Jeff Linder

Gazette-area Class 4A cross country runners compete in state-qualifying meets at Dubuque, Pleasant Hill and Pleasant Valley; 3A at Pella, Solon and Waverly.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson swept Cedar Rapids Washington, 25-23, 25-16, 25-20, in a Class 5A volleyball regional quarterfinal at Jefferson High School.

Which teams are peaking for the postseason and who’s poised for a possible upset? Plus, players capable of taking over games and programs with the coolest uniforms. The Gazette’s Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford share their insights on these Iowa high school football topics.

Led by No. 1 Mount Vernon and No. 3 West Delaware, area Iowa high school state volleyball tournament hopefuls are plentiful in Class 3A.

Iowa high school football rankings: Changes atop 5A and 4A; West Lyon, Grundy Center, West Hancock and Remsen St. Mary’s head into the 2A, 1A, A and 8-Player playoffs at No. 1.

Prep volleyball: After one down year, Springville is a big winner again. Orioles host Midland in a 1A first-round regional match Monday.

Week 8 Iowa high school football rewind: Lance Pedersen has Clear Creek Amana on the climb. A breakthrough win at Cedar Rapids Xavier moves the Clippers into a Class 4A District 3 first-place tie.

Two early goal-line stands helped send Anamosa to a 41-0 romp over Northeast and the Class 2A District 7 championship.

The Iowa high school state softball tournament will become a double-elimination affair, beginning in 2026. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the news Friday morning.

The Mount Vernon Mustangs played the part of an elite volleyball team, sweeping their way to the Wamac Conference tournament Thursday night at Marion High School.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon’s Grady Olberding and Center Point-Urbana’s Grace Estling won Wamac Conference individual cross country titles. The MVL girls and Grinnell boys claimed the team championships.

The Gazette’s Prep Football Huddle takes a look at playoff scenarios for area teams entering Week 8 of the Iowa high school football season. Plus, a new trivia game and a look back at the key results from Week 7.

Prep volleyball: A look at the remainder of conference-tournament week; Wamac and River Valley titles will be determined Thursday, the Tri-Rivers on Saturday.

Assignments have been released for 2024 Iowa high school state-qualifying cross country meets.

Results from 2024 Gazette-area high school cross country conference meets, including the Mississippi Valley, Wamac, River Valley and Tri-Rivers and more