Just like that, spring is here with a vengeance. Not exactly Batman-like vengeance, but close to.

Easter has come and gone (my holiday was nice and quiet, thank you for asking), and springtime athletics are now in full swing.

I’m going to introduce something that is not exactly new. However, I did give it some nomenclature.

In game shows, they usually fire off a string of questions over an allotted span of time. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the most prominent example is Family Feud.

Every now and then, I want to introduce my own version of a “lightning round.” Just some quick thoughts strung together over the span of one column. It can be from what I’m watching or what I’m keeping tabs on, to thoughts on sports — from the Lynx and Hawks to intercollegiate athletics and the professional leagues. Due to some folks who like to flood my inbox with feedback, I’ll try to drift toward the area side of things.

Let’s get started.

Spring has indeed sprung in sportsball: In Webster City, you have a solid girls’ tennis team, a rapidly developing boys’ tennis squad, a fantastic boys’ soccer team and a girls’ soccer team that is making strides on the pitch.

The Webster City boys’ track team boasts guys like Jaxon Cherry, CJ Hisler, Keegan Hisler and Brayden Heneley, as the Lynx girls possess sophomore Chloe Savitski. The WC girls’ golf team has Alley Odland and Carly Appel leading the charge.

Only the Lynx boys’ golf team is the great unknown for me, right now. I’m sure coach Dawson will reach out to me very soon.

South Hamilton has a fantastic girls’ track team (Kate Barkema, Tanna Thompson, Ashlyn Erickson and many more) and high performing individuals on the boys’ track team (Carter Balvanz and Nick Severseike easily come to mind).

Rebekah Carlson is going to be fantastic, and the boys’ team is looking like a contender.

I’m excited to see how everyone fares as spring marches on.

The “Robo-Lynx” is due for a facelift: I’m going to sound the “unpopular opinion” alarm here. Once I walk into my office on Monday, I’ll bet that my inbox is going to be flooded full of angry comments.

But I gotta say it. I’m not the biggest fan of Webster City’s current logo. You know, the one that they have plastered on Bound and just about everywhere else? That one.

How’s that for a Skip Bayless-like hot take? Actually, it’s not as bad as a Skip Bayless hot take.

To give credit where credit is due, it’s time honored and a lot of success has come to Lynx Country while donning what I dubbed, the “Robo-Lynx.” Before you jump into your vehicle, make the trip over to the office and provide me with a piece of your mind — allow me to explain.

In my travels, the “Robo-Lynx” is actually a pretty common clip-art logo. When I started at the Moore County News-Press in Dumas, Texas, there was one of two area schools that I covered that used the logo.

The Sunray Bobcats and Ladycats (it’s a Texas thing to have “lady” in front of the mascot name) were royal blue and athletic gold, and they had two logos.

One was a “Cats” wordmark, reminiscent of what Montana State uses as a secondary mark. Sunray generally used it for their boys’ teams — from the football helmet (which was a cool royal blue shell with an athletic gold “Cats”) to basketball shorts.

The other is, well, a version of the Robo-Lynx.

Before I left, Sunray did move to a new cat-head logo. Granted, it was also off of a clip-art website.

Don’t get me wrong, though, Webster City has some really cool lynx emblems lurking about. The art used for football is detailed, but quite unique, and the center logo used in the Competition Gym and on the north side of the Daily Freeman-Journal building sticks out in a good way. Then, there are the works used on the walls of Jeff Gym and within the halls of Webster City Middle School. Anytime where you can have a Lynx rocking a “WC” hat in the retro style is always a winner, in my book.

Also, should you decide to introduce a new logo, it takes time to phase out the outgoing for the incoming. I’m not saying, “hey, let’s ditch the Robo-Lynx right now.” It’s more so “hey, let’s update the Lynx logo sometime in the near future.”

In a day and age where there are software programs capable of producing fantastic logo packages that will be used for generations to come, why not now?

With that in mind, I’ll welcome any current WCHS student or Lynx alumni who would like to submit a refreshed logo — with the intention of donating it to the district, of course.

We could have some parameters. One, it’s got to be a stylized lynx head, full body lynx and a wordmark that could be used across the board. Think of it as a primary, secondary and tertiary marks. Two, no simple “paw logos.” Those marks are way too common, as I’ve seen them used by Humboldt, Southeast Valley, Ogden — any team that uses “cats” or “dogs” as their mascots. Let’s not fall into that trap. The only exception for the paws are sidewalk art around the school buildings and around town.

South Hamilton, keep doing what you’re doing. I love Hector the Walkin’ Hawk.

Stanhope State is now my adopted alma mater: Even though West Texas A&M University (nestled in beautiful Canyon, Texas) is the place where I walked across the stage and received my bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism, I’ve developed a soft spot for Stanhope State University.

Even more so when I took the plunge and ordered a couple of t-shirts, magnets and, of course, the famous koozies. When they arrived through the mail, I received a really nice note and some awesome stickers.

When I mentioned Stanhope State to Hamilton County Supervisor Rick Young the other day, both of us lit up with excitement. I divulged to Rick that I initially knew of Stanhope State from family friend and longtime radio personality, Duane Murley.

Duane loves Stanhope State (as he shares their posts all of the time on social media), and I’ve fallen for the Watermelon Warriors, too.

The assortment of merch is fantastic, and you can’t help but root for Lars. He runs, and plays a wide array of sports from hockey (I can’t wait for a crossover between Stanhope State and either the Iowa Wild, Des Moines Buccaneers or my favorite clothing brand, Violent Gentlemen) to softball and football.

I’d totally buy a hockey or a football jersey, by the way.

The problem is, which major should I get into, should I decide to pursue my master’s degree at Stanhope State? Would they be alright with a proposed “Tyler Liger School of Journalism?” I’m just a catchy slogan away from submitting that official suggestion.

In all seriousness, thank you for the kind words, Stanhope State. Keep up the excellent work!

“A thousand troops of Koopas couldn’t keep you from me:” Lately, I’ve been singing or humming Bowser’s love ballad, “Peaches,” as portrayed by the talented Jack Black from the new “Super Mario Bros.” movie. I stumbled upon it after browsing YouTube after a long day at the office.

It’s such an earworm. It’s goofy and epic, at the same time.

I admit that I love the 1993 live-action film, despite all of its flaws and legendary production problems. But I’m hearing great things about the animated film — a collaboration between Nintendo, Universal Pictures and Illumination (the studio behind “Minions”) — and I’m planning to catch it this weekend.

On my agenda is to catch “John Wick 4,” as well.

I’m spent. Until next time!