Atlantic senior John McConkey signed on Friday with the University of Northern Iowa to continue his wrestling and academic career. McConkey said he chose the Panthers over Nebraska, Northern Illinois, and Coe College.

McConkey went 53-4 during his junior season and was the state runner-up at Heavyweight in Class 2A. He fell to Tristan Wirfs of Mt. Vernon in the title match 3-2. McConkey said being so close to a state title has motivated him to work harder and he is currently the 9th ranked heavyweight in the nation by FloWrestling. McConkey talked about improving in the sport after only starting when he was in 8th grade.

McConkey has been a successful athlete in a number of sports for Atlantic but he said the decision to wrestle at the next level came easily.

Atlantic Head Coach Tim Duff said John’s work ethic has got him to the position he is now with a chance to wrestle Division I.

John will join a strong recruiting class for UNI with a number of other top ranked wrestlers. The Panthers were 11-3 in duals last year and placed 18th at the NCAA Championships last year with two All-Americans.

2017 HAWKEYE 10 ALL CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL TEAMS                    

STUDENT NAME               HIGH SCHOOL                    GRADE  POSITION

FIRST TEAM

1              Lauren Bair                         CLARINDA                           12           OH
2              Sidney Craig                       HARLAN                               12           L
3              **Aimee Adams                  KUEMPER CATHOLIC           11           OH/DS
4              Kalee Peter                         KUEMPER CATHOLIC           12           MH/DS
5              Kara Peter                           KUEMPER CATHOLIC           10           MH
6              **Katherine Poore              LEWIS CENTRAL                    12           OH/S
7              Maegan Holt                      LEWIS CENTRAL                   12           RH
8              **Sierra Athen                    RED OAK                              12           OH
9              Lexie Petry                         ST. ALBERT                            12           S
10           Sydney McLaren                 ST. ALBERT                            12           OH

2ND TEAM

1              Taylor Wedemeyer             CLARINDA                           11           S
2              Megan Witte                     LEWIS CENTRAL                   10           OH
3              Sydney Streicher                RED OAK                              12           L
4              Chloe Johnson                   RED OAK                              10           OH
5              Kealey Anderson               SHENANDOAH                     11           OH/M
6              Maggie Wettengel             ST. ALBERT                           11           L
7              Bailey White                       ST. ALBERT                          11           MH
8              Lexi Larsen                         HARLAN                              12           OH
9              Taylor Promes                   KUEMPER CATHOLIC            12           L
10           Maci Overmohle                 KUEMPER CATHOLIC            11           S

HONORABLE MENTION

1              Cheyenne Elliott                ATLANTIC                            12           MH
2              Alex Mohr                         DENISON-SCHLESWIG         11           OH
3              Sierra Stouder                   GLENWOOD                        12           OH/L
4              MaKenna Hudson             CRESTON                             10           L
5              Logan Hughes                  SHENANDOAH                     11           OH/M
6              Brielle Smith                     GLENWOOD                         11           MH
7              Olivia Petersen                 HARLAN                               11           M
8              Rachel Cushing                 LEWIS CENTRAL                   10           L/DS
9              Sophie Walker                   RED OAK                              10           MH
10           Haley Leinen                      HARLAN                               12           M/OH
11           Madi Lihs                           CLARINDA                           12           MB
12           Cayla Maitlen                     CRESTON                             12           OH

2017 8-Man, District 7 All-District Honors

2017 Class 8-Man, District 7 Final Standings

*^Sidney                            7-0                  10-1
^Fremont-Mills                  6-1                  9-3
C-A-M                               4-3                  6-4
Exira/EH-Kimbltn                4-3                  5-4
Woodbine                          3-4                  4-5
East Mills                           3-4                  3-6
Clarinda Academy              1-6                  2-7
Essex                                 0-7                  0-10
*District Champion.  ^Playoff Qualifier.

2017 District 7 Honors

Coach of the Year: Donnie Sears, Sidney
Offensive Player of the Year: Thomas Hensley, C-A-M, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Hontz, Fremont-Mills, Sr.

First Team Offense

Quarterback: Thomas Hensley, C-A-M, Sr.
Linemen: Thomas Wilson, Sidney, Soph.; Blake Hurley, Fremont-Mills, Sr.; Brady Lorimor, Sidney, Jr.
Running Back: Bryson Duncan, Sidney, Sr.; Joey Wolf, Woodbine, Sr.; Jaeger Powers, Fremont-Mills, Jr.
Tight End/Receiver: Layne Pryor, Woodbine, Fr.; Nick Holste, C-A-M, Sr.; Dylan Schroeder, East Mills, Sr.
Utility: Andrew Honz, Fremont-Mills, Sr.
Kicker: Sergio Rodriguez, Sidney, Sr.

First Team Defense

Linemen: Andrew Hontz, Fremont-Mills, Sr.; Cody Dupre, Sidney, Sr.; Austin Gartner, Fremont-Mills, Jr.
Linebacker: Cole Madsen, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Sr.; Joey Wolf, Woodbine, Sr.; Seth Malcom, Fremont-Mills, Fr.; Isaac Bower, C-A-M, Jr.
D-Back: Thomas Hensley, C-A-M, Sr.; Jaden Sears, Sidney, Jr.; James Switzer, Fremont-Mills, Soph.
Utility: Jaeger Powers, Fremont-Mills, Jr.
Punter: Joey Wolf, Woodbine, Sr.

Second Team Offense

Quarterback: Mason Vanatta, Fremont-Mills, Jr.
Linemen: Brady Griffin, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Sr.; Kaleb Venteicher, C-A-M, Sr.; Clay Kuhlman, Woodbine, Jr.
Running Back: Darien Burnison, C-A-M, Jr.; Cody Dupre, Sidney, Sr.; Damani Green, Clarinda Academy, Sr.
Tight End/Receiver: Sergio Rodriguez, Sidney, Sr.; Tristan Vanatta, Fremont-Mills, Sr.; Trey Nelson, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Jr.
Utility: Cole Burmeister, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Jr.
Kicker: Connor Alley, Fremont-Mills, Jr.

Second Team Defense

Linemen: Blake Hurley, Fremont-Mills, Sr.; DeShawn Carr, C-A-M, Jr.; Thomas Wilson, Sidney, Soph.
Linebacker: Cameron Whitehead, Sidney, Sr.; Bryson Duncan, Sidney, Sr.; Connor Alley, Fremont-Mills, Jr.; Nic Duysen, East Mills, Soph.
D-Back: Dylan Schroeder, East Mills, Sr.; Jayden Goodwin, Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, Jr.; Michael Schafer, East Mills, Soph.
Utility: Caleb Behrends, Sidney, Sr.
Punter: Chris Darnold, East Mills, Soph.

2017 Honorable Mention

Sidney: Brock Shirley (Jr.); Cameron Whitehead (Sr.); Tate Thompson (Sr.); Tim Hensley (Sr.); Brady Lorimor (Jr.); Christian Nennemann (Jr.); Sergio Rodriguez (Sr.).
Fremont-Mills: Jonah Bateman (Jr.); Clayton Stille (Soph.);
C-A-M: Ethan Steffensen (Soph.);
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton: Josh Pettepier (Jr.); Trever Schulz (Jr.);
Woodbine: Wyatt Pryor (Soph.); Carter Ellison (Sr.); Tyler Coberly (Jr.).
East Mills: Chris Darnold (Soph.); Nate Richardson (Jr.);
Clarinda Academy: Cornelius Kellogg (Sr.); Eric Fraise (Sr.); Garrett Hastie (Jr.);
Essex: Colton Thornburg (Soph.); Aaron Whistlar (Sr.); Luke Dailey (Jr.); Daniel Ohnmacht (Jr.);

2017 Academic All-District – Must be Jr., Sr. – Maintain 3.25 GPA

Fremont-Mills: Connor Alley (Jr.); Dylan Chambers (Jr.); Austin Gartner (Jr.); Andrew Hontz (Sr.); Blake Hurley (Sr.); Jaeger Powers (Jr.); Mason Vanatta (Jr.);
C-A-M: Isaac Bower (Jr.); Darien Burnison (Jr.); Jackson Heithoff (Sr.); Thomas Hensley (Sr.); Andrew Holste (Jr.); Nicholas Holste (Sr.); Sam Martin (Jr.); Teaguen Sothman (Jr.); Kaleb Venteicher (Sr.); Mitchell Williamson (Jr.).
Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton: Jayden Goodwin (Jr.); Brady Griffin (Sr.); Ian Leader (Jr.); Cole Madsen (Sr.); Trey Nelson (Jr.); Josh Pettepier (Jr.); Dalton VanderWal (Sr.).
Woodbine: Alex Bantam (Jr.); Clay Kuhlman (Jr.); Connor Sullivan (Jr.); Joey Wolf (Sr.).
East Mills: Trevor Glockel (Jr.).