By Nathan Bloechl · Thursday, March 24th, 2022 at 11:27 am CDT

College Football: Iowa Gets Spring Drills Underway

The Iowa football team will aim to get their offense ironed out this spring, as the Hawkeyes begun spring practices yesterday.

Iowa finished last year 10-4 despite a bottom barrel offense that saw Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla both struggle under center.

Despite the loss of offensive centerpieces Tyler Linderbaum and Tyler Goodson gone to the NFL, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz feels like offensive line and ground game will once again be the strength of the team’s offense.

“I felt like the line took steps and they looked like a winning Big Ten line in the bowl game — not that we won the game, but it was closer to what we wanted to look like” Ferentz said.

Another adjustment the Hawkeyes made to streamline communication is moving Brian Ferentz to quarterbacks coach — along with his offensive coordinator duties.

Ferentz takes over the role filled by Ken O’Keefe.

Padilla, Petras and redshirt freshmen Joey Labas are all expected to be in the mix for opening day snaps.

Iowa opens their season on September 3rd at home, hosting the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State.

Prep Track: Drake Relays Schedule Announced

The 112th running of the Drake Relays will begin on April 27th and run through April 30th.

The official schedule was release last night.

Action will begin on Wednesday, April 27th with the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon.

High school field events will begin Thursday night with discus, high jump, shot put and long jump.

High school running events will begin the morning of Friday, April 29th with boys’ and girls’ hurdle prelims.

Men’s College Basketball: UNI Star Noah Carter Announces Transfer

UNI swing man Noah Carter has announced his intentions to transfer.

This is the second time Carter has entered the portal, doing so late March of last year only to renege.

The decision to come back to Cedar Falls was a boon for the Panthers, as the Dubuque native poured in 15 points and 4.1 rebounds per game helping guide UNI to the Missouri Valley Conference title.

Carter will have two years of eligibility remaining when his transfer is complete.

It is unclear where Carter will attend, but buzz around the program has indicated that his transfer is the first domino to fall for star guard A.J. Green departing from the program as well, with Iowa State lining up for his services.

Men’s College Basketball: Otzelberger a Finalist for National COY

Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been named a finalist for the 2022 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award.

The award is presented annually to the nation’s top Division I coach.

Otzelberger, who is in his first season leading the Cyclones, has orchestrated one of the nation’s top stories, helping ISU improve from a 2-22 record last season to a 22-12 record and a Sweet Sixteen appearance this season..

The 20 win improvement is the second-best in college basketball history.

The Cyclones started the season 12-0, the second-best start in school history and rose to as high as No. 8 in the Associated Press Top-25 Coaches Poll.

Otzelberger and the Cyclones will face Miami on Friday at approximately 8:45 p.m. and you can listen to the scrap on FM 98.5 and AM 1130.

Two Vehicle Collision

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 at 8:45 pm CDT

On Wednesday at about 10 am, the Mt Pleasant Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of N Main Street and Broad for a motor vehicle collision. It was determined that a vehicle driven by Rebecca Ogles of Mount Pleasant was traveling north and stopped at the stop sign. She then pulled out and struck a vehicle operated by Ariana Garcia-Quevedo who was traveling westbound on Broad. The damage was estimated at $3500 total. Garcia-Quevedo was transported by personal vehicle to the hospital. Ogles was cited for Failure to Yield from a Stop Sign.

Hold-In-Place At New London

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 at 7:52 pm CDT

Wednesday at about 11 am the New London School District was notified that local law enforcement was looking for a certain individual.  The individual was not identified but Supt. Chad Wahls said that as a precaution, the school was put into a Hold-in-Place to ensure that students and staff were safe and to make sure all necessary precautions were put in place. The Hold-in-Place was lifted and classes resumed after about 20 minutes. The district administration does understand that this causes concern and questions for students, parents, staff, and the community, but by utilizing the school district’s Emergency Response Guide, a safe environment can be provided for students and staff. When a situation arises that requires immediate action, students and staff are the priority. The Administration apologizes that there cannot be an immediate notification or response to comments on social media. When an issue arises, the entire team is immediately securing the building, stationing individuals by building entrance points, and making other critical decisions.

Men’s College Basketball: Murray Named Naismith Finalist

By Nathan Bloechl · Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 at 3:40 pm CDT

Iowa City — The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Tuesday the four finalists vying for the honor of the 2022 Naismith Trophy, which includes University of Iowa men’s basketball sophomore forward Keegan Murray.

The prestigious award recognizes the most outstanding men’s college basketball player.

Joining Murray as a finalist for the award are Ochai Agbaji of Kansas, Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis, and Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky.

The University of Iowa is the only school to have both a men’s and women’s basketball student-athlete represented as a 2022 finalist; Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is a finalist for the women’s trophy.

This marks the third consecutive season that Iowa has had a Naismith Trophy Finalist — with Luka Garza each of the past two seasons and Murray this.

Last week, Murray became the program’s fourth consensus first-team All-American joining Murray Weir, Charles Darling and Garza.

Murray is expected to forgo the rest of his eligibility at Iowa to enter this summer’s NBA Draft.

Murray is a projected lottery pick there.

Henry County Supervisors Meeting Agenda

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 at 3:39 pm CDT

AGENDA

 

March 24, 2022

 

Approve Agenda

 

Approve Minutes

 

9:00 Terri Bain – Discuss Events in Trenton Park

 

9:30 Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation

 

9:45 Clarification to opt-out of Insurance in Employee Handbook

 

Other County Business as time allows

 

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

 

Women’s College Basketball: Clark Joins Murray on Naismith Finalist List

By Nathan Bloechl · Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 at 3:36 pm CDT

Iowa City — University of Iowa women’s basketball sophomore Caitlin Clark has been named a Naismith Player of the Year Finalist.

The list of finalists include Clark, South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston, NC State’s Elissa Cunane and Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith.

Clark, a Des Moines, Iowa, native, led the nation in points per game (27.0), assists per game (8.0), triple doubles and 30-point games.

In January, Clark joined the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, James Hardin, Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only NBA, WNBA, Division I men’s and women’s basketball to record back-to-back 30-point triple doubles since 2000.

Clark was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Tournament MVP, while earning unanimous first team All-Big Ten honors and an All-Big Ten Tournament spot.

Men’s College Basketball: Jacobson a Finalist for Coach of the Year

By Nathan Bloechl · Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 at 3:28 pm CDT

Cedar Falls — UNI head men’s basketball coach Ben Jacobson has been named one of 20 finalists for the 2022 Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award.

The annual award is presented to the top mid-major men’s basketball coach in NCAA Division I.

This season, Jacobson coached the Panthers to a 20-12 overall record and 14-4 mark in MVC play, securing the program’s fourth overall regular season conference title, and third outright championship.

He orchestrated two All-MVC honors for his players in A.J. Green and Bowen Born.

UNI earned the league’s automatic berth to the NIT, where the Panthers were defeated by BYU in the second round.

College Football: Iowa State Completes Pro Day

By Nathan Bloechl · Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 at 3:24 pm CDT

Ames — 11 former Cyclones, including several All-Americans and All-Big 12 performers, tested out in front of the NFL Scouts to further enhance their professional stock in Ames yesterday as apart of Iowa State’s Pro Day.

Breece Hall, Brock Purdy, Charlie Kolar and Chase Allen headlined the day.

There were 49 scouts from 31 NFL teams in attendance to observe, test and time the Cyclones in the various drills and competition.

Hall has a chance to be the first running back selected, while Purdy is attempting to be Iowa State’s first quarterback taken since 2003 when Seneca Wallace was selected.

The first round of the draft will be Thursday, April 28th.