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Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
UNDATED (AP) — This has been an interesting season for Big 12 quarterbacks. Kansas State and Texas Tech changed starting QBs midseason for different reasons. There are true freshmen starting for both Big 12 teams in Kansas. No. 18 Oklahoma is led by redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler. The senior seasons for Sam Ehlinger at No. 21 Texas and Charlie Brewer at Baylor don’t necessarily have to be the end of their college careers. They could take another season of NCAA eligibility because of COVID-19.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Not long ago, NFL Films sat down with Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid to reflect on his four decades in football. The offensive mastermind affectionately known as “Big Red” had a rare opportunity to ponder his past. More than anything else Reid found himself thinking about the people in coaching that have meant so much to him, including the 10 that have joined him at the pinnacle of their profession. Five of them remain NFL head coaches, giving Reid one of the most successful trees in the coaching profession.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mohamed Ibrahim and the rest of the Minnesota offense took advantage of the long offseason created by the pandemic with some extra screen time. Ibrahim has been seeing the field as clearly as ever this fall for the Gophers. The junior tailback leads the nation with an average of 190 rushing yards per contest. He has 10 touchdowns in just three games, as the Gophers prepare to host rival Iowa. The punishing ground attack is plenty familiar to the Hawkeyes and their followers. Iowa has had the Floyd of Rosedale trophy for the last five years. Both teams are 1-2.
UNDATED (AP) — Penn State and Nebraska both are looking for their first wins heading into their game on Saturday. The Nittany Lions came into the season ranked in the top 10 but are 0-3 after an embarrassing home loss to Maryland. The Cornhuskers are still looking for a turnaround under Scott Frost, having gone 9-17 in his two-plus seasons. Their loss at Northwestern last week dropped them to 0-2. Nebraska ranks seventh in all-time wins with 902 and Penn State is eighth with 898. The Huskers have won three of four meetings since joining the Big Ten.
UNDATED (AP) — Nebraska, Penn State and Michigan — three of the eight winningest programs in major college football — are a combined 1-7. Each of these programs seems to be at a different stage of distress, but it’s jarring to see all three having trouble at the same time. Nebraska hosts Penn State this weekend in a matchup of winless teams. Michigan is 1-2, but the Wolverines are on a two-game skid heading into a matchup with No. 13 Wisconsin. Coaches Scott Frost, James Franklin and Jim Harbaugh have a lot of work to do to turn things around this year.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self was still trying to figure out the makeup of his team the first week of November, roughly about the time the Jayhawks would have had a couple exhibition games under their belt in anticipation of the season. Unlike last year, when he knew exactly what he had in Udoka Azubuike and Devon Dotson. But those guys are gone and the Jayhawks will lean on a few veterans, a couple of newcomers and enough unknowns that sixth-ranked Kansas will likely be one of the most intriguing teams in the early part of the season.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A lawyer for 13 Black former Iowa football players says that he has filed a lawsuit alleging his clients suffered racial discrimination under longtime coach Kirk Ferentz. The plaintiffs, including former star running back Akrum Wadley and all-time receptions leader Kevonte Martin-Manley, allegedly suffered “serious and pervasive discriminatory treatment and harassment,” according to their attorney. The plaintiffs allege they were demeaned with racial slurs, forced to abandon Black hairstyles, fashion and culture to fit the “Iowa Way” promoted by Ferentz, and retaliated against for speaking out. Iowa has previously rejected their demands for personnel changes and millions in compensatory damages.
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball fans love to argue over who should win big awards. But there likely was no debate about the most surprising name on the list of players getting NL MVP votes Thursday. That would be Ryan Tepera, the Chicago Cubs reliever who was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA this season. The 33-year-old righty received a single 10th-place vote and tied for 18th place in the balloting. Still, that’s more support than stars like Bryce Harper and Jacob deGrom drew. Turns out a voter in St. Louis accidentally clicked on Tepera’s name when he meant to pick Washington shortstop Trea Turner. The mistake had no effect on the results.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State volleyball welcomes three newcomers as part of its program for the 2021 season during the November National Letter of Intent signing period, head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch announced Wednesday. ISU will welcome setter Addi Heidemann of Diller, Nebraska, defensive specialist/libero Allie Petry of Council Bluffs and defensive specialist/outside hitter Brooke Stonestreet of Olathe, Kansas.
“All three of them will be wonderful additions to our culture,” Johnson-Lynch said. “They are really impressive young women: great students, hard workers and team-first type athletes. They are competitors, and have played a high level of volleyball throughout their careers. Each of them have the potential to help our team right away.”
Addi Heidemann: S, Diller, Nebraska
Heidemann joins the Cyclones after leading her Diller-Odell Lady Griffins to their second-straight Nebraska State Championship last weekend, claiming class D-2 this year after winning D-1 the previous season. She earned All-Tournament Team this past weekend, was First Team D-1 All-State in 2019 and Honorable Mention All-State in 2018 along with earning all-conference honors each of the past three seasons. The No. 127 ranked recruit in the Class of 2021 according to PrepVolleyball.com, Heidemann finished her high school volleyball career with 3,198 assists, 829 digs, 446 kills, 354 aces and 174 blocks. She is also an accomplished basketball player, earning all-conference twice and Honorable Mention All-State honors last season for Diller-Odell. She played her club ball for Volleyball Club Nebraska in Lincoln.
“Addi has been training and playing at a very high level for a long time,” Johnson Lynch said. “She is polished and well-trained as a setter. She has great fundamentals and is very smooth in her delivery. She also has the perfect demeanor for the setting position, she is calm and consistent, but also very competitive. She knows how to run an offense and run the court, is smart and has a great volleyball IQ.”
Allie Petry: DS/L, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Petry helped lead Council Bluffs St. Albert to consecutive Class 1A state tournament appearances (earning All-Tournament Team honors earlier this month) playing as an outside hitter. An AVCA High School All-Region choice, and a three-time Hawkeye 10 All-Conference honoree and First Team All-State recipient in 2019, Petry ranked fifth in Class 1A with her 356 kills at .337 hitting in 2020. She finished her St. Albert career with 1,176 kills, 875 digs, 92 aces and 92 blocks. Petry played her club volleyball for Nebraska Elite, helping them to a second-place finish in 2018. She is another accomplished multi-sport athlete, earning all-conference honors in basketball and softball as well.
“Allie is another great athlete we are excited to add to this class,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She has been primarily an outside hitter for all her teams, but I really believe once she focuses on passing and defense she will really take off, similar to several other liberos we’ve recruited over the years. Allie is fast and has great reactions – so as a back-row player I see her chasing down everything that is hit in her zone.”
Brooke Stonestreet: DS/OH, Olathe, Kansas
Stonestreet is a versatile player who has done a little bit of everything for her DeSoto Wildcats throughout her prep career. A two-time All-United Kansas Conference honoree and a 2020 AVCA High School All-Region selection, Stonestreet’s high school career saw her record 558 digs, 481 kills, 321 assists, 50 blocks and 41 aces. She plays her club volleyball for Kansas City Power, the same club that where current ISU libero Izzy Enna played before coming to ISU. With KC Power, she has helped lead them in the Open Division at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships four-straight seasons from 2016-19. She has also claimed Heart of America Power League championships with KC Power on six-straight occasions.
“Brooke is a really fun player to watch,” Johnson-Lynch said. “She is very athletic and has great hops. She is a little bit undersized for an OH, but makes up for it with athletic ability and a great arm. She has played at a very high level for a long time and is a great competitor. We anticipate training Brooke as both an outside and a back row player. She is so smooth in everything she does, she is on her way to becoming a great passer and defender, and could contribute anywhere on the court for us.”
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery announced on Wednesday that Payton Sandfort has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Iowa.
PAYTON SANDFORT
Forward, 6-foot-7, 210 pounds
Waukee, Iowa (Waukee High School)
“I am super excited to make this commitment official and can’t wait to get to Iowa City to be with the team! Through this process, I felt that Iowa was home for me. Coach McCaffery and the entire staff made me feel like I was a priority from day one, which was really cool, and I got to know the players throughout the process. Ultimately, when it came down to it, this felt like home to me because of the style, the culture, and the people within the program and the people who support the program.”
FRAN McCAFFERY ON PAYTON SANDFORT
“We’re thrilled to have Payton join our program. I offered a scholarship the very first time I saw him play. He is perfectly suited for our style of play with his size, versatility, competitiveness, 3-point accuracy, ball handling and post-up skill. I believe he is going to have a tremendous career here at the University of Iowa.”
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly says lofty expectations are good for the program. The Cyclones return their top four scorers from last season’s team that finished 18-11. They are ranked 15th in the A-P preseason poll.
Junior Ashley Joens averaged 20 and-a-half points a year ago and Kristin Scott returns after averaging more than 14 points as a junior.
Fennelly says the Cyclones know in the midst of a pandemic they need to take it day by day.
Joens on the preseason ranking.
Joens says the ranking does not guarantee success.
Scott says staying healthy is a must for the Cyclones.
The Cyclones open at home on November 25 against Nebraska-Omaha.
(Radio Iowa) – The class 3A semifinals in football take place this (Thursday) afternoon (4-p.m.) at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley takes on second ranked Harlan. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley won a state title in 2016 but this is the Nighthawks first trip to the dome as a 3A school.
That’s Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley coach Cory Brandt who says they need to find a way to control a versatile Harlan offense.
Harlan quarterback Teagon Kasperbauer has passed for more than 2100 yards.
Harlan coach Todd Bladt says Nighthawk offense is difficult to prepare for.
Bladt says limiting mistakes and turnovers is a key.
Bladt says the Harlan offense will need to handle the pressure of the Nighthawk defense.
Atlantic Activities Director Andy Mitchell, Wednesday, said COVID-19 did not have a huge affect on sports and other activities this fall.
He told the Atlantic School Board, Winter Sports activities begin next week.
Mitchell said also the coaches are doing their best to keep kids six-feet or more apart. When they can’t they rotate drills constantly. Masks are to be worn when they get on the bus and in the locker rooms. He said also they had a plan on how they were going to transition from outdoor sports to indoor sports, but the Governor’s new proclamation on Tuesday changed that.
Mitchell said events will be live streamed as well through booktix.com. More information will be available on that soon. There’s also some new technology in-place to live-stream various events.
Mitchell said the two fans per player policy was discussed among the Hawkeye 10 Conference members.
He said they have to find a way to pay officials, and that “There won’t be a lot of extra money coming in this year.
Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
UNDATED (AP) — Seniors Luka Garza of Iowa and Baylor’s Jared Butler headline The Associated Press preseason All-America team. Garza was the lone unanimous choice, receiving all 64 votes from a nationwide media panel. They were joined by Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham, Illinois junior Ayo Dosunmu, Gonzaga senior Corey Kispert and Arizona State senior Remy Martin. Kispert and Martin tied for the final spot with 26 votes each.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Charlie Jones and Tory Taylor are both in their first year playing for Iowa, and they’ve made big contributions already. Jones transferred from Buffalo and is now the Hawkeyes’ top punt returner. Taylor is a 23-year-old freshman who came from Melbourne, Australia, to punt. In last week’s win over Michigan State, Jones ran back a punt 54 yards for a touchdown after Taylor pinned the Spartans deep in their own end. Taylor is second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with an average of 46 yards per punt.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa completed its 2025 football schedule with nonconference home games against Florida Atlantic and Massachusetts. The Hawkeyes will open the season against Florida Atlantic on Aug. 30 and host UMass on Nov. 15. The Cy-Hawk Series game against Iowa State will be played on Ames Sept. 6. Iowa has not played football against either Florida Atlantic or UMass. The Hawks’ Big Ten schedule in 2025 features home games against Ohio State, Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue and Rutgers. Big Ten road games are at Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan and Nebraska.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri heads into the college basketball season with their top eight players when it comes to minutes per game back on the roster. They have one of the most experienced rosters in the country. The downside is that they won just 15 games before last season was shut down by the pandemic. Coach Cuonzo Martin says he likes having all the experience and believes it will help the Tigers this season.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Charlie Jones and Tory Taylor are both in their first year playing for Iowa, and they’ve made big contributions already. Jones transferred from Buffalo and is now the Hawkeyes’ top punt returner. Taylor is a 23-year-old freshman who came from Melbourne, Australia, to punt.
FILE – In this Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, file photo, Iowa’s Charlie Jones returns a punt during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, in Iowa City, Iowa. Jones’ play has been a key factor in Iowa’s special teams success. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
In last week’s win over Michigan State, Jones ran back a punt 54 yards for a touchdown after Taylor pinned the Spartans deep in their own end. Taylor is second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with an average of 46 yards per punt.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three volleyball standouts — Toyosi Onabanjo, Jenna Splitt, and Sydney Dennis – have committed to play volleyball at the University of Iowa, head coach Vicki Brown announced Thursday.
Toyosi Onabanjo
Middle Blocker / Houston, Texas (St. Agnes Academy)
“Toyosi is a dynamic jumper and knows how to score. She brings in versatility as an attacker, which will be a great addition to our offensive options. She is a hard worker, and I am looking forward to having her uniqueness in the gym,” – Head coach Vicki Brown.
Onabanjo is a 2019 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 6A state champion and First-Team All-State and All Academic honoree. In addition, Onabanjo is a member of the 2019 All-Tournament team and a 2019 and 2020 Houston Open champion.
Jenna Splitt
Setter / Cary, Illinois (Cary-Grove High School)
“Some things I look for in a setter is athleticism, leadership, and grit. Jenna Splitt checks all those boxes. Her established dedication to being the best teammate and athlete will be a great addition to moving this program forward.” – Head coach Vicki Brown.
Splitt is a member of PrepVolleyball.com’s Class of 2021 Top 50 Junior Recruits, SOPH 79 High Honorable Mention, and FROSH 59. She was listed on AVCA’s 2018 and 2019 Phenom List and was a 2019 Illinois All-State honorable mention. In 2020, she was listed on UltraAnkle’s JVA Watch list for 2021.
Sydney Dennis
Libero / Clarence, Iowa (Mount Vernon High School)
“Sydney was our first commit for the 2021 class. Throughout the years, she has proven drive and grit is part of her DNA. Her simplistic approach to the game and long reach will be a nice addition to our ball control group.” – Head coach Vicki Brown.
Dennis is a 2019 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Champion (El Extreme) and 2018 runner up (Adrenaline Volleyball Academy). She was named to PrepVolleyball’s 2018 SOPH 79 Watch List and its 2021 Watch List. The Clarence, Iowa, native is a 2020 Iowa State Tournament runner-up and three-time USA Beach National Qualifier. Dennis is also a member of the Women’s Junior A1 National Training Team.
The Hawkeyes are preparing to play their spring 2021 season following the postponement of the fall 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the latest news about Iowa volleyball’s upcoming season, head to hawkeyesports.com.
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