The ninth biggest story from the last school year for Mid-Prairie athletics takes us to the golf course where the Golden Hawk boys and girls filled up the trophy case during the championship portion of their seasons.

The Mid-Prairie boys had their first River Valley Conference individual champion since 2006 when Bryce Henry rolled through the field in Muscatine with his one-over-par round of 73, that included three birdies and a back nine 34. The Golden Hawks were team-runners up by one shot at 314 and had Henry, Denver Nelson, Hudson Ehrenfelt and Ace Peck earn All-RVC honors. Mid-Prairie went on to sectionals where the team season ended with a fifth place finish and 45-20 overall record, their most wins since 2019, but Henry and Grayson Gingerich moved on to districts with rounds of 78. The Hawk’s head coach Kelby Bender was named River Valley Coach of the Year.

The Golden Hawk girls doubled up with a pair of big tournament wins. The Hawks took the title at their April home Golden Hawk Invitational in Kalona for the first time since 2014 with a score of 379, led by Morgyn Bender’s fifth place 91. At the RVC championship meet, the Hawks were runners-up with a 389, placing Bender, Addison English, Olivia Swartzentruber and Lilly Miller on All-Conference teams. The Golden Hawks defended their home course in the playoffs, winning their Class 2A regional opener in Kalona with a score of 377, led by Swartzentruber’s third place finish. The Hawks bid for a fourth straight trip to state came up short in their 2A regional final at West Liberty where they were fourth with a score of 394, paced by Swartzentruber’s 91. The Golden Hawks ended the year with a 46-8 overall record.

Our countdown continues Wednesday with the eighth biggest story in Mid-Prairie sports last year, from the soccer pitch.