Ryan Pleggenkuhle

The first episode of Park The Bus, a podcast covering Iowa high school soccer in the Gazette area, details teams and players to watch in 2024 as well as some bold predictions.

Cedar Rapids Prairie will play 10 of its 15 regular-season games on the road this boys’ soccer season — and many of the opponents it will face were ranked in 2023.

Last year was Matt Harding’s first year as Iowa City Liberty boys’ soccer head coach, Liberty’s first state tournament appearance and its first state championship. The 2024 Lightning lineup will feature many new faces, but similar expectations.

Here’s a look at Gazette area players and teams to watch during the 2024 Iowa high school boys’ soccer season.

Here’s a look at Gazette area players and teams to watch during the 2024 Iowa high school girls’ soccer season.

For the Marion girls’ soccer team, green isn’t just a color — it’s a contract. The color symbolizes a commitment to unity and always putting forth maximum effort. The 2023 Wolves reached the state tournament for the first time in program history.

A runner-up finish for Iowa City High’s Kendra Schwarting in the Class 3A girls’ state bowling tournament included a first-round win over the defending state champion.

Vinton-Shellsburg bowlers Vann Lessig and Kylee Kirchner — separated by 18 lanes in their championship matches at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo — secured Class 1A individual state titles within moments of each other.

Tori Richart and Vingon-Shellsburg finished first at last Monday’s Class 1A state qualifier in Ames — giving the Vikings their fourth consecutive appearance at state.

Class 2A’s second-ranked Mustangs were strong in a 46-15 regional duals victory over No. 14 Solon Tuesday night. The Mustangs head to the state duals tournament Saturday at Xtream Arena in Coralville for the second straight year.

Marion, led by senior Jacob Shaffer, took home first place in Saturday’s 18-team (all classes) Independence Baker Tournament at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo. The Wolves have big goals for the postseason.

At the junior college level, NJCAA student-athletes have two years of eligibility, making this season essentially the first without ‘COVID year’ eligible players. It’s something Kirkwood women’s basketball coach Kim Muhl and his staff are feeling.

Miranda Nolte, a senior and 2023 state qualifier, hopes future generations of Saints can share the same enjoyment in the Cedar Rapids Xavier bowling program she’s had. With the scores Nolte and the Saints are putting up this season, there’s reason to believe her legacy will live on.

Cedar Rapids Prairie’s boys’ bowling team is 4-0, took first in the Prairie Boys Baker Invitational on Dec. 16 and lead Class 3A in score per match at 3,185 — 30.2 points higher than the next closest team, Waukee. The Hawks want to qualify for state as a team for the first time since 2020.

Solon student Carson Reid has bowled across the country, but he wants the state tournament to be his next destination.