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A PUBLICATION FROM THE N’WEST IOWA REVIEW
JANUARY 2025
FAMILY TRADITION:
FATHER AND SON IN CHILDRESS
CLAN HAVE MATCHING TITLES
DIVING INTO IT:
SIBLEY’S RUSCHE ACCEPTS
UNUSUAL COLLEGE OFFER
Iowa wide receiver helps
Good
out at Hope Haven
Hands

2 THE SPORTS LEADER | JANUARY 2025

ON THE COVER
VOL. 18 • NO. 1
16
7 SPORT FLOATS
HER BOAT
Reagan Rusche decides to take a
chance on something new as she
commits to Eastern Michigan.
11 LIKE FATHER,
LIKE SON
Winning football is a family tradition
with West Lyon’s Childress clan as
Jeremy and Bryson each have titles.
JANUARY 2025
11
ALSO INSIDE
ALSO INSIDE
16 THE SPIRIT OF
GIVING
University of Iowa wide receiver Reece
Vander Zee and his family believe in
giving back in any way they can.
7
JANUARY 2025 | THE SPORTS LEADER 3

TIDBITS
LIKE FATHER,
LIKE SON
THE PLAY
Jeremy
Childress
Bryson
Childress
Sports bond family
For many families, sports are activities that create opportunities for parents and children
to spend time together.
There is the general routine of loading up the whole clan in the car and heading
to whatever place the game is at. Since everyone was there, the game then becomes
a subject at the dinner table or on the living room couch. Practice is something that
will also come up and might involve parents running back and forth to get kids to and from
their chosen activity.
The Childress family took that to a new level at West Lyon this season. Jeremy Childress had
carved out his place in West Lyon lore back in
1998, playing quarterback on a state championship
team. He stayed home for his career and is
the school’s athletic director as well as being the
offensive coordinator for the football team. This
year his son, Bryson, continued that legacy with
the Wildcats as the starting quarterback on the
2024 state champions.
The Rusche family of Sibley was looking for
some scholarship opportunities for their daughter,
Reagan, who hoped to continue her athletic
career in some form at the college level. The
senior and her parents had no idea the journey
“Sports create opportunities
for parents and children to
spend time together.”
Scott Byers
SPORTS EDITOR
would take them to Yipsilanti, MI. Reagan had even less of an idea that her chance to participate
in collegiate sports would be as a rower for Eastern Michigan University, especially since
she’s never rowed a boat in her life.
The Vander Zee family of Rock Rapids loves to travel to Iowa City to watch Reece, a freshman
wide receiver with the Hawkeyes, play football. But Vander Zee and his siblings bonded long
before that over a mission-based business that helps local charities. Their latest venture was to
go to Hope Haven in Rock Valley and as a family, help to refurbish wheelchairs for kids.
Quarterback
1998
41-40 Title Win
over Dike-New Hartford
12-1
record
SEE MORE ON PAGE 11
Quarterback
2024
13-0
record
“Most people just get to experience it with their friends. I
got to experience it with my friends and my dad.”
Bryson Childress
42-7 Title Win
over Spirit Lake
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in any way reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
4 THE SPORTS LEADER | JANUARY 2025

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6 THE SPORTS LEADER | JANUARY 2025

REAGAN RUSCHE
SPORT
STORY BY SCOTT BYERS | FILE AND SUBMITTED PHOTOS
BOAT
floats her
Sibley-Ocheyedan High School
senior Reagan Rusche has never
rowed a boat in her life. Yet
the 18-year-old has accepted
an offer and will be competing
in the sport for Eastern Michigan
University, an NCAA Division I college
in Ypsilanti, in the fall.
Rusche is a five-sport athlete at Sibley-Ocheyedan.
She plays volleyball in
the fall. She was a member of the Generals’
state semifinal basketball squad
two years ago, but has since switched to
wrestling in the winter. She doubles up
in the spring, participating in both track
and field and trap shooting. The summertime,
however, is time for her favorite sport — softball.
In fact, softball is the sport she envisioned herself
playing when she started looking into college
options during her sophomore year.
“I went to a lot of camps for softball, including
a really big one in St. Paul. There were over
200 players there,” Rusche said. “They had us go
through drills and put the whole thing on video.
We did a sprint that I think was kind of like when
they do 40-yard times in football. The other drills
were dependent on your position. I did first and
third base. They put it on something called the
NCSA recruiting platform. Any coach from any
sport can look at that.”
SIBLEY-OCHEYEDAN SENIOR REAGAN RUSCHE got a real chance to picture herself in an Eastern
Michigan University rowing uniform during her official visit to the school. Rusche has never rowed a boat in her life, but the
five-sport athlete at Sibley-Ocheyedan liked the school and the team so she decided she will give the sport a try this fall.
JANUARY 2025 | THE SPORTS LEADER 7

“In the end, I think doing
something new is kind of
refreshing. And they said
we can still do intramurals,
so I can still play softball at
that level”
Reagan Rusche
NEW DOOR OPENS
Rusche was still looking into softball and attending
various camps when, in January of her junior year,
she received a curious e-mail.
“It said it was from Eastern Michigan rowing. I
thought, what are you e-mailing me for? I’m going to
play softball,” she said. “I figured I should at least see
what it was about, but I was thinking maybe they put
me on a list when they didn’t mean to.”
At the time, Rusche was leaning hard toward playing
softball at Grand View University in Des Moines.
Her mother, Jennifer, encouraged her to remain open
minded about the new opportunities that were coming
up.
She sent a reply to Eastern Michigan.
“I asked them if they got the wrong e-mail and
explained to them I’d never rowed in my life,” Rusche
said. “They replied about 30 minutes later. They
explained how other sports transfer very well into
rowing. They said many of their girls had never rowed
before just because there aren’t many high school
teams out there. There have been girls on our Olympic
teams that never rowed before college. They said
they were interested in me as what they call a talent
transfer.”
Rusche was still hesitant, but when asked if she was
interested she told the school she’d like to hear more.
“They started sending me updates on the team and
its activities and they invited me to their junior day,”
she said. “I figured if I go, I don’t have to go to school
on Friday and I can go to Michigan with my mom. It
will be a fun little trip for us if nothing else.”
Before the trip, she had no idea what it was going to
look like.
“I had never been to Michigan. I knew about the
Great Lakes and Detroit, but that’s about it,” Rusche
said. “I’d never even heard of Ypsilanti. I didn’t know
how to pronounce it until I got there and they corrected
me. It’s beautiful there. There are so many big cities
in Michigan, but it’s gorgeous.”
8 THE SPORTS LEADER | JANUARY 2025

Rusche signs on to row at
Eastern Michigan University
LOTS TO LEARN
The junior day was her first, and basically to this
point, Rusche’s only introduction to the sport.
“They played us a slideshow with the basics of
rowing. I learned that there are different types of competition
where you can have one, two, four or eight
people in a boat,” she said. “I still don’t know much,
but I’m learning something new every day.”
Even after the junior day experience, Rusche was
uncertain where her future would take her. A bit of
what seemed to be just bad luck was a turning point.
“I still deeply love softball. I’ve loved it since my
dad was coaching me when I was growing up,” she
said. “We were playing a softball game at Trinity
Christian and my glove broke. The ball went right
through it and broke my nose. I’ve honestly been a
little prone to injury in some of my sports. My mom
mentioned that rowing might be one where you
don’t get hurt as much.”
Softball was still an option at that point, but more
schools were starting to ask about rowing. Rusche was
recruited by Drake University and received inquiries
from the University of Washington. She decided to
take official visits to Drake and Eastern Michigan.
“Drake just didn’t seem like a fit for me. I exchanged
some e-mails with Washington, but that felt
like it was just too far,” Rusche said.
She visited Eastern Michigan Sept. 12-14.
“I got to be around the girls on the team and right
away you could see how they treated them. It’s like
one big family,” Rusche said. “The first day we toured
the campus. They took us to the freshman village,
which is where the freshmen from all the different
sports live. I visited with my chemistry professor. The
next day we went to a practice and to the athletic center,
then we did some fun photos in their team gear.”
MAKING IT OFFICIAL by signing an offer sheet
with her parents Jennifer and Brandon watching, Reagan Rusche
committed to the rowing team at Eastern Michigan University
despite never having participated in the sport before.
DECISION MADE
Rusche took a little more time before committing,
having some long discussions with her parents.
“In the end, I think doing something new is kind of
refreshing. And they said we can still do intramurals,
so I can still play softball at that level,” she said.
She met her freshman year roommate, Lydia Risser,
during the official visit. Risser is another talent transfer
recruit. The Illinois native has competed in swimming,
dance and track and field at the high school
level.
“We’re both going into it not knowing a lot, but
looking forward to seeing what we can do,” Rusche
said. “When I went on my visit, I stayed with four
amazing girls that were all on the team and they are
all going to be back too.”
Interestingly, Eastern Michigan coach Kemp Savage
would prefer his green recruits stay green for now.
“He told us to just continue to enjoy the sports we
are doing now. He said not to touch a rowing machine.
He doesn’t want us picking up any bad habits,”
Rusche said. “Later in the spring, I’ll get my college
lifting program, but I’m already in the weight room
quite a bit so I don’t think that will be a big change.”
Rusche is going to try for a double major in chemistry
and biology at Eastern Michigan, but for now she’s
taking coach Kemp’s advice and enjoying the time she
has left at Sibley-Ocheyedan.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do with
the rest of the wrestling season. I feel like I’ve already
made major improvements from last year,” she said.
“I really like doing the double with track and trap in
the spring. It keeps me busy. Softball season might be
a little bittersweet since it’s going to be my last season,
but I’m looking forward to seeing the new girls on
our team play and seeing how they can help us.”
JANUARY 2025 | THE SPORTS LEADER 9

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CHILDRESS FAMILY TRADITION
STORY BY CHARLIE HILDEBRAND | FILE PHOTOS
Like
father,
like
son
Quarterbacks each lead
West Lyon to title run
JANUARY 2025 | THE SPORTS LEADER 11

Guiding West Lyon High School to
state titles in football as a quarterback
is just in the DNA for the
Childress family.
Jeremy Childress, the father, and
Bryson Childress, the son, each led the Wildcats
to the Class 2A championship as seniors.
Jeremy’s came in 1998 and Bryson’s was in
2024. Jeremy is also the offensive coordinator
on the 2024 football team at West Lyon and
serves as the school’s the athletic director.
Jeremy said that during practices and
games, coaching his son isn’t any different
from coaching other players.
“The difference would come after the games
and during the week, sitting down for supper
with him and talking about things in the living
room and stuff like that,” he said. “That
was the big difference working with him compared
to others. That made it really special to
be as successful as we were this year with all of
that going on.”
Bryson said it’s great to have his father as
one of his coaches.
“The bond we have, father to son, it definitely
translates to football. You can see it,”
he said. “We talk about football all the time at
home. At the dinner table, we’re talking about
it, different schemes and stuff like that, what
we think will work and whatnot. It’s special
to have him by my side to help me through it
and to congratulate me when it’s good.”
Bryson added that it helped him having his
father to go to for advice.
“He’s been there, done that,” Bryson said.
“He understands the pressure that’s there. He
comforts me and lets you know, ‘Don’t let the
pressure get to you. We’re out there to have
fun. And if the pressure is getting to you too
much, you can’t really have a lot of fun.’”
Bryson added that if he was every struggling,
his father knew what to do.
“He just helped me along the way to keep
me confident. Confidence is key, especially
being a quarterback,” he said. “You have to
be willing to make the mistakes or whatnot
and then bounce back from it. Just having
your confidence at a high level, he definitely
helped me with that along the road.”
MAKING MEMORIES
Jeremy guided West Lyon to the 98 title with
a 12-1 record and a dramatic 41-40 win over
Dike-New Hartford in the championship clash.
Bryson helped the Wildcats notch a 13-0
record in the fall of 2024 and a much less
FAMILY TIES THAT BIND
Jeremy Childress and his son, Bryson, each quarterbacked
West Lyon to a Class 2A state championship.
Jeremy helped the Wildcats win the 1998 title and
Bryson helmed the 2024 squad to a championship.
climactic championship win, trouncing Spirit
Lake 42-7 in the title tilt.
The lone setback for the 98 West Lyon team
was a 29-6 loss to Central Lyon/George-Little
Rock on Sept. 11 in Inwood.
“We suffered a loss really early. We lost
Central Lyon that year, kind of got our butts

1998 West Lyon results:
@Lennox, SD ...........................................................W, 34-0
Central Lyon/Goerge-Litle Rock ............................... L, 29-6
@Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn ........................................W, 28-7
Sheldon ...................................................................W, 42-0
@Okoboji .................................................................W, 43-0
Sioux Center ..........................................................W, 35-15
South O’Brien ..........................................................W, 34-8
@Sibley-Ocheyedan ................................................W, 42-0
Rock Valley/Boyden-Hull .........................................W, 35-6
Emmetsburg .......................W, 35-28, first round of playoffs
Council Bluffs St. Albert ......................W, 28-0, quarterfinals
Iowa Falls ............................................... W, 14-7, semifinals
Dike-New Hartford .............. W, 41-40, championship game
2024 West Lyon results:
Sioux Center ............................................................W, 35-7
@Lawton-Bronson ...................................................W, 49-6
@OABCIG ................................................................W, 33-7
Unity Christian ..........................................................W, 49-0
Western Christian ....................................................W, 13-0
@Cherokee ..............................................................W, 46-6
@Sheldon ................................................................W, 50-0
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock .............................W, 41-7
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura .......W, 42-0, first round of playoffs
Western Christian ...........W, 42-7, second round of playoffs
Carroll Kuemper ................................W, 49-14, quarterfinals
Van Meter ............................................ W, 49-24, semifinals
Spirit Lake ............................. W, 42-7, championship game
“The bond we have, father to
son, it definitely translates to
football. You can see it.”
Bryson Childress
WEST LYON QUARTERBACK
kicked,” Jeremy said. “Even though it was earlier
in the season, I think it took that one game where
there was a moment where you looked at each
other as teammates and as coaches and said, ‘OK,
which direction are we going to go? Are we going
to be satisfied with that performance, or are we
going to start to understand what can make us a
great team?’”
Jeremy said there was a similar moment for the
Wildcats this season, albeit in a win. The squad had
its lowest offensive output of the season in a 13-0
win over Western Christian on Sept. 27.
“We were still lucky enough to come out with a
win,” he said. “But it just kind of felt like, ‘What
direction are we going to go from here?’ Because we
didn’t meet the standard that we wanted to be at.
I think the biggest thing that next week in practice
and the games following that, the guys understood
that they didn’t meet those expectations and kind
of flipped the switch there. That’s when you could
really see things coming together and guys going
above and beyond to do their role on the team.”
Bryson said that game helped the squad ultimately
win the state title two months later.
“Offense wasn’t really there, but the defense
stepped up, got us in great field position and then
we were finally able to capitalize on a few plays to
put some points on the board,” he said. “Just being
able to help out another side of the ball, whether it
be offense or defense, just one of those sides being
able to help out the other when times are tough
for them or they can’t seem to get much going. Just
picking up each other after a bad play, or something
like that, and just being able to lean on each
other and keep each other accountable.”
TITLE TOGETHER
Bryson ran for a touchdown early in the state title
game against Spirit Lake and tossed a TD pass just
before halftime to give the Wildcats a 14-0 lead at
the break. They outscored the Indians 28-7 in the
second half to secure the championship.
“I have pictures and I have video of how much
fun and what that meant for me to go through that
process,” Jeremy said. “To know that I was a small
part in providing that for my son and able to give
him those memories, it was pretty special.”
Bryson said it was important for him as well.
“Most people just get to experience it with their
friends. I got to experience it with my friends and
my dad,” he said. “That makes it that much more
special. Just thinking back to playing in the backyard,
like playing catch with him or running routes,
it just makes it that much more special for me and
that much more meaningful.”
Three other coaches on the West Lyon staff had
JANUARY 2025 | THE SPORTS LEADER 13

senior sons on the squad too. Steve Hawf’s son is
Tate who is a running back and linebacker. Kully
Kramer’s son, Ridge, was a defensive lineman.
Jeff Hoogeveen’s son was Carson, a receiver and
defensive back.
“There were moments during the season where
we all kind of just looked at each other and talked
about how fun it was and how special it was,”
Jeremy said.
SCOUTING REPORT
Jeremy said that Bryson was a much better quarterback
in a comparison of the two.
“My role on the team was a lot more reduced
than what his was. I had a lot of really great guys
around me,” he said. “I basically turned around
and handed the ball off to two guys. His role on
her team was much more impactful. He’s a better
leader, a better athlete and a better quarterback
than I ever was. You always want to lead your
kids to bigger and better things, and he definitely
accomplished that.”
Asked of his biggest strength on the field, Jeremy
laughed and said it was handing the ball off.
“I was a smart player, too. I think I understood
different situations,” he said. We ran a lot of option
back then, so down and distance was always
a really big, important thing. I think I got the ball
in the person’s hands, and even though he did it a
different way, I think we share that mentality.”
Jeremy added that he and his son were both
unselfish players.
“Just willing to do whatever it takes for teams.
West Lyon quarterbacks aren’t known for huge
stats all the time,” he said. “We don’t throw the
ball 25-30 times a game, but we’re kind of known
as gritty players. I think we both share that in common,
the want to win, the want for team success
and just doing whatever it takes to win a game.”
Bryson said he has watched film of his father
playing quarterback in high school.
“It was fun to watch,” he said. “They had a really
good team back then too. He did a really good job
at quarterback too.”
When asked to scout his father, Bryson said that
Jeremy was a strong runner.
“It didn’t ever look like he got tackled,” he said.
“He had some really good backs in the backfield
to hand the ball off to, but he did a really good
job at just reading the defense and understanding
where the ball needed to go.”
“I have pictures and I have video of how much fun and what
that meant for me to go through that process. To know that I
was a small part in providing that for my son and able to give
him those memories, it was pretty special.”
Jeremy Childress
WEST LYON OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
14 THE SPORTS LEADER | JANUARY 2025

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THE N’WEST IOWA SPORTS LEADER
The N’West Iowa REVIEW • January 11, 2025 • Section C www.nwestiowa.com
West Lyon senior Justus Leuthold takes down Sioux Center senior Landon Rozeboom during the Jerry Hentges Dual Team
Tournament in Spirit Lake Friday. Leuthold won by pin, but the Warriors nipped the Wildcats. Photo by Dan Wolfswinkel
FRIDAY WRESTLING
Warriors edge Wildcats
at Jerry Hentges duals
Both teams end tournament at 2-2 as
S
MOC-Floyd Valley wins one of four
BY SCOTT BYERS
SBYERS@NWESTIOWA.COM
SPIRIT LAKE—Sioux Center and West Lyon finished as
part of a four-team pile behind Lake Mills in the final standings
at the Jerry Hentges Dual Team Tournament boys wrestling
event Friday in Spirit Lake.
Lake Mills went 4-0 in the event. Sioux Center, West Lyon,
Central Springs and Spirit Lake Park each were 2-2. MOC-
Floyd Valley was 1-3. Sioux City North went winless.
It was West Lyon’s first action coming off Christmas break.
The Wildcats beat Sioux City North and Central Springs but
lost to Lake Mills and Sioux Center. The Warriors beat the
Wildcats 42-41.
“We were kind of rusty in the beginning, but we picked it
and started to put some things together against Sioux Center,”
said West Lyon coach Justin Bouwman. “We were just a
little short. We gave up some pins we shouldn’t have given
up.”
The Wildcats still had a rough road left but finished on
a high note. West Lyon beat Central Springs in its last dual
of the night, aided by Ryan Bahnson picking up his 100th
career win.
“Lake Mills is tough, but we battled and won some big
matches in that one,” Bouwman said. “Against Central
Springs we came up pretty clutch. That was a big dual win
for us. It would have been nice to get Sioux Center, but we
turn around and see them again on Thursday.”
Sioux Center was the closest to beating Lake Mills, falling
See WRESTLING on page C5
FRIDAY SIOUXLAND CONFERENCE GIRLS BASKETBALL
Rockets soar during
battle of top fives
Come back from
deficit early in game
SIOUX CENTER 15 11 11 6 - 43
ROCK VALLEY 9 18 13 8 - 48
ROCK VALLEY—Class 2A
fifth-ranked Rock Valley survived
the opening salvo from
Class 4A fifth-ranked Sioux
Center and earned some payback
on the Warriors, taking
a 48-43 decision in Siouxland
Conference girls basketball
What do you think is the
most important skill for a
basketball player to have?
To be able to communicate
with your teammates.
Not including your home
court, where is your favorite
place to play basketball?
George. They have
good ice cream for after
the game.
Friday.
Rock Valley, Sioux Center
and Central Lyon entered the
night in a three-way tie for first
place in the Siouxland, with
each team having one conference
loss. The Warriors won
the season-opening game
against Rock Valley 54-46 on
Nov. 26.
Sioux Center led 15-9 after
one quarter Friday.
See ROCKETS on C5
Rock Valley freshman Caydence Harmsen attempts to get the
ball inside against Sioux Center sophomore Maryn Franken during
Friday’s game in Rock Valley. Photo by Charlie Hildebrand
ATHLETE
OF THE WEEK
TAYA
SUDBECK
SCORED 18 POINTS DURING A 39-23 WIN
OVER BOYDEN-HULL LAST WEEK.
What is your favorite thing
to do in the winter besides
playing basketball? Go
on vacation after b-ball
season.
What is your least favorite
thing about winter? How
cold it gets.
What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas.
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FRIDAY WAR EAGLE CONFERENCE BOYS BASKETBALL
Paulsen goes off on
night honoring friend
Scores 46 points in
rout over Westerners
AKRON-WESTFIELD 6 10 7 3 - 26
SOUTH O’BRIEN 30 26 16 14 - 86
PAULLINA—On an emotionally-charged
night where basketball
was a secondary focus, South
O’Brien honored Carter Halverson
and topped Akron-Westfield
86-26 in a War Eagle Conference
boys play Friday.
Halverson, a South O’Brien
senior, was killed in a car accident
on Dec. 21 and was honored
before the game, the first home
contest for the Wolverines since
then.
“We had a pregame ceremony,”
said South O’Brien coach Kiley
Yates. “Derek Paulsen was Carter’s
best friend. He played with an
incredible emotion tonight. He
dominated the game on both
ends.”
The veteran coach said he was
proud of how Paulsen handled
himself.
“He spoke to the entire gym in
honor of Carter, and then there
was a moment of silence,” Yates
said. “Then he went out and
scored 46 points. He broke the
school’s individual scoring record
in three quarters.”
The Wolverines led 30-6 through
one quarter and stretched the
lead to 56-16 by halftime.
“We challenged shooters and
defensive rebounded very well
and followed the scouting report,”
See WOLVERINES on C4
If you could pick any arena What is the last show you
in the country to play a binge watched? “Outer
basketball game in, where Banks.”
would you play? The Chicago
Bulls’ stadium. What is the last movie you
watched in a theater? “It
Not including your own, Ends With Us.”
which basketball team
has the coolest uniforms? What is one skill that you
Unity. I like their colors. do not have that you would
like to possess? The ability
Which college or pro basketball
team is your favor-
to be 6 foot tall.
ite? Nebraska. GBR. What is one thing about
you that would be surprising
to people who don’t
Did you make any New
Year’s resolutions this know you well? Realistically,
I am only 4 years old
year? If so, what were
they? Drink more water. because I was born on
Feb. 29.
JANUARY 2025 | THE SPORTS LEADER 15

Giving
THE SPIRIT O
Vander Zee clan, Rockets help at Hope Haven
HOPE HAVEN HELPERS
GOING TO WORK
Reese Vander Zee, a Rock Rapids native
who is a freshman wide receiver
at the University of Iowa, receives
instructions from Andy Boender
of Hope Haven as Vander
Zee helps to refurbish a
wheelchair.
16 THE SPORTS LEADER | JANUARY 2025

gOF
STORY BY SCOTT BYERS
PHOTOS BY SCOTT BYERS
AND SUBMITTED
University of Iowa football player Reece Vander Zee
had only been home for a couple of days after
the Hawkeyes loss to Missouri in the Transperfect
Music City Bowl, but the freshman wide receiver
didn’t sit still for long.
Vander Zee and his siblings from Rock Rapids were in Rock
Valley on Jan. 2, working on a goal of assembling 15 wheelchairs
for Hope Haven International.
The spirit of giving isn’t just a holiday thing for Vander Zee,
who is the CEO and president of Carroll Street Treats, a company
that serves ice cream sandwiches throughout the region.
He and his five siblings, ranging in age from 6-19, are the
owners of the company which brands itself as a “for-purpose
ministry.” The Vander Zee children use funds raised through
the business to support local charitable endeavors.
“We started that business when Reece was about eight years
old and have been doing it since,” said Joe Vander Zee, the
children’s father. “It started off kind of like a lemonade stand
in front of our house. We’ve been doing that for about 10
years now and it’s continued to grow. Part of that business is
giving to local ministries. We’ve encouraged the kids to give
from that business each year. We have pay it forward projects
we like to be a part of every year.”
When Joe started working at Hope Haven International,
that became a natural connection as Carroll Street Treats was
looking for another charity to support. Joe Vander Zee is an
operations manager at Hope Haven, working specifically on
making wheelchairs or refurbishing wheelchairs and then
sending those to people in need across the world.
“This year we’re sponsoring 15 wheelchairs for Hope Haven.
We’re actually assembling the chairs today too. That’s why
the kids are here,” Joe said. “They are going to volunteer and
we are going to put them with some of our regular volunteers
to put wheelchairs together. That’s the project behind it. Our
Carroll Street Treat business has gone really well the past
couple of years and we just love to give to area ministries and
work alongside people doing awesome stuff.”
Reece Vander Zee said he and his siblings were all for it
when Joe floated the idea.
“I’m all for helping whatever needs to be helped. My dad
gave me the opportunity to help out and I definitely thought
it was a good thing to help the community and help anyone
that is in need with the wheelchairs. Just to bring hope to
them,” he said. “I’ve heard of Hope Haven throughout all the
time I’ve lived here and it’s been a great ministry so I wanted
to pay it forward and help them out today.”
DOING THE WORK
Carroll Street Treats was founded in 2013 when Reece
Vander Zee started selling the ice cream sandwiches outside
his family’s home.
As the company has continued to grow, each of the Vander
Zee children got in on it. They all have their own jobs, learning
things like finance, inventory management, marketing
and customer relations. Their parents, Joe and Meredith, chip
in when needed.
Reece Vander Zee said from the start, the treats he was
serving up were bringing smiles to more than just the people
who bought them. He enjoyed contributing to good causes.
“Every year, Carroll Street Treats donates to a cause and
that’s what started it probably. Just seeing what that can do
for people,” he said. “I hope to continue to do that while I’m
in college. While I’m making a little money in college, I want
to be able to pay it forward and help out the community back
JANUARY 2025 | THE SPORTS LEADER 17

home. And anyone that really touched
my heart, I guess.”
His sister Nora, who is 10, enjoys
doing anything she can with her big
brother. She especially likes watching
him play for the Hawkeyes, but she
said she likes helping others as well.
“We usually like every year we help
out and sometimes I help out with
that but not all the time,” Nora said.
“I think it’s fun.”
Despite being injured in his senior
season of track and field at Central Lyon
High School, which caused him to
be limited in summer workouts and
miss some early fall practices, Reece
Vander Zee had an immediate impact
as an athlete at Iowa. He was a starter
at wide receiver in his first game with
the team and caught five passes for
65 yards and two touchdowns against
UNLOADING TRUCKS
Teacher Lane Kelderman along with Hayden
Halbur and other members of the Rock Valley
boys basketball team took part of the holiday
break to stop by Hope Haven and carry out
wheelchairs that had been delivered.
Illinois State University.
Vander Zee was injured during the
first half of the homecoming game
against Northwestern University and
missed the final four games of the
regular season, but still led the team
with three touchdown receptions
on the year. He caught 14 passes for
176 yards. He did return for the bowl
game where he saw just one target.
The success on the field made him
popular during his day on the Hope
Haven campus.
Vander Zee said the charitable work
is something he will probably be involved
with all of his life.
“It’s definitely important to give
people hope and help out however
you can,” he said. “No matter how
small or big. I look forward to it for
sure.”
It just so happened the Carroll
Street crew was not the only group
volunteering on Jan. 2. The Rock
Valley boys basketball team stopped
by after practice to help unload a
delivery truck, among other tasks. The
Rockets had been scheduled to volunteer
on Dec. 31, but the shipment was
delayed.
Even with the schedule changes and
the fact he made it a voluntary event,
Rock Valley coach Wade Vander Maten
estimated the squad had about 20
players show up.
“We haven’t done this particular
one before, but it’s always good to
help people when you can. I know I
personally got a lot of help during the
flood and a lot of the boys got some
help too when we were all in a pretty
vulnerable position,” he said. “It’s
good for us to do something like this
and continue to work as a team, but
it’s also just about what it means
to be a man. It’s always good
to take time to help other
people and we had a
lot of guys show up
on our day off.
They were
v e r y
grateful we were there. It was a good
experience.”
CONTINUING MISSION
Hope Haven’s wheelchair ministry
started in 1994. Since then, nearly
1,500 wheelchairs have been shipped
to people all over the world.
“I’m learning fast that our ministry
doesn’t happen without volunteers. Volunteers
are very instrumental in what
we do at Hope Haven International,”
Joe Vander Zee said. “We have six or
seven volunteers working right now. We
have a handful that volunteer every day
here in Rock Valley and in Sioux Falls
too and our surrounding shops. We
have shops in George, Edgerton, Orange
City, Brookings. It’s very dependent on
volunteers for what we do.”
The Rock Valley shop deals mainly
in wheelchairs for kids. About 50 percent
of them are new chairs and the
other 50 percent are refurbished at the
facility.
“We make two kinds of kids chairs.
A 12 inch and a 14 inch,” said Luke
Russell, international ministries director
at Hope Haven. “We send them
to places in two different ways. One
is completed. One is taking the flat
packs, which is the same chair but
the side frames broke down so we
can send more in a container. We’re
giving people with disabilities a job
there and also distributing. We always
need people to cut, sew, work on the
wheelchairs, drive. There are a lot of
opportunities to volunteer if someone
would like to.”
He said no experience is needed to
volunteer.
“The nice thing is we can teach anyone.
I’m an accountant. I’m not a very
mechanical person, but I can easily
learn all this and so can anyone that
comes in. We’re happy to teach people
how to do it,” Russell said. “We need
more and more help because there are
more and more wheelchairs that we
put out. We desperately need more
volunteers.
“A big need of ours is sewing,” he
said. “A big portion of our wheelchair
is putting the seating system on. With
that, it’s a lot of cutting of fabric and
cutting of foam and sewing if possible.
Almost everyone can do that.
When I get tired of looking at the
computer at work I go and cut fabric.
It’s relaxing to me and it needs done
desperately.”
18 THE SPORTS LEADER | JANUARY 2025

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AND CLOSES AT 9 A.M.
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JANUARY 2025 | THE SPORTS LEADER 19

INTRODUCING
Tara Fjeld
I am proud to be the new Citizens State Bank CD and IRA Officer.
Being born and raised in Sheldon, I have memories of a joyful childhood
with three brothers. Days were filled with outdoor games including
basketball, and indoor activities like Nintendo Duck Hunt. In the Summer,
we had many fun days at the indoor pool and fishing at Smit’s Pit.
I’m enthused about my position here at Citizens State Bank. I appreciate
the opportunity to meet new people on a daily basis and I’m embracing
all the opportunities to learn skills for this new role.
My husband Dean and I are proud parents to three children: Tyler and his
fiancé, Morgan Janssen; Tori and her husband, Matt Henning, and their
two children, Ryder and Greyson; and Tanner.
Sheldon is a community with a bright future – just look at the impressive
addition underway at the high school, or at the business expansion and
new housing opportunities. Citizens State Bank is proud to be a partner
in the community growth.
At Citizens State Bank, “A Real Community Bank”, we’re committed
to making sure that those amenities and community values
continue to be part of our lifestyle for the generations to come.
808 3rd Avenue, Box 130
SHELDON, IA
712-324-2519
www.csbsheldon.com
817 Main Street, Box 9
BOYDEN, IA
712-725-2321
www.csbboyden.com
LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL DECISIONS • LOCAL COMMITMENT • LOCAL INVESTMENT • LOCAL MANAGEMENT