Iowa
Brayden Frazier’s late-season ascension a microcosm of Iowa baseball’s resiliency
8 minutes with Iowa baseball after the Hawkeyes beat Michigan to open Big Ten Tournament
Hear from the Hawkeyes after their win over Michigan to kick off the Big Ten Tournament.
Dargan Southard, Hawk Central
OMAHA — He could’ve called it a career after four meandering seasons, and everyone associated with Iowa baseball would’ve completely understood. Increased playing time was far from guaranteed in 2023. Academic dominance was bound to offer enticing real-world opportunities. Did Brayden Frazier really want to grind through another arduous athletic campaign?
He did.
And it’s paying off way more than the Hawkeyes could’ve ever imagined.
The guy who’s seen his playing time rise the most over Iowa’s previous 10 games since top slugger Keaton Anthony exited the lineup, Frazier has delivered a quality lesson on career perseverance, the importance of leadership and remaining ready even when consistent at-bats aren’t arriving.
It’s why things like Tuesday’s monumental grand slam, which ignited Iowa’s run-rule victory over Michigan to start the Big Ten Tournament, are happening. It’s why Frazier is in his second year as a Hawkeyes captain, a designation not always given to role players. It’s a microcosm of why Iowa continues to roll through adversity with little sign of stopping.
“Knowing there was going to be a lot of competition going on this year, Brayden still came back for the right reasons,” Iowa coach Rick Heller said after Tuesday’s victory in Omaha. “He knew this year’s team was a quality team and had a chance to be very special. He paid his dues. He wanted to help lead that team. It’s like having another coach in the clubhouse and he’s done everything we’ve ever asked him to do.”
Reaching this productive point required a hardened mental focus that not every athlete can deliver.
After a redshirt season in 2019 and a COVID cancellation in 2020, Frazier entered his third year in the Iowa program with only 20 career at-bats. The Cedar Rapids Jefferson product made 19 starts in 2021 and 17 in 2022 as a reserve outfielder — but hit just .174 last season while other outfield pieces cemented themselves around him.
Still, Frazier didn’t let sporadic playing time diminish his influence elsewhere. Earning team-captain status primarily from off-the-field importance accentuates Frazier’s value to Iowa baseball even more. Pair that with two academic All-Big Ten selections — plus a Dean’s List appearance in 2020 — and it had become clear Frazier was going to be a beneficial asset in whatever 2023 role fit him best.
“It’s always kind of been the same thing for me,” Frazier said. “I’m going to do the job when I’m in, and if I’m not in, I’m going to cheer on the guy who’s in there for me. That’s just been my mantra the whole time.”
For Frazier, that’s why returning this season was an easy call. His fifth year began in familiar, do-whatever-is-needed fashion — as Frazier made several early-season starts in right and left field, then later filled in for an injured Sam Petersen during the beginning portion of Big Ten play. But Petersen returned at the start of the Nebraska series on April 21, which forced Frazier back to the bench and left him without a start for seven consecutive games. By college baseball standards, that’s a long stretch with minimal at-bats.
Then came the sports-betting investigation that Heller has alluded to being the reason why several players are sidelined, which broke over May’s first weekend.
There was little time for Iowa baseball to process what just unfolded before baseball had to be played — and Frazier was the perfect weapon to handle the sudden change. He was in the lineup for Anthony on May 5 against Ohio State, just hours after the Hawkeyes found out they’d be down several pivotal pieces. Only someone who remained locked in through anything could answer the bell as swiftly and as timely as Frazier has.
Since the suspensions happened, Frazier is hitting. 467 (14-for-30) with five runs scored, seven extra-base hits (two homers, five doubles) and 11 RBIs. He’s started seven of the 10 games Anthony has missed and has piled up more than 45% of his season hit total in that span.
When Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Connor O’Halloran spun Frazier a hanging slider Tuesday afternoon in a pivotal spot, this grizzled in-state veteran knew exactly what to do with it. Frazier raised his arm as the mistake pitch sailed deep into the Iowa bullpen, having just delivered the Hawkeyes’ ninth grand slam of the year.
A tight affair had suddenly whipped hard in Iowa’s favor, thanks again to Frazier’s valued contributions.
“Bryaden’s just a veteran guy, and he knows what it takes every day,” Iowa reliever Jack Whitlock said. “He brings it every day and brings it out of us to do the same thing —every single day, get better.”
A different team with a weaker culture could’ve wilted under Iowa’s late-season adversity, leaving a promising campaign well short of earning the historical due it has rightfully earned.
The Hawkeyes and Frazier, though, haven’t let it happen. His loyalty to the Iowa program is getting cashed in now more than ever before.
“I’ll never be able to thank him enough for what he’s done for the program,” Heller said. “To see him go out and have big hits and pick up the slack and be successful — not just myself but all the coaches and all the staff couldn’t be more proud of Brayden.
“And there’s way more to come.”
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com.
Iowa’s Real Woods finishes in fourth at NCAA Championships
Iowa’s wrestling’s Real Woods finishes fourth at the NCAA Championships, reflects on college wrestling career and potential future caching career.
The United States will be represented by a Hawkeye wrestler in the Olympics yet again, as Iowa wrestling icon Spencer Lee has punched his ticket at the World Olympic Games Qualifier.
Lee, a three-time NCAA champion at Iowa, qualified Saturday in Istanbul, Turkey at the World Olympic Games qualifier.
Lee will be the 20th Olympian in Iowa Hawkeye wrestling history. Leslie Beers (1928) and Joe Scarpello (1948) were Olympic Team alternates in their individual cycles according to Iowa’s record book. This will be the 23rd time a Hawkeye has made the Olympic team with Chris Campbell (1980 and 1992), Randy Lewis (1980 and 1984) and Barry Davis (1984 and 1988) each making two appearances.
Lee had a four-match path to the Olympic Games. From the first match, Lee appeared locked in. Facing Morocco’s Ben Tarik first, Lee looked several gears faster than his opponent by securing a go-behind takedown. He secured four leg laces on his to a 10-0 technical fall in just 23 seconds.
In the round of 16, Lee drew the No. 1-seeded Wanhou Zou of China. Lee came out of the gate aggressive, but it cost him a two-point takedown early as Zou scored on a re-attack. After a pair of pushouts from Lee to tie it at two, Zou converted on a four-point feet-to-back takedown to take a 6-2 advantage. Lee would counter with a takedown and three leg laces to eventually hold on for a 10-9 result.
Lee’s next match was against North Macedonia’s Vladimir Egorov. Lee secured a go-behind takedown early in the first period and gut-wrenched his way to a 12-2 technical fall in just 54 seconds.
For his Olympic team spot, he faced Rakhat Kalzhan of Kazakhstan. Kalzhan is no slouch, having defeated NCAA champion Nick Suriano just last year.
Against Kalzhan, he shot for the left leg of Kalzhan and earned a two-point takedown. He gut wrenched his way to a 10-0 technical fall in 36 seconds to reach the Olympics. In total, Lee wrestled just seven minutes and 53 seconds across four matches (24 possible regulation minutes). Excluding the match against Zou, it was one minute, 23 seconds of match time.
Lee’s qualification makes it three-consecutive cycles a Hawkeye wrestler has represent the United States, all of which are at 57 kilograms. Dating back to 1980, Iowa has had at least one Olympian in 11 of the last 12 Olympic cycles, with 2012 being the lone year without a Hawkeye.
Lee follows newly appointed Oklahoma State assistant coach Thomas Gilman in 2020 and now Hawkeye Wrestling Club coach Dan Dennis in 2016. Lee will look to become the 11th Hawkeye to win an Olympic medal and could make it back-to-back Olympic medals for Iowa at 57 kilograms after Gilman’s Bronze in Tokyo.
After Saturday’s performance, there is good reason to think that he could. There appeared to be zero limitations to Lee in his matches despite knee surgeries and previous injuries in recent years. He had an extra burst to him in Istanbul that looked even more explosive than his US Olympic Trials run to earn the US Olympic Team bid. His strength in gut wrenches and leg laces made him look flat-out unbeatable in moments.
The wrestling portion of the Olympics will begin on Aug. 5 this summer and conclude on Aug. 11. The men’s freestyle division will begin on Aug. 8 at 4 a.m. CT and conclude on Aug. 9 in the early afternoon.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23
The World of Outlaws line up in the tradition four-abreast formation Saturday at Knoxville
Drivers do the four-abreast parade lap Saturday night prior to the start of the 61st annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Saturday at Knoxville Raceway
Matt Levins, Des Moines Register
Iowa has one of the best motorsport races in the country.
With 10 raceways around the state and Iowa hosting the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024, it is safe to say Iowans enjoy the thrill of motorsports. The NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Iowa sold out nearly four months before the race.
So out of all the races in Iowa, which one is the best in the state and one of the best in the country?
What Iowa motorsport race won is one of the best in the country?
Iowa’s NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals was ranked as the second-best race in the country by USA TODAY 10Best.
Also known as the “granddaddy of them all,” the Knoxville race beat out eight other races across the country including the Indianapolis 500 and the King of the Hammers. The only race ranked better than Knoxville’s is Sick Week in Orlando Florida.
A panel of industry experts submitted nominations for the annual rankings. 10Best editors narrowed down the list and reader votes determined the final rankings.
What is the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals race?
The race started in 1961, according to the Knoxville Nationals website. It’s a four-day format with a total purse reward of $1 million. Every lap around the track builds points for the racers and whoever has the most points wins the purse.
The track was originally used for horse racing and is located on the Marion County Fairgrounds. The first automobile race was held in 1901, according to the raceway’s website.
More: Hy-Vee-sponsored Christian Lundgaard stops at Grimes Hy-Vee ahead of 108th Indianapolis 500
When is the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Race?
The 63rd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals begins Aug. 7, 2024, and runs until Aug. 10.
The current champion of the race is Kyle Larson. Tickets are still available for all four days and they start at $47, according to the Knoxville Nationals’ website.
What were the top 10 motorsports races?
The top 10 motorsport races according to USA TODAY 10Best included:
- Sick Week -Orlando, Florida
- NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals – Knoxville, Iowa
- King of the Hammers- Johnson Valley, California
- SCCA National Championship Runoffs – Plymouth, Wisconsin
- NHRA U.S. Nationals – Indianapolis, Indiana
- Holley LS Fest West – Las Vegas, Nevada
- Chili Bowl Nationals Powered by NOS Energy Drink – Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Indianapolis 500 – Indianapolis, Indiana
- Grant Park 165 – Chicago, Illinois
- Daytona 500- Daytona Beach, Florida
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
ONAWA, Iowa (KTIV) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was on scene investigating an incident in the town of Onawa, Iowa Friday night.
A heavy police presence, including Monona County Sheriff’s Office Deputies along with the DCI, was seen on Granite Avenue for multiple hours, close to Burgess Medical Center and West Monona High School. Crime scene tape was put up in front of a home on that street and a truck was loaded up and towed off of the property around 9:30 p.m. A section of Granite Avenue is closed to traffic while the investigation is underway.
Deputies on scene tell KTIV officers from the DCI are conducting an investigation.
This is a developing story, we will continue to update this article as more details become available.
Copyright 2024 KTIV. All rights reserved.
Body found at bottom of San Pedro cliffs
Mayor Duggan takes bus to opening day at Detroit’s new Jason Hargrove Transit Center
Missed the lights? Aurora borealis may light up Bay Area tonight
Dallas police, fire pension lawyers tried to get plan approved without city’s OK
Detectives investigate shooting in Miami’s Brickell
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Violence in liberal state's schools nearly doubled as parents push for more police
Hamas says a captive has died of wounds sustained in Israeli air strike
Rudy Giuliani suspended from WABC radio station over false claims about 2020 election
Tales from the trail: The blue states Trump eyes to turn red in November
Borrell: Spain, Ireland and others could recognise Palestine on 21 May
-
News1 week agoPolice enter UCLA anti-war encampment; Arizona repeals Civil War-era abortion ban
-
Politics1 week agoThe White House has a new curator. Donna Hayashi Smith is the first Asian American to hold the post
-
News1 week agoSome Florida boaters seen on video dumping trash into ocean have been identified, officials say
-
Education1 week agoVideo: President Biden Addresses Campus Protests
-
)
Movie Reviews1 week agoThe Idea of You Movie Review: Anne Hathaway’s honest performance makes the film stand out in a not so formulaic rom-com
-
World1 week agoUN, EU, US urge Georgia to halt ‘foreign agents’ bill as protests grow
-
World1 week agoIn the upcoming European elections, peace and security matter the most
-
World1 week agoArizona Senate repeals near-total 1864 abortion ban in divisive vote