(Iowa DNR News) –  The recent blast of arctic air is growing ice on lakes and ponds over much of Iowa. Anglers are ready to get out for the popular early ice fishing season. “Many of us can’t wait to get out on the ice each winter,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of fisheries for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Ice fishing is a fun, inexpensive activity for anglers of all ages to get outdoors and avoid cabin fever.” The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of clear ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.

“Check ice thickness as you make your way to your favorite fishing spot,” Larscheid said. “Ice conditions change constantly and its thickness can vary across the lake. Trust your instincts – if the ice does not look right, don’t go out.”

A blanket of snow on top of an ice-covered lake insulates the ice, slowing the growth of ice and hiding potential hazards or weak spots. River ice is 15 percent weaker than lake ice.  Ice with a bluish color is safer than clear ice.  Avoid slushy or honey-combed ice and stay away from dark spots on the ice.  Don’t walk into areas where the snow cover looks discolored.

Safety Tips on the Ice

• No ice is 100 percent safe.
• New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
• Don’t go out alone – if the worst should happen, someone will be there to call for help or to help rescue.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you will return.
• Check ice thickness as you go out – there could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed.
• Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
• The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.
• Bring along these basic items to help keep you safe: hand warmers, ice cleats to help prevent falls, ice picks (wear around your neck) to help you crawl out of the water if you fall in, a life jacket, a floating safety rope, a whistle to call for help, a basic first aid kit and extra dry clothes including a pair of gloves.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Hawkeyes are on the road tonight in the Big Ten, to take on 23rd ranked Wisconsin. The game will feature two rising sophomores. Iowa’s Keegan Murray leads the nation at 24 and a half points per game and Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis is third at more than 22 points per game.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery who says limiting turnovers is always a key against the Badgers.

Murray on the keys to the game.

Murray talks about the play of Davis.

Listen for the game on KJAN beginning at 7-p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Hawkeye women finally return to Big Ten play tonight (Thursday) night, by hosting Northwestern. The 22nd ranked Hawkeyes started the league race a month ago with a win over Michigan State and had two games postponed last week. They take on a Northwestern team that has not played since December 17th.

That’s Iowa coach Lisa Bluder who says Northwestern plays a unique style of match up zone defense they call the “blizzard”.

Bluder says Northwestern’s defense is designed to take away the high post.

Junior guard Kate Martin says scheduling the non conference game against Evansville last weekend prevented the from having such a long layoff.

(Radio Iowa) – The 12th ranked Iowa State women held off a fourth quarter rally to beat 23rd ranked Oklahoma 81-71. Emily Ryan had a career high 22 points as the Cyclones improve to 13-1.

The Cyclones won despite shooting less than 40 percent. ISU coach Bill Fennelly.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State went cold in the second half but held on for a victory as the 11th ranked Cyclones edged shorthanded Texas Tech 51-47. The 25th ranked Red Raiders only dressed seven players and were without their top two scorers.

ISU coach TJ Otzelberger. The Cyclones won despite making only three of 19 shots in the second half and finishing the game with 18 turnovers.

Villanova returned the favor to Creighton on Wednesday night in men’s hoops. A little over two weeks after the Bluejays beat the Wildcats by 20 in Omaha, Villanova handed the Jays a 75-41 loss in Philly. Justin Moore led the Cats with 22 points and Jermaine Samuels had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Nova Coach Jay Wright notched his 500th career coaching victory.

Creighton was led by 13 points from Alex O’Connell as they fall to 10-4 on the season and 2-1 in the Big East. Ryan Hawkins was held scoreless but pulled down five rebounds and had 3 assists.

Next up for the Jays is a Tuesday home game against Providence at 8:00 p.m.

TEMPE, Ariz. – Due to recent COVID-19 developments within the Arizona State wrestling program, Sunday’s dual in Arizona has been canceled.

Iowa State is actively looking for a replacement dual for this weekend.

The Cyclones are scheduled to return to action on Thursday, hosting Northwest Kansas Technical College. The match is set to start at 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.

The Big Ten Conference Defensive Back of the year Riley Moss made the surprise announcement on social media that he will return for another season with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

In his post, Moss said, “I have more goals I want to achieve and this team has more goals to achieve as well.  This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, and I am confident that I have made the right one.”

Moss is a 6-foot-1, 194-pound cornerback from Ankeny, who set the tone with two interception-return touchdowns in Iowa’s  34-6 season-opening win over Indiana.  The Hawkeye defense set record a school-record with 25 interceptions this season.  Moss has totaled 10 interceptions in his four seasons at Iowa.

Moss had an extra year of eligibility available due to last year’s pandemic-shortened season. He has decided to take that opportunity.

The Atlantic boys swim team hosted a Senior Night meet at the Nishna Valley YMCA on Tuesday night.

Team Scores

Waukee 62, Sioux City 32
Waukee 83, Atlantic 11
Sioux City 76, Atlantic 17

Atlantic Top Performances

50 Yard Freestyle- Alex Sampson 4th in 24.08
500 Yard Freestyle- Bryan York went 5th in 5:31.44
200 Yard Freestyle Relay- Atlantic 4th (Alex Lihs, Keaton Rieken, Brayden Atkinson, Alex Sampson) 1:38.27

Atlantic Seniors honored were Brayden Atkinson, Alex Sampson, Bryce Schmidtke, and Bryan York.

Quad @ Logan-Magnolia

Logan-Magnolia 37, Atlantic-CAM 36
-(Atlantic-CAM winners: Jarrett Armstrong, Miles Mundorf, Aiden Smith, Josh Hass, Ethan Follmann, Easton O’Brien, Kadin Stutzman)
Logan-Magnolia 71, OABCIG 9
Logan-Magnolia 78, Woodbine 3
Atlantic-CAM 72, OABCIG 10
-(Atlantic-CAM winners: Kadin Stutzman, Jarrett Armstrong, Brenden Casey, Miles Mundorf, Nathan Keiser, Aiden Smith, Josh Hass, Cruz Weaver, Ethan Follman, Easton O’Brien, Tanner O’Brien, Owen Hoover)
Atlantic-CAM 84, Woodbine 0
-(Atlantic-CAM winners: Brenden Casey, Miles Mundorf, Nathan Keiser, Aiden Smith, Josh Hass, Cruz Weaver, Ethan Follmann, Easton O’Brien, A.C. Roller, Dante Hedrington, Tanner O’Brien, Owen Hoover, Kadin Stutzman, Jarrett Armstrong)
OABCIG 53, Woodbine 6

Quad @ Clarinda

Clarinda 51, Southwest Valley 27
Clarinda 66, St. Albert 12
Clarinda 53, Red Oak 27
Red Oak 42, Southwest Valley 36
Red Oak 54, St. Albert 15
Southwest Valley 60, St. Albert 5

Duals @ Kuemper Catholic

Carroll 39, Kuemper Catholic 30
Carroll 65, Audubon 0
Carroll 66, Coon Rapids-Bayard 12
Kuemper Catholic 69, Audubon 9
Kuemper Catholic 64, Ridge View 6
Kuemper Catholic 78, Coon Rapids-Bayard 0
Ridge View 54, Audubon 15
Ridge View 60, Coon Rapids-Bayard 12
Audubon 42, Coon Rapids-Bayard 18

Quad @ AHSTW

AHSTW 55, Abraham Lincoln 22
AHSTW 75, Southwest Iowa 11
AHSTW 54, Tri-Center 30
CB Abraham Lincoln 48, Southwest Iowa 27
CB Abraham Lincoln 51, Tri-Center 27
Southwest Iowa 42, Tri-Center 36

Tri @ Martensdale-St. Marys

Greene County 58, Martensdale-St. Marys 12
Greene County 39, Nodaway Valley O-M 36
Nodaway Valley O-M 56, Martensdale-St. Marys 21

Tri @ East Union

ACGC 42, East Union 27
Van Meter 45, ACGC 27
Van Meter 54, East Union 30