Iowa

17 classic restaurants in Iowa that still feed the state’s soul

Published

5 hours ago

March 17, 2026

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17 classic restaurants in Iowa that still feed the state’s soul

Many of these establishments have been family-owned for multiple generations, some for more than a century.
The featured restaurants include supper clubs, diners and pizza parlors with deep roots in their local communities.
Signature dishes range from loose-meat sandwiches and broasted chicken to dry-aged steaks and family-style German cooking.

There’s a special hum inside Iowa’s most enduring dining rooms — the sizzle of a steak on a century-old grill, the clatter of pie plates, the soft thud of a loose‑meat sandwich wrapped in wax paper. These places predate our favorite gadgets and outlast most trends. They’re the lunch counters and supper clubs, taverns and pizza parlors where menus were set by grandmothers, Greek immigrants, farm families and perfectionists who decided to do one thing the right way for decades.

What follows is a hand‑picked tour of Iowa’s classics — restaurants with real lineage, dishes that define a town and rooms that carry memory in their booths and barstools. For each, you’ll find the origin story, what to order, a notable drink and the practicals. Come hungry; leave with a notebook full of story ideas and a glovebox stuffed with take‑out napkins.

Breitbach’s Country Dining | Balltown

Perched atop the bluffs of Balltown, Breitbach’s Country Dining is the kind of Iowa legend that feels stitched into the state’s fabric. Founded under a federal permit in 1852 and purchased a decade later by Jacob Breitbach, the restaurant is widely celebrated as Iowa’s oldest continuously operating bar and dining room. The sixth generation — led today by Mike Breitbach — carries on the hearty Midwestern cooking with German touches that has anchored the menu for more than a century and a half. Despite devastating fires in 2007 and 2008, the community helped rebuild it twice, and the doors opened again in 2009, ready to serve fried chicken, hand-battered pike and the famously photogenic house pies. Breitbach’s received its James Beard Foundation America’s Classics Award in 2009. Customers can explore local bottles in the rustic Wine Shed or sip a beer in the biergarten before sitting down to a meal. Breitbach’s remains a pilgrimage-worthy stop.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 563 Balltown Road, Balltown, 563-552‑2220, breitbachscountrydining.com.

Hamburg Inn No. 2 | Iowa City

Iowa City’s Hamburg Inn No. 2 is a diner with presidential folklore baked into every booth. The Panther family began the Hamburg Inn legacy in the 1930s, and the Linn Street location — opened in 1948 — quickly became a political must-visit thanks to its coffee‑bean caucus and even a cameo on “The West Wing.” After a period of uncertainty, former NFL player Nate Kaeding’s Gold Cap Hospitality revived the beloved café in 2023, restoring its all-day breakfast and diner classics to their rightful home. The menu still revolves around hearty staples — homefries, burgers and bottomless coffee — but the true icon is the pie shake, a full slice of pie blended into a milkshake.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 214 N. Linn St., Iowa City, 319-337‑5512, hamburginn2.com.

Northwestern Steakhouse | Mason City

In Mason City, Northwestern Steakhouse stands as a century-old testament to Greek-inspired Iowa beef. The restaurant began in 1920 as Pete’s Place, opened by Greek immigrants Pete Maduras and Tony Papouchis, moving to its current home in 1954 and adopting its present name in 1965. Today, second-generation owners Bill and Ann Papouchis preserve the buttery, olive‑oil-kissed broiled steaks that draw lines out the door. Filets and ribeyes arrive with a side of the signature Greek spaghetti and a simple salad, creating a meal that has changed little in decades — and doesn’t need to. Classic wine pours upstairs help pass the time while you wait.

Price: $40 to $50 per person

Details: 304 16th St. N.W., Mason City, 641-423‑5075, northwesternsteakhouse.com.

Archie’s Waeside | Le Mars

A James Beard Foundation America’s Classics honoree in 2015, Archie’s Waeside in Le Mars has been dry‑aging its steaks in-house since 1949, when master meat cutter Archie Jackson brought packinghouse expertise to rural Iowa. Now run by third-generation owner Robert Rand, the roadhouse holds fast to traditions like its 12 cuts of dry-aged beef, freshwater fish, a relish tray and house‑corned beef bites. The porterhouse — aged four full weeks — pairs naturally with a perfect Manhattan or one of the cellar’s deep reds, embodying the restaurant’s timeless steakhouse charm.

Price: $30 to $50 per person

Details: 224 Fourth Ave. N.E., Le Mars, 712-546‑7011, archieswaeside.com.

Canteen Lunch in the Alley | Ottumwa

Hidden beneath a downtown parking ramp, Canteen Lunch in the Alley has been Ottumwa’s shrine to the loose‑meat sandwich since 1927. The lunchroom moved to its current snug quarters in 1936, and over the decades passed through several devoted owners — most recently Scott and Jan Pierce, who took over in 2015. The star is the namesake Canteen: seasoned loose beef piled into a steamy bun with mustard, pickles and onions, optionally drizzled with cheese sauce. Homemade pies and malts served at the curved horseshoe counter add to the diner‑museum’s aura.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 112 E. Second St., Ottumwa, 641-682‑5320, canteeninthealley.com.

Mabe’s Pizza | Decorah

Decorah’s Mabe’s Pizza has been the unofficial dining hall of Luther College since 1953, when Mabel White’s small lunchroom began serving the square‑cut pies that would become a regional rite of passage. Renamed in 1968, the pizzeria remains family-run, now under third-generation owners Steve and Connie White and their son, GM Collin White. Known for its thin crust, scratch-made sauce and party‑cut slices, Mabe’s also offers broasted chicken, pasta and sandwiches. The Palace Special — loaded with sausage, beef, pepperoni, mushrooms and onions — remains the crowd favorite.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 110 E. Water St., Decorah, 563-382‑4297, mabespizza.com.

Taylor’s Maid‑Rite | Marshalltown

Few loose‑meat counters carry the heritage of Taylor’s Maid‑Rite in Marshalltown, where the Taylor family has served their version of the original Maid‑Rite since Jan. 1, 1928. Cliff Taylor bought the franchise for $300 and launched a tradition now upheld by Sandra Taylor Short and the next generation. The menu is deliberately minimal: Maid‑Rites (or Cheese‑Rites), chips, shakes and pies. What it lacks in variety, it makes up for in loyalty — locals have been sliding onto these stools for nearly a century.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 106 S. Third Ave., Marshalltown, 641-753‑9684, maidrite.com.

Zeno’s Pizza — Marshalltown

A few blocks away, Zeno’s Pizza has anchored Marshalltown’s Main Street since 1952, opened by Cosmo Nigrelli and Rocky LaValle with its neon sign and old-school pizzeria charm. Still locally run, the restaurant is beloved for thin-crust pies blanketed in cheese, including the signature Zeno’s Special with pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, mushrooms and onions. The bacon cheeseburger pizza is another locals’ pick, best enjoyed with a simple beer or glass of wine.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 109–111 E. Main St., Marshalltown, 641-752‑1245, zenosrestaurant.com.

Ox Yoke Inn | Amana

Opened in 1940 inside an 1856 brick building, the Ox Yoke Inn remains one of the Amana Colonies’ defining destinations for family-style German‑American cooking. Founded by William and Lina Leichsenring, the restaurant has welcomed five generations of family involvement and is now led by Bill Leichsenring. Platters of sauerbraten, schnitzel, roast beef and Amana brats arrive with classic sides and the pies — especially the rhubarb custard — have their own fanbase. Downstairs, the Bierstube pours local and imported brews in a cozy, wood-lined room.

Price: $20 to $30 per person

Details: 4420 220th Trail, Amana, 319-622‑3441, oxyokeinn.com.

Jesse’s Embers | Des Moines

A compact, wood-paneled icon on Ingersoll Avenue, Jesse’s Embers has embraced its supper‑club soul since 1963, when Jesse Roush expanded a former key club into a full restaurant built around an open‑flame grill. In 2025, Carter Annett took the reins, preserving the beloved steaks, ribs, seafood and classic sides that define the menu. The Emberburger and London broil remain signature dishes, best finished with a dessert cocktail — brandy Alexander, Grasshopper or Pink Squirrel — just like the old days.

Price: $20 to $30 per person

Details: 3301 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, 515-255‑6011, theoriginaljessesembers.com.

Tasty Tacos | Des Moines

Since 1961, Tasty Tacos has served the Mosqueda family’s fluffy flour taco — an only‑in‑Des‑Moines phenomenon that sparked a metro-wide cult following. Founded by Richard and Antonia Mosqueda and carried on today by CEO Jennifer “Jenni” Gardner and the fourth generation, the fast-serve restaurants focus on fresh, comforting Mexican‑American classics. The flour taco, stuffed with beef or pork, is the order that started it all; Krispos and Nacho Supremes round out the ritual.

Price: $10 to $15 per person

Details: Locations are at tastytacos.com.

Hickory Park | Ames

Ames’ Hickory Park has been feeding crowds since 1970, growing from a small barbecue shop into a 450-seat institution famous for its smoked meats and sprawling ice‑cream fountain. Founded by David Wheelock and relocated in 1997, the restaurant joined the Bernau Capital Partners portfolio in 2019, though the menu remains unchanged: hickory-smoked pork, chicken, sandwiches, classic sides and nostalgia-soaked Green River sodas. A malt or sundae is practically mandatory.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 1404 S. Duff Ave., Ames, 515-232‑8940, hickoryparkbbq.com.

B & B Grocery, Meat & Deli | Des Moines

Part butcher shop, part deli, all tradition — B & B Grocery has anchored Des Moines’ south side since 1922, when brothers Archie and John Brooks opened the doors. Now operated by third-generation brothers John and Joe Brooks, the shop is best known for its gigantic, personality-packed “Killer” sandwiches, breaded tenderloins and old-fashioned meat counter. Dad’s Killer and Zach’s Italian Killer are local legends, served with cooler drinks and zero pretense.

Price: Less than $10 per person

Details: 2001 S.E. Sixth St., Des Moines, 515-243‑7607, bbgrocerymeatdeli.com.

Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop | Des Moines

On Army Post Road, Smitty’s Tenderloin Shop has been hand-pounding pork tenderloins since 1967, when Bill “Smitty” Smith purchased a 1950s café across from his gas station and gave it his name. Now in its third generation of family stewardship, the tiny counter still turns out regular and “king” tenderloins, onion rings, burgers and shakes for a devoted following. A King Tenderloin basket and a seasonal shake remain the classic combination.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 1401 Army Post Road, Des Moines, 515-287‑4742, facebook.com/smittystenderloins.

Sneaky’s Chicken | Sioux City

Since 1979, Sioux City’s Sneaky’s Chicken has built its reputation on broasted chicken — pressure‑fried to achieve a uniquely crisp crust and juicy interior. Founded by brothers Dave and Rick Ferris and still run by the family, Sneaky’s serves hearty platters of chicken alongside gizzards, shrimp, ribs and classic sides. Cold beer and cocktails complete the family-friendly spread.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 3711 Gordon Drive, Sioux City, 712-252‑0522, sneakyschicken.com.

A & A Pagliai’s Pizza | Iowa City

A & A Pagliai’s Pizza holds one of Iowa’s richest pizza lineages, tracing its heritage to the Pagliai family’s 1950s pizzerias and settling into its Iowa City home in the 1960s. The restaurant, purchased by Anthony Fontanini in the late 2010s, remains fiercely loyal to its thin-crust style, topping pies generously and offering frozen versions to take home. The Palace Special and Veggie Special are perennial favorites, served alongside domestic drafts and a short wine list.

Price: $10 to $20 per person

Details: 302 E. Bloomington St., Iowa City, 319-351‑5073, pagliaisic.com.

The Machine Shed | Urbandale and Davenport

Opened in 1978 on the outskirts of Davenport, the Machine Shed debuted with just 100 seats and a five‑word constitution: “Dedicated to the American Farmer.” This commitment guided founder Mike Whalen and his Heart of America Group, which has since grown into a hospitality company managing restaurants and hotels across multiple states. The Davenport location remains the flagship and a defining Iowa classic, celebrated for farm‑to‑table cooking, generous hospitality and a deep respect for agricultural heritage.

The restaurant is known for its seasonally inspired comfort food, all made from scratch daily, sch as hearty classics like the World Famous Baked Potato Soup — a creamy chowder loaded with potatoes, bacon, cheese and green onions — as well as specialties such as burnt ends, beer‑cheese fondue with pretzel breadsticks and brisket‑stuffed potato skins. The fried chicken, smoked brisket and hand‑battered mushrooms are perennial favorites, capturing the indulgent spirit of Midwestern dining.

Born in 1978 beside Living History Farms, The Machine Shed in Urbandale also offers heaping plates of Midwestern comfort food. The Urbandale location serves farm-style classics like pot roast, roast turkey and dressing, pork chops and oversized cinnamon rolls. Weekend brunch brings mimosas, while dinner leans toward classic cocktails and Midwest beers.

Details: 11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale; 515-270‑6818; and 7250 Northwest Blvd., Davenport, 563-391‑2427, machineshed.com.

Sign up for our dining newsletter, Table Talk DSM, which comes out on Wednesday mornings with all the latest news on restaurants and bars in the metro. You can sign up for free at DesMoinesRegister.com/tabletalk.

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

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Iowa women’s basketball signee McKenna Woliczko MaxPreps national-title game stats

Published

17 hours ago

March 16, 2026

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Iowa women’s basketball signee McKenna Woliczko MaxPreps national-title game stats

In the highly-anticipated California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) Open Division state title game between Iowa women’s basketball signee McKenna Woliczko’s Archbishop Mitty and Ontario Christian from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday, March 14, the Monarchs unfortunately fell short of their ultimate goal by a 56-49 to the Lady Knights.

As an added sense of intrigue, Archbishop Mitty was ranked No. 2 in the MaxPreps national rankings, and Ontario Christian was No. 1, so the game effectively determined the MaxPreps national champion for 2026.

Despite the disappointing result in the title game to Ontario Christian, Woliczko was able to record her 13th double-double of the season (21 games played) with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Over her 21 games played this season, Woliczko finished with an average of 20.2 points on 68.9% shooting, 40% from 3-point range, and 80.8% from the free-throw line, to go along with 11 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals per contest.

During her four year tenure at Archbishop Mitty, she scored an average of 21.3 points on 63.7% shooting and collected 9.4 rebounds per game.

Although this is now her fourth consecutive state runner-up finish, it still does not diminish the illustrious collection of honors that the 6-foot-2 forward from San Bruno, California, has collected in 2026 alone. Those distinctions include being named to the MaxPreps National Player of the Year watch list, a Naismith Trophy Girls’ High School Player of the Year semifinalist, a member of the 2026 Team USA Junior Women’s Basketball Nike Hoops Summit roster, 2026 McDonald’s All-American, and Cal-Hi Sports’ Winter Season Player of the Year.

Woliczko is Iowa’s highest-ranked signee since Caitlin Clark in 2020, checking in as the nation’s No. 6 player, the No. 2 power forward and the No. 2 player from California, per 247Sports. She is Jan Jensen’s highest-ranked signee in her tenure as coach of the Hawkeyes.

As her spectacular tenure at Archbishop Mitty has come to a close, Iowa fans are more than eager to see her continue her dominance alongside the collection of Hawkeyes talent on the Carver-Hawkeye Arena parquet court donning the Black and Gold for years to come.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews

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How the Iowa Lakes baseball team is trying to move on from a deadly crash

Published

1 day ago

March 16, 2026

Press Room

How the Iowa Lakes baseball team is trying to move on from a deadly crash

ESTHERVILLE – Iowa Lakes Community College baseball player Preston Miller sits in a chair during the team’s practice on March 12 at the Christen Activity Complex and puts balls from a bucket into a machine plugged into the wall.

Miller, a pitcher and outfielder for the Lakers, is helping many of the team’s infielders get reps as the machine fires the balls at them, bouncing across the floor, simulating grounders that may be hit to them.

“I’m not cleared to play so this is about all I can do,” Miller says.

Miller was one of the members of the team injured in a bus accident on the way to Arkansas for a series of games on Feb. 11. Teammate Carter Johnson died that day. Many others, including Miller, were injured.

Despite not being able to play, Miller is one of the fortunate ones, suffering injuries to his shoulder and back, meaning he could return to the field at some point this season.

“It’s unsure right now,” Miller sadly says.

Miller’s absence is one of the many giant holes the Iowa Lakes baseball team is trying to fill. While the team is back on the field, the Lakers haven’t been the same since that tragic day.

Everything has changed for the team that began the season with high hopes. Now, simply playing is a victory for the Lakers, who are trying to move on yet still remember what they lost that day.

“It sucks that happened, but it’s made us stronger at the end of the day,” said Iowa Lakes infielder Blake Evans.

A season full of hopes for Iowa Lakes and Carter Johnson

Iowa Lakes baseball coach Chris Witzke thought this was going to be the breakout season for his team. Witzke, a former assistant coach for the Lakers, saw his team struggle during his first two seasons at the helm. But the 2026 campaign was going to be different.

Witzke had a lineup full of big bats that he thought could challenge the program’s single-season record for home runs. Despite the pitching staff being young, he viewed it as the best collection of arms they had during his tenure, good enough to make a run at a winning record.

“I think a 20-win team (was) very realistic,” Witzke said.

There were other reasons for excitement as well. One of them was Johnson, a 6-foot, 180-pound freshman outfielder from Rapid City, South Dakota. The right-handed hitting and throwing Johnson could run the bases well and had a ton of potential, Witzke said.

Johnson had been a standout football player in high school and had yet to truly focus on baseball. With Johnson now giving his full attention to baseball, Witzke figured he could be a standout on the diamond.

But opportunities were difficult to come by early on, with Witzke wanting to give some of the early chances for playing time to some of his returners. Still, Johnson made an impact on his coaches and teammates with his heart and hustle.

Johnson, who had dreams of playing baseball at the Division I level, was eager to get that opportunity at the junior college and impressed the Lakers with his defense. He’d been so good that Witzke used him as one of his first outfielders off the bench early in the season.

Witzke wasn’t the only one who liked what he saw. Iowa Lakes pitcher Luke Holcomb was amazed at how Johnson played in the outfield. He saw balls get driven into the gap and appeared to be headed for double. Johnson typically tracked them down, sometimes making a diving catch to rob a player of a hit.

“He was an absolute athlete and he could also hit the crap out of the ball,” Holcomb said.

Because of all of those intangibles, Johnson was someone Witzke wanted to land for a long time. But the skillset wasn’t the only part of his game that stood out. Witzke loved how happy Johnson was and remembers seeing him smile from ear to ear when he made his visit to the school’s campus in Estherville.

Baseball brought out that kind of joy for Johnson, who was affectionately known as “Tater.” The nickname came the day he was born as his dad Jeff watched a spring training game with the Chicago Cubs.

“Whoever the announcer was that game said, ‘It’s going, it’s going, it’s gone — he hits a tater,’” Jeff Johnson said. “And I looked down at him and I go, ‘Tater, that’s going to be your nickname — you’re going to grow up and hit home runs.’”

While Carter Johnson played sparingly during the first four games of the season, going 0-for-2 in the one game he appeared in, there were still high hopes for him. With the hard work he had been putting in and the potential he had, Johnson was on the verge of getting more playing time.

He was especially eager for the team’s upcoming trip to Harrison, Ark., for a three-game series with North Arkansas College. Jeff Johnson said his son was expected to get the first start of his college career during the trip.

It was an exciting opportunity for the Lakers to show just how good they could be this season. For Johnson, it was a huge opportunity to show what he could do.

But it never came.

“It was something I never want to see again”

On Feb. 11, the Lakers began their trip to North Arkansas College. A total of 33 people were on a bus, with the remainder of the team in a van driving behind it for the nearly nine-hour trip.

About 70 miles south of the school’s campus, the journey came to an unexpected end. According to an Iowa State Patrol report, the 74-year-old driver of the team bus failed to negotiate a curve they came upon.

An overreaction led the bus to roll over into a ditch while on Iowa Highway 4, west of Twin Lakes and south of Pomeroy.

Evans watched it all unfold from the van in horror.

“It looked like he (the driver) tried to come back up and just went down,” Evans said.

The scary scene sent everyone on the bus flinging and flying in different directions. Iowa Lakes sophomore Adam Timm, who was on the bus, grabbed a poll and hung on for dear life.

According to the report, two passengers were ejected from the bus and trapped under the vehicle. Evans and others in the van rushed to their aid, trying to pull teammates out of the bus.

Some used a hole that was ripped in the top of the bus to climb out. Others used the emergency door, which was kicked out, to escape.

One of the many injured was Witzke, who suffered a concussion along with some bumps, bruises and two black eyes. He was hurt so much that he isn’t even entirely sure if he was thrown from the vehicle or not.

But one thing he clearly recalls is getting away from the bus and seeing the damage.

“I remember being terrified to go see what the inside looked like,” Witzke said.

The scene was haunting and horrific. Holcomb, who was knocked out from the crash, remembers regaining consciousness and seeing blood everywhere.

Timm spotted his roommate Jaxon Hermann, a right-handed pitcher for the Lakers. Hermann was conscious but looked lost in the moment. It took several minutes for him to get his surroundings straight.

It was later revealed that Hermann suffered four fractured vertebrae, a spinal bruise, a lacerated spleen, partially collapsed lungs, a large laceration on his elbow and two areas of bleeding on his brain.

Then there was Johnson. When his teammates spotted him, they began performing CPR. Holcomb, the first to discover him, knew it was helpless as soon as he checked his pulse.

“There was nothing,” Holcomb said.

Medical personnel who rushed to the scene tried in vain to save him. Johnson was just 19.

All 33 passengers on the bus were transported to hospitals throughout the state. Two were taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines and 10 were taken to UnityPoint Health Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge.

The other remaining passengers went to area hospitals for evaluation. For many of them, it’s still a blur. But what they do remember, teammates and coaches hurt and one dead, haunts them.

“It’s something I never want to see again,” Holcomb said.

What’s next? The Lakers decide to play and honor their late teammate

About two weeks after the crash, the Iowa Lakes baseball team gathered for a meeting. The topic was the remainder of the season. The Lakers had lost Johnson and several other key members who were expected to miss the rest of the season with their injuries.

Could they go on? Should they?

Witzke had given the team some time off to be with family and not think about baseball. When they gathered again in the school’s auditorium, coaches handed out pens and paper and put it to a vote.

Witzke had players write down their names on the ballots, but only for him and administrators to see, so he could know if certain players needed more time. Outside of those players, the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of taking the field again this season.

Not everyone agreed. But Johnson was a huge factor in the decision of the players who did want to return.

“I think in the end we all kind of agreed that we wanted to out and honor him and play for him,” Evans said.

The decision to come back this season wasn’t easy. But some of the pressure was relieved when the team made the trip to South Dakota for Johnson’s funeral. Johnson’s parents picked out a blue casket with a bronze baseball and glove on it. They bought plots for the entire family at a cemetery that Johnson drove by every day for baseball practice.

At the funeral, his dad spoke to the team and urged them to play. Jeff Johnson figured that’s what his son would want. Besides, he didn’t want the players’ lives to be defined by the wreck and the death of “Tater.” He thought playing would help them think about his son.

“I want them to remember ‘Tater’ for the good times that they had,” Jeff Johnson said.

When the team eventually returned to practice, there were reminders of the accident everywhere. Carter Johnson was gone. So were many other players still recovering from the crash. Only some of the team’s pitchers and a handful of position players were there.

Witzke kept things simple that night, going through the basics with some light drills as the team tried to get back on its feet. The hope was that it could be helpful for the mind, body and spirit after all they’d been through. But baseball could only help so much.

“The first practice was a little awkward,” Witzke said.

Every day has gotten a little bit better. More and more players have joined. Still, the team isn’t at full strength and won’t ever be this season, with Witzke expecting several players to miss the rest of the campaign. One they’ll never get back is Johnson.

While Johnson isn’t around anymore, he’s still with them in spirit. The team and the school plan to honor him throughout the season. Players said they will write his name on their hats or tape for games. Iowa Lakes has already announced a scholarship in Johnson’s name.

Witzke said the school is retiring his No. 8 and will have a plaque put in honoring him at the field. The coach added that Bud’s Cafe, a favorite stomping ground for Johnson, will name an item on the menu after him.

Johnson’s parents are making sure he’s never forgotten either. The morning of the team’s first game back on March 13 in Minnesota, Jeff Johnson got on his son’s phone and pull up the app the Lakers use to communicate. He wrote out a message telling them he loved them and urged them to play for his son.

“Hopefully that gave them some inspiration,” Jeff Johnson said.

The wounds are still fresh. Jeff Johnson planned to fly to Minnesota to surprise the team before their first game. At the last minute, he decided not to due to severe weather. His wife was driving another one of their sons to a hockey game in North Dakota.

The thought of another accident and possibly losing them terrified Jeff. So he stayed back and made the drive with them. Instead of attending the game, he watched from home on his phone. Midway through, he ventured to the cemetery and sat next to his son’s grave, holding up the phone for him to see.

The Iowa Lakes team is still grieving. There are constant reminders of the crash and Johnson. His absence and the absences of others at practices are impossible to miss.

Getting back on a bus for the first time following the accident wasn’t easy. For many of them, the trip to Carter Johnson’s funeral was the first. But there will be more. Witzke addressed it all with them early on.

“Coach made a good point here a few weeks ago that ‘If you want to continue your collegiate career or really doing anything in life, you’re going to have to ride a bus,’” Holcomb said.

Some of the emotional scars from that tragic day will never heal. The memories are impossible to forget. Baseball has been a welcome distraction, but it can only do so much.

Now that the Lakers are playing games, that may help as well. Despite some missing pieces to the player puzzle, Witzke still believes his team can accomplish big things. They certainly have some extra motivation for the remainder of the season.

They are playing for Johnson and the other teammates who can’t take the field. Some players have yet to return to campus, but they have stayed in touch and vowed to continue the season and find ways to get through it.

Together.

“Everybody says family,” Witzke said. “Everybody says brother in this world, in the athletic world. This year and especially after the crash, we felt it more than ever.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.

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St. John’s facing Northern Iowa in first round of March Madness bracket

Published

2 days ago

March 15, 2026

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St. John’s facing Northern Iowa in first round of March Madness bracket

St. John’s road to a potential deep March Madness run begins against Northern Iowa.

The Red Storm, seeded No. 5 in the East region, will face No. 12 Northern Iowa in the first round of the bracket in San Diego on Friday.

After winning their second straight Big East championship Saturday with a dominant win over UConn — marking the first time in program history they’ve repeated as Big East champs — the Johnnies hope to surpass last season’s NCAA Tournament run, which ended early in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The No. 2-seeded Red Storm lost to No. 10 Arkansas, led by John Calipari.

Zuby Ejiofor (24) celebrates during St. John’s Big East championship win over UConn on March 14, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Rick Pitino appears to have St. John’s peaking at the right time after rolling through Providence, Seton Hall and UConn at MSG.

The Red Storm enter March Madness having won 19 of their last 20 games, the lone loss a no-show 32-point loss to UConn in Hartford.

The Post has you covered with a printable NCAA bracket featuring the full 68-team March Madness 2026 field.

Senior Zuby Ejiofor, the Big East Player of the Year, led the way for the Johnnies this season by averaging 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 55.4 percent.

Across the three Big East Tournament games, Ejiofor totalled 59 points, 24 rebounds, nine assists and 12 blocks, seven of which game in the final against the Huskies.

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