Iowa

Dallas Center-Grimes completes three-peat, tops North Polk to win Iowa girls soccer state title

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

Dallas Center-Grimes completes three-peat, tops North Polk to win Iowa girls soccer state title

DES MOINES—A lot was at stake in a battle between 1-seed North Polk and 3-seed Dallas-Center Grimes in the Class 2A finals of the Iowa girls state soccer tournament.

DCG was competing for its third straight title while North Polk was seeking its first state trophy in 2A.

Six unanswered goals by DCG completed its three-peat in a 6-1 win over the top-seeded Comets on Saturday.

“When I asked about some of their goals and everything, it wasn’t just about winning conference, it wasn’t just making it to a state tournament. They said,’ We want to win this thing again,’” said DCG coach Dan James. “This senior bunch has been to the state finals four-straight years and (got) three of them…they made DCG a really special place here in the last four years.”

The Comets were the ones who set the tone with an opening strike at the 26:07 mark. Senior Abby Bell dribbled down the center of the field and buried a shot that gave North Polk a 1-0 advantage.

“Being down a goal, we knew that it’s not very common for us to be cocky in that way, but we know that if we come together as a family we can overcome it and we did that when the stage was bright,” said senior Kylie Knief

About 19 minutes later though, Knief found herself attempting a penalty shot. She blocked out the noise, composed herself, and sent a shot that evened the score at 1-1 heading into halftime.

“Everyone tries to rattle you, I just took a couple of deep breaths and I just buried it in the corner,” Knief said.

The Mustangs were aggressive to open the second half and took the lead. Senior Hannah Renz was the top assist-getter for DCG this season. Eight minutes into the second half, Renz showed that with a long ball that found junior Landry Glasgow. The third-year Mustang snuck in a header that gave the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.

“(Hannah) just had a great cross right to the box, and I happened to be right there and it was perfect,” Glasgow said.

Glasgow wasn’t done yet. About 10 minutes later, she sent a 15-yard shot into the box to extend the lead to 3-1. From then on, the Mustangs kept piling on the goals. Senior Ella Forsyth got in on the action with an assist from junior Alex Hofbauer. Sophomore Kenna Knief capped it off with a goal in the final minutes.

“From the beginning of the season, we knew it was possible and we can do it,” Kylie Knief said. “But I always use the words, ‘We’re a family’…we had an emotional speech before the game and I think as we all come together as a team, we just know what we want and we strive for it.”

DCG finishes its championship season with an 18-3 record. Kylie Knief and Renz earned a spot in the 2A all-tournament team. DCG girls soccer’s state title victory came hours after the DCG boys defeated Des Moines Hoover, 3-2, to clinch its first state title in program history.

“I texted (boys coach Collin Lane) today. I go,’ We can make something special happen today,’” James said. “It’s a big-time moment. Anytime a school gets two championships in one day, I mean, that’s very rare to happen…so it’s a pretty special experience for these kids at DCG.”

More: Dallas Center-Grimes, powered by its seniors, clinches program’s first Iowa boys state soccer title

North Polk wraps up its season with a 19-2 record. Senior Madi Nemmers and junior Addi Ollendike were selected to the all-tournament team.

Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at MARay@gannett.com, and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.

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Iowa

Iowa basketball forward planning to return if granted extra season

Published

2 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Iowa basketball forward planning to return if granted extra season

Iowa basketball just capped one of its most magical seasons in years with its first trip to the Elite Eight since 1987.

While the Hawkeyes’ Cinderella run through March Madness closed with a 71-59 loss against No. 3 seed Illinois, Iowa reached the doorstep of the Final Four and that should pay dividends for years to come. Head coach Ben McCollum and Iowa will work to retool for another NCAA Tournament run as soon as next season.

Cooper Koch and Tate Sage each authored enthusiasm for the future with their performance as underclassmen over the course of the season and during March Madness in particular. Iowa will return forwards Alvaro Folgueiras and Cam Manyawu and guard Kael Combs from the core that led the Hawkeyes to 24 wins and an Elite Eight berth.

Iowa head coach Ben McCollum had mentioned earlier in the year that it wasn’t ruling out the possibility of forward Tavion Banks returning for the 2026-27 season either. Banks would need a waiver for additional eligibility, stemming from his career beginning in the JUCO ranks at Northwest Florida State for two seasons.

“If I get another year, I will be here next year on their side to help them out,” Banks said.

The hope is that Banks could get a Diego Pavia ruling, which earned Pavia another season of football eligibility at Vanderbilt. Pavia sued the NCAA in November of 2024, arguing that his JUCO seasons shouldn’t count toward his overall years of NCAA eligibility. A federal judge in Tennessee granted Pavia an injunction in December of 2024, opening the door for other former JUCO athletes to potentially receive waivers for more NCAA eligibility.

But, Banks is aware of the uncertainty surrounding whether or not he will indeed receive another season of eligibility.

“I don’t know the future. God will plan it all out for me. I wish them the best of luck and I’ll be cheering for them and I’m sure I’ll be a part of Hawkeye nation,” Banks said.

It would be a major boon for McCollum and for the Hawkeyes if Banks is inded able to return for the 2026-27 men’s college basketball season. Banks has played with McCollum each of the past two seasons at Drake and at Iowa, and the 6-foot-7 forward was Iowa’s second-leading scorer this past season, averaging 10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 52% field goal shooting.

Banks keyed Iowa’s second-round upset of top-seeded Florida, scoring a team-high 20 points in the win over the Gators.

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 Josh on X: @JoshOnHawks

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Iowa

NW Iowa family witnesses field catch fire firsthand Saturday

Published

14 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

NW Iowa family witnesses field catch fire firsthand Saturday

BRONSON, Iowa (KTIV) – As recovery continues in Northwest Iowa from Saturday’s field fires, one family witnessed the fire firsthand.

On Saturday. March 28, more than 50 organizations from three states responded to a large field fire in Woodbury County.

Several of these organizations worked throughout the night to assist in emergency operations.

Ruth Smith, a Bronson resident, says she and her family saw the fire burn in their backyard, and before she knew it the field in her backyard was fully engulfed in flames.

“Came out and was looking out the back window and we could see the flames, out there in the field there,” said Smith. “It just, you know, spread so fast.”

Residents from Lawton, Bronson, and Moville had to evacuate their homes for their safety, including members of Smith’s family.

“My daughter and son,” said Smith. “They grabbed some of their stuff and threw it in bags, went down to my in-laws’ house.”

From her house, Smith says she could see her neighbor’s shed catch fire and how she felt throughout the night.

“The emotions are scary when the wind is that crazy and you know the ground is that dry and it spreads really fast,” said Smith.

A common fear for residents like Smith is the fear of running out of water.

“We’re out here and they’re no fire hydrants, so it’s pretty scary,” said Smith.

Derek Stanfield, the Salix fire chief says a portable water site has been set up at Lawton-Bronson High School.

“We are dumping water in these holding tanks and as trucks need water, they come here, we fill them out of the tanks,” he said. “That allows these trucks to get back on the road, get water, get back, so we don’t run out.”

Center now open in Bronson for those impacted by Saturday’s field fire

Woodbury County Emergency Management says a respite center is now open at Lofted Views Event Center, located at 2086 210th St. in Bronson.

Those impacted by the fires are encouraged to seek assistance by visiting the center to meet with American Red Cross case workers.

Management says for concerns about recovery efforts, residents can call (712)-222-4400.

Want to get the latest news and weather from Siouxland’s News Source? Follow these links to download our KTIV News app and our First Alert Weather app.

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Iowa

Body recovered from retention pond after reported drowning in Iowa Colony

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Body recovered from retention pond after reported drowning in Iowa Colony

Iowa Colony police say a caller saw a man go underwater in the Meridiana subdivision and did not resurface.

IOWA COLONY, Texas – Iowa Colony police recovered the body of a man Saturday night after witnesses reported seeing him go underwater in a retention pond in the Meridiana subdivision, authorities said.

Officers were dispatched around 7:04 p.m. to a pond behind the 10400 block of Kahlo Court after a caller reported a man was swimming, submerged and did not resurface, according to the Iowa Colony Police Department.

Police said responding officers immediately began searching the area. The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Colony Fire Department and Manvel Fire Department assisted at the scene, and the Fort Bend County Dive and Water Rescue Team was called in to help.

Divers with the Fort Bend County team located the man around 10:10 p.m. and pronounced him deceased, police said.

The man’s identity and the cause of death have not been released. Police said no foul play is suspected and the investigation remains ongoing.