JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER A Marion freshman will write a new chapter in the Marion/Freeman wrestling book this week.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER As a seventh grader a year ago, Riley Tschetter was probably thrilled just to make it to the State Wrestling Tournament in his rookie season wrestling at the varsity level, never mind that he lost both of his matches in the 106 lb. weight division. This year? “I’m just going out there planning on winning,” he said.

The Menno girls battled but the No. 8-seed Wolves came up short against No. 1 Centerville, falling to the Tornados  35-23 in the second round of the Region 5B Tournament Tuesday night, Feb. 22. Menno finishes the season 5-17 while Centerville will take a 19-2 record into Thursday's third-round game against Freeman Public.

The Courier is making this story available for members and non-members alike. If you appreciate this type of community journalism, please consider signing up by clicking here. Paityn Huber picked the right time to find her touch from the outside.

Freeman eighth grader Riley Tschetter will compete in his second State Wrestling Tournament after finishing second in the 132 lb. division of the Region 2B Wrestling Tournament in Freeman Saturday, Feb. 19.

No. 8 Menno will host No. 9 Freeman Academy/Marion in the Region 5B Tournament play-in game Monday, Feb. 21. The game has been moved from the evening to 2 p.m. because of expected incoming winter weather. The winner of Monday's game will travel to top-seed Centerville Tuesday.  In other action on Tuesday, No. 4 Freeman will face No. 5 Scotland at 7:30 p.m. in Centerville. Also, No. 2 Viborg-Hurley will face No. 7 Gayville-Volin and No. 3 Irene-Wakonda will play No. 6 Alcester-Hudson; both of those games are hosted by Viborg-Hurley.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEREMY WALTNER On March 5, 2021, with Freeman Academy/Marion facing Viborg-Hurley in the third round of the Region 5B Tournament, Connor Epp dazzled the crowded house inside the Freeman High School gym with the game of his life: 25 points, eight assists, five steals and five rebounds. But that’s not what he remembers.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Between teams, team personnel and fans, as many as 1,500 people are expected to pack the Freeman High School gym this coming Saturday, Feb. 19 as the local school district hosts the Region 2B Wrestling Tournament for the third time since 2014. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. sharp with action beginning at 9:30 a.m. The finals are expected to be underway by 5 p.m.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER School boards from Freeman Public, Marion and Freeman Academy have all voted unanimously in favor of forming a new football cooperative starting this fall. The Freeman board OK’d the four-year agreement at a special meeting Tuesday morning, Feb. 8; Freeman Academy approved the proposal Tuesday evening; and the Marion board signed off on the deal at its own special meeting Monday night, Feb. 7.

A task force meeting that included school leadership from Freeman Public, Marion and Freeman Academy held Wednesday night, Feb. 2 at Freeman Academy has provided some direction regarding the possibility of a sports cooperative between the three schools.