Category: Uncategorized (Page 86 of 174)

Last weekend was an incredible one for Fort Dodge wrestler Dreshaun Ross. Not only did he win the prestigious USMC Open in both Freestyle and Greco. But, he was also named the tournaments most outstanding wrestler! Dreshaun who competed in the 85kg weight class, was so dominate in the tournament, he outscored his opponents 59-2. It’s this level of domination that makes Dreshaun Ross the Iowa Matmen Wrestler Of The Week. With this most recent victory, Dreshaun will now get to compete in the 15U World Team Trials for a chance to wrestle in South America.

Pictures provided by Jennifer Peterson

This won’t be the first time he has competed against the world’s best wrestlers. In fact this seems to be an annual tradition for Dreshaun, as he has competed in the Flowrestling Reno World Championships 5x, claiming titles in his last 4 trips!

Pictures provided by Jennifer Peterson

For Dreshaun, this type of success is nothing new, as he has a long list of equally impressive accomplishments, dating all the way back to kindergarten. Over the year’s Ross has won a ridiculous 29 Iowa state titles, while competing in both USA and AAU state tournaments. Showing his versatility, these titles have come in Freestyle, Greco, and Folkstyle.

Pictures provided by Jennifer Peterson

If that wasn’t enough he has also competed in numerous national tournaments all over the country. Ross has won national titles at Winter Nationals, Hawkeye Nationals Tulsa Nationals FLO Nationals, and Christmas Nationals.

Pictures provided by Jennifer Peterson

Dreshaun, started his wrestling career at the tender age of 3, and it wasn’t long before he claimed his first tournament championship. From their, there was no turning back. His career has covered a LOT of miles, as he has won titles everywhere from Reno Nevada, to North Carolina, constantly seeking out the toughest competition he can find.

Pictures provided by Jennifer Peterson

With all his success its a little hard to believe that he has time for anything but wrestling, But the fact is Dreshaun excels, in several sports. In football he plays defensive end, on the track his relay team broke the school record, and his principal said Dreshaun was the first wrestler he ever saw try and dunk a basketball during a game last season.

Pictures provided by Jennifer Peterson

Dreshaun trains at the world renowned Sebolt Wrestling Academy, under head coach TJ Sebolt in Jefferson Iowa. SWA has a solid reputation for producing championship caliber wrestlers. The team just recently captured their 9th straight USA State Team Title!

Pictures provided by Jennifer Peterson

More about Dreshaun

What grade are you in? 8th

How Many state titles have you won? 29, at both AAU and USA tournaments in Freestyle, Folk, and Greco.

What year did you begin wrestling? Pre K at 3 years old.

Favorite Food? Chicken tenders and Mac and Cheese.

GPA? 3.7

Plan to wrestle in college? Yes, may play football as well.

Favorite college? Iowa for wrestling, Alabama for football.

Favorite athlete?  Jordan Burroughs

Who inspires you? My parents, they offer encouragement in everything I do.

Favorite coach? Adam Fellers  and TJ Sebolt. They push me to be my best, and Coach Adam has given me rides to some big tournaments, when my parents weren’t able to go.

Most significant wrestling moment? I was in the finals at Tulsa Nationals, I was losing to Aiden Cooley 5-0, and i battled back and won the championship. (Aiden Cooley is a 12x state champion and 14x national champion from Texas)

Goals? I just want to be the best that I can be.

Why did you start wrestling? It looked fun.

Record this season? 59-3

Clubs you train at? Sebolt Wrestling Academy.

What do you like about the club? Its a tough club, and they push us really hard.

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

The Mississippi River separates the border of Iowa with Wisconsin and Illinois, so it makes perfect sense that the river is culturally and historically significant in and around the state of Iowa. The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is part zoo, part museum, and part science center, featuring exhibits, live animals, and an incredible 4D immersive theater, among several other attractions highlighting the importance of the river to the enviroment and the people. The museum/aquarium offers fun educational opportunities for people of all ages. The Aquarium is located at 350 East 3rd Street, Port of Dubuque, Iowa. For more information, click here.

Blank Park Zoo

Blank Park Zoo is home to over 1,500 animals and over 100 different species. The 49 acre park is located in Des Moines and aims to inspire and educate. The zoo offers a wide variety of fun family experiences, guests can feed giraffes or watch lion cubs play. Other highlights include the red panda, and the cave, which houses fruit bats, and dwarf caimans, hissing cockroaches, and boa constrictors. Another popular feature within the park is the free range aviary, its home to a variety of forest-dwelling birds. There is also an aquarium that features several environments including coral reefs, rivers, and waterfalls. The Zoo is located at 7401 SW 9th St, Des Moines, Iowa. For more information, click here.

Adventure Land Resort

Adventureland Resort is the largest amusement park in Iowa, and is located just outside Des Moines. There are more than 100 rides, shows, and attractions featured at this family-owned resort. The park has opportunities the whole family can enjoy, from kitty rides, to massive roller-coasters, water-rides, to Ferris wheels. If that wasn’t enough, there is also an impressive water-park, known as Adventure Bay and it has a wide variety of water based fun activities. There are multiple swimming pools, a wave park, a relaxing lazy river, splash pads, and incredible water-slides. Adventureland Park also hosts several shows and other entertainment from live music, puppet shows, and stand-up comedy throughout the week, has plenty of concession stands selling a range of food and drinks, and modern restrooms. The park is located at 305 34th Ave NW Altoona Iowa. For more information, click here.

Arnold’s Park

Located in the town of Arnold’s Park in the heart of Iowa’s Great Lakes region, is Arnold’s Park the amusement park. The park features more than 30 rides, shows, and attractions, and provides a fun filled atmosphere for guests of all ages. The park has several rides of notoriety, however the Legend roller coaster and the 65 foot Ferris wheel really stand out and offer incredible views over West Lake Okoboji. The Queen ll offers a different type of ride experience. This riverboat is a beautiful old steamer that provides cruises on the lake. Live music, shows, and other acts, entertain guests at the Majestic Pavilion.  Arnold’s Park also offers world-class shopping, casual dining at several restaurants and bars, and a beautiful beach and lakeside boardwalk. Arnold’s is located at 37 Lake St in Arnold’s Park Iowa. For more information, click here.

Crystal Lake Cave

The cave system has been described as an underground labyrinth of wondrous mineral formations. With every step you take through the cave you will see a wide range of pristine stalagmites, helictites, and rare anthodites. Crystal Lake Cave offers two amazing tours, through this underground wonderland. The tour is well lit, and is ran by friendly, expert guides. The Crystal Lake Caves gift shop is packed with all kinds of mineral-related keepsakes, and the kids will love the Mining Sluice, where they can uncover precious gemstones, fossils, and other hidden treasures using water and a sifter. The cave is located at 6684 Crystal Lake Cave Rd Dubuque, IA. For more information, click here.

High Falls at Tettegouche State Park

AMB-MD Photography / shutterstock

At 100 feet, these falls on the Baptism River are among the highest in the state. You can take one of two trails to reach them, with the shorter walk about a mile and a half. Several different photographs are possible from above, on the boardwalk, or the stairs that lead down to the base. A little further on, you will find Two-Step Falls. When they are in full flood, the two cascades of water flowing down are especially impressive, so pick your time to go – springtime or after heavy rains are ideal. For more information, click here.

Minnehaha Falls

AMB-MD Photography / shutterstock

The popularity of these 53-foot falls in Minnehaha Park is understandable because of their proximity to the city and the fact that you can hear the water soon after you enter the park. The flow is at its height after the winter snow melts, but there are plenty of visitors in the winter when the falls freeze over. Winters are cold in Minneapolis, so the icicles of the falls are guaranteed. They are the falls mentioned in Longfellow’s ‘’ Song of Hiawatha.’’ Aside from the views from above, you can go down either side of the falls to get different angles. For more information, click here.

Ramsey Falls

PBouman / shutterstock

The nickname for this park is ‘’Little Yellowstone,’’ and the highlight of any visit is certainly the Ramsey Falls, which have some good vantage points. While it is a two-hour drive from the city, this park has become a popular day-trip for families. The parking lot is just a short distance from the falls themselves, though, in total, there are four miles of paved trails for hikers. Campers will find plenty to do apart from looking at the falls. A museum and a small zoo are two other attractions. For more information, click here.

Willow River Falls

John Brueske / shutterstock

These stunning falls descend over several ledges into a 200-foot deep gorge en route to the St. Croix River. You have just a short walk from the beginning of the trail before you will hear and see the cascades. Four different places offer the chance of different photographs. The park covers a little under 3,000 acres, and with so many trails, it is a shame just to spend a single day there – camping facilities mean that you don’t have to. There is even a beach to enjoy in the summer months and excellent picnic facilities near the Little Falls Lake. For more information, click here.

Cascade Falls

dvande / shutterstock

This is a volcanic region formed billions of years ago. On just a three-mile stretch of river flowing into Lake Superior, there is a descent of around 900 feet. A convenient campsite is close to one of the main falls, so there is no reason to hurry away. The highest of the Falls is around 30 feet – one of four within the last 400 yards to the lake. There are trails either side of the water, with a bridge, making it potentially a loop. Springtime or just after heavy rains are the best time to visit. For more information, click here.

Late last week Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced the reopening and name of a new state park near Branson. The park formerly known as Ozark Mountain State Park will now be called Shepherd of the Hills State Park.

This picture is owned by Mathew Thompson

The plan is to open the park by the spring of 2024. The park will consist of 400 acres of rolling meadows, there will also be 6 different tributary streams found within. There are more than 700 known plant species and 53 different types of birds found at the park as well.

The director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources said they are taking all comments and suggestions into consideration. So if you have any ideas for the parks development, you should contact Dru Buntin.

Governor Parson says the park honors the area’s history, and this is an historic event for the state parks system! “We are not only unveiling a new name, but we are also honoring a talented writer whose book brought tourists to the area so many years ago and continues to do so today.” he said.

In his book, “The Shepherd of the Hills,” Harold Bell Wright’s description of the region’s beauty detailed why he was drawn to the area, but it also caused readers to want to see it for themselves.

“As Missouri celebrates more than 200 years of statehood, it is fitting to recognize those whose lives have contributed to its rich history,” Buntin said. “Capturing the imagination of a nation, the vivid descriptions of the Roark Valley and the personalities of the Ozark Region were the impetus for the explosion of tourism and population growth in the Branson area.”

Renaming the park honors Wright’s contributions to the region. His description of the region drew thousands of visitors to the area for more than a century and will continue to do so for generations. The announcement happened on what would have been Harold Bell Wright’s 150th birthday.

The Park is located at 4424 Sycamore Church Road, Branson. For more information about the event, please contact Carl Bonnell, at 417-334-4704.

For more information, click here.

Off Road Adventure

ATVs at Shepherd of the Hills in Branson?  Yep!  Ozark Off-Road ATV Adventures lets you enjoy some of the prettiest acreage in the area, and get a cool adrenaline rush at the same time!  Technologically advanced CanAm Commander and CanAm Maverick vehicles are used for one hour excursions, giving riders plenty of time to explore.  You’ll receive basic instructions to get you comfortable with the vehicle and give you an understanding of the terrain you’ll encounter, and then head out with a trained tour guide for a 30-minute excursion. For more information, click here.

Mountain Coaster

The Copperhead Mountain Coaster lays claim at being the longest, fastest, and most scenic in Missouri. This fast paced ride is nearly a mile in length, and travels 1,450 feet uphill before racing back down another 3,350 feet. As you twist and turn flying downhill the coaster can reach speeds of up to 50 mph. The Copperhead runs both day and night and is quite a sight to see lit up with LED lights under a beautiful starlit sky. Riders must be at least 38 inches tall, and closed toed shoes are required! Shepherd of the Hills is located at 6021 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson MO 65616 For more information, click here.

Scuba dive at Bonne Terre Mine

The Bonne Terre Mine is the perfect place for adventure!  The Bonne Terre Mine is the largest man made cavern in the world, and dates all the way back to the 1860’s. Inside the Mine, you will find Billion Gallon Lake, which is the largest subterranean lake on Earth. Today, divers can explore the underwater ghost town and see beautiful artifacts from days past, including entire buildings, a locomotive, mining equipment and more, all preserved about 100 feet under water. This is also home to the world’s largest freshwater dive resort. The mine serves as one of the most popular diving locations in the country, in fact National Geographic listed the mine as one of the top ten diving resorts in the world.  Dive tours are available for certified scuba divers. Or you can become certified through the Bonne Terre Mine. Bonne Terre Mine is located at 185 Park Ave., Bonne Terre, MO 63628.  Just 13 miles from beautiful Farmington.  For more information click here.

Timber Ridge Ropes Course

This massive 4 story obstacle course is a perfect way to get your blood pumping. The course features more then 60 different obstacles, including 2 zip lines, a balance beam, a swaying ladder, uneven bars, and a free fall of 40 feet off the  quick jump platform. To add to the excitement the obstacle course takes place, high above a pit full of alligators and snakes. The pit is here, for two very important reasons.  First it serves as a habitat, and home for 5 alligators, and one 20 foot python.  Second the pit adds a sense of adventure to those attempting to complete the course. The Ropes Course is located at Fun Mountain at 612 Devil’s Pool Rd, Ridgedale. For more information, click here.

Underground Kayaking

Located deep in the heart of the Midwest, lies a one of a kind kayaking experience that you will never forget.   Operated by Marsan Canoe and Kayak Tours, this amazing Adventure takes you into the depths of the long forgotten PPG no.9 glass mine. This experience is so rare, that I could not find any comparable trip in the entire United States. The 3 hour tour takes you up to 400 feet below ground, as you navigate your kayak through the flooded former sand mine.  On your tour you will pass such sights as the “Birth Canal,” “Gilligan’s Island,” “The Squeeze,” ” The Car Wash” and the “Townsend Center”which is the largest opening in the mine. All tours are run by expert guides of great personality, who do an outstanding job both guiding the tour and providing an interesting/entertaining history of the mine. To reserve your spot call (636) 208-5026  to find out more about this amazing kayak tour click here.