(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, voted to end the District’s sharing agreement with the S.W.A.T. girls wrestling team, and instead proceed with organizing the District’s own team. Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen says Activities Director Andy Mitchell has met with the Atlantic Girls Squad members and their parents several times.

She said it’s estimated there may be anywhere from 12-to-17 participants when the program begins.

They also agreed to advertise for a Girls Wrestling Coach, the position for which is budgeted for during negotiations, according to Board Secretary Lisa Jones.

It’s expected the Lincoln School Gym will likely be used for practices.

The S.W.A.T. team in the past has included C.A.M. (The host district), along with Atlantic, Griswold, Nodaway Valley, and Southwest Valley. Southwest Valley opted out last season to form its own program, while Griswold left the team to share girl’s wrestling with Red Oak.

Iowa State junior Caleb Bacon says new linebackers coach Colby Kratch has brought a new mentality to the group. The former Cyclone graduate assistant spent last season at North Texas before rejoining the ISU staff.

Bacon is a former walk-on who earned a scholarship after appearing in all 13 games last season and finishing second in tackles. He feels more confident this fall camp.

As one of the older linebackers Bacon is expected to take on more of a leadership role this season.

The Cyclones open August 31st at home against North Dakota.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State redshirt sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht has been named to the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Preseason Watch List as announced by The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, along with presenting sponsor A.O. Smith Corporation.

The award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class.

Becht is coming off a stellar redshirt freshman campaign in which he was named the 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and a Second-Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic a year ago.

The Wesley Chapel, Florida, native completed 231 passes for 3,120 yards and 23 touchdowns, breaking the ISU freshman record in each category. He led the Cyclones to a 7-6 record, including 6-3 in Big 12 Conference play.

Tickets for the 2024 football season are on sale now with a slate that features Kansas State and a Homecoming showdown with Texas Tech as well as others. Fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $299, while mini-packs, single-game tickets and parking are also on sale.

The Cyclones open the season August 31 against 2023 FCS Playoff qualifier North Dakota.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior quarterback Cade McNamara has been named to the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award preseason watch list. The award is presented annually to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback.

McNamara’s 2023 season as Iowa’s signal caller was cut short when he suffered a season-ending injury in the fifth game. Prior to his injury, he completed 46-of-90 passes for 505 yards and four touchdowns.

The award is named after quarterback Johnny Unitas, who was nicknamed “The Golden Arm” for his record-setting play for the Baltimore Colts in the NFL. Former Hawkeye Nate Stanley was a finalist for the award in 2019.

The 2024 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., as well as other notable attendees at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec. 6.

McNamara and the Hawkeyes open their season Aug. 31 against Illinois State. The sold-out game is set for an 11 a.m. (CT) kickoff at Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium.

HAWKEYES ON 2024 WATCH LISTS
* Sebastian Castro – Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY) // Jim Thorpe Award (DB)
* Jay Higgins — Butkus Award (LB) // Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY) // Wuerffel Award (community service)
* Nick Jackson — Butkus Award (LB) // Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Chuck Bednarik Award (D-POY)
* Leshon Williams — Doak Walker Award (RB)
* Logan Jones – Outland Trophy (OL) // Rimington Award (C)
* Drew Stevens – Lou Groza Award (PK)
* Luke Elkin — Mannelly Award (LS)
* Cade McNamara – Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (QB) // Comeback POY
* Luke Lachey – Mackey Award (TE) // Comeback POY

Iowa center Logan Jones is poised for a big senior season. The former Lewis Central star was moved from defensive line to center in the spring of 2022 as the Hawkeyes needed a replacement for All-American Tyler Linderbaum. Success was not immediate, but Jones says the patience offensive line coach George Barnett displayed paid off. Jones was named a third team All-Big Ten selection in 2023.

Jones credits him teammates for helping the transition to offensive line.

Jones is part of an experienced offensive line that hopes to help the offense make progress this season. Jones says it is a unit with outstanding chemistry.

Barnett says Jones has become an outstanding communicator at center.

The Hawkeyes open August 31st by hosting Illinois State.

Iowa high schools are adjusting to what will be a new sports schedule next school year. It was announced on Monday that the sports of girl’s tennis and boys golf will move from the spring season to the fall. Dike-New Hartford Activities Director Cody Eichmeier says the announcement came after months of speculation.

Eichmeir says the change will likely impact participation numbers in not only the affected sports but others as well.

Eichmeier says the biggest impact will be on the athletes currently competing at the high school level.

The changes take effect in the 2025-2026 school year.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa fifth-year senior Jay Higgins has been named a 2024 Sporting News Preseason All-American, the publication announced Wednesday.

The preseason honor is Higgins’ fourth. The Indianapolis native was also selected as a preseason first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation, Phil Steele and Athlon. Higgins was also named the Phil Steele Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Higgins earned All-America distinction from eight different outlets a season ago, including Sporting News. He was Iowa’s Roy Carver Most Valuable Player on defense for a unit that ranked fourth nationally, surrendering 14.8 points per game.

Higgins started all 14 games in 2023, leading the team with 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists). The figure tied an Iowa single season school record, led the Big Ten and ranked third nationally. He finished with 15+ tackles in three games and 10+ tackles in 10 contests.

Former Hawkeyes Cooper DeJean and Tory Taylor were Sporting News Preseason All-Americans a year ago.

The Hawkeyes open the 2024 season Aug. 31, hosting Illinois State at 11 a.m. (CT) inside Kinnick Stadium.

Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley says Aidan Dunne is leading the race to become the starting quarterback for the Panther’s new “Air Raid” offense. The native of Dubuque is competing against Wisconsin native Matt Schecklman and former Southeast Polk star Jaxon Dailey to become UNI’s starter. Dailey is a transfer from Arkansas State.

Farley says all three are getting reps.

Farley says all three have done well in adjusting to the new offense.

Farley says at some point who the starter should be will become clear in practice.

The Panthers have missed the FCS playoffs the past two seasons and they are picked to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Farley says that is a result of the strength of the league.

Farley says the key in Missouri Valley play is winning the close games.

The Panthers open at home on August 31st against Valparaiso.

Iowa State coach Matt Campbell says senior wide receiver Daniel Jackson may be lost for the season. Jackson suffered a lower leg injury in practice that required surgery. The native of Texas had 16 receptions last season, including two touchdowns.

The good news in the wake of the injury is receiver is one of the deepest position groups on the team.

Jackson has already used a redshirt season but there is a possibility he could use a COVID year and return.

THIS WEEK

University of Iowa women’s soccer travels to Missoula, Montana, for the Rumble in the Rockies. The Hawkeyes take on Oregon State at 4 p.m. (CT) on Thursday before facing Colorado College at Noon (CT) on Sunday in the season-opening event.

WATCH/FOLLOW LIVE

• Both matches stream live on ESPN+ (subscription required).
• Links to streaming and live stats can be found at the gameday page on hawkeyesports.com.
• Fans can follow the Iowa soccer program on Twitter/X (@HawkeyeSoccer) for live in-game updates.

SCOUTING THE BEAVERS

• Interim Head Coach Caroline Kelly was elevated in July after seven seasons as an assistant at the Division I level. Kelly previously headed recruiting and defense for Oregon State, guiding the team to seven shutouts in 2023, a high watermark for the past decade of Beaver women’s soccer.
• Oregon State finished 4-8-7 last season with a 1-6-4 conference record. Leading scorer McKenna Martinez brings back 15 points from the 2023 campaign, including six goals. Six of the team’s top seven point-scorers return on offense.
• The Beavers averaged 1.79 goals against last season, compared to a program-record 0.76 goals against average posted by the Hawkeye defense a year ago.
• The Beavers will compete in the West Coast Conference for the first time this season.

SERIES HISTORY – OREGON STATE 

Iowa and Oregon State meet for the first time in program history.

SCOUTING THE PREDATORS

• Colorado College posted a 3-13-2 record last season, scoring 15 goals on the year and allowing 2.72 goals against.
• Midfielder Kaelin Enga joined utility players Alexis Wessler and Makenna Kolson as Mountain West Preseason Players to Watch. Enga and Wessler join defender Ava Risser and midfielder Alex Sandoval as the squad’s leading returners on offense, where they each tallied three points apiece, last fall.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Regan Wallace started in all 18 games last season. The Predators return all three keepers who saw the field in 2023.
• The Predators were voted 12th in the 2024 Mountain West Preseason Poll.
• Colorado College advanced to the national semifinals or championship match five times in seven years during the1980s and is considered a pioneering program in collegiate women’s athletics.

SERIES HISTORY – COLORADO COLLEGE 

Iowa is 0-2-0 against the Predators, historically. The last meeting between the two schools was in 2005.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Head Coach Dave DiIanni enters his 11th year at the helm of the Iowa women’s soccer program. Last season was another for the history books, as Iowa won the program’s second Big Ten Tournament Championship. Iowa qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third time since 2019 and fourth time in school history.
• Iowa is ranked No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll to start the year. The preseason ranking is a first in program history. The Hawkeyes also earned their first postseason ranking last fall, checking in at No. 24 to finish the year. Iowa peaked at No. 14 in the national polls, another all-time best.
• The Hawkeyes return three of four starting defenders from a team that posted program records for shutouts (13) and goal against average (0.76). Graduate-student Maggie Johnston, sophomore Eva Pattison and sophomore Millie Greer return alongside veteran goalkeeper Macy Enneking.
• Greer (#39) and midfielder Sofia Bush (#87) were ranked top-100 freshmen at the end of the season by Top Drawer Soccer.
• Offensively, Iowa returns five of six leading point scorers, including leading-scorer Kelli McGroarty.  The graduate student brings back a team-best 18 points and seven goals from 2023.
• The roster features 10 newcomers, including six freshmen and four transfers.
• Bush, Enneking and Greer were named Big Ten Players to Watch. The Hawkeyes were ranked eighth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. Enneking is a United Soccer Coaches national preseason honoree.
• Johnston and Enneking are captains, with graduate-student Rielee Fetty serving as vice captain.

RUMBLE IN THE ROCKIES

The preseason event is hosted by the Montana Grizzlies. To win the event, teams must sweep their two matches, with a scoring differential to be used as a tiebreaker.

FRESH FACES
Iowa welcomes six freshmen and four new transfer additions.

• Three freshmen hail from the state of Michigan, including Charlotte Bien (M), Keira Biils (M) and Caliegh Collard (F/M). Forward Abby Warner is a native of Pella, Iowa, while Berit Parten is from St. Paul, Minnesota, and Berkely Binggeli (F/M) hails from Heber City, Utah.
• Parten posted a hat-trick in the preseason exhibition against South Dakota last week.
• Graduate-student Maya Hansen (F) joins the Hawkeyes from South Dakota State, where she holds program records with 44 goals, 107 points and 18 game-winning goals. The Savage, Minnesota, native is a three-time All-Summit League First Team selection and a two-time all-region honoree.
• Graduate-student Lauren Geczik (F/D) joins the program from Texas A&M, where she made 29 starts through 39 games. Geczik scored 13 points on four goals and five assists with the Aggies.
• Graduate-student Madison Wilson (M) led Dayton with 16 points last season, where she started for four seasons.
• Junior Alexia Griffin (D) started in every game at Southern Miss over the past two seasons. Griffin tacked on one goal a year ago while leading the Golden Eagle defense.

RETURNING FIREPOWER

Five of Iowa’s top-six point scorers return from last season. Of that group, all but one are seniors or fifth-year players.

• Returning Totals/2023 Totals: 80/105 Points, 26/36 goals, 28/33 assists
• McGroarty led the Hawkeyes with 18 points and seven goals last season. Senior Kenzie Roling led the team with five assists and totaled 11 points for the year.
• Senior Elle Otto scored 13 points on five goals and three assists in 2023.
• Fourth and fifth-year players combine for 19 of Iowa’s 26 returning goals and 55 of 80 total points returning on offense. Iowa is 43-2-3 in its last 48 games when scoring two goals or more, which dates back to October of 2017. The Hawkeyes scored multiple goals in 10 matches last season.
• Bush secured eight points on three goals and two assists as a true freshman in the midfield.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Iowa allowed just 17 goals in 2023, setting new program bests for goals against average (0.76) and shutouts (13). Both records had stood since the first season under Head Coach Dave DiIanni in 2014.

• Three starters return from that top statistical defense in program history, including sophomores Greer and Pattison with captain Maggie Johnston. Senior Miah Schueller also has starting experience at defender.
•  Iowa outscored opponents 36-17, dominating opponents in shots (307-164) and SOG (149-75).

A KEEPER!

Goalkeeper Macy Enneking set a program individual record for goalkeeper shutouts last season (12.5), tying for fifth nationally.

• The Hilliard, Ohio, native has started all five years at Iowa, anchoring the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances and conference tournament championships.
• Enneking is the first Hawkeye named to the United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch List.

BIGGER BIG TEN
The Big Ten Conference welcomes UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington to the conference this season. The Bruins are ranked 11th nationally while the Trojans check in at No. 23.

• The Bruins were national champions in 2022 and 2013; the Trojans were national champions in 2016 and 2007. Along with Washington, the three programs combine for 62 NCAA Tournament appearances; Oregon has never qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
• Iowa hosts Washington on Oct. 17 and Oregon on Oct. 20.

SINCE 2019, IOWA…

• Won both Big Ten Tournament Championships in program history (2021, 2023)
• Won each of two NCAA Tournament victories in program history
• Made three of four NCAA Tournament appearances in program history
• Has earned 10 postseason wins
• Has posted 42 shutouts
• Defeated seven ranked opponents, six top-15 opponents and two top-five opponents
• Saw Coach DiIanni surpass 300 career wins and become the winningest coach in program history
• Set a new home attendance record (2,629); the overtime win over Bucknell was the first NCAA Tournament game hosted at the Iowa Soccer Complex

NEW HAWKEYE HEIGHTS

Iowa women’s soccer alumni are reaching new heights.

• Samantha Cary (‘23) became the first Iowa women’s soccer product selected in the NWSL Draft. Iowa’s all-time minutes leader was picked 48th overall by Racing Louisville. Cary later signed with IFK Norrköping, which plays in Sweden’s top-tier league.
• Cloé Lacasse (‘14) became the first Hawkeye to compete at the Olympic Games this summer. Lacasse made started and scored a goal competing for Canada Soccer in Paris. Lacasse is tied for first in Iowa program history for career points (112) and sits atop the Hawkeye record book in career shots (306).
• Lacasse plays professionally for Arsenal W.F.C in London, where she tallied three goals through eight starts and 13 substitutions last season. Lacasse was player of the year for 2023 at her previous stop in the top Portuguese league for  S.L. Benifica.

UP NEXT
Iowa travels to Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Aug. 22 to take on Western Michigan. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT). The Hawkeyes face Texas on Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. on the road.