Two named to All-State Softball Team

 DES MOINES — Two area softball players were named to the 2020 Iowa Girls Coaches Association’s Class 2A All-State teams last week. Wilton junior Chloe Wells was a first team selection and Durant senior Allie Poston was named a second team selection. Ogden’s Mike Moses was named the Class 2A coach of the year. Moses helped led Ogden to a record of 22-3 and the Class 2A Championship
with a 6-1 win over North Linn in the championship game.
 Wells hit .464 and finished with an on-base percentage right at .500 for the Beavers. She scored 17 runs and drove in 12 RBIs. Wells hit five doubles, two triples and a home run.
 Poston hit .462 and drove in 11 for the Wildcats while she scored 19 runs. A standout catcher, Poston hit three doubles, a triple and three home runs.
 There were four other River Valley Conference players selected to a Class 2A All-State team. Northeast junior Alexis Ehlers and West Branch junior Nicki Henson were first team selections. Northeast senior Bree Mangelsen and Iowa City Regina junior Annie Gahan were both selected for the 2A second team list.
 There were seven softball players selected from the River Valley Conference to the Class 3A team. Anamosa had four players chosen led by senior Ellie Tallman on the first team. Other first team picks were West Liberty seniors Haylee Lehman and Austyn Crees and Camanche senior Tarah Wehde.
Anamosa’s Grace Lueben was a second team selection and teammates Emily Watters and Kalli Minger were both third team picks. Williamsburg coach Adam Berte was named the Class 3A coach of the year.
 

Class 2A First Team
Madisyn Kelley (Central Springs) 10; Kaylea Fessler (Central Springs)10; Kylie Doty (Colfax-
Mingo) 10; Alli Boyle (Earlham) 11; Kodie Hoskey (East Marshall LeGrand) 12; Jenna Jensen (Jesup) 12; Hailey Sanders (Louisa-Muscatine) 12; Kylee Sanders (Louisa-Muscatine)
11; Sam Stewart (Mount Ayr) 12; Alexis Ehlers (Northeast, Goose Lake) 11; Abby Flanagan (North Linn Troy Mills) 12; Grace Flanagan (North Linn Troy Mills) 12; Hannah Bridgewater (North Linn Troy Mills) 12; Hope Steinberger (North Union) 12; Denali Loecker (Ogden) 12; Meredith Adreon (Ogden) 12; Chloe Morgan (Pella Christian) 12; Josie Sowers
(Pleasantville) 11; Chelsey Huff (Van Buren
County) 11; Nicki Henson (West Branch) 11; Lexi Lander (West Monona Onawa) 12; Chloe Wells (Wilton) 11.
Class 2A Coach of the Year: Mike Moses - Ogden
Class 2A Second Team
Sydney Cook (Alburnett) 11; Keeley Schmitt (Beckman Catholic) 11; Caylee Cunningham (Colfax-Mingo) 9; Allie Poston (Durant) 12; Molly Schany (Emmetsburg) 12; Kristan Sadler
(Jesup) 12; Alexis Larson (Jesup) 10; McKenna Hohenadel (Louisa-Muscatine) 10; Bree Mangelsen (Northeast, Goose Lake) 12; Sam Nielsen (North Union) 10; Jenna Palmer (Ogden) 12; Emri Agre (Pella Christian) 9; Annie
Gahan (Regina Iowa City) 11; Taryn Hintz (South O’Brien Paullina) 12; Alyssa Kellar (Treynor) 11; Ella Pierce (Underwood) 11;Lexi Jirak (Van Buren County) 12; Macy Blomgren (Van Meter) 9; Tori Wynja (Western Christian) 12; Kennedy Kramer (West Lyon) 11; Megan Nichols (West Monona Onawa) 12; Erika McKenney
(West Sioux Hawarden) 12.

Swimming guidelines for upcoming season

 DES MOINES — The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union recently released their return to competition guidelines for schools to follow this fall as the world deals with the global
Co-Vid 19 pandemic.
The following are some of the guidelines for the upcoming swimming
season.
General Guidelines
The IGHSAU strongly encourages all participants and spectators to practice social distancing and to wear face coverings
whenever possible.
Leave the facility as soon as reasonable possible after practice; no congregation after swimming.
Lap Counting: Only one person per lane should be permitted at turning end. Provide hand sanitizer and require lap counters to clean hands and wipe down devices.
Timers: Timers must assemble at the finish of each race, at the edge of the pool within the 6-8 feet confines of the lane which they are timing. Timers are strongly encouraged to wear cloth facial coverings.
Relay Takeoff Judges and Relays: Require
all takeoff judging from the sides of the pool. Space relay swimmers apart from one another. Timers and relay takeoff judges are strongly encouraged to wear cloth facial coverings.
Other Meet Guidance & Considerations
Swimming Warm-up Areas: Establish multiple sessions for warm-up periods to limit number of swimmers per lane. Restrict
the number of swimmers in competition
area. Limit number of swimmers per lane during warm-up and warm-down periods.
Teams Seating and Lane Placement: Keep the teams on opposite sides of the pool and require the home team to compete
in lanes 1-3 and visitors to swim in lanes 4-6.
Post race: Swimmer finishing that finish
their individual race along with relay anchors that finish in the water should swim to the opposite end of the starting blocks and exit to limit contact with timers.
Preparing Athletes for Competition: Athlete clerking areas should be eliminated.
Handshakes: No handshakes between teams.
General Considerations for Swimming
& Diving
The following are additional considerations
for coaches, student-athletes, officials,
parents, and administrators.
Considerations for Coaches
Communicate your guidelines in a clear manner to students and parents.
Consider conducting workouts in “pods” of same students always training and rotating together in practice to ensure more limited exposure if someone develops
an infection.
Keep accurate records of those athletes and staff who attend each practice in case contact tracing is needed.
Team Gatherings at Meets – Social distancing
from other teams as much as possible is strongly recommended. This would be a good reminder for parents as well.
Considerations for Student-Athletes
Consider making each student responsible
for their own supplies (water bottle, hand sanitizer, face mask, towel, etc.)
Students should wear their own appropriate
workout clothing (do not share clothing), and individual clothing/towels should be washed and cleaned after every
workout immediately upon returning home.
Hand sanitizer should be plentiful at all contests and practices.
Athletes should tell coaches immediately
when they are not feeling well.
Cloth face coverings are permitted.
Bring your own water bottle.
Considerations for Officials
Bring personal hand sanitizer. Wash hands frequently.
Do not share equipment.
Follow social distancing guidelines during
pre- and post-meet conferences and during contests.
Consider using electronic whistle.
Do not shake hands or fist bump other officials, players or coaches.
Officials may wear cloth face coverings at all times.
Considerations for Parents
Provide personal items for your child and clearly label them.
The use of cloth face coverings is strongly encouraged. In addition, social distancing is strongly encouraged as much as possible for non-participants, parents, coaches, officials, and other event volunteers.
Considerations for Administration
Facility Sanitization – Consideration should be given to which facilities are going to need sanitization, how often will sanitization be needed, who will be doing the sanitizing.
Locker rooms may be utilized however the Department of Public Health guidelines
must be adhered to.
Awards ceremonies – Consideration for options that would allow social distancing
for the athletes, coaches, and spectators – consider other alternatives such as not having awards ceremonies, strongly recommending the use of cloth face coverings for any individuals attending
the awards ceremonies if there are alternative options
Post-season – Potential options shall be considered regarding the state qualifying
contests and state tournaments depending upon the status of Covid-19.
Admission may be taken using sanitization
practices or a free-will donation container
is an option as well.

IGHSAU Puts Out Return To Competition Guidelines

 
DES MOINES — The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union recently released their return to competition guidelines for schools to follow this fall as the world deals with the global Co-Vid 19 pandemic.
It is the responsibility of the home team to provide
proper administrative supervision (not the coach) at contests to assure compliance with the guidelines set forth by the Governor’s office, the Department of Education, the Department of Public Health, the Iowa High School Athletic Association
and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
Return to Learn & Competition
All schools, regardless of district/school Return to Learn plans, will be eligible to participate in IHSAA and IGHSAU sports programs. The decision
regarding whether or not to allow teams to participate rests solely with local school districts.
Schools deciding to not participate in a sport should send written notice from its Superintendent
or designated school official to IHSAA Executive
Director Tom Keating/IGHSAU Executive Director Jean Berger by August 17th.
Eligibility for Students in Districts That Do Not Offer One or More Fall Sports
Two options exist:
The District not offering the sport may develop a cooperative sharing agreement with a district that does offer the sport. This may jeopardize the host school’s post-season eligibility if the combined
enrollment moves the host school to the next enrollment class. As per 36.15(4)(b)
Students in a district not offering the sport may open enroll to another district and would be immediately
eligible to participate in that sport. In such a situation, students who open enroll would be ineligible for varsity competition in all sports which their home district offers. As per 36.15(4)(a) All students are eligible for fall sports. Regardless
of the Return to Learn plan implemented,
all students must be enrolled in at least four courses to be eligible.
Return to Learn and Concussion Protocol
The Department of Education, Iowa Department of Health and IATS will clarify how Return to Play (RTP) protocols relate to each of the three Return to Learn options schools may implement. The general guideline is that a day of school is a day of school, regardless of how instruction is delivered.
Possible/Positive COVID-19 Cases
The Iowa Department of Public Health is developing guidance for county health departments and schools regarding
protocols when a student and/or student-athlete reports COVID-19 symptoms, a positive COVID-19 test result or contact with a person with a positive COVID-19 test result. Each school should identify a point of contact for athetes, coaches, and other personnel to report to when he/she experiences COVID-19 symptoms, a positive
COVID-19 test result or contact with a person with a positive COVID-19 test result. This identified person will be responsible to report such situations to local public health. Each school should develop a communication plan to notify relevant persons (players, coaches, spectators)
when contact-tracing indicates the need to.
Health Screening
Schools should implement health screening for practices
and games similar to methods used during baseball
and softball seasons. Self-screening and reporting to the school representative (AD/Coach/Trainer, etc.) is permissible.
Any individual reporting symptoms and/or a temperature of 100.4F or higher should be isolated until they can safely transport home.
Social Distancing
The overarching safety principal in all areas of athletic activities (meetings, practices, travel, instruction, drills, benches, spectators, locker rooms, training rooms, concessions, restrooms, etc.) is that individuals should maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
Hand Sanitizing
Student-athletes should be encouraged to frequently sanitize their hands before, during and after practice and competition. Non-touch hand sanitizers may be used. Student-athletes should have their own personal hand sanitizer. Individuals should especially sanitize before touching “common” equipment or other items.
Water
Each individual student-athlete should have their own water container.
If a hydration station (e.g. cooler) is provided, individuals must sanitize their hands prior to using the hydration station.
An alternative practice is to assign one person to fill water bottles and that person should wear a mask and protective gloves.
Host schools may provide a water source for visitors but visitors should bring their own hydration station (cooler).
Spectators
Schools should implement spectator protocols by following
CDC and local department of health guidelines regarding size of gatherings and social distancing.
Spectators should use 6 feet social distancing. Families may sit/stand together but should social distance from others. Frequent reminders should be made via public address.
Just as businesses may require customers to wear masks, schools may require spectators to wear masks.
Press Box/Scorer’s Bench
These areas should be limited to:
Essential personnel - Scorekeeper, scoreboard operator, announcer
Home and Visitor Coaching staffs (football)
Media (as per guidelines below)
Individuals in the press box and/or at scorer’s table should practice 6 feet social distancing.
Media
Schools should communicate with media regarding protocols
for practices and games. It is recommended that:
Space be provided for media game coverage that takes into consideration: 6 feet of social distancing Priority given to: 1) home team coverage; 2) visiting team coverage;
3) other coverage Procedure be established regarding
interview requests prior to/after practices and games, including Identifying an area where interviews will be conducted. Establishing a required advanced notice
timeframe.
Concession Stands
If concession stands are open, patrons should practice 6 feet of social distancing.

River Valley Conference Names Tops Players For 2020

 MONTICELLO — A combined sixteen players from the four Tipton Conservative coverage areas were named to one of the River Valley Conference honors list last week. The league released their annual all-conference teams after the 2020 season concluded last week with the state tournament. Wilton led area teams with eight selections while Durant was second with four. North Cedar had three selections and Tipton had one pick. Wilton’s Chloe Wells was the only area player on the RVC Elite team. She was joined on the all-conference list by RVC South Division selections Mila Johnson, Mallory Lange, Payton Ganzer, Peyton Souhrada, Emily Coss, and Hayley Madlock. Grace Madlock was also selected on the honorable mention team.
 Wells batted .464 with 26 hits, five doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 12 RBI’s. Ganzer
batted .393 with 16 hits, two home runs, and 25 RBI’s. Souhrada batted .414 with 24 hits and 16 RBI’s. Lange batted .397 with 25 hits, 22 runs scored and 7 RBI’s. Hayley Madlock batted .327 with 18 hits, a home run, and 5 RBI’s. Johnson pitched and had a record of 11-4 in 70 ⅓ innings. She had an ERA of 1.79 with 44 strikeouts. Johnson batted .394 with 13 hits.
 Grace Madlock batted .250 and pitched. She was 2-0 in 39 ⅔ innings pitched with a ERA of 2.65 and 36 strikeouts.
 A trio of Durant Wildcat players were selected to the RVC South Division team in Kira Schult, Allie Poston, and Kylie Schult. Savannah Meinert was an honorable mention selection.
 Poston led Durant in batting, with a .462 batting average with 18 hits, 19 runs scored and 11 RBI’s. She had three home runs. Kylie Schult batted .438 with 21 hits, 22 RBI’s and seven runs scored. Schult pitched and had a record of 3-1 in six starts. She had an ERA of 4.13 with 22 strikeouts. Kira Schult batted .375 with 18 hits, 13 RBI’s and eight runs scored. Meinert batted .250 with 11 hits, 10 runs scored and 10 RBI’s.
 North Cedar had three players honored. Knight players Kendall Smith and Kassidie Galloway were named to the River Valley Conference North Division team. Alyssa Hefflefinger
was an honorable mention selection.
 Smith batted .351 to lead North Cedar. Smith had 13 hits including two doubles and a triple. Smith also pitched and had a record of 2-5 in seven games pitched and six starts. She pitched in 39 ⅔ innings with a ERA of 3.35 and 37 strikeouts. Galloway led North Cedar in hits this summer with 14 including 12 singles. She had two RBI’s and a batting average of .326. Hefflefinger was 0-6 pitching in 39 innings with a ERA of 3.41 with 29 strikeouts. Hefflefinger batted .343 with 12 hits a home run, triple and three doubles.
 Tipton senior Morgan Wendel was the lone THS all-conference pick this year. She was an honorable mention selection. Wendel pitched and had a record of 4-8 in 80 ⅔ innings. She had an ERA of 3.90 with 59 strikeouts. Wendel batted .182 with six hits and two RBI’s.
 West Liberty coach Chad Libby and Northeast coach Travis Eversmeyer were named the coaches
of the year in the RVC South and North Divisions. 

2020 River Valley Conference
All-Conference Team
Elite Team – P: Janey Gingerich, Jr., West Liberty;
Kalli Minger, Sr., Anamosa; Madison Kluever, 8th, Northeast. INF: Haylee Lehman, Sr., West Liberty; Ellie Tallman, Sr., Anamosa; Alexis Ehlers, Jr., Northeast; Annie Gahan, Jr., Regina. OF: Grace Lubben, Jr., Anamosa; Chloe Wells, Jr., Wilton; Neveah Hildebrandt, Jr., Northeast; Nicki Henson, Jr., West Branch. C: Austyn Crees, Sr., West Liberty; Bree Mangelsen, Sr., Northeast. UTIL: Finley Hall, Fr., West Liberty; Emily Watters, Fr., Anamosa; Claire Abbott, Sr., Northeast; Tarah Wehde, Sr., Camanche.
South Team – P: Mila Johnson, Jr., Wilton; Kaiya Luneckas, Sr., West Branch. INF: Mallory Lange, Soph., Wilton; Mackenzie Heise, Sr., West Branch; Isabel Morrison, Jr., West Liberty; Elly Gahan, Sr., Regina. OF: Payton Ganzer, Soph., Wilton; Kira Schult, Sr., Durant; Macy Daufeldt, Soph., West Liberty; Peyton Souhrada, Soph., Wilton. C: Emily Coss, Jr., Wilton; Allie Poston, Sr., Durant. UTIL: Kylie Schult, Soph., Durant; Emma Nibaur, Soph., Regina; Sailor Hall, Soph., West Liberty; Hayley Madlock, Fr., Wilton; Lexi Klinkkammer, Soph., West Branch.
Coach of the year – Chad Libby, West Liberty
North Team – P: Devin Simon, Fr., Cascade; Kendall
Smith, Soph., North Cedar. INF: Lexi Bright, Jr., Anamosa; Audrey Morris, Sr., Northeast; Valerie Spooner, Jr., Northeast; Lauren Snyder, Soph., Camanche. OF: Autumn Kirby, Sr., Anamosa;
Claudia Noonan, 8th, Cascade; Julianna Penniston, Jr., Bellevue; Jaelyn Aitchison, Fr., Monticello. C: Aubrey Carstensen, Soph., Camanche;
Shannon Morris, Jr., Cascade. UTIL: Joslin Banowetz, Fr., Anamosa; MaKenna McDonald, Sr., Northeast; Jamie Robertson, Soph., Camanche;
Reese Cox, Jr., Monticello; Kassidie Galloway,
Sr., North Cedar
Coach of the year – Travis Eversmeyer, Northeast
Honorable Mention – Grace Madlock, Fr., Wilton; Savannah Meinert, 8th, Durant; Emma Sueppel, Jr., Regina; Maddy Hatfield, Jr., West Branch; Rylee Vercande, Soph., Mid-Prairie; Morgan Wendel, Sr., Tipton; Brooklyn Buysse, Fr., West Liberty; Mallory Steiner, Soph., Monticello; Kaylee
Hansen, Soph., Northeast; Kennady Bigwood, 8th, Camanche; Julia Ludwig, Jr., Cascade; Kylie Chapman, Jr., Anamosa; Brianna Laughlin, Sr., Bellevue; Alyssa Hefflefinger, Fr., North Cedar

Wildcats Season Ends At State In Heartbreak

 DES MOINES — The Durant Wildcat baseball team returned to the state baseball tournament
for the first time since 2003 on July 27. There, the Wildcats faced 2019 Class 2A state runner-up North Linn in one of four state quarterfinals. The Lynx pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom
of the seventh inning to slide past the Wildcats 2-1 and advance. Durant ended the season with a record of 12-5.
 The Wildcats did not play as the underdog in the game and on the big stage of the state tournament, did not seem overmatched. The Wildcats got another quality start from junior ace Nate Dierickx in the game, but the Lynx were able to scoot by.
 The game proved to be a pitcher’s duel between Dierickx and Lynx sophomore Austin Hilmer. Both unbeaten this year pitching going into the game (Dierickx 6-0 and Hilmer 8-0), the duo gave fans every bit of their price they paid for their ticket to the game. Dierickx gave up two hits in the first five innings including allowing no hits in three consecutive innings (2nd-4th innings).
 Dierickx struck out five of his seven strikeouts in the game in the first five innings. Hilmer was equally impressive in the first five innings, allowing one-run as he struck out three Wildcat batters.
Hilmer improved to 9-0 with the win. He needed 110 pitches and went seven innings. He gave up one run, struck out six, and walked only one batter.
 Dierickx took the loss, his first of the season, after working 6 ⅔ innings. He gave up just his second and third unearned runs of the season while striking out seven and walking five Lynx batters including beaning three North Linn batters. Dierickx finishes the season 6-1 and needed 108 pitches.
 Durant had only two hits in the game a single by Brendan Paper and a double by Logan Callison that drove in the only Durant run. Durant left five baserunners on base. North Linn had only five hits in the game by just three players. The top-2 batters for the Lynx - Austin Hilmer and Parker Bechen - each had two hits in four at-bats and drove in a run. Cael Bridgewater had the other North Linn hit and scored a run. Jarin Peyton also scored a run for North Linn.
 Durant came into the game as the No. 7 seed of eight teams in the Class 2A field while North Linn was the No. 2 ranked team in 2A and thus the No. 2 seed at state. The Lynx were 18-2 while Durant was 12-4 before the game.
 Durant sent a message to the higher seeded Lynx in the opening inning, scoring the game’s first run. Drew DeLong reached base on a one-out Lynx error. Ben Orr followed with a routine fly out that turned out to be anything but routine. The Lynx outfielder botched the play for an error and DeLong advanced. Then Logan Callison smacked a double down the left field line scoring DeLong and advancing Orr to third all with one out. Hilmer however, settled down, striking out Aydin Flockhart for the second out and getting Brendan Paper to pop out, stranding two runners in scoring position.
 Dierickx mowed through the Lynx lineup in the first innings of the game, giving up only one hit early. In the third inning, Hilmer led off the Lynx inning with a ground out followed by Parker Bechen grounding out for two quick outs. Lucas Voss walked and Nathan McEnay was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base, one in scoring position. Then, the play of the game to that moment happened.
A deep fly out by Lynx catcher Alex Sturbaum was snagged at the last second by Flockhart, saving one run for sure that would have tied the game at 1-1, and likely two runs, as the ball was closer to the warning track than the infield. Durant however, could not get much else going offensively against Hilmer. In the Wildcats third-sixth innings, Durant had no hits and only two baserunners.
Durant came up with another solid defensive play in the bottom of the fifth inning. North Linn advanced Austin Hilmer to third base with one out, putting the tying run close to home. Parker Bechen then hit into a fielder’s choice and Hilmer got caught in a rundown. Hilmer was tagged out in the run down for the second out, and Durant was able to get Bechen out trying to take third base for a double
play to end the inning.
 The score stayed at 1-0 Durant until the bottom of the seventh. After an 11-pitch at bat by lead-off batter Corbin Woods, Tate Collum pinch ran for him. Collum however, strayed too far off of first base and was caught in a rundown, and ultimately tagged out by Drew DeLong for out No. 1. Cael Bridgewater reached on a one-out single and Jarin Peyton was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with one out. Dierickx got Ben Wheatley to fly out for the second out of the inning. That brought up Austin Hilmer. Hilmer singled in Bridgewater to tie the game at 1-1 and Peyton
advanced to third. Parker Bechen then singled home Peyton with the winning run.
Durant will graduate a senior class of seven from this year’s state team. They are Jason Arp, Jake Willkomm, Drew DeLong, Brendan Paper, Nathan Hultquist, Lucas Callison, and Logan Callison. The Wildcats will return five starters next year in left fielder Aydin Flockhart, right fielder Nolan DeLong, third baseman Ben Orr, shortstop Ethan Gast, and pitcher Nate Dierickx.
 The Class 2A field had five of the eight state qualifying teams ranked in the final Class 2A rankings. The top-3 ranked teams of No. 1 Van Meter, No. 2 North Linn, No. 3 Dike-New Hartford were the headliners. Unranked Durant was joined by Des Moines Christian and Treynor in the field and also unranked.
 Top-ranked Van Meter won the Class 2A state title 6-0 over unranked Des Moines Christian. Des Moines Christian’s Cinderella season ended with a runner-up finish after upsetting No. 3 Dike-New Hartford 2-1 in ten innings in the quarterfinal and No. 2 North LInn 4-2 in eight innings in the semifinals. Van Meter won their second straight state title, winning back-to-back titles and winning the third championship in school history.
 The state baseball tournament attendance was the highest since 2014, all amid a global pandemic and safety protocols for the safety of fans. The total attendance for the week was 29, 904 people. The record for state baseball tournament attendance is 35,095 set in 2013.

Reifert signs Contract With Milwaukee Brewers

 WILTON — Former Wilton All-State baseball player Evan Reifert is beginning his professional baseball career. The 2017 Wilton graduate recently agreed to a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers as an undrafted free agent. The Brewers are a member of Major League Baseball’s National League, in the same division as the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Reifert even has a page on Baseball-reference.com.
 “I did not know that,” said Reifert in a recent interview. “I was originally planning on going back to school to the University of Central Missouri. But not getting in a full season, and how the draft played out with less rounds, my age would have played a role in my potential draft position. In talking with the scouts, I felt that this is the way to go,” he said.
 After two years at North Iowa Area CC, Reifert had signed with North Carolina and appeared
in fall scrimmages in 2019 before joining Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri.
 He entered four games in relief throwing 2.2 innings while allowing one hit and striking out four, pitching to a 3.37 ERA. In two out of his four appearances, Reifert struck out two batters in an inning of work. He was ranked the No. 12 recruit in Iowa and No. 4 right-handed pitcher after graduating from high school.
 “(Milwaukee’s) development system is really good,” said Reifert.
 “Just going from there, I think that was a big factor, going to a team that knows how to develop their players.”
 Reifert has signed a term sheet and pending a physical, he will be in Arizona to begin his career in Rookie ball. He also will report in the fall to workout. He is projected as a starting pitcher and will train to be a starter. Provided the major league schedule returns to normal for the 2021 season, Reifert will be assigned to one of the Brewers minor league affiliates. The Brewers have a team in the low-A Midwest League, the Wisconsin
 Timber Rattlers. Reifert still is a fireballer and throws in the low to mid-90’s with a high of 97 mph. He is trying to get command of it consistently.
 “It’s another chapter in my life. I’m closing the college door where I’ve learned a lot about myself and the game. It’s another step toward my dream of making it to the big leagues,” Reifert said. “It’s been unreal, it’s been a roller coaster, but it’s a dream come true.”
 Reifert graduated from Wilton in 2017. In 2018 after his freshman season at NIACC, he was drafted in the 30th round by the Texas Rangers, the No. 899 selection in the draft. Reifert finished his freshman season at North Iowa Area Community College this past spring where he pitches for the Trojans. Reifert, a right-handed pitcher from Wilton, was 1-1 with 28 strikeouts and 21 walks in 17 2/3 innings
pitched in his freshman season at NIACC. He was the second player with NIACC ties to be drafted in this year’s draft. Reifert is the fifth player at NIACC to be selected in the MLB first-year player draft.
Reifert signed with North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City out of high school to play baseball. Reifert was a two-time All-State players and one of the top high school pitchers
in Iowa at the time. His junior season, he threw three no hitters and had a 9-0 record in 49 innings pitched. He had 92 strikeouts and 25 walks with a ERA of 1.29 that season. He also was a good hitter, batting .450 with 50 hits, 28 RBI’s, 13 doubles and he scored 39 runs. He also had 24 stolen bases that season. Reifert was a standout in football as well, catching 23 passes for 547 yards and eight touchdowns his senior season in helping Wilton to a 7-2 record.
Reifert is the son of Ben and Julie Reifert.