The Audubon Football team is moving on to the Eight-Man semifinals and clinches their first trip to the UNI-Dome in four seasons with a dramatic 26-19 victory at undefeated Iowa Valley Thursday night. Despite just six second half points, the Wheelers defense buckled down late in the fourth to prevent a Tiger comeback potentially forcing overtime. The fireworks began on the first snap of the ballgame when Junior Nolan Kriegel found his top receiver Layne Peska for a 65-yard touchdown pass to quickly put Iowa Valley ahead 6-0. The first possession of the game for the Wheelers was methodical with a holding call in the middle of the drive. Facing a fourth and 23 early, Sophomore Quarterback Aiden Kjergaard found a wide-open Austin Christinsen in the corner of the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown pass with the two-point try included. The game was 8-6 Wheelers six minutes in. After the score, Audubon’s defense settled in forcing a Tiger three and out. Kjergaard marched the Wheelers across midfield and ended the drive dashing a touchdown 30 yards out to put Audubon ahead 14-6.

In the second quarter, Iowa Valley drove down the field facing a fourth down and short inside the Audubon 15 and failed to convert. Just like Audubon has done all year, they have capitalized on big plays from the defense as Kjergaard goes the distance for his second rushing touchdown of the game from 60 yards out. With the score, Audubon took a 20-6 lead into the half. Audubon received the football to begin the second half and faced a third and long deep in their own territory. The Kjergaard to Christensen connection comes up clutch again as the sophomore quarterback finds a wide-open Christiansen for a 64-yard touchdown pass to put the Wheelers up 20.

Iowa Valley wouldn’t go away lightly though as they began to chip into the Audubon lead. Later in the third, it was only a matter of time until the state’s touchdown leader in Nolan Kriegel found the end zone from 20 yards out to make it a 26-12 lead. Audubon’s offense became stagnant as the game progressed into the later stages causing the Tigers and their fans to grasp momentum. Kriegel puts his team within one score late in the third after a 34-yard touchdown run. 

In the fourth, the defenses shined brightest as both teams stopped each other twice. Iowa Valley had the football with just over two minutes left and had a chance to tie the game or even win it. Despite a fourth and one conversion it wasn’t enough as time expired on a Peska run from the Wildcat. Audubon had hung on to win 26-19.

Head Coach Sean Birks believes this is an achievement not just for the 2025 team but the entire Audubon program as a whole.

After the first play touchdown from Iowa Valley, there was no panic.

Birks gave major credit to the defensive effort.

The coaching staff had full trust in their team to pull through down the stretch.

Audubon will play their semifinal matchup from the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls on Wednesday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa wrestling team shut out Bellarmine, 40-0, in its home and season opener Thursday night on Mediacom Mat at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes had 31 takedowns to Bellarmine’s one. Iowa tallied five bonus-point wins, including closing out the dual with four matches ending early as they outscored the Knights in total match points, 120-27.

“When there was a lot of hustle, a lot of points were scored,” said head coach Tom Brands. “That’s a good thing. We need to hustle more. Those points aren’t going to fall down for you, you have to go put them down.”

With the dual starting at 197, No. 17 Massoma Endene made his Division I and Hawkeye debut with a 3-0 decision over Andrew Liber.

No. 5 Ben Kueter picked up his first ranked win of the year at heavyweight, defeating No. 28 Daulton Mayer, 8-2, before No. 10 Dean Peterson won a decision, 5-1, over Damion Ryan in his first match at Carver.

At 133, No. 2 Drake Ayala gave Iowa its first bonus points of the day with a 19-4 technical fall over Trayce Eckman, needing only 4:23 to get the win. No. 10 Nasir Bailey sent the Hawkeyes to the break with a 7-1 decision over AJ Rallo at 141.

Kael Voinovich made his Carver debut and earned a decision over Zac Cowen at 149.
At 157, No. 11 Jordan Williams wasted no time getting the crowd on its feet with a pin over Jeb Prechtel in 1:44 in his Iowa debut.

“It felt good,” Williams said. “I am grateful and happy to step on the mat every time I can, no matter if it’s at a small school or big school, it’s the same energy… I feel like I am confident in every position.

“I watch everyone I am going to wrestle and when I felt the position it was like go. I felt like I was stronger and knew the position better.”

No. 2 Michael Caliendo, No. 2 Patrick Kennedy and No. 3 Angelo Ferrari closed out the dual with three straight technical falls at 165, 174 and 184.

#3 Iowa 40, Bellarmine 0
197 – #17 Massoma Endene (I) dec. Andrew Liber (B), 3-0
285 – #5 Ben Kueter (I) dec. #28 Daulton Mayer (B), 8-2
125 – #10 Dean Peterson (I) dec. Damion Ryan (B), 5-1
133 – #2 Drake Ayala (I) tech. fall Trayce Eckman (B), 19-4
141 – #10 Nasir Bailey (I) dec. AJ Rallo (B), 7-1
149 – Kael Voinovich (I) dec. Zac Cowen (B), 7-3
157 – #11 Jordan Williams (I) pinned Jeb Prechtel (B), 1:44
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (I) tech. fall Noah Hall (B), 22-6
174 – #2 Patrick Kennedy (I) tech. fall Grant O’Dell (B), 19-4
184 – #3 Angelo Ferrari (I) tech. fall Gavin Ricketts (B), 21-5
*Iowa was deducted a team point after the 157-pound bout.

Attendance: 10,971
Officials: Jaime George, Clark Conover

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The third-seeded University of Iowa field hockey team shut out No. 6 seed Indiana, 1-0, on Thursday evening at Deborah Tobias Field to advance to the semifinals at the Big Ten Tournament.

The Hawkeyes struck first at the 5:42 mark when Dionne Van Aalsum found the back of the net following a rebounded penalty corner. It was Van Aalsum’s 27th goal of the season. Jordan Byers and Niamh De Jong were credited with the assist.

Despite the Hoosiers drawing a penalty corner in the first period, Iowa’s defense remained strong to keep Indiana off the board.

Iowa allowed five second half shots, but the defense stood firm en route to the team’s fourth shutout of the season. The Hawkeyes have three shutouts in their last four games.

Iowa out-shot Indiana, 10-6, and had nine penalty corners to the Hoosiers’ two. Senior Mia Magnotta earned the win, collecting two saves in the contest.

Notables 

• The Hawkeyes advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the first time since the 2021 season. It is the 20th semifinal appearance in program history.
• Van Aalsum is now tied for eighth all-time at Iowa in career goals (64) after scoring her 27th of the season.
• De Jong’s assist was her first of the season.

Up Next  

Iowa (13-4) will face seventh-seeded Ohio State on Friday at 3 p.m. (CT) in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. The Buckeyes upset second-seeded Maryland, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of Iowa women’s tennis team opened play at the ITA Sectional Championships on Thursday at the Mitchell Tennis Center, competing in singles and doubles action.

Daianne Hayashida began her singles run, earning a straight-set 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 victory over Sophia Holod of Notre Dame. With the win, Hayashida advances to the round of 16.

Tereza Dejnozkova and Hayashida competed in doubles play, facing Oyinlomo Quadre and Chloé Noël of Oklahoma. The Hawkeyes battled but ultimately fell 6-2, 4-6 (13-11).

“It’s great to be down here at sectionals with Tereza and Daianne amongst some very high-level competition,” said Iowa assistant coach Elise van Heuvelen Treadwell. “We lost a very close battle to Oklahoma. It just came down to a couple of points. There is a lot to learn from that we will take into the match tomorrow. Daianne competed well against a strong opponent. I’m very proud of the way she handled the match mentally and physically. It’s great to advance through the draw. We are excited for another great opportunity tomorrow.”

The Hawkeyes will return to action tomorrow with doubles consolation play starting at 10 a.m., followed by singles action at 1 p.m.

Singles – Round of 32
Daianne Hayashida (Iowa) def. Sophia Holod (Notre Dame), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3

Doubles – Round of 16
Oyinlomo Quadre/Chloé Noël (Oklahoma) def. Tereza Dejnozkova/Daianne Hayashida (Iowa), 6-2, 4-6 (13-11)

Eighth ranked West Sioux visits fourth rated AC/GC Friday night,  in the quarterfinal round in class A. West Sioux returns t the round of eight with a record of 9-1.

That’s West Sioux coach Ryan Schwiesow who says a three hour bus trip is no problem for his team.

AC/GC enters the game with a record of 10-0.

Schwiesow says the falcons need to find a way to slow down an AC/GC flex bone offense that has piled up more than 33 hundred yards of rushing.

Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski says the bye week helped his ailing knee. The Hawkeyes will be looking to post an upset on Saturday when they host sixth ranked Oregon.

Gronowski expects the Ducks to try and limit his ability to run. Gronowski has rushed for 11 touchdowns and is a major factor in the Hawkeyes averaging more than 185 yards on the ground.

Gronowski says the Hawkeyes are excited for the opportunity.

The Iowa State defense hopes to slow down TCU’s aerial attack when they meet Saturday in Fort Worth. Horned Frog quarterback Josh Hoover is averaging nearly 300 yards of passing and has 22 touchdowns. Cyclone corner Tre Bell.

Bell says TCU runs the ball enough to keep the defense honest.

Junior receiver Chase Sowell returns to his home state and says despite a four game losing streak there is still a lot to play for.

Little things add up to big things in a title chase and that has been a key for Drake as the Bulldogs take the lead in the Pioneer Football League race into Saturday’s game at home against St. Thomas of Minnesota. The Bulldogs blocked a third quarter extra point attempt last week at Butler and it turned out to be one of the key plays in a 24-19 victory.

That’s Drake coach Joe Woodley, who says their only focus this week is on St. Thomas. The Bulldogs are 5-0 and have sole possession of the PFL lead with three to play.

The Drake defense is giving up less than 10 and-a-half points in conference play but must contend with a big play St. Thomas offense that averages nearly 42 points per game.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa defensive back Jordan Lomax will serve as honorary captain on Saturday when the 20th-ranked Hawkeyes host No. 9 Oregon on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:40 p.m. (CT) and the game will be televised on CBS.

A four-year lettermen and two-year starter, Lomax finished his Hawkeye career with 200 tackles. His leadership and performance on the field helped lead the Hawkeyes to four bowl appearances, including the 2015 Rose Bowl.

Lomax was a permanent team captain and third-team All-Big Ten selection on Iowa’s 2015 squad that finished the regular season unbeaten, won the Big Ten West Division, and returned to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 25 years. He ranked third on the team with 96 tackles and tied for third with six pass break-ups, forced one fumble and intercepted one pass.

The native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a junior in 2014. Lomax saw action in all 13 contests, including 12 starts. He recorded 92 tackles, led the team with six pass break-ups, while also intercepting one pass and forcing one fumble.

Lomax also excelled in the classroom earning second-team Academic All-America honors as a senior and academic all-district recognition following his junior season. Lomax was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Lomax will accompany the Iowa captains to midfield for Saturday’s pregame coin toss. Lomax and his 2015 teammates will also be celebrated for the team’s accomplishments during the first timeout of the second quarter.