By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Ames — The Iowa State men’s basketball team has picked up former Denver University star Robert Jones, the school has announced.
Jones averaged nearly 10 points and five rebounds per game for Denver, reaching double figures five times in the truncated season.
The 6-foot-10 sophomore will have three years of eligibility in Ames.
Jones was a three-star prospect hailing from Prior Lake, Minnesota.
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Boys’ Soccer: Panthers Host Columbus:
The Mount Pleasant boys’ soccer team will open their 2021 season tonight when the Panthers host Columbus in a nonconference fixture at East Lake Park.
The Panthers are coming off back to back 13-6 marks and will look to return to that form following the COVID cancelled spring of 2020.
The Panthers return senior goalkeeper Logan Lee, who will help fortify the back line.
Lee was the leading keeper in the 2019 season, recording 83 saves.
Mount Pleasant will need to fill the boots of Nathan Rauenbuehler, who was dynamite in his senior year.
In fact, the Panthers will need to replace their top six scorers from two years prior.
Match time is set for 6:00 p.m. tonight at East Lake Park.
This will be Columbus’ first match of the season as well, they finished the 2019 season 5-9.
College Football: Wesleyan Drops Season Opener:
The Iowa Wesleyan football team allowed a late 61-yard touchdown run to Paul Garrett as Greenville University came from behind for a 28-25 win over the Tigers Saturday at Francis Field in Greenville, Illinois.
Iowa Wesleyan freshman quarterback Gavin Esquivel threw for 434 yards in his debut including three touchdowns.
Shomari Wilson had 117 yards receiving, while Jerry Carbajal and Braedin Ross finished with 79 and 76 yards receiving respectively.
Greenville took the lead for good at the 8:41 mark of the fourth quarter on the Garrett touchdown rush — which came on fourth and short.
It was the final of three touchdowns on the ground for Garrett.
He rushed for 222 yards on 26 totes and added three catches for 10 yards.
The loss moved Wesleyan to 0-1.
They’ll lick their wounds, watch the tape, and make the corrections prior to a Saturday date with Westminster.
That game will be played at Bracewell Stadium in Burlington.
Kick is set for 1:00 p.m.
You can listen on FM 105.5.
Women’s College Basketball: Iowa State’s Joens Wins Cheryl Miller Award:
Iowa State women’s basketball star Ashley Joens has been named the Cheryl Miller Award recipient for the past season.
The award is presented annually to the best small forward in Division I.
Joens, an Iowa City native, averaged a school-record 24.2 points per game for Iowa State this year.
She’s the second Iowa State player to win the award.
Bridget Carleton won in 2019.
Men’s College Basketball: Iowa’s Garza Wins Naismith Trophy:
University of Iowa senior Luka Garza has been named the recipient of the 2021 Naismith Trophy, the most prestigious individual basketball honor presented annually to college basketball’s most outstanding player.
The most dominant player in men’s college basketball, Garza has been named national player of the year by all of the major organizations and publications, including the Associated Press, National Association of Basketball Coaches, United States Basketball Writers Association (Oscar Robertson Trophy), Sporting News, Basketball Times, and The Athletic.
Iowa’s first two-time unanimous consensus first-team All-American is also a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, which will be announced on Tuesday.
The two-time Big Ten Player of the Year broke Iowa’s 32-year old scoring record held by Roy Marble in February.
He finished his Hawkeye career with 2,306 points, which ranks seventh-best in Big Ten history.
Men’s College Basketball: Iowa State Adds Denver Transfer:
The Iowa State men’s basketball team has picked up former Denver University star Robert Jones, the school has announced.
Jones averaged nearly 10 points and five rebounds per game for Denver, reaching double figures five times in the truncated season.
The 6-foot-10 sophomore will have three years of eligibility in Ames.
Jones was a three-star prospect hailing from Prior Lake, Minnesota.
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
We’re Back: Wesleyan Football Set to Debut Today at Greenville:
For the first time since 2019, the Iowa Wesleyan football team will be on the gridiron.
Today, under first year head coach M.D. Daniels, the Tigers will travel to Greenville University for a conference tilt set to kickoff at 1:00 p.m.
With it comes the the return of the “Air Raid” which was birthed at Iowa Wesleyan under Hal Mumme and Mike Leach.
Coordinating the aerial assault will be first year offensive coordinator Kiefer Price, a disciple of Mumme and a long time assistant under various “Air Raid” schemes.
Wesleyan, winless in 2019, will be looking to avenge a 21-0 loss against the Panthers that same season.
The Tigers have lost the last three meetings to Greenville, with the last win coming back on September 17th of 2016.
You can listen to today’s game on FM 105.5.
Nathan Bloechl and Hunter Davis will have the call beginning with the Tiger Tailgate Show at 12:45 p.m.
Kick off from Greenville University is set for 1:00 p.m.
College Baseball: Wesleyan Splits for Second Straight Day:
The Iowa Wesleyan baseball team split a two game twin-bill for the second straight day, beating Blackburn 14-1 in game one, while falling 11-7 in game two.
Nick Salas had a home run, his second of the year, in the first game to lead Wesleyan offensively. Five Tigers had doubles — including one from former Mount Pleasant standout Corbin Broeker — which was more than enough run support for terrific freshman hurler Luis Ayesa.
The first year from Venezuela worked all seven innings, scattering three hits, yielding just one run while fanning eight.
In game two, former Mediapolis prep Cauy Massner took the loss giving up six runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings.
Massner struck out one.
Wesleyan tried to rally late, scratching two runs across in the 7th inning, but could not get any closer.
Jack de Burgh had three hits and two runs batted in despite the loss.
Wesleyan, now 3-4, will be off until next Saturday when they take on Spalding University.
That game will be played in Louisville, Kentucky.
College Softball: Wesleyan Splits with Greenville:
The Iowa Wesleyan softball team picked up their first win of the season in a split of a doubleheader against Greenville yesterday at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.
Former New London star Morgan Christner was saddled with the loss in game one, throwing a complete game however hemorrhaging six runs on six hits while striking out nine.
Christner, Kayla Ford, Alex Eyman, Jurnee Adams and Emilee Rooney each had hits for the Tigers, with Eyman’s and Adams’ going for extra bases.
In game two, former Danville ace Abby Dameron threw five innings of one run ball — allowing just two hits — as Wesleyan snuck out a 3-1 win.
Dameron yielded way to Christner who closed the door in the 6th and 7th innings to earn the save.
Christner also had a double, while Eyman, former New London Tiger Breanna Mettler and former Danville outfielder Ashley Pfadenhauer each had runs batted in.
Wesleyan improved to 1-4
Women’s College Basketball: Women’s Championship Set:
The NCAA Women’s Final Four was played yesterday in San Antonio and the national championship Sunday will feature Stanford and upset-minded Arizona.
The Cardinal picked up a 78-63 over the Cardinals of Louisville, while Arizona knocked off reigning Player of the Year Paige Bueckers and UCONN 69-59.
The national championship will be played Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
The men’s Final Four will be held in Indianapolis today with Baylor battling Houston and Gonzaga tangling with UCLA.
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Women’s College Basketball: Wesleyan Falters in Second Half:
The Iowa Wesleyan women’s basketball team led by as many nine, but it was Greenville using a 37-27 second half run to pull away for a 71-63 win over the Tigers at Ruble Arena yesterday afternoon.
Wesleyan opened the game 3-of-4 from three but then managed to shoot just 8-of-25 from long distance the rest of the game.
Morgan McCrea had 19 points, five rebounds and three assists to led the way for the Tigers while Anija Simmons recorded her second straight double double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Hannah Sykora finished with 10 points for Wesleyan who slumped to 2-11.
Madelyn Stephen paced the Greenville attack with 22 points and six rebounds, while Emily Reinneck added 14 points and 11 boards.
Greenville shot 43% from the field after halftime, improving on a 37% mark from before the break.
Wesleyan will close out their regular season this Saturday when they take on Fontbonne University.
Tip is set for 1:00 p.m.
Men’s College Basketball: Wesleyan Postpones Against Greenville:
The Iowa Wesleyan men’s basketball game against Greenville was deemed a no-contest following Director of Athletics Derek Zander cancelling the matchup.
Greenville played Spalding on Saturday — and Spalding then had a player test positive.
Out of an abundance of caution for the future prospects of the men’s team — including their postseason tournament eligibility — Zander decided the risk was not worth playing the game.
No one on Iowa Wesleyan has tested positive.
Alex Huisman’s group is still slated to play their regular season finale on the road Saturday against Fontbonne University.
They’ll tip at 3:00 p.m.
Prep Track: Mount Pleasant Hosting Large Invite:
The Mount Pleasant boys’ and girls’ track teams will welcome in several teams this evening for an exciting invite.
Both the Panther boys’ and girls’ are coming off first place team finishes earlier this week at the Falcon Relays in West Burlington.
Teams making the trek to Mapleleaf Athletic Complex include:
Field and running events will start simultaneously at 4:30 p.m.
Prep Track: Drake Relays to Host Fans:
The 2021 Drake Relays will welcome spectators, one year following postponement due to the global pandemic.
Strict COVID-19 protocols including socially distanced seating and mask mandate, will be enforced during the 111th edition of America’s Athletic Classic, to be held April 22-24, 2021, at Drake Stadium.
The high school session will run throughout April 22nd.
The Drake Relays are hosted annually at the Blue Oval in Des Moines.
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Iowa City — University of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark has been named the WBCA Co-Freshman of the Year, the University has announced.
Clark shares the honor this year with UCONN’s Paige Bueckers.
In 30 games this season, Clark averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Clark led Iowa to the Sweet Sixteen, marking the program’s eighth Sweet Sixteen appearance, and its third in its last four NCAA Tournament appearances.
The West Des Moines, Iowa, native broke the Iowa women’s basketball record for points scored in a freshman campaign and currently ranks third all-time at Iowa for points in a single season behind Megan Gustafson’s junior and senior seasons.
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Iowa City — Redshirt sophomore Jack Nunge has notified head coach Fran McCaffery of his intentions to transfer from the University of Iowa and the men’s basketball program, the University has announced.
This year, Nunge suffered a torn meniscus just days after the unexpected death of his father.
It was reported the transfer release with the intention of moving closer to his home state of Indiana.
Nunge was the team’s leading scorer (7.1) and rebounder (5.3) off the bench in 22 games played in 2020-21. He started 19-of-60 games as a Hawkeye, averaging 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 blocks, and 0.5 steals.
By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Fairfield — Levi Graber and Brian Hyunh each picked up singles victories, but it was Maharishi pulling out a 5-4 win over the Mount Pleasant boys’ tennis team yesterday at Mahrishi High School.
Mount Pleasant’s No. 1 singles player David Nguyen fell to Ramil Patel 6-2, 1-6, (10-1).
Graber picked up his win in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 while Hyunh won 6-4, 7-5.
In doubles, Owen Van Sickel and Linc Henriksen picked up a solid win beating Maharishi’s top singles Player Ramil Patel and Jayanta Wegman by 9-7 score.
In No. 3 doubles, Levi Graber and Brian Hyuhn mollywhopped the Maharishi tandem of Dominic Dufaux and William Nguyen 8-1.
