The Exira-EHK Spartans Boys Golf team are eager to compete against teams other than themselves after having to replace seven seniors who graduated a year ago. The first meet of the year was scheduled for Tuesday, April 1st but pushed back to the 3rd in a tournament against AHSTW, Southwest Valley and CAM.

The Spartans get the first three meets on their home course at Crestwood Hills as they will host a Rolling Valley tournament along with the Dale Erickson Memorial Tournament scheduled for April 12th. The buildup of the season has consisted of both indoor and outdoor workouts for Exira-EHK. Head Coach Tom Petersen stresses the biggest improvements come in true competition.

Despite losing seven seniors, Exira-EHK has a pair of returning seniors that will be seen as leaders on and off the course.

Nelson shot a season-low 44 last year in a nine-hole meet and finishing sixth, while Hansen’s best finish was a 51 placing 24th. Petersen has visions for the two seniors heading into this season.

The coaching staff is also excited about a few of the newcomers as well.

Getting reps and experience will be crucial in the eyes of the Spartans this Spring as they kick their season off this week.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Josh Sash and Bryston Williams have joined the University of Iowa men’s basketball coaching staff as assistant coaches, it was announced Tuesday by head coach Ben McCollum.

Sash and Williams join McCollum in Iowa City after serving on his staff at Drake a season ago.  The duo helped guide the Bulldogs to a school-record 31 victories, a Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament title and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament by way of the 67-57 upset win over sixth-seeded Missouri.

The pair assisted in Drake’s roster rebuild, as the Bulldogs brought in a combined 10 transfers and first-year players.  One of the signees – Bennett Stirtz – was named the MVC Larry Bird Player and Newcomer of the Year, while being a finalist for the Riley Wallace Award and Lou Henson Awards.

“Josh has been an integral part of our success at Drake,” said McCollum. “He continues to impress me with his basketball acumen and his ability to be a sounding board for me as he is a former head coach. We’re so excited to have him on our staff.

“Bryston was my first recruit ever in coaching.  He brings an unmatched energy and is relentless in recruiting. He is great with player relationships and will be a huge asset to our program.”

Sash, an Oskaloosa, Iowa, native, has 22 years of coaching experience at all levels, including head coaching stints at Indian Hills Community College (2023-24) and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) (2019-20).

“I am ecstatic and beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this staff, under the leadership of coach McCollum,” said Sash. “As a native Iowan and a lifelong Hawkeye, I cannot wait to ‘Fight for Iowa’, while proudly wearing the black and gold.

“I look forward to humbly serving this program, as we recruit, develop and mentor young men, that all of us as Hawkeyes, will be proud of.  My family and I are so excited to start our journey together in Iowa City.”

At Indian Hills, Sash led the Warriors to the semifinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Men’s Basketball Championship as the team finished with a 29-6 record.  It was the program’s 19th trip to the national tournament in its history.

Sash was tabbed as the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) DI Coach of the Year after going 4-0 in league play while capturing the NJCAA Region 11 Championship. Throughout the year, he guided the Warriors to 15 wins over nationally ranked opponents.  Sash also served as an assistant coach for Indian Hills from 2015-17.

Before returning to Ottumwa as head coach, Sash spent three seasons as an assistant at North Dakota State. There Sash was part of a Bison staff that made three consecutive Summit League Tournament Championship game appearances. NDSU won 54 games in the three seasons, including 35 in Summit League play.

Sash also had a stint as an assistant at UMKC from 2017-19 before taking over as head coach at DMACC for the 2019-20 season. Sash led the Bears to a 29-4 record, the ICCAC regular and postseason championships and the No. 2 seed in the national tournament.  He was named the NJCAA Region 11 Coach of the Year and guided five NJCAA All-Region 11 performers and four NJCAA All-Academic selections.

Sash also spent time at State Fair Community College (2010-15), Temple College (2009-10), Providence College (2008-09) and Drake (2007-08), while starting as a student assistant at William Penn (2003-07).

Sash earned his associate’s degree in computer programming/analysis from Indian Hills in 2001, his bachelor’s in physical education/coaching from William Penn in 2006 and his master’s in education in effective teaching from Drake in 2009.

He and his wife, Analeigh, have three children – Tandon, Tayson and Tru.

Sash is the older brother of former Hawkeye two-time first-team All-Big Ten safety Tyler Sash.  Tyler, who shares program’s single-game interception record (3), played professionally for the NFL’s New York Giants, where he was a Super Bowl Champion in 2012.

Williams, a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, joins the program after serving as an assistant coach at Drake (2024-25), Wyoming (2023-24) and Indiana State (2021-23) at the collegiate level, while also spending time in the NBA and D-League.

“My family and I are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Hawkeye community,” said Williams. “We look forward to building great relationships in a special place like Iowa City.”

During his stint at Indiana State, Williams coached the Sycamores to 23 wins during the 2022-23 season.  The team made its first postseason appearance since 2014 when it was the top seed in the College Basketball Invitational.

Before making the move to Terre Haute, Williams spent three seasons as an assistant for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. He developed the team’s mechanical shooting program, assisted with pre- and post-practice workouts, film breakdown and postgame reports.

During the 2017-18 season, Williams worked with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G-League, where he assisted with game plan preparation and worked in player development. He also coached in the G-League for the Iowa Energy in 2016-17.

Williams was a member of McCollum’s first recruiting class at Northwest Missouri State in 2009.  He scored more than 700 points for the Bearcats, where he helped the team to two MIAA Conference championships and a Sweet 16 appearance as a senior.

Following graduation, Williams served as a graduate assistant under McCollum for two seasons, where he was a part of two more MIAA titles and Sweet 16 appearances.

Williams graduated from Northwest Missouri State with a bachelor’s degree in corporate recreation in 2014 and a master’s degree in applied health science in 2016. He and his wife, Hannah, have three children – daughter Kamryn and sons Kyrie and Kayson.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas –Iowa State seniors Keshon Gilbert and Curtis Jones have been invited to play in the 2025 NABC-Reese’s College All-Star Game. They are the ninth and 10^th Cyclones invited to play in the game in the game’s history.

Due to rehabbing his multiple injuries from the end of the season, Gilbert will not be participating in the game. Jones is expected to play in the game.

The All-Star game will take place on Friday, April 4 at 3:30 p.m. at the Alamodome as part of Reese’s Final Four Friday. The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, and admission to the game and Reese’s Final Four Friday is free.

In two years in a Cyclone jersey, the duo put on quite the performance for Iowa State fans. In 66 games, Gilbert averaged 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Gilbert was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and was the 2024 Big 12 Championship MVP. The Best Sixth Man in America, Jones appeared in 71 games for the Cyclones with just 10 starts. He averaged 14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He led the Cyclones in scoring this season with 17.4 points per game, while being named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and to the All-Big 12 First Team.

Iowa State NABC All-Star Game Participants
1985 – Barry Stevens
1986 – Jeff Hornacek
1988 – Jeff Grayer
1995 – Fred Hoiberg
2005 – Jared Homan
2013 – Will Clyburn
2017 – Deonte Burton
2023 – Gabe Kalscheur
2025 – Keshon Gilbert
2025 – Curtis Jones

With star receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins headed for the NFL Draft, Xavier Townsend will be counted on to have an immediate impact next season. The native of Tampa joined the Cyclones after playing at Central Florida and says ISU’s recent run of success was a big factor.

Townsend says the first thing he noticed about the Cyclone program is that it is player led.

Townsend has known Cyclone quarterback Rocco Becht since they were young and that made the transition even easier.

ISU receivers coach Noah Pauly says Townsend has big play ability and will likely be used in a return game as well.

Pauly says Becht has done a good job of working with all of the new receivers.

The Cyclones finished 11-3 last season.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says there will be several key position battles on defense this spring. Five starters return on defense and other spots will need to build depth this month. T.J. Hall and Deshaun Lee anchor the corner spots.

Ferentz says this spring the offense has more experience than the defensive side of the ball.

Ferentz says this is the time of year when players can make big gains in development.

The Hawkeyes close spring drills April 26th with an open practice in Kinnick Stadium.

1. Treynor (169 points)

1st – Rylee Hemmingsen, 100 hurdles (15.82) & high jump (4-10.00)

1st – Delaney Mathews, shot put (36-10.00) & discus (115-01.50)

1st – 4×800 meter relay (10:56.02)

1st – 1600 medley relay (4:36.70)

1st – Shuttle hurdle relay (1:09.81)

2. Atlantic (84 points)

1st – Lila Wiederstein, long jump (15-11.00)

1st – 4×100 meter relay (51.78) (Hailey Huffman, Jayci Reed, Allison Middents, Lila Wiederstein)

3rd – Jayci Reed, 100m hurdles (16.68)

4th – Hailey Huffman, 200m (28.86)

4. AHSTW (71 points)

1st – 4×400 meter relay (4:28.20) (Kennedy Wyman, Macey Goshorn, Yana Lander, Ava Paulsen)

1st -800 medley relay (1:56.78)

2nd – Ava Paulsen, 800m (2:36.08)

5. Tri-Center (68 points)

1st – Tess Casey, 200 meters (27.65)

7. IKM-Manning (52 points)

8. CAM (45 points)

1st – Ada Hansen, 400 hurdles (1:07.21)

9. Coon Rapids-Bayard (41 points)

10. Logan-Magnolia (25 points)

11. Audubon (24 points)

12. Missouri Valley (10 points)

13. Ar-We-Va (7 points)

GIRLS 

Riverside – 2 vs Logan-Magnolia – 2

East Sac County – 3 vs AHSTW – 1

Harlan – 4 vs Panorama – 3

Denison-Schleswig – 5 vs Le Mars – 0

Glenwood – 1 vs Sioux City West – 0

Sioux City East – 10 vs West Sioux – 0

Van Meter – 13 vs Central Iowa United – 0

BOYS

Logan-Magnolia – 7 vs Riverside – 1

East Sac County – 4 vs AHSTW – 1

Harlan – 6 vs Panorama – 1

Denison-Schleswig – 11 vs Red Oak – 0 

St. Albert – 4 vs Scotus Central Catholic – 0

Sergeant Bluff-Luton – 3 vs Glenwood – 1 

Winterset – 3 vs Underwood – 2

West Sioux – 3 vs Sioux City East – 1

Bishop Heelan Catholic – 8 vs Unity Christian – 1

The State Tournament is on the mind for the Riverside Boys Golf team this Spring as they field a 15-man roster this year highlighted by two seniors, AC Roller and Taven Moore.

Along with the two seniors, the Bulldogs have a large sophomore presence with several that will compete for varsity spots according to Head Coach Mitch Rice. Sophomore James McReady was the only Bulldog to qualify for the second round in the 1A Sectional shooting a 79 in the first round.

Riverside will play in nine competitions with the first two being on their home course at Oakland Country Club. The season kicks off in a dual with IKM-Manning on April 8th followed by another dual with Missouri Valley on the 11th.

The Bulldogs see themselves hitting a stride in the near future. Rice says there is a lot of potential for the younger guys in the program and although competition is stiff, Riverside will look to compete with the best on their way to the state tournament.

The Riverside Bulldogs look to be competitive in the Spring with what they believe is a well-balances 2025 squad.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa football team will hold an open practice presented by University of Iowa Health Care on Saturday, April 26, in Kinnick Stadium. The open practice will conclude Iowa’s spring drills and is free to attend.

Gates to Kinnick Stadium will open at 9:45 a.m. with practice scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. Fans will be able to enter select gates, including Gates A (south end zone) B (southwest) and H (northwest). Regular season game-day search procedures will be in place and fans will be allowed to sit in the south and west stands.

Free parking will be available on hard surface lots, while normal ramp fees will be charged. Concession stands will be open at select locations on the concourse with limited menu items available. Additional information is available at hawkeyesports.com/footballgameday.

The Hawkeyes open the 2025 season against UAlbany on Saturday, Aug. 30. Other home games inside Kinnick Stadium this fall include UMass (Sept. 13), Indiana (Sept. 27; Homecoming), Penn State (Oct. 18), Minnesota (Oct. 25; Family Weekend), Oregon (Nov. 8) and Michigan State (Nov. 22).

Questions concerning the purchase of 2025 football tickets, including general public, UI faculty/staff and UI student season tickets by current UI students, should be directed to the UI Athletics Ticket Office. The office telephone number is 1-800-IA-HAWKS and ticket information is available at hawkeyesports.com/footballtickets.

Media credentials will be distributed at the coordinators news conference on April 23 or upon arrival for the final practice on April 26.