Listen Monday – Saturday for KJAN Sports at 7:18 am, 8:15 am, 12:20 pm, 1:20 pm, 2:20 pm and 5:20 pm!
Catch St. Louis Cardinal Baseball on KJAN — Check out the schedule!
Listen to the Kansas City Chiefs on KJAN — See the schedule!
Iowa Hawkeye Football & Basketball is on KJAN — View More Information!
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to deals with wide receiver Sammy Watkins and middle linebacker Anthony Hitchens, filling two of their most glaring needs on the eve of free agency.
The 24-year-old Watkins intends to sign a $48 million, three-year contract with $30 million in guarantees, while the 25-year-old Hitchens agreed to a five-year deal, two people familiar with their decisions told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the contracts, along with several other moves made by Kansas City, cannot become official until the start of the free agency Wednesday afternoon.
The Chiefs have been looking for a playmaking wide receiver to pair with speedster Tyreek Hill since last offseason, but resorted to using Chris Conley in the role. Then Conley went down with a season-ending injury, robbing the Chiefs of their No. 2 wide receiver and forcing journeyman Albert Wilson into a more substantial role in their West Coast offense.
But questions persist about Conley’s health and long-term upside, and Wilson has agreed to a free-agent deal with the Miami Dolphins, leaving the Chiefs in the market for a wide receiver.
Watkins was considered one of the premier talents on the market.
The 2014 fourth overall pick of the Buffalo Bills spent last season with the Los Angeles Rams, where he caught 39 passes for 593 yards and eight touchdowns. And while he seems far removed from his best season in 2015, when he caught 60 passes for 1,047 yards and nine scores in a season shorted by injury, the Chiefs undoubtedly believe Watkins has yet to reach his ceiling.
It would help matters if he stayed healthy. Along with a calf strain and ankle sprain that season, he’s had hip issues in the past, and missed eight games in 2016 with a fractured left foot.
Buffalo decided to decline its fifth-year option on Watkins after all the injuries, and wound up sending him to the Rams last August for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a draft pick.
On defense, the Chiefs have been trying to get younger across the board, releasing cornerstone linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali and shuffling their defensive backfield.
Hitchens, who The Kansas City Star reported will make about $9 million per season, would fill Johnson’s spot alongside Reggie Ragland in the middle of the defense. The 2014 fourth-round pick had 84 tackles in only 12 starts last season, when a knee injury sidelined him the first four games.
Hitchens also had a couple of pass deflections and nine tackles for a loss, and showed flashes of the same kind of instincts that made Johnson the Chiefs’ career tackles leader.
Watkins and Hitchens are expected to sign their contracts Wednesday, when the new league year means the Chiefs can finally consummate their agreed-upon trades sending quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins and cornerback Marcus Peters to the Rams.
The Chiefs will get cornerback Kendall Fuller and a draft pick back from Washington and two picks back from Los Angeles, allowing them to restock with younger players through the draft.
Kansas City intends to turn its starting quarterback job over to Patrick Mahomes II, whom former general manager John Dorsey traded up to select 10th overall last year. Mahomes dazzled during training camp and was dynamic in a Week 17 start against Denver, when the Chiefs were already assured of the AFC West title and their playoff positioning, allowing Smith to take the week off.
That performance against the Broncos is what made the Chiefs comfortable moving on from Smith, who had a career season that made him coveted by several other teams in the trade market.
(From cyclones.com) AMES, Iowa – Iowa State sophomore guard Jakolby Long is transferring from the men’s basketball program, head coach Steve Prohm announced Tuesday.
“We appreciate Jakolby’s effort and hard work for our program,” Prohm said. “He has been a good teammate and we wish him the best as he moves forward academically and athletically.”
Long, a Mustang, Oklahoma native, saw action in 22 games for the Cyclones in 2017-18. He averaged 1.9 points in 9.5 minutes per game.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have released one of their career sack leaders, Tamba Hali, and veteran stalwart of their secondary, Ron Parker, moves designed to help Kansas City get younger on defense and have some financial freedom for the start of free agency.
The Chiefs parted ways with longtime linebacker Hali on Monday. The move was hardly a surprise given his decreased production. Safety Parker, who had missed just one game over the past four seasons and provided some stability when Eric Berry was injured last season, also was waived.
Hali was due a base salary of $5,750,000 this season with a salary cap hit of more than $9 million, and his release will only cost them about $1.7 million in dead money. Parker’s release saves about $5.3 million against the salary cap. “I thank the greatest fans in the world #ChiefsKingdom for 12 incredible years,” Hali posted on Twitter. “I also want to thank the @Chiefs organization for believing in me from the beginning. All the support during my career in Kansas City has been overwhelming and KC will always be special to me.”
The Chiefs were strapped for cash heading into the offseason, necessitating moves on several fronts. They’ve already voided the contract of linebacker Derrick Johnson, their career tackles leader, to save about $8 million, and released cornerback Darrelle Revis to save $4.5 million. They’ll save some more when the new league year begins Wednesday. That’s when the trade of Alex Smith, which his salary cap number of $17 million, to the Redskins for cornerback Kendall Fuller and a draft pick, becomes official. The Chiefs will also save a bit of money when their trade of cornerback Marcus Peters to the Rams for two more draft picks becomes official.
The Chiefs only rolled over about $2.6 million in salary cap space from last season, so freeing up space to address their leaky defense — and perhaps help new quarterback Patrick Mahomes II with some offensive weapons — was of paramount importance for new general manager Brett Veach. “You look at every situation and every position group and if it makes sense from a structural standpoint, a schematic standpoint and also a cap standpoint,” Veach said during last week’s scouting combine in Indianapolis. “And it really is just the schematic standpoint and the cap standpoint along with the age, and if you get all those things pointing in the right direction, you go that route.”
Make no mistake: The Chiefs had aged considerably on defense the past couple of years, especially in the linebacker corps, where Johnson and Hali had been the foundation for years. Hali was the 20th overall pick in the 2006 draft out of Penn State, started every game as a rookie and never really looked back. He became a fan-favorite and went to five consecutive Pro Bowls beginning with the 2011 season, when he had 12 sacks and forced four fumbles.
He combined to add 20 more sacks over the next couple seasons, but the decline soon began for the 34-year-old pass rusher. He started just two of 16 games during the 2016 season, when knee pain caught up to him, and only appeared in five games last season after beginning the year on the PUP list. When asked in January what his plans were for the future, Hali acknowledged he was “leaning more toward” retirement but wanted to leave the door open to returning for another season.
He has plenty of interests away from football, including a hip-hop recording company.
“Tamba has been a tremendous ambassador for our organization, both on and off the playing field,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said. “His incredible work ethic and passion for the game helped make him one of the most successful pass rushers in franchise history. Tamba will always be a part of the Chiefs family, and we sincerely appreciate his contributions to the Chiefs and the Kansas City community over the last 12 seasons.”
The 30-year-old Parker should have plenty of suitors in free agency. He made 279 tackles, seven sacks and picked off nine passes after finally getting his break with Kansas City. “It was great playing in front of the fans in Arrowhead and with some of the best teammates,” he said on Twitter. “Now it’s time for me to move on. I look forward to this new journey and chapter.” Parker’s age combined with his cost for next season ultimately forced his release.
“It’s kind of today’s world in the NFL,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said during the combine, when asked about their desire to get younger. “Guys change teams and move. We think we have some good young players and feel comfortable with them.”
With warmer temperatures on the horizon, you may be getting anxious to fire up the outdoor grill. If your grill runs on gas, Pelgas in Atlantic has a deal you can’t pass up, and, it benefits the Atlantic Swim Team – a win-win for everyone. Barb Barrick, Dave and Kristy York, Jennifer Miller from Brymon’s Home Furnishings, and Jackie Sampson, with the Nishna Valley YMCA, sat down with the media, Monday evening at the Y, to talk about the 2nd Annual Atlantic Trojan Swim Team Fundraiser, working in conjunction with Pelgas.
Left to right: Barb Barrick, Dave York, Kristy York and Jennifer Miller. (Not shown in this photo, Jackie Sampson) – Ric Hanson photo (Click to enlarge)
Barb Barrick explained that last year, Todd Pellet, with Peglas, offered to fill propane tanks for $32.50, with $25 of that going toward private fundraising being used for the Atlantic High School Swim Team. She said even though it was short notice that first year, they filled over 67 tanks that first Saturday in three-hours, and raised a little over $2,500 for the Swim Team. This year, Pellett approached team organizers again, and asked if they would like to run the tank program again.
Dave York said there are two options when it comes to filling your tank. There’s a pick up option for Wed., April, 4th from 2-p.m. to 5-p.m., and Wed., April 11th, from 4-until 7-p.m. Persons who have expressed an desire to have their tanks filled will need to uninstall their tank from their grill or wherever, and set in a place where it is easily accessible. The swimmers will come to your site, place a tag on your tank so it can be identified and returned to the rightful owner once its filled.
Pelgas will fill the tanks and work with students to see the tanks are returned. York said you don’t have to be home for your tank to be picked up or dropped-off. There is also a private shuttle option, where you can purchase your fill and receive a tag, and when you are ready, take the tank to Pelgas and get it filled. Kristy York said Pelgas will honor those tags through early this Summer, so even if your tank is still full, you can refill it if you are a heavy outdoor griller. She added that if you do have more than one tank to fill, each additional tank is only $25. 100 percent of that, she said, will go back to the swim team.
Kristy York explained why the funds are needed. She says nearly five-years ago, they decided to have their own High School Swim Team. After the first season, the school was considering budget cuts, with the swim program on the chopping block. A group of parents got together and persuaded the School Board to cut the funding, but not the program itself. Up until last Spring, the program was funded mostly with donations from parents, and generous contributions from Atlantic residents and businesses. The Pelgas program was their first fundraiser.
She said “For three-years now, we’ve been able to fund each season of the swim team with donations.” For the 2017-18 School Year, the School District did agree to take care of the transportation costs, but beyond that, the program is still 100-percent donation funded. The cost to run the program, according to York, is a little more than $11,000 per year, split into two seasons because the boys and girls seasons don’t run concurrently to each other. Jennifer Miller said “It’s the only varsity sport in the District that is self-funded.” She said they’re only looking for funding to carry the program, not the equipment. Each team member is responsible for their swim suit, goggles and related gear.
To receive a propane tank fill request form and/or purchase your tag, check with any Atlantic High School Swim Team member, stop by the YMCA, Brymon’s, J&J Graphics, contact Barb Barrick at City Hall, or Jackie Sampson at 712-250-0025, or download the form from the Atlantic Flying Shark Swim Team’s Facebook page. Even if you don’t have a tank to fill, you’re more than welcome to donate to the team.
| Record | Pts | Prv | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Virginia (65) | 31-2 | 1625 | 1 |
| 2. Villanova | 30-4 | 1554 | 2 |
| 3. Xavier | 28-5 | 1383 | 3 |
| 4. Kansas | 27-7 | 1379 | 9 |
| 5. Michigan St. | 29-4 | 1304 | 4 |
| 6. Cincinnati | 30-4 | 1230 | 8 |
| 7. Michigan | 28-7 | 1213 | 7 |
| 8. Gonzaga | 30-4 | 1199 | 6 |
| 9. Duke | 26-7 | 1179 | 5 |
| 10. North Carolina | 25-10 | 1100 | 12 |
| 11. Purdue | 28-6 | 1047 | 10 |
| 12. Arizona | 27-7 | 918 | 15 |
| 13. Tennessee | 25-8 | 771 | 13 |
| 14. Texas Tech | 24-9 | 716 | 14 |
| 15. West Virginia | 24-10 | 663 | 18 |
| 16. Wichita St. | 25-7 | 604 | 11 |
| 17. Ohio St. | 24-8 | 600 | 17 |
| 18. Kentucky | 24-10 | 528 | – |
| 19. Auburn | 25-7 | 501 | 16 |
| 20. Clemson | 23-9 | 439 | 19 |
| 21. Houston | 26-7 | 430 | 21 |
| 22. Miami | 22-9 | 134 | 24 |
| 23. Florida | 20-12 | 102 | 23 |
| 24. Nevada | 27-7 | 93 | 22 |
| 25. Saint Mary’s (Cal) | 28-5 | 71 | 20 |
Others receiving votes: Arkansas 69, Loyola of Chicago 68, Rhode Island 66, TCU 40, Providence 22, New Mexico St. 15, Butler 9, St. Bonaventure 8, Southern Cal 7, Kansas St 6, UCLA 5, Seton Hall 5, Buffalo 5, Creighton 4, South Dakota St. 3, Virginia Tech 2, Murray St. 2, Middle Tennessee 2, San Diego St. 2, Davidson 1, Missouri 1.
The Atlantic middle school and high school archery teams competed at the state tournament on Saturday and Sunday March 10th and 11th at the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center in Des Moines.
The high school team finished 16th out of 28 teams. The middle school team finished 14th out of 28 teams.
The top middle school boys finish was Cooper Jipsen placing 6th out of 408 middle school boys. Jipsen scored a 285 and hit 15 tens. Zane Berg scored a 279 and Alex Mata had a 277.
The top middle school girls finish was Josie Colton placing 22nd out of 321 middle school girls. Colton scored a 275 and hit 15 tens. Halle Copeland scored a 268 and Dayna Dreager had a 259.
The top high school boys finish was Clayton Jipsen 26th out of 336 high school boys. Jipsen scored a 282 with 17 tens hit. Dustin Dreager scored a 280 and Zach Colton had a 277.
The top girls high school finish was Heather Freund 73rd our of 332 high school girls. Freund shot a score of 275 with 12 tens hit. Bailey Roland scored a 272 an Lia Lillard a 271.
Find a full list of results here: https://nasptournaments.org/tournamentdetail.aspx?tid=2896#collapseOne
The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.
(Please note: There is no 7am news podcast available this morning)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.2MB)
Subscribe: RSS
MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Apparently it doesn’t matter who is in the game for Drake, the result is the same. Nicole Miller, Sara Rhine and Maddy Dean, all reserves, each scored in double figures and top-seeded Drake won its second straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and NCAA berth on Sunday with a 75-63 win over third-seeded Northern Iowa.
Miller and Rhine scored 12 points apiece and Dean and starter Becca Jonas added 10 as the Bulldogs (26-7) won their 21st straight game, their seventh MVC tournament and earned their 12th trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Dean was named tournament MVP after hitting 10 of 21 from distance and averaging 17 points. She was joined on the all-tournament team by Rhine and Becca Hittner, the regular-season MVP who had nine points and six rebounds in the title game.
So for the second straight year Drake (26-7) rolled through the regular season and conference tournament without a loss — and for good measure knocked off Northern Iowa in the title game — though not with the dramatics of last year’s 74-69 win in overtime.
No player scored in double figures for the Panthers (19-13), who had won six straight.
Miller’s 3-pointer highlighted a game-opening 7-0 run and Drake led 20-12 after one quarter, hitting four 3-pointers. Northern Iowa crawled back within one late in the second quarter but Hannah Fuller and Dean hit 3s 23 seconds part to make it 43-36 at the half.
Northern Iowa, which has lost six straight to Drake, took its only lead midway through the third quarter on a 3-pointer and 3-point play from Kennedy Kirkpatrick in an 11-1 run. But almost as soon as Taylor Hagen’s jumper put the Panthers on top 49-48, Miller’s layup and Paige Greiner’s 3-point play started a 12-2 run for the Bulldogs.
Mikaela Morgan’s trey pulled the Panthers within four barely a minute into the fourth quarter and a Megan Maahs basket 90 seconds later made it 64-61. But Jonas hit a jumper, Miller followed with a 3 and an 8-0 burst made it 72-61 with 3:22 left.
The Maahs bucket was the Panthers’ last as they missed their last 10 shots. They ended up shooting 33 percent for the game. Maahs, a sophomore who finished with eight points and 11 rebounds, and teammate Ellie Howell made the all-tournament team.
The teams combined for 33 assists on 47 baskets and just 26 turnovers. They also combined for 20 3-pointers. Drake shot 43 percent and its nine 3s pushed their school and MVC record total to 318 and the 17 assists extended the school record to 749.
2018 HAWKEYE 10 ALL CONFERENCE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS
STUDENT NAME HIGH SCHOOL GRADE POSITION
FIRST TEAM
1 Parker Badding** Kuemper Catholic 12th Guard
2 Shane Chamberlain** Harlan 12th Guard/Forward
3 Nate Mohr** Glenwood 12th Guard
4 Austin Alexander Atlantic 12th Guard
5 Andrew Blum Glenwood 12th Forward
6 Jake Carley St. Albert 12th Guard
7 Evan Jacobson Creston 12th Guard
8 Scott Leonard Atlantic 12th Center
2ND TEAM
1 Sam Auen Kuemper Catholic 12th Guard
2 Tyler Blaha St. Albert 12th Guard
3 Cole Jensen Lewis Central 11th Forward
4 Chase Mullenix Atlantic 11th Guard
5 Josh Simmons Lewis Central 11th Guard
6 Kylan Smallwood Creston 11th Guard/Forward
7 Christian Stanislav Glenwood 11th Guard
8 Charlie Wiebers Denison-Schlewswig 10th Guard
HONORABLE MENTION
1 Zach Carr Glenwood 10th Guard
2 Matt Fagan St. Albert 12th Forward
3 Nate Kennedy Glenwood 12th Guard
4 Logan Klaassen Harlan 12th Guard
5 Nathan Lindsay Clarinda 10th Forward
6 Deren Schmitz Harlan 12th Forward
7 Mason Silence Shenandoah 12th Guard
8 Jared Tigges Kuemper Catholic 12th Guard
9 Cameron Webb Denison-Schleswig 12th Forward
10 Evan Wiebers Denison-Schleswig 12th Guard
11 Seth Wineland Lewis Central 11th Guard
12 Owen Vondielingen Red Oak 12th Guard
** denotes unanimous selection – Selections are listed alphabetically by last name
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSS