MUSCATINE, Iowa–Following the short break that comes after fall sports, students and the community got excited for Muscatine High School’s next season of athletics at the Winter Sports Kickoff. An opportunity to meet the players and coaches before play begins, many fans came out and supported all the athletes Nov. 18.
A busy time of year for Muscatine High School’s athletic department, nine teams will compete this winter, girls and boys basketball, girls and boys bowling, the cheer team, the poms team, boys swimming, and girls and boys wrestling.
With Addison Westercamp starting her first season as varsity girls basketball coach, Muscatine High School Athletic Director Mike Henson believes she will bring new excitement to the team that will start their season off on the right foot. As he explained, “on the girls side in basketball, we have a new coach and she brings a lot of energy.”
In both boys and girls bowling, Henson believes that having two very young teams last year will provide good results this year, as the bowlers have gained experience and developed the skills that could help them reach the state tournament. “In bowling, both teams look like they could make a statement,” Henson observed. He believes a large number of returning players in boys basketball could benefit that team as well.
In wrestling, Henson looks forward to overseeing Muscatine High School’s first year of having girls wrestling as an officially sanctioned sport. “I’m excited to see how this will play out,” he said. “I think they’ll be a lot of fun to watch, and excitement will build as the program grows.”
With this year’s girls state wrestling tournament taking place in Iowa City, Henson thinks even more area residents will come and watch the girls excel and get interested in the sport. Currently, Muscatine High School has approximately 10 girls wrestling under the direction of varsity boys wrestling coach Scott Mauck.
The evening of Nov. 18, Muscatine sports fans gathered in the Muscatine High School gym to take in all the exuberance of the Winter Sports Kickoff. Along with introducing all the players on each of the winter sports teams, the Kickoff also featured performances by both the cheer and poms teams, who will perform at basketball games and wrestling meets throughout the season. Rather than having a basketball scrimmage as in past years, this year’s Winter Sports Kickoff featured some interactive activities for members of the different sports teams to participate in.
A great chance for the community to come together on a mid-November night and get pepped up for all of the sports seasons ahead, Henson felt pleased about the event. “Those nights are always fun because it’s really enjoyable to see everyone together, and there’s a lot of optimism as the season starts.”
With winter sports now getting underway, all of the teams hope to have good spectator turnout at all their home games and meets. The Muskie Booster Club also hopes bakers and shoppers will save the date for this year’s decades-themed cake auction, which will take place Jan. 27.
