State champion!

Matthew Dickinson/West Branch Times West Branch junior Brandon Pedersen claps his hands after his winning 100 meter dash Saturday afternoon at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. Pedersen broke his own school record while claiming the Bears’ first state championship in the event.

West Branch spread the ball around on May 20 to defeat the Albia Blue Demons, 5-2, on a rainy night at the Little Rose Bowl.

Pedersen wins 2A 100-meter
by Gregory Norfleet · Sports · May 28, 2025
“We were shaking when he won it.”

Sprinter ‘surprised’ by winning state
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · May 28, 2025
When West Branch junior Brandon Pedersen broke a 20-year-old school record in the boys’ 100 meter dash April 17 in Lisbon, his 10.78 led all of Class 2A at the time.

Boys also take two 3rd-places at state
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · May 28, 2025
In addition to a Class 2A state championship in the 100-meter dash for junior Brandon Pedersen, the West Branch boys’ track team had plenty of other reasons to celebrate last weekend at Drake Stadium.

Pierce, Hamann bring back 5th, 7th
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · May 28, 2025
A medal each from Alyssa Pierce and Grace Hamann and some near-placings in three other events highlighted the West Branch girls’ track team’s Class 2A state run last weekend in Des Moines.

West Branch will not gain Lions players
by Gregory Norfleet · Sports · May 28, 2025
To help preserve the school’s “identity,” Lone Tree’s Board of Education decided against sending football players to West Branch in the fall.

Improbable run for girls’ golf ends at regional tournament
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · May 28, 2025
A season of defying the odds came to a close May 21 at West Liberty Golf Course for the West Branch girls’ golf team, which finished fifth with 427 strokes in its Class 2A regional final.

3-run homer helps Durant beat West Branch
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · May 28, 2025
A three-run home run and some defensive miscues proved the difference in the West Branch baseball team’s 5-0 defeat in the first game of a Monday night doubleheader at Durant.

Durant keeps Bears down in season opener
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · May 28, 2025
West Branch’s softball team put up a good fight against a quality Durant team but fell 9-1 in five innings Monday night on the road.

Hoover Elementary’s 2025 Track & Field results
Sports · May 28, 2025
Hoover Elementary’s third- and fourth-grade pupils spent Friday afternoon competing in a variety of sporting challenges at West Branch High School’s track stadium.

Player of Year Smith heads to state
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · May 21, 2025
While the West Branch boys’ golf team saw its season end in heartbreak, sophomore McGavin Smith will participate in the Class 2A state tournament individually following Mondays’ district tournament hosted by Pella Christian.

Will Lone Tree football merge with Bears?
by Gregory Norfleet · Sports · May 21, 2025
Out of the Lions Den and into the Bear Den?