FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Perennial Football Championship Subdivision power North Dakota State sits atop this year’s Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll, but narrowly. The Bison received 21 first-place votes and 380 total points to edge South Dakota State, which got 19 first-place votes and 379 total points. The two schools were conference co-champions last season.

The poll is conducted by league coaches, media and sports information directors. The No. 3 spot is held by Youngstown State, which reached the FCS title game last season. Northern Iowa and Illinois State round out the top five, followed by Western Illinois, South Dakota, Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Indiana State.

CHICAGO (AP) – Research on 202 former football players found evidence of a brain disease in nearly all of them, from athletes in the NFL down to high school. It’s the biggest update on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. The disease has been linked with repeated head blows and the results confirm that it can happen even in young players. But the report only reflects high occurrence in samples at a Boston brain bank and many donors contributed because of troubling symptoms before death.

CTE was diagnosed in 177 former players or nearly 90 percent of brains studied. Researchers still don’t know how common it is in football or the general population. Some players with repeated concussions never develop it. The report is in Tuesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association.

Iowa’s race at quarterback will continue into fall camp. The Hawkeyes released a depth chart that had sophomore Nathan Stanley listed as the starter, ahead of junior Tyler Wiegers.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz who says Stanley and Wiegers will share time with the starters once practice begins.

Regardless of who wins the job the Iowa offense will be led by an inexperienced quarterback this season.

Iowa opens September 2 against Wyoming.

(Learfield Sports)

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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2017 Western Iowa All-Conference Honors

Western Iowa Conference
Final Standings – Baseball

#*Treynor            17-1, 32-5
^Tri-Center            14-4, 21-5
Underwood            12-6, 17-10
AHST/W            11-7, 15-10
Audubon            11-7, 14-11
Missouri Valley            10-8, 16-14
IKM-Manning            9-9, 11-14
Logan-Magnolia            4-14, 7-24
Riverside            2-16, 4-18
Griswold            0-18, 1-25
* WIC Regular Season Champion.  ^WIC Tournament Champion.
#2017 State Baseball Tournament Qualifyer.

2017 Western Iowa All-Conference Baseball Team

First Team

Pitchers: Kendrick Umphries, Treynor, Sr.; Jared Wilson, Missouri Valley, Jr.
Catchers: Connor Lange, Missouri Valley, Jr.
First Base: Micky Williamson, Audubon, Sr.
Infield: Jared Johnson, IKM-Manning, Jr.; RJ Harris, AHST/W, Jr.; Brett Daley, Treynor, Sr.; Kaleb Harrison, Tri-Center, Jr.
Outfield: Isaiah Humphries, Underwood, Sr.; Kyle Christenson, Treynor, Soph.; Chase Contreraz, Missouri Valley, Jr.
Utility: Tyler Kozeal, Tri-Center, Sr.; Anthony Cordes, AHST/W, Sr. 

Second Team

Pitchers: JJ Martin, Underwood, Sr.; Josh Lange, Audubon, Jr.
Catchers: Dean Bedell, Treynor, Jr.
First Base: Alex Lingle, IKM-Manning, Soph.
Infield: Peyton Peterson, Treynor, Sr.; Nick Ravlin, Underwood, Fr.; Jackson Nelson , Tri-Center, Jr.; Bodi Waller, Underwood, Fr.
Outfield: Dylan Williams, Tri-Center, Sr.; Tyler Rieboff, Audubon, Jr.; Jason Cox, Treynor, Sr.
Utility: Blake Hall, Underwood, 8^th; Brent Pendgraft, Riverside, Sr.; Dan Kenealy, Tri-Center, Sr.

2017 WIC Softball
Final Standings – Softball

#*Logan-Magnolia            17-1, 32-5
^IKM-Manning            15-3, 22-7
Treynor            14-4, 26-8
Missouri Valley            11-7, 22-11
AHST/W            9-9, 14-11
Underwood            9-9, 14-13
Tri-Center            8-10, 12-14
Riverside            5-13, 9-19
Griswold            1-17, 6-22
Audubon            1-17, 4-25
* WIC Regular Season Champion.  ^WIC Tournament Champion.
# 2017 State Softball Tournament Qualifier.

Western Iowa All-Conference Softball Team

First Team

Pitchers: Sydni Huisman, Treynor, Soph.; Abbie Carlson, Logan-Magnolia, Jr.
Catchers: Dani Gochenour, Logan-Magnolia, Sr.; Madelyn Deitchler,  Treynor, Jr.
First Base: Hannah Collins, Missouri Valley, Sr.
Infield: Kylan Straight, Logan-Magnolia, Jr.; Payton Sporrer, IKM-Manning, Jr.; Jenna Peschel, Logan-Magnolia, Jr., Megan Wilson, Logan-Magnolia, Jr.
Outfield: Kaylee Finnegan, Treynor, Jr.; Kenzie Cunard, Logan-Magnolia, Jr.; Taylor Croghan, IKM-Manning, Jr.
Utility: Peyton Gross, IKM-Manning, Jr. 

Second Team

Pitchers: Paige Livermore, Missouri Valley, Jr.; Ashlyn Cook, Missouri Valley, Fr.
Catchers: Zoey Melton, IKM-Manning, 8^th; Samantha Brich, Tri-Center, Sr.
First Base: Grace Youngren, IKM-Manning, Soph.
Infield: Lauren Shapcott, Underwood, Jr.; Lexi Cook, Missouri Valley, Sr.; McKenna Waffle, Treynor, Sr.; Paige Gaskill, IKM-Manning, Jr.
Outfield: Emma Bonnett, Underwood, Sr.; Asia Hughes, Missouri Valley, Jr.; Jill Manhart, Tri-Center, Sr.
Utility: Reahgan Stueve, Missouri Valley, Jr. 

WIC Softball Honorable Mention

AHST/W: Sydney Zimmerman – Fr.; Paige Osweiller – Fr..
Audubon: Taylor Nielson – Sr.; Claire Olsen – Sr.; Kaitlin Schultes – Sr.; Sara Wede – Sr.
Griswold: Danika Kentner – Sr.; Faith Rossell – Sr.; Brittney Beebe – Soph.
IKM-Manning: Katelyn Crawford – Jr.; Sammy Halbur – Soph.
Logan-Magnolia: Bergan Johnsen – Jr.; Megan Dunn – Fr.; Reanna Rife – Fr.
Missouri Valley: Kylie Wilson – Sr.; Natalie Haynes – Jr.; Carter Crispin – Soph.
Riverside: Allie Reicks – Jr.; Ashlynn Amdor – Fr.; Skye Bentley – Fr..
Tri-Center: Amanda Brich – Fr.; Kayla Jensen – Soph.; Sydney Handbury – Sr..
Treynor: Randi Robinson – Sr.; Alyssa Kellar – 8^th.
Underwood: Ashley Van Fossen – Soph.; Erin McMains – Fr.

2017 Western Iowa Academic All-Conference – Softball

(Must be a Senior, Maintain a 3.25 cumulative grade point average)

Audubon: Taylor Nielson, Claire Olsen, Kaitlin Schultes, Sara Wede.
Griswold: Danika Kentner, Faith Rossell
Logan-Magnolia: Dani Gochenour, Jenna Peschel.
Missouri Valley: Kylie Wilson, Hannah Collins, Lexi Cook.
Treynor: Randi Robinson, McKenna Waffle.
Tri-Center: Sydney Handbury, Samantha Brich, Jill Manhart, Nicole McPhillips.

CLASS 3A STATE TOURNAMENT
Tuesday’s quarterfinals
11 a.m. — Assumption (38-5) vs. Bondurant-Farrar (21-15)
1:30 p.m. — Wahlert Catholic (26-15) vs. Marion (31-10)
5 p.m. — Bishop Heelan Catholic (31-12) vs. Saydel (29-7)
7:30 p.m. — Harlan (34-2) vs. Oskaloosa (28-13)

Class 2A Quarterfinals @ Principal Park in Des Moines

Iowa City, Regina 5, Treynor 0

Dyersville/Beckman Catholic 7, Denver 1

Centerville 3, Estherville/Lincoln Central 1 (8 innings)

Kuemper Catholic/Carroll 5,  Van Meter 3

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) – Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern and Wisconsin each placed two players on the preseason Big Ten all-conference list released Monday. Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett and defensive end Tyquan Lewis were joined on the East Division team by Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Trace McSorley. Indiana linebacker Tegray Scales rounded out the lineup as chosen by a media panel.

Northwestern placed running back Justin Jackson and safety Goodwin Igwebuike on the West Division team, while Wisconsin had linebacker Jack Cichy and tight end Troy Fumagalli honored. Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell also made the West lineup. Barkley is the only junior among the group.

The Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association has released their All-District Selections for the 2017 season.  Follow the links to see the full selections in each class.