The Tri-Center Boys Basketball team kept their perfect season alive by beating Riverside 70-63 Friday night in Neola. A game that Tri-Center had the lead for basically the entire game and were able to utilize their depth to piece together the victory. Riverside was able to stay within striking distance with their efficient three-point shooting and ability to drive to the basket. Junior AJ Harder got off to a slow start in the first quarter but established his jump shot throughout the rest of the game led all scorers in the game with 23. A few runs from Riverside got the Bulldogs within two possessions at best in the second half but the execution down the stretch from the Trojans was too much to handle and sealed the seven-point victory at the free throw line.

The game began with energy, fast tempo, rowdy crowd and a lot of emotion from the players. In the first quarter, Riverside could hardly get anything moving inside the three-point line, forcing the Bulldogs to rely on the outside shot. Fortunately, enough for the Bulldogs, Junior Peyton Amdor hit a pair of threes to keep the Bulldogs within reach. Meanwhile on the Tri-Center side, they were able to get the ball down to their guys down low with ease. Senior Cael Witt led the first quarter with seven points, followed by a combined three layups from AJ Harder, Jaydin Johnson and Tyler Baatz. Tri-Center had an 18-13 lead after the first quarter.

In the second, the efficiency from the three-point line continued for the Bulldogs as they were able to knock down three triples in the quarter. On the flip side, the Riverside defense didn’t have much of an answer for Trojan season-leading scorer, Tyler Baatz as he managed to hit four shots within five feet. Harder hit a midrange jumper with just a few seconds left on the first half clock to give Tri-Center a 40-26 lead heading into the locker room. Riverside came out buzzing in the third quarter, forcing two Trojan turnovers and hitting their first three shots. The Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to six and force a Tri-Center timeout inside the first two minutes of the quarter. The Trojans got back on their game following the timeout, as AJ Harder’s midrange game came alive knocking down four 15 footers in the frame. Riverside wouldn’t roll over quite yet as the Bulldogs knocked down three triples in the last four minutes of the quarter. After three, it was 58-45 Trojans.

In the fourth, Riverside couldn’t stop AJ Harder as he was scoring at will. He went 3/4 from the free throw line as well to secure the victory. Tri-Center hung on for the seven-point victory.

Tri-Center Head Coach Chad Harter said it was great victory against a great team.

Harder also gave a big credit to his team playing well in the game’s biggest moments.

Staying calm was key for the Trojans in Harder’s mind.

Tri-Center improves to 4-0 while Riverside drops to 2-2.

The Riverside Girls Basketball team defeated Tri-Center Friday night 60-21. The offensive rebounding by Junior Sydney Somers fueled the Bulldog offense early alongside a pair of Azlyn Clark three pointers in the first quarter. The second quarter was Tri-Center’s most productive quarter in the game scoring 15 of their 21 points in the eight-minute frame. The Trojans were led by Freshman Haley Harder who finished with eleven points and Senior Macie Schneckloth with eight points all in the second quarter. In the second half, the Bulldogs capitalized off turnovers and continued to feed the posts with 13 second half field goals. For the Trojans, they ran into a rut in the third and fourth quarters with just three points in the half.

The game started slow, as both teams were cold shooting from the field early on. That was until Riverside Head Coach Mark Jeppeson called a quick timeout and seemed to reiterate the Bulldogs’ gameplan. As soon as the teams broke the huddle Riverside fed their starting center, Junior Sydney Somers. Somers used her strength and size to assess her ground in the post and put in four baskets within five feet in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the outside shooting ramped up for Riverside as Junior Azlyn Clark knocked down a pair of threes in the opening frame to give Riverside a 21-4 lead after the first quarter.

Tri-Center found some momentum early in the second from Senior Macie Schneckloth as she was able to establish herself in the paint. The Trojan senior center had eight points in the second quarter, mixed in with five points from Haley Harder. Tri-Center had made the adjustments after the first quarter ended and packed the paint disallowing Somers to have so much room. Riverside became more aggressive with the smaller floor and earned three trips to the free throw line in the second quarter. The Bulldogs led 30-18 at the break.

In the second half, Riverside was able to steal the ball left and right from the Trojans creating several breakaway layups for Junior Sophia Fenner. Fenner had a nine-point third quarter which counted for over 75% of the third quarter Bulldog points. Tri-Center had another two from Haley Harder and a free throw from Sophomore Cameron Way. After three, it was 45-21 Riverside.

In the fourth, Riverside was able to get back to feeding the post but this time it was Junior Lilli Reed scoring six in the paint. Tri-Center failed to score in the fourth quarter and the Bulldogs won the game 60-21.

Riverside Head Coach Mark Jeppeson said in-game adjustments were the key to the victory.

Jeppeson says the posts stepped up in a big way in the win.

Pressure is the key on defense for the Bulldogs.

Riverside improved to 4-1 on the season while Tri-Center dropped to 2-2.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa graduate center Logan Jones is the recipient of the 2025 Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s most outstanding center in college football. The announcement was made Friday evening during the ESPN College Football Awards Show.

The center with the most first-team votes on three All-America teams (Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News, and Football Writers Association of America) determines the winner of the Rimington Trophy.

Jones will be honored at the Rimington Trophy banquet in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Jan. 24, 2026.

“It is an absolute honor to be recognized as this year’s Rimington Trophy recipient,” Jones said. “It’s humbling to join the great winners who came before me. I want to thank Coach Ferentz, my head coach; Coach Barnett, my position coach; and most of all, my teammates—especially my fellow offensive linemen. I would not be here without them.”

Jones (6-foot-3, 302 pounds) anchors Iowa’s offensive line, which is a Joe Moore Award finalist. The first-team All-Big Ten honoree and Outland Trophy finalist has started 50 career games and has served as a game captain all 12 games this season. He is the top-rated center in the country by Pro Football Focus and has not been flagged for an offensive holding penalty in 2025. Jones’ protection, along with the rest of the line, has helped quarterback Mark Gronowski break school single-season records for rushing yards (491) and rushing touchdowns (15) by a quarterback.

Jones and the Hawkeyes have out-rushed their opponents nine times in 2025, compiling 245 yards in the victory over Penn State on Oct. 18 and rushing for 310 yards in the season-opening win over UAlbany. The unit helped Iowa gain more than 200 yards in five games and the line surrendered just 16 sacks. Jones was the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week on the weekend of Oct. 25 following Iowa’s 41-3 convincing victory over Minnesota.

Iowa is one of four schools to have multiple Rimington Trophy honorees, joining Ohio State, Michigan and Alabama. Former Hawkeye Tyler Linderbaum was awarded the trophy in 2021. Former Hawkeyes Austin Blythe and Bruce Nelson were finalists in 2015 and 2002, respectively.

Twelve Hawkeyes have earned national Player of the Year honors on 13 occasions under Moon Family Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz.

“Having Logan as the anchor of our offensive line is a tremendous asset for our football team,” said Ferentz. “He has worked tirelessly to become one of the nation’s best players. He is a leader on and off the field. He plays with a tenacity that sets the tone for the entire roster, and I am excited that he is being honored with the Rimington Trophy.”

Since its inception, the award has raised over $5.2 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“Playing at the University of Iowa has been an honor, and representing this team has meant everything to me,” added Jones. “This year has been a blast and I’m grateful for one more opportunity with my brothers in Tampa. Go Hawks!”

No. 23 Iowa will face No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31, in Tampa, Florida. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. (CT) from Raymond James Stadium.

LOGAN JONES HONORS | 2025
Rimington Trophy Recipient
Outland Trophy Finalist
The Athletic, USA Today, First-Team All-America
First Team All-Big Ten (coaches; media)
First Team All-Big Ten (Associated Press)
Outland Trophy National Player of the Week (Oct. 28)

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Two University of Iowa football players — graduate center Logan Jones and graduate return specialist Kaden Wetjen — have been named Walter Camp First-Team All-Americans, it was announced Friday by the Walter Camp Foundation. Iowa is one of five schools with two first team honorees, joining Miami (Fla.), Texas Tech, USC and Utah.

The Hawkeyes have had at least one Walter Camp All-American (first or second team) over the past 12 seasons, dating back to 2014. Iowa has the longest active streak nationally of having a first-team All-American (2019-25). The Hawkeyes have had multiple Walter Camp honorees in six of the last seven years, including the last three seasons with multiple first-team selections.

Walter Camp, the nation’s oldest college football All-America team, is one of five outlets recognized by the NCAA to determine consensus All-Americans (Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Sporting News and Associated Press).

Earlier tonight, Jones was announced as the recipient of the 2025 Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s most outstanding center in college football. Jones anchors Iowa’s offensive line, which is a Joe Moore Award finalist. The first-team All-Big Ten honoree and Outland Trophy finalist has started 50 career games and has served as a game captain all 12 games this season.

The native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, is the top-rated center in the country by Pro Football Focus and has not been flagged for an offensive holding penalty in 2025. Jones’ protection, along with the rest of the line, has helped quarterback Mark Gronowski break school single-season records for rushing yards (491) and rushing touchdowns (15) by a quarterback.

Jones and the Hawkeyes have out-rushed their opponents nine times in 2025, compiling 245 yards in the victory over Penn State on Oct. 18 and rushing for 310 yards in the season-opening win over UAlbany. The unit helped Iowa gain more than 200 yards in five games and the line surrendered just 16 sacks. Jones was the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week on the weekend of Oct. 25 following Iowa’s 41-3 convincing victory over Minnesota.

Wetjen became the first two-time recipient of the Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Award since the award was introduced in 2015. He also earned first-team all-conference honoree by both the coaches and media.

Wetjen, who is a Jet Award finalist, leads the nation with 965 combined kick return yards (by 260 yards), while also ranking first in punt return yards (28.3). The Williamsburg, Iowa, native was a three-time Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week in 2025. He is the only Big Ten player to record at least three punt returns and one kickoff return for a score in the same season. Wetjen returned a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown at Rutgers, and had punt return scores of 95 yards (UMass), 62 yards (Michigan State) and 50 yards (Minnesota) this season. His 28.3 punt return average is currently tops in Big Ten history and the three punt return scores are tied for third-most in a single season in league annals.

The 2025 American Football Coaches Association FBS Coaches’ All-America teams will be announced on Friday.

No. 23 Iowa will face No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31, in Tampa, Florida. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. (CT) from Raymond James Stadium.

2025 IOWA POSTSEASON ALL-AMERICA NATIONAL HONORS
LOGAN JONES: Rimington Trophy, Walter Camp, The Athletic, USA Today (First Team), CBS (Second Team)
BEAU STEPHENS: USA Today (First Team), On3 (Second Team)
KADEN WETJEN: Walter Camp, USA Today, On3 (First Team)