Sports, April 6th

High School Track and Field

The Mt. Pleasant, Mediapolis, Central Lee, Winfield-Mt. Union, and Danville girls’ teams will travel to Fort Madison for a meet on Tuesday, April 9th. 

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will host a meet on Thursday, April 11th.

The WACO relays will run on Monday, April 8th, with the Van Buren County and New London boys’ and girls’ teams in attendance. 

The Mediapolis, Danville, and Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ teams will travel to Wapello for a meet on April 9th.

The Central Lee boys’ team will travel to Fairfield for a meet on April 9th. 

High School Soccer

The WACO boys’ team will face off against Danville on Monday, April 8th, at 5 pm on the road. 

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will take on Highland at home on Monday with the girls’ playing on Thursday, April 11th, against Mediapolis on the road. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team clobbered Fairfield last night 10-0. Charice Awuerda was unstoppable, scoring six goals and tallying an assist. Tori Wilson totaled three assists and two goals as Hailey Parrott scored the other two goals. Mt. Pleasant will take on Washington on Monday with the boys’ on the road and the girls’ at home.

The Mediapolis girls’ team took down West Liberty 2-0 last night. The Bulldogs will host Wapello on Monday with the girls’ playing first at 5 pm and the boys to follow.

The Central Lee girls’ team fell to Washington last night 3-2. The Central Lee boys’ team will face off against Hillcrest Academy on Monday on the road. The girls’ team will host Fort Madison on Tuesday, April 9th.

High School Tennis

The Mt. Pleasant boys’ and girls’ remain perfect on the year after picking up victories against Keokuk last night. In front of the home crowd, the boys’ team won 8-1 against the Chiefs with Phoenix Watson, Gavin Ross, Sawyer Fulton, Zach Johnson, Dane Cook, and Elijah Rynders each winning their singles match, while Fulton and Cook teamed up for an 8-0 win in doubles and the team of Johnson and Rynders also picked up a victory.

On the girls’ side, Mt. Pleasant picked up a 7-2 win with Jana Isanta, Mary Kate Peterson, Bethany Drury, Victoria Smith, and Zoey Carlsen each winning their singles match. The teams of Isanta and Ellie Situmeang and Drury and Hali Crane won their doubles match in convincing fashion. 

The Panthers will face off against Fairfield on Monday, April 8th, with the boys’ at home and the girls’ on the road. 

High School Golf

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ and girls’ teams took on Columbus yesterday and the Wolves boys’ team won 182 to 212. Carter Loyd led the team with a nine hole score of 42 (+7) followed by Max Edwards and Nick Sparrow, who each shot a 46. Cael Phillips of Columbus finished with a 48. 

On the girls’ side, Columbus’ Hailey Wellington shot the best with a 56. The Wolves were led by Afton Wilkerson, who shot a 63, and Lily Freeman, who finished with a 64. Winfield-Mt. Union will host Wapello on Monday, April 8th.

The WACO boys’ and girls’ teams will travel to face off against Highland on Monday.

Central Lee will take on Notre Dame on Monday on the road. 

New London will hit the road and compete against Mediapolis on Monday.

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to Fort Madison on Monday, while the boys’ team will head to Keokuk for their meet. 

Southeastern Community College

For baseball, SCC got the offense working in full force yesterday against Iowa Lakes Community College, winning game one 9-6 and game two 14-0. The Blackhawks will compete against the Lakers today to finish up the three-game series. 

The SCC softball team will take on Marshalltown Community College on Monday, April 8th, in a road matchup.

College Basketball

The Iowa women’s team is heading back to the National Championship game after defeating UConn 71-69 in an epic in Cleveland last night. Hannah Stuelke played a huge role for the Hawkeyes with a game high 23 points on 9 of 12 shooting. Caitlin Clark followed behind with 21 points. The Hawkeyes will face off against undefeated South Carolina tomorrow, April 7th, at 2 pm. 

 March Madness

The KILJ bracket challenge, sponsored by The Press Box and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design, is down to the final four and 21 of the 34 brackets still have a champion in the dance. The Final Four starts tonight at 5:09 pm.

The standings have been updated and you can follow this link to see the top ten: KILJ Bracket Challenge Standings

This Day in Sports History

1973 – Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees becomes the first designated hitter in baseball history, and he draws a bases-loaded walk on five pitches against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

1980 – Gordie Howe completes a record 26th NHL season. Now tied with Chris Chelios.

1996 – MLB player Albert Belle shows off his arm by hitting Sports Illustrated photographer Tony Tomsic in the hand prior to a game.