1970 or 1971 Russell Football Squad

This appeared on You Grew Up in Russell if you Remember - on Facebook - March 29.  Kaye VanFleet submitted it.  Here is the link:
You Grew Up in Russell If You Remember.......

Hockenson Named to IBCA All-Substate Team

Chariton basketball player, T.J. Hockenson, was named to the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association All-Substate Team.  Hockenson is a freshman that started every game on the varsity this season.  He is the son of Tod and Teri Hockenson of Chariton.

Hockenson averaged 14.8 points per game this season to lead the Chargers.  He also averaged 9.3 rebounds per game and had 14 assists, 22 steals and 15 blocks.  He shot 52.6 percent from the field and 66.2 percent from the line.

There were seven players named to the Class 3A Substate 6 team.  The teams in it were Chariton, Centerville, Grinnell, Knoxville, Oskaloosa, South Tama, Bondurant-Farrar and Pella.  The IBCA's Board of Directors selected the players.

Hockenson was the only Freshman that made the team.  The other players named were Junior Eli Dunne of Grinnell, Senior Joe Nowasell of Grinnell, Senior Logan Dabney of Centerville, Senior Payton Busch of Centerville, Junior Drake Fuller of Bondurant-Farrar and Sophomore Isaac Naaktgeboren.

Solo and Ensemble Fest

Ten band and six choir members from CHS participated in Solo and Ensemble Fest at Clarke High School in Osceola on March 23, 2013.  Seniors Kellie Lahart, Serina Hinman, Sara Foxhaven, Talia Learner, and Jonathon Wilson; Juniors Allyson Showers and Laura Tordoff, and Sophomores Micaela Plank, Kasey Lahart, Shantie Chance and Ashley Beatty performed for the band.  Seniors Leah Dow, Eric Sims, Sara Runyan and Juniors KayeLea Cook, Kari Musgrove and Sean Sullenger performed for the choir.

Judges listen and rate the performance from one to five with one being the best.  Students started preparing for the Fest a couple of months ago.

Leah Dow and Mike Deatz

Mikaela Plank participated in the event last year and was rated a one.  She says she practiced 20 minutes to an hour a couple of times a week.  Kari Musgrove also participated last year singing "Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head" and "The Cradle Song".  She didn't receive a rating last year, but feels she did just fine.  Tali Learner played "Glen Eden Polka" on the Euphonium this year.  Learner played "Spanish Dances" last year and received a one rating.  Serina Hinman practiced every night and played "The Magic Flute" on the flute.  This was her first year participating.

Fuhs Returns to Chariton

Fuhs hired as new principal at Chariton Middle School

Andy Fuhs has been hired as the new principal at Chariton Middle School (CMS) starting with the 2013-2014 school year and is a familiar face to the Chariton School District, both middle school and high school.  Fuhs, a former Chariton math teacher (12 years) and coach, is currently in his fifth year as assistant principal at Oskaloosa High School and drives back and forth to his job there.

Native to South Dakota, Fuhs, 44, has lived in Chariton since 1996 with his wife Veronica, who is the CEO of Lucas County Health Center in Chariton.  They have four children including Avery, Hannah, Emma and Sarah.  Avery is a former standout football, wrestling and track athlete in Chariton that went on to play football at Drake University.  He was a biology major at Drake and is now doing an internship at Kemin Industries in Des Moines.  He graduated from Chariton High School in 2008 and won a state heavyweight wrestling championship at CHS as a senior.

Hannah graduated from Chariton High School in 2010 and is a junior in the Elementary Education program at the University of Northern Iowa.  Emma is a junior at Chariton High School and Sarah is a freshman at CHS.

Andy was the head wrestling coach at CHS from 1997-2008.  He also was the head JV football coach at CHS as well as an assistant varsity football coach and the head eighth grade boys' track coach.  He taught drivers education for 10 years in the Chariton School District as well.

CHS Basketball Cheerleaders

Pictured are the CHS basketball cheerleaders named to the All-Academic Team.  From left:  Cierra Covington, Tori Greubel, Vicky Giesken, Kasey Lahart and Sierra Pruiett.

Pictured is a group photo of the 2012-2013 CHS basketball cheerleaders.  Front from left:  Mikayla Rich, Serina Hinman, Cierra Covington, Sierra Pruiett and DeAneria Coby.  Back from left:  Tori Greubel, Cassie Carpenter, Mallory Gwinn, Vicky Giesken and Kasey Lahart.

Pictured are the senior basketball cheerleaders.  From left:  DeAneria Coby, Serina Hinman, Tori Greubel, Cierra Covington and Mallory Gwinn.

Cierra Covington, Senior Basketball Cheerleading Captain

All Photos by Cindy Laing

Boys Basketball Awards 2013

Boys Basketball Banquet photos by Cindy Laing

Wrestling Team Awards 2013

Reid Walters Seventh at State

Reid Walters placed seventh at the State AAU Wrestling Tournament held on February 23rd.

2012-2013 Year A Big One for the Chargers Varsity Basketball Team

Chariton's Chargers basketball team had a very exciting 2012-2013 season.  Coach Ben Schooley led his boys through an impressive year with 16 wins and 7 losses.  On February 21st the team lost to Centerville at Knoxville to end their season, but they should still be proud.  It has been over a decade since this team has done so good.  And next year should even be better with two out of five of its players that made All-Conference this year will be returning.  The two All-Conference players returning are:  Daric Laing, freshman small forward and T.J. Hockenson, freshman center.  Only three players are seniors this year, but Juniors, Christian Bengtson, Ben Morrett and Brett Braida will step up to fill in the vacated spots.  Bengston all ready played with the varsity team this year.

Four out of five of the starting Chargers this year that were named All-Conference are: Daric Laing, T.J. Hockenson, Alex Wright, and Bryce Cunningham.  Congratulations, Chargers!!

All-SCC Team 2013

Four Chargers Named to All-SCC Team

T.J. Hockenson, Daric Laing named to ALL-SCC First Team; Bryce Cunningham and Alex Wright named to All-SCC Honorable Mention

The 2012-2013 All South Central Conference boys' basketball team was recently released and four Charger boys were named, two for first team and two for Honorable mention.  Congratulations  for a job well done.  Hard work and determination paid off for the team this year.  And even better results are expected next year.  

More Russell Kids

This appeared on "If you grew up in Russell on Facebook" on the Internet

Left to right:  Row 1 - Erin Morrison, Jennifer Noble,?, Heather hermann, Sue Gee, ?, Morgan McCullough
Row 2 - Michelle Nickel (head sideways), ?, Medici, Tralisa Van Fleet, Danny Pfeifer, Conrad Elmore, Tucker Thompson, Becky Anderson
Row 3 - ?, Derek Sandy ...