The third ranked Iowa Hawkeye wrestling team will be a massive underdog Friday night when the Hawkeyes host top ranked and defending national champion Penn State. The Hawkeyes are 10-1 in duals after getting trounced at eighth ranked Michigan 24-11 last week.

That’s Iowa coach Tom Brands. The gap between Penn State and the rest of country appears to be huge.

Penn State and coach Cael Sanderson has won 10 NCAA titles since 2011.

Mount Vernon native Jack Cochrane will play in the Super Bowl for the second time in his second year in the NFL. The former South Dakota star is a linebacker for a Kansas City Chiefs team that will play the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

Cochrane says much of the credit for his success goes to South Dakota coach Bob Nielson.

Cochrane has many great memories playing for Mount Vernon High School.

As the Iowa Speedway gets ready to host a NASCAR Cup Series race it has new leadership. Eric Peterson has been named president of the Newton track. He has been with NASCAR at the Kansas Speedway the past 13 years and has also served on NASCAR’s west region corporate sales team.

Peterson has been working with the Iowa Speedway on several initiatives since 2020.

Hosting a three-day Cup Series event is a challenge but Peterson feels the speedway has a capable team to take it on.

Peterson says NASCAR teams will begin testing at the track once spring arrives.

It will be part of a big season at the Iowa Speedway that will include the return of the IndyCar Series.

The Cup Series is at the track June 14th through the 16th.

Northern Iowa opened the second half on an 8-0 run and beat Missouri State 72-65 in Cedar Falls as the Panthers snapped a three game losing skid.

That’s Panther coach Ben Jacobson. Nate Heise (hi-zee) had 17 points and junior center Jacob Hutson added 14 points and eight rebounds as UNI improves to 7-6 in the Missouri Valley. *

The Drake Relays is taking a pole vault competition back to a West Des Moines mall this spring. The Vault at the Mall will take place on Monday, April 22nd at Jordan Creek Towncenter.

That’s Drake Relays director Blake Bolden. Jordan Creek has hosted pole vault events in the past with the last one in 2014.

Bolden says they have had discussions about returning to Jordan Creek for several years.

Bolden says COVID prevented them from holding an event in the mall in 2020 and 2021.

The second ranked Iowa Hawkeye women host a much improved Penn State team on Thursday night. After winning only four conference games last season the Nittany Lions are 7-4 in the Big Ten.

That’s Iowa senior guard Gabbie Marshall who says the Nittany Lions will be difficult to guard.

The Hawkeyes are 10-1 and tied with Ohio State at the top of the Big Ten race.

The Iowa men are on the road Thursday night in Big Ten play to take on Penn State. Both teams are 5-6 in the league race. The Nittany Lions are coming off road wins at Indiana and Rutgers and leading scorer Kanye Clary missed both games due to injury.

That’s Hawkeye coach Fran McCaffery who says with Clary out other players have stepped up for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State is 11-11 overall under first year coach Mike Rhoades.

The Northern Iowa women are at home Thursday night in Missouri Valley Conference play to host Illinois State. The Panthers are 6-4 in the Valley and lost to the Redbirds 88-77 on the road two weeks ago.

That’s Panther coach Tanya Warren who is proud of the way her team has performed during an injury plagued season.

Warren says having met just two weeks ago makes the preparation easier.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa rowing team opens the Spring 2024 season at UCF on Feb. 9-10 at Lake Pickett in Orlando, Florida. Competition opens with 1250-meter races at controlled stroke rates on Friday at 3 p.m. (CT). On Saturday, the Hawkeyes will compete in two 2000-meter races at varied stroke rates beginning at 8 a.m.

Iowa looks to build on strong showings this fall, including a 3^rd place showing to finish out the season against a loaded field of teams at the Princeton Chase on Nov. 5.

Quoting Head Coach Jeff Garbutt

“We are very excited to go down to scrimmage with UCF this weekend. Being able to take a break from the indoor training and getting into boats is always a highlight this time of year. The Golden Knights are always a very competitive group for us to check our progress as a team. I am really looking forward to seeing the squad handle the challenges that the Golden Knights throw at us. Go Hawks!”