KJAN Podcasts

Trojan Basketball is a few weeks away from starting and former Trojan player, now Head Coach Dalton Franken is excited for his inaugural season. He is inheriting a Trojan squad that went 7-15 last year and 3-10 in conference action. This offseason the team has stayed focused in the present forgetting about last year's struggles.

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One of the main keys that Coach Franken has been helping his team improve on this offseason is defense. The Trojans last year had 686 rebounds, 103 steals, and 54 blocks. While these defensive numbers are good, Coach Franken wants to see them become higher.

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A key part of helping the Trojan defense is senior Colton Rasmussen. He accounted for 93 rebounds, 26 steals, and 17 blocks last season. Yet, Rassmussen is also talented on the offensive end coming into this year with a 40% field goal percentage and scoring 400 points in the 2022-23 campaign. Coach Franken knows how big of a role Rassmussen plays in this year's squad.

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Coach Franken also mentioned that Rassmussen isn't the only player that has stuck out during the offseason. Senior Nolan Waters who last year had the highest three-point percentage on Atlantic last year with 49% has been competing well. Brock Henderson was another name thrown out who showed a lot of potential from his time with the junior varsity team.

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It's hard to have a lot of certainties and guarantees with high school athletics. Each night normally brings something or someone different. Still Coach Franken wants Trojan fans to know that this year's team will compete hard and be a tight knit unit that supports one another.

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The Trojans have their first scrimmage of the year versus West Central Valley on Friday November 17th at 6pm in the Atlantic High School Gym.

The season opener for Atlantic is at home against ACGC on Tuesday November 28th at 7:30pm.

Jim Field visits with Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Program Director Kelsey Beschorner about all the activities in Atlantic during the Christmas season, beginning with Thursday's grand lighting.  CLICK HERE for the "Christmas in Atlantic" brochure.

w/Kate Olson.

It's a new year and with familiar faces for the AHSTW Girls Basketball program. Head Coach Jason McCall is bringing back a plethora of experience for a team that went (9-15) a season ago and with their year ending against the top Western Iowa Conference team Underwood. Now with the season starting in less than a week, Coach McCall is counting on the leadership that seniors Saydi Paulsen, Rylie Knop, Ella Langer, Delaney Goshorn, and Graycen Partlow all bring.

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All five seniors combined for 73 percent of AHSTW total points last year scoring 713. Last year's leading scorer was Delaney Goshorn with 324 points, 141 rebounds, and 52 assists and like the rest of her team she's been using this offseason to stay sharp. Coach McCall explained that the Vikings took advantage of open gyms and getting shots up this past offseason. This year's team is not afraid to be vocal about coaching one another and wanting the ending of this season to be different than last years.

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Having so much production returning for AHSTW, Coach McCall is aware of the expectations that people have on this experienced Vikings team. But he has been reiterating to the team that they need to stay focused on today and not worry about what others are expecting.

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Even with the attitude of taking it a day at a time, Coach McCall does have a focused goal of helping AHSTW be the top team in the Western Iowa Conference. A place that the Vikings have not seen in quite a while. He knows that this year's team is one that can rise to the occasion.

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AHSTW Girls Basketball starts their season on the road at Woodbine, Monday November 20th. KJAN will bring you the coverage with the pregame show starting at 7:15pm and tipoff is set for 7:30pm.

Jim Field visits with Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) President Steve Livengood about repairs to the American Legion Memorial Building, the former Armory.  About $80,000 in window repairs are needed from the December, 2021 derecho.  If you would like to make a donation, send it to:  ARISE, PO Box 1, Atlantic, IA 50022.

Jim Field visits with Scrooge contestant Dean Junker.

Last year the (16-7) Cam Cougars Girls Basketball team ended their season in the Class 1A Region 5 Quarterfinal against Tri-Center. That same team had a solid showing in the 2022-23 season going 11-5 in conference play and finishing third in the Rolling Valley Conference. Even with the season ending shorter than expected, Cougars Head Coach Joe Wollum is looking forward to bringing a majority of that team back.

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This past offseason has been dedicated to increasing tempo and speed for the Cougars. Coach Wollum wants to make sure that CAM stays sharp and speedy. He's been training his team that even when you have a basket scored on you. Respond without hesitation and try to match it as quickly as you can.

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When it comes to speed and quick responses, one of the key players for the Cougars this year is senior Eva Steffensen. Steffensen is coming off a dominant junior year as she was the only player in the Rolling Valley Conference with over 70 assists, 50 blocks, and 50 steals.

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Steffensen is not the only contributor returning to the Cougars. Senior Meredith Rich comes into the season scoring over 250 points last year and 29 made threes. Emma Follmann is another player who adds experience for CAM with playing in all 23 games. Follmann also helped with rebounds having 98 last year.

The talent and experience are there for CAM this year. So, Coach Wollum's main focus is to play fast and with intensity. He believes that with the veteran core taking the floor this year and how swift the Cougars will be it will create a high level of basketball.

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The Cougars first game of the season starts at home, on Tuesday November 21st against AHSTW at 7:30pm.

Veterans Day is coming up this weekend on Saturday November 11th. As we all thank and support the Veterans who serve our country, his office says there are few that have done more for those men and women once they return home, than Iowa 3rd District Congressman Zach Nunn. Veterans Day really hits home to Nunn, who served as a member and Commander in the Iowa National Guard. Nunn said it was one of his greatest honors in being in National Guard.

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Nunn's role models include several family members who served the country. Both his father and brother served, but there was none he looked up to more, than his grandfather who served in WWII. Speaking with KJAN's Blake Burris, Nunn says by the grace of God, his grandfather was able to return home after being caught in line of a Nazi sniper's nest.

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Ever since Nunn got into Congress, he says it has been a big factor for him to do anything in his power to help the brave men and women have better lives once they come home. But the one  Nunn is most proud of, is getting a bill passed that allows Veterans to get the proper help once they return home. Suicide rate for Veterans is 4x higher in Iowa than the national level and is a tragedy that Zach Nunn wants to see drop.

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Nunn said he decided to get run for Congress so he can fight for the men and women who sacrifice so much for our freedom that we are so blessed with having, and he gives his thanks and gratitude to those who serve and to their families.

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Jim Field visits with Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, ISU Extension Beef Specialist with the Iowa Beef Center, about the Iowa Cattle Feeders Camp at the Armstrong Research Farm near Lewis on November 30 and December 1.

The Atlantic Trojans Girls basketball team had their best season in over a decade last year and the Trojans are looking to build off that success in 2023-24. The Trojans were 18-5 last year and tied for the Hawkeye Ten Conference Championship with Glenwood as both teams were 10-3 in conference play. This came after the Trojans had three consecutive seasons going 9-14 and just a few winning seasons in the last 10+ years. Head Coach of the Trojans Dan Vargason hopes his team can build off their breakthrough season and continue that success heading into the new campaign.

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The Trojans did lose a lot off of last seasons team as they lost their second, third, and fourth leading scorers so the Trojans team has some big holes to fill. The Trojans got a lot of their success down low inside the paint as they were able to use their height to the teams advantage and do most of their scoring from down low. That will look a lot different this year as Coach Vargason said this years team is much smaller, but the team is quicker and will look to try and score more from the perimeter line.

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With official practice for the new season starting this past Monday the Trojans are eager to get started and find out how some of the new pieces will play together. The Trojans with the speed and quickness will look to use that on both ends of the floor to wear opponents down. Coach Vargason said he has loved the energy and enthusiasm through the first week and said that girls energy is very consistent on both ends of the floor and he and his coaching staff love that.

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The Trojans season starts a few days earlier than usual as they tip their season off on Friday November 17th but the Trojans have two scrimmage games before to help prepare the team and see where they currently are. Coach Vargason said the biggest thing about the scrimmage games is wanting to get the girls comfortable playing with each other and building the chemistry.

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The Trojans girl teams will start their year for the first official game on November 17th when they travel to Pella to take on the Dutch for a 6pm tipoff.

You can listen to the full interview with Head Coach Dan Vargason below.