The 2023-2024 season for Riverside Softball ended in a 7-2 loss to Earlham in the class 1A-Region 2 semifinal and with an overall record of (20-12). No coach wants their team to end the year on a loss and that is especially true for Riverside Head Coach Lacie Patterson. However, coach Patterson did comment on the pride she felt from the tenacity that her team held throughout the entire season.

The Bulldogs stayed true to their never give up mentality and it led to a few highlight victories against some of the better softball teams in southwest Iowa. Two big comeback wins for Riverside on the year was a 6-5 triumph over Griswold and a 2-1 prevail against Woodbine.

Things look promising for Riverside softball next year as the team had no seniors in their starting lineup. The Bulldogs have plenty of skill to go around like eighth grade pitcher Peyton Schafer who showed some tremendous improvement throughout the year. Schafer had a season record of 18-8, 137 strikeouts, opponents’ batting average of .204, and an ERA of 2.91.

Schafer was not the only Riverside athlete that stood out to coach Patterson with their development. Freshman Kayden Schnak led the team in homeruns with 5 and in RBIs at 37. Sydney Somers contributed with 18 hits and 13 walks. Lastly, Adaline Martens who had 20 hits and 12 RBIs. This trio continued to refine themselves the whole summer.

While next softball season does seem a million miles away for coach Patterson, she does have one idea of what the future will hold for next year’s team and that will be the same culture as last season.

Riverside finished the 2023-2024 season with an 8-7 conference record in the Western Iowa Conference.

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AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel have been named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, given annually to the top pass catcher in college football.

Iowa State was one of six schools nationally with multiple players on the list.

The senior pair ranks among the nation’s top returning duos for combined receptions (119), receiving yards (1,803) and receiving touchdowns (13).

Noel, a Kansas City, Missouri, native, finished the 2023 season with 66 receptions for 820 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He has a reception in 32 consecutive games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in both school history and actively in the nation.

Higgins joined the Cyclones last season and provided an instant threat for Rocco Becht and the Cyclone offense. The South Miami, Florida, native had 53 receptions for 983 yards and six touchdowns. His. 18.5 yards per catch ranked among the nation’s top 20. Higgins concluded his season with a 214-yard performance against Memphis in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the second-most receiving yards in a single game in school history.

Both players were recognized by Big 12 coaches in 2023. Noel was a Second Team All-Big 12 selection and Higgins an honorable mention pick.

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.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wide receiver Isaiah Alston has been named to the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award watch list, presented by College Sports Communicators in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization.

The watch list includes 90 college football student-athletes from 68 different schools. Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances.

Alston, a redshirt junior from Cateret, New Jersey, transferred to Iowa State from Army after the 2023 season. He played just four games last season due to an ankle injury suffered in a September game against Syracuse.

Alston finished the season with nine receptions and two touchdowns while averaging 29.6 yards per catch.

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 State wide receiver Jayden Higgins says an experienced Iowa State team is confident heading into the season. The transfer from Eastern Kentucky had 53 catches a year ago, and gave the Cyclones a big play threat by averaging 18 and-a-half yards per reception. He is one of 18 starters returning.

After a 7-6 season a year ago the Cyclones are picked by many to be a contender in the Big 12.

Taylor Mouser is ISU’s third offensive coordinator in three years but Higgins says the changes have been minimal.

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

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa graduate-students Luke Lachey and Cade McNamara have been named to the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List, the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) announced on Wednesday.

Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness or other circumstances. In association with the Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization, the College Sports Communicators honor three winners at the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.

A panel of college football writers, editors and sports information directors votes to select the honorees.

Lachey (six-foot-six, 247-pounds) was previously recognized as a preseason second-team All-Big Ten tight end by Athlon and was a fourth-team All-Big Ten pick by Phil Steele. Last season, the Columbus, Ohio, native secured 10 passes for 131 yards before sustaining a season-ending injury in the third game of the season.

Lachey has made 13 career starts through 30 games played, hauling in four touchdowns and 662 yards across 46 receptions.

McNamara (6-foot-1, 210-pounds) started at quarterback in Iowa’s first five games last season before sustaining a season-ending injury. McNamara completed 46-of-90 passes for 505 yards and four touchdowns.

MnNamara previously played at the University of Michigan, where he was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2021. The Reno, Nevada, native started all 14 games that season, leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten Championship.

McNamara completed 210-of-327 passes for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, McNamara appeared in four games as a sophomore in 2020, completing 43-of-71 pass attempts for 425 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions.

The Hawkeyes open their season on Aug. 31 against Illinois State. The sold-out game is set for an 11 a.m. (CT) kickoff.

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

Iowa three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee opens the Paris Olympics early Thursday morning with an opening round match. Lee is wrestling in the freestyle division at 125 pounds. Lee has competed internationally in several different age divisions.

Lee while the U-S colors Lee also feels he is representing Iowa.

Lee is known for his attacking style and says that won’t change this week.

Hawkeye coach Tom Brands is in Paris to watch Lee compete and does not think the pressure of the Olympics will bother him.

Brands says Lee’s extensive international experience is a plus.

Brands says Lee has high expectations heading into the competition.

The qualification round begins at 4:30AM, Iowa time on Thursday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the second straight year, Iowa State has placed 14 student-athletes on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar Athlete team following the 2023-24 academic year.

To earn the honor, a student-athlete must earn a 3.5 grade point average or higher.

Players who earned the honors from the 2024 Cyclone softball team were Angelina Allen, McKenna Andrews, Ireland Buss, Kali Gose, Maddie Knowles, Sophie Maras, Camille Marin, Paige Nakashima, Isabelle Nosan, Alesia Ranches, Lauren Schurman, Carli Spelhaug, Olivia Wardlow and Paige Zender.

Allen, Andrews and Maras all were recognized for the second straight year, while Spelhaug and Wardlow each earned the recognition for the third straight season.

Over 8,000 collegiate softball players from NAIA to Division One earned the honor.

PARIS, France – Former University of Iowa sprinter Brittany Brown earned the bronze medal in the 200 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday afternoon.

In her Olympic debut, Brown crossed the line in 22.20 to finish third. The final 40 meters proved crucial for Brown, overtaking Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita to claim the third-place medal.

Fellow American Gabby Thomas took the gold medal. Julian Alfred of Saint Lucia was the silver medalist.

Brown dominated each of her heats in the lead up to the finals. She gained the auto-qualifier in 22.38 in the first round on Sunday morning and punched her ticket to the finals in 22.12 in the semifinals on Monday afternoon.

With her finish, Brown became the first woman to earn an individual Olympic medal in Iowa track and field program history. Overall, she is Iowa’s seventh Olympic medalist in track and field and first since Anthuan Maybank won gold in the 4×400 relay at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Brown’s third-place finish is the highest Olympic finish of a Hawkeye since Troy Doris took seventh in the triple jump in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“Brittany ran a terrific race to win the Olympic Bronze medal,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said. “We are all proud of her amazing accomplishment tonight. She had a great career as a Hawkeye and it’s fun to watch her continue that success on the Olympic stage. She has been able to overcome a lot of adversity by staying focused and committed to reaching her goals. Tonight was a true culmination of everything she has put into this sport. Hopefully, we can get her back on campus this fall to celebrate her success in Kinnick Stadium.”

At Iowa, Brown (’18) was an 11-time All-American and the 2018 indoor 200-meter Big Ten champion. She holds the 200-meter school record.

RESULTS

First Round

4. 22.38, Q

Semifinals

4. 22.12, Q

Finals

3. 22.20, Bronze Medalist

AMES, Iowa – Abu Sama III has been named to the 2024 Doak Walker Award preseason candidate list, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced Tuesday.

A 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team selection in 2023, Sama rushed for 614 yards and six touchdowns in his first collegiate season. His 614 yards were the third-most by a freshman in school history while his six scores tied for the third-most.

The Des Moines, Iowa native averaged 7.3 yards per carry which set a new freshman single-season school record. Sama showed he possesses big-play ability with five touchdowns of 50 yards or more last year, the most in a single season at ISU dating back to 1971.

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 running back Leshon Williams has been named a preseason candidate for the 2024 Doak Walker Award, it was announced Tuesday by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum.

The award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top college running back, is named for SMU’s three-time All-American running back Doak Walker. This season marks the 34th edition of the award.

Williams (5-foot-10, 214-pounds) led the team with 170 rushes for 821 yards (4.8 yards per carry) in 2023. He had three 100-yard games during the season, including a career-high 174 yards in the road win at Wisconsin.

The Chicago native, who is an Athlon preseason All-Big Ten fourth team selection this season, earned honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by both the league coaches and media in 2023. He was also a Phil Steele fourth-team All-Big Ten selection and Iowa’s Roy Carver Team Offensive MVP.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 12, 2024.

Former Hawkeye Shonn Greene won the award in 2008, while Albert Young was a semifinalist in 2005.

Iowa opens the season on Aug. 31 against Illinois State. The sold-out game is set for an 11 a.m. (CT) kickoff.

HAWKEYES ON 2024 WATCH LISTS
* Sebastian Castro – Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Jim Thorpe Award (DB)
* Jay Higgins — Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY) // Wuerffel Award (community service)
* Nick Jackson — Bronko Nagurski Trophy (D-POY)
* Leshon Williams — Doak Walker Award (RB)
* Logan Jones – Outland Trophy (OL)
* Drew Stevens – Lou Groza Award (PK)
* Luke Elkin — Mannelly Award (LS)