On Tuesday night Riverside boys’ basketball did something it hadn’t done since 2014 and that is defeat the AHSTW Vikings. The Bulldogs had lost 18 consecutive games vs this AHSTW Vikings team, but this Bulldogs team seems a little different than prior years. The Bulldogs have a good mix of senior upper classmen like leading scorer returner for the Bulldogs in Grady Jeppesen who averaged 21 points a game as a junior was looking to get off to a fast start in senior campaign and that is exactly what he did. Riverside took control of the basketball game from the opening tip as Jeppesen scored just 5 seconds into the quarter in route to 16 first quarter points by the senior and the Bulldogs led 22-12. The second quarter was back and forth and would be the only quarter of that night that Riverside lost. They would lead 37-28 at the halftime break.

The Bulldogs got huge contributions all the way around and especially from their three freshmen in Cole Jeppesen, Owen Fenner, and Peyton Amdor. It is always hard to predict what a freshman might do in their first varsity game and season but these three answered the challenge. Head Coach of the Bulldogs Nicholas Kroon was very happy with how his youngsters preformed in their varsity debuts.

The second half saw most of what the first half did and that was the Grady Jeppesen show. The senior leader for the Bulldogs posted a game high 37 points and also tallied in 7 rebounds in a all-around great game. Knowing he will face tough defenses all season long Coach Kroon was happy with how his star was able to play physical and create space without fouling and finishing at the rim through contact where he converted three and one’s on the night.

Coach Kroon knows how big of a win this is vs a tough Vikings team on the road and the momentum that can come from snapping this 18-game losing streak to the Vikings. The Riverside Bulldogs are back in action Friday night for their home opener against the IKM-Manning Wolves for a 7:15pm tip-off.

The Riverside girls’ basketball team took a tough loss on the road Tuesday night against a tough AHSTW Lady Vikes team. The Bulldogs came in 1-0 after defeating Essex last week 50-13. The start looked very similar for the Bulldogs as they jumped to a fast 4-0 lead after two quick layups by Madison Kelley and Elly Henderson. The quick start made AHSTW girls head coach Jason McCall calls a timeout and sub a whole new five girls on to the floor just 1 minute and 34 seconds into the opening quarter. And it was the exact move that the Lady Vikes needed to wake up and bring some energy and life to the basketball floor. The Lady Vikes then went on a 16-1 run where they got sophomore guard Halle Goodman to hit three triples in the first half to spark the Lady Vikes. The Bulldogs had no answer for the Lady Vikes second unit and then AHSTW starters like Delaney Goshorn got going offensively and the Lady Vikes never looked back from there. Head Coach of Riverside Girls Mitch Rice said the complete 5 in and 5 out sub that AHSTW made was the difference in the game.

The Bulldogs would make some runs and get the score close but could never get over the hump. Their best chance came late in the first half they cut the lead to 24-21 but in the final minute the Lady Vikes got a layup by Goshorn followed by a steal and pullup three ball by Graycen Partlow to push the lead right back to 8 and keep the Lady Vikes in control. In the fourth quarter Riverside began rushing some possessions offensively trying to get back into the game and settled for some low percentage shots. The Bulldogs scored just two points in the fourth quarter both coming from the free throw line. The Bulldogs shot 0-9 in the quarter to suffer their first loss of the season.

Head Coach Mitch Rice knows this is a game he and his young team can learn from and get better moving forward.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Two members of the University of Iowa women’s soccer team earned United Soccer Coaches All-North Region recognition for the 2023 season. Fifth-year Samantha Cary and senior Macy Enneking each earned the honor for the first time.

Cary was also named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, leading the Iowa defense to a program-record 13 shutouts with a team-high 1,957 minutes at the defender position.

Cary was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, guiding Iowa to a 36-17 scoring differential against its opponents with stifling advantages in shots (307-164) and shots on goal (149-75). Offensively, Cary finished the year with three assists and one goal.

Cary was the Defensive Player of the Big Ten Tournament, leading the Hawkeyes to three consecutive wins over ranked teams for the first time in program history en route to Iowa’s second Big Ten Tournament Championship.

A team captain, she led Iowa to its second NCAA Tournament victory and the highest national ranking in program history, peaking at No. 14 in the College Soccer News rankings. She also earned CSC Academic recognition in 2023 for the excellence in the classroom and on the pitch.

Enneking’s 12.5 shutouts mark a new single-season record for Iowa goalkeepers and tied for fifth nationally. Enneking, who declared her intent to return for a fifth season in 2024, finished the season ranked third in the Iowa record book for shutouts (22) and fourth for career wins (26).

Enneking finished with 58 saves at a .733 percentage. Her 0.76 goals against average ranked third among Big Ten Conference goalkeepers.

Also a team captain, Enneking’s honors this season include All-Big Ten Tournament Team recognition, Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week (Oct. 3) and Top Drawer Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week honorable mention (Sept. 5).

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the margin of error will be slim when the Hawkeyes play Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game. Iowa is a better than three touchdown underdog against a Wolverine team that will be in search of a third straight Big Ten title and third straight trip to the College Football Playoff. Seven years ago the Hawkeyes stunned Michigan 14-13 as a 20-point underdog.

Ferentz says the formula for an upset begins with limiting mistakes and taking advantage of some.

Iowa has thrived in close, low scoring games and posting an upset this week will likely require a similar path.

Ferentz says preparation for the championship game includes getting the players for an atmosphere that is unlike any road game.

Ferentz says Drew Stevens will handle the kicking chores after being removed from Friday’s win at Nebraska.