College Wrestling: Iowa Rolls Purdue

Iowa City — A top-five victory by freshman Drake Ayala and string of bonus-point wins sent the top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team past No. 15 Purdue, 36-4, on Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes scored bonus points in five matches and won nine-of-10 overall to extend their winning streak to 26 straight duals, the longest in the country.

They’ve also won 22 straight at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes travel to Evanston, Illinois to face No. 23 Northwestern on Friday, Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant Girls’ Host HTC:

Mount Pleasant — The Mount Pleasant girls’ basketball team will look to get back into the win column tonight when they welcome in Holy Trinity in a nonconference affair.

The Panthers saw their three-game winning streak come to a close Friday night with a loss against Fort Madison at the HoundDome.

Holy Trinity earned a 70-23 win over New London last Friday, as the Crusaders enter play tonight with a record of 7-4.

They’re led by sophomore forward Mary Kate Bendlage who is averaging 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the Crusaders.

Natalie Randolph chips in with 11.4 points as well.

Mount Pleasant is led by Conference Player of the Year candidate Andrea Lopreato.

The do-it-all junior is averaging 20.3 points, nine boards and five assists per game.

Kenna Lamm is second on the team with 12.8 points per game. She’s shooting 31% from three, as well.

This will just be the fourth matchup between the two schools.

Mount Pleasant has won each of the last two.

Tonight’s game will tip at 6:45 p.m.

You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Nathan Bloechl and Kent Bennett will have the call beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, in the boys’ game Eric Rawson’s Panther boys’ will try to snap their five-game losing skid when they take on Albia.

Now 2-7, the Panthers have not won in one month.

Their game with Albia will tip at 7:30 p.m.

Other area action tonight:

  • Lone Tree at Highland
  • Alburnett at Louisa-Muscatine
  • Danville at Mediapolis
  • WACO at Sigourney
  • Notre Dame at Washington

College Basketball: Wesleyan Holds on For Clutch Win

Paragould (Ark.) — Carver Locke had 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists as the Iowa Wesleyan men earned a 78-74 over Crowley’s Ridge College in the second day of their tournament in Arkansas on Saturday.

Marvin Bateman chipped in with 11 points and four boards, while former New London prep Alex Dentlinger stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot.

Off for a week now, the Tigers will be in action next on Monday, January 17th when they travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa to take on William Penn University.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

College Football: Alabama-Georgia Meet in National Championship

Indianapolis — The 2022 National Championship is set to commence tonight when No. 1 Alabama locks horns with No. 2 Georgia.

This will be the matchup to close the trilogy this season, with the two teams splitting their two regular season scraps.

Tonight’s game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

Georgia is slated as 2.5-point favorites.

Sports, Monday, January 10th

Prep Wrestling: New London Wins Three; Mount Pleasant 14th at Highland:

New London crowned three individual champions while WACO and Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union each had one at Saturday’s Gary Curtis Invitational at Highland in Riverside.

Marcel Lopez, Dominic Lopez and Josh Glendening all were champions for the Tigers, with Marcel claiming the title with three straight technical falls.

His brother Dominic repeated the feat as well.

Glendening pinned all three of his opponents, winning his final in 1:16.

WACO’s Jonah Clark pinned three opponents including West Branch’s Logan Wright in the championship.

Louiden Huisenga, one of the top freshman in the state, was a runner-up finisher.

Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union senior Lane Scorpil continued his epic final year with a 120-pound championship.

Scorpil registered a 15-6 major decision over Preston Klosterman of Alburnett for the title.

Mount Pleasant’s best finisher was Bowen Davis.

Davis finished third at 138 pounds.

Mediapolis 14th at Ottumwa 

The Mediapolis wrestling team finished 14th at the Ottumwa Invitational on Saturday.

Quinten Aney was the Bulldogs lone individual championship for the Bulldogs — picking up a fall, tech fall and a major decision en route to the first place finish.

Lucas Wagenbach finished four at 160 pounds, as well for Mediapolis.

Notre Dame Crowns Five Champions in Maquoketa Valley Invite

The No. 2 ranked Notre Dame Nike wrestling team had five champions on Saturday at the Farr Jebens Invite in Delhi at Maquoketa Valley High School.

Carter West, Blaine Frazier, River Belger, C.J. Walrath and Sam West were all champions.

The Blazers of Dyersville Beckman were the tournament champions, with Notre Dame finishing as runner-ups.

MFL-MarMac placed third.

College Wrestling: Iowa Rolls Purdue:

A top-five victory by freshman Drake Ayala and string of bonus-point wins sent the top-ranked University of Iowa wrestling team past No. 15 Purdue, 36-4, on Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes scored bonus points in five matches and won nine-of-10 overall to extend their winning streak to 26 straight duals, the longest in the country.

They’ve also won 22 straight at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The top-ranked Hawkeyes travel to Evanston, Illinois to face No. 23 Northwestern on Friday, Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Girls’ Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant to HTC:

The Mount Pleasant girls’ basketball team will look to get back into the win column tonight when they welcome in Holy Trinity in a nonconference affair.

The Panthers saw their three-game winning streak come to a close Friday night with a loss against Fort Madison at the HoundDome.

Holy Trinity earned a 70-23 win over New London last Friday, as the Crusaders enter play tonight with a record of 7-4.

They’re led by sophomore forward Mary Kate Bendlage who is averaging 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the Crusaders.

Natalie Randolph chips in with 11.4 points as well.

Mount Pleasant is led by Conference Player of the Year candidate Andrea Lopreato.

The do-it-all junior is averaging 20.3 points, nine boards and five assists per game.

Kenna Lamm is second on the team with 12.8 points per game. She’s shooting 31% from three, as well.

This will just be the fourth matchup between the two schools.

Mount Pleasant has won each of the last two.

Tonight’s game will tip at 6:45 p.m.

You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Nathan Bloechl and Kent Bennett will have the call beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, in the boys’ game Eric Rawson’s Panther boys’ will try to snap their five-game losing skid when they take on Albia.

Now 2-7, the Panthers have not won in one month.

Their game with Albia will tip at 7:30 p.m.

Other area action tonight:

  • Lone Tree at Highland
  • Alburnett at Louisa-Muscatine
  • Danville at Mediapolis
  • WACO at Sigourney
  • Notre Dame at Washington

College Basketball: Wesleyan Holds on For Clutch Win:

Carver Locke had 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists as the Iowa Wesleyan men earned a 78-74 over Crowley’s Ridge College in the second day of their tournament in Arkansas on Saturday.

Marvin Bateman chipped in with 11 points and four boards, while former New London prep Alex Dentlinger stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot.

Off for a week now, the Tigers will be in action next on Monday, January 17th when they travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa to take on William Penn University.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

College Football: Alabama-Georgia Meet in National Championship:

The 2022 National Championship is set to commence tonight when No. 1 Alabama locks horns with No. 2 Georgia.

This will be the matchup to close the trilogy this season, with the two teams splitting their two regular season scraps.

Tonight’s game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

Georgia is slated as 2.5-point favorites.

 

Sports, Saturday, January 8th

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant Stymied in Home Loss; Other Prep Finals;

Fort Madison 41, Mount Pleasant 26

Mount Pleasant was held to just 12 second half points as Fort Madison stayed unbeaten through eight games with a 41-26 road win at Panther Gymnasium last night.

Conference Player of the Year candidate Dayton Davis came alive in the second half for Fort Madison scoring eight of his team-best 12 points after the break.

He fueled a 14-6 fourth quarter run that put the game on ice.

Owen Vansickel canned four three pointers en route to a game-high 14 points.

The loss was Mount Pleasant’s fifth in a row.

They’re now 2-7.

They’ll start off a three-game road trip on Monday night at Albia.

New London 101, Holy Trinity 50

New London outscored Holy Trinity 49-17 in the second half as the Tigers rolled to a 101-50 victory over Holy Trinity last night.

New London, leading by 19 at halftime, opened the lead up to 43 at the end of the third quarter upon a 35-11 third frame run.

The win was New London’s third this week, they’re now 8-0.

Holy Trinity dropped to 2-7.

WACO 59, Notre Dame 21

Hunter Hughes poured in 18 points to help lead WACO to a 59-21 win over Notre Dame last night.

The Warriors held Notre Dame to just four points in the second half.

Matt Booten led the Nikes with six points.

WACO moved to 8-2 with the win.

Notre Dame dropped to 4-6.

Winfield-Mount Union 42, Hillcrest Academy 33

It wasn’t pretty at times for Klay Edwards’ Winfield-Mount Union Wolves, but a 19-5 third quarter proved to be the difference in a 42-33 win over Hillcrest Academy.

The Ravens, now 7-1, led by two at halftime before Cam Buffington and Abram Edwards helped guide the 19 point quarter.

Winfield improved to 8-1 on the year.

They’ll get an afternoon date with Holy Trinity tomorrow in Fort Madison.

Tip is set for 5:30 p.m.

Other area finals:

  • Mediapolis 53, Columbus 41
  • Wapello 49, Louisa-Muscatine 24
  • Washington 63, Fairfield 57
  • Danville 71, Van Buren County 60

Girls’ Basketball: Winfield Rolls in Easy Win; Other Prep Finals:

Winfield-Mount Union 60, Hillcrest Academy 15

An 18-2 first quarter run piloted an easy 60-15 win over Hillcrest for the Winfield-Mount Union Lady Wolves yesterday.

Bradie Buffington led all scorers with 14 points for Winfield.

The Lady Wolves led 39-4 at the end of one half.

Winfield is now 11-2 on the year.

Hillcrest fell to 1-10.

Holy Trinity 70, New London 23

Holy Trinity started hot and never looked back picking up a 70-23 win over New London last night.

The Crusaders are now 7-4.

New London slipped to 0-14.

Notre Dame 67, WACO 30 

Notre Dame stayed unbeaten through nine games with an easy 67-30 win over WACO Friday night.

Ellah Kissell had 11 points while Emma Wagler chipped in with seven for the Warriors.

WACO saw their ledger dip to .500, they’re now 5-5.

Other prep finals:

  • Mediapolis 67, Columbus 23
  • Louisa-Muscatine 58, Wapello 25
  • Keokuk 62, Burlington 18
  • Fort Madison 66, Mount Pleasant 55

Men’s College Basketball: Wesleyan Dumped in First Game of Crowley’s Ridge Classic:

Northern New Mexico used a 19-point second half run to earn an 89-56 win over the Tigers yesterday in the first day of the Crowley’s Ridge Classic.

Marvin Bateman had 14 points, four rebounds and two assists in the loss.

The Eagles held Wesleyan to just 32 percent from the field.

The Tigers will look to right the ship when they take on host Crowley Ridge College.

Tip is set for 3:00 p.m. this afternoon.

Men’s College Basketball: Drake Shuffles Schedule:

Illinois State University has determined it is unable to compete in Sunday’s (Jan. 9) men’s basketball home game against Evansville.

Evansville, meanwhile, will now host Drake on Saturday (Jan. 8) at 4 p.m. inside the Ford Center.

Drake’s Saturday (Jan. 8) home game with Indiana State was postponed earlier in the week.

Illinois State’s next scheduled game is at Drake on Wednesday, Jan. 12. The Conference will share information about the status of that contest as soon as possible.

Men’s College Basketball: Iowa State Back in Action: 

The No. 11 Iowa State men’s basketball team will be back in action and back on the KILJ airwaves today when they travel to Norman to battle Oklahoma.

The Sooners are 11-3 on the year and like Iowa State are 1-1 in Big 12 play.

Iowa State enters today at 13-1.

Their lone loss came last week to No. 1 Baylor.

This afternoon’s game will begin at 5:00 p.m.

You can listen FM 98.5 and AM 1130.

Pre-game festivities will get underway at 4:00 p.m.

 

Prep Wrestling: Panthers 0-3 at North Mahaska; Other Dual Results

KILJ — The Mount Pleasant wrestling team went 0-3 yesterday with losses to Iowa Valley, Sigourney-Keota and North Mahaska in New Sharon.

Bowen Davis was on fire for the Panthers despite the trio of dual losses.

Davis, wrestling at 138-pounds, earned two fall victories and a major decision. Gannon McNamee also won three matches, McNamee picked up two falls and a forfeit.

Carson Coleman picked up two decision wins and a fall, as well.

Columbus-WMU, WACO Each Pick Up One Dual Win

Columbus-Winfield Mount-Union edged Washington 33-30, while WACO defeated Columbus 37-33 at yesterday’s Washington quadrangular.

Second-ranked 120-pounder Lane Scorpil paced the Wildcats with three fall victories. Ty Scorpil, wrestling at 113, picked up two fall victories.

WACO was led by their terrific ranked duo of Jonah Clark, who at 220, pinned all three of his opponents. No. 10 Louiden Huisenga, a freshman, continued his outstanding season with two fall wins and a forfeit.

Fort Madison won the quad by going 3-0 in their three duals.

Mediapolis Earns One Win in Fairfield Triangular

Mediapolis bested Keokuk 48-36 as their lone win at yesterday’s triangular at Fairfield High School.

The Bulldogs saw their top-ranked 145 pounder Quinten Aney have another strong night.

Aney won both of his matches by fall.

160-pounder Levi Arnold did as well.

Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant Battles Fort Madison in Pivotal SEC Tilt

KILJ — Following a tough 77-74 three overtime loss to New London, the road does not get any easier for the Mount Pleasant boys’ basketball team as they get set to take on Fort Madison tonight in a huge Southeast Conference scrap.

The Panthers have lost four straight since their home win on December 10th against Keokuk.

Fort Madison, 7-0 on the year, narrowly escaped with a 47-45 win over Mount Pleasant back on December 3rd.

They’ve taken off since then, earning a resume building win over then No. 5 Washington.

The Bloodhounds are paced by their senior duo of Dayton Davis and Miles Dear.

Davis is averaging 17.6 points per game and is squarely in the Conference Player of the Year discussion. Dear is scoring 15.0 points per game and is one of the top assist men in the conference.

Mount Pleasant will look to get Owen Vansickel going in his second game of the new year. Vansickel, who came on strong at the end of last year is averaging 8.5 points per game but has shown flashes of brilliance.

The Panthers will need him to be at his best to pull off an upset over Fort Madison.

Tonight’s game will begin at 7:30 p.m.

You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Nathan Bloechl and Kent Bennett will have the call.

Curt Watson’s Panther girls’ will be at Fort Madison, with conference matchups being home-and-homes in the league.

They too will start at 7:30 p.m. and are aiming for their fourth consecutive win.

Other matchups tonight:

  • Central Lee at Cardinal
  • Mediapolis at Columbus
  • Winfield-Mount Union at Hillcrest Academy
  • Wapello at Louisa-Muscatine
  • Holy Trinity at New London
  • Danville at Van Buren County
  • Notre Dame at WACO