The Iowa State volleyball team will open up their 2022 spring slate in Atlantic. The Cyclones will host Omaha for a match on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at Atlantic High School. Atlantic Head Volleyball Coach Michelle Blake said that Iowa State reached out with the idea and they figured out the logistics to make it happen. Coach Blake shared what the schedule will be like for the match.

The match is being played in memory of former ISU volleyball manager and Atlantic graduate Nathan Vert who passed away unexpectedly this past December. Nathan’s family will be recognized at the match. Nathan was a classmate of Coach Blake at AHS and she said he just loved being active.

The match is free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Former St. Albert standout Allie Petry is a member of the Cyclone squad and Brynlee Arnold of Glenwood is joining the team at Omaha so their will be some local playing connections as well. There will be a streaming option as well for those that can’t make it.

No concessions or any monetary fundraisers are allowed due to NCAA rules, but fans can just come out and enjoy a good night of volleyball and camaraderie.

The Iowa Basketball Coaches Association will hold its 2022 All-Star Games on Saturday, March 26th at Dallas Center-Grimes schools. Teams consist of 10-12 players from 4 regions across Iowa. The state has been divided into 4 regions for both boys and girls; Southeast Iowa, Northeast Iowa, Northwest Iowa, and Southwest Iowa.

Playing from the area on the Southwest Iowa Boys Team is Raydden Grobe, AHSTW. Two players from CB Abraham Lincoln were named to the Northwest Iowa Boys Team: Josh Dix and Jamison Grubar. The Southwest Iowa Girls team includes Payton Beckman from Panorama, Maddie Stewart of Mount Ayr, and Brynn Bass of Coon Rapids-Bayard. Jaiden Egbert of Shenandoah, Vanessa Koehler of Glidden-Ralston, and Caydence Moore of Sidney are on the cheer squad. Thad Streit of Mount Ayr is one of the SW Iowa Girls coaches.

Here’s a look at the schedule of games for the day:

10:15am NE Girls vs. SW Girls (High School Gym)
10:15am NW Girls vs. SE Girls (Meadows Gym)
11:30am NE Boys vs. SW Boys (High School Gym)
11:30am NW Boys vs. SE Boys (Meadows Gym)
12:45pm Women’s 3-Point Contest (Meadows Gym)
1:00pm Men’s 3-Point Contest (Meadows Gym)
1:30pm Girls Consolation Game (Meadows Gym)
2:45pm Boys Consolation Game (Meadows Gym)
4:00pm Girls Championship Game (Meadows Gym)
5:15pm Boys Championship Game (Meadows Gym)

Find out more info HERE

Sweet 16

Thursday, March 24

Friday, March 25

UNI sophomore Noah Carter announced on Wednesday that he has entered the transfer portal. The forward from Dubuque Senior was a second-team All-MVC selection this past season for the Panthers.

Carter averaged 15 points and 4.1 rebounds per game this season, shooting 48.2% from the field. This is the second time he has entered his name in the portal, the first time for just a few days in March of last year.

The 6-6, 229 pound forward helped the Panthers win the MVC Regular Season Title and a berth in the NIT. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Spring drills are underway at Iowa as the Hawkeyes look to fix an offense that ranked next to last in the Big Ten despite a 10-4 finish to the season. That includes a passing game that had a completion rate of well under 60 percent.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. The Hawks must replace All-American center Tyler Linderbaum but Ferentz feels an offensive line plagued by inexperience last season will show marked improvement.

Ferentz feels the offensive line made strides late in the season.

Ferentz says depth on the defensive line has allowed Logan Jones to move to center to become one of the candidates to replace Linderbaum.

Spencer Petras and Alex Padilla are on-two on the depth chart at quarterback. Joe Labas is listed third.

Iowa State senior forward George Conditt is headed home for Friday night’s Sweet-16 game against Miami. The native of Chicago will be playing his first game in the United Center.

Conditt has watched a number of games in the United Center.

Conditt says the Cyclones remain motivated by the coaches and media members who picked them to finish last in the Big 12 after last year’s 2-22 finish.

Conditt says the Cyclones are succeeding because they are playing with no fear.

The Iowa State women are getting ready for Friday night’s NCAA regional semifinal round game against Creighton. It is ISU’s first rip to the Sweet-16 since 2010 while Creighton is coming off an upset win at Iowa.

That’s Iowa State guard Emily Ryan who says these teams are similar in some ways.

Ryan says defending the three point shot is a key.

With a victory the Cyclones would advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2009. Junior forward Morgan Kane.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom unveiled the 2022 schedule of events. The competition will welcome athletes and spectators from around the world during the 112th edition of America’s Athletic Classic, to be held April 27-30, 2022, at Drake Stadium.

After the cancellation in 2020 and an altered schedule in 2021, the 112th edition of the Drake Relays will return to the conventional format with competitors from university, college, high school and elite ranks all participating in an integrated schedule over four days in Drake Stadium.

Track and field competition will begin on Wednesday, April 27 with the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon, which will mark the first time in three years that either of these events will be contested. The combined events conclude on Thursday, April 28, followed by the Distance Carnival. Friday, April 29, will again be divided into two sessions, featuring the nation’s top collegiate athletes alongside Iowa’s finest high school athletes.

For an early look at the meet schedule and for the 2022 Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom, click here (PDF).

For high school meet information, click here (PDF).

For university and college meet information, click here (PDF).

All-session tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.draketix.com/drakerelays.

All-session reserved tickets are $100 and all-session general admission tickets are $75. Single-session tickets go on sale to the public on April 1.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Wednesday’s University of Iowa baseball game against Grand View at Duane Banks Field has been cancelled due to the impending weather.  There is no makeup date scheduled.

The Hawkeyes will return to action Friday, hosting Central Michigan at 4:05 p.m. (CT) in the opening game of a three-game series.

Atlantic Alumnus Ryan Hawkins just finished up a stellar college basketball career. He won three National Championships and notched record marks at Northwest Missouri State before using an extra year of eligibility to join the Creighton Bluejays this past season and lead them to the round of 32 at the NCAA Tournament. During a recent interview on KJAN Ryan talked about the thrill of this season and playing in the NCAA Tournament.

Hawkins finished his lone season at Creighton with 482 points, 272 rebounds, 53 assists, 32 steals, and 13 blocks. Hawkins finishes his college basketball career with 2,580 points, 1,220 rebounds, 257 steals, 229 assists, and 82 blocks. Ryan has kept his options open for what the future holds but before anything else he wants to give basketball at the next level a chance.

Ryan has had a big following of fans from Atlantic and Northwest Missouri State that have kept up with his basketball career. He said it’s been fun to see all the support and how it’s continued this year.

Hawkins ended up taking on a big leadership role on a young Creighton team and he said it was just natural to try to share his knowledge gained from experience with the younger guys.

Ryan has had some conversations with NBA teams and believes he will get a shot to prove himself at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this year. He’s certainly been a great representative of Atlantic and a strong inspiration for youth in the community. It’s been a joy to follow his career and we will continue to follow his journey.

Catch the full interview Jim Field conducted with Ryan HERE