Iowa women’s basketball center Ava Heiden is more confident as she gets ready for her sophomore season. The six-four native of Oregon appeared in 28 games as a freshman and averaged five points and just over two and a half rebounds per game for a Hawkeye team that finished 23-11 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Summer workouts are ongoing in Iowa City.

Heiden has been working with and playing against incoming freshman Layla Hays. The 6-5 Hays was the player of the year in Alaska as a high school senior.

Heiden says she and Hays are making each other better.

Non-Conference 

Atlantic – 13 vs Panorama – 3

CAM – 4 vs Audubon – 3

Shenandoah – 8 vs Tri-Center – 4

Kingsley-Pierson – 15 vs St. Albert – 13

Lewis Central – 7 vs Sioux City North – 2

Underwood – 6 vs Harlan – 5

Van Meter – 9 vs Creston – 1

Bedford – 9 vs Ankeny Christian – 7

MVAOCOU – 11 vs Missouri Valley – 4

Tri-Center – 18 vs Thomas Jefferson – 17 in 8 innings

Central Decatur – 12 vs Murray – 11 in 8 innings

Southeast Warren – 12 vs West Central Valley – 6

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Clarinda – 8 vs Glenwood – 7 in 8 innings

Denison-Schleswig – 7 vs St. Albert – 6

Denison-Schleswig – 20 vs St. Albert – 5

Western Iowa Conference

Riverside – 7 vs AHSTW – 5

Corner Conference

Fremont-Mills – 20 vs Essex – 2

Rolling Valley Conference

Ar-We-Va – 7 vs Boyer Valley – 6

Woodbine – 8 vs Glidden-Ralston – 0

Missouri River Conference

Sioux City North – 13 vs Abraham Lincoln – 9

Defense and pitching were the story of the night as the Atlantic Trojans defeated the Treynor Cardinals 3-1 Wednesday night. Peyton McLaren was excellent on the mound, and despite Treynor matching Atlantic’s level of play for much of the contest, the Trojan bats eventually broke through, allowing the defense to shut the door for their 23rd win of the season.

As expected, the pitching matchup was superb. Both McLaren and Treynor’s Delaney Matthews came in with a sub-two ERA and did not disappoint. Both were efficient, allowing just a single baserunner through the first two innings. Meanwhile, the Trojan defense did its part. Claire Schroeder made numerous diving catches at third base, including one off a bunt and another in foul territory. While the defense excelled, the bats would break through in the third.

After Jillian Saathoff led off with a single, McKenna Sonntag (Atlantic’s lone senior) came through with an RBI double to give the Trojans the lead on senior night. Lila Wiederstein drove in Sonntag in the next at bat to give the Trojans some breathing room before the inning came to an end. Atlantic would find in the fifth as a Makenna Schroeder single was brought in by a Kirchhoff sac-fly to push the lead to 3-0.

McLaren and the defense continued to shut down Treynor through the rest of the game. Through 6.2 innings, the only blemish on McLaren was a result of an error and she retired 16 in a row. Down to their last out Adalyn Minahan picked up Treynor’s first hit and was driven in by an Elyese Winchell double. However, with another great defensive play, Wiederstein would back-pick Winchell at second base to end the ballgame. Head coach Terry Hinzmann was complimentary of his defense’s ability to rebound.

There was lots of praise to go around for Sonntag on senior night.

As the playoffs are fast approaching the focus for the Trojans remain on winning their remaining conference matchups.

The win moves Atlantic to 23-12 as they will have a quick turnaround with a double header against St. Albert Thursday morning. After that, the Trojans have just two games remaining before their opening round matchup against Harlan.

Last year’s runner-up hopes to take the next step as the John Deere Classic tees off in the Quad Cities. George McNeilly reports.

Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson won the John Deere Classic in 2012. The two time major winner tees off in the Quad Cities today for the 23rd time.

Johnson on what the JDC means to him.

Non-Conference 

Atlantic – 3 vs Treynor – 1

Lenox – 10 vs Griswold-CAM – 8 in 8 innings

Exira/EHK-Audubon – 16 vs Coon Rapids-Bayard – 3

Harlan – 11 vs Underwood – 10

Lewis Central – 14 vs Sioux City North – 2

Creston – 1 vs Martensdale-St. Marys – 0

Logan-Magnolia – 7 vs Kuemper Catholic – 5

MVAOCOU – 9 vs IKM-Manning – 3

West Central Valley – 19 vs East Union – 4

Central Decatur – 11 vs Lamoni – 3

Wayne – 3 vs Ottumwa – 0

Hawkeye Ten Conference 

Shenandoah – 8 vs Harlan – 0

Clarinda – 4 vs Denison-Schleswig – 3

Clarinda – 8 vs Denison-Schleswig – 7

Pride of Iowa Conference

Nodaway Valley – 5 vs Central Decatur – 0

Western Iowa Conference

Riverside – 13 vs AHSTW – 0

Corner Conference

Fremont-Mills – 19 vs Essex – 1

Rolling Valley Conference

Ar-We-Va – 5 vs Boyer Valley – 1

Ar-We-Va – 10 vs Boyer Valley – 0

Woodbine – 7 vs Glidden-Ralston – 1

West Central Activities Conference 

Van Meter – 10 vs Des Moines Christian – 0

Earlham – 4 vs Interstate 35 – 0

Iowa State senior Tyler Moore says a healthy tight end room could be one of the deepest positions on the team next season. Moore appeared in nine games last season but missed the final five due to injury as the Cyclones finished with an 11-3 record. It was a position that endured several injuries last season.

Moore feels there is a lot of talent at the tight end position.

Moore knows Cyclone offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser has high expectations for the tight ends next season.

ISU opens the season on August 23rd in Dublin, Ireland, against Kansas State.

Rickie Fowler is looking forward to Thursday’s start of the John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities. The former world number-one ranked golfer makes his first appearance at the tournament since 2010.

The opportunity to play in the John Deere Classic opened up when Fowler decided to skip next week’s Scottish Open.

The last time he played the tournament was his first full year on the PGA Tour. Fowler is now a 36-year-old father of two.

Fowler has not won on the PGA Tour since 2019 but he remains one of the game’s most popular players and will have a large following this week.

Fowler appreciates the support of the fans, even though it brings with it added pressure to play well.

Fowler has a morning tee time on Thursday and is part of a group that includes Jake Knapp and Max Homa.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Cedar Rapids Airport has worked with two carriers to add special direct flights for fans wanting to travel to select University of Iowa football home and road games this fall.

Hawkeye fans planning on traveling to Los Angeles (LAX) for the Nov. 15 contest against USC can take advantage of nonstop flights on Delta.

At USC — Saturday, Nov. 15 (kickoff time 12 or 12:30 pm PT)
Friday, Nov. 14: CID (10 am CT) to LAX (12:05 pm PT) – DL 8801
Sunday, Nov. 16: LAX (12:15 pm PT) to CIS (6 pm CT) – DL 8801

Below is a list of nonstop flights for fans looking to travel to Iowa City for the following football games:

PENN STATE – Saturday, Oct. 18 (kickoff time TBD)
Friday, Oct. 17: PHL (10:50 am ET) to CID (5:45 pm CT) – AA 3105
Sunday, Oct. 19: CID (1:51 pm CT) to PHL (5:14 pm ET) – AA 3105

OREGON — Saturday, Nov. 8 (kickoff time TBD)
Friday, Nov. 7: PDX (12:00 pm PT) to CID (5:45 pm CT) – DL 8802
Sunday, Nov. 9: CID (10 am CT) to PDX (12:25 pm PT) – DL 8802

MICHIGAN STATE — Saturday, Nov. 22 (kickoff time TBD)
Friday, Nov. 21: DTW (3:50 pm ET) to CID (4:30 pm CT) – DL 5551
Sunday, Nov. 23: CID (11:20 am CT) to DTW (2 pm ET) – DL 5551

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa sixth-year senior Logan Jones has been named a 2025 Walter Camp Preseason Second-Team All-American, it was announced Tuesday by the Walter Camp Foundation.

The Hawkeyes had two Walter Camp All-Americans in 2024 (Jay Higgins and Kaleb Johnson) and the program has had at least one Walter Camp All-American in each of the last 11 years (dating back to 2014).

Jones, who started 12 games as a junior, was a first-team all-conference selection and Phil Steele honorable mention All-American in 2024. The native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, anchored the middle of the Hawkeye offensive line that was recognized as a semifinalist for the 2024 Joe Moore Award. The unit allowed just 17 sacks and helped Iowa rush for 2,564 yards, the most since 2002.

The Hawkeyes open the 2025 season Aug. 30, hosting UAlbany at 5 p.m. (CT) inside Kinnick Stadium.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Paul Federici announced his retirement on Tuesday after 21 years working with the University of Iowa football program.Federici recently finished his 16th year as director of football operations, following five years as director of athletic training services.

“It has been an honor to contribute to the academic, athletic and social experiences of the hundreds of players, 60+ football student managers, football staff, and extended student staff since 2004,” Federici said. “Working with young people every day was beyond rewarding.”

“Paul has been an invaluable member of our program for more than 20 years,” said Moon Family Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz. “He joined the team as an athletic trainer and rapidly became known for his skills, focus and commitment to the players. Several years later, Paul moved into the role of Director of Football Operations — which he has held for the past 16 years.”

Federici assisted with the planning, coordination and implementation of Iowa’s daily operation and travel plans beginning with the 2009 football season. He also served as a championship team operations liaison at the college football playoff national championship games from 2015-19, served on the Rose Bowl Game Advisory Committee and was the Big Ten representative on the National Football Operations Committee.

“It is incredibly challenging to manage all the details surrounding every facet of a football program — from logistics, to travel, to managing staff and player needs — and Paul has made it look effortless,” Ferentz added. “We wish him well in retirement and thank him for making our program better.”

During his time on staff, the Hawkeyes won 172 games, had 18 winning seasons, shared two Big Ten Championships, won three Big Ten West Division titles, finished in the Big Ten’s first division 19 times and appeared in 19 bowl games (including the 2020 Music City Bowl, which was canceled due to COVID).

Federici joined the Iowa Athletic Department staff in 2004 after serving as the head athletic trainer for the Seattle Seahawks for five seasons.

“It was a special privilege to learn from John Streif, Norm Parker, Ben Hansen, Andy Piro, Ken O’Keefe, Reese Morgan and Dr. Ned Amendola,” added Federici. “Each provided unique personal and professional perspectives for which I will always be grateful. Coach Ferentz’s leadership and consistent messaging to staff and players on skills focused on lifelong success is the fundamental cause of Iowa Football’s sustained athletic and academic success.”

Prior to joining the Seahawks in January, 1999, Federici was the head athletic trainer at Vanderbilt University from 1994-99. As an assistant athletic trainer at Vanderbilt from 1987-93, Federici worked with football, baseball, men’s basketball and men’s and women’s golf teams. He was named head athletic trainer for the Commodores in 1994 and was recognized as the College Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Tennessee Athletic Trainers Society that year.

Certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association in 1985, Federici served as a test site administrator and host athletic trainer for the N.A.T.A. Board of Certification examinations from 1991-95. He has volunteered for the Tennessee State Amateur Games, the LPGA Sara Lee Tournament at Hermitage Golf Club, and the Senior PGA Bell South Tournament at Springhouse Golf Club. Federici presented a case study at the 2001 A.O.S.S.M. meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as the 2002 N.A.T.A. June Symposium in Dallas, Texas.

While at Vanderbilt, Federici served on several athletic department committees, including the Mission/Vision planning team, the External Communications Committee, the Management Team of Department Heads, and the Sports Nutrition Planning Team.