US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Even in Caitlin Clark's home state, girls high school basketball in decline. It thrives in this town
Newell-Fonda High School has 21 of 71 girls playing basketball, defying Iowa's 38% statewide participation drop, supported by strong community and youth programs.
- This year, Newell-Fonda High School girls basketball team is an outlier with 21 of 71 girls playing and has reached the state final seven of the last eight seasons.
- Statewide figures indicate NFHS data show participation declined from 451,600 last year to 356,240 this season, with Iowa dropping from 9,401 to 5,856, due to club volleyball, season conflicts, and girls wrestling.
- At Newell-Fonda, kids typically start playing when they're in third grade, but this year a second-grade team formed with 17 of 21 second-grade girls signing up; parents and former players volunteer for coaching, fundraisers, pregame suppers, and livestreams drawing up to 2,500 views.
- A handful of Iowa high schools have disbanded girls programs and many now field only varsity, with junior varsity games sometimes shortened to two quarters.
- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union task force formed last year, including Meyer, Jilek and Jungers, proposes expanding youth programming and three-on-three play to sustain interest despite Caitlin Clark's influence.
Insights by Ground AI
18 Articles
18 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources18
Leaning Left7Leaning Right2Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Left, 44% Center
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources lean Left, 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center
L 44%
C 44%
12%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
