(Radio Iowa) – Demolition is underway at the contaminated property in Des Moines where developers are planning to build a professional soccer stadium. The site is a mile west of Principal Park, where the Iowa Cubs play. Pesticides and car parts were made on the DICO property, leaving behind cancer-causing chemicals. E-P-A spokesperson Ben Washburn says once demolition is finished, a system will be installed to treat polluted groundwater. “And going forward with this upgraded system, it will continue to both protect Des Moines drinking water and continue to clean up the groundwater,” he says.

The E-P-A has capped the area with asphalt and installed treatment wells to contain soil and water contaminated with industrial chemicals. Once all the buildings are down, Washburn says the site will be ready for redevelopment. “We’re going to make sure that the site remains protective of the people that come and use it in the future,” Washburn says, “and part of that is making sure that the remedies that we have in place, whether something that is capped or the groundwater treatment system, remain effective and operational.”

Developers, led by a subsidiary of the company that owns Kum and Go convenience stores, are raising money to build a professional soccer stadium on the DICO site. State officials have approved 23 million dollars in tax rebates for the project. The EPA plans to finish its part of the demolition next month. City officials have said the rest of the site will be clear by the end of the year.

Class 1A and 2A schools will be playing for spots in the State Tournament field on Tuesday in Substate Finals. Here is a look at area match-ups with games all set to start at 7:00 p.m. We’ll have coverage of CAM vs. St. Albert in the 1A Substate 7 Final with pregame at 6:45 p.m. on KJAN.

CLASS 1A

Substate 5 @ Oskaloosa: New London vs. Mount Ayr
Substate 6 @ Nevada: Grundy Center vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard
Substate 7 @ Glenwood: St. Albert vs. CAM -ON KJAN
Substate 8 @ Sioux City West: Tri-Center vs. Kingsley-Pierson

CLASS 2A

Substate 8 @ Lewis Central: Clarinda vs. Panorama

CLASS 3A

Substate 8 

Gilbert 7, Harlan 1
Winterset 11, Denison-Schleswig 7

CLASS 4A

Substate 8

Waukee 14, Lewis Central 4

It took 11 innings and over three hours of play, but by the end of Monday night Atlantic softball had made history with a 10-9 win over Anamosa. The Trojans accomplished two new feats for the program; a quarterfinal round win, and 34 wins in a season. A wild back and forth affair ended on a RBI single from Jada Jensen to send Atlantic to the Semifinals on Wednesday against Assumption.

Anamosa got on top first with a run scored from the first batter Emily Watters. Atlantic climbed in front in the 4th, with help from four walks and a hit batter given up by Watters in the circle. Anamosa answered with three of their own in the top of the 5th, taking advantage of a couple walks and an error from the Trojans. Atlantic grabbed a run in the 6th to tie the game at 4. Anamosa plated a run in the top of the 7th on a well executed Maddy Meeker bunt. The Trojans would respond with Maleana Woodward bunting home a run from Lauren Nicholas. The Trojans left the winning run on 3rd and to extras they went.

No one scored in the 8th and the two squads traded runs in the 9th to keep it rolling at 6-6. Both teams left a runner stranded in the tenth. Then things got a bit wild in the 11th. Anamosa brought home on run on a 2-out double from Emily Watters. They would add two more on a single by catcher Lexi Bright. Atlantic didn’t let the three run deficit bring them down. Caroline Pellett reached on an error and Ava Rush earned a walk to start frame. Madison Botos got a base hit to load the bags. A wild pitch brought Caroline Pellett home to cut the deficit to 2. Maleana Woodward then earned the 12th walk of the night from Emily Watters to fill the bases back up. Alyssa Derby then stepped to the plate sporting an 0-4 night so far. She came through with a 2RBI single to tie the game back up at 9. Derby said she took a different approach at the plate that at bat.

The next two batters were put out for the Trojans, leaving runners at second and third with two outs. Jada Jensen then ripped the first pitch she saw up the middle to bring home courtesy runner Madison Huddleson for the winning run. Derby said the team had the right mindset heading into that last half inning.

Atlantic Head Coach Terry Hinzmann was extremely proud of the attitude and leadership that got them through a wild game.

The Trojans will play in their first ever state softball semifinal on Wednesday afternoon against Davenport Assumption. The Knights advanced with an 11-1 win over Clarke in 6 innings. That semifinal game Wednesday will be a 3:00 p.m. first pitch. We’ll have coverage on KJAN starting at 2:00 p.m.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State wrestling coach Kevin Dresser, the 2019 NWCA National Coach of the Year, has agreed to a contract extension through June 30, 2026.

“We are thrilled to know Coach Dresser will be leading our wrestling program for another five years,” Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “Coach Dresser has restored the excitement in our wrestling program with his tenacity and relentless energy. He has surrounded himself with outstanding assistant coaches who share his vision for the future of our wrestling program. I look forward to continuing to help them achieve their goals.”

Iowa State, which went 9-3 (4-1 Big 12) in dual action this season, had two Big 12 champions in David Carr and Gannon Gremmel and qualified eight wrestlers for the 2021 NCAA Championships. It’s the third season in a row that the Cyclones have qualified eight or more wrestlers for the national tournament – the program’s best streak since 2008-10.

Dresser has rebuilt the Cyclone wrestling program from the ground up since his arrival in 2017. His efforts have seen Iowa State climb on the national stage, highlighted most recently by a national championship for Carr at 157 pounds in 2021 – Iowa State’s first individual champion since 2015 (Kyven Gadson). Gremmel, a heavyweight, also made a run to the podium in St. Louis, finishing fifth to garner All-America honors. The Cyclones finished tied for 13th at the 2021 NCAA Championships.

Dresser has elevated the program annually. In his first season at Iowa State, Dresser took a team that won just one dual in 2016-17 and led them to an 8-10 dual mark. The following year, he was named the 2019 NWCA National Coach of the Year and Big 12 Coach of the Year while mentoring Jarrett Degen and Willie Miklus to All-America honors.

The 2019-20 season saw Dresser’s program make yet another leap. Iowa State went 7-1 in Big 12 duals, tied with Oklahoma State for the best record in the conference. For the first time since 2014, ISU produced two individual Big 12 champions (Ian Parker and David Carr), and the Cyclones were set to send nine to the NCAA Championships prior to the event’s cancellation due to COVID-19.

“I want to thank Jamie for this contract extension,” Dresser said. “I am very excited for my staff and this team moving forward. The extension is a testament to the hard work of this staff and our team.  There is much more to accomplish and we are all excited to watch this program continue to grow and succeed.  Thank you again to Jamie and all of those in our athletics department who have made these first four years so productive.”

Terms of Dresser’s new contract will be announced at a later date.

CLASS 1A

#1 Newell-Fonda 2, #8 North Butler 0
#4 Southeast Warren 9, #5 Sigourney 6
#2 Wayne 7, #7 Remsen St. Mary’s 2
#3 Lisbon 10, #6 Clarksville 0 (5 innings)

CLASS 2A

#1 Wilton 7, #8 Pella Christian 2
#4 Earlham 7, #5 North Union 4
#2 North Linn 5, #7 Iowa City Regina 2
#3 Central Springs 11, #6 Underwood 0 (5 innings)

CLASS 3A

#1 Davenport Assumption 11, #8 Clarke 1 (6 innings)
#4 Atlantic 10. #5 Anamosa 9 (11 innings)

A roster that includes seven seniors has led the Atlantic Trojans back to the State Softball Tournament after a two year hiatus. It’s been a focused goal for that senior group after falling short in the Regional Final last season. They will see that goal become reality when they step on the diamond for a 7:30 p.m. contest against Anamosa in the Quarterfinal round tonight. Head Coach Terry Hinzmann said this is a motivated group.

The match-up against the Blue Raiders shapes up on paper to be a pitchers dual. Senior Olivia Engler comes in with a 22-5 record and 1.22 ERA for the Trojans. She’ll face off against a talented sophomore, Emily Watters for Anamosa. Watters has a 21-6 record and holds a 0.86 ERA. Coach Hinzmann said it should be a great battle.

Every team hopes to be playing their best ball at the end of the season and for Atlantic that really seems to be the case. Coach Hinzmann said everyone has seemed to be very focused down the stretch run.

We’ll have coverage of the Trojans (33-5) vs. Anamosa Blue Raiders (32-9) on KJAN tonight with pregame starting at 6:30 p.m.

The 2021 State Softball Tournament begins today in Fort Dodge. Here is a look at today’s Quarterfinal round schedule.

CLASS 1A

#1 Newell-Fonda (35-4) vs. #8 North Butler (20-5) 11:00 a.m.
#4 Southeast Warren (28-8) vs. #5 Sigourney (25-8) 11:30 a.m.
#2 Wayne (23-4) vs. #7 Remsen St. Mary’s (21-4) 1:00 p.m.
#3 Lisbon (35-8) vs. #6 Clarksville (23-4) 1:30 p.m.

CLASS 2A

#1 Wilton (28-3) vs. #8 Pella Christian (17-18) 3:00 p.m.
#4 Earlham (32-9) vs. #5 North Union (29-4) 3:30 p.m.
#2 North Linn (39-6) vs. #7 Iowa City Regina (19-12) 5:00 p.m.
#3 Central Springs (29-6) vs. #6 Underwood (26-3) 5:30 p.m.

CLASS 3A

#1 Davenport Assumption (37-3) vs. #8 Clarke (17-11) 7:00 p.m.
#4 Atlantic (33-5) vs. #5 Anamosa (32-9) 7:30 p.m.

With Jim Field.

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The Atlantic Softball team heads to the State Tournament in Fort Dodge on Monday and the public is invited to the Atlantic High School parking lot for a sendoff. The send off will be held Monday morning at 8:20 a.m. Fans/supporters are encouraged to come out to wish the team the best and send them out of town in style.

The 33-5 Trojans face a 32-9 Anamosa team in the Quarterfinals on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. We’ll have coverage on KJAN with pregame at 6:30 p.m.