Iowa

Remembering Carter Johnson: teammate, friend, and community member

Published

1 week ago

February 13, 2026

Remembering Carter Johnson: teammate, friend, and community member

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The Rapid City and Iowa Lakes communities are mourning the loss of Carter “Tater” Johnson, the lone fatality from a bus crash Wednesday morning in northwest Iowa.

The Iowa State Patrol confirmed Thursday that the 19-year-old died in Wednesday’s fatal bus crash on Iowa Highway 4, just west of Twin Lakes, and north of US Highway 20.

Lt. Aaron Smidt said that stretch of road has seen other fatal crashes in the last few years.

“We’ve had, I believe, four fatalities at that location in the last 10 years,” Smidt said.

MORE: Bus carrying Northwest Iowa baseball team crashes on highway, 1 student dies from injuries

Iowa Lakes Community College athletic director Troy Larson said all of its communities are mourning right now, and asks people to hold the baseball team, especially Carter’s family, in their hearts.

“Our baseball team is more than a roster. They’re a family. Carter was a great teammate, a friend, and a valued member of our athletic community,” Larson said.

Larson said Carter’s presence on campus will be missed, and there are few words right now that can comfort people.

“In his time here, he really impacted our campus, both within our halls and the classrooms, as well as the playing field. We’re heartbroken over this tragedy,” Larson said.

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden offered his support for the team on Thursday, asking people to also support the college and the team.

“Sandy and I offer our deepest condolences for all those impacted by the crash this week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the students and their families — especially the family of Carter Johnson as they navigate this unimaginable loss.”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds also took to social media, offering her condolences.

“Kevin and I are heartbroken by the horrible news of a deadly crash involving an Iowa Lakes Community College bus transporting student athletes. We are praying for all affected by this tragedy and their families. Please join us in keeping Iowa Lakes Community College in our hearts.”

And Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) brought the team up in Washington.

“We are praying for the family who lost a loved one. To the passengers and their families, we are praying for you and for a full recovery from your injuries. I’m thankful for the Iowans on hand to help, including emergency personnel, health care providers, and the Iowa Lakes Community College community for supporting the team through this difficult time,” Grassley said.

Meanwhile, in South Dakota, Carter’s family is mourning as well. His father, Jeff, said that the former Post 22 Hardhat and Stevens Raider was the best person he’s ever met.

“He just always cared about people. He always worried about the unfortunate and people less fortunate than him. He was the first kid, when he was six or seven years old, and a snow storm would hit, he would try to go shovel older people’s driveways in the neighborhood.” Johnson said. “He was just the best human being ever. He was infectious. Everybody he met, they got along with him. He found the good in everybody. He never complained. He worked hard.”

Jeff said he doesn’t understand why this happened to someone like Carter, and he may never wrap his head around it.

“It almost seems unfair that he made so much difference in the world, and the world is moving on without him,” Johnson said.

Jeff said he can’t describe how much it hurts right now to lose Carter. But knowing that he made an impact on many people’s lives, lived the best life he could, and always helped others, is comforting to his family.

“And the best thing in the world is to read the stories of how he impacted other people. He made a difference. That’s the greatest honor, moving on as a dad, that you can ask for from your kid,” Johnson said.

Source link

Click to comment

Iowa

Iowa State wrestling closes dual schedule with victory over Missouri

Published

7 hours ago

February 23, 2026

Press Room

Iowa State wrestling closes dual schedule with victory over Missouri

Iowa State wrestling closed out its dual season with a 20-14 victory over No. 14 Missouri on Feb. 22 at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.

The fourth-ranked Cyclones (12-2, 8-1 Big 12) won six of 10 bouts against the Tigers (12-8, 5-3) and now will prepare for the Big 12 Championships, scheduled for March 6-7 in Tulsa, Okla.

Eight Cyclones were recognized following the dual during senior-day festivities — Yonger Bastida, Rocky Elam, Vinny Zerban, Stevo Poulin, Isaac Dean, Manny Rojas, Rowan Udell and Xavier Bruening.

Elam, Bastida, Poulin and Zerban accounted for four of the Cyclones’ six wins on Sunday.

Top-ranked heavyweight and lineup mainstay Yonger Bastida closed out his last match in Hilton Coliseum with a 22-6 tech fall in 5:43. Bastida tallied seven takedowns, pushing his season total to 102, as he secured his nation-leading 13th tech fall.

197: No. 2 Rocky Elam (ISU) dec. No. 13 Evan Bates (MIZ), 7-3
285: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU) TF Sampson Stillwell (MIZ), 22-6 (5:43)
125: No. 10 Stevo Poulin (ISU) dec. No. 30 Mack Mauger (MIZ), 9-4
133: Garrett Grice (ISU) dec. No. 28 Gage Walker (MIZ), 7-3
141: No. 3 Anthony Echemendia (ISU) dec. Easton Hilton (MIZ), 3-2
149: Seth Mendoza (MIZ) dec. No. 10 Jacob Frost (ISU), 8-2
157: No. 7 Vinny Zerban (ISU) dec. No. 15 Teague Travis (MIZ), 5-3
165: Max Mayfield (MIZ) dec. No. 14 Connor Euton (ISU), 8-6
174: No. 9 Cam Steed (MIZ) dec. No. 12 MJ Gaitan (ISU), 4-3
184: No. 3 Aeoden Sinclair (MIZ) TF Jacob Helgeson (ISU), 21-5 (2:56)

Iowa State sports information contributed to this report.

Source link

Iowa

Disturbing video reveals alleged hazing at University of Iowa fraternity

Published

19 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Press Room

Disturbing video reveals alleged hazing at University of Iowa fraternity

IOWA CITY, Iowa — A disturbing video from the University of Iowa Campus Police shows an alleged hazing incident at the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity house in November 2024, leading to its suspension until 2029.

The footage reveals 56 male pledges blindfolded in the basement, KCCI reported.

First responders were called to the house for a fire alarm and found pledges covered in ketchup, mustard, and alcohol.

Iowa City Police said 21-year-old Joseph Gaya was arrested for trying to block officers’ view of the incident, although the charges were later dropped.

Campus police and the Office of Student Accountability investigated the incident, resulting in Alpha Delta Phi’s suspension on Feb. 25, 2025, lasting until at least July 1, 2029.

Source link

Iowa

Iowa state wrestling 1A finals recap, Don Bosco makes history

Published

1 day ago

February 22, 2026

Press Room

Iowa state wrestling 1A finals recap, Don Bosco makes history

In a sport with so much tradition within Iowa, it’s hard to set new bars to reach.

Even so, Don Bosco found a way to do it at this year’s Iowa state wrestling tournament. The Dons won their 18th traditional team state title, passing Waterloo West for the most all-time. It’s the program’s eighth in a row, a streak dating back to 2019.

Don Bosco crowned six individual state champions, which ties a 2001 Lewis Central record for the most in a single year. Ty Martin (106 pounds), Kaiden Belinsky (113), Hendrix Schwab (120), Hayden Schwab (126), Dawson Youngblut (144) and Ethan Christoffer (175) each left with a state title. Youngblut, an Iowa commit, won his third and has a chance for four next year. The Schwab brothers, sons of UNI coach Doug Schwab, are now both two-time state champions. Also contributing was Blake Irvine, who took seventh at 132 pounds as the team’s lone state medalist outside of finalists.

It’s a surreal moment for the small-town team from Gilbertville, surpassing a Waterloo West program with so much rich tradition, behind names like Dan Gable, having made so much history within the state. While the Dons are far from the biggest school, they’ve found a way to have it all within their wrestling room.

Hayden Schwab pointed to the people behind the program, particularly the fans who helped propel the team to new heights.

“I don’t know if there’s a more dedicated group of people,” Hayden Schwab said. “They’re driving for these little 1A tournaments in the middle of the year, we got huge crowd at the Hudson tournament. You gotta say the people.”

From World-level talents like Hayden Schwab overcoming a torn labrum, high-end Division I prospects like Youngblut and gritty wrestlers like Kyler Salis, who had the dual state title-clinching match against Jesup two weeks ago, Don Bosco has built a small-town school into Iowa’s most-accomplished program.

“We’ve all grown up together, gone to club together and we just make each other better every day,” Youngblut said after clinching the team title on Feb. 20. “Not just in wrestling, but in life. We’re all brothers.”

Class 1A Iowa state wrestling tournament final matchups

106 – Don Bosco’s Ty Martin vs. South Central Calhoun’s Karson Wuebker, 1-0 decision

Martin escaped in the second period from bottom, while Wuebker did not in the third in a bout decided from par terre.

113 – Don Bosco’s Kaiden Belinsky over WACO’s Ian Maize, 17-2 technical fall

Belinsky saved his best match for last, recording five takedowns and two near-fall points in his state title victory.

120 – Don Bosco’s Hendrix Schwab over Martensdale St. Marys’ Jensen Dyer

Schwab’s takedown just 17 seconds into his finals match, plus a second-period reversal, was all he needed to secure his second state title.

126 – Don Bosco’s Hayden Schwab over Earlham’s Max Millage, fall (1:24)

Coming off an injury, Schwab had a dominant state tournament with two technical falls and a quick win by fall in his finals match.

132 – Jesup’s Cooper Hinz over Lawton-Bronson’s Riley Watts, 4-1 decision

The future Michigan Wolverine had to gut this one out, recording a takedown with 23 seconds left to go to secure the state title for second-placed Jesup.

138 – Riverside’s Drew Anderson over Louisa-Mucatine’s Hayden Riggan, fall (1:26)

Takedown, takedown, takedown, takedown, then finally a pin. Anderson didn’t leave this one to chance.

144 – Don Bosco’s Dawson Youngblut vs. Pleasantville’s Blake Rowson, 17-0 technical fall

Youngblut had just two takedowns in this match, but turns from the top position helped him earn the shutout

150 – Lake Mills’ Steve Brandenburg over Iowa Valley Marengo’s Chance Hoyt, fall (1:51)

Brandenburg only needed one takedown, as he ran the bar and pinned Hoyt in short order.

157 – West Hancock’s Teague Smith over Westwood’s Boston Peters, 7-4 decision

In a battle between a veteran in Smith and a talented sophomore in Peters, Smith’s two first-period takedowns were the difference.

165 – North Mahaska’s Ryan Groom over South Winneshiek’s Kyle Kuboushek, 6-3 sudden victory

The senior found a way in overtime, as Kuboushek disengaged from the handfight for a moment and Groom took advantage for a takedown.

175 – Don Bosco’s Ethan Christoffer over Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley’s Brock Mulder, fall (1:47)

Don Bosco’s sixth state champion nearly pinned Mulder off of his first takedown with four near-fall points, but he was able to get one in the closing moments of the first period to put a bow on the Dons’ special night.

190 – Starmont’s Keaton Moeller over Nodaway Valley’s Caleb Christensen, 21-6 technical fall

The UNI commit came back from missing all of last season with injury with pure dominance, winning all of his matches on the weekend by fall or technical fall.

215 – Woodbury Central’s Carter Wright over Don Bosco’s Kyler Salis, 20-3 technical fall

Aside from giving up a takedown early in the third period, Wright dominated with a mix of takedowns and near-fall points to win a state title.

285 – Nodaway Valley’s Ashton Honnold over Earlham’s Keegan Long, fall (0:55)

Another three-time state champion was crowned, as this UNI commit hit a highlight-reel blast double on Long to take him straight to his back for the win by fall.

Class 1A team scores after the finals at the Iowa state wrestling tournament

1st – Don Bosco (222 points)
2nd – Jesup (115.5)
3rd – Woodbury Central (103)
4th – Nodaway Valley (80.5)
5th – Lisbon (77.5)

Full team scores and updated brackets can be found on Flowrestling.com.

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.

Source link