Dengler Named Gazette 2025 Male Athlete of the Year
West Liberty multisport standout Ryker Dengler embraced every offseason activity across football wrestling basketball track and baseball earning the 2025 Male Athlete of the Year honor. He is the first Comet to win the Gazettes male award and credits broad participation with building work ethic and time management.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Est
Liberty
Ryker Dengler
West Liberty
Dengler
Gazette
Macy Danfeldt
Dengler shines in five-sport high school career at West Liberty
Ryker Glen Dengler, a West Liberty senior born October 30 2006, starred in five sports. He won a Class 2A state title in the 400 meter hurdles and earned 11 state qualifications in track while also excelling in wrestling with 137 career wins and a sixth place at 165 pounds. He averaged 17.6 points in basketball and passed for over 3,000 football yards. Dengler will play football at Coe College and plans a Sports Management major.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ryker Glen Dengler
West Liberty
Stephanie
Rob
Gage
Justis
Talen
Coe College
Meester Crowned 2025 Female Athlete of the Year
Mount Vernon star Chloe Meester, a 6 foot 3 standout, earns the Gazette 2025 Female Athlete of the Year recognition alongside Libby Fandel of Cedar Rapids Xavier. Meester led Mount Vernon to state volleyball and basketball titles as she prepares for Louisville.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dan Meske
University of Louisville
Meester
Mount Vernon
the Gazette
Cedar Rapids Xavier
Libby Fandel
Chloe
Meester Headlines Mount Vernon Star Athlete Chloe Grace Meester
Chloe Grace Meester, born October 16, 2006, stars for Mount Vernon with state volleyball player of the year honors from both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Gatorade. A three time first team all stater with 2071 kills, she led the Mustangs to four state appearances including a 2024 3A championship. She also earned two first team all state basketball honors and qualified in track hurdles as a sophomore and junior. She will play volleyball for the University of Louisville and major in business.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chloe Grace Meester
Mount Vernon
Brad
Jamie Meester
Lily
Emma
Sophia
Aubree
Adalynne
Iowa Girls Coaches Association
American Volleyball Coaches Association
Mustangs
University of Louisville
Libby Fandel Drives Xavier Comeback in State Tourney
Cedar Rapids Xavier guard Libby Fandel carried her team into the state tournament by upsetting No. 1 Sioux City Heelan as the 8-seed in Class 4A. Family notes a stormy forecast contrasted by her on court leadership and late comeback.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edar Rapids
Libby Fandel
Morgan Paige
University of Kansas
Cedar Rapids Xavier
Sioux City Heelan
Fandel
Matt
Libby Fandel shines as Miss Iowa Basketball 2025
Cedar Rapids Xavier standout Libby Rose Fandel, born December 19, 2006, tops basketball honors after leading the Saints to the Class 4A state title. She finishes with 1,995 career points, 26.3 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 4.4 apg and 3.8 spg across four state appearances. Fandel, a four time first team all state, also excelled in volleyball and high jump before signing with Kansas for business studies.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Libby Rose Fandel
Cedar Rapids
Xavier
Matt
Ashlee Fandel
Quine
Miss Iowa
Saints
University of Kansas
Libby Fandel
State
Nick Rohlman
the Gazette
Also Mentioned on This Page
Ryker
Libby
Ryker Dengler West Liberty
K.J. Pilcher
Chloe Meester
Louisville
Ighsal
Savannah Blake
Jeff Linder
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!