Iowa

Iowa State defensive lineman Ikenna Ezeogu using Chipotle to bulk up

Published

1 month ago

April 10, 2024

Iowa State defensive lineman Ikenna Ezeogu using Chipotle to bulk up

AMES – Iowa State football player Ikenna Ezeogu realized his passion for Chipotle had reached another level when the restaurant employees recognized him from a previous trip earlier in the week.

“They know me so well to where I’ll go in and they’ll be like, ‘Make sure you get your app,’” Ezeogu said with a smile.

Chipotle meals are helping the redshirt sophomore put on some much-needed weight. The defensive end from Blue Springs, Mo., hopes to tack on even more pounds this offseason as he prepares to be a bigger and tougher part of Iowa State’s defensive line in 2024.

“It can help me a lot,” he said of the added weight.

Ezeogu is coming off a surprising season of sorts in 2023. He was part of the second unit of Iowa State’s defensive line as a redshirt freshman, tallying 16 tackles including one sack. Ezeogu also had three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.

The contributions far exceeded anything Iowa State defensive line coach Eli Rasheed expected out of Ezeogu last season. Ezeogu, a four-star recruit out of high school, redshirted his freshman season in Ames and had made enough strides to earn some playing time last season.

“I didn’t go into the season thinking that I would play Ike as much as we did, but he kept developing into a guy that we couldn’t take off the field,” Rasheed said. “So he’s done a great job of working himself into the lineup.”

Ezeogu credits hard work on and off the field for his rapid rise. As he watched film and asked questions, Ezeogu understood what the Cyclones were trying to do on defense. His confidence soared. Then his playing time increased.

“I’m a competitive guy,” Ezeogu said. “I wanted to make sure I earned my spot and I wanted to keep my spot. “

But the work is far from done for Ezeogu, who is hoping to take on an even bigger role for Iowa State’s defense in 2024. The best way to do that is to, well, get bigger himself. Ezeogu, who finished last season at around 265 pounds, said he is up to 270. Rasheed believes it’s even more than that.

And a steady supply of Chipotle food is a major reason.

“I like to eat Chipotle a lot,” Ezeogu said.

Ezeogu said he approached a nutritionist when he came back to school in the winter about trying to tack on some important pounds. Chipotle, his go-to spot for lunch in high school, was seen as a good option. So Ezeogu began hitting it up more and more in Ames.

He said he eats there every other day. Ezeogu always leaves with his hands full of food, grabbing not one but two burritos for the day. His order includes double rice, double chicken, veggies, queso dip, spicy sauce, sour cream, cheese and corn.

“I’m loading up,” he said.

He doesn’t stop with Chipotle, either. Ezeogu will eat whatever the team gets at lunch and dinner. Then, later at night, he’ll gulp down a bowl of noodles and polish it off with his second burrito.

“I don’t really try to go out of my comfort zone and try to eat cheeseburgers,” Ezeogu said. “I barely eat cheeseburgers.”

The feasting has paid off. Ezeogu said that while he’s added some size and strength, he hasn’t lost any quickness. That combination could make him an even more valuable player for Iowa State’s defense, which continually rotated defensive linemen throughout the season.

Ezeogu’s improvements could make him a permanent part of the line.

But there’s still growing to be done, not just physically but also mentally. Rasheed said Ezeogu needs to continue to grow his football IQ. If he can do that, then the Cyclones may have a future star.

“Honestly, he has all the talent to be a difference-maker,” Rasheed said.

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

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Iowa

Discover the 6 best burger restaurants in Iowa City, from gourmet to classic delights

Published

6 hours ago

May 24, 2024

Press Room

Discover the 6 best burger restaurants in Iowa City, from gourmet to classic delights

The classic hamburger is an American icon. However, not all burgers are made equal. Luckily, Iowa City has an array of creative to classic burgers for everyone’s taste, from unsuspected quality to unexpected flavors.

Here are the six best burgers in Iowa City.

George’s Buffet

Arguably, one of the most iconic burgers in Iowa City is the classic bar George’s Buffett. Though buffet is in the name, George’s has a limited menu consisting of a cheese sandwich, hot nuts, chips, and cheeseburgers. While George’s might be best known for cheap beers, the bar also has one of the best burgers in Iowa City. The burger is a no-frills cheeseburger with American cheese, ketchup, mustard, and pickles on a sesame bun. George’s is the perfect burger to end a night or even begin; with every bite, there is a taste of nostalgia.

Location: 312 E. Market St., Iowa City

Contact: 319-351-9614

Pullman Bar & Diner

The Pullman is a part of the Gold Cap Hospitality group, and The Mo Burger at Pullman stands out as one of the best burgers in Iowa City because of its combination of flavors and textures. The base is a brioche bun topped with two four-ounce beef patties with a robust taste, and melted cheddar cheese enhances the savory flavor, while the bacon jam adds a sweet and smoky contrast to the subtle heat from the chipotle aioli, which gives a zesty boost.

Location: 17 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

Contact: 319-338-1808 or pullmandiner.com

More: From the Bread Garden to NoDo and the Chef’s Board, these Johnson County locales hit the spot

Red’s Alehouse

Red’s Alehouse might be best known for its expansive beer and cocktail menu, but a strong lineup of burgers anchors the food menu. The Alehouse burger is an elevated rendition of the classic burger with sweet chili aioli, crispy onion tangles, and provolone. The burger has subtle smoky undertones with a gooey, crispy texture. It’s generously sized, and every bite is perfectly balanced.

Location: 405 N. Dubuque St., North Liberty

Contact: 319-626-2100 or redsalehouse.com

Shakespeare’s Pub & Grill

Located on the east side, Shakespeare’s might be best known for having the best-breaded pork tenderloin in Iowa City, but the pub’s burgers rival the tenderloin, specifically, the bison burger. This burger has subtle sweet flavors with a mild gamey note and is lean and rich. It is an unexpected burger on the menu and a must-try.

Location: 819 S. First Ave., Iowa City

Contact: 319-337-7275 or shakespearespubandgrill.com

Short’s Burger & Shine

Short’s Burger & Shine specializes in burgers. The menu features more than a dozen burger varieties with something for everyone. The Dundee burger is a fan favorite with a brioche bun, mushrooms, bacon, garlic aioli, fried egg, and American cheese. It is a textural journey with a surprisingly added earthy pop of flavor from the mushrooms. Additionally, any of Short’s burgers can be made with a black bean patty as a substitute, making Short’s a must-stop for meat lovers and vegetarians alike.

Location: 18 S Clinton St., Iowa City

Contact: 319-259-7154 or shortsburger.com

More: From yoga to rec leagues and fossils, here’s how you can spend the summer in Iowa City

The Wilder

Recently, The Wilder in the Graduate Hotel in Downtown Iowa City joined the ranks of being one of the top burgers in Iowa. The Iowa Gold Burger is the star of the menu. Made with nine ounces of Jiyū wagyu beef, the burger is not overstated and is rich in flavor. The wagyu beef is complemented by gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and grain mustard aioli. Its richness and tenderness often captivate diners, and many have declared it the best they’ve ever had.

Location: 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City

Contact: 319-327-8258 or graduatehotels.com

More: Behind the story of The Wilder’s Iowa Gold burger, one of the best in the state

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_

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Iowa

Iowa high school girls soccer state tournament 2024: See brackets for all 3 classes

Published

13 hours ago

May 24, 2024

Press Room

Iowa high school girls soccer state tournament 2024: See brackets for all 3 classes

The Iowa girls high school soccer season is winding down, which means it’s almost time to crown a state champion in all three of the state’s classes.

On Thursday, the field for the state tournament was set with 24 total teams punching their ticket to Des Moines for the state tournament. But by the end of next week, only three will remain, having earned the title of state champions.

The tournament kicks off on Tuesday, May 28, in Des Moines. The entire tournament, which wraps up on Saturday, June 1, will be held at the Crownie Sports Complex.

More: Iowa high school boys soccer state tournament 2024: See brackets for all 4 classes

Class 3A

Tuesday, May 28-state quarterfinals

3 p.m. -No. 1 Waukee Northwest vs. No. 8 Ankeny Centennial
3:15 p.m. – No. 4 Linn-Mar vs. No. 5 West Des Moines Valley
3:30 p.m.- No. 2 Pleasant Valley vs. No. 7 Bettendorf
3:45 p.m.- No. 3 Ankeny vs. No. 6 Waukee

Thursday, May 30-state semifinals

3 p.m. TBD vs. TBD
3:15 p.m. TBD vs, TBD

Saturday, June 1- state championship game

Class 2A

Tuesday, May 28-state quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. -No. 1 North Polk vs. No. 8 Lewis Central
12:45 p.m. – No. 4 Pella vs. No. 5 Iowa City Liberty
1 p.m.- No. 2 Waverly Shell-Rock vs. No. 7 North Scott
1:15 p.m.- No. 3 Dallas Center-Grimes vs. No. 6 Cedar Rapids Xavier

Thursday, May 30-state semifinals

12:30 p.m. TBD vs. TBD
12:45 p.m. TBD vs, TBD

Saturday, June 1- state championship game

Class 1A

Tuesday, May 28-state quarterfinals

10 a.m. -No. 1 Davenport Assumption vs. No. 8 Dike-New Hartford
10:15 a.m. – No. 4 Nevada vs. No. 5 Hudson
10:30 a.m.- No. 2 Denver vs. No. 7 Council Bluffs St. Albert
10:45 a.m.- No. 3 Bishop Heelan vs. No. 6 Treynor

Thursday, May 30-state semifinals

10 a.m. TBD vs. TBD
10:15 a.m. TBD vs, TBD

Saturday, June 1- state championship game

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Torrential rains alleviate drought but cause wastewater discharges • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Published

20 hours ago

May 23, 2024

Press Room

Torrential rains alleviate drought but cause wastewater discharges • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Severe drought is now gone from eastern Iowa. (Courtesy of National Drought Mitigation Center)

Drought conditions in Iowa have improved to their least severe in about two years thanks to abundant rainfall in recent weeks, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

In a Thursday report, all “severe” drought in the northeast part of the state was downgraded to “moderate,” the lowest drought classification.

The last time there was no severe drought in Iowa was March 2022.

About a third of the state is still at least abnormally dry, and about 21% has moderate drought. The latest Drought Monitor report did not take into consideration all of the precipitation from severe weather that swept the state on Tuesday.

Heavy rain leads to wastewater bypasses

About 40 cities reported wastewater bypasses from their collection systems that day, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

“The city received 5 inches of rain and was forced to bypass from manholes,” a report about Newton in central Iowa said.

Old or poorly maintained sewer pipes — along with antiquated systems that purposefully carry wastewater and stormwater together — can be inundated by heavy rain.

Some cities deliberately pumped wastewater out of their systems to avoid sewer backups into basements, DNR records show. In others, the wastewater overflowed from their treatment systems.

Those bypasses can result in untreated or partially treated wastewater going into the state’s streams. On Wednesday, the DNR warned people to avoid floodwater that could be contaminated.

The department said it has received more than 130 reports of bypasses since the start of April.

The statewide average precipitation was 4.16 inches that month, which is about a half inch more than normal. Average rainfall so far in May totals more than 6 inches, according to Iowa State University data.

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