Benton MS/HS

For all you weekend warriors wanting to get out and support your Bobcats here is a list of activities this weekend. Enjoy!

Check out all the news this winter in the January issue of the Middle School Newsletter

Eighth grade students participated in a dynamic three-hour "Life Skills Simulation" presented by Junior Achievement (JA) of Eastern Iowa designed to teach practical budgeting and decision-making. The event began with a 15-minute orientation, where participants were assigned a life scenario, including a family structure, career, and monthly income. This set the stage for the day’s activities. During the 1 hour and 45-minute research and budgeting phase, students visited 20 interactive stations, each covering a key expense category, such as housing, transportation, and pet care. Guided by volunteers, they discussed real-world costs—like average mortgage expenses in Iowa—and crafted a personalized budget based on their assigned scenario. In the 45-minute shopping phase, students used iPads to make spending decisions within their budgets, exploring the impact of choices like securing a home loan on their overall finances. The session concluded with 15 minutes of reflection and group discussion, where participants shared insights and asked questions, rounding out an engaging, hands-on lesson in financial literacy.

Benton boys’ basketball Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at Benton Marion (4-5) 65, Benton (3-6) 61 M 15 11 18 21 - 65 BC 17 11 7 16 - 51 Carson Pickering led Benton with 15 points. Eli Patterson added 13 and Brody Timmerman had 12. Timmerman had six rebounds. Gavin Brooks had four assists for Benton. Patterson had four steals. Brooks had two blocks. Benton Field Goals 17/49 Three-pointers 9/22 Free throws 8/10 Rebounds 18 Assists 13 Steals 8 Blocks 3 Turnovers 6 Fouls 14 Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at Independence Benton (3-6) vs. Independence (5-4) Benton girls’ basketball Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at Van Horne No. 14 Marion (7-3) 52, Benton (2-7) 22 M 14 13 11 14 - 52 BC 3 5 10 4 - 22 Talulah Schroeder had 10 points for Benton. Hailey Suiter added seven. With six rebounds each were Aubrey Kelly and Suiter. Kelly had three assists. Sophia Seeck had three steals. Benton Field Goals 8/44 Three-pointers 2/17 Free throws 4/10 Rebounds 28 Assists 6 Steals 5 Blocks 2 Turnovers 15 Fouls 8 Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at Independence Benton (2-7) at Independence (6-5)

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, a group of 8th grade students students who have completed the exploratory class, Careers, participated in Junior Achievement: Finance Park at the Van Horne Community Center. This was a unique opportunity for these students to engage in a simulation focusing on financial literacy, work, and career readiness. In the simulation students were assigned a life scenario at random, conducted research, created a budget, and practiced responsible spending. The experience concluded with a group debrief to reflect on their learning.

Current Benton Sophomores and Juniors, Summer Internships are Available! Now through February 5th, the Workplace Learning Connection's Internship application is open for Summer Internships. Summer Internships do give you high school and college credit. If you are interested in finding out more information, visit https://www.kirkwood.edu/workplace-learning-connection/internships/index If you know you are interested and just need the application form, visit https://www.workplacelearningconnections.com/default.aspx

Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Denver High School 1 Waverly-Shell Rock 198.5 2 Vinton-Shellsburg 156.0 3 New Hampton 149.0 4 Charles City 125.5 5 Denver 115.5 6 Waterloo West 109.0 7 Alburnett 99.0 8 Sumner-Fredericksburg 82.0 9 Sigourney-Keota 78.0 10 Benton Community 75.0 11 North Fayette Valley 62.0 12 Janesville 56.5 13 Oelwein 29.0 14 Columbus Catholic, Waterloo 22.0 15 AGWSR 19.0 16 Tripoli 17.0 17 Meskwaki Settlement 15.0 Benton results 105 - Alexis Sexton (11-13) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Kylie Belinsky (Sumner-Fredericksburg) 9-8 won by fall over Alexis Sexton (Benton Community) 11-13 (Fall 1:11) Cons. Round 3 - Carlyn McGraw (Alburnett) 13-8 won by fall over Alexis Sexton (Benton Community) 11-13 (Fall 0:27) 115 - Kaitlyn Bonewitz (13-15) placed 8th and scored 8.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Kaitlyn Bonewitz (Benton Community) 13-15 won by fall over Vanessa Salas (New Hampton) 10-12 (Fall 1:46) Quarterfinal - Reanah Utterback (Sigourney-Keota) 22-0 won by fall over Kaitlyn Bonewitz (Benton Community) 13-15 (Fall 1:23) Cons. Round 2 - Libby Stocks (Waterloo West) 19-6 won by fall over Kaitlyn Bonewitz (Benton Community) 13-15 (Fall 1:30) Cons. Round 3 - Kaitlyn Bonewitz (Benton Community) 13-15 won by fall over Lillie Caster (Charles City) 4-7 (Fall 0:50) 7th Place Match - Addison Buseman (Janesville) 18-7 won by fall over Kaitlyn Bonewitz (Benton Community) 13-15 (Fall 1:24) 120 - Katilynn Guldner (5-9) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Joslyn Kraft (North Fayette Valley) 9-15 won by fall over Katilynn Guldner (Benton Community) 5-9 (Fall 0:49) Cons. Round 3 - Emilyn Luhring (Waverly-Shell Rock) 8-8 won by fall over Katilynn Guldner (Benton Community) 5-9 (Fall 1:22) 130 - Willow Sexton (23-13) placed 3rd and scored 18.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Willow Sexton (Benton Community) 23-13 won by fall over Denver Miller (AGWSR) 7-9 (Fall 2:17) Semifinal - Sophie Glaser (New Hampton) 24-8 won by fall over Willow Sexton (Benton Community) 23-13 (Fall 1:06) Cons. Round 3 - Willow Sexton (Benton Community) 23-13 won by fall over Ty`Onna Scott (Waterloo West) 6-3 (Fall 3:08) 3rd Place Match - Willow Sexton (Benton Community) 23-13 won by fall over Kia Montgomery (Sigourney-Keota) 12-12 (Fall 3:18) 135 - Izzy Schoettmer (20-16) placed 6th and scored 6.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Elizabeth Roberts (Waterloo West) 16-10 won by fall over Izzy Schoettmer (Benton Community) 20-16 (Fall 5:34) Cons. Round 2 - Izzy Schoettmer (Benton Community) 20-16 won by fall over Kinley Roths (Charles City) 9-13 (Fall 5:21) Cons. Round 3 - Jaylynn Craun (Oelwein) 13-8 won by decision over Izzy Schoettmer (Benton Community) 20-16 (Dec 7-1) 5th Place Match - Dakota Hatchel (Vinton-Shellsburg) 5-4 won by decision over Izzy Schoettmer (Benton Community) 20-16 (Dec 10-7) 145 - Jordan Koehler (4-5) placed 7th and scored 2.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Angelina Dye (Meskwaki Settlement) 4-5 won by fall over Jordan Koehler (Benton Community) 4-5 (Fall 3:18) Cons. Round 2 - Elliemae Forey (Janesville) 3-15 won by fall over Jordan Koehler (Benton Community) 4-5 (Fall 0:59) 155 - Layna DeMoss (29-3) placed 4th and scored 14.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Layna DeMoss (Benton Community) 29-3 won by fall over Bree McCusker (Alburnett) 3-7 (Fall 3:04) Semifinal - Jamie Jones (Sumner-Fredericksburg) 19-6 won by fall over Layna DeMoss (Benton Community) 29-3 (Fall 3:04) Cons. Round 3 - Layna DeMoss (Benton Community) 29-3 won by fall over Alexis Oakland (North Fayette Valley) 12-12 (Fall 3:39) 3rd Place Match - Destiny Kolheim (Charles City) 15-4 won in sudden victory - 1 over Layna DeMoss (Benton Community) 29-3 (SV-1 7-4) 190 - Mo Brown (6-15) placed 6th and scored 7.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Mo Brown (Benton Community) 6-15 won by fall over Evie Wagner (Waverly-Shell Rock) 1-2 (Fall 5:22) Semifinal - Leah Stewart (Charles City) 19-1 won by fall over Mo Brown (Benton Community) 6-15 (Fall 0:37) Cons. Round 3 - Isabella Harken (Tripoli) 9-2 won by fall over Mo Brown (Benton Community) 6-15 (Fall 1:12) 5th Place Match - Evie Wagner (Waverly-Shell Rock) 1-2 won by decision over Mo Brown (Benton Community) 6-15 (Dec 4-0) 235 - Averie Gale (11-2) placed 2nd and scored 20.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Averie Gale (Benton Community) 11-2 won by fall over Vivian Soifer (Charles City) 4-8 (Fall 0:27) Semifinal - Averie Gale (Benton Community) 11-2 won by fall over Reagan Westphal (Waterloo West) 12-12 (Fall 1:56) 1st Place Match - Ava Trende (New Hampton) 20-7 won by fall over Averie Gale (Benton Community) 11-2 (Fall 0:24)

BC Boys Wrestling Places 4th at Osage Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Osage Community Schools Team Results 1 Algona 199.0 2 Osage 185.0 3 Denver 175.0 4 Benton Community 168.0 5 Humboldt 148.5 6 West Marshall 137.0 7 Anamosa 128.0 8 Nashua-Plainfield 126.0 9 North Polk 100.5 10 Clear Lake 98.0 11 Crestwood, Cresco 95.0 12 West Branch 78.5 13 Iowa Falls-Alden 70.5 14 PCM, Monroe 59.5 15 West Hancock, Britt 49.5 16 Maquoketa Valley 45.5 17 Mason City 20.5 Benton Results 106 - Memphis Bishop - DNP 113 - Jaxson Mehlert - 2nd 120 - Garrett Kuch - 5th 126 - Jason Eastman - DNP 132 - TJ Lovell - 5th 132 - Brock Corrigan - DNP 138 - Ryan Koehler - 6th 144 - Elijah Kupka - 3rd 150 - Joel Hacker - DNP 157 - Elias Bieschke - 5th 165 - Blayke Heying - 1st 175 - Sage Edberg - DNP 190 - Brenden Heying - 2nd 215 - Troy Kupka - 3rd 285 - Will Clausen - DNP

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow Attendance Works

Every School Day Counts

#BeABobcat #APlaceToBelong

Congratulations to the 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees: Brennen Blegen Carson Bruns Jessa DeMoss Wyatt Rinderknecht Emma Townsley

Wishing you a wonderful Holiday Season! School will be closed December 23 through January 1. School will resume on Thursday, January 2.

BC wrestling travels to Williamsburg -Courtesy of Jim Magdefrau Boys Wrestling Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at Williamsburg Williamsburg 37, Benton 27 132: TJ Lovell (BECO) over Bowen Stratton (WILL) (Dec 15-10) 138: Elijah Kupka (BECO) over Sam Parsons (WILL) (Fall 1:05) 144: Tyler McMullin (WILL) over Ryan Koehler (BECO) (MD 18-9) 150: Sawyer Kirby (WILL) over Elias Bieschke (BECO) (Fall 1:22) 157: Nile Sinn (WILL) over Brady Patterson (BECO) (Dec 6-5) 165: Blayke Heying (BECO) over Brady Grier (WILL) (Dec 12-5) 175: Ethan Prior (WILL) over Weston Kaestner (BECO) (Fall 1:40) 190: Brenden Heying (BECO) over Evan Stohlmann (WILL) (Fall 2:43) 215: Troy Kupka (BECO) over Wyatt Wolter (WILL) (Fall 3:04) 285: Will Clausen (BECO) over Trenton Davies (WILL) (Dec 4-2) 106: Charlie Foster (WILL) over Memphis Bishop (BECO) (Fall 1:22) 113: Riker DeWitt (WILL) over Jaxson Mehlert (BECO) (TF 20-3 4:35) 120: Hayden Albaugh (WILL) over Garrett Kuch (BECO) (MD 13-2) 126: Lincoln Schropp (WILL) over Jason Eastman (BECO) (Dec 6-0) Benton 68, Grinnell 9 120: Garrett Kuch (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 126: Jason Eastman (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 132: TJ Lovell (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 138: Logan McDonald (GRIN) over Elijah Kupka (BECO) (Dec 9-4) 144: Ryan Koehler (BECO) over Jack Vitek (GRIN) (Dec 9-4) 150: Elias Bieschke (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 157: Brady Patterson (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 165: Blayke Heying (BECO) over Alex Peiffer (GRIN) (Fall 3:06) 175: Josh Ringler (GRIN) over Sage Edberg (BECO) (Fall 0:46) 190: Brenden Heying (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 215: Troy Kupka (BECO) over Tyler Kostow (GRIN) (Fall 0:53) 285: Will Clausen (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 106: Memphis Bishop (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 113: Jaxson Mehlert (BECO) over Eli Peiffer (GRIN) (TF 18-0 5:12) Girls' Wrestling Benton 60, Grinnell 24 115: Kaitlyn Bonewitz (BECO) over Peyton Davenport (GRIN) (Fall 0:44) 120: Kyrie Chapman (GRIN) over Alexis Northcutt (BECO) (Fall 0:37) 125: Willow Sexton (BECO) over Baylee Boyd (GRIN) (Fall 1:32) 130: Kiaya Shuey (GRIN) over Madelyn Kenny (BECO) (Fall 3:21) 135: Izzy Schoettmer (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 140: Jordan Voelkel (BECO) over Adriana Versendaal (GRIN) (Fall 1:15) 145: Jordan Koehler (BECO) over Jayla Westcott (GRIN) (Fall 0:24) 155: Layna DeMoss (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 170: Mo Brown (BECO) over Alejandra Hernandez (GRIN) (Fall 3:16) 190: Lauren Silhanek (BECO) over (GRIN) (For.) 235: Jahzarah Ward (GRIN) over (BECO) (For.) 100: Piper Madren (GRIN) over Alexis Sexton (BECO) (Fall 1:04) 105: Maria Davis (BECO) over Zaria Bunch (GRIN) (Fall 1:39) 110: Courtney Hlas (BECO) over Addison Beckman (GRIN) (Fall 3:57)

Don’t forget! Santa will be at the basketball games TONIGHT (12/20) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. collecting items to be donated to the Benton Community High School Food Bank.

All BC 8th grade students took a field trip to the Linn Regional Center in Hiawatha on Tuesday, December 17 to their STEAM Institute. This was an opportunity for students to hear about and experience some hands-on opportunities with careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math fields.

Interested in serving as a Junior Achievement volunteer? There are still opportunities to participate in the 2024-25 school year! This program supports a school-community connection and helps our students learn about topics related to financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship. If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, please reach out to Anna Selk at Central Office.

BENTON BASKETBALL: Week of Dec. 15, 2024 -Courtesy of Jim Magdefrau Benton girls’ basketball Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, at Mount Pleasant Benton 48, Mount Pleasant 27 BC 11 17 14 6 - 48 MP 3 8 8 8 - 27 Statistics are coming. Benton boys’ basketball Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, at Mount Pleasant Benton 65, Mount Pleasant 29 BC 18 17 17 13 - 65 MP 10 7 6 6 - 29 Benton was 22 of 41 for field goals, 12 of 20 for three-pointers, and 9 of 13 for free throws. They had 31 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals, three blocks, 15 turnovers, and nine fouls. Carson Pickering had 26 points. Eli Patterson added 13. Gavin Brooks had 10. Carson Nolan had five rebounds. Nolan and Ryan Spina had four assists each. Brody Zimmerman had three steals. Patterson had two blocks.

SPORTS: BC girls’ wrestle at Kennedy Invite -Courtesy of Jim Magdefrau Cedar Rapids Kennedy Girls Invitational Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, at Cedar Rapids. 1 Cedar Rapids Jefferson 217.5 2 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 184.0 3 Iowa City, Liberty 177.0 4 Clinton 158.5 5 Benton Community 122.0 6 Dubuque Senior 95.0 7 Xavier, Cedar Rapids 59.0 8 Keokuk 51.0 Benton results 105 - Alexis Sexton (9-8) placed 5th and scored 13.0 team points. 105 - Maria Davis (4-2) placed 6th. 110 - Courtney Hlas (8-14) placed 5th and scored 10.0 team points. 120 - Kaitlyn Bonewitz (10-9) placed 3rd and scored 15.0 team points. 120 - Alexis Northcutt (2-4) placed 6th. 125 - Willow Sexton (16-9) placed 3rd and scored 15.0 team points. 130 - Madelyn Kenny (1-5) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points. 135 - Marissa Nolte (3-8) placed 6th. 135 - Izzy Schoettmer (15-10) placed 2nd and scored 20.0 team points. 140 - Evelyn Harris (1-4) place is unknown. 140 - Jordan Voelkel (12-11) placed 4th and scored 14.0 team points. 145 - Jordan Koehler (7-4) placed 6th and scored 9.0 team points. 155 - Layna DeMoss (21-1) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points. 170 - Lauren Silhanek (4-4) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Benton Community High School Winter Band Concert on Monday, December 16th. The concert featured the High School Jazz and Concert Bands directed by Mike Meyer.