Murphy Qualifies for NCAA Championships

STILLWATER, Okla. – Junior Max Murphy qualified for the NCAA Championships with a ninth-place finish and a 30:27.6 mark at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Friday afternoon.

Competing in his first career 10,000-meter race and NCAA Regional event, Murphy etched his name in Iowa’s record books, using his time to climb to seventh all-time in program history. Murphy is Iowa’s first NCAA Qualifier since Nathan Mylenek in 2019. Since taking over the program in 2017, Coach Hasenbank has now sent Hawkeyes to the NCAA Championships three times (Mylenek – 2018, 2019; Murphy – 2023).

“That performance by Max was pretty special,” distance and associate head coach Randy Hasenbank said. “He has been ready to do this for some time and each time we have had a setback. It has been an up and down season for him. I think it was a relief for him and it helps validate all the work and hours spent training.”

Following the race’s first 2,000 meters, Murphy steadily pushed from 59th-place towards the front of the pack, reaching 13th by the halfway point. The Bettendorf, Iowa, native had broken the top 10 by the final 2,000 meters and was able to hold off Illinois’ Jack Roberts and Loyola’s Chris Devaney to earn the ninth-place finish.

“Today was his day,” Hasenbank said of Murphy. “He was very focused and knew the course well, since we came down here last year for this reason. He made a tactical error a year ago. He did not make that same mistake today. I am very proud of him.”

As a team, the Hawkeyes placed 12th with 368 points. Seniors Aidan King and Jack Pendergast turned in strong performances in their finale wearing the black and gold. King’s 32:14.3 was good for 74th overall, while Pendergast took 82nd with his 32:24.0. Sophomore Brayden Burnett finished his impressive season, scoring once again for the team with a 32:27.0. Senior Ian Geisler rounded out the top five for Iowa with his 32:51.4 mark.

“Overall, the men had a very good day after an up and down season,” Hasenbank added. “They came out focused and aggressive and I thought they kept their concentration through the critical stage of the race. As a result, this was definitely our best performance of the season.”

Oklahoma State used 1-2-3 finishes to claim the team title with 19 points.

The women’s 6,000-meter race kicked off the meet with the Hawkeye women taking 19th-place overall out of 32 teams.

Senior Amber Aesoph led the squad for the fourth time this season, clocking a 21:54.6 and finishing 61st overall. Fellow senior Kelli Tosic placed second among Hawkeyes, crossing the line in 22:22.3. Sophomore Jalyssa Blazek made her regional debut and scored with a time of 22:25.8. Senior Abby Ryon (22:31.7) and sophomore Aleah Tenpas (22:46.6 – PR) wrapped up the top five for Iowa.

The team averaged a time of 22:24.2 and had a spread of 0:52. Oklahoma State won the team title with 30 points, led by individual champion Billah Jepkirui (20:28.4).

UP NEXT: Junior Max Murphy will compete at the NCAA Championships in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Nov. 18. The 10,000-meter race will begin at 10:10 a.m. (CT).

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior defensive back Cooper DeJean has been selected as one of nine semifinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. The announcement was made Friday by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy, now in its 20th year, goes to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the characteristics of Ronnie Lott by making an IMPACT on and off the field. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

DeJean, who is also a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, has played nearly 400 snaps in coverage this season without giving up a touchdown. He leads the Hawkeyes in pass break-ups (4), is second in interceptions (2) and sixth in tackles (41) this season. One of his two interceptions thwarted a scoring threat in the end zone against Michigan State.

On special teams, DeJean had a 70-yard game-deciding touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Michigan State. He leads the Big Ten and ranks 14th nationally with an 11.9 punt return average and he is second nationally in punt return touchdowns.

The Odebolt, Iowa, native was a midseason first-team All-America selection by the Associated Press, The Athletic, ESPN and FOX.

Off the field, DeJean has participated in several volunteer activities, including Safe Haven of Iowa County, Special Olympics Golf Outing, CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank, Filter of Hope (Athletes in Action), UI Dance Marathon, Day of Caring, Ladies Football Academy, Senior Citizen Bingo, Wetherby Nights: Community Building Event and Houses into Homes. He also took a mission trip to Ecuador in 2022.

Former Hawkeye linebacker Josey Jewell won the Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2017.

Finalists will be invited to attend the Lott IMPACT® Trophy award show on Dec. 10, in Newport Beach, California. The university of the winner will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund while the other finalists will receive $5,000 for each of their schools.

Iowa (7-2, 4-2) returns to action Saturday, hosting Rutgers at 2:40 p.m. (CT) in Kinnick Stadium. The game will be televised on BTN.

Iowa State needs a win to stay in the Big 12 title chase as the Cyclones get ready to visit BYU under the lights. A concern for Cyclone coach Matt Campbell is BYU’s front seven on defense.

Campbell says BYU has great size up front on defense.

Injured USC transfer Kedon Slovis has been ruled out at quarterback for BYU. Junior college transfer Jake Retzlaff (rets-lawf) will get his second start after throwing for 210 yards in last week’s blow out loss at West Virginia.

Both teams are 5-4 overall.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the Hawkeyes are focused on Rutgers and not the division race. At 7-2 the Hawkeyes control their own destiny in the Big Ten West and with an offense that is a non-factor they will need to continue to find ways to win when they host the Scarlet Knights.

That’s coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa’s run defense has shined but the Rutgers combination of running back Kyle Monangai and quarterback Gavin Wimsatt is averaging nearly 185 yards on the ground.

In his second stint at Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is building a consistent winner.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Lily Huether has signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Iowa women’s golf program, it was announced Friday by head coach Megan Menzel.

Lily Huether

Tucson, Arizona

Salpointe Catholic High School

– Tied for first at the Arizona Division II State Tournament in 2022; finished third in 2023

– 2022 and 2023 Performer of the Year in Southern Arizona High School Golf

– Two-time team Most Valuable Player at Salpointe Catholic High School

– 2021 Junior Golf Association of Arizona Player of the Year

– 2020 Junior Golf Association of Arizona Sportsmanship Award recipient

– Won three tournament titles and posted six top-six finishes in the 2023 calendar year; won the Flowing Wells High School Tournament of Champions with a seven-under par 132 (68-69) and the JGAA Phoenix City (with an opening round 67) and FCG Arizona World Series

– Won four tournaments in 2022 and posted 12 top 10 showings; won the HJGT Arizona Spring Junior Open, Nota Begay Qualifier and SAJGA New Years Open

– Member of the National Honor Society and the Distinguished Honor Roll

– 2023 Ryan T. Lee Memorial Scholarship recipient

– Mother, Amy Butzer-Huether, played for the Iowa women’s golf program from 1987-89

Why Iowa?

“There are so many reasons to choose the University of Iowa. First, the University of Iowa has an outstanding reputation in both academics and athletics. The Hawkeye spirit and strong sense of community are unparalleled. Second, I chose Iowa for the exceptional coaching staff. Megan and Allison have the expertise, leadership, support, and commitment to take me to the next level in my sport. Finally, both of my parents are Iowa alums. I love the idea that I can carry on the Hawkeye traditions of excellence both on the course and in the classroom.”

Menzel on Huether

“We are excited for Lily to officially be a Hawkeye. She has worked hard and continues to elevate her game. We are looking forward to her continued growth over the next four years.  Lily was born into a Hawkeye family, and we can’t wait to welcome them all into our Iowa women’s golf family.”

AMES, Iowa – John Nuttall, an Iowa State Hall-of-Famer, Olympian and one of the school’s greatest long-distance runners, died yesterday from a heart attack. He was 56.

A native of Preston, Lancashire, England, Nuttall was already a huge success on the junior circuit before he arrived at Iowa State in 1988. He set a record in the 3,000-meter run at the English Schools Championship in Hull in 1986 with a clocking of 8:10.4, a record that remarkably still stands today.

Iowa State Hall of Fame track & field coach Bill Bergan landed the services of Nuttall where he achieved unprecedented success as a Cyclone during the program’s most prosperous period. Nuttall was a six-time All-American and eight-time Big Eight champion, helping the team win multiple Big Eight track and cross-country titles.

Nuttall was the runner-up NCAA champion four times in his illustrious career, finishing second in the 5,000-meter outdoors twice (1989, 1990) and the 3,000-meter indoors twice (1990, 1991). Nuttall’s crowning achievement as a Cyclone was in the fall of 1989. Bergan had built the Cyclone cross country team into a national power thanks to Nuttall. At the 1989 NCAA Cross Country Championship in Annapolis, Md., Nuttall crossed the finish line first (29:30.55) to claim the national title and the school’s first-ever NCAA Cross Country team championship.

Nuttall, who was inducted into Iowa State’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001, continued to excel internationally after he left Ames. He made Great Britain’s Olympic team in 1996, competing in the 5,000-meter run.

He also competed for Great Britain in the 5k in the 1993 and 1995 World Championships and won a bronze medal for England at the Commonwealth Games in 1994.

After retiring from competition, Nuttall helped support British endurance runners as a coach and mentor.

IRVING, Texas — The Big 12 will add beach volleyball and women’s lacrosse starting in 2024-25, the Conference announced today. With these additions the Conference’s total sponsored sports increases to 25, including 15 women’s sports.

“Beach volleyball and women’s lacrosse are both experiencing growth and popularity on a national level,” said Commissioner Brett Yormark.  “The additions will allow incoming and current members to compete for national championships under the Big 12 umbrella while expanding the league’s footprint across new sports.”

With the addition of four new member institutions next athletic year, the Big 12 lineup in beach volleyball will include Arizona, Arizona State, TCU and Utah.  Last season the Horned Frogs went 37-3 while making their first NCAA Semifinals appearance in program history, with Arizona closing out the campaign ranked 20^th.

Big 12 women’s lacrosse will feature Arizona State, Colorado and Cincinnati.

Participation numbers in both sports will be brought to levels that allows the Conference to qualify for national championship tournaments. Additional details surrounding beach volleyball and women’s lacrosse will come at a later date.

The Iowa State men closed the first half on a 13-0 run to blow the game open in a 102-47 win over Lindenwood as the Cyclones move to 2-0.

That’s ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger. Tamin Lipsey led the way with 21 points as the Cyclones had 52 points in the paint.

The Iowa Hawkeye women claimed a top ten showdown in Charlotte.

Rob Brooks on the Hawkeye Network. Caitlin Clark scored 44 points and the third ranked Hawkeyes held off a late rally by eighth ranked Virginia Tech for an 80-76 win in the Ally Tipoff. The Hawkeyes made only six of 26 from three-point range but finished 18 of 22 at the foul line and outrebounded the Hokies 47-40.

Kylie Feuerbach scored all eight of her points off the bench in a minute and 10 second span in the third quarter as Iowa built a 10-point advantage.

The Hawkeyes visit UNI on Sunday.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Drake women’s basketball team (2-0) overcame a messy start in their first road matchup of the season to down the defending Atlantic-10 Conference champions, Saint Louis (0-1). The Bulldogs used a dominant second quarter to oust the Billikens by a 78-66 margin.

Prior to tip off, the Billikens took their turn in celebrating a 2022-23 conference tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth with pregame ceremony.

Katie Dinnebier led Drake’s offensive effort with 18 points on the night followed by Grace Berg with 17. Berg narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds.

Kyla McMakin gave Saint Louis their first lead at 9-7 at the first media break. After the pause, Anna Brown answered a short Billiken run by completing an and-one in transition to get Drake back within two. Saint Louis eventually led 18-14 after the first period with a combined 16 turnovers in the frame.

The second quarter started with another Bulldog giveaway off the inbound, but the deficit was trimmed back to two after pair of Taylor McAulay free throws and a Courtney Becker trey. McAulay knotted the score at 20-all after a Billiken miss and forced a SLU timeout.

The Bulldogs regained the lead after the atimeout with a Berg basket, part of a 15-0 run that spanned nearly five minutes. SLU ended the rally with a three-pointer of their own. The Bulldogs outscored the Billikens 20-9 in the quarter and led 34-27 at the half.

The Billikens began the second-half scoring with a smooth McMakin fader as both teams needed a few possessions to get back into rhythm. Becker eventually buried a triple midway through the period that extended Drake’s lead to double figures. The Drake defensive pressure picked up, forcing another SLU lull, this time a 3:55 streak without a field goal.

The Bulldogs held a 12-point lead at 45-33, their largest of the game to that point, but the Billikens got back within single digits. Brown and Dinnebier answered again with a spot up three and pull-up bucket on back-to-back trips. The Drake lead grew to 16 at the end of the third quarter.

Scoring stalled to start the fourth until a pair of Billiken freebies sliced into Drake’s advantage. Brooklyn Gray canned a three to get SLU within 11 as the Billiken’s tried to get comeback going. Saint Louis kept its hopes alive by instituting a full-court press as McMakin came through with an old fashioned three-point play, shrinking the Drake advantage to 10. Gray cashed in again on back-to-back hooks to get within seven.

Drake nixed the Saint Louis resurgence with another clutch three, this time from Berg, her first make in three attempts. The sixth-year player added two free throw to force an SLU timeout with just under a minute to play. The Billikens were forced to foul down the stretch and Drake was nails from the line, clinching 78-66 win.

“It feels so good [to win on the road],” Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman said. “Credit to our team…credit to our coaching staff. We really only had one day to prep and knew they would jam the rebounds. Once we adjusted to the style of the game, we looked good on the boards. This experience is going to pay off so much.”

Next up, the Bulldogs will host their first of two-consecutive in-state rivalry games as Iowa State visits Des Moines on Sunday, Nov. 12.