Jeff Linder

Led by Adam Gray’s sixth-place run, Cedar Rapids Kennedy settled for fourth place in the Class 4A boys’ team race at the state cross country championships Friday morning at Lakeside Golf Course.

It’s all about the playoffs now on the Prep Football Huddle podcast. After quickly reviewing the Round of 32, we preview the Round of 16 in all seven Iowa high school football classes on this week’s episodes. Plus, our picks for the 28 teams that will advance to the UNI-Dome.

Three months after the death of teammate Aidan O’Neil, the resilient, determined Iowa City Regina boys’ cross country team is peaking ahead of Friday’s state meet.

Capsules for the 2023 Iowa high school state cross country meet Friday and Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.

Prep volleyball: Denver serves 17 aces, comes on strong after dropping Game 1 and denies West Branch in a Class 2A regional final.

A quick turnaround and tough regional-final tests await the West Branch, Edgewood-Colesburg and North Tama volleyball teams.

Pinpoint passing led to a balanced attack, and Cedar Rapids Xavier swept Waverly-Shell Rock to reach the state volleyball tournament for the eighth straight year.

All seven classes will compete in the Iowa high school football playoffs this week. The Gazette’s Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson, K.J. Pilcher and Nathan Ford share their thoughts on topics related to the postseason.

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is an Associated Press preseason women’s basketball All-American, unanimously.

Reigning state champion Iowa City Liberty is one of three Metro/Iowa City “big-school” teams — and one of five overall — playing in regional-final volleyball matches Tuesday night.

West Branch snagged its second straight five-set postseason triumph Monday night, outlasting Lisbon (26-24, 25-20, 24-26, 23-25, 15-9) in a Class 2A volleyball regional semifinal Monday night at Lisbon High School.

Southeast Polk (5A), Western Dubuque (4A) and Creston (3A) are unanimous No. 1 picks in The Gazette’s final Iowa high school football rankings of the 2023 season.

Here are five of Monday’s best area Iowa high school volleyball regional-semifinal matches in 2A and 1A. No. 11 Dyersville Beckman plays at No. 10 Wapsie Valley in a 2A showdown.

Jayden Hanson’s first three interceptions of the season highlighted a seven-takeaway performance, and sixth-ranked Central City recovered from a sluggish first half to push past Lansing Kee, 52-28, in an 8-Player first-round playoff football game Friday night at the Alex Evans Athletic Complex.

Sunday’s Iowa women’s basketball exhibition is Clark-vs.-Clarke. Nicole McDermott and the Pride are all set for their Carver cameo.