High School Track
The Columbus Co-ed Invitational is scheduled for tonight with Central Lee, New London, Van Buren County, and Winfield-Mt. Union making the trip to start the outdoor season.
The Washington boys’ team will host the Steve Roth Relays on Thursday, March 27th, with Fairfield, Mediapolis, Wapello, Mt. Pleasant, Danville, West Burlington/Notre Dame, WACO, and Winfield-Mt. Union all competing. For Panther head coach Shawn Striegel, the goal is getting better one day at a time,
“We talk about it every day in the locker room, and that’s get better today, get 1% better today. Focus on the details. You know, be coachable and those are things that, you know, I don’t really have to say a lot to them because they’re the kids are saying it 1st and so I’m excited for that, you know, as the season is. It’s gonna come pretty quick and if we can keep focusing every day by one or two percent, I like to see what this team can do by the end of the year.”
High School Basketball
The 2025 Pizza Ranch All-Star Game is scheduled for Saturday, March 29th, at Dallas Center-Grimes High School with three of our local players and a coach making the trip to compete.
On the girls’ Southeast team, WACO’s Ella Huisenga, who ranked 2nd on the team in points and 1st in rebounds, earned a spot and accompanying her will be her coach Lisa Graber. The Southeast squad will face off against the Northwest team for the first round at 10:45 am.
On the boys’ Southeast team, a pair from the Southeast Iowa Super Conference South Division will join forces in West Burlington’s Mason Watkins and Luke Hellige of Holy Trinity Catholic. Watkins and Hellige both finished within the top 10 in the state in points per game and as their respective program’s all-time leading scorer. The Southeast and Northwest will square off for their first round matchup at noon.
Southeastern Community College
The softball team had a grueling four-game stretch, collecting a 1-3 record in the process. The weekend started with a dominant 7-1 showing against Southwestern Community College but dropped the rematch 12-10. Yesterday, the Blackhawks were swept by Iowa Western Community College 3-2 in game one and 17-9 in game two. Tayler Braun had an RBI double in game one, while Ella Florey crushed a home run and collected five RBIs in game two. The Blackhawks will host a doubleheader against Marshalltown Community College on Wednesday, March 26th.
The baseball team handled business at home, defeating North Iowa Area Community College in a sweep. Game one saw Michael Farina lace a triple for two RBIs in a 5-1 victory. Game two featured a walk-off as Farina collected two more RBIs and a double in the 10-9 finish. The final game of the series was an offensive flurry with the Blackhawks winning 17-5 with Carter Thompson and Jackson Petsche tabbing three RBIs apiece. The baseball team will hit the road on Wednesday to take on Ellsworth Community College in a doubleheader.
College Basketball
The #3-seed Iowa State men’s team’s defense was no match for the #6-seed Ole Miss, falling 91-78. Curtis Jones put up 26 points in the effort. The Cyclones finished the year with a 25-10 record.
The #11-seed Drake men’s team’s Cinderella story came to an end in the second round against the #3-seed Texas Tech, 77-64. Bennett Stirtz scored 21 points in the loss. The Bulldogs gathered a 31-4 record for the season, a program record.
The #6-seed Iowa woman’s team squashed the #11-seed Murray State 92-57 over the weekend to advance to the round of 32. Five players finished the night in double figures as Ava Heiden led the way with 15 points. The Hawkeyes will square off against the #3-seed Oklahoma today at 3 pm.
March Madness
The KILJ bracket challenge, sponsored by The Press Box and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design, is officially underway with nearly 50 brackets submitted with the top three set to receive prizes.
The Sweet 16 is set and despite a couple of close calls, seven of the top eight teams are still in the running for the National Championship with #10 Arkansas remaining as the highest-seed after knocking off #2 St. John’s.
Standings will be updated before the Sweet 16 and after the Elite 8, Final Four, and the championship game.
This Day in Sports History
1936 – The Detroit Red Wings beat the Montreal Maroons, 1-0, in 16:30 of the 6th period of OT; the record Stanley Cup playoff game lasts 9 periods (176 minutes).
1974 – 36th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: North Carolina State beats Marquette, 76-64; Wolfpack first title; first tournament officially designated as a Division I championship.
2019 – Two-time American League MVP Mike Trout signs the biggest contract in North American sports history, a $426.5 million, 12-year extension with the Los Angeles Angels.