Class 1-A Semi-Final

• Newell-Fonda 69, Marquette Catholic 52

Class 4-A First Round

• Bishop Heelan Catholic 63, Dubuque Wahlert  47
• Cedar Rapids Xavier 50, Lewis Central 45

Class 5-A First Round

• Ankeny 66, Cedar Rapids Washington 58
• Dowling Catholic 47, Des Moines East 41 (OT)
• Mason City 72, Iowa City West 53
• Southeast Polk 48, Muscatine 45

Thursday Schedule:

Class 1-A Semi-Final:

• 10: 00 am — Burlington Notre Dame (22-3) vs. Central Lyon (24-2)

Class 2-A Semi-Finals:

• 11:45 am — Western Christian (24-1) vs. Aplington-Parkersburg (21-3)
• 1:30 pm — Lawton-Bronson (25-1) vs. Maquoketa Valley (20-5)

Class 3-A Semi-Finals:

• 3:15 pm — Davenport Assumption (23-2) vs. Cascade (23-2)
• 5:00 pm — MOC-Floyd Valley (24-1) vs. Estherville-Lincoln Central (22-3)

Class 4-A Semi-Finals:

• 6:45 pm – Harlan (22-2) vs. Waverly-Shell Rock (22-2)
• 8:30 pm – Cedar Rapids Xavier (15-9) vs. Bishop Heelan Catholic (21-3)
  

Governor Terry Branstad honored the man who designed and co-owns the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Wednesday, in a ceremony at the state capitol. Branstad signed a proclamation honoring Rusty Wallace during transportation day events.  “As a governor of Iowa, I am very proud to honor Rusty Wallace with this proclamation today. His many contributions to NASCAR racing have earned him a well-deserved induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. And his forward-thinking design of the Iowa Speedway helped to create a destination in central Iowa that benefits every Iowan,” Branstad said. Wallace responded “yes I do” when the governor asked him if he had anything to say.

“Thank you very much governor, I really appreciate this,” Wallace said. “I love the state of Iowa, I consider it like a second home of mine. I spent a lot of time up here, I’ve been able to have a lot of great friends and meet a lot of cool people — including you today.” Wallace talked with reporters after the public ceremony. “When I heard what the governor wanted to do I was really excited about it. I meant what I said, it’s like a second home to me,” Wallace said. “And to see the track be so successful and to have so many people show up all the time is a really good feeling. And to see the governor kind of honor me for that — and to honor the speedway for that — makes you feel good. And coming fresh out of being in the Hall of Fame with NASCAR, fresh out of a real successful speed week down in Daytona, and to come up here and get this proclamation — it’s just kind of like icing on the cake.”

Wallace was born in Missouri and now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. He says he doesn’t have a home in Iowa yet, but wouldn’t rule out that possibility some day.  “I could see a second home in Newton, a second home in the state of Iowa. Whether it’s in Des Moines or Newton, absolutely I could,” he said. The Iowa Speedway opened in 2007 and Wallace said it is very popular with drivers and he believes the track will get the chance to host a NASCAR cup race sometime in the next three to five year.

“I think that’s very realistic, I think that’s very realistic, I’d be disappointed if that didn’t happen. So, I will tell you there’s not a day goes by that we don’t actively work on that,” according the Wallace. “It’s a real tough deal because everybody knows NASCAR made a major announcement many years ago — it said we are only going to go 36 races — so if there’s going to be an additional race somebody’s go to get one from some other racetrack. So we are constantly working with other racetracks… and trying to get one of the events over here at Iowa Speedway.” Wallace went into broadcasting after retiring from racing, and works in television when not at the Newton track.

(Radio Iowa)

A couple of students at Iowa State University could be in trouble for sending some inflammatory messages via Twitter following the I-S-U men’s basketball team’s loss to sixth-ranked Kansas Monday night. The names of the two students are not being released, but ISU Dean of Students Pamela Anthony says the matter is being addressed. “We are initiating an investigation,” Anthony told Radio Iowa. “I am not at liberty to discuss any actions that have or would be taken against the students.”

Following the Cyclone’s loss in overtime, a tweet said the students were going to take a gun to the K-U bus. Additional tweets used the N-word and threatened Kansas guard Elijah Johnson, who scored a career high 39 points. “The language is not only derogatory and certainly goes against the values of Iowa State, but it’s threatening,” Anthony said. “We live in a society today where all threats have to be taken seriously.” Many Cyclone fans were upset with the officiating of the game and the Big 12 Conference issued a statement Tuesday admitting “officiating errors” were made at the end of regulation. Other fans booed when Johnson dunked the basketball for K-U’s final points in the lopsided overtime session. But, Anthony said the Twitter messages of the two ISU students went too far.

“I mean, it’s an athletic competition, so on some level you have to say, ‘wow, this is just athletics,'” Anthony said. “I understand school spirit and of course we all want to win, but I think to take it as far as to make a threat to another individual is quite serious and we take it as such.” It’s unclear what, if any, action has been or will be taken against the two students who sent the Twitter messages.

(Radio Iowa)