Iowa junior Zach Ortwerth is ready to step up as the Hawkeyes prepare to host UMass. The native of St. Louis is the Hawkeyes starting tight end after Addison Ostrenga was lost for the season after suffering an Achilles injury in a loss at Iowa State.

Ortwerth says the key for the starting tight end is run blocking.

Ortwerth says he worked to improve his run blocking during preseason camp.

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The Iowa Girls State Softball Tournament has called the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge its home for the last 55 years. Today, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and its Board of Directors signed a contract extension that will keep the State Softball Tournament at Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Park for another 20 years.

“This is very exciting news,” said IGHSAU Executive Director Erin Gerlich. “The City of Fort Dodge, Fort Dodge Parks and Recreation, and Iowa Central Community College have made the Rogers Sports Complex the premier softball complex in Iowa. Fort Dodge has consistently demonstrated its commitment to our softball tournament through the millions of dollars invested in improving Rogers Park over the years. This extension cements our commitment to Fort Dodge and all the great things they have done—and continue to do—to make the Iowa Girls State Softball Tournament the best high school softball tournament in the United States.”

The 20-year extension will run through the 2045 state softball tournament and comes on the heels of a six-million-dollar renovation project that Fort Dodge has invested in Rogers Park, which has been home to the state tournament since 1970. The renovation projects include three new fields, lights on all five competition fields, a new press box, and expanded parking.

The new fields and lighting will enable the IGHSAU to implement a double-elimination tournament format in 2026, utilizing all five fields within the new structure.

The new agreement also maintains the IGHSAU’s partnership with Iowa Central Community College, which will continue to provide housing for teams during the state tournament.

“We are grateful for the confidence that the Girls Athletic Union has placed in us through this extension,” said Fort Dodge Parks and Recreation Director Lori Branderhorst. “The State Softball Tournament is our crown jewel, and we are committed to preserving its excellence for generations to come. The dedication of our staff, city council and administration, Iowa Central Community College, Visit Fort Dodge, and our entire community make this investment possible – benefiting our partners, student-athletes, and fans alike.”

Each year, the Iowa State Softball Tournament draws between 17,000 and 20,000 fans to Rogers Park. Projections show that the one millionth spectator will walk through the gates during the 2026 tournament. Rogers Sports Complex, now in its 55th year as host, proudly holds the distinction of being the longest-running venue among all IGHSAU state tournaments.

Iowa senior Kaden Wetjen says the Hawkeyes have moved on as they get ready to close non-conference play by hosting UMass. Iowa is coming off a 16-13 loss at 14th ranked Iowa State.

While a lack of a passing game is getting most of the attention Wetjen says there are a lot of areas that need to improve.

Wetjen feels the passing game will make progress.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior Dionne van Aalsum has been named a National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Offensive Player of the Week honorable mention after scoring eight goals in two wins last weekend. The NFHCA announced the honor Wednesday.

A native of Castricum, Netherlands, van Aalsum is tied for fifth among active Division I players with 42 career goals in 39 games — the only player in the top 10 with fewer than 40 games played.

Iowa (3-1) travels to Louisville, Kentucky, this weekend to face No. 20 Miami (Ohio) on Friday at 2:30 p.m. (CT) and Louisville on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Hawkeye Ten Conference 

• Lewis Central – 3 vs Atlantic – 0
• Creston – 3 vs Atlantic – 2
• Lewis Central – 3 vs Creston – 1
• Harlan – 3 vs Shenandoah – 0
• Clarinda – 3 vs Denison-Schleswig – 0
• Kuemper Catholic – 3 vs Clarinda – 1
• Kuemper Catholic – 3 vs Denison-Schleswig – 0

Corner Conference 

• Griswold – 3 vs Hamburg – 0
• East Mills – 3 vs Griswold – 0
• East Mills 25-25-25 Hamburg 2-5-7
• Stanton – 3 vs Bedford – 1

Pride of Iowa Conference 

• Southwest Valley – 2 vs East Union – 0
• Mount Ayr – 2 vs Southwest Valley – 0
• Mount Ayr – 2 vs East Union – 0
• Nodaway Valley – 2 vs Wayne – 0
• Lenox – 2 vs Nodaway Valley – 0
• Lenox – 2 vs Wayne – 0

West Central Activities Conference 

• ACGC – 3 vs Des Moines Christian – 0

Non-Conference 

• Audubon – 3 vs Glidden-Ralston – 0
• Exira/EHK – 2 vs Ar-We-Va – 0
• IKM-Manning – 2 vs Exira-EHK – 0
• Ogden – 2 vs Exira-EHK – 1
• IKM-Manning – 2 vs Ogden – 0
• IKM-Manning – 2 vs Ar-We-Va – 0
• Ogden – 2 vs Ar-We-Va – 0

Clarinda Invitational

Clarinda Invitational 

Team Results 

1. Atlantic – 35 pts

2. Nebraska City – 59 pts

3. Shenandoah – 69 pts

4. Clarinda  – 87 pts

5. Riverside – 104 pts

6. East Atchison – 177 pts

Individual Results 

It is rare when a power four conference team makes a road trip to a group of five school but that is what Iowa State faces when the 14th ranked Cyclones visit Arkansas State out of the Sun Belt Conference on Saturday. It was two years ago ISU visited Ohio out of the Mid-American Conference and lost 10-7.

That’s ISU coach Matt Campbell, who does not believe the Cyclones will take the Red Wolves for granted.

The Cyclones are 3-0 and with a bye week approaching Campbell wants his team to remain hungry.

Campbell says the goal this week remains improvement.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says senior tight end Addison Ostrenga will miss the remainder with an Achilles injury suffered in Saturday’s loss at Iowa State. Ostrenga underwent surgery on Monday.

With Ostrenga out, Zach Ortwerth becomes the starter at tight end. Redshirt freshman and former Carroll Kuemper standout D.J. Vonnahme will also get playing time.

As the Hawkeyes prepare for their final non-conference game against UMass they continue to search for some kind of passing threat. Through two games quarterback Mark Gronowski has only 131 yards of passing, including 83 in a 16-13 loss at Iowa State.

Ferentz says improvement will come as they tailor the passing game to the strength of their players.

Ferentz says there were several factors that contributed to the loss, including dropped passes.