In Friday’s football post, I remarked about a prediction that Gladbrook-Reinbeck would drop to 8-man football next year. Turns out that is indeed the case, and I was unaware. GR is playing 8 at the junior high and JV levels already and had its final game in a century-long series against Grundy Center Friday. (The print version of the Courier story said it’s the 100th game against Reinbeck, Gladbrook, or Gladbrook-Reinbeck; the online version said 97th, and each had the record tied before GR’s 28-7 victory Friday.) More coverage with much more history at the Grundy Register, including quotes from current GC and former North Tama coach Brent Thoren.
This would be yet another school that, in the last 20 years, was in a district with North Tama and later dropped to 8-man. The nearest opponents would be Meskwaki Settlement, one of the two northernmost teams in a district that goes down to the Missouri line (Seymour/Moulton-Udell), and Don Bosco, the southernmost team in a district that goes up to the Minnesota line (Kee High).
Don Bosco has lost one regular-season game ever since dropping to 8-man. If the Rebels do well this year, they’ll need as many resources as possible in the next.
UPDATE: Story from WHO: