It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Lincoln Highway gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Mt Vernon, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Mt. Vernon Dog Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Lincoln Wine Bar or visit Villa Louis Historic Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Mt Vernon, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Mt Vernon, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Mt Vernon, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
In the early 1900s, Cedar Rapids was connected to Marion, Iowa City, Waterloo and Mount Vernon via an electric streetcar system. Trolley lines once ran down the center of city streets, though you wouldn't be able to tell today.Lin Kemp and Carolyn Stephenson, both of Cedar Rapids, remember these lines."I grew up after that era when many of the rails were still embedded in some city streets, however all ... have now been either removed or covered over," Kemp told The Gazette.Stephenson told The Gazette the troll...
In the early 1900s, Cedar Rapids was connected to Marion, Iowa City, Waterloo and Mount Vernon via an electric streetcar system. Trolley lines once ran down the center of city streets, though you wouldn't be able to tell today.
Lin Kemp and Carolyn Stephenson, both of Cedar Rapids, remember these lines.
"I grew up after that era when many of the rails were still embedded in some city streets, however all ... have now been either removed or covered over," Kemp told The Gazette.
Stephenson told The Gazette the trolley line ran on the boundary of the acreage where she grew up, just east of Bertram.
Both readers separately wrote to Curious Iowa — a Gazette series that answers readers' questions about our state, its people and culture — wanting to know more about the line that ran between Mount Vernon and Cedar Rapids.
To find out more about this historic trolley line, we consulted historians, history books, newspaper archives and maps.
What is an electric streetcar and why did Cedar Rapids have a trolley system?
An electric streetcar or trolley is a rail vehicle that's propelled by an electric motor that gets its power from an overhead wire. Trolleys were a popular and early form of public transportation. Unlike horse-drawn streetcars, trolleys did not require feeding, grooming, and stabling horses who would leave feces and urine on the streets.
In the 1880s, the Cedar Rapids City Council gave Stephen Dows and Isaac Smith approval to establish and operate a streetcar system. Dows and Smith founded Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway and Light Company. The company has been known by many names through the years — as you'll read in this story — but it was the root of today's companies Travero and Alliant Energy.
In 1891, the first streetcars began operating in Cedar Rapids and in 1892, trolleys began taking regular trips to Marion. This provided affordable transportation for commuters and shoppers.
In 1903, a 27-mile-long trolley line was built to connect Cedar Rapids to Iowa City. The line built as a feeder for the interurban line in 1900 was the longest electric line to exist in the country at that time, according to Sutherland Dows of the Iowa Railway and Light company.
A decade later, the company extended a line to Mount Vernon after pressure from local merchants.
The year 1914 was a big one for electric streetcar travel. Regular interurban service to Mount Vernon started in January. That line was extended to Lisbon after Main Street was paved and rails were laid throughout downtown. Plus, that year the Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Northern Interurban extended service to Cedar Rapids. Combined, the WCF&N and CRANDIC made up the second largest interurban route in Iowa.
What do we know about the Interurban line to Mount Vernon?
Records of the stops on the Mount Vernon line list the following: Cedar Rapids, Bever, Trachta, Indian Creek, Berry, Bertram, Palisades, Smyths, Cornellton, Mount Vernon and Lisbon.
Some of these names might sound confusing, transportation enthusiast and former Gazette Editorial Fellow Austin Wu said, because they refer to areas, not towns. Berry refers to Berry Road, for example.
"Sometimes they weren't like official stops, but sometimes there's a thing called flag stops where you could tell the conductor to stop there if you needed to," Wu added. "but if no one raised their hand, the train was just going to go past."
Mary Evans of the Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission said that the Palisades stop refers to the Upper Palisades. This was a popular stop for those looking for entertainment. The Cedar Springs Hotel was a two mile walk from there and people would dance and eat until it was time to go home. Those who drank too much could spend the night at the hotel.
According to "It Took All of Us, 100 Years of Iowa Electric Light and Power Company," the line ran from Third Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids to Blake Boulevard and then Forest Drive. From Forest Drive, it went to Sinclair Avenue SE to what is now Indian Road SE to the edge of Bever Park. Then it followed the company highline to Mount Vernon Road, crossed Mount Vernon Road near the old Rosedale School and followed the highline to Mount Vernon.
If you look at the Linn County Assessor's website, you can see sections of land marked "Old Trolley Corridor," which can provide helpful context.
The Mount Vernon line made travel simple for college students attending Cornell College, Coe College and the University of Iowa. At times, extra cars were added to accommodate those traveling to football games.
Tom Peffer, President of Linn County Trails Association, wrote in the 2020 Annual Trails Report that the trolley line and power lines ran through the towns of Broad Acres, Urbandale, and Gardendale, which "faded into history" along with Cornellton after the line was officially abandoned in 1928.
The CRANDIC's original mission was to extend its interurban line to the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, the newly built Lincoln Highway followed a similar path. The rise in automobile use led to many cities across the United States abandoning their trolley lines.
In 1927, the CR & IC Railway stopped operating its route to Mount Vernon. This came after the railway and City of Cedar Rapids had a dispute as a result of the city levying an assessment of $150K on the railway for paving improvements on Blake Boulevard.
On March 31, 1928, The Gazette reported that railway was given the authority to abandon and tear up the Lisbon interurban line from Lisbon to Cedar Rapids. In the years that followed, the interurban's tracks were either removed or covered with pitch and asphalt. The wire and poles were removed.
The entire 100-foot-wide right of way has been used and maintained by Alliant Energy as a utility corridor for power lines, but the company has abandoned the portion of the right of way that went from Mount Vernon to Lisbon.
Today, CRANDIC streetcars can be found in rail museums across the country. Last year, the Cedar Rapids City Council adopted a Downtown Vision Plan that proposes expanding modes of transportation, including a trolley system.
Will the old interurban line become a trail?
That's the goal. In 2000, Alliant Energy sold its interest in the portion of the utility corridor from Indian Road SE to 34th Street SE to the City of Cedar Rapids. This runs through Bever Park. The city intends to construct a recreational trail from Bever Park to East Post Road to Rosedale Road.
In 2017, Alliant Energy approached Linn County about purchasing the company's interest in the corridor. In 2019, an agreement was reached through which Linn County would purchase Alliant's interest in the utility corridor from Rosedale Road to the western edge of Mount Vernon, and Cedar Rapids would buy the section from 34th Street SE to Rosedale Road. Both purchases were subject to a utility maintenance easement. In 2021, Quit Claim Deeds from Alliant Energy to both the City of Cedar Rapids and Linn County were recorded.
The goal is for Linn County's section of the old trolley corridor to become a 13-mile interurban trail, connecting Coe College with Cornell College and intersecting the Sac and Fox Trail.
"The Interurban Trail will eventually connect Cedar Rapids, Bertram, and Mount Vernon, not with a trolley line, but with a safe, beautiful, graded, walking, jogging and biking recreational trail." Peffer said. "Once completed, it will fulfill the vision of those men and women who, even prior to WWI, realized the importance of connecting Cedar Rapids with Mount Vernon."
Where does the project sit today? It's awaiting funding, said Ryan Schlader of Linn County Conservation.
"The Board does envision this as a future recreational trail corridor, but it is definitely a long-term project with no specific timeline, with funding and infrastructure challenges to meet along the way," Schlader said. "Because of the proven health and economic benefits that recreational trails provide, Linn County Conservation continues to have a strong interest in furthering our network of multiuse recreational trails to increase connections between communities and existing trails and parks and within the region."
___(c)2024 The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)Visit The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) at thegazette.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Mustangs overcome a 22-0 deficit to drop Algona, 31-28, in a thrilling Class 3A state playoff quarterfinal Friday nightJeff Johnson The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.CEDAR RAPIDS — Sleep is not an option right now for Brad Meester.The first-year Mount Vernon head f...
The Mustangs overcome a 22-0 deficit to drop Algona, 31-28, in a thrilling Class 3A state playoff quarterfinal Friday night
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
CEDAR RAPIDS — Sleep is not an option right now for Brad Meester.
The first-year Mount Vernon head football coach got home at roughly 2:30 Saturday morning following his team’s 31-28 Class 3A state playoff quarterfinal win Friday night at Algona. It was a three-hour trip each way.
There was a volleyball match Saturday afternoon at Kirkwood Community College in which his daughter Emma played. The Eagles won a marathon over DMACC in five games, by the way.
Another younger daughter has a tournament Sunday that he’ll be attending. He spent three different days in Coralville watching daughters Chloe and Sophia win a state high school championship with Mount Vernon.
Saturday night he was planning to watch a lot of film on upcoming opponent Humboldt and begin to put a game plan together. The man has got to be tired.
“But it’s a good tired,” he said. “I knew this was going to be the busiest week of the year. It’s been never ending, but it’s good.”
Meester’s Mustangs fell down 22-0 to Algona in the first half of Friday’s football game. But they got a touchdown right before halftime, took a lead in the third quarter, fell behind again in the fourth, yet rallied with a clutch drive that finished off with a winning 7-yard TD pass from Kellen Haverback to Michael Ryan with 1:38 left.
A successful 2-point conversion provided the final score.
“We just kept playing,” Meester said. “It was the same message as always. When the season started, one of the big things we talked about was playing four quarters. We are a team that whether it’s play one or play 40 or play 120, we’re going to keep coming. We’re going to find a way, really stress the fourth quarter.”
That was something he remembered from his prep playing days at Aplington-Parkersburg from legendary head coach Ed Thomas. Mount Vernon actually stopped on its way to Algona at the field affectionately known as the Sacred Acre and put in a little work before reclimbing the bus.
Perhaps the late Thomas had some sort of divine intervention for the Mustangs.
“I felt like we needed to do something,” Meester said.. It was kind of meant to be. It was about midway, so we stopped at the Sacred Acre, got out, did a walk through, kind of a practice on the field and stuff. Went through some meetings, grabbed our stuff and took off. It was nice.”
Mount Vernon’s semifinal opponent is No. 3 Humboldt (10-1), which forced six turnovers in a 35-3 quarterfinal win over Solon. Ninth-ranked Solon handed Mount Vernon its only loss this season, 7-6, in late September.
Top-ranked Dubuque Wahlert beat No. 8 Independence, 24-7, in another Friday night 3A quarterfinal. Tom Scherr had two touchdown runs for the Golden Eagles (11-0), who draw Sergeant Bluff-Luton (11-0), co-ranked No. 1, in the semis.
Dallas Miller’s pick-6 with under two minutes to go cemented Iowa City Liberty’s place in the Class 5A state semifinals.
His 43-yard return with 1:58 left gave the Lightning a 21-7 lead. They went on to down Ankeny, 21-13.
“I knew they were going to run that play. They ran it all game,” Miller said. “I know that receiver is just going to stop like that, and I just took it away from him.”
This is Liberty’s seventh year of existence, and it plays three-time defending champ Southeast Polk (7-4) in a 5A semifinal Friday night at 7 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team,” said Liberty Coach Scott Chandler. “Our defense was kind of maligned early in the season and those guys just kept their nose to the grindstone, kept getting better week by week by week, and they showed up tonight.”
Fifth-ranked Liberty (10-1) limited No. 8 Ankeny (6-5) to 232 total yards. The Lightning’s other touchdowns came on a 4-yard Sutton Koller run and a 27-yard pass from Reece Rettig to Collin Decker.
Iowa City’s other 5A quarterfinalist didn’t fare as well. Southeast Polk scored on its first four offensive possessions in a 42-15 victory over Iowa City West.
West’s touchdowns came on a Butali Butali run and a pass from Jack Wallace to Mason Woods. The Trojans end their season 6-5.
* In Class 4A, Chase Smith threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kye Smith (no relation) with 29 seconds left to lift No. 8 North Scott past second-ranked Decorah, 28-24. Smith had 351 yards passing in the game and three TDs, catching a touchdown pass from receiver Cash Bowe on a reverse pass.
Decorah (10-1) scored on its first offensive possession and never trailed until the dying seconds. Quarterback Tanner Caddell, subbing for injured starter Louis Bucksa, ran for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Vikings, who led after the first three quarters.
“Obviously these games go down to a couple of plays here and there,” Decorah Coach Mike Tangen said. “Of course, all of us are going to be questioning this and questioning that. But you have to give credit to those guys. Those guys executed well, their quarterback was throwing well.”
The semifinal opponent for North Scott (9-2) is top-ranked North Polk (11-0), which literally ran to a 35-0 lead en route to a 35-14 quarterfinal win over No. 9 Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Comets rushed for 304 yards, including 146 and a touchdown by Henry Feldman.
Xavier ends its season 7-4.
“Give credit to North Polk,” said Xavier Coach Duane Schulte. “That’s a really good football team: well coached and tough.”
* The three area teams in 2A quarterfinals were decided underdogs and lost accordingly.
No. 2 Monroe PCM pulled away from a 14-0 game after three quarters to beat Mid-Prairie, 41-0. Ninth-ranked Anamosa turned it over four times in a 31-0 loss at No. 4 Van Meter.
Caden Landt threw four touchdown passes in No. 3 Spirit Lake’s 42-13 win over No. 6 North Fayette Valley.
* In 1A, Owen Hassell scored on a 10-yard TD run with 29 seconds left to cap No. 7 Wilton’s 21-14 comeback win over No. 8 Iowa City Regina. Hassell’s 14-yard touchdown run with 2:18 left brought the Beavers (10-1) within 14-13, but Regina (9-2) stopped the ensuing 2-point attempt.
Wilton then recovered an onside kick near midfield and drove for the winning score.
* Saint Ansgar is known as a run-dominant football team but got 182 yards passing and a touchdown from quarterback Jayce Schiesow in its 44-13 Class A quarterfinal win over Maquoketa Valley.
The third-ranked Saints (10-1) still were able to rush for 259 yards en route to taking a 30-7 halftime lead. Rogan Heidt had a 14-yard TD run for MV (10-2), ranked No. 7.
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CORALVILLE — Reminiscent of last season's Class 3A state title match, Western Christian stood in the way of Mount Vernon's path to state title immortality at Xtream Arena on Thursday.In 2023, the Mustangs fell to the Wolfpack in four sets (23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 18-25) in the Class 3A state championship.Mount Vernon didn't allow history to repeat itself Thursday, defeating Western Christian in straight sets (25-17, 25-17, 25-18) to clinch its first state title since 2019.More:...
CORALVILLE — Reminiscent of last season's Class 3A state title match, Western Christian stood in the way of Mount Vernon's path to state title immortality at Xtream Arena on Thursday.
In 2023, the Mustangs fell to the Wolfpack in four sets (23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 18-25) in the Class 3A state championship.
Mount Vernon didn't allow history to repeat itself Thursday, defeating Western Christian in straight sets (25-17, 25-17, 25-18) to clinch its first state title since 2019.
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"Last year we were runners-up and this year we were like,' It sucks and we're not coming back again and we're not losing again' so we gave it our all on the court," Mount Vernon senior Chloe Meester said. "We wanted revenge on them from last year; we weren't ready for what a state championship would feel like and this year we were, and we showed it off really well."
It was a back-and-forth opening set until the Mustangs relied on efficient offense to separate themselves. Mount Vernon totaled 15 kills and posted a .542 hitting percentage in the opening frame. Meester led the way with five kills and a .667 hitting percentage. Sydney Huber racked up 13 assists to open the match.
"We were fearless and joyful - mindset-wise - from the front end," said Mount Vernon coach Maggie Willems. "Usually, matches are won by the serving and pass game, and I think we won that serving and passing game today."
Up as many as nine in the second set, the Mustangs continued to be the aggressors near the net. Along with their offensive success, Mount Vernon capitalized on shooting woes by Western Christian, which posted a .156 hitting percentage with nine totaled errors. It was enough to help the Mustangs clinch the second set, 25-17.
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The Wolfpack tried to claw back in the final frame, but the Mustangs' firepower was too much to match. Mount Vernon snatched the final set, 25-18, to clinch the 3A state championship.
Meester and Sydney Maue combined for 30 kills in favor of the Mustangs. Huber posted 38 assists while Eryn Jackson led the team with 15 digs.
Maue, Huber and Meester were named to the 3A all-tournament team. Meester - a Louisville commit - earned team-captain honors.
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"We trained in the gym every single day ... This is what we wanted, and this is what we got," Meester said. "We put all our effort in, and we held everybody accountable. If someone wasn't doing their best (in practice), we made sure they were at least trying."
Despite falling short in their quest for three straight state titles, the Wolfpack have solidified themselves as a volleyball powerhouse. The 2022 and 2023 state champions returned just three starters from last season's team and still reached the 3A state title game with wins over Sioux Center and West Delaware.
Juniors Scarlett Winterfeld and Maggie Van Schepen represented Western Christian on the 3A all-tournament squad. The Wolfpack finished their season with a 33-14 record.
"We were one of the youngest teams here; we went in the locker rooms and said our goodbyes to our seniors (and) thanked them," said Western Christian coach Tammi Veerbeek. "I know I'll have a motivated team next year. Today Mount Vernon was the better team for sure, they're dynamic (and) explosive, but we'll get back to work; you'll see us back here again next year."
Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.CORALVILLE — Chloe Meester told us so.“I told you guys last year that we’d be back,” Meester said in the Xtream Arena media room. “Here we are.”Top-ranked Mount Vernon was simply surgical, particularly in the early stages of the match, and overwhelmed No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert, 25-12, 25-19, 25-17, in ...
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
CORALVILLE — Chloe Meester told us so.
“I told you guys last year that we’d be back,” Meester said in the Xtream Arena media room. “Here we are.”
Top-ranked Mount Vernon was simply surgical, particularly in the early stages of the match, and overwhelmed No. 4 Dubuque Wahlert, 25-12, 25-19, 25-17, in a Class 3A semifinal at the state volleyball tournament Wednesday afternoon.
The Mustangs hit an astonishing .600 in the first set and didn’t cool much after that. They were that good.
“That’s bonkers,” Mount Vernon Coach Maggie Willems said. “You don’t hit .600 at the state tournament, do you? Our ball control was so good.”
Mount Vernon (44-4) returns to the 3A championship match; it will face No. 2 Western Christian (33-13) for the title at 2:30 Thursday afternoon.
The majority of the Mustangs were here last year, when they lost to Western Christian in the final.
Sydney Maue, however, was not. She transferred from Center Point-Urbana last winter, and now is the Mustangs’ final piece, a left-handed leaper from the right side.
“She completes us, not just because of her hitting, but because she’s a phenomenal six-rotation player,” Willems said. “It’s just like Chloe. I love when people think they can pick on our big pins when they’re in the back row.”
Maue, who is headed to Arkansas next year, led the Mustangs with 13 kills.
“Sure, I love having kills and everything,” she said. “But more than anything, I want to bring energy.”
Mount Vernon’s final efficiency was a glossy .420: 43 kills in 88 swings, against six errors. The Mustangs didn’t have a single miscue in their first 29 attacks.
Meester added 11 kills, Paige Schurbon six, Sophia Meester five, Cali Whitaker and Sydney Huber four apiece.
“Look up and down the net, and there are so many possibilities,” Huber said after distributing 28 assists.
Libero Eryn Jackson posted seven assists and 12 digs.
Mount Vernon didn’t allow Wahlert (26-9) a single service point in the first set. Willems called a quick timeout when the Golden Eagles took a 5-2 lead in Game 2, then the Mustangs quickly regained their balance.
At 13-13 in Game 3, Mount Vernon scored eight consecutive points — four on Maue kills, three on Meester aces — and that was the killer blow.
Anna Roling led Wahlert with 10 kills.
Meester and Jackson have been played in four consecutive state tournaments. The Mustangs were quarterfinalists in 2021, semifinalists in 2022, runners-up to Western Chistian last year.
Their final chapter will be written Thursday.
“We’re going to have fun,” Meester said. “We want to go out and have fun in our last match.”
She paused.
“Plus, we want redemption.”
(25-12, 25-19, 25-17)
Class 3A State Semifinal, at Coralville
Serving: Wahlert 40-50 (.800), Mount Vernon 68-73 (.932)
Aces: Wahlert 2 (Audrey Tschiggfrie, Claire Lueken), Mount Vernon 8 (Chloe Meester 5)
Kills: Wahlert 35 (Anna Roling 10), Mount Vernon 43 (Sydney Maue 13)
Assists: Wahlert 35 (Olivia Donovan 27), Mount Vernon 39 (Sydney Huber 28)
Blocks: Wahlert 1 (Brielle Benning), Mount Vernon 4 (Cali Whitaker 2)
Digs: Wahlert 36 (Kaylee Walter 9), Mount Vernon 39 (Eryn Jackson 12)
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Top teams Mount Vernon, Western Christian, West Delaware, Dubuque Wahlert move into final four in CoralvilleSeeding held up in Class 3A Tuesday at the Iowa high school state volleyball champions, as Mount Vernon, Western Christian, West Delaware and Dubuque Wahlert each advanced. All four secured spots in the semifinals on Wednesday from Coralville and the Xtream Arena.Mount Vernon, the No. 1 ranked team and to...
Top teams Mount Vernon, Western Christian, West Delaware, Dubuque Wahlert move into final four in Coralville
Seeding held up in Class 3A Tuesday at the Iowa high school state volleyball champions, as Mount Vernon, Western Christian, West Delaware and Dubuque Wahlert each advanced. All four secured spots in the semifinals on Wednesday from Coralville and the Xtream Arena.
Mount Vernon, the No. 1 ranked team and top seed, swept past Mid-Prairie by scores of 25-22, 25-16 and 25-16. Chloe Meester recorded a match-high 14 kills to go along with 11 digs while Sydney Maue added 10 kills, two aces, eight digs and a solo block.
Jovi Evans had 12 kills and 11 digs for Mid-Prairie.
Awaiting Mount Vernon in the next round will be Dubuque Wahlert, as they earned a four-set win over Carroll Kuemper, 25-18, 22-25, 25-23 and 25-17. Both Audrey Tschiggfrie and Anna Roling had 14 kills with Karley Belken and Claire Lueken adding nine each for Wahlert.
Kaylee Walter had a match-high 23 digs and Tschiggfrie added 20 with Olivia Donovan picking up eight kills. Carroll Kuemper was led by 19 kills from Brianna Wittrock and 23 digs by Kaylie Simons.
West Delaware put Davenport Assumption away in four, winning 25-19, 25-13, 18-25 and 25-20. Hannah Cantwell picked up 20 kills, Lauren LeClere had 13 and Brooke Krogmann 11 with Susie Funke scoring two aces.
Assumption’s Ellah Derrer had 19 kills and Alyssa O’Neal 16.
Western Christian will be the next opponent for West Delaware, as they escaped vs. Sioux Center in a five-set classic. Scores were 25-13, 25-23, 17-25, 19-25 and 15-13.
Scarlett Winterfeld led Western Christian with 21 kills while Bentley Bliek had 14 and Morgan Kooiman 11. Just five different players had kills in the win as Maggie Van Schepen recorded 15 digs and two aces while Winterfield had four aces.
For Sioux Center, Margo Schuiteman had 16 kills and Maci Schmalbeck recorded 16 digs.
Mount Vernon (43-4) will face Dubuque Wahlert (26-8) at 2 p.m. Wednesday while Western Christian (32-13) takes on West Delaware (39-6) at 2:25 p.m. The championship is set for Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
Published Nov 5, 2024
Dana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000, writing for The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Dana resides in northcentral Iowa and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in 2022 focused on the state of Iowa. Along with providing coverage of football and wrestling, Dana also spotlights cross country, swimming, basketball, track and field, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball and softball. He began writing for High School on SI in 2023.
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