In this age of conference expansion, made for television tournaments and the financial need for home games Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger hopes there is still a place for the Cy-Hawk Series. The third ranked Cyclones invade Carver-Hawkeye Arena Thursday night for the 78th meeting in the series against Iowa.

Otzelberger says the approach this week stays the same but everybody knows this is not just another game.

Otzelberger calls their national ranking flattering. The Cyclones are third in this week’s AP Poll. It is the program’s highest ranking since 1957.

Ames native and junior guard Tamin Lipsey played in the game two years ago in Iowa City and is trying to get his teammates prepared. The Hawkeyes scored the first 15 points of the game in a 75-56 win.

Lipsey says the start of the game will be a key to the outcome.

Sophomore forward Milan Momcilovic has told the new players to expect a hostile crowd.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Eight University of Iowa football student-athletes – junior Kaleb Johnson, senior Jay Higgins, senior Connor Colby, senior Kaden Wetjen, junior Gennings Dunker, senior Logan Jones, senior Sebastian Castro and senior Jermari Harris — have been named Associated Press All-Big Ten selections, it was announced Tuesday by the AP.

Iowa had five first-team selections — Castro, Colby, Higgins, Johnson and Wetjen — the most of any team in the expanded 18-team league. Johnson and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren were the only unanimous first-team selections by the voting panel of 21 media members who cover the conference.

Johnson, who is the 2024 Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year, a first-team All-Big Ten honoree and a Doak Walker Award finalist, had a historic year. He posted school single-season records in points (138), total touchdowns (23) and rushing scores (21). Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards in 12 games in 2024, sixth-most in the country and third-most in program history. The native of Hamilton, Ohio, scored at least one touchdown in all 12 regular season games — the longest stretch in school history. He had seven games in 2024 with two or more rushing touchdowns, believed to be the most in a single season in program history.

Higgins was recognized as the 2024 Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten last week. Higgins, who was a semifinalist for three national awards (Lombardi, Butkus, Lott IMPACT), is the only player in the nation with 100+ tackles and four interceptions. His four picks are tied for the most amongst linebackers from a Power 4 conference. Higgins has been a tackling machine for Iowa’s defense, racking up 118 tackles — second most in the Big Ten, 13th-most nationally and fourth-most in a single season in school history. The Indianapolis native has been a leader on an Iowa defense that is ninth nationally, allowing 17.1 points per game.

Wetjen, who is the 2024 Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, a first-team All-Big Ten selection and finalist for the Jet Award, leads the nation with 888 combined kick return yards (next most is 674 yards). He is second in the FBS in punt return yards (312) and sixth in kickoff return yards (576). The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, native had an 85-yard punt return for a score against Northwestern, the seventh-longest in school history. Wetjen had 100+ kickoff return yards in three straight games (Washington, Michigan State and Northwestern) in 2024, a first by a Hawkeye since at least 1978.

Colby, Dunker and Jones anchored the Hawkeye offensive line that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award. The unit allowed just 15 sacks and helped Iowa rush for 2,599 yards, the most since 2002. The Hawkeyes have rushed for 200+ yards in a program record eight games and led the Big Ten in rushing for just the fourth time in program history.

Colby is a four-year starter on the offensive line, starting all 12 games in 2024. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native has started 49 career games, which ties Austin Blythe for second-most in program history. Colby was a first-team all-conference selection by both the coaches and media last week.

Dunker started 10 games at tackle, while Jones has 38 career starts at center, including all 12 in 2024. Dunker was a second-team all-conference honoree by the coaches and recognized on the third-team by the media, while Jones was a first-team selection by the media and second-team honoree by the coaches last week.

Castro and Harris, both sixth-year senior defensive backs, were both honored as third-team all-conference honorees last week by both the coaches and media. Castro’s 56 tackles are fourth-most on the team. The native of Oak Lawn, Illinois, also had an interception, three tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, one pass break-up and a quarterback hurry. Harris shared the team lead with seven pass break-ups. The Chicago native also registered 27 tackles, including one for loss, and had three interceptions, including a pick-six.

The Hawkeyes will play No. 19 Missouri on Dec. 30, 2024, in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl in Nashville. The game will start at 1:30 p.m. (CT) and be televised on ESPN.

The Riverside Bulldogs boys basketball team is off and running in the 2024-25 season. Trying to replicate some of their success from a year ago when they finished third in the Western Iowa Conference, the Bulldogs will look a little different this year. After going 13-10 and making it to the second round of the playoffs, the Bulldogs graduated four seniors. However, head coach Nicholas Kroon says he is excited the season is underway and was happy with the work his team put in during the off-season.

The Bulldogs opened their season last week with a pair of games against Missouri Valley and IKM-Manning. In their season opener against the Big Reds, Riverside found themselves down 31-19 at the half. However, they responded in the second half scoring 50 points to win 69-59. Kroon said he was very pleased with how his team responded.

After pulling out the win last Tuesday, things did not go as well on Friday. Taking on a tough IKM-Manning team on the road, the Bulldogs led by three at halftime. However, the Wolves went on a run in the third quarter to pull away. Although things didn’t go as planned, Kroon was very pleased with his group’s effort.

This edition of the Bulldogs is a young group. Riverside has no seniors on the roster and is comprised of juniors and sophomores.  However, despite their youth, the young guns are producing in their new roles. Through their first two games sophomore Owen Fenner is leading the way with 19.5 points per game, including a 21-point outing in the season opener against Missouri Valley. Sophomore Payton isn’t far behind averaging 15.5 points per game games. He has also been the Bulldogs’ most efficient shooting, hitting 41.1% of his field goals. Kroon has been thrilled with the way his players have adapted and excelled in the early going.

Looking ahead for the Bulldogs, they have most of the week off before traveling to take on a 3-0 Tri-Center team on Friday. Kroon thinks rebounding will be one of the keys to walking away with a win.

Tip-off in Neola is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

NON-CONFERENCE: 

• Lewis Central 72, Thomas Jefferson 36
• Heartland Christian 67, Hamburg 48
• Stanton 58, Southwest Valley 52
• Tri-Center 67, West Harrison 24
• Wayne 50, Lamoni 34
• Glidden-Ralston 54, Woodward-Granger 40
• Norwalk 53, Winterset 40

NON-CONFERENCE:

• Treynor 63, Lewis Central 46 
• Heartland Christian 48, Hamburg 13 
• Stanton 56, Southwest Valley 30
• Des Moines Christian 61, Martensdale-St. Marys 34
• Woodward-Granger 75, Glidden-Ralston 47 
• Norwalk 76, Winterset 34

High School Girls Wrestling Results at Harlan:

• Denison-Schleswig 36, Carroll 33
• Denison-Schleswig 42, Harlan 24
• Denison-Schleswig 42, Kuemper Catholic 30
• Kuemper Catholic 41, Carroll 30
• Kuemper Catholic 36, Harlan 26
• Carroll 45, Harlan 24

Denison-Schleswig winners — Gracen Plagge (3), Daniela Salinas (3), Addison Ransom, Yarecze Rodriguez (3), Giana Garcia (3), Angie Rivera (3), Yaretzi Carrizales, Savanna Martinez, Siclaly Corona

Kuemper Catholic winners — Ally Sommerfield (3), Ashlyn Stewart (2), Sadie Smith (2), Madigan Hoyt (3), Anna Schuette, Cara Schuette (2), Charlotte Schwabe (3), Kyla Wiskus

Harlan winners — Addison Obrecht (2), Ellexis Stephens (3), Krysten Madden (2), Danica Schwery, Lucy DeGroot (2), Secilia Kurtz, Hallie Lopez (2)

Six days after being named the new head football coach at Northern Iowa Todd Stepsis was formally introduced, today. Stepsis spent the past six years as the head coach at Drake and led the Bulldogs to back-to-back Pioneer Football League titles. He takes over a Panther program that has a rich history but has struggled in recent years. UNI has not appeared in the FCS playoffs since 2021.

Stepsis says his bid to rebuild the program will begin with homegrown talent.

Stepsis says getting the program back into championship contention begins with hard work.

Stepsis says the turnaround won’t be immediate.

The North Central Conference has announced it is adding Eagle Grove, Forest City and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura beginning in 2026. Quinn Douglas reports.

The Northern Iowa women return to action Tuesday night at home against South Dakota. The Panthers are 4-4 after a 75-71 loss to Creighton.

That’s UNI coach Tanya Warren. The Panthers lead the country by averaging 43 percent from three point range.

South Dakota is 4-6 and has one of the nation’s top scorers in former Southeast Polk High School star Grace Larkins.

BOYS

Dennis Field Invitational

ACGC Individual Finishes

• 132- Gavin Sloss (6-0): 1st place
• 144- Ryder Cline (6-0): 1st place
• 215- Michael Fuller (4-2): 2nd Place

Dan Hill Invitational

Audubon Individual Finishes

• 126- Lane Elmquist (6-1): 3rd place
• 150- Jack Stanerson (6-1): 3rd place
• 175- Alex Hansen (4-2): 2nd place

Exira-EHK Individual Finishes 

• 113- Kellen Krivohlavek (4-3): 3rd place
• 132- Eric Sutton (5-4): 4th place
• 165- Jayden Moody (6-1): 1st place

Harlan Individual Finishes 

• 120- Spencer Fink (3-0): 1st place
• 126- Jesse Jens (4-0): 1st place
• 175- Reese Koch (4-1): 3rd place

Treynor Cardinal Invite 

Griswold Individual Finishes 

• 132- Holden Jensen (4-1) 2nd place
• 132- Nollan Smith (2-2): 2nd place
• 190- Wyatt Peterson (2-2): 2nd place
• 285- RJ Dishong (3-2): 2nd place

Coach Riley Invitational

Nodaway Valley Individual Finishes

• 106- Josh Nelson (6-1): 1st place
• 190- Caleb Christensen (9-0): 1st place
• 215- Ashton Honnold (8-0): 1st place
• 285- Trenton Warner (8-0): 1st place

Individual Finishes for AHSTW

• 132- Tucker Osbahr (5-1): 1st place
• 175- Kayden Baxter (6-0): 1st place
• 285- Henry Lund (6-1): 2nd place

Individual Finishes for CAM

• 215- William Rouse (5-2): 5th place

GIRLS

Atlantic Individual Finishes

• 115- Cadence Kinzie (3-0): 1st place
• 170- Leiah Thomas (2-2): 4th place
• 235- Haley Armstrong (3-0): 1st place

Audubon Individual Finishes

• 120- Macy Rasmussen (13-0): 1st place

SWAT Individual Finishes

• 100- Jazz Christensen (7-4): 1st place
• 115- Destiny Fry (10-5): 2nd place
• 170- Stella Beattie (9-3): 1st place
• 190- Ellen Gerlock (11-2): 2nd place