Special Olympians got to meet some of the players from teams in the N-A-I-A National Volleyball Championship Tuesday in Sioux City. Tournament co-director, Corey Westra, says it was good to see the Special Olympians back in full force for the clinic.

Westra says it was hard to tell if the volleyball players or the Special Olympians were having more fun.

Westra says. Around 100 Special Olympians took part in the clinic. The N-A-I-A National Tournament begins with pool play at 10 a-m today (Wednesday) in the Tyson Events Center.

Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger says his team must learn to handle adversity as they get ready for Friday’s visit to DePaul. The Cyclones dropped the final two games at a tournament in Florida to Virginia Tech and Texas A@M and are now 5-2 on the season.

Otzelberger says the Cyclones did not do a good job of handling the elevated level of physical play.

Otzelberger called it a learning experience for his team.

An Iowa defense that has carried the Hawkeyes to a 10-2 record faces its most difficult challenge in the Big Ten Championship Game against Michigan. The Wolverines are averaging better than 39 points per game in conference play.

That’s Iowa senior linebacker Nick Jackson who says the first chore is to slow down a ground game led by running back Blake Corum.

Iowa receiver Nico Ragaini says the 16th ranked Hawkeyes will need to be at their best when they play second ranked Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Hawkeyes are a better than three touchdown underdog against a Wolverine team that will be in search of a third straight conference title.

Ragaini says the Michigan defense is a good as advertised.

Ragaini says the championship game is unlike any other they play.

Iowa women’s coach Lisa Bluder says forward Hannah Stuelke is doubtful for Saturday’s game at home against Bowling Green. The sophomore from Cedar Rapids missed the final two games of the Gulf Coast Showcase with an unspecified leg injury.

Stuelke was the Big Ten’s Sixth Player of the Year as a freshman and is averaging better than 12 and-a-half points and six and-a-half rebounds this season. The fourth ranked Hawkeyes are 7-1 and are getting ready to host a Bowling Green squad that is 5-1.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa freshman Gabe Arnold has been named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week, it was announced Wednesday by the league office. The honor is the first of his career.

The Albany, Georgia, native earned the distinction after bumping up a weight class to defeat sixth-ranked Will Feldkamp of Iowa State, 3-2, to help the Hawkeyes record their 19th straight victory over Iowa State.

The ranked win was the second of Arnold’s career as he defeated 11th-ranked Travis Wittlake from Oregon State, 4-2, in his dual debut on Nov. 19.

Arnold is now ranked in two national polls, coming in at No. 10 at 174 pounds by FloWrestling and No. 10 at 184 pounds by Amateur Wrestling News.

Arnold is the first Hawkeye to earn Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors this season.

No. 4 Iowa returns to action Friday, traveling to Philadelphia for a dual with Penn at 6 p.m. (CT) at the Palestra. The dual will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

The (0-1) Southwest Valley Girls basketball team are looking to win the second game of their young season, after a 60-34 loss to Shenandoah. It was a contest that saw Southwest Valley down 36-15 at half and low percentage shots from across the floor. Head Coach of the Timberwolves Mike Cormack noted the inexperience and lack of size was a major reason why his team struggled against a lengthier Fillies squad.

Even with a loss, the Timberwolves had a few positive takeaways from Tuesday’s game. Players like Hailey Randall who scored 16 points, shot 54% from the field, and went 2-4 from behind the arc. Mackenzie Fast also contributed with 7 boards and 11 points. The offensive effort from Tuesday night stood out to Coach Cormack.

Now the Timberwolves are gearing for a familiar foe they’ve scrimmaged before in this past offseason. The Griswold Tigers will start the season by looking to a few familiar faces like Seniors Karly Millikan and Madison Rush. Millikan had 147 rebounds, 23 steals, and 5 blocks in her sophomore campaign, but sat out her junior year due to an injury. Rush last year had 13 completed 3-pointers, 25 rebounds, with 7 assists, and 7 steals. Coach Cormack knows that even though Griswold only won two games a season ago, that this is a team he cannot overlook.

A key for the Timberwolves to come away with a win on the road Thursday night is to emphasize outside shooting. Southwest Valley shot 30% on their three pointers with only 13 attempts. Coach Cormack would also like to see his team continue to build on their confidence, because he knows they can compete with any team in the state.

Tipoff between the Southwest Valley and Griswold doubleheader is set for 6:00 p.m. KJAN will bring you the coverage starting with the pregame show at 5:50 p.m.

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