K.J. Pilcher

They spent their summer days, winter mornings and spring evenings working on their golf games and the Solon Spartans have parlayed it into another successful golf season.

Individuals and teams have earned berths to the Iowa High School Athletic Association state golf tournaments May 27 and 28. The Class 3A meet will be at Cedar Falls, while 2A and 1A will be in Waterloo.

Cedar Rapids Washington finished second in the final divisional round but claimed the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division team title and Warriors senior Jane Petersen tied for Athlete of the Year honors.

The Cougars claimed the Class 4A state baseball title last season. They’re concentrating on the small aspects with the aspirations for another big season.

The Iowa high school baseball season opens competition Monday. Here are 17 Gazette area players to keep an eye on this season.

Here is a look at eight Gazette-area teams to watch for the 2025 Iowa high school baseball season. The first day of competition is Monday.

Kirkwood softball has persevered injury and staved off elimination to return to NJCAA Softball World Series, beginning on Monday in Oxford, Ala.

University of Iowa seemed to be in control with a four-run lead with four innings left but Oregon battled back for a 9-6 victory Friday night at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City. Wins by Oregon and UCLA forced a three-way tie with the Hawkeyes for first in the Big Ten baseball standings with one game remaining.

Marion extended its season with a runner-up finish at the Class 3A sectional meet Wednesday. The Wolves still have a chance for a second straight trip to the state golf meet.

Nelson Brands is an accomplished wrestler, winning three state titles and All-American honors in high school and college. He also trained under Hall of Fame coaches. Brands will bring those experiences to his new role as Iowa City Regina boys’ head wrestling coach.

Iowa City West freshman Ainsley Wilson carded five total birdies and shot 3-under 66 to win medalist honors at the MVC Mississippi Division golf meet Monday at Bunker Hill Golf Course in Dubuque. Xavier won the team title.

Sophomore starter Jack Walsh pitched a complete game five-hitter with a season-high 13 strikeouts, helping second-seeded Coe to a 7-2 victory over No. 3 Luther in the American Rivers Conference baseball tournament Thursday at Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids.

The American Rivers Conference baseball tournament has been held at Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids since 2004. The plan is to keep it here but use Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo for seasons a scheduling conflict occurs with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Coe is the defending American Rivers Confernce baseball tournament champions. The Kohawks are the No. 2 seed in what promises to be a highly competitive tournament this season.

Iowa’s Kennedy Blades has had a monumental year, earning an Olympic silver medal in Paris, claiming an NCWWC national title and USA Wrestling’s Women’s College Wrestler of the Year honors and the U.S. Open title for a shot at the 2025 U.S. World Team. She trains with the Iowa’s women’s program and the men of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.