Jeff Linder

High school softball: Irys Benesch provides the clutch hit in the opener, Chloe Flanagan (remember that last name?) earns both pitching wins in relief and North Linn sweeps Lisbon in a Tri-Rivers doubleheader.

Girls track & field: Nathan Hopp steps down after 13 years at Linn-Mar. He coached the Lions to a Class 4A state runner-up finish in 2015.

Prep softball: Cedar Rapids Xavier sweeps Cedar Rapids Kennedy in a top-five doubleheader. Braylen Conlon pitches a 15-strikeout one-hitter, and Katie Pilcher blasts three home runs.

High school softball: The two-time defending champion in Class 3A, Williamsburg opens the new season at No. 1.

Prep softball: Led by the all-state battery of Braylen Conlon and Katie Pilcher, Cedar Rapids Xavier pursues its first state-tournament appearance since 2018.

Eight teams to watch from The Gazette’s area for the 2025 softball season.

Prep softball: 16 area players to watch for the 2025 season, including 12 first-team all-staters from last season.

State track and field, 3A girls: Evelyn Moeller, Cali Whitaker push Mount Vernon to a share of second place.

State track and field, 3A boys: CPU’s Nathan Miller, CCA’s Tay Seals join Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman as elite performers.

State track and field, Class 4A girls: ‘Full-circle moment’ sends Prairie to second place in the 4A girls’ sprint medley relay.

State track and field, 4A boys: Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Quinton Alexander repeats as champion in the 110-meter hurdles.

State track and field, overview: Western Dubuque’s Quentin Nauman becomes the first high school runner in United States history to run sub-1:50 in the 800 and sub-4:00 in the 1,600 in the same meet.

State track and field, 4A boys: Mason Woods wins the long jump, Colin Whitters and James Barnett go 1-3 in the shot put and Iowa City West finishes with 35 field-event points.

Linn-Mar’s Abby Mecklenburg won the long jump at Iowa State Track & Field Championship with a jump of 19-03.75 Friday, May 23, 2025

State track and field, 3A girls: Running in Heat 2, Marion runs 1:41.40 in the 4x200. That time holds up to win a title.