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Hawkeyes Earn 6 Indoor All-Big Ten Finishes

Sports

February 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

GENEVA, Ohio – University of Iowa Track and Field closed the Big Ten Indoor Championships with six All-Big Ten finishes this weekend at Spire Academy.

The Hawkeyes earned five second-place finishes on Saturday. The women’s team placed third with 73 points, matching the highest finish in program history. The men’s team finished sixth with 58 points.

In the men’s heptathlon, senior Austin West posted a personal-best 5,975 points, good for a silver medal and the sixth-best total in the country this season.

West posted personal records in three of seven events, including the pole vault (4.40 meters) and 1,000-meter race (2:32.65) on Saturday. West was victorious in the heptathlon 1,000 meters. He competed alongside teammate Sal Capaldo, who placed sixth overall with a personal-best 5,276 points.

In the women’s 60-meter hurdles, senior Paige Magee finished second with a time of 8.01. Magee finished just five-thousandths of a second behind Michigan’s Aasia Laurencin. Teammate Tionna Tobias took fifth with a time of 8.31.

Senior Kalen Walker earned silver in the men’s 60 meters, running 6.61. Senior Joe Stein also placed in the event, taking seventh (6.78).

In the women’s 600 meters, redshirt sophomore Chloe Larsen ran 1:28.66 to finish second. Sophomore Gabby Cortez was close behind in third place (1:29.22).

Magee also took third place in the women’s 200 meters (23.64) racing alongside junior Lia Love (23.89).

Magee closed out the day as part of a 3:34.29 performance in the women’s 4×400-meter relay that now ranks 7th in program history. Magee joined teammates Audrey Biermann, Ali Dorn, and Nylah Perry in the effort, which was good for a runner-up finish.

Elsewhere, senior Alli Bookin-Nosbisch finished the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:05.55 for third place, and senior Kat Moody threw 16.76 meters (55’ 0”) for fourth place in the shot put.

HEAR FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD JOEY WOODY 
“I was really proud of how the women came out and competed today, especially. We didn’t have a great first day overall as a team. I thought we got the momentum going last night a little with the DMR. Then, they came out and really got after it today. They knew their backs were against the wall. They had to compete the best that they could to actually be one of the top three teams, and I thought they did a tremendous job all the way through. I was really excited for how the women competed.

“I thought both 4×4 teams competed well at the end of the meet. The good thing is that this will leave a sour taste in our mouth, because we expect more. Our women, I thought, had the team to win a championship this weekend. The good thing is, having a sour taste in our mouths when we place third definitely shows that we have something big on the horizon. I think we can get it done in the outdoor season. The men’s team just didn’t have the athletes available that we needed to do what we expected to do. I am still proud of how the guys competed.

“This league is getting tougher every championship, and it just shows what it takes to win. We have got to have everybody competing. You can’t have all our best athletes sitting at home. We have a lot that are at home who we need to show up during outdoor season and contribute.”

UP NEXT 
The Hawkeyes compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, from March 6-9.  

Posted in Sports |

400 Freestyle Relay Posts Program’s 2nd-Fastest Mark

Sports

February 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – University of Iowa Swimming and Diving posted the program’s second-fastest time in the 400 Freestyle relay at the Big Ten Championships inside the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center on Saturday evening.

Sabina Kupcova, Jenna Kerr, Olivia Swalley and Scarlet Martin clocked a 3:19.26 to skyrocket to second all-time at Iowa. Additionally, Kupcova’s leadoff leg of 50.14 moved her to fourth in school history.

The relay team reached the podium and placed eighth.

“We are so proud of this team,” head coach Nathan Mundt said. “Overall at this year’s championships, our team scored 303 points compared to 198 last year. We have seen significant improvement and continue to get better one day at a time. Our 400 free relay capped off the meet in exciting fashion, placing eighth overall to earn a spot on the podium. We narrowly missed the school record. We are excited for the future.”

The Hawkeyes wrapped up the competition with five finalists on Saturday. Diver Geneva Pauly earned Iowa’s highest placing, clinching a B final appearance in the platform diving competition. Pauly would ultimately finish 13th after ripping multiple dives and tallying 222.25 points.

The Hawkeyes double dipped in the C final of the 200 backstroke and were represented by senior Kennedy Gilbertson and junior Annie Galvin. Gilbertson and Galvin clocked sub-2:00 times in the finals, with Gilbertson touching the wall in 1:57.65 and Galvin finishing in 1:58.65. The duo placed 18th and 22nd, respectively.

Martin placed in the top 20 in the 200 butterfly, swimming a 1:59.64. The Iowa City, Iowa, native would claim 19th overall.

Swalley concluded a strong debut at the Big Ten Championships, finding herself in another final. This time, Swalley qualified for the C final of the 200 breaststroke and earned 22nd place (2:15.06).

In the long distance 1,650 freestyle event, the Hawkeyes notched personal bests from Kerr (16:37.01), Olivia Frantum (17:06.78) and Meredith O’Malley (17:26.64).

Iowa returns to competition with the NCAA Zone Diving event March 11-13 in Houston, Texas. Days later, the Hawkeyes are scheduled to compete at the CSCAA National Invitational from March 14-16 in Ocala, Florida.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
100 Freestyle prelims
27. Sabina Kupcova – 50.38
43. Molly Pedersen – 51.70
48. Josie Hood – 51.97
53. Megan Hartlieb – 54.03
Exh. Madison Stone – 53.48

200 Backstroke prelims
20. Annie Galvin – 1:59.67, C Finalist qualifier
24. Kennedy Gilbertson – 2:00.57, C Finalist qualifier
27. Hope Schimming – 2:02.07
30. Addie Crain – 2:07.98
Exh. Anna Pfeiffer – 2:06.05

200 Backstroke finals
18. Kennedy Gilbertson – 1:57.65
22. Annie Galvin – 1:58.65

200 Breaststroke prelims
21. Olivia Swalley – 2:15.72, C Finalist qualifier
Exh. Meredith O’Malley – 2:30.45

200 Breaststroke finals
22. Olivia Swalley – 2:15.06

200 Butterfly prelims
20. Scarlet Martin – 2:00.76, C Finalist qualifier
31. Mallory Kell – 2:05.89
32. Leslie Wendel – 2:08.59
33. Olivia Asay – 2:10.42

200 Butterfly finals
19. Scarlet Martin – 1:59.64

1,650 Freestyle
19. Jenna Kerr – 16:37.01, PR
22. Alix O’Brien – 16:53.30
27. Olivia Frantum – 17:06.78, PR
Exh. Meredith O’Malley – 17:26.64, PR

400 Freestyle Relay
8. Kupcova, Kerr, Swalley, Gilbertson – 3:19.26
Kupcova – 50.14 leadoff leg 4th at Iowa (100 Free)

Platform Dive prelims
14. Geneva Pauly – 215.20, B Final qualifier
30. Simone Beinlich – 179.20

Platform Dive finals
13. Geneva Pauly – 222.25

Posted in Sports |

Muñoz Shines at Big Five

Sports

February 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. – The University of Iowa gymnastics team posted a team score of 196.225 on Saturday evening inside of Rec Hall, defeating No. 30 Maryland and finishing fourth overall in the meet.

No. 11 Michigan finished in first place with a 197.500 followed by No. 21 Illinois (196.850) and No. 22 Penn State (196.775). The GymHawks finished in front of 30th-ranked Maryland (195.100).

Sophomore Karina Muñoz led the way for the Hawkeyes, delivering an outstanding all-around performance scoring a career-high 39.550 and finishing third in the all-around. The New Jersey native had two second place finishes on bars and beam. Junior Ilka Juk took home the beam title, scoring a near-perfect 9.925.

FLOOR

The GymHawks posted a 49.325 in the floor rotation. Pennsylvania native Alyse Karenbauer started the meet off strong for the Hawkeyes, earning a 9.850. Hanna Castillo continued the momentum posting a 9.875 and matching her season best. Reigning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Eva Volpe, had a strong floor routine earning a 9.725. Muñoz added another 9.875 to the board for Iowa. Emily Erb had posted the best score of the night on floor for Iowa securing a 9.900. Bailey Libby provided another strong performance in the anchor position scoring a 9.825.

VAULT

In the third rotation of the meet, the Hawkeyes posted a team score of 48.975 on vault. Avery Chambersbegan the rotation for Iowa and recorded a 9.800. Sophomore Gianna Masella and Volpe each registered a 9.800 on the apparatus. Muñoz, in the anchor position, landed a 9.825 to close out the event for Iowa.

BARS

The GymHawks recorded a team score of 48.575 on bars. Muñoz led the way for Iowa in the anchor position, sticking a career high 9.950. Masella added a 9.825 to the board for the Hawkeyes, and Volpe posted a 9.775.

BEAM

In their final event of the evening, Iowa recorded a team score of 49.350 on the beam. Volpe, in the leadoff position, posted a solid 9.825.Juklanded an impressive routine scoring a 9.925, surpassing her previous season high. Senior Aubrey Nick and junior Marissa Rojas added back-to-back 9.850s for the Hawkeyes. Muñoz ended the rotation by sticking a near perfect routine, scoring a 9.900.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH LARISSA LIBBY

“Karina has proven that she is a great competitor, but tonight she was the catalyst, the burst of energy that came at exactly the right time.  I was so happy to see her gymnastics rewarded as she pretty much does the same thing week in and week out. Tonight the judges saw the “something special” that we’ve seen all along! I am Incredibly proud of her and really the entire team.”

UP NEXT

The GymHawks will travel to Sacramento, Calif. to face Sacramento State on Sunday, March 3. Action inside of The Nest will begin at 3 p.m. CT.

Posted in Sports |

Hawkeyes Sweep Dolphins in Doubleheader

Sports

February 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The University of Iowa softball team swept a doubleheader against the Jacksonville on Saturday afternoon on day two of the UNF-Jacksonville Invitational. The Hawkeyes took game one, 5-3, before clinching the day with a, 4-1, win in the nightcap.

Sophomore Jalen Adams got the start in game one and picked up her third win of the season going five innings allowing three runs on seven hits and struck out three Dolphins hitters. Freshman Jaylee Ojo picked her first save of her career, tallying five strikeouts in two innings of work.

Seven different Hawkeyes had an RBI on the day led by senior Grace Banes who had two hits, two RBIs and one run scored. Junior Rylie Moss picked up three hits in the doubleheader with one RBI and one run scored.

Junior Devyn Greer had a strong outing in game two with 5.2 innings of work allowing one run and struck out three. Junior Haley Downe picked up her first career win going 1.1 innings to close out the comeback win over Jacksonville.

Iowa was able to capitalize on nine Dolphin errors in the two games.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1 

Freshman Devin Bowman was able to make the first sound for the Hawkeyes in the top of the third with a hard-hit single through the left side to score freshman Tory Bennett. Iowa looked to end a Jacksonville threat in the home half of the fourth throwing out a runner at home, but the call was overturned due to obstruction to allow the Dolphins to tie the game at one.

JU took the lead, 3-1, in the fifth after a few Iowa miscues. Adams was able to work her way out of the inning with a strikeout stranding two Dolphins baserunners.

The Hawkeye bats came to life in the top of the sixth as they plated four runs on four hits. Banes got the scoring started with a single to rightfield to two. Moss brought home another run on a sac fly and freshman Jena Young provided an insurance run on an RBI single to make it 5-3.

Ojo entered in relief to start the sixth inning and worked around two baserunners and recorded three strikeouts.

Despite JU being able to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh Ojo shut the door striking out the final batter to secure the win.

Iowa finished the game with five runs on five hits with no errors. The Dolphins were held to three runs on nine hits and had four errors.

Game 2 

Greer had a strong start once again for the Hawkeyes. Jacksonville opened the scoring in the bottom of the third taking the, 1-0, lead on an RBI single. Iowa responded in the top of the fourth with an RBI from Bennett to tie the game at one.

Both teams were able to scatter a few hits through the next two innings. The Hawkeyes poured on the runs in the top of the seventh. Downe got her first at bat of 2024 and laid down sac bunt to move Bennett into scoring position. Freshman Soo-Jin Berry kept things going with an RBI single up the middle to bring in Bennett. Senior Brylee Klosterman closed out the inning with a sac fly scoring Berry and Young after an error by the JU left fielder to make it, 4-1.

Jacksonville managed to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh but were held to just one run as Downe closed out the game.

Iowa finished the game with four runs on seven hits with one error. The Dolphins were held to two runs on five hits and had five errors.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE

“Coming away with two wins today is big, especially after having games rained out for our last three game days. I am proud of how the team stayed composed throughout the games when things weren’t necessarily going our way. A key thing is to make sure we control the things we can control within our circle and with that we will find success the rest of the season.”

NOTABLES

  • All nine of the Hawkeyes runs on the day were unearned.
  • Senior Sammy Diaz has reached base in the last five games.
  • Downe has picked up her first career save and win through nine games.
  • Freshman Berry and Bowman picked up their team-leading seventh and sixth RBIs, respectively.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes return to action today (Sunday Feb. 25) for the final day of the UNF-JU Invitational. They will face Harvard at 9 a.m. CT at the UNF Softball Complex. Iowa will close out action in Florida facing UNF at 11:30 a.m. in a make-up game from Friday. Both games will be broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Victor Anderson on the call.

Posted in Sports |

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024

Weather

February 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 37. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 7 mph after midnight.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Breezy, with a southwest wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Windy, with a south wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north northwest 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.
Tuesday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 9pm, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. Windy.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 58. The Low was 15. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 41 and the Low was 9. The Record High for Feb. 25th was 70 degrees, set in 1995. The Record Low was -14, in 2010. Sunrise: 7:01. Sunset: 6:05.

Posted in Weather |

SANDRA KAY (Kopeska) SMITH, 79, of Weeping Water, NE. (Celebration of Life 2/26/24)

Obituaries

February 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

SANDRA KAY (Kopeska) SMITH, 79, of Weeping Water, NE., died Dec. 29, 2023 at Bergan-Mercy Medical Center, in Omaha. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for SANDRA K. SMITH will be be held 10:30-a.m. Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, at the First Lutheran Church North Branch, in Avoca, Nebraska. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon has the arrangements.

Burial is in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

SANDRA K. SMITH is survived by:

Her daughters – Wendy (Robert) Trinh, of San Jose, CA., and Sandy (Jim) Kluver, of Bronson, IA.

3 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

Posted in Obituaries |

EDWARD “Ed’ DANIELS, 81, of Atlantic (No Services planned)

Obituaries

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

EDWARD “Ed’ DANIELS, 81, of Atlantic, died Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Heritage House in Atlantic. Per his wishes, a cremation for ED DANIELS is to take place at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, and n services are scheduled at this time.

EDWARD “Ed’ DANIELS is survived by:

His wife – Juliann Daniels, of Atlantic.

His son – David (Kathleen) Daniels, of St. Louis, MO.

His daughter – Mary (Edward) Laird, of Lombard, IL.

and four grandchildren.

Posted in Obituaries |

Eagle Grove P.D. investigate shooting incident

News

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Posted in News |

JOHN LEE BLEVINS, 86, of Atlantic (Svcs. Pending)

Obituaries

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

JOHN LEE BLEVINS, 86, of Atlantic, died Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. Services for JOHN BLEVINS are pending. Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic is handling the arrangements.

Posted in Obituaries |

Adair County & Guthrie County Implements Burning Ban

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – A burning ban will be in place for Adair County and Guthrie County starting Saturday February 24, 2024. The ban prohibits open burning in Adair County and Guthrie County, including all the cities within the counties.
The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in fire responses throughout Adair and Guthrie County. As dry conditions and winds persist, dead and drying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly.

Adair County Burn Ban Proclamation 02-24-2024

Guthrie County Burn Ban Proclamation 02-24-2024

Emergency Management Deputy Coordinator Jeremy Cooper says “Adair and Guthrie County Fire Departments have seen the effects of fires in extreme conditions, and they want to do everything they can to help mitigate life threatening incidents from occurring. These Fire Departments are volunteer departments and are responding to calls that pull them from their everyday life and work and becomes very taxing on those volunteers. We have been in a drought for over 4 years and conditions just have not been improving much. We have experienced an abnormal winter with really only one major snow event that really didn’t help with the overall moisture levels. Hopefully in the coming weeks things will improve and start greening up, it’s just not common to have a Burn Ban this time of year.”

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban. Small recreational campfires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fireplace of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any campfire not in an outdoor fireplace or left unattended is prohibited. Fire Departments will still be able to proceed with their scheduled controlled burns of CRP land and citizens can also obtain a burn permit from their local Fire Chief, if the Chief approves such a request and signs the permit.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban. For more information on burn bans and the law or to check the current status of burn bans statewide on the State Fire Marshal’s statewide burn ban website: https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions/state-fire-marshal/burn-bans.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |