The Exira-EHK Volleyball team is back on the court after a conference regular season title and a 15-6 season a year ago. Head Coach Derek Reischauer says his team is young and trying to figure out the lineup they may begin the season with.

The Spartans have just three upperclassmen on the roster but Senior Jaelynn Peterson and Junior Taryn Peterson were the two kill leaders last season and Reischauer will look for his lone senior to lead the younger players.

Reischauer says it’s Taryn Peterson’s attitude and approach that shows leadership.

Outside of the upperclassmen not is it just young players but many with inexperience as well but participated in offseason varsity camps.

Exira-EHK opens up the year in a triangular at Lenox on Thursday, August 28th.

Eric Mulder spent the summer trying to carve out a role on the Iowa State basketball team. The six-nine native of Oskaloosa spent the past three years at Purdue-Fort Wayne. Mulder averaged nearly eight-and-a-half points and more than six-and-a-half rebounds last season and his field goal percentage of better than 78 percent led the nation from two point range.

Mulder says he learned quickly about the culture of the ISU program after making the decision to transfer.

Mulder says he has spent the summer working on the offensive end.

Mulder was a star at Pella Christian and is looking forward to finishing his college career in his home state.

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger says Mulder provides a boost of energy for the team.

Otzelberger says the energy Mulder provides helps the team.

The Cyclones wrapped up summer workouts last week.

The defending state champion Tri-Center football team is back in helmets and shoulder pads looking to retain their title. Head Coach Steve Peterson was promoted in the offseason and says his team now has a target on their back.

Tri-Center goes up to Class 1A this season and its about letting everyone know they belong says Peterson.

Junior AJ Harder will be under center again for Tri-Center after leading the state in passing yards a season ago. Harder threw for 2,882 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. He’ll lead the offense alongside many returning players from the championship team.

Meanwhile, there is going to be a few fresh faces on the defensive side of the ball for Tri-Center.

Peterson believes his team has a tough schedule but they’re more than willing to be up for the challenge.

The Trojans will begin their title defense on Friday, August 29th when they host St. Albert.

At Iowa State the transition from fall camp to game prep is underway as the 22nd ranked Cyclones get ready to play 17th ranked Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, a week from Saturday. Normally, this game is at the end of the regular season and Cyclone offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser says playing the Wildcats out of the gate makes game planning more difficult.

Mouser says a key will be focusing on what the Cyclones do well.

Mouser says there will be a lot of unknowns.

Defensive coordinator Jon Heacock says while there may be some wrinkles in terms of schemes they are familiar with personnel.

Heacock says past meetings take on added importance when developing a game plan.

Heacock says in-game adjustments are even more important in a season opener.

Iowa defensive back Zach Lutmer says no final decision has been made on where he will play this season. The former Central Lyon/George-Little Rock star appeared in 13 games as a redshirt freshmen last season an has been working at strong safety as well as the cash position. It is a hybrid safety/linebacker spot on the Hawkeye defense.

Lutmer feels comfortable at either spot.

Lutmer says where he plays may depend upon the opponent.

The Hawkeyes open August 30th at home against the University of Albany.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa football seniors Gennings Dunker, Aaron Graves and Logan Jones have been named candidates for the 2025 Lombardi Award, the announcement was made on Tuesday.

The award is presented to the college player who best embodies the values and spirit of legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi. These qualities are include character, discipline and excellence both on and off the football field.

Dunker (6-foot-5, 315 pounds) started 11 contests as a junior and was a dominant force on the right side of Iowa’s offensive line that was recognized as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award in 2024. The Lena, Illinois, native was a second-team all-conference honoree, as well as an Academic All-District selection. Dunker, who is also a candidate for the 2025 Outland Trophy and Wuerffel Award, helped pave the way for Iowa’s offense rushing for more than 200 yards in seven games last season.

Graves (6-foot-5, 295 pounds) started all 13 games at defensive tackle in 2024, recording 33 tackles, including eight tackles for a loss (six sacks), three forced fumbles, three pass break-ups and two quarterback pressures. His three forced fumbles led the Big Ten. The native of Dayton, Iowa, was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last season. Off the field, Graves was a second-team Academic All-American.

Graves was previously named to the 2025 Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists. Graves was also tabbed a 2025 preseason second team All-American by Phil Steele.

Jones (6-foot-3, 302 pounds) was also named to the Rimington preseason watch list the last two seasons. Former Hawkeye Tyler Linderbaum was the 2021 Rimington Trophy recipient. He was previously tabbed for the Outland Trophy Watch List earlier this month, presented to the top offensive lineman in the country.

The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native started 12 games as a junior and was a first-team all-conference selection and an honorable mention All-American by Phil Steele in 2024. The native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, anchored the Hawkeye offensive line that allowed just 17 sacks and helped Iowa rush for 2,564 yards, the most since 2002. Jones was tabbed a preseason second-team All-American by Walter Camp, and a third-team All-American by Athlon and Phil Steele earlier this month.

The Hawkeyes kickoff the season against UAlbany on Aug. 30, at Kinnick Stadium beginning at 5 p.m. (CT).

HAWKEYES ON 2025 WATCH LISTS
* Rhys Dakin – Ray Guy Award
* Gennings Dunker – Outland Trophy // Wuerffel Award // Lombardi Award
* Aaron Graves – Nagurski Trophy // Bednarik Award // Lombardi Award
* Mark Gronowski – Maxwell Award
* Logan Jones – Outland Trophy // Rimington Award // Lombardi Award
* Kamari Moulton – Doak Walker Award
* Zach Ortwerth – Mackey Award
* Drew Stevens – Lou Groza Award
* Kaden Wetjen – Jet Award

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Three university of Iowa women’s soccer student-athletes were named “Players to Watch”  the Big Ten Conference announced on Monday. Juniors Sofia Bush and Millie Greer were named to the list while freshmen Liana Tarasco also made the list.

This marks the second consecutive year for Bush and Greer to be named Big Ten Players to watch. Both players played a critical role in Iowa making its first Sweet 16 run in program history. Bush started in all 22 games recording 1, 749 minutes on the season including playing 90+ minutes in six games. The Marion, Iowa native netted five goals on the season while dishing out four assists. Two of Bush’s four goals proved to be game winners.

Greer, a defender, started in all 22 games, totaling 1,946 minutes on the season, a team high for position players. The Hawkeye defense tied a program record posting  12 shutouts and set a program record by allowing just 12 goals on the season. The Scottsdale, Ariz. Native recorded 90+ minutes in 18 games, netting one goal and dishing out one assist last season.

Tarasco, a true freshman, spent time on the Canadian National Team and looks to make an instant impact with the Hawkeyes.

The Big Ten Conference also announced the 2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll where the Hawkeyes were picked sixth, as voted on by conference head coaches.

2025 Preseason Big Ten Poll

1. USC
2. UCLA
3. Penn State
4. Michigan State
5. Ohio State
6. IOWA
7. Wisconsin
8. Rutgers
9. Washington
10. Minnesota
11. Purdue
12. Nebraska
13. Michigan
14. Northwestern
15. Illinois
16. Oregon
17. Indiana
18. Maryland

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced Monday that the Duke Slater Field emblem at Kinnick Stadium will be relocated ahead of the 2025 football season.

Originally installed prior to the 2021 season, the emblem currently sits at each 25-yard line. It will now be moved to the north and south end zones of the field.

“We want to be clear that the field naming is not changing and will remain Duke Slater Field,” said Joe Parker, Deputy Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives/Chief Operating Officer. “The NCAA approved the use of corporate logos on the field during regular-season games in the same location where we’ve proudly honored one of our greatest football legends. By relocating the recognition to the end zones, we preserve Slater’s legacy while also creating a new opportunity to generate revenue in support of our student-athletes.”

In addition to the field naming, Slater’s legacy is commemorated with a bronze relief outside the north end zone of Kinnick Stadium, depicting his pivotal block in Iowa’s 1921 victory over Notre Dame. Slater Residence Hall, located on the west side of campus, also bears his name.

A 6-foot-2, 210-pound tackle, Slater played for the Hawkeyes from 1918-21 and was the first Black student-athlete in school history to earn All-America honors. A three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, he also competed in track and field. In 1921, he helped lead Iowa to a perfect 7-0 Big Ten record and a national championship recognition by multiple media outlets.

Slater made history as the first Black player inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 1951. He was also enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Centennial Class of 2020 and was a charter member of both the National Iowa Varsity Club Hall of Fame and the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame.

A Clinton (Iowa) High School graduate, Slater helped Iowa to a 23-6-1 record during his collegiate career, including a landmark 10-7 win over Knute Rockne’s Notre Dame team in 1921, ending the Irish’s 20-game winning streak.

Slater went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL as a two-way tackle, becoming the league’s longest-tenured Black player of his era. He famously played all 60 minutes in the 1929 Thanksgiving Day game in which Ernie Nevers scored an NFL-record 40 points—a mark that still stands.

A graduate of the Iowa law school in 1928, Slater passed the bar that same year while still playing in the NFL. He started a practice in Chicago and became an assistant district attorney and assistant Illinois commerce commissioner. Slater was elected Chicago’s second Black judge in 1948, and in 1960 became the first Black judge to serve on the Superior Court of Chicago. He moved to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1964.