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Ava Heiden is fascinated by Iowa’s thunderstorms and fireworks
Women’s basketball newcomers meet the media for the first time
Jul. 16, 2024 4:45 pm
IOWA CITY — Ava Heiden said she isn’t into accolades and awards.
She does, however, have a goal that she wants to see to fruition.
“By the end of my four years here, I want to see a tornado,” she said.
While many were hunkered down as thunderstorms rolled through the area Monday night, Heiden couldn’t tear herself away from her window.
“It was awesome,” said Heiden, a native of Sherwood, Ore., where thunderstorms are a rarity. “We might get one storm a year. This was my favorite weather phenomena.
“I heard the sirens go off, but all of the Midwest girls, they knew what to do.”
The University of Iowa women’s basketball team held its second summer media availability at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday, and this session was all about the rookies.
A 6-foot-4 post, Heiden headlines the Hawkeyes’ freshman class; she was ranked No. 42 nationally by ESPN.
Aaliyah Guyton, Teagan Mallegni and Taylor Stremlow also were top-100 additions, and Solon native Callie Levin was Miss Iowa Basketball 2024.
“All of us have different quirks, different personalities,” said Stremlow, who — like Mallegni — is from suburban Madison, Wis. “Callie is similar to me; she’s crazy and fun. Teagan is a little quieter. She likes to read a lot.”
As for Heiden?
“We’ve been out storm-watching a lot,” Stremlow said. “And she’d never seen fireworks since the Fourth of July this year.”
Wait, what?
“In Oregon, it’s illegal to have the big ones,” Heiden confirmed. “My family and I watched them in North Liberty, and the show lasted 25 minutes. It was amazing. It had to cost $100,000.”
Heiden could be the Hawkeyes’ next great post. As an assistant, first-year head coach Jan Jensen molded Megan Gustafson into the 2019 national player of the year. Monika Czinano (Class of 2023) followed by becoming one of the nation’s most efficient inside players.
“Coach J is awesome,” Heiden said. “The first time she reached out to me, we had an hour-long call. She’s a great conversationalist.”
For the second straight media-invited workout (the first was last Thursday), four Hawkeyes — Guyton and Levin, plus Hannah Stuelke and Kennise Johnson — were on the sidelines during live workouts.
“We’re the Crippled Squad,” said Levin, who is working back slowly from a stress reaction in her left foot.
“I played through it toward the end of last season. I just had to win that (Class 3A) state championship. I don’t have any pain. I want to be back in full practice in August.”
Levin has spent her summer juggling one class — social inequality — plus practice and lifting.
Villanova transfer Lucy Olsen joins the five freshmen on the list of newcomers. Her only visit during the re-recruiting process was to Iowa City.
“These felt like my people,” she said. “Sometimes, you just know.
“I had other visits in the works, but the Iowa visit was great, and when I got off the plane back in Philadelphia, I thought, ‘They have everything I want.’”
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
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