High School Football
WACO will kick off the season with a week zero matchup against Central City this Friday, August 23rd, at home at 7 pm.
Winfield-Mt. Union will scrimmage Midland on Friday at 5 pm at home.
Central Lee will take on Keokuk on Friday at 6:30 pm for a scrimmage at home.
Mt. Pleasant will face off against Danville on Friday at 7:30 pm for a home scrimmage. Mt. Pleasant head coach John Bowlin said his team currently has 59 kids on the roster and with that depth it has led to competitive position battles,
“You know, I think everything is, everything is kind of open. We’re trying really hard as a staff to get as many kids on the field Friday nights as possible and give them those opportunities to go play and really see what they can do on Friday nights when the lights are on. So that’s a big focus for us is just trying to get as many kids out there that are able and can see how they compete, you know where their levels are and hopefully in the long run that that just helps us with our depth. And you know kids, kids getting those chances.”
High School Volleyball
WACO will participate in a scrimmage tomorrow, August 22nd, at Washington with Keota and Hillcrest Academy also attending.
Danville will compete in a scrimmage tomorrow at Burlington Notre Dame.
Central Lee will host a scrimmage on Friday, August 23rd, at 5 pm against Keokuk.
Holy Trinity Catholic and West Burlington will travel to Mediapolis on Monday, August 26th, at 4:30 pm for a scrimmage with Fort Madison, Wapello, and West Liberty also participating.
Meet the Players Nights
New London’s “Meet the Players” night will be on Friday, August 23rd, at 5:30 pm with cross country and volleyball introductions and scrimmage taking place in the Charles Lorber Gym. On the football field, cheer and football will have their introductions with a football scrimmage against Wapello to follow.
Winfield-Mt. Union’s “Meet the Players” will take place tonight at 6:30 pm.
Mt. Pleasant will have their “Meet the Panthers” night on Friday starting with an intrasquad volleyball game at the high school gym at 5 pm. Head coach Logan Wall is pushing for an inclusive program that fields not only competitors but upstanding individuals,
“Definitely a positive culture where student athletes, female athletes feel seen and that they’re heard, and that they’re welcome on the volleyball team. But I want to develop determined individuals that are ready to compete at that high level. I feel like for many years we haven’t been able to compete at the highest level. So, you know, getting into state is one of our goals this year. And so, we just have to continue to build on that each day. But also like I said, they’re only in high school sports for a little while. So really building good character and someone who can contribute to our community as respectful community members. So, it’s kind of multifaceted there.”
Fairfield will have their “Meet the Trojans” on Friday with introductions taking place on the track at 6:35 pm. Volleyball and football will have intrasquad scrimmages at 7 pm.
High School Cross Country
Fairfield will practice at 8 am on Friday, August 23rd, then today and tomorrow practice will start at 3:30 pm.
Southeastern Community College
The volleyball team will travel to Rockford, Illinois on Friday, August 23rd, for their opening weekend tournament with their first matchup against Kansas City Kansas Community College.
College Football
The University of Iowa will officially kick off the season on Saturday, August 31st, at home against Illinois State at 11 am.
Iowa State will take on North Dakota on August 31st at 2:30 pm at home.
Iowa State Football Awards
Wide receiver Jaylin Noel received the revered Jack Trice Endowed Scholarship yesterday. The scholarship has been awarded annually to a Black student-athlete on the football team entering his senior season that portrays courage, character, selflessness, leadership, dedication to the community, and academic/athletic achievement.
Noel is the third recipient of the award as he earned Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2022 and Second Team All-Big 12 honors in 2023. Additionally, he was the third-fastest player in school history to grab 100 career receptions.
This Day in Sports History
1931 – Yankees slugger Babe Ruth becomes the first MLB player to hit 600 career home runs as New York defeats the St. Louis Browns, 11-7 at Sportsman’s Park.
1967 – MLB Kansas City Athletics utility player Ken Harrelson becomes one of baseball’s first free agents when he is abruptly released by the team, after he reputedly refers to team owner Charlie Finley as “a menace to baseball.”
1982 – Milwaukee Brewers’ relief pitcher Rollie Fingers becomes the first pitcher in MLB history to get save #300.