BOYS

GILBERT MEET

Qualifying Teams: Gilbert, Des Moines Christian, Bondurant-Farrar

Qualifying Individuals

• Mason Betts (Atlantic) – 16:19.88 (11th)

SPENCER MEET

Qualifying Teams: Sioux Center, Storm Lake, MOC-Floyd Valley

Qualifying Individuals

• Jeffery Gross (Harlan) – 16:42.55 (7th)

GIRLS

GILBERT MEET

Qualifying Teams: Des Moines Christian, Gilbert, Winterset

Qualifying Individuals

• Katrina Williams (Atlantic) – 19:52.11 (16th)

SPENCER MEET

Qualifying Teams: Sioux Center, Harlan, MOC-Floyd Valley

Qualifying Individuals

Ashlyn Rau (Harlan) – 18:38.60 (2nd)

Julia Heslink (Harlan) – 19:23.12 (6th)

Grace Berglund (Glenwood) – 18:52.85 (3rd)

Caitlin Hebel (Glenwood) – 19:43.19 (14th)

The Riverside Bulldogs took another step towards a second straight state tournament appearance as they opened their postseason with a 3-0 win over the Underwood Eagles. The Bulldogs controlled the first two sets with 25-14 and 25-17. Although the sets were close early, Riverside went on runs to pull away, and it seemed like most of the extended rallies went the Bulldogs’ way. However, with their season on the line, Underwood gave the Bulldogs everything they had. The Eagles played with the lead for much of set three. However, Riverside proved to be too much to handle, and the Bulldogs took the lead late and didn’t relinquish it again, cementing their spot in the 2A region 7 semi-final.

Set one was arguably Riverside’s best offense performance. Leading 8-5 Riverside, went on a pair of long runs and never looked back. They dominated the latter part of the set, pulling away for an 11-point win. Lilli Reed and Sydney Somers played well, sharing the team lead with 9 kills each in the match.

Set two was much like set one, just closer for longer. Although the Bulldogs played with the lead for much of the set, Underwood did a great job of limiting Bulldog runs. However, the Riverside defense was once again phenomenal. Sophia Fenner finished with 17 digs, but her play really embodies the defensive look of the Bulldogs: Keep the play alive. There were numerous points throughout the match that the Bulldogs kept plays alive that had no business being kept alive. Although most times you end up ceeding an offensive opportunity, if you keep it alive long enough, the other team will make a mistake or an offensive opportunity will come your way. This is what proved to be a massive difference as Riverside took set two 25-17.

Set three was Underwood’s best performance of the night. With their season on the line, they gave the Bulldogs everything they had. Although they had been competitive for most of the night, they took that next step in the third set. It was the Eagles that played with the lead for much of the set. However, the patience and defensive ability of the Bulldogs prevented them from going on that set-defining run. Eventually, that patience would pay off as Riverside flipped the script late to win 25-21 and secure their spot in the regional semi-final. Head coach Brooke Flathers was pleased with how her team handled their postseason opener.

One thing that was absent from Riverside’s performance was nerves.

The defense plays such a big part of the Bulldogs’ game and Flathers credits the work the group puts in at practice.

Riverside will take on Missouri Valley in their semi-final. The Lady Reds come into the match with a record of 26-14 and a narrow win over Tri-Center in their quarterfinal Matchup. The semi-final match is scheduled for 7 pm on Monday in Oakland.

 1A Region 6 

Audubon – 3 vs Woodbine -1

St. Albert – 3 vs Exira-EHK – 0

East Mills – 3 vs Mormon Trail – 0

Stanton – 3 vs Murray – 0

 1A Region 6 

Sidney – 3 vs Bedford – 0

Fremont-Mills – 3 vs Mount Ayr – 1

1A Region 8

Ankeny Christian – 3 vs Martensdale-St. Marys – 0

Southeast Warren – 3 vs Moravia – 0

1A Region 1

Coon Rapids-Bayard – 3 vs Glidden-Ralston – 0

1A Region 5

IKM-Manning – 3 vs Kingsley-Pierson – 1

 2A Region 4 

ACGC – 3 vs AHSTW – 0

Woodward-Granger – 3 vs Nodaway Valley – 0

Earlham – 3 vs Ogden – 2

 2A Region 7

Riverside – 3 vs Underwood – 0

Missouri Valley – 3 vs Tri-Center – 2

 2A Region 6

Grand View Christian – 3 vs Interstate-35 – 0

Union – 3 vs Pleasantville – 0

 2A Region 2

Treynor – 3 vs MVAOCOU – 0

The Woodbine Football team has completed an undefeated regular season and clinched a playoff berth for the third consecutive year. The Tigers enter the postseason scoring 50+ points in every game and holding all seven opponents to under 200 rushing yards combined on the season. Head Coach Dustin Crook says his team needs to stick to their game to be successful on the journey to the dome.

The Tigers are led by Senior Quarterback Brodyn Pryor with over 1,100 yards through the air and 22 touchdown passes on the season, making him as elusive as he can be in the eight-man game.

Woodbine’s receiving core features six players with 100+ receiving yards and multiple touchdowns. Many of those athletes play defense just as effectively.

The Tigers are preparing for the strong ground game from Exira-EHK.

Woodbine fell in the second-round last year but in 2025 their expectations go beyond father than that.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Drake University women’s basketball has been picked to finish fourth in the race for the 2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference crown, the league announced today. The preseason poll, as voted on by Valley head coaches, communications directors, and a panel of various media personnel, was unveiled this morning.

Drake was slotted fourth with a total of 371 points including four first-place votes.

Belmont, who enters the season as the league favorite, received 25 of 44 possible votes for the top spot for a total of 446 points. Defending MVC regular-season and tournament champions Murray State was selected second with 13 first-place votes and 436 points. Illinois State rounded out the top four with two first-place votes and 387 points.

The Bulldogs will be on the hardwood next week for an Oct. 28 exhibition game against Dakota Wesleyan in Des Moines. Drake’s regular season slate will begin Nov. 3 with a trip to Eastern Illinois.

Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski says decision making on third down will be critical when the Hawkeyes host Minnesota on Saturday. The Gopher defense registered nine sacks in a 24-6 win over Nebraska.

Gronowski says an effective run game will help avoid third and long.

Gronowski suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter of a September 27th loss to Indiana and says it continues to improve each week.

Iowa State junior corner Tre Bell says he is gaining more confidence with each game. Bell was thrust into the starting lineup after season ending knee injuries to Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams. The Cyclones take a 5-2 record into Saturday’s home game against 11th ranked BYU.

Bell says tackling will be a key for the secondary against BYU. The Cougars average nearly 233 yards of rushing per game.*

Bell says coming off two straight losses the Cyclones need to get back to the way they started the season.

Sophomore safety Marcus Neal says the Cyclones are coming off their bye week and ready for the stretch run.

Neal says the BYU offensive will offer a physical challenge

A veteran Iowa offensive line faces a big challenge on Saturday against the Minnesota defensive front. The Gophers like to vary their looks and it helped lead to nine sacks in a 24-6 win over Nebraska. Hawkeye center Logan Jones.

Jones says the Gophers will offer a unique challenge.

Jones says Minnesota is especially effective on third and long.

Sophomore left tackle Trevor Lauck on the challenge the Gopher defense provides.

Lauck says the Gophers try to create confusion up front.

Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht feels the bye week came at the right time for the Cyclones. ISU will be out to snap a two-game losing skid on Saturday by hosting 11th ranked BYU.

Last season the Cyclones dropped back-to-back games before rallying to make the Big 12 title game.

Becht says he used the bye week to focus on what he did to help the Cyclones jump out to a 5-0 start.

Becht says a key will be how the Cyclones handle an outstanding BYU defensive line.