Analytics is not just for Major League Baseball and has made its way to college softball. Northern Iowa leads the Missouri Valley race with an 11-1 record and ranks at or near the top in virtually every offensive category except one. They rank last in bunts and in 33 game have only four sacrifice bunts.

That’s UNI coach Ryan Jacobs who says former professor Robin Lund taught him that bunts are a waste of outs. Lund would go on to join Rick Heller’s baseball staff at Iowa and is now a coach with the Detroit Tigers. Despite their lack of bunting the Panthers are averaging better than six runs per game.

Heller says their view of the sacrifice bunt has completely changed.

The Panthers return to action Tuesday night at home by hosting Drake.

NEW YORK – University of Iowa Fifth-Year center Monika Czinano was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks with 26th overall pick in the WNBA Draft. Czinano is the third Hawkeye that has been drafted in the WNBA since 2019. (Kathleen Doyle, Megan Gustafson)

Czinano finished her Iowa career with 2,413 points, 787 rebounds, and shot at least 67% the past four seasons. She was the fifth Hawkeye to net more than 2,000 points in a career.

17 Hawkeyes have been drafted or signed in the WNBA since the league originated in 1997.

Czinano broke the Big Ten Tournament single game field percentage record, going 11-of-12 (.917) to help Iowa to their 2023 Big Ten Championship victory over Ohio State. She reached double figures in 28 games this season and in 11 of them she netted more than 20 points.

Czinano finished her decorated Hawkeye career with Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten honors, was on the All-Big Ten Tournament, and earned honorable mention from the Associated Press in 2022-23.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior Ashley Joens became the 16^th player in school history and the second to be selected in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Joens was picked No. 19 by the Dallas Wings in the second round, joining teammate Stephanie Soares (Round 1, Pick 4, Washington (Traded to Dallas) in Dallas after a trade earlier in the night.

Joens becomes the fourth highest WNBA Draft pick in school history.

The Iowa City, Iowa, native recently concluded arguably the most decorated career in Cyclone women’s basketball history. She’s a three-time recipient of the Cheryl Miller Award, a four-time unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection and a two-time WBCA All-American.

Joens, who started all 158 games in her career, finished as Iowa State’s all-time leading scorer with 3,060 career points and was just the 14^th player in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball history to reach 3,000 points.

She averaged 19.4 points per game in her career to break the school record and rank eighth in Big 12 history. Joens exhibited the ability to score at all levels during her career, connecting on 344 career 3-pointers (fifth in Big 12 history) and making 740 free throws (third in Big 12 history). She shot 83.1 percent at the charity stripe.

Joens also dominated the glass, collecting 1,391 career rebounds and recording 65 career double-doubles.

In her career, Joens was recognized with 13 Big 12 Player of the Week honors, the second-most in Big 12 history behind only Baylor’s Brittney Griner.

In 2022-23, Joens poured in 21.6 points and pulled down 9.7 rebounds. She was named Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship Most Outstanding Player after averaging 26.7 points and 11.0 rebounds in leading the Cyclones to the tournament title. She scored 30 against Baylor, 22 against Oklahoma and 28 in the championship game against Texas.

Joens was the second Big 12 player drafted

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State senior forward/center Stephanie Soares became the 15^th player in school history to be selected in the WNBA Draft on Monday evening when she was chosen by the Washington Mystics with the No. 4 pick. Moments later, Soares was traded to the Dallas Wings.

Soares is the highest draft pick in school history, with the previous high being Alison Lacey with the 10^th pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft. She joins Lacey as the second first-round pick in school history. 

Soares played just one season at Iowa State and it was cut short due to a knee injury suffered at Oklahoma on Jan. 8. She came to the Cyclones after a standout career at NAIA The Master’s University.

Despite playing just 13 games with the Cyclones, the Sao Paulo, Brazil, native, made an immediate impact for ISU. She averaged 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game for the Cyclones, reaching double figures in 11 contests and recording eight double-doubles.

Her season-high of 23 points came in wins against UNI and Michigan State. Soares pulled down 20 rebounds against West Virginia, recording the sixth 20-rebound game in school history.

Prior to transferring to Iowa State, Soares was a two-time NAIA Division I Player of the Year.

 Soares was the first Big 12 player selected in the draft

Treynor Girls Cardinal Relays
04/10/2023

Team Scores

1. Lewis Central 152
2. Treynor 137
3. Riverside 126
4. Underwood 77
5. Logan-Magnolia 75
6. Tri-Center 50
7. Shenandoah 42
8. Red Oak 28
9. Missouri Valley 28
10. West Harrison 16

Lewis Central got wins from Jordan Matiyow (Shot Put), Elise Thramer (Discus), Payton Mathews (100M), and Madeline Fidone (400M),

Riverside got wins from Carly Henderson in the 800M 2:31.05 and the Lady Dawgs won the 4x100M Relay (Elly Henderson, Lydia Erickson, Ema Gordon, Veronica Andrusyshyn) 51.75, 4x200M Relay (Andrusyshyn, C. Henderson, E. Henderson, Erickson) 1:47.41, 4x400M Relay (Veronica Schechinger, Elly Henderson, Lydia Erickson, Carly Henderson) 4:20.58, and Sprint Medley (E. Henderson, Emma Gordon, Andrusyshyn, Erickson) 1:53.89.

Full results: CardinalRelays2023

GIRLS SOCCER

Kuemper Catholic 4, Harlan 2
Missouri Valley 6, Logan-Magnolia 0
Panorama 6, West Central Valley 1
Tri-Center 3, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 0
Underwood 5, Treynor 0
Van Meter 10, AHSTW 0

BOYS SOCCER

Harlan 2, Kuemper Catholic 0
Treynor 5, Underwood 2
Van Meter 8, AHSTW 1

GIRLS GOLF

Atlantic 190, Kuemper Catholic 208, Denison-Schleswig 222
Medalist: Addy Beiter, Kuemper Catholic, 40
Runner-Up: Belle Berg, Atlantic 41
Other Atlantic Scores: Abby Smith 46, Abby Muller, 51, Lexi Noelck 52, Makenna Schroeder 56, Emma Rose 57.

East Union 312, Lenox NTS
Medalist: Sara Collins, East Union, 57
Runner-Up: Averie Eckles, East Union, 59

Logan-Magnolia 224, AHSTW NTS
Medalist: Cara Ohl, Logan-Magnolia, 54
Runner-Up: Jazmyn Guritz, Logan-Magnolia, 54

Nodaway Valley 225, Martensdale-St. Marys 229, Mount Ayr 241, Southeast Warren NTS.
Medalist: Ashlyn Gutierrez, Nodaway Valley, 50
Runner-Up: Carly Franey, Martensdale-St. Marys, 52

Southwest Valley 212, Red Oak 236
Medalist: Miaya Fourez, Southwest Valley, 50
Runner-Up: Maggie Haer, Southwest Valley, 52

Rolling Valley Conference Meet at AGCC
Boyer Valley 225, Gildden-Ralston 235, CAM 302, Woodbine 333, Exira-EHK 348, Coon Rapids-Bayard 380
Medalist: Addy Boell, Glidden-Ralston, 43
Runner-Up: Reese Snyder, CAM, 45

BOYS GOLF

AHSTW 194, Logan-Magnolia 197
Medalist: Jace Straight, Logan-Magnolia, 47
Runner-Up: Nate Jorgensen, AHSTW, 47

Rolling Valley Conference Meet @ AGCC
Coon Rapids-Bayard 173, CAM 174, Boyer Valley 178, Exira-EHK 187, Woodbine 199, Glidden-Ralston 225.
Medalist: Chase Jahde, CAM, 35
Runner-Up: Evan TenEyck, Boyer Valley, 37

East Union 201, Lenox 249
Medalist: Josh Lopez, East Union, 45
Runner-Up: Kyson Kessler, East Union, 46

Harlan 170, Lewis Central 172
Medalist: Tyler Reed, Lewis Central, 41
Runner-Up: Jace Gubbels, Harlan, 41

Maryville 159, Clarinda 180
Medalist: Jacob Scott, Maryville, 36
Runner-Up: Dylan Groomer, Maryville, 39

Mount Ayr 172, Nodaway Valley 186, SE Warren 226, Martensdale-St. Marys 249
Medalist: Tanner Streit, Mount Ayr, 41
Runner-Up: Dylan Graham, Mount Ayr, 41

Red Oak 188, Southwest Valley 206
Medalist: Tyler Beeson, Red Oak, 45
Runner-Up: Isaac Currin, Southwest Valley, 47

GIRLS TENNIS

Shenandoah 8, Atlantic 1
Singles
1. Paige Gleason 12 (S) def Rio Johnson 12 (A) 8-0
2. Emma Olson 12 (S) def Keira Olsen 12 (A) 8-5
3. Brook Hays 10 (S) def Quincy Sorenson 11 (A) 8-4
4. Jade Harter 11 (A) def Abigail Martin 11 (S) 8-3
5. Auri Trowbridge 11 (S) def Genevieve McCalla 11 (A) 8-3
6. Gabi Jacobs 9 (S) def Josephine Sorenson 12 (A) 8-1
Doubles
1. Gleason/Olson (S) def Johnson/Olsen (A) 8-2
2. Hays/Towbridge (S) def QSorenson/Harter (A) 8-3
3. Martin/Jacobs (S) def GMcCalla/JSorenson (A) 8-3

Red Oak 5, Kuemper Catholic 4
Southwest Valley 7, Creston 2

BOYS TENNIS

Shenandoah 6, Atlantic 3
Singles
1. Andrew Lawrence 11 (S) def Clevi Johnson 12 (A) 10-0
2. Nolan Waters 11 (A) def Dylan Gray 12 (S) 10-6
3. Lucas Sun 9 (S) def Easton O’Brien 12 (A) 10-4
4. Teagan Brunk 9 (S) def Kinnick Juhl 10 (A) 11-10 (4)
5. Seth Zwickel 11 (S) def Alex Rosenbaum 12 (A) 10-7
6. Drew Morelock 11 (S) def Nick Bennett 11 (A) 10-7
Doubles
1. Lawrence/Gray (S) def Johnson/Waters (A) 10-3
2. O’Brien/Juhl (A) def Sun/Zwickel (S) 10-7
3. Rosenbaum/Bennett (A) def Brunk/Morelock (S) 10-8

CB Thomas Jefferson 7, Harlan 2
Kuemper Catholic 6, Red Oak 1
Southwest Valley 8, Creston 1

cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa – After guiding the Iowa State men’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season and signing the highest-rated recruiting class in program history, head coach T.J. Otzelberger has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension, Cyclone Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard announced today.

Otzelberger’s contract now extends through June 30, 2029, and his total compensation will increase to $2.5M on July 1, 2023, $3M on July 1, 2024 and $3.5M on July 1, 2025, followed by $100,000 increases for each subsequent contract year. All other terms of his original contract remain unchanged.

Only the third coach in the program’s 116-year history to lead Iowa State to the NCAA Tournament in each of their first two seasons on the ISU bench, Otzelberger’s 2022-23 Cyclones went 19-14 overall and 9-9 in the Big 12 Conference, good for fifth place in the nation’s toughest league. Iowa State produced a nation-leading six victories over Associated Press (AP) Top 10 teams and was one of two teams to register eight or more wins over AP Top 25 teams, as Texas (10) and Iowa State (nine) led the nation. ISU’s nine AP Top 25 wins tied the program’s single-season record first set during the 2013-14 season and matched a year later.

Otzelberger’s 41 wins rank fourth among Cyclone head coaches in their first two seasons at the helm. He owns a 41-27 (.603) record in two seasons at Iowa State, and a 140-90 (.609) record in seven years as a Division I head coach.

Four Cyclones earned 2022-23 honors by the Big 12 Conference coaches. Gabe Kalscheur garnered second-team All-Big 12 honors and was also named to the Big 12 All-Defensive team. Jaren Holmes was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, while also earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Newcomer team. Osun Osunniyi also earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. Tamin Lipsey picked up a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman team. Kalscheur also received NABC All-District 8 second-team recognition and played in the Reese’s College All-Star Game, leading the West Team to victory.

Iowa State signed the highest-ranked recruiting class in school history, a consensus Top 10 class by ESPN (8th), 247 (9th) and Rivals (10th). Five-star signee Omaha Biliew, a McDonald’s All-American, and four-star signee Milan Momcilovic, Wisconsin’s consensus Player of the Year and a MaxPreps All-American, headline the four-member class that also includes Kayden Fish and Jelani Hamilton.

Otzelberger’s debut season in Ames produced a 22-13 overall record, the school’s 21^st NCAA Tournament bid and sixth Sweet 16 appearance en route to a season-ending ranking of No. 23 in the coaches poll. ISU registered the third-best improvement in NCAA history, a +20-win improvement over the program’s 2020-21 record.

Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association
Boys Soccer Rankings
04/09/2023

Class 1A

1. Treynor
2. West Central Valley
3. Hudson
4. Gladbrook-Reinbeck
5. Western Christian
6. Unity Christian
7. AHSTW
8. Beckman Catholic
9. Hillcrest Academy
10. Tri-Center
11. West Branch
12. West Liberty
13. Pella Christian
14. Iowa City Regina
15. Riverside
16. DM Christian

Class 2A

1. Gilbert
2. Assumption
3. Bishop Heelan
4. Nevada
5. Knoxville
6. Center Point-Urbana
7. Harlan 
8. Greene County
9. Chariton
10. Grinnell
11. Hampton-Dumont-CAL
12. Aplington-Parkersbrug
13. Glenwood
14. Williamsburg
15. Perry
16. Independence

Class 3A

1. DM Hoover
2. ADM
3. Fort Madison
4. Humboldt
5. Dallas Center-Grimes
6. LeMars
7. Newton
8. Washington
9. Webster City
10. Marion
11. Storm Lake
12. Urbandale
13. Fairfield
14. Carlisle
15. Spencer
16. Mount Vernon

Class 4A

1. Dowling Catholic
2. CR Kennedy
3. Dubuque Senior
4. Ankeny Centennial
5. Muscatine
6. Valley
7. Pleasant Valley
8. Bettendorf
9. SC North
10. DM Roosevelt
11. Linn-Mar
12. Johnston
13. Ottumwa
14. DM East
15. CR Prairie
16. SE Polk