ROSEMONT, Illinois — The Big Ten Conference on Wednesday announced the 36 student-athletes selected as campus winners of the 2025-26 Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award, while include Iowa’s Ava Bayless (women’s wrestling) and Will Ryan (track and field).

Now in its second year, the honor was created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who strive to have a positive impact within their community in addition to excellence in competition.

From the collection of 36 local winners, two overall conference honorees will be selected and announced in the spring of 2026.

In recognition of their achievement and as an expression of the conference’s appreciation, each of the 36 campus winners will receive a medal bearing the likeness of Jackie Robinson and the logo of the Big Ten Conference.

Dillan Fontus of Maryland Football and Nanea Estrella, a member of the Iowa Women’s Wrestling team, were named the inaugural national winners last spring. Both will be hosted in Indianapolis next month and recognized on the field during the 2025 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, December 6 (8pm ET; FOX).

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa swimming and diving opened day one of the Hawkeye Invitational on Tuesday evening with a top-10 time in the 200 medley relay.

Through two events, Iowa is tied for fourth place with 58 points.

The 200 medley relay team of freshman Payton Flowers, junior Olivia Swalley and sophomores Rachel Dildine and Audrey Olen took bronze with a time of 1:39.37 and gathered 32 team points. Racing together for the first time this season, the quartet moved to fifth in Iowa’s record book. Also performing well for the Hawkeyes were sophomores Hannah Cousins and Emilie Mosner, junior Josie Hood and freshman Ella Jean Kelly, who finished in 1:41.80 and placed ninth.

“We started off the night with a fantastic effort from all of our relays in the 200 medley, especially the A relay that just missed the school record,” head coach Nathan Mundt said. “It was the way we wanted to start out an event like this. The speed and effort up front was a good sign of things to come. This is a very competitive field that will be tightly contested. We look forward to the battle that will take place all week.”

In the 800 free relay, Iowa swimmers Nora Kemp, Hood, Olen and Swalley placed seventh, touching the wall 7:18.98. The Hawkeyes gained 26 points from the performance. Right behind them in eighth was the Hawkeyes’ team of Olivia Frantum, Dildine, Kelly and Jenna Kerr, that finished with a time of 7:21.07.

In the team diving exhibition, Iowa placed fourth with 259.40 points.

Up Next: Day two of the Hawkeye Invitational resumes with prelims at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The finals session of day two will start at 5 p.m. inside the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
200 Medley Relay
3. Flowers, Swalley, Dildine, Olen – 1:39.37, 5th at Iowa
9. Cousins, Mosner, Hood, Kelly – 1:41.80
20. Crain, Hage, Asay, Kemp – 1:43.72
28. Beam, Kell, Wendel, O’Malley – 1:47.71

800 Freestyle Relay
7. Kemp, Hood, Olen, Swalley – 7:18.98
8. Frantum, Dildine, Kelly, Kerr – 7:21.07

Team Diving Event Exhibition
4. Iowa – 259.40 points

The Griswold Football team has wrapped up its 2025 season with a 1-8 record. The Tiger roster was filled with many players and minimal experience, making it oftentimes challenging to find consistent success. Nonetheless, Head Coach Seth Lembke had a positive outlook on the team’s 2025 campaign.

The Tigers lone win came against Stanton in a 28-20 home victory. A few weeks after that, Lembke officially made a switch at quarterback. Sophomore Dain Laverty took over while Wyatt Silk slid over to the receiver position. Laverty threw for 295 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the five games he started under center. A move that benefitted everyone in Lembke’s eyes.

Griswold returns their top three rushers as well.

On the defensive side of the football, Sophomore Colton Frieze led the way with 52.5 tackles on the season. Behind him, the Tigers return the next five best tacklers.

Griswold will have a much more experienced team in 2026 and look to increase their success next season.

The Tri-Center Girls Basketball team is set to begin the 2025-26 season. After a positive summer, Head Coach Derek Sonderland is excited to work with this group.

The Trojan roster features nine players this season and Sonderland wants his team to play as selfless as possible.

Tri-Center’s top two scorers from last year both graduated, handing the keys to the senior duo of Macie Schneckloth and Danica Hoden.

Tri-Center finished 7-15 a season ago and look to improve in the 2025-26 season. The Trojans’ season begins Tuesday, November 25th with a home game against Essex.

Alvaro Folgueiras scored 16 points and Bennett Stirtz had 15 points and nine assists as the Iowa Hawkeye men rolled to a 99-70 win over Southeast Missouri State. The Hawkeyes improve to 4-0.

That’s Iowa coach Ben McCollum. The Hawkeyes raced out to a 14-2 lead to start the game and led 49-25 at halftime.

The Hawkeyes host Chicago State Thursday night.

The UNI men improved to 4-0 with a 70-57 win over Northern Illinois in the McLeod Center. Leading by three at halftime the Panthers took control with an 11-0 run.

That’s Panther coach Ben Jacobson. The Panthers took control down the stretch after the Huskies rallied to tie the game with under nine minutes remaining.

Jacobson likes to way this team is getting along and that will help as they visit UC-Irvine on Saturday.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell says Saturday will be emotional in Jack Trice Stadium. Sixteen Cyclones will celebrate Senior Day when ISU hosts Kansas.

It is a senior class that was a big part of Iowa State’s first 11-win season a year ago.

Iowa State is 6-4 and Campbell would like to see the seniors help lead the Cyclones to a strong finish.

Campbell says despite their recent struggles Kansas is a combination of talent and experience. The Jayhawks are 5-5 overall and dropped three of their last four games.