The Mustang Moon picked up several awards in the Iowa High School Press Association spring journalism 2026 contests.
“I’m proud that our student journalists continue to find innovative ways to report on their peers and events at the school,” said JoAnn Gage, adviser for The Mustang Moon. “Our Instagram account @TheMustangMoon is where most of our video and photo posts are seen now, while our website and other social media pages often showcase our writing.”
First place awards went to: sports story: game or season recap “Sophomores Fall 56-55 in Final-Second Loss at Center Point-Urbana” by Jack Carnes; feature photo “Future Mustang” by Lucy Wischmeyer; sports action photo “State Wrestling Day 1” by Avery Thurn; online innovation “Kellen’s Journey to Drake” by Trae Bielefeld, Colin Boehler and Easton Reasland; social media reporting “The Mustang Moon Instagram posts” by staff; sports feature photo “Advancing to State Finals” by Adeline Whisner; news photo ”To the Beat of the Raindrops” by Lydia Marshall; multimedia story – feature “Leading the Clan” by Porter Chatman, Alex Briesemeister and Cooper Krob; multimedia story – sports “Girls Wrestling Banquet Honors Athletes” by Taylor Manternach, Polly Hinrichs and staff.
Second place awards went to: environmental portrait “Will Turner, Senior Composer” by Kade Kaiser; feature photo “Conducting in the Rain” by Lydia Marshall; sports action photo “OVER THE BAR” by Adeline Whisner; multimedia story – news “The Road to Hadestown” by Lydia Marshall; news photo “CHEERS!“ by Kade Kaiser; multimedia story – sports “Mount Vernon Boys Varsity Basketball Gears Up For The Season” by Ryan Hepker, Brendan McNeal and Andrew Weber.
Third place awards went to: Sports Story: Game or Season Recap “Maquoketa Upsets No. 1 Mount Vernon in State Championship, 59-42” by Nora Brase; Sports Action photo “Holden Hlavacek makes a TD catch in the 50-0 win against Monticello” by Lucy Wischmeyer; multimedia story – news “Eight Groups Invited to All-State Large Group Speech, Four Performing” by Jada Ripke, Kade Kaiser; ads “Girls Basketball Game Day” by Sophia Patten; infographic “Top 10 things about being a freshman at MVHS” by Avery Miller; multimedia story – sports “Mavrik Schweer Volleyball Superstar” by Tommy Rhomberg and Seth Rushford.
Honorable mention awards went to: health/science “Athlete Mental Health: More Than An Athlete” by Mavrik Schweer; personality profile “For Senior Rose Daoud, Painting Is About Expression, Not Perfection” by Jack Carnes; sports story: game or season recap “All Gas, No Brakes: Mustangs Cruise Past Wolverines on the Road to State ‘Ship” by Holden Hlavacek; sports action photo “#3” by Adeline Whisner; online innovation ”Top 10 Things About Being a Freshman at MVHS” by Avery Miller; ads “Girls Wrestling Meet Day” by Adrienne Ruhland and Emily Schnoor; ads “Boys Basketball Game Day” by Maggie Cook; video story “Sledding in Mount Vernon” by Andrew Errington, Jack Bauer, and Staff (Cameron Poggenpohl, Nolan Pownell, and Hutson Wiesenhofer); sports feature photo “Celebration with Trophy” by Adeline Whisner; sports feature photo “Softball Smiles” by Emily Giel; social justice reporting “Thoughts, Prayers and Action: Mount Vernon students participate in the national walkout against gun violence” by Kade Kaiser; illustration or art “Athlete Mental Health” by Mavrik Schweer; entertainment “Girls Wrestling Hype Video” by Avery Miller, Josie Panos and Clara Vavricek.