North Polk High School's girls' soccer team, much like many of their sports teams, has a reputation of being competitive and successful against other teams in their class. No strangers to the state soccer tournament, the school has played in the state tournament not so long ago, soon enough for some of the ladies playing on the current team to remember the heartbreak of loss and to use that memory to fuel this current season. The ladies indeed used that emotion and their own skills to compete once again at the state tournament. This time, the emotions were of elation as the Comets earned the Class 2A championship trophy. Why do we care about a school near Des Moines? Because Ellie Seuntjens, daughter of Katie and Joe Seuntjens of Polk City is on the team. Ellie's grandparents are Neal and the late Sharon Seuntjens of Mapleton and Marcia Lynch and Steve Lynch both of Rockwell City.
    "Last year the team lost in a substate game against Pella which was an upset," said Ellie who will be a sophomore at the beginning of the new school year. "Since that moment, our head coach Frans has brought up the terrible memory and feeling of us losing last year which, I think. led the team to leave it all on the field."
    This year the 17-3-1 Comets started their regional tournament against 8-9-1 Newton on the Comet home field. It was a pretty easy game for the home team, winning 5-0.
    "I expected to beat our first team in substate which was Newton, but the second round we played Xavier which I thought could have gone either way," Ellie stated.
    The game was a bit tense as the score was knotted 0-0 halfway through regulation. The second half had a bit more excitement with the Comets earning 2 goals and the Saints only 1, advancing North Polk to State.
    The Comets played their state quarterfinal on June 8th against Waverly-Shell Rock. The Comets looked good, scoring 2 goals in the first half. The Go-Hawks kept up the fight but were eliminated from the tournament as the Comets won 2-1.
    The semifinal was played four days later against a team the Comets knew all too well, the Dallas Center-Grimes Mustangs. As expected, the game was a nailbiter. Both teams used their defense to keep the opponent out of the net until the game was nearly over. In the final minute, Campbell Schulz earned a gooooaaal to put the Comets in the championship.
    "The feeling was unreal considering DC-G, a rivalry school won the championship game for a couple of years," commented Ellie concerning making it into the championship. "Also, knowing some of the girls played them in the final of 2024, them knowing the feeling of losing to this team again would not have been an outcome we wanted. Going up to the last minutes of the game and thinking about having to do PK (penalty kick) shots and going through that process would have been a much more nerve-wracking experience. When Campbell scored the goal within the last 40 seconds, the emotions felt real as it was almost certain we made it to the championship."
    The championship game was another nailbiter as they took on North Scott, ranked just above them in the standings, but this time the Comets got their only goal in the first half, helping ease a little of the tension. Just a little.
    "It was a really tight game with different points (of the game) where we had possession and then lost it, so it really didn't feel real until the clock ran out," exclaimed Ellie.
    And how does it feel to be a member of the Class 2A State Soccer Champs? Well, a mix of emotions.
    "Shock," replied Ellie. "It felt unreal that we were state champs, especially when we were ranked 7th going in to the state tournament. Happiness, because we won the entire thing and beat the best leading up to the game. Sad it was over and knowing I wouldn't be coached by the same head coach Frans and knowing that the seniors were done playing. But, overall, happiness considering we had the best outcome we could have had."
    Well played, Ellie and the rest of the Comets. Congratulations.
    Photo furnished by Joe Seuntjens. Thank you!

    Ida Grove has served the area's sick and injured in various capacities since 1905. Individual doctors or nurses have taken turns opening forms of hospitals in Ida Grove, each ending with closure until 1945 when the city purchased, remodeled and reopened the hospital. However, the state had other thoughts which impacted the facility.
    The following is taken from Horn's website: In 1959, the State Health Department notified the city hospital that it was not meeting state regulations, which spurred the development of what would be the present day Horn Memorial Hospital. In 1961 a massive community fundraising effort was organized to build the new hospital. The land on which the hospital is built was donated by Russell Hultgren and Harold Godbersen. Lee A. Horn was the major contributor to the hospital, and Horn Memorial Hospital was named in his honor. Ground breaking ceremonies were held on November 8, 1964. The hospital was dedicated Sunday, May 15, 1966. It officially opened its doors, May 29, 1966 and admitted its first patient on May 30th. Horn Memorial Hospital was the first hospital built in Ida Grove to be used as a hospital.
    To celebrate their anniversary, an ice cream social will be held from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Please join them for ice cream in the conference center. Guided tours of the departments will also be held.

    On Wednesday, July 1st at 1:30pm, we have Megan Holmes, a gal born and raised in the Battle Creek area coming to read her new book titled "Musical Thunderstorm." She will have copies of her book for sale and will be happy to sign them for you.
    Right after Megan is done reading, her dad, Dennis Laughlin, will be sharing some very interesting details about his business, Battle Creek Bottle Dump, and about fossils. He will have many fossils for us to see and even some for us to touch. Dennis has some extremely fascinating stories to share about some of the unique items he and his wife have found digging in their backyard. All ages are welcome!
    After this two-in-one program, the weekly Wednesday Euchre game will commence at 4pm. Euchre is great fun at Cord Memorial.

    Time is ticking away before the end of the t-shirt contest for Corn Days. Entries are needed by June 30th. Mailed entries must be postmarked no later than June 30th to qualify.
    For more details, find the article in this week's Review.

    Saturday was absolutely perfect weatherwise, and this was a good thing for those participating in the poker run originating out of Dana Hall. Just before the crowd took off for their first stop, the side-by-sides, motorcycles, and other vehicles lined the 200 block of Main Street. The event culminated in the evening with supper and time to socialize.