AMES, Iowa – Updated COVID-19 testing results by the Iowa State Athletics Department.

Nov. 9-Nov. 15
Total Tests         Athletes             Staff      Total Positive    Athlete Pos.      Staff Pos.       %Pos.
561                      420                      141        3                           1                           2                             0.53

June 8-Nov. 15
Total Tests         Athletes             Staff      Total Positive    Athlete Pos.      Staff Pos.       %Pos.
9,155                   6,665                   2,495    77                        63                        14                             0.84

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa Athletics Department conducted 592 COVID-19 PCR tests for the week of Nov. 9-15, 2020. Fifteen positive tests and 577 negative tests have been received. As part of the return to campus protocol, testing began May 29, 2020, and includes student-athletes, coaches and staff. A total of 313 positive tests, 9,317 negative tests and one inconclusive test have been received.

The Big Ten Conference began daily rapid antigen surveillance testing on Sept. 30, 2020. Any positive tests identified through the surveillance testing process would be confirmed through a PCR test and reflected in the numbers listed above.

Following the positive test result, protocol established by UI Athletics and medical staff, including contact tracing procedures, is being followed to ensure the safety of all UI Athletics student-athletes and staff. This mandatory protocol also includes isolation for the individuals who test positive, and quarantine for those individuals who might have been exposed to someone with the virus.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball program has signed eight players – all who hail from the Hawkeye State – who will join the program in the fall of 2021, it was announced Monday by head coach Rick Heller.

“We really like this class. It has a good mix of athletic position players who can hit and talented pitchers,” said Heller. “Most of these guys have been committed to our program for quite some time and they already feel like family. We are looking forward to their arrival and working with them next fall.

“(Associate head coach) Marty Sutherland did a fantastic job heading up our recruiting efforts.”

The class consists of Gehrig Christensen (C, Urbandale, Iowa), Weston Fulk (LHP, Ankeny, Iowa), Luke Llewellyn (RHP, Urbandale, Iowa), Sam Petersen (IF, Huxley, Iowa), Coy Sarsfield (OF, Marion, Iowa), Caden Stoffer (RHP, Fairfax, Iowa), Ben Wilmes (IF, Des Moines, Iowa) and Mitch Wood (IF, Ottumwa, Iowa).

The group features seven prep players and one junior college transfer and five positional players and three pitchers.  All seven prep players are nationally ranked by Perfect Game.

2020 Iowa Baseball Signees

Name                                    Pos.       Ht.    Wt.  B/T     Hometown/High School (Last School)
Gehrig Christensen                C           6-1    170   L/R     Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale
Weston Fulk                          LHP        6-4    230   L/L      Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny
Luke Llewellyn                      RHP        6-4    230   R/R     Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale (Kirkwood CC)
Sam Petersen                        IF            5-11 175   R/R     Huxley, Iowa/Ballard Community
Coy Sarsfield                         OF          5-8    175   R/R     Marion, Iowa/Linn Mar
Caden Stoffer                       RHP        6-4    175   R/R     Fairfax, Iowa/Cedar Rapids Prairie
Ben Wilmes                           IF            6-0    170   R/R     Des Moines, Iowa/Johnston
Mitch Wood                          IF            6-2    185   R/R     Ottumwa, Iowa/Ottumwa

Following the new guidelines set forth by Governor Reynolds on Monday night, the Iowa High School Athletic Association will make another adjustment to attendance at the State Football Finals this week. Here is the full statement put out by the IHSAA.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s football championship games currently set for Thursday and Friday at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls fall under high school sporting event guidelines as issued by Governor Kim Reynolds in an updated proclamation on Monday evening.

The proclamation will limit attendance to the six championship games to two spectators per participating athlete. The IHSAA played last week’s 12 semifinal games with face covering requirements and spectator restrictions at the UNI-Dome due to the continued spread of COVID-19.

The IHSAA will work with partners at the University of Northern Iowa, Black Hawk County Public Health, the Department of Education, and Iowa state government officials to provide further information and compliance on the planned event. Updates and clarifications on championship game protocols as they become available.