Prep Softball: WMU’s Jackson Steps Down
Winfield-Mount Union head softball coach Walt Jackson has announced his departure from the program, effective immediately.
After leading the team for the last three years, Jackson will give way to Winfield’s head football coach Scott McCarty as the chief steward of the program for the summer.
Jackson doubles as the Henry County Emergency Management Coordinator.
In three years, Jackson led Winfield-Mount Union to a 41-20 record, overseeing the development of all-state pitcher Madie Anderson, who is currently starring at Indian Hills Community College.
While Anderson may have graduated, a solid nucleus remains intact from last year’s team — including recent Iowa Wesleyan commit Jobey Malone.
The Lady Wolves finished last year 17-6 falling in the Class 1A regional semifinals to Highland.
College Golf: Wilson Named CAC Men’s Golfer of the Week
Former Mount Pleasant standout and current Iowa Wesleyan golfer Brevin Wilson has been named the Continental Athletic Conference men’s golfer of the week.
The league announced the honor earlier this week.
Wilson finished 16th in the 102-person field at the Mount Mercy Shootout last week, shooting a 4-over 76.
It’s Wilson’s second weekly honor this season.
Wilson and the Tiger men will being their postseason next week when they host the CAC Championships.
The two-day, 18-hole tournament will be golfed in Burlington at the Burlington Golf Club.
Prep Track: Drake Relays Begins Today
The 112th running of the Drake Relays is underway, with high school events getting started in Des Moines today at 4:00 p.m.
Today, New London senior Carter Allen will begin his postseason ramp up as he competes in the discus.
Allen, who was a medalist one year ago, is currently seeded 11th in the state with a throw of 164 feet and one inch.
Indianola senior Walker Whalen is the presumptive favorite. The Iowa recruit leads the field with a heave of 202 feet, 10 inches.
In girls’ shotput, Mount Pleasant star Jadan Brumbaugh is looking to repeat as Drake Relays champion.
The Iowa State recruit is the top-seed in the field with a throw this year of 47 feet, 9.75 inches.
Pushing her this year will be future schoolmate Audi Crooks, a Cyclone basketball commit, who cleared 41 feet earlier this season.
Winfield-Mount Union’s Jobey Malone will also compete in the field. Malone’s best toss this year is 38 feet, 11 inches.
Also on the track today will be Notre Dame senior Katy Stephens in the girls’ jump.
Stephens has cleared 5-5′ so she remains in contention with Maddie Olson of Sheldon who leads the field at 5-8.
College Wrestling: Six Wesleyan Wrestlers named Scholar All-Americans
Six Iowa Wesleyan wrestlers have received Scholar All-American Honors.
Alaina Sunlin, Mia Palumbo, Zoi Smith, Joanna Vanderwood, Adaugo Nwachukwu and Destiny Campbell all picked up recognition for their academic success.
Nwachukwu, a nursing major at Wesleyan, was the 136-pound national champion and was named Iowa Wesleyan’s Female Athlete of the Year at last week’s Wesley’s.
Under the direction of former New London star Jake Kadel, the Wesleyan women finished this year ranked inside the top-25 in the NAIA rankings.
NFL Draft: Three In-State Players Hoping to Hear Names Tonight
Three in-state prospects are hoping their names are called tonight as the first round of the NFL Draft commences in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A near lock for the first round is Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning. Penning, who hails from Clear Lake, Iowa has enjoyed a tremendous pre-draft surge and will likely hear his name within the draft’s first 20 picks.
Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, once thought of as a surefire top-10 pick has slid down draft boards, but will most likely go anywhere from 20-to-32. The Solon graduate anchored the Hawkeyes offensive line and was an All-American last year.
Iowa State running back Breece Hall has an outside chance of sneaking into the first round, with Buffalo at pick 26 looking like the most realistic scenario. Hall blew the combine up with incredible athleticism and agility, leading the position group in many of the tests. Hall rewrote the Iowa State record books in his time in Ames.
Tonight’s draft will begin at 7:00 p.m.
