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.

A seat is open for the governing body of one of the state’s largest districts.

The Iowa City Community School District closed the application window for Vice President J.P. Claussen’s vacant seat on Friday, May 31.

The board will appoint a new member during its June 11 meeting.

Here is what you should know about the opening:

More: What area statehouse candidates had to say about state, local priorities and why they’re running

Who is leaving the School Board?

Claussen is resigning from the school board more than a year before his term expires in 2025.

He has accepted a teaching position within the district and can no longer serve on the board. Claussen was first elected in 2017 and has served for almost seven years.

Claussen provided instruction in core academic areas from 2004 to 2014, collaborating with general education teachers at West High School. Claussen worked in the University of Iowa Health Care system from 2014 to 2022. He is currently a special education teacher in Cedar Rapids Community School District.

More: Meet the candidates running for the Johnson County Board of Supervisors

When will the vacancy be filled?

The school board will appoint Clausen’s replacement.

Iowa law requires the board to appoint a new member within 30 days of the board secretary becoming aware of the vacancy.

If the board fails to select a new member, the secretary must call for a special election within three days, according to Section 279.6 of the Iowa Code.

More: University of Iowa’s top earners: From coaches to doctors, who’s making the big bucks?

What comes next?

A special meeting for candidate comments and review of the appointment process will be held on Monday, June 3. That session will serve as a platform to evaluate the school board candidates and to ensure transparency throughout the process.

Another special meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11, during the board’s regular meeting to appoint a new school board member.

The June 11 meeting will also be Claussen’s last as Vice President of the board.

The board’s June 25 meeting will be the first official board meeting for the new board member.

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_

A pair of central Iowa midwives fighting for the right to build a stand-alone birthing center can continue their lawsuit against the state, a federal court ruled Wednesday.

Caitlin Hainley and Emily Zambrano-Andrews, who together make up the Des Moines Midwife Collective, are challenging a state law requiring any new medical facility obtain a “certificate of need” from regulators. That involves, among other expensive and time-consuming steps, giving any potential competitor notice of the proposal and the opportunity to argue why the new facility is not truly needed.

Hainley and Zambrano-Andrews, who currently provide home birth services throughout the Des Moines metro, want to open a birth center with tubs and other equipment so patients can give birth in a home-like setting. Their attorneys say that midwife service, whether at home or a birth center, is fundamentally different than that provided by hospital maternity wards. Their lawsuit, filed in February 2023, argues it is unconstitutional for the state to grant what amounts to a “competitor’s veto” to established businesses.

The state filed to dismiss the lawsuit. Wednesday’s ruling, by Chief District Judge Stephanie Rose, largely denies that motion. But Rose did rule the certificate of need law does not infringe on any “fundamental right” under the U.S. Constitution, meaning it will be easier for the state to prove its law is constitutional.

From 2023: MercyOne Des Moines to shut down its midwives program. What that means for pregnant moms:

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office did not respond to a message seeking comment. Wilson Freeman, an attorney with the libertarian-leaning Pacific Legal Foundation who is representing the midwives, said in an email they believe they will prevail even if the court does not agree the law infringes on their fundamental rights.

Strict scrutiny or rational basis?

Any law that burdens what courts consider to be a fundamental right — such as freedom of speech, the right to marry and have children, and more — must survive what is known as strict scrutiny, meaning it must be found to be “narrowly tailored” to serve a “compelling” government interest.

If a law does not implicate a fundamental right, courts instead apply what is known as rational basis review, meaning the law must only be “rationally related” to a “legitimate” government interest.

In this case, the midwives argued the certificate of need law violated multiple fundamental rights, including the right of mothers to choose their place and manner of giving birth and the right of the plaintiffs to earn their living. But the judge rejected those claims, finding other courts have declined to make birth setting a fundamental right and noting the U.S. Supreme Court’s “unmistakable resistance” to recognizing additional rights as fundamental.

Case can continue, judge rules

Attorneys for the state had asked for the case to be dismissed entirely, but Rose refused, finding the plaintiffs have “plausibly” argued the certificate of need law might fail even under rational basis review.

Among other arguments, Rose noted that the midwives raise the question of why they are allowed to provide home births without a certificate of need, but do need a certificate to provide the same service in a centralized location. Such a distinction does not improve the cost, availability or quality of maternal care, the women argue. Rose wrote the women have asserted a “plausible claim for relief” that the law lacks a rational basis, and agreed the lawsuit should continue.

Previously: Iowa finally passed a law to license midwives. Will it help sway medical field doubters?

Freeman, representing the midwives, told the Register they’re prepared to fight that fight.

“There is no rational reason for the state to require a certificate of need for midwives who want to help women give birth in a dedicated facility, while allowing midwives to attend births literally anywhere else without such a certificate, Freeman said. “While we continue to believe a fundamental right is implicated by the regulation, the law is unconstitutional under either standard.”

And although rational basis review is favorable to the state, similar laws have failed that test before, Freeman said. A Kentucky law requiring a certificate of need for moving companies was struck down under rational basis in 2014.

The case currently is scheduled for a bench trial before Rose in January 2025.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.