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Iowa Falls to Iowa State

Sports

September 7th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

CORALVILLE, Iowa — University of Iowa volleyball fell in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series to Iowa State, 3-2, Wednesday evening inside Xtreme Arena.

Fifth year Caitlin Buettner led the way for the Hawkeyes with a season-best 23 kills and a hitting percentage of .345. Senior Delaney McSweeney posted 14 kills, and Anna Davis hit at a clip of .438. Senior setter Bailey Ortega registered 27 assists, and freshman setter Kaia Mateo followed closely behind with 24. Libero Sydney Dennis recorded a team-high 18 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

SET 1 (Iowa, 26-24): Iowa State started the match with the first point, but the Hawkeyes were quick to respond with a kill by Buettner, assisted by Ortega. Iowa continued the momentum and brought the score to 5-2. After a series of kills by Iowa State, the Hawkeye duo, Ortega and Buettner, added another point to the board. The Hawkeyes took a timeout, and came back determined with a kill and an ace. Iowa tied the set at 12, and forced the Cyclones into a timeout. The two teams battled back and forth, tying five more times, until Iowa pulled ahead with a solid kill by freshman Gabby Deery from the back row. The score stayed tight, tying at 23, after a diving dig by junior Amanda Darling, setting McSweeney up for a kill. Iowa State had the chance to end it at 23-24, but McSweeney kept the game in play. A long rally into a Hawkeye kill led Iowa State into another timeout. Iowa State attempted to stay in the game, but were shut down at the net by Buettner, McSweeney, and Deery to close out the set.

SET 2 (Iowa, 25-17): The Hawkeyes continued the momentum and took the first two points. Iowa State stopped the Iowa lead early, but the Hawkeyes did not let them get far. A kill by Anna Davis tied the set at four. Then, Darling assisted Buettner for Iowa to take the lead. At the net, McSweeney and Nataly Moravec shut down Iowa State with a block. A series of errors between the two teams led to another tie at 10. After a Buettner kill and a solo block by McSweeney, Iowa pulled ahead by two, 13-11. The set remained close, and the two teams fought to pull away, but the Hawkeyes took advantage of an Iowa State error, and forced the Cyclones to take a timeout. Four consecutive points by Iowa expanded their lead to 21-15. An impressive dig by Darling kept the ball alive for Iowa to stretch the spread to seven. Iowa State gave up a point to an error, and the Hawkeyes clinched the set.

SET 3 (Iowa State, 26-24): Iowa opened the set with a block by McSweeney and junior Michelle Urquhart on the right side. After a Cyclone timeout, Ortega and Buettner teamed up for a kill that left Iowa State unable to rally. The spread stayed close throughout the beginning of the set, until the teams tied at 10. Mateo found an open spot on the floor for a dump to keep the Hawkeyes alive. Dennis saved the ball in the back row, setting McSweeney up for an outside kill. Yet again, Ortega and Buettner paired up for an unstoppable approach, tying the set. An Iowa State block attempt that headed out of bounds gave Iowa the lead, 17-16. A couple of Cyclone kills led Iowa to take a timeout. Iowa quickly recovered the spread, taking back the lead, 21-20, after an ace by Kaia Mateo. Iowa fought to close but fell short.

SET 4 (Iowa State, 25-18): The set was tight right off the bat with kills by both teams. A long rally into a Buettner kill gave Iowa the lead, 5-3. McSweeney and Moravec went to work in the front. They each posted a kill and came together for a block. Iowa put up a fight, but Iowa State maintained a small lead. The Hawkeyes shortened the spread to two after back-to-back kills by Davis and Buettner. Davis, Moravec and McSweeney recorded kills to add points to the board for Iowa, but Iowa State broke through again, taking the set.

SET 5 (Iowa State, 15-9): Both teams exchanged kills to start the final set, tying at two. Iowa State pulled ahead, but Moravec added a kill for Iowa to earn the ball back. McSweeney laid two to the ground to lessen the spread to six. Moravec, once again, earned the ball back for Iowa with a kill assisted by Dennis. An Iowa State error put the Hawkeyes down by four. Iowa attempted to recover, but fell short and the Cyclones took the set and match.

HEAR FROM CAITLAN BUETTNER

“It’s a big honor to play in this game. We want the Hawkeyes to make a big presence, and we want to represent our school just as well as they represent (Iowa State). To play in this match, you have to keep your head on straight, and you have to lead by example. I feel like if everyone does that, then things will start going our way. We are a very skilled team; we have new skillsets and new players. I think we have to take that and run with it, and learn from all the good things that we’ve been doing in these matches, rather than focusing on the negative.”

 

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes return to Xtream Arena on Friday, Sept. 8 for the Hawkeye Invitational, facing Central Michigan for Junior Hawk Club Day. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT) on B1G+.

Posted in Sports |

IATC Cross Country Team Rankings

Sports

September 7th, 2023 by Jim Field

Here are the weekly Iowa Association of Track Coaches team rankings.

Boys 1-A
1.  ACGC
2.  Woodbine
3.  Ogden
4.  Lake Mills
5.  Bellevue
6.  Madrid
7.  Council Bluffs St. Albert
8.  Pekin
9.  Earlham
10.  Grundy Center
11.  IKM-Manning
12.  Martensdale-St. Mary’s
13.  Danville
14.  Iowa City Regina
15.  Fort Dodge St. Edmond
16.  Sibley-Ocheyedan
17.  Dyersville Beckman Catholic
18.  Tri-Center Neola
19.  Missouri Valley
20.  Van Buren County

Girls 1-A
1.  Earlham
2.  Madrid
3.  Beckman Catholic
4.  North Linn
5.  Alta-Aurelia
6.  St. Edmond
7.  South Winn
8.  IC Regina
9.  Pekin
10.  Martensdale-St. Mary’s
11.  Woodbine
12.  Central Decatur
13.  AHSTW
14.  Collins-Maxwell
15.  Grandview Christian
16.  Logan-Magnolia
17.  ACGC
18.  Boyer Valley
19.  Grundy Center
20.  Central Springs

Boys 2-A
1.  Des Moines Christian
2.  Mediapolis
3.  Okoboji
4.  Mid-Prairie
5.  Waukon
6.  Chariton
7.  Denver
8.  Oelwein
9.  Clarinda
10.  Williamsburg
11.  Tipton
12.  Spirit Lake
13.  Pella Christian
14.  Forest City
15.  Garner HV
16.  Jesup
17.  Sioux Central
18.  Monticello
19.  East Marshall
20.  Albia

Girls 2-A
1.  Mid-Prairie Wellman
2.  Albia
3.  Monticello
4.  Denver
5.  Tipton
6.  Unity Christian
7.  Sumner Fredericksburg
8.  Des Moines Christian
9.  Van Meter
10.  Hudson
11.  Sioux Central, Sioux Rapids
12.  Clarinda
13.  Jesup
14.  Union, LaPorte City
15.  Okoboji
16.  Cherokee
17.  Williamsburg
18.  George Little Rock – Central Lyon
19.  Forest City
20.  Pella Christian

Boys 3-A
1.  Pella
2.  Gilbert
3.  Lewis Central
4.  Mount Vernon-Lisbon
5.  Carlisle
6.  Winterset
7.  Washington
8.  Glenwood
9.  Solon
10.  Clear Creek-Amana
11.  Central DeWitt
12.  ADM Adel
13.  Sioux Center
14.  MOC-Floyd Valley
15.  Center Point-Urbana
16.  South Tama
17.  Marion
18.  North Polk
19.  Fort Madison
20.  Nevada

Girls 3-A
1.  Pella
2.  Gilbert
3.  Ballard
4.  ADM, Adel
5.  Clear Creek-Amana
6.  Mount Vernon-Lisbon
7.  Solon
8.  Glenwood
9.  Harlan
10.  Bishop Heelan, Sioux City
11.  Center Point-Urbana
12.  Clear Lake
13.  Washington
14.  Marion
15.  MOC-Floyd Valley
16.  Waverly-Shell Rock
17.  Sioux Center
18.  Atlantic
19.  Lewis Central
20.  Assumption, Davenport

Boys 4-A
1.  Cedar Falls
2.  Johnston
3.  Dowling Catholic, WDM
4.  Norwalk
5.  Valley, WDM
6.  Urbandale
7.  Waukee, Northwest
8.  Ankeny
9.  Dubuque, Hempstead
10.  Cedar Rapids Kennedy
11.  Pleasant Valley
12.  Dallas Center-Grimes
13.  Iowa City, Liberty
14.  Dubuque, Senior
15.  Ankeny Centennial
16.  Prairie, Cedar Rapids
17.  Indianola
18.  Bettendorf
19.  Linn-Mar, Marion
20.  Waukee

Girls 4-A
1.  Johnston
2.  Dubuque Hempstead
3.  Pleasant Valley
4.  Dubuque Senior
5.  Ankeny
6.  Ankeny Centennial
7.  West Des Moines Valley
8.  Waukee
9.  Ames
10.  Iowa City, City High
11.  Dallas Center-Grimes
12.  Waukee Northwest
13.  Indianola
14.  Dowling Catholic
15.  Cedar Falls
16.  Southeast Polk
17.  Linn-Mar
18.  Cedar Rapids Prairie
19.  Iowa City Liberty
20.  Iowa City West

Posted in Sports |

Atlantic City Council Begins Elimination of P & R Board

News

September 7th, 2023 by Jim Field

Wednesday night, the Atlantic city council began the process of eliminating the Park & Recreation Board.

The council voted 6-1 passing the first reading of the ordinance that would dissolve the publicly-elected board and replace it with an advisory committee.

Fourth Ward council member Linda Hartkopf was the only “No” vote.  The measure will need to be approved two more times to make it official.

The council also unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that would create the advisory Committee.

If the council follows through on the plan, a new five-person committee would be formed, with three of the members being Atlantic residents, two other being Cass County residents and a one high school student who would be a non-voting member.

Posted in News |

Ernst not concerned about minority leader’s health

News

September 7th, 2023 by Jim Field

Concerns about aging members of Congress and the president were raised again after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky froze while speaking to reporters last week. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says elected officials are expected to be able to handle the duties they were elected to carry out.

Ernst says McConnell was checked out no evidence of seizure, Parkinson’s or stroke was found.

Ernst says she met with McConnell Tuesday evening.

Ernst says the national media keeps focusing on McConnell, but not President Biden’s failures. It was the second time McConnell had frozen up while speaking in the past two months.

Posted in News |

Iowa harvest will be starting very soon due to drought conditions, mature crops

News

September 7th, 2023 by Jim Field

The harvest season will likely start in northern Iowa within a week to ten days, according to Angie Rieck Hinz (REEK HINES), a field agronomist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. With the hot temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions we’ve had lately, she says the crops matured much more quickly than expected, and those dry conditions may lead to a much greater risk during the harvest.

As farmers prepare for the big job ahead, Rieck Hinz says they’d be wise to make a checklist, one that includes fire safety.

At least seven Iowa counties have active burn bans in place due to continued drought conditions: Buchanan, Delaware, Fayette, Greene, Grundy, Hancock and Worth.

Posted in News |

Critics dominate public hearing about shrinking number of Iowa boards and commissions

News

September 7th, 2023 by Jim Field

Nearly 70 people have weighed in during a public hearing about a
proposal to streamline state licensing and either consolidate or eliminate about 100 state boards and commissions. West Virginia University economics professor Edwin Timmons told the panel considering the changes that Iowa requires a license or certification for too many professions and it limits job opportunities for low income Iowans.

Samantha Groark (GROH-ark), executive director of the Central Iowa Construction Trades Council, represents 15-thousand licensed tradesmen and women.

Elevator manufacturers and people who operate boiler systems that heat major facilities like public buildings and factories say proposed changes in the boards that oversee their professions threaten public safety. Pete Hird is secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Federation of Labor.

Iowans have until September 17th to submit written public comments about the proposed changes. A review committee set up by the government reorganization bill Governor Reynolds signed this year has until September 30th to draft a final set of recommendations. During Wednesday’s public hearing at the statehouse, licensed psychologists, social workers and chiropractors objected eliminating boards that oversee their professions and shifting that oversight to other boards. An advisory council created by bill that became law this summer may be on the chopping block. Bethany Gates of the Iowa Midwives Association says it’s a setback for midwives who planned to apply for a license.

Others warned elimination of the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and revoking Iowa’s membership in a regional higher education board will cost the state millions in federal funding. Court reporters say the plan eliminates certification for their profession. Representatives of the state’s 11-hundred licensed athletic trainers say the plan eliminates their state licensing board and a different board may eliminate or downgrade the professional requirements for athletic trainers. Vic Miller, president of the Iowa Athletic Trainers Society, says any changes would greatly affect his ability to travel with the men’s basketball team at Iowa State University.

Andy Conlin, an Iowa based lobbyist who represents the Foundation for Public Accountability, says an overall review of state licensing requirements is long overdue.

The review committee is also considering repeal of the state law that requires boards and commissions at all levels of government to have as close to an equal number of men and women as possible. Laura D’Agostino (dag-uh-STEE-noh), an attorney with a California non-profit, says the committee and Governor Reynolds should ensure all Iowans are treated equally.

Iowans who testified at the hearing denounced the idea. Katherine Farris, the Iowa co-president of the American Federation of University Women, says in 1987, Iowa led the nation in passing a gender equity law applying to state boards and commissions and it was extended to local boards in 2009.

Iowa law lets state and local officials who’ve made a good faith effort for 90 days to ignore the gender balance requirement — and there’s gender balance on two-thirds of boards and commissions today. In January, Governor Reynolds told Radio Iowa the best people for government boards are those who have a passion for the work and she’s never felt good about the gender balance law. As a state senator, she voted against expanding the requirement to local government boards and commissions.

Posted in News |

South Dakota officials reject Navigator’s pipeline permit

News

September 7th, 2023 by Jim Field

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has unanimously rejected Navigator C-O-2’s application to build a carbon capture pipeline in South Dakota.

Navigator is one of three companies with plans to build carbon pipelines in the Midwest. South Dakota regulators held public hearings on the company’s route through their state in late July and early August, then unanimously voted yesterday (Wednesday) to reject Navigator’s application for a construction permit. The head of South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission cited concerns about Navigator’s notices to property owners along the proposed pipeline route. Navigator had objected to county ordinances restricting how close the pipeline could be built near homes, schools and other structures, but South Dakota utility regulators have also refused to override those county regulations. A written statement from the company says Navigator remains committed to responsible infrastructure development and will evaluate the written decision from South Dakota regulators before deciding what to do next.

The Iowa Utilities Board hearing about the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline continues today (Thursday) in Fort Dodge with more testimony from witnesses who support the project. Landowners who oppose Summit’s pipeline testified over the past two weeks. The permit hearing for Summit’s route in SOUTH DAKOTA is scheduled to begin Monday. In early August, regulators in NORTH Dakota rejected Summit’s construction permit and the company has altered its route in North Dakota in response to concerns about it’s proximity to Bismarck and is asking North Dakota’s Public Service Commission to reconsider the application.

Posted in News |

Skyscan Forecast for Thursday, September 7, 2023

Weather

September 7th, 2023 by Jim Field

Today: Widespread haze before 8am. Sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming northeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3:00 am and 4:00 am, then a slight chance of showers. Increasing clouds, with a low around 57. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Posted in Weather |

ELAINE M. JORGENSEN, 79, of Audubon (9-11-2023)

Obituaries

September 7th, 2023 by Jim Field

ELAINE M. JORGENSEN, 79, of Audubon died Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at the Friendship Home in Audubon.  Funeral services for ELAINE M. JORGENSEN will be held on Monday, September 11, 2023 at 10:30 am at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon.  Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon is assisting the family.

————————————————————————

The family will meet with friends Sunday from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm at the funeral home.

Burial in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

ELAINE M. JORGENSEN is survived by:

Husband:  Dan Jorgensen of Audubon

Daughter:  Judi (Todd) Roland of Waukee

Sons:  Chris (Sara) Jorgensen of Ankeny and Brad (Jennifer) Jorgensen of Carroll

Brothers and Sisters:  Sharon Tisue of Sumner; Dave (Pat) Rieck of Iowa City; Arlin (Marcia) Rieck of Sumner; Gary (Jan) Rieck of Waverly; Tom (June) Rieck of Fredericksburg; Kevin Rieck of New Hampton

Sisters-in-law:  Jeanne Rieck of Ames; Mary Kelley and Rosie Dale, both of Audubon.

9 Grandchildren

Posted in Obituaries |

McClear Defends ANF Fall Classic Title

Sports

September 6th, 2023 by Asa Lucas

RIVERSIDE, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s golf team placed second at the ANF Fall Classic on Wednesday. Fifth year senior Mac McClear won the tournament for the second year in a row after shooting a 67 (-5) in the final round of the tournament. McClear played the final two rounds of the tourney at 10-under par.

Despite the chilly morning at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course, McClear carried his momentum from the second round over into the final round. McClear birdied eight of nine holes including making six birdies in a row. McClear opened his final round with a birdie putt to cut his deficit to two strokes. McClear took the outright lead on hole 15 and never looked back. McClear has now won six tournaments as a Hawkeye and tied a school record. (Lonnie Nelson, 1976)

At the turn of the final round, the Hawkeyes had four golfers ranked in the top-25 of the standings. McClear was in a tie for first at 11-under par, Noah Kent was in a tie for 12th at even par, Hogan Hansen was in a tied for 17th at 2-over par, and Josh Lundmark was tied for 19th at 3-over par.

Lundmark, Ian Meyer, and Max Tjoa tied for 34th place with a 225 (+9). All three competed individually.

Cale Leonard also competed individually. Leonard finished tied for 25th after carding a 73 (+1) today.

Felipe Pedraza withdrew from the tournament after the second round.

IOWA SCORECARD 

2          Team                           283      290      289      -2         862

1          Mac McClear              70        67        67        -12       204

T11      Noah Kent        70        73        73        +1        217

T16      Hogan Hansen     71       74        74        +3        219

T34      Max Tjoa                    71        78        76        +9        225

T41      Callum Macfie            75        76        75        +10      226

25        Cale Leonard*            72        76        73        +5        221

T34      Josh Lundmark*         72        76        77        +9        225

T34      Ian Meyer*                 74        74        77        +9        225

WD      Felipe Pedraza*         73        91        –           +20      –

*Competing individually

HEAR FROM MAC McCLEAR 

“The first twenty-seven holes weren’t very good. I hung in there though. I am proud of how I handled myself and was able to fight through the bad shots and still end up winning. It’s always good to come out on top.”

HAWKEYE NOTABLES 

  • Mac McClear tied a school record, previously set by Lonnie Nelson in 1976, for most wins as a Hawkeye with six.
  • Mac McClear led all individuals in par breakers with 17 birdies.

UP NEXT 

The Hawkeyes travel to Chicago, Illinois, to compete in the Chicago Highlands Collegiate tournament hosted by Wake Forest. The tournament will take place from Sept. 18th-19th.

Posted in Sports |