KILJ — The 15th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes will play No. 22 Kentucky on New Year’s Day in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

It is the Hawks’ first appearance in the game since the miracle Tate to Holloway game winner in 2005 against LSU.

Ferentz says the Hawkeyes are looking forward to the return trip to Orlando.

“They do a wonderful job hosting the event. So we’re thrilled to be back — then playing against Kentucky, an outstanding SEC program and Mark Stoops has done an unbelievable job with that program for quite some time now.” said Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.

Mark Stoops was the youngest of the three Stoops brothers to play for Iowa.

He has been the head coach at Kentucky since 2013.

Kickoff is set for noon on January 1st.

You can listen on FM 105.5.

Decorah — Joe Troche says Decorah is the right fit for his family and Luther is the right fit for him professionally.

Troche was named Luther’s new football coach and takes over a program that has not enjoyed a winning season since 2017 and finished 0-10 this past season.

“This is one of the best school districts in the state and the things we like to do day-to-day we can do that. But also this feels like a sleeping giant. Quality academics and an amazing location  — those are the things that really excite me.” Troche explained.

Troche had been an assistant coach at St. Olaf of Minnesota.

The Norse feature two local talents in former Van Buren prep Tayton Bartholomew and Keokuk native Jerry Glenn.

Ames — Iowa State sophomore Yonger Bastida has been voted Big 12 Wrestler of the Week by league coaches after completing his sixth-straight victory and second consecutive win over a top-10 opponent, aiding the No. 13 Cyclones in a 23-13 win over No. 15 Purdue Sunday night.

Ranked No. 18 nationally at 197 pounds, Bastida defeated No. 10 Thomas Penola 6-4.

Bastida is now 7-1 on the year and the victory also gave head coach Kevin Dresser his 200th career win.

Coralville — A new wrestling tournament appears set to be coming to Coralville.

Following yesterday’s news of the cancellation of the prestigious Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, an open tournament in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, Josh Schamberger, President of Think Iowa City and the Iowa City Area Sports, announced there would be a new tournament, the Hawkeye Open.

The Midlands Championship was cancelled due to spread of COVID-19.

The Hawkeye Open will be held at Coralville’s Xtream Arena and will take place on January 1st and 2nd.

Iowa has already committed to wrestling in the new tournament.

Mount Pleasant 71, Burlington 22 

Andrea Lopreato continued her stretch of great basketball with a game-high 18 points and nine assists as Mount Pleasant clobbered Burlington 71-22 last night.

Kenna Lamm chipped in with 12 points while Andi Scott finished with a season-high 10.

The Panthers lead 29-3 at the end of the first quarter and lead 48-8 at half.

Alexis Standard led Burlington with 13 points.

The win moved Mount Pleasant to 3-6.

Burlington dropped to 0-7.

Central Lee 86, New London 26

Mylee Miller had eight points for New London, as Central Lee rolled to an 86-26 win over the Tigers.

Macy Watkins had a game-high 27 points to lead Central Lee.

Makayla Morrison added 14.

Morgan Jones chipped in with six points, while Natalie Burden finished with five for New London.

Central Lee improved to 5-3.

New London is now 0-11.

Winfield-Mount Union 43, Louisa-Muscatine 29 

Louisa-Muscatine led 5-2 at the end of the first quarter, but a cold start did not derail Winfield-Mount Union as the Lady Wolves shook off the cobwebs for a 43-29 win last night.

Winfield-Mount Union used a 15-5 third quarter run to seize control.

With the win, they Lady Wolves improved to 9-2.

Louisa-Muscatine suffered their first defeat.

They’re now 6-1.

Other prep finals:

• Lone Tree 41, Columbus 40
• Highland 49, Hillcrest 16
• No. 15 (2A) Mediapolis 54, Wapello 31
• No. 7 (1A) Notre Dame 47, Holy Trinity 25
• West Burlington 56, Cardinal 27

Burlington 43, Mount Pleasant 31 

Round one belongs to Caleb Akey.

The long-time assistant under Paul Rundquist and former Panther head coach bested his good friend Eric Rawson yesterday 43-31 in an old fashioned Southeast Conference slugfest.

Dewon Trent led the Panthers with a game-high 15 points and four rebounds, while Payton Hagans added six.

The Panthers held Burlington’s top scorer Amarion Davis to just two points, but could not contain Jackson Carlson, who paced the Grayhounds with 14 points — including 12 in the second half — and Merquiche Lewis, who had 13.

Burlington outscored the Panthers 25-12 in the second half after trailing 19-18 at halftime.

The Grayhounds are now 4-5.

Mount Pleasant fell to 2-5. .

New London 88, Central Lee 19 

Kade Benjamin scored a game-high 24 points as New London boat-raced Central Lee 88-19 last night.

Tayshaun Donaldson added 12 points while Blaise Porter and Kooper Schulte both reached double figures.

Porter joined New London’s 1,000 point club last night, accomplishing the feat in just over two full seasons.

New London is now 6-0.

Central Lee dropped to 0-7.

Other prep finals:

• Notre Dame 52, Holy Trinity 33
• Cardinal 48, West Burlington 31
• Mediapolis 30, Wapello 29
• Fort Madison 56, Washington 47