hartford baseball played at home against Columbus Catholic.

The Wolverines wasted no time, scoring four runs in the first inning, and nine in the second.

In that time, Junior Gavin Gerbracht had a game no one would easily forget.

JESUP – Dike-New Hartford softball played in the Jesup Tournament on June 12-13.

The Wolverines were one of 12 teams in the two-day tournament.

D-NH played their first round matchup on Friday against North Fayette Valley. The Wolverines scored 17 runs in the first three innings to end the game early at 17-3.