A pair of number ones collide to open the high school football season as 3A top ranked Harlan vists 4A top rated Lewis Central. Harlan is coming off a second consecutive 3A state title.

That’s Harlan coach Todd Bladt. The Cyclones graduated a large senior class from last season.

The leader on offense is receiver Cade Sears. He had 46 catches and 15 touchdowns last season.

Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker credits consistency with the Hawkeye’s continued success on defense. Parker is entering his 25th season on the Iowa staff and his 13th as defensive coordinator.

Iowa gave up only a little more than 13 points per game last season and that unit looks strong once again. Parker says it is based on sound fundamentals and limiting mistakes.

Parker says the Hawkeyes have played a similar style of defense for several years.

With a season under his belt Xavier Nwankpa could have a breakout season at safety. Nwankpa stepped into the lineup in a Music City Bowl victory over Kentucky after Kaevon Merriweather opted out and returned an interception for a touchdown.

Nwankpa says as a sophomore he is a much better player.

The Hawkeyes open at home on September second against Utah State.

The Northwestern College football team opens the season top ranked in the NAIA preseason poll. Coach Matt McCarty’s team is the defending national champion.

McCarty says they are not talking about defending their title.

Several key starters return for the Red Raiders.

Eight starters return to form a veteran defense.

The Red Raiders open the season on September second at Concordia of Nebraska.

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State softball program has finalized its 2023 fall schedule, head coach Jamie Pinkerton announced. The Cyclones’ fall slate includes eight contests, six of which are at the Cyclone Sports Complex, over the span of three weeks.

ISU will begin its fall ball against DMACC on Wednesday, Sept. 20. The Cyclones will then host a pair of teams for a Sunday round-robin on Sept. 24 as both NIACC and North Dakota come to Ames.

The Cyclones close out the month of September with home matches against Drake (9/29) and Iowa (9/30) and begin October with UNI (10/1). The “Big Four” Iowa colleges will all compete against each other in Ames from 9/29-10/1.

Iowa State concludes the fall schedule with a trip to Minneapolis to face both North Dakota State and Minnesota on Oct. 8.

All home matchups are available to attend and free of charge.

Fall Schedule 

9/20              DMACC vs Iowa State                 4 p.m.           Ames, Iowa

9/24              North Dakota vs Iowa State         10 a.m.         Ames, Iowa

NIACC vs North Dakota               12:30 p.m.    Ames, Iowa

NIACC vs Iowa State                   3 p.m.           Ames, Iowa

9/29              Drake vs Iowa State                    4 p.m.           Ames, Iowa

9/30              Drake vs UNI                              11 a.m.         Ames, Iowa

Iowa vs Iowa State                      2 p.m.           Ames, Iowa

10/1              Drake vs Iowa                             11 a.m.         Ames, Iowa

UNI vs Iowa State                       2 p.m.           Ames, Iowa

10/8              Iowa State vs Minnesota              12 p.m.         Minneapolis, Minn.

Iowa State vs NDSU                    2 p.m.           Minneapolis, Minn.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa women’s wrestling and volleyball have teamed up to help support the people of Hawaii that have lost everything in the fire through a donation drive.

Makawao, Hawaii, native, Nanea Estrella from women’s wrestling spearheaded an online donation drive through Sept. 6 to help the people where she grew up.

“My home and community have faced a tragedy, but it means so much to me that my new community in Iowa is stepping up and helping out in every way they can,” Estrella said. “Thank you, Iowa Athletics and Hawkeye fans!”

Online donations can be made through the link at the top on the page and physical items can be dropped off at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and Iowa Book and Supply.

“One of our own was directly impacted by the fires in Lahaina and it means so much that the University of Iowa and the athletic department is supporting the efforts to give back to the community that was devastated,” Iowa head women’s wrestling coach Clarissa Chun said. “It shows a strong sense of community beyond just athletics here at Iowa, and it makes me proud to be a Hawkeye.”

The Iowa volleyball program joined Estrella’s efforts by accepting donations at Xtream Arena during Fryfest on Sept. 1 and before its home opener against Middle Tennessee State at 6 p.m. (CT).

“We hope Hawkeye Nation will join us in sending support to Hawaii,” Iowa volleyball head coach Jim Barnes said. “We have strong connections with the people from that area and want to send our support to them to assist in their recovery process. Please, join us.”

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says defensive tackle Noah Shannon has been suspended for the season as part of a gambling investigation. Shannon announced in July he was skipping Big Ten Media Days due to his involvement in the probe.

Ferentz says Iowa officials will appeal Shannon’s suspension.

The Hawkeyes open the season at home on September second against Utah State.

AMES, Iowa – After a 2-0 opening week which saw Iowa State down both Arizona and Northern Colorado, the Cyclones will look to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2013 when they travel to Iowa City and kick off the 2023 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series against the Hawkeyes. Thursday’s match is set to start at 8 p.m. and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.

The Cyclones’ 2-0 record is the school’s best start to a season since 2015, as ISU will look to build on a hot start out of the gates against Iowa. Thursday’s game against Iowa is the second part of a three-game road stretch for the Cyclones after downing UNCO. ISU concludes road action at South Dakota State this Sunday, August 27.

The Cyclones moved to 2-0 behind a balanced offensive effort as well as a stout defense. Part of that stout defense is redshirt freshman goalkeeper Avery Gillahan, who earlier today was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for her opening two performances.

The Matchup: Iowa State (2-0) at Iowa (2-0)

Where: Iowa Soccer Complex // Iowa City, Iowa

When: August 24 – 8 p.m. CT

Watch: Big Ten Plus

Live Stats: cyclones.com

From the Notebook 

• The Cyclones are 2-0 for just the eighth time in program history.
• An Iowa State win would tie the program’s largest win streak over Iowa as they look to stack back-to-back wins after last year’s 2-1 victory.
• Mira Emma was the difference in Iowa State’s last matchup – a 1-0 win over Northern Colorado – as she buried a PK past the UNCO goalkeeper to put the Cyclones in front.
• Of the 19 Cyclones who have seen playing time this season, eight competed in their first action as a Cyclone this past week.
• After program legend Jordan Silkowitz was drafted into the NWSL, a new face took the net for the Cyclones this past week, as Avery Gillahan handled goalkeeping responsibilities.

Leading the Cyclones 

A trio of Cyclone seniors have goals to their name this season as Salomé Prat and Abigail Miller each notched a goal in the season-opening win over Arizona, while Mira Emma was the difference against Northern Colorado, scoring off a penalty kick. Emma also has an assist to her name, giving her a team-high three points on the year. The only other Cyclone with a point is another senior, Alex Campana, who transferred in from Marquette.

Three Cyclones have played all 180 minutes of action so far on the year as defenders Chloe Broughton and Hanna Reid have done so, along with Gillahan in the net. Gillahan’s early season play has helped ISU to its 2-0 start as the redshirt freshman allowed just one goal across the two matches, tallying three saves and earning her first career clean sheet against Northern Colorado.

Scouting Iowa 

Off to its own 2-0 start, Iowa has also scored three goals across two matches. The Hawkeyes have seen Elle Otto, Josie Durr and Meike Ingles put points on the board. Otto leads the team in points with three, having also tallied an assist, while Kenzie Rolling leads the team in assists with a pair of dimes.

On the defensive side, Iowa goalkeeper Macy Enneking has yet to allow a goal this season, blanking both UMKC and FGCU. Enneking and Samantha Cary are the lone Hawkeyes to have played in all 180 minutes of action so far this season.

Series History 

Iowa State and Iowa will meet for the 25th time on Thursday as part of a series that started back in 1997. The Hawkeyes hold the all-time advantage at 14-8-2, but the two teams have split the last four meetings. Under Matt Fannon, Iowa State is 1-1 against Iowa, as the 2020 contest wasn’t played due to COVID. The Cyclones have claimed just two victories in Iowa City, with the last coming in 2005.

Up Next
The Cyclones will return to the pitch this Sunday when they travel to Brookings, South Dakota, to take on the SDSU Jackrabbits. ISU and South Dakota State’s Sunday match is set to kick off at 1 p.m. and the action will be streamed on the Summit League Network. 

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa field hockey seniors Esme Gibson, Sofie Stribos and sophomore Mia Magnotta were named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List, it was announced Wednesday. It is the second straight season Gibson has a been preseason honoree.

Last season, the trio lead the Hawkeyes to NCAA Elite Eight appearance finishing the season 12-8.

Gibson was a NFHCA Second-Team All-American, NFHCA First-Team All-West Region honoree and second-team All-Big Ten selection a season ago. The Worcestershire, England, native recorded 18 starts, logged 1,114 minutes while playing the duration of eight games, finishing with four goals and four assists.

Stribos, a third-year starter for the Hawkeyes, recorded starts in all 20 games logging 1,009 minutes. The Belgium native scored three goals with four assists recording 10 points last season.

Magnotta made her season debut last year in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament against Michigan, tallying her first career win in the NCAA Sweet 16 in a shootout victory over Virginia. She recorded a career-high four saves in the Elite Eight shootout loss against Northwestern last season.

The Hawkeyes, ranked seventh in the Penn Monto/NFHCA preseason poll, open the season with the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Iowa will face No. 12 Wake Forest on Friday and defending champions No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Iowa State senior tight end Easton Dean says competition at key spots will make the offense better. ISU is without quarterback Hunter Dekkers and running back Jirehl Brock in fall camp after they were charged in connection to a gambling probe.

Despite missing some key players Dean is confident the Cyclones will make progress this season.

Dean says whoever wins the job of starting quarterback will gain crucial experience.

The Cyclones open at home against Northern Iowa on September second.

Drake defensive end Finn Claypool has had plenty of success early in his career but the Des Moines native is far from satisfied. Claypool was the Pioneer League Freshman Defensive Player of the Year after registering eight sacks for a Bulldog team that finished 3-8. It did not take him long to adapt to the college game.

Claypool begins the season on the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, It is given to the top defensive player in the FCS.

His number one goal is to win. The Bulldogs have suffered through back-to-back losing seasons. That had not happened since the mid 80s.

Drake opens September second at North Dakota.