Sports, March 15th

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 11:29 am CDT

College Track and Field: Beatty Joins All-American List

In just his third competition of the season, former Mount Pleasant high jumper Sam Beatty, now competing at Central,  completed his first All-American performance by finishing tied for eighth at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Beatty became the sixth member of Central’s men’s track and field program to earn All-American honors at the meet.

He was perfect on his first three heights, clearing 6 feet, 6.75 inches without a miss.

The outdoor season starts for Central in three weeks at three different meets: The Dutch Multi-Event (March 31-April 1), Washington Distance Carnival (April 1) and Wartburg Select (April 2).

Boys’ Prep Basketball: New London’s Porter Selected as Third Team All-State

New London junior Blaise Porter has been selected as a third-team all-state choice, the Iowa Print Sports Writers has announced.

Porter, who holds Division I offers from Bryant and IUPUI, averaged 17.5 points and nearly six assists this season, helping guide the Tigers to the district semifinals.

Porter also joined New London’s 1,000 point scorers club, connecting on over 55% of his field goals and 44% of this threes.

Wapello senior forward Maddox Griffin was a second-team all-state honoree.

The Upper Iowa recruit averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and just south of six assists in his monstrous senior season.

Ames senior Tamin Lipsey was named the 2022 Mr. Basketball. The Iowa State commit completed his senior season with a state finals triple-double.

The 6-foot-2 senior averaged 15.7 points per game for the Little Cyclones.

College Wrestling: Iowa Signs Brands to Extension

Iowa wrestling coach Tom Brands has signed a contract extension through the 2029 season.

Brands is in his 16th season as Iowa’s head wrestling coach. His teams have won four NCAA and six Big Ten titles, and enter this week’s NCAA tournament as defending national champions.

Brands became the eighth head coach in program history in 2006. He is a five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and three-time National Coach of the Year.

Iowa has led the nation in attendance every year since Brands’ first season in 2006-07.

Men’s College Basketball: KILJ Bracket Challenge LIVE 

The KILJ Bracket Challenge, presented by Press Box Grille and Bar and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design is live.

You can register your bracket here.

Entries are due by Thursday morning.

NFL Free Agency

NFL free agency started yesterday with a bang — most notably in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars gave former Arizona Cardinal wideout Christian Kirk 72 million dollars over four years.

Regionally, the Packers came to terms with Preston Smith and Devondre Campbell; the chiefs inked justin reid while the bears signed former bengal defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi

Women’s College Wrestling: Nwachukwu Wins National Title; Palumbo Runner Up

By Nathan Bloechl · Monday, March 14th, 2022 at 12:38 pm CDT

Jamestown (N.D.) — Iowa Wesleyan freshman Adaugo Nwachukwu has claimed gold. The first-year from San Jose, California claimed a piece of wrestling immortality, winning the NAIA Women’s National Championship at 136 pounds.

Nwachukwu came into the bracket ranked No. 1 and quickly asserted herself with a two falls, a major decision and a 7-0 decision on the way to the finals.

In her typical dominant fashion, Nwachukwu scored early and often, earning a 13-3 major decision in the 136-pound finals.

Nwachukwu is the first national champion for Wesleyan’s wrestling program.

109-pounder Mia Palumbo finished as a national runner-up. The freshman from Oak Lawn, Illinois piled up four easy wins before losing in her championship bout by criteria.

All told, Wesleyan sent six wrestlers to Jamestown for the national tournament.

Women’s College Basketball: West’s Record Setting 39 Not Enough in First Round Loss

By Nathan Bloechl · Monday, March 14th, 2022 at 12:25 pm CDT

Sioux City — Iowa Wesleyan senior Brittany West scored 39 points — setting a school record in the process — in Iowa Wesleyan’s 94-71 loss to second-seeded Morningside in Friday’s Round of 64 matchup.

The second-seeded Mustangs have advanced to the NAIA Sweet 16 after knocking off tenth-seeded St. Francis 85-72 Saturday, as well.

Iowa Wesleyan kept the game close through one half, trailing by just three at the end of one quarter and seven at halftime, but that’s when Morningside woke up.

The Mustangs grew their lead to 12 at the end of the third and rode their hot shooting to the 23 point win.

West’s 39 points came on the heels of 11 made three-pointers, which was also a school record.

She rounded out her line with two boards, an assist and a steal.

Kyla Moore had 15 points six boards and two assists for Wesleyan as well.

Iowa Wesleyan closes their season 19-6 overall, winners of the CAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament titles.

Men’s College Basketball: Iowa, Iowa State Both Make Field of 64

By Nathan Bloechl · Monday, March 14th, 2022 at 12:22 pm CDT

KILJ — Fresh off a Big Ten Championship, the Iowa men’s basketball team will take on Richmond Thursday afternoon in Buffalo in the Round of 64.

The Hawkeyes earned the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region. Richmond, winners of the Atlantic 10, are the 12 seed in the bracket.

That game will tip at 2:10 p.m.

Iowa State will play in Milwaukee on Friday night. T.J. Otzelberger’s Cyclones will take on reeling 6th seed LSU.

The winner will play either Wisconsin or Colgate on Sunday.

Gonzaga, Arizona, Kansas and Baylor are the four number one seeds.

Women’s College Basketball: Iowa a Two, Iowa State a Three

By Nathan Bloechl · Monday, March 14th, 2022 at 12:20 pm CDT

KILJ — Iowa has earned a two seed, while Iowa State is a three in the upcoming women’s basketball tournament.

The Hawkeyes are the No. 2 seed in the Greensboro Region and will host 15th seeded Illinois State on Thursday in Iowa City.

Iowa State will host UT Arlington on Friday.

The two squads could potentially meet in the Sweet 16, in one of the most epic Cy-Hawk clashes of all time.

South Carolina, Louisville, Stanford and North Carolina State are the No. 1 seeds in this year’s women’s bracket.

Sports, March 14th

By Nathan Bloechl · Monday, March 14th, 2022 at 11:27 am CDT

Women’s College Wrestling: Nwachukwu Wins National Title; Palumbo Runner Up

Iowa Wesleyan freshman Adaugo Nwachukwu has claimed gold. The first-year from San Jose, California claimed a piece of wrestling immortality, winning the NAIA Women’s National Championship at 136 pounds.

Nwachukwu came into the bracket ranked No. 1 and quickly asserted herself with a two falls, a major decision and a 7-0 decision on the way to the finals.

In her typical dominant fashion, Nwachukwu scored early and often, earning a 13-3 major decision in the 136-pound finals.

Nwachukwu is the first national champion for Wesleyan’s wrestling program.

109-pounder Mia Palumbo finished as a national runner-up. The freshman from Oak Lawn, Illinois piled up four easy wins before losing in her championship bout by criteria.

All told, Wesleyan sent six wrestlers to Jamestown for the national tournament.

Women’s College Basketball: West’s Record Setting 39 Not Enough in First Round Loss

Iowa Wesleyan senior Brittany West scored 39 points — setting a school record in the process — in Iowa Wesleyan’s 94-71 loss to second-seeded Morningside in Friday’s Round of 64 matchup.

The second-seeded Mustangs have advanced to the NAIA Sweet 16 after knocking off tenth-seeded St. Francis 85-72 Saturday, as well.

Iowa Wesleyan kept the game close through one half, trailing by just three at the end of one quarter and seven at halftime, but that’s when Morningside woke up.

The Mustangs grew their lead to 12 at the end of the third and rode their hot shooting to the 23 point win.

West’s 39 points came on the heels of 11 made three-pointers, which was also a school record.

She rounded out her line with two boards, an assist and a steal.

Kyla Moore had 15 points six boards and two assists for Wesleyan as well.

Iowa Wesleyan closes their season 19-6 overall, winners of the CAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament titles.

Men’s College Basketball: Iowa, Iowa State Both Make Field of 64

Fresh off a Big Ten Championship, the Iowa men’s basketball team will take on Richmond Thursday afternoon in Buffalo in the Round of 64.

The Hawkeyes earned the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region. Richmond, winners of the Atlantic 10, are the 12 seed in the bracket.

That game will tip at 2:10 p.m.

Iowa State will play in Milwaukee on Friday night. T.J. Otzelberger’s Cyclones will take on reeling 6th seed LSU.

The winner will play either Wisconsin or Colgate on Sunday.

Gonzaga, Arizona, Kansas and Baylor are the four number one seeds.

Men’s College Basketball: KILJ Bracket Challenge is LIVE

The KILJ Bracket Challenge, powered by Press Box Grille and Bar and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design is officially live.

You can submit your free entry here.

Entries are due by Thursday morning.

Women’s College Basketball: Iowa a 2, Iowa State a 3

Iowa has earned a two seed, while Iowa State is a three in the upcoming women’s basketball tournament.

The Hawkeyes are the No. 2 seed in the Greensboro Region and will host 15th seeded Illinois State on Thursday in Iowa City.

Iowa State will host UT Arlington on Friday.

The two squads could potentially meet in the Sweet 16, in one of the most epic Cy-Hawk clashes of all time.

South Carolina, Louisville, Stanford and North Carolina State are the No. 1 seeds in this year’s women’s bracket.

Sports, Saturday, March 12

By Nathan Bloechl · Saturday, March 12th, 2022 at 12:20 pm CDT

Women’s College Basketball: West’s Record Setting 39 Not Enough in First Round Loss

Iowa Wesleyan senior Brittany West scored 39 points — setting a school record in the process — in Iowa Wesleyan’s 94-71 loss to second-seeded Morningside in yesterday’s Round of 64 matchup.

The second-seeded Mustangs advance to today’s Round of 32 where they will scrap with 10th seeded St. Francis (Ill.).

Iowa Wesleyan kept the game close through one half, trailing by just three at the end of one quarter and seven at halftime, but that’s when Morningside woke up.

The Mustangs grew their lead to 12 at the end of the third and rode their hot shooting to the 23 point win.

West’s 39 points came on the heels of 11 made three-pointers, which was also a school record.

She rounded out her line with two boards, an assist and a steal.

Kyla Moore had 15 points six boards and two assists for Wesleyan as well.

Iowa Wesleyan closes their season 19-6 overall, winners of the CAC Regular Season and Conference Tournament titles.

Prep Track: Busy Day at IATC Indoor State

A day after Jadan Brumbaugh claimed gold in the IATC girls’ shot put, several other area competitors fared well in Ames.

New London won three events, headlined by Kade Benjamin’s winning high jump of six feet, six inches.

Carter Allen also claimed gold in the shot put with a toss of 50 feet, four inches — finishing over a foot further in first place than the second place competitor.

New London also got a strong effort from their sprint medley team of Reean Seberg, Alexander Julian, Kade Benjamin and Seth Bailey.

That quartet teamed up with win the sprint med in a time of 3:44.55, rolling past Woodbine by seven seconds.

Mediapolis had a great showing as well. The Bulldogs got an individual winner in the 800m run, with Logan Rosas running 2:04.80.

The Mediapolis 4×400 team also earned gold, running 3:33.31 for first. The Bulldogs finished third overall in the team race.

College Baseball: Wesleyan Swept by Williams Baptist

The Iowa Wesleyan baseball team lost a pair of games yesterday to Williams Baptist, falling 10-7 in game one and 22-12 in game two.

In game one, Wesleyan fell behind 6-0 before mounting a late rally. The Tigers scored twice in the 5th and four times in the 6th inning but could not overcome.

Sage Bonner had two hits in the game one loss, while Ian Clements was on the hook for the loss, working the game’s first three innings.

In game two, Williams Baptist put up crooked numbers in the 1st, 3rd and 4th innings en route to the easy win.

The Eagles scored seven in the 1st, five in the 3rd and added six for good measure in the 4th.

Joe Morrison suffered the loss for the Tigers, who fell to 7-16 overall.

Prep Basketball: State Champs Crowned:

Four state champions were crowned yesterday as the high school basketball season came to a close yesterday at Finals Friday at Wells Fargo Arena.

Here’s the full scoreboard:

Class 1A Finals

North Linn 52, Grand View Christian 48

Class 2A Finals

Rock Valley 74, Central Lyon 51

Class 3A Finals

Dallas Center-Grimes 56, Central DeWitt 53

Class 4A Finals 

Ames 68, Johnston 37