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2024 FINAL Class 3A/4A/5A Iowa Girls High School Softball Rankings

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

Class 5A
School
 Record
LW
1
West Des Moines Valley
34-4
1
2
Pleasant Valley
35-3
2
3
Muscatine
25-10
4
4
Waukee Northwest
31-7
5
5
Johnston
29-10
3
6
Ankeny Centennial
28-9
6
7
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
23-15
7
8
Iowa City Liberty
22-11
9
9
Ankeny
19-20
8
10
Southeast Polk
19-20
10
11
Urbandale
20-18
11
12
Dubuque Senior
26-12
13
13
Waukee
18-17
14
14
Des Moines Roosevelt
26-14
12
15
Des Moines Lincoln
26-12
15
 
Dropped Out:  None
 
Class 4A
School
Record
LW
1
North Polk
34-4
1
2
Dallas Center-Grimes
30-8
2
3
Norwalk
27-7
3
4
Cedar Rapids Xavier
29-10
7
5
ADM
27-9
5
6
Fort Dodge
28-12
       4
7
North Scott
28-5
6
8
Carlisle
32-8
9
9
Western Dubuque
28-9
8
10
Clear Creek-Amana
24-12
12
11
Winterset
22-16
10
12
Bondurant-Farrar
28-10
11
13
Burlington
22-5
13
14
Sergeant Bluff-Luton
28-6
14
15
Storm Lake
22-3
15
 
Dropped Out: None
Class 3A
School
Record
LW
1
Benton
28-7
1
2
Williamsburg
27-12
2
3
Dubuque Wahlert
26-10
3
4
Mount Vernon
29-11
4
5
Davenport Assumption
22-12
5
6
Estherville Lincoln Central
28-6
6
7
Sumner-Fredericksburg
30-3
7
8
PCM
21-4
8
9
Clarinda
31-7
9
10
West Lyon
20-3
10
11
West Liberty
20-10
11
12
Washington
23-11
13
13
Albia
18-12
12
14
West Marshall
23-8
14
15
Atlantic
26-12
NR

Dropped Out: Central Lee (15)
 

Posted in Sports |

Craig Ballard Named Assistant Gymnastics Coach

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Craig Ballard has been named an assistant coach for the University of Iowa gymnastics team, head coach Jen Llewellyn announced Thursday.

“I am thrilled to welcome Craig to our coaching staff,” said Llewellyn. “I have known Craig for over a decade and have high respect for the career he has built for himself. Craig brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience for our sport. He has had many great accomplishments in his 17-year coaching career, and I am confident he will have an immediate impact on our program through his passion, work-ethic and vision for greatness.”

Ballard joins the Hawkeyes after 13 seasons at Kent State where he served as an assistant coach for 12 seasons before being named associate head coach in 2024. Prior to Kent State, Ballard served as an assistant coach at Bowling Green and Rhode Island.

In his time with the Golden Flashes he helped lead them to six regular season Mid-American Conference championships and nine NCAA postseason appearances. During his tenure, he coached six MAC Gymnast of the Year, three MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year, three MAC Specialist of the Year, and two MAC Freshmen of the Year. Ballard was instrumental in having eight individual MAC champions and two WCGA All-Americans. In the classroom the Golden Flashes had 153 student-athletes recognized as WCGA Academic All-Americans.

Prior to his arrival at Kent State, Ballard spent three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bowling Green. There, Ballard helped spearhead a turnaround that saw the Falcons go from last place in the MAC to fourth and improve seven positions in the final national rankings. He guided six gymnasts to NCAA Central Regional berths in three years.
Ballard spent the 2008 season as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Rhode Island, earning Eastern College Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year honors as the Rams took second place at the conference championships.

Ballard got his start in collegiate coaching as a team manager/student coach at West Virginia, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies in 2006.
A native of Morgantown, W.V., Ballard and his wife, Allyson, have two sons, Reed and Carter Thomas.

Posted in Sports |

Hawkeyes Top Nation in Attendance for 17th Straight Year

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s wrestling program led the nation in attendance for the 17th straight year, it was announced Thursday by the National Wrestling Media Association.

The Hawkeyes drew an average of 14,847 fans per home date during the 2023-24 season with 89,082 fans entering the doors of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa drew capacity crowds of 14,847 in all six of its home duals.

Along with having the top home attendance figures, Iowa was the top draw for seven opponents in 2023-24 – Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Penn, California Baptist, Illinois and Northwestern.

The 14,847 average is the third-highest average attendance in college wrestling history, second only to the Hawkeyes’ 14,905 average in 2021-22 and 14,858 average in 2022-23.

Iowa has led the nation in attendance in each season of head coach Tom Brands’ tenure (attendance totals weren’t tracked during the 2020-21 season due to most venues having no-spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic). This was the 15th straight year the Hawkeyes have averaged more than 8,000 fans.

Iowa has led the nation in home attendance in 21 of the 22 seasons it has been tracked. Penn State was second (51,360/7,337 avg.) in 2023-24, while Iowa State (40,150/6,691 avg.) ranked third.

Posted in Sports |

2024 Corner Conference All Conference Baseball Team

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

First Team

Pitcher (Brody Holmes*) Stanton-Senior
Catcher (Jacob Martin*) Stanton-Junior
Utility (Bode Wyman*) Griswold-Junior
Utility (Gabe Johnson) Sidney-Senior
IF (Gavin Ford*) Stanton-Junior
IF (Dylan Reynolds) Stanton-Sophomore
IF (Zane Johnson) Griswold-Junior
IF (Lincoln Palmer) East Mills-Senior
OF (Zach Thornburg*) East Mills-Senor
OF (Michael Hensley) Sidney-Junior
OF (Nolan Grebin) Stanton-Senior
*Elite Team

Second Team

Pitcher (Ryan Sayers) East Mills-Junior
Catcher (Dylan Linkenhoker) Fremont-Mills-Senior
Utility (Tony Racine) Essex-Senior
Utility (Brayden Lockwood) Griswold-Sophomore
IF (Rowen Howe) Fremont-Mills Sophomore
IF (Seth Ettleman) Sidney-Senior
IF (Sheldon Vandenberg) East Mills-Junior
IF (Kaden Buick) Essex-Junior
OF (Qwintyn Vanatta) Essex-Senior
OF (Fletcher Proctor) East Mills-Junior
OF (Devon Taylor) Stanton-Junior

Honorable Mention

(Landon Baker) Fremont-Mills-Junior
(Nollan Smith) Griswold-Sophomore
(Bradley Franks) Essex-Senior
(Max Yeager) Stanton-Junior
(Broden Zimmerman) Fremont-Mills-8th Grade
(Kolby Klindt) Griswold-Sophomore
(Gavin Crom) Fremont-Mills-8th Grade

Posted in Sports |

State launches programs for victims of Iowa’s flood, tornado disasters

News

July 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Residents in two-thirds of Iowa counties have experienced destruction from late spring and early summer tornadoes, flooding or both. At least 5000 homes are damaged or destroyed. State officials are launching new grant programs to address the housing shortage and appealing to FEMA for temporary housing. Governor Kim Reynolds hosted a more than hour-long news conference at the statehouse today to discuss details.

“You know, we’ve all seen photos of the neighborhoods that have been leveled, of towns completely underwater and they’re heartbreaking,” Reynolds said. “To see it first hand is unforgettable.”

Reynolds is using $10 million in federal pandemic relief to provide grants for developers to build homes for sale or for rent in counties that have been declared federal disaster areas. “Our goal is to really keep the residents in their communities,” the governor said. Another $6.5 million in state grants will be awarded to cover home repairs. “It will allow the state to move quickly to address unmet housing rehabilitation needs that are outside of the scope of insurance coverage,” Reynolds said. “We also have a lot of underinsured.”

Governor Kim Reynolds held a news conference in her statehouse office on July 11, 2024. (RI photo)

To be eligible, Iowans need to have qualified for FEMA’s individual assistance program. That confirms a household is dealing with storm-related damage. Reynolds is asking FEMA to authorize a temporary housing program that’s been used after hurricanes hit other states. Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management director John Benson said hotels, RVs and manufactured housing could be used under the program. “If we’re looking at travel trailers, we will be looking at campgrounds. There may be a situation where we may even be able to place it on the personal property, private property,” Benson said. “If we’re looking at mobile home units, are we looking at going into mobile home parks that we will be able to utilize right away?”

The governor indicated that may be an option in Minden, the western Iowa town hit by a powerful tornado this spring. As of last night at least 100 Iowans are still staying in a Red Cross shelter. Benson is encouraging Iowans to apply for assistance. “One of the things you will notice and in particular we’ve seen this in northwest Iowa is that ‘can do, I don’t need help attitude,’” Benson said. “If you are of that thought process, I would like to discourage you from that thought process and please apply because then you become a known quantity to us and that’s how we can help you not only…if you have a housing challenge, but other things that may arise through the disaster as you go through the recovery.”

Reynolds said government officials are able to help storm victims “wade through the minutia” of the state and federal programs that are now available. “Please just take advantage of these progams. You’re going through a lot. They’re there for a reason,” Reynolds said. “…We’re in this for the long haul. It’s not going to be over tomorrow, so take advantage of these programs.” Next week, farmers who’ve applied for USDA disaster loans can apply for a state grant of up to 50-thousand dollars. Reynolds said that will make the higher interest rates on those loans more manageable.

The governor’s staff plans to release more information about application and timeline details later this afternoon.

Posted in News |

Iowa safety Xavier Nwanpka on summer drills

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa junior Xavier Nwanpka is using summer drills to try and elevate his game. The former Southeast Polk star started 12 games at strong safety and is part of a standout defense that will return eight starters from a 10 win team.

Nwankpa had 42 tackles and an interception last season and as he enters his third season is looking to become more of a leader.

He is part of an experienced safety corps that saw Quinn Schulte and Sebastian Castro return for their final season.

The Hawkeyes open the season at home on August 31st against Illinois State.

Posted in Sports |

Jan Jensen on a new era for Iowa women’s basketball

Sports

July 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Summer workouts are underway for a new-look Iowa women’s basketball team. Caitlin Clark is one of several key players gone from a team that made it to back-to-back national title games and long-time assistant Jan Jensen took over after the retirement of Lisa Bluder. Jensen says even without the coaching change this would be a new era.

Jensen says the Hawkeyes are focused on the future.

Jensen says an incoming recruiting class of six players that stuck with the program despite the coaching change has made an immediate impact.

Jensen says it is a vocal group of newcomers.

Posted in Sports |

Guilty verdict in Algona Police Officer killing

News

July 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A Dickinson County Jury has found Kyle Lou Ricke guilty in the shooting death of Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram in September of 2023. Judge Nancy Whittenburg read the verdict just before noon.

The jury received the case around 10:30 A-M and deliberated for roughly an hour before returning the verdict. The trial began Monday with jury selection, there was testimony on Tuesday and closing arguments Wednesday. The defense did dispute that Ricke shot Officer Cram, but claimed the act was not premeditated, and did not call any witnesses. The prosecution said Ricke executed Cram, who came to arrest Ricke for a misdemeanor charge of harassment from Palo Alto County. The trial was moved from Kossuth county due to concerns about finding an impartial jury due to pre-trial publicity. A sentencing date will be set later. The mandatory sentence for first-degree murder in Iowa is life in prison without parole.

Posted in News |

Iowa West Foundation grant workshop to be held July 31st, in Harlan

News

July 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Representatives with the Iowa West Foundation are once again hitting the road and taking their Grants Workshop to another rural community – this time to Harlan on July 31st. The hope is that the workshop makes it easier for the non-profits and government entities in the IWF greater funding region, to access information on how to apply in person and hear directly from IWF program officers about budget inquiries and the grants management system, among other topics, in advance of the third and final funding cycle of 2024. Here is the link to register. https://bit.ly/iwfHarlan.

The grants workshop will be held on July 31st from 9-until 10:30-a.m., In-Person ONLY. It will not be offered on Zoom.Venue details will be shared upon registration. Registrations will be accepted until noon on Friday, July 26 or until registrations meet our workshop’s maximum capacity.

Ideally, attendees will come to the grants workshop with a specific grant idea in mind. They will have an opportunity to:

  • hear from program officers,
  • ask questions about the grant application process,
  • work through budget inquiries, and
  • learn about the IWF new grants management system.

Posted in News |

Audubon City Council changes fireworks rules & removes the use of fireworks during New Year’s

News

July 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon City Council met in a regular session Monday evening, and discussed the use of personal fireworks within the City. It was noted in the minutes of the meeting, that there have been many complaints regarding the discharging of fireworks. Councilman Richardson motioned and Councilman Grabill seconded, an amendment to Ordinance No. 739, entitled “Fireworks,” to read that a person shall be at least 100-feet away from a neighboring property to discharge a fireworks device, unless consent has been given. The motion passed. The Council acted also, to permit the use of fireworks on July 3rd and 4th from 6-until 10-p.m.  Fireworks will no longer be allowed on New Year’s Eve.

In other business, the Audubon City Council approved the installation of Stop and Yield sign(s) at the intersection of 3rd Ave. & Chicago St. to match the intersection of 3rd Ave. & South. Audubon Police Chief Coby Gust discussed with the Council the topic of speed signs on Highway 71 (Market St.). Chief Gust said the Iowa D.O.T. will need to remove the 30-mph signs, and then do a speed survey to determine if the 30-mph signs are necessary.

Audubon Parks and Rec Board member Ashley Hartl told the Council that there will be a zip line installed at Bluegrass Park (Dinosaur Park). Hartl was going to check also, to see if it is possible to get AED certification for the lifeguards.

Posted in News |