Jeff Linder

The Gazette’s preseason Iowa high school 8-Player football rankings: Undefeated state champions in 2020 and 2022, Remsen St. Mary’s is No. 1 to start 2024.

This is the first in a series diving into the area Iowa high school football districts for the 2024 season. Today, we examine 8-Player. Don Bosco, Springville, WACO and Montezuma are the favorites.

Cedar Rapids Xavier (Class 4A) and Mount Vernon (3A) are ranked No. 1 in their respective volleyball classes by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Eastern Iowa natives and UNI teammates Jessica Heims and Erin Kerkhoff return to the Paralympics in Paris. “I feel all the love here (at Monday’s sendoff), and I’m going to take it with me to Paris,” Kerkhoff said.

West Delaware will host Mount Vernon in an outdoor volleyball match Sept. 17 at Brown Field. It’s believed to be the first high school competition of its kind in Iowa.

The Iowa women’s basketball 2024-25 non-conference schedule is released. The Jan Jensen era begins Oct. 30 with an exhibition game, then starts for real Nov. 6 against Northern Illinois.

All-stater Kate Passmore is a notable absence at Linn-Mar’s first day of volleyball practice, but the Lions aren’t panicking: “This doesn’t change our goals.”

Pleasant Valley, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Mount Vernon, Denver and Ankeny Christian are No. 1 in The Gazette’s preseason Iowa high school volleyball rankings.

The Big Ten women’s basketball tournament moves back to Indianapolis in 2025 and 2026, then it’s on to Las Vegas in 2027 and Detroit in 2028.

The 2024 Iowa Girls Coaches all-state teams all-state softball teams were released Tuesday. Benton Community leads area teams with first-team selections (three) and total selections (five).

Libby Fandel, a senior-to-be at Cedar Rapids Xavier, announced her commitment Monday to play women’s basketball at the University of Kansas.

Ava Fineran’s two-out, two-run single in the top of the seventh inning proved to be the game-winner as Sigourney beat Martensdale-St. Marys for the Class 1A state softball championship.

Class 3A state champion Williamsburg ends the 2024 softball season at No. 1 in The Gazette’s area Super Ten.

Williamsburg scored six runs in the first inning and held on to beat Davenport Assumption, 12-9, for its second consecutive Class 3A state softball championship.

The Wamac Conference has a 3A state softball finalist for the seventh time in 10 years when reigning-champion Williamsburg faces Davenport Assumption on Friday.