—Submitted photo Team members for state qualifier Newell-Fonda are, front row, left to right: Lexi Peters, Ava Vie, Jocee Walsh, Camryn Puhrmann, Mareni Brabec and Kyia Copp; Middle: Miya Hutchinson, Vienna Wingert, Elliot Hamilton, McKayla Hanson, Ellie Sievers, Quinn Sievers, Paige Erickson, Hadleigh Neppl and Cecilia Weekley. Back: Paul Loos, Dick Jungers, Madison Hammen, Ella Roberts, Miina Adams, Rylee Hogrefe, Madilyn Vanderhoff, Kennedy Hoberman, Diem Johnson, Danika Meyer, Julie Sievers and Courtney Darrow. Not pictured: McKinley White.

DES MOINES — When the girls state tournament brackets come out in March, it’s become common practice to see what line Newell-Fonda is on.

The second-ranked Mustangs have been to nine straight tournaments, and this year, they enter as the second seed in Class 1A.

“We have strong solid leadership with our veterans and youngsters,” said Newell-Fonda head coach Dick Jungers, who earned the John Wooden Legacy Award this year.”We have a strong cohesive unit that has been merging their skills and talents together.”

It’s been common practice to see the Navy and White in the 1A field as it has become a tradition that has been upheld.

Newell-Fonda has reached the state tournament 12 of the last 13 seasons and they haven’t just been happy to be there. The Mustangs are 12-0 since 2013 in the first round of the Class 1A field.

“The big thing about our program is that the girls come to practice to work hard and grow their craft,” Jungers said. “They have improved dramatically where they need to and do a great job in those areas.”

The Mustangs have reached the championship round three consecutive years and been to seven finals in the last eight tries.

Newell-Fonda has won four championships since 2015. The Mustangs earned the 2015 title, and ran off three straight golds from 2019 to 2021 as well.

Newell-Fonda (22-2 overall) will face seventh-seed Saint Ansgar (20-4) in the opening round Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Casey’s Center.

“We have to establish our identity,” Jungers said. “We need to do what we need to do to be successful and adapt on the floor.

“If we’re playing a tall, athletic team, we have to box out and against good shooting teams, we have to make our outside shots to be successful, while making it tough on them and taking shots as they are presented.”

The only two losses this season for the Mustangs are to state qualifiers Emmetsburg (2A) and Cherokee Washington (3A).

The Mustangs have used their pressure defense to allow opponents only 36 points on average this season, and their fast-paced offense is averaging 69 points per game.

Both Saint Ansgar and Newell-Fonda are three-point threats, as the Saints have hit 137 and the Mustangs have connected for 142 from behind the arc this season.

The Mustangs have a balanced offensive attack, led by sophomore Ellie Sievers (15.6). Freshman Quinn Sievers (11.0 points) is also pulling down 4.3 rebounds a night.

Junior Rylee Hogrefe is scoring 9.8 a night. Senior Jocee Walsh is scoring nine per contest and pulling down 6.7 rebounds. The Mustangs are averaging 37 rebounds per contest.

Senior Jacey Johnston is nearly averaging a double double for St. Ansgar, scoring at a 17.6-point clip and pulling down 9.4 rebounds. Junior Quinn Osgood is scoring 16.6 per contest.