Sports, March 23rd

High School Track and Field

The Mt. Pleasant girls team will compete at a meet in West Burlington on March 26th.

The WACO and Van Buren County boys’ teams will participate in a meet at Pekin on Monday, March 25th. The WACO girls’ team will run on March 26th at West Burlington.

The Mt. Pleasant, New London, Winfield-Mt. Union, Mediapolis, and Central Lee boys’ teams will participate in a meet on Monday at West Burlington.

The Mediapolis, Danville, Winfield-Mt. Union, and New London girls’ teams will compete in a relay on Tuesday, March 26th, at West Burlington.

The Central Lee girls’ team will travel to Fairfield for a meet on April 2nd. 

High School Soccer

The WACO boys’ team will open the season on March 28th against Fairfield on the road at 5 pm.

The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ and girls’ teams will take on West Liberty on March 25th at home with the girls’ game scheduled first at 5 pm. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ will host Mediapolis on March 26th to start their season at 4:30 pm, while the boys’ will travel to Danville to play at 5 pm on the same day. 

The Danville girls’ team will face off against Assumption on March 25th on the road at 5 pm.

The Mediapolis boys’ team will take on Burlington on March 26th on the road at 5 pm.

The Central Lee boys’ team will host Centerville on April 2nd and the girls’ team will travel to Mid-Prairie on the same day with both games starting at 5 pm.

High School Tennis

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will host Davis County on Thursday, March 28th, at 4:30 pm and the boys’ team will travel to Davis County on the same day. 

High School Golf

The WACO boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in a meet hosted by New London on April 2nd. 

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ and girls’ golf teams will travel to Columbus to participate in a meet on April 4th. 

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to Washington Golf and Country Club on April 1st and the boys’ team will participate in a conference match at Fairfield Golf and Country Club on the same day. 

Mt. Pleasant

Pioneer Athletics awarded the Mt. Pleasant Community School District with the “2023 Fields of Excellence Award.” The program honors outstanding athletic fields and the hardworking field crews who diligently maintain them. Mt. Pleasant will receive a certificate of recognition and a “Fields of Excellence” banner to display at the football field. 

Southeastern Community College

SCC baseball will host Northeast Community College today in a doubleheader. 

The SCC softball team will travel to take on Indian Hills Community College today in a doubleheader. 

College Basketball

The Iowa women’s team will take on Holy Cross today at 2 pm.

The Iowa State women’s team found themselves down 20 points at one point against Maryland, but Audi Crooks put up an all-time performance to end up winning 93-86. Crooks shot 18 of 20 from the field to finish with 40 points, which set three NCAA Championships single-game Iowa State records in points, field goals made, field goal percentage, and a freshman single-game all-time record. Additionally, Crooks toppled the freshman free throw record for the Cyclones, while also grabbing 12 boards. The Cyclones will face off against #2 Stanford tomorrow at a time to be determined. 

The #2-seed Iowa State men’s team will take on #7 Washington State today at 5:10 pm. 

The Iowa men’s team will face off against the #2-seed Utah tomorrow, March 24th, at 8 pm for the second round of the NIT. 

March Madness

The KILJ bracket challenge, sponsored by The Press Box and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design, is officially underway with over 30 brackets submitted with the top three set to receive prizes.

Standings will be updated at the conclusion of each round.

This Day in Sports History

1948 – 10th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Kentucky beats Baylor, 58-42; it’s the Wildcats’ first victory in their first title game.

1957 – 19th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: North Carolina beats Kansas, 54-53 (3 OT); Wilt Chamberlain of Kansas becomes the 4th player to be named tournament MVP despite not playing for the championship team.

1994 – Wayne Gretzky sets an NHL record with 802 goals scored.