COACH LYN DIGHTON GUIDED SEVERAL STATE CONTENDERS
Bolstered by a strong Little League program, Boone High School has had some great girls softball moments.
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union sanctioned a girls softball program in 1957 and, a short time later, the Toreadors started getting seriously involved.
The program made its first of eight total state tourney appearances in 1961, but did not finish in the top four. Then, no schools in Iowa were much more consistent than BHS in the 1980's in both summer and fall competition.
Boone squads also appeared in state tournament play in 1981, 82, 84, 85, 86, 2000 and 2016. Some played in both the summer and fall seasons while others competed just in the summer series.
In 1981, Coach Lyn Dighton guided the Toreadors to a 12th place finish and a 29-7 record.
From 1982 to 1986, there were other outstanding fall/summer records of 30-9; 23-7; 27-7; 18-8; 15-7; 34-6 and 16-4 with several outstanding state tourney finishes.
In more recent years, the 2000 team finished sixth in 3-A and in 2016, the Toreadors were fourth in 4-A.
To have great teams, you have to have some great players and at least three of them boast the credentials to earn superior recognition.
Pitcher Jenny Pritchard was one of the state's best in the early 2000's and earned first team all-state recognition all three years.....2000, 2001 and 2002. She went on to pitch for the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
Emma Dighton, with another year left, has already been acclaimed a first team all-state player the last two seasons, 2019 and 2020.
Then there's another three-time all-stater in Mallory Michel, who was third team in 2002 and followed up with a pair of second team honors......in both 2003 and 2004.
With all the great players in Iowa, even one year of first team all state recognition is quite an achievement.
Here are five names to remember.....all first team all-staters......Carol Harrington in 1981; one of Boone's best early program pitchers, Amy Hughes, in 1982; Stacie (Tater) Lingren in 1988; Chelsea Riordan in 2011, after being a third-team choice in 2010 and Laura Anderson, a first team selection in 2017. Hughes won over 100 games on the mound for the Toreadors. Riordan, later, starred at Minnesota State.
Some Toreadors who earned second team all state recognition are Corrine Frei, who was a choice in both 2009 and 2010. Sally Dighton in 1985; Jenny Schultz in 1986; Laura Novotny in 1987; Lindsey Pleuss in 2001; Courtney Poling in 2008; Amanda Widener in 2012; Kennedy Vinchattle in 2013; Carrie Overland in 2015; Breana Hunter in 2016 and Caitlynn Shadle in 2018. Poling was also a third team choice in 2007.
Lauren Calkins and Emily Ades twice earned third team all state honors......Calkins in both 2016 and 2017 and Ades in 2019 and 2020.
Two star performers in the "early years," were Peggy Morgan and Glenda Dearborn. Morgan earned third team honors in 1981 and Dearborn was a third team all-stater in 1984.
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ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR CALENDAR
The Boone County Historical Society will be holding their annual membership meeting on Tuesday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Herman Park Pavillion.
They will be voting on revisions to their Bylaws, the sale of the Mamie Eisenhower Birthplace back to the Mamie Eisenhower Birthplace Foundation, and will, hopefully, be electing new board members. Attendees will be asked to wear masks and social distance. Light refreshments will be enjoyed.
Then , as long as we're at it, the new Pufferbilly Days dates this year are August 6-8.
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BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Danielle (Dede) Titus, 39, Boone. Born in California. The family moved to Boone in 1994. OHS-2000. Worked as a CNA at the Madrid Nursing Home and earned a license from LaJames Hairdressing school in 2006. Survivors include her mother, Martha Richards, step-father, Dennis Richards, a son, a daughter, some half-sisters and brothers and some half step-sisters and brothers.........Cynthia (Cindy) Anderson Weyer, 58, Boone. Born in Boone. BHS-80. Worked at Beloit Residential Treatment Center in Ames, for Head Start Early Access in both Ames and Boone and worked for Genesis for over nine years. Married Darrin Weyer in 2006. Survivors include a daughter, brother and aunt. Her parents, Donna and Ronald Ferguson, are deceased..........Belva Maxine Riegel, 94, West Des Moines. Born in Grand Junction. A graduate of OHS and AIB. Married Ed Riegel in 1946. Worked at Combined Insurance Companies until her retirement. Survivors include a son, two daughters, a brother and two sisters-in-law.
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Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments.....
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