Iowa Prep Sports Podcast

It’s time for the traditional Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling tournament, this year in an expanded, four-day format. The Gazette’s K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs have a class-by-class preview on this week’s episode of the Pinning Combination.» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school wrestling coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Pinning Combination episodes on YouTube

This week’s episode of the Prep Basketball Podcast begins with a look at the Iowa high school girls’ basketball regional brackets in 3A, 2A and 1A. Who are the favorites to advance to state?Also:Cascade girls’ basketball coach Mike Sconsa steps away as he awaits a kidney transplant.Big wins for the Mount Vernon boys.The top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys keep rolling.Games to watch this week.» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school basketball coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Iowa Prep Sports episodes on YouTube

This week’s episode of the Pinning Combination podcast with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs previews three big days at Xtream Arena, starting with the first IGHSAU state tournament and followed by the IHSAA state duals tournament.Also: Takeaways from the girls’ regional tournaments, boys’ conference tournaments and boys’ regional duals.» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school wrestling coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Pinning Combination episodes on YouTube

This week’s episode of the Prep Basketball Podcast begins with a discussion about the controversy surrounding Monday night’s Iowa City High-Fairfield game.Also:Which teams are hot right now? Including the Marion and Linn-Mar boys and North Linn and Elkader Central girls.Is attendance in high school basketball down? Will it ever recover?A look at this week’s top games to watch.» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school basketball coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Iowa Prep Sports episodes on YouTube

This week’s episode of the Pinning Combination podcast with Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs looks ahead to a big weekend of Iowa high school wrestling, previewing regional tournaments for the girls and conference tournaments for the boys.Also:Breaking down the boys’ wrestling regional dual assignments.Takeaways from last week’s tournaments, including the Prairie Title Tournament, Clyde Bean Duals and Ed Winger Classic.» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school wrestling coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Pinning Combination episodes on YouTube

Cedar Rapids Kennedy is the new No. 1-ranked team in Class 4A boys’ basketball. The Cougars backed it up in their first game since the rankings release with an impressive win at Dubuque Senior. This week’s Prep Basketball Podcast with The Gazette's Jeff Linder and Jeff Johnson delves into the Cougars’ strengths, including their depth.Benton Community and Marion also have new all-time scoring leaders, notable accomplishments for Jenna Twedt and Brayson Laube.Plus, a look at some upcoming games to watch.» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school basketball coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Iowa Prep Sports episodes on YouTube

With regional duals sites out this week and Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association rankings now determining qualifiers in all three classes, The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs discuss whether the current system could be improved.Plus, a look back at the week in Iowa high school wrestling, including a close J-Hawk Invitational team race and what makes Wilton so impressive.» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school wrestling coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Pinning Combination episodes on YouTube

There are more rankings to discuss on this week’s Prep Basketball Podcast with The Gazette's Jeff Linder and Jeff Johnson. Will we see shake-ups at the top?Last week’s River Valley Shootout made us wonder if there is room for more events like this — or even conference tournaments.Plus, our Subtext subscribers chimed in with their questions: What are the best neutral sites for postseason games? Can anyone in the MVC beat the Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys?» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school basketball coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Iowa Prep Sports episodes on YouTube

On this episode of the Pinning Combination, The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs highlight the standouts from another big weekend of high school wrestling for boys and girls, including tournaments at Benton Community, Anamosa and Ames.» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school wrestling coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Pinning Combination episodes on YouTube

The Gazette's Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder bring back the Prep Basketball Podcast in 2023 with a loaded first show.First up, a quick run through the season so far — which boys’ and girls’ teams have stood out? Then, it’s on to the season’s new elements. How has the shot clock affected play? How have the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s official rankings worked?Finally, we discuss Linder’s conference realignment wish list. How would these changes benefit the Iowa high school sports landscape?» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school basketball coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Iowa Prep Sports episodes on YouTube

The Pinning Combination podcast is back from the holiday break!The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs hand out their midseason awards — MVP, coach of the year and team of the year — and take a look at the duals and tournaments to watch during the first week of January.» Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram» Iowa high school wrestling coverage on The Gazette.com» Full Pinning Combination episodes on YouTube

K.J. Pilcher and Dick Briggs share their impression of the United World Wrestling’s World Cup, breakdown college and high school results and look ahead to upcoming tournaments.

The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs discuss who stood out at the Dan Gable Donnybrook and other Iowa high school wrestling tournaments last weekend on this week's Pinning Combination podcast.

The Pinning Combination is back! The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs talk all things Iowa wrestling.In the first Iowa Prep Sports segment of 2022-23, the start of IGHSAU wrestling has been rejuvenating for the sport. And, a look at the top Gazette area boys' teams to watch this winter.

There are seven games left in the 2022 Iowa high school football season. Which seven teams will leave the UNI-Dome with state championship trophies? The Gazette's Jeff Johnson and K.J. Pilcher make their picks for all seven and break down the Gazette-area games on this episode of the Prep Football Huddle.» Sign up for the free Iowa Prep Sports newsletter

The Iowa high school football playoffs move to the UNI-Dome this week with the semifinals in all seven classes. The Gazette's Jeff Johnson and K.J. Pilcher help kick off the week with the Prep Football Huddle podcast. We look back at the quarterfinals, discuss the top storylines and break down this week's matchups

Who got a promising draw? Who got the “Group of Death”? The Gazette’s K.J. Pilcher, Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder break down the Iowa high school football playoffs https://www.thegazette.com/football/iowa-high-school-football-playoffs-2022-here-are-the-round-of-16-matchups/ (Round of 16 pairings) on this week’s Prep Football Huddle. First, a look at the https://www.thegazette.com/football/iowa-high-school-football-rewind-linn-mar-returns-to-prairie-for-the-playoffs/ (Linn-Mar at Cedar Rapids Prairie rematch). Could the IHSAA have avoided pairing the two one week after their regular-season finale? Then, it’s on to the other notable Week 9 results, who’s going where in the playoffs and our Round of 16 picks. » Subscribe to the free https://subscribepage.com/prepsports (Iowa Prep Sports newsletter)

Week 9 of Iowa high school football is the last week of the regular season for some (5A, 4A, 3A), the first round of the playoffs for others (2A, 1A, A, 8-Player). The Gazette's Jeff Johnson, Jeff Linder and K.J. Pilcher break it all down on this episode of the Prep Football Huddle. From playoff scenarios and the RPI impact to the most-intriguing Round of 32 games and predictions, this episode has talking points for every class.

At this point in the Iowa high school football season, we have enough data points to know some tiers have emerged in most classes. It looks like there is a clear top four in Class 5A, with Pleasant Valley backing up its spot there last Friday against Iowa City High. Harlan seems to be in a tier of its own in 3A. And in 1A, well, there are a lot of really, really good teams and West Branch is certainly one of them. The Gazette's Jeff Johnson, Jeff Linder and K.J. Pilcher discuss the top teams and their top takeaways from Week 7 on this episode of the Prep Football Huddle. Plus, a look ahead to the biggest Week 8 games and what's on the line playoff-wise.

With the release of the first official Iowa high school football RPI standings of the season, The Gazette's Jeff Linder and Jeff Johnson break down what stands out on this week's Prep Football Huddle podcast. Plus, a look at the most compelling districts, deepest classes, biggest wins of Week 6 and the top Week 7 games to watch.