(Radio Iowa) – The governor will soon decide whether to establish a new committee to help navigate the re-alignment of high school athletic conferences. Senator Sandy Salmon of Janesville says state education officials believe they lack the authority under current law to help Waverly-Shell Rock and Decorah find new conferences.

Salmon says it’s been tough for Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock to schedule games because other schools are obligated to play schools within their athletic conference.

The bill directs the Iowa High School Athletic Union and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union to establish a conference realignment committee. Nine superintendents and nine athletic directors would serve on the panel, evaluate a school’s request to join a new conference and issue a decision. Schools could appeal that decision to the director of the Iowa Department of Education.

The bill cleared the Iowa House unanimously on March 13th. It passed the Senate today by a 47-to-one vote. Adrian Dickey of Packwood was the only senator to vote against the bill.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State redshirt senior Nate Heise and junior Tamin Lipsey have been named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team, the organization announced Tuesday morning.

The award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Student-athletes must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and the proper athletic accomplishments to make the ballot. Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced April 15.

Both players earned CSC Academic All-District honors last year as well, with Lipsey also being named to the CSC Academic All-America Second Team.

Heise averaged 5.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists for the season, but it was down the stretch when he turned it on for the Cyclones. In the final 10 games of the year, where Heise earned seven starts, he averaged 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds, the third-most rebounds on the team. He scored in double figures in five of the last 10 games, including a season-high 13 points against Ole Miss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Lipsey was one of five Cyclones that averaged double figures on the season at 10.6 points per game. He was second on the team in assists at 3.1, while also averaging 2.6 rebounds per game. Lipsey had 68 steals on the year, the 11^th-most in program history. In 103 career games, Lipsey is averaging 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He is one of just 26 players in college basketball to average those numbers in a career while playing at least 100 games. Lipsey earned All-Big 12 Third Team honors and Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors this season.

Ranked in the Top 15 in the country all season, the No. 15 Cyclones finished the year 25-10 with a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It was just the sixth season with at least 25 victories in program history.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa men’s basketball student-athletes Payton Sandfort and Pryce Sandfort have been named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections, it was announced Tuesday by the CSC.

It is the third straight season Payton has earned the distinction and he was a second-team Academic All-American last season.  It is Pryce’s first career honor.

To be eligible for the award, nominees must have a 3.5 GPA and completed one full calendar year at their current institution and is at least a sophomore academically and athletically. Nominees must also be a starter or important reserve to the team and participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s contests.

Payton is majoring in finance, where he will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in May.  Pryce is majoring in business.

On the court, Payton averaged 16.7 points and six rebounds en route to being named an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. He made a team-high 84 3-point field goals, including a career-high eight in his final collegiate game against Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament.  He matched a career-high with 30 points in the contest.

Pryce averaged 8.8 points and 2.3 rebounds, shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore.  He was one of four Hawkeyes to play in all 33 games during the season.

Payton advances to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced April 15.

The Hawkeyes finished the 2024-25 season with a 17-16 overall record.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa sophomore Soo-Jin Berry has been named one of Softball America’s Stars of the Week, it was announced Tuesday by the organization. Berry shares the honor with Alex Brown (Clemson), Katie Dack (Florida State) and Katie Stewart (Texas).

In a two-game series against No. 5/6 UCLA, Berry went 4-for-7 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

In Iowa’s upset win against No. 5/6 UCLA on Sunday, the Pittsburg, California native went 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and four RBIs. Berry gave the Hawkeyes an early lead with a two-run homer in the third and her second home run gave the Hawkeyes insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the victory of the Bruins. Sunday’s game was the first multi-home run game of her career. Berry surpassed her previous season-high for home runs (5), now with seven on the year. Berry currently ranks 20th in the conference in home runs.

This is the first time that a Hawkeye has has been recognized in Softball America’s weekly awards this season.

The Hawkeyes take on South Dakota State in a midweek doubleheader this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. (CT) and 4:30 p.m. (CT).

OLD HICKORY, Tenn – The University of Iowa women’s golf team is tied for first place after day one of the Nashville Invitational. The Hawkeyes fired a two-round total of 592 (294- 298) at the Hermitage Golf Course, President’s Reserve.

The sophomores – Ximena Benites and Maura Peters – paced the team through the first day as both players sit inside the top 10.

Benites had a pair of birdies en route to an opening round 72 and she matched her round over her second 18 holes.  She is currently tied for third place with an even par 144.

Benites has eight rounds at or below par this season.

Sophomore Maura Peters is tied for ninth place with a three-over par 147.  She had two birdies in the first round and three in the second. The Hawkeyes had 15 birdies on the day as a team.

Senior Paula Miranda sits just outside the top 10 in a tie for 17th place with a six-over par 150.  Miranda carded a first round 74 and second round 76.

The Hawkeyes are currently tied with Washington State for first place with a 592 – two shots clear of Butler. Individually, the Cougars’ Hannah Harrison and Cal State Fullerton’s Louise Dahl lead the field, sitting at one-under par.

IOWA LEADERBOARD
T3. Ximena Benites 72-72= 144
T9. Maura Peters 73-74= 147
T17. Paula Miranda 74-76= 150
T32. Lily Heuther 77-76= 153
T50. Riley Lewis  75-81= 156
T1. IOWA 294-298=592

UP NEXT
Iowa closes out the tournament Tuesday with action beginning at 8 a.m. (CT).

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa redshirt sophomore Reese Moore has been named the Co-Big Ten Player of the Week, it was announced Monday. The honor is the first of his career and second for the Hawkeyes this season. He shares the award with Ryan McKay of Michigan State.

The Van Meter, Iowa, native hit .533 (8-for-15) against UIC and Ohio State with four home runs, two doubles and nine RBIs.

He has started the last seven games (six as DH, one as catcher) and currently leads the Hawkeyes with a .403 overall batting average and 24 RBIs. He is tied for the most home runs on the team this season with seven.

Moore is hitting .511 in the month of March with 21 RBIs and six bombs. In Iowa’s 14 games so far this month, Moore has set or tied his single-game career-highs in at-bats (6), hits (4), RBIs (4), runs scored (3), home runs (2), triples (1), walks (2) and stolen bases (1).

The Hawkeyes are on the road tomorrow for a midweek matchup with Illinois State at 5 p.m. (CDT).

BOYS

Boyer Valley — Top Finisher

3rd place: Justin Heiman – 400 meters (53.58)

IKM-Manning — Top Finishes

2nd place: 4×800 meter relay (9:07.58)

3rd place: Abe Polzien – 200 meters (24.92)

Riverside — Top Finishes

1st place: 4×400 meter relay (3:35.21)

1st place: 4×800 meter relay (8:31.75)

1st place: Maddox Knoke – 400 meters (53.19)

2nd place: Cole Jeppesen – 200m (23.95)

6th place: Jet Rose – 200m (24.66)

Treynor — Top Finishes

1st place: Jett Sornson – 60 meters (7.08)

1st place: Brady Wallace – 60m hurdles (7.83)

1st place: Shuttle hurdle relay (34.36)

1st place: 4×200 meter relay (1:34.48)

Underwood — Top Finisher

2nd place: Ryker Adair – shot put (14.89m)