Iowa Prep Sports Podcast

Did it seem like there were more blowouts than usual in Iowa high school football last Friday? The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher, Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder consider whether that’s a trend or an anomaly on this episode of the Prep Football Huddle and discuss what else stood out in Week 5, including Sigourney-Keota knocking off 1A No. 1 Pella Christian. Plus, a look at 70 years of high school football at Kingston Stadium and what that facility means to Cedar Rapids. Then, previewing the biggest Week 6 games.

From Iowa City Liberty and Marion, to Cascade, East Buchanan and more, The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher, Jeff Linder and Jeff Johnson run through the most-impressive wins of Iowa high school football Week 4 on the latest episode of the Prep Football Huddle podcast. Plus, a look ahead to the biggest Week 5 games, including the Battle for the Boot between Iowa City High and Iowa City West. Are you part of our Iowa Prep Sports text group? https://joinsubtext.com/iowaprepsports (Sign up for free to chat about Iowa high school football).

Who should be the No. 1-ranked team in Class 1A of Iowa high school football? The latest Gazette poll has five different teams getting No. 1 votes, with Dyersville Beckman getting the nod. The Gazette's Jeff Johnson, Jeff Linder and K.J. Pilcher discuss that parity, more takeaways from Week 3 and Week 4 games to watch on the latest Prep Football Huddle podcast. » https://subscribepage.com/prepsports (Subscribe to the Iowa Prep Sports newsletter)

The Prep Football Huddle with The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher, Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder discusses the best of Week 2 of the Iowa high school football season, including Mount Vernon stunning Solon, Iowa City Liberty beating Linn-Mar and Williamsburg ending Van Meter's regular-season win streak. Plus, will the IHSAA's guidelines for NIL have any impact on Iowa high school sports? And a look at the top Week 3 games to watch.

Which Iowa high school football teams impressed us the most in Week 1? The Gazette's Jeff Johnson, Jeff Linder and K.J. Pilcher discuss Iowa City Liberty's eye-opening win over Iowa City High in the Clash at Kinnick, Williamsburg shutting down Iowa City Regina and more on this episode of the Prep Football Huddle. Plus, a look at the games to watch in Week 2, our Survivor game and answering questions from our text group (https://joinsubtext.com/iowaprepsports (join here)).

The Prep Football Huddle is back! The Gazette's Jeff Linder, Jeff Johnson and K.J. Pilcher preview the 2022 Iowa high school football season and Week 1's top games, including the Iowa City Liberty-Iowa City High clash at Kinnick Stadium. Among the topics covered on this week's podcast: How the Clash at Kinnick was set up and if it will continue Big games on Thursday night this week Cedar Rapids Jefferson's rebuilding project The Gazette's preseason rankings A closer look at Williamsburg, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Cedar Rapids Prairie and more The first week of our Iowa high school football "Survivor" predictions game » https://subscribepage.com/prepsports (Subscribe to the Iowa Prep Sports newsletter)

Former Iowa and Cedar Rapids Kennedy football player Dalles Jacobus joins The Gazette's John Steppe on the Hawk Off The Press podcast to discuss his new single, "We Wave" and his budding music career. (https://on-iowa-podcast.captivate.fm/listen (From the On Iowa Sports network))

Former Solon High School football coach Kevin Miller is the guest on this week's Hawk Off The Press podcast. Ahead of the NFL Draft, Miller explains what it was like coaching Tyler Linderbaum in high school and what NFL teams can expect to get from Iowa's All-America center. (From https://on-iowa-podcast.captivate.fm/listen (The Gazette's On Iowa Sports podcast network))

The Gazette's Jeff Linder and Jeff Johnson break down the girls' state basketball tournament that starts next week and discuss the regional finals from Tuesday and Wednesday. Plus, a look at what's happened in boys' basketball district and substate games and what's coming up. » https://www.facebook.com/iowaprepsports/ (Like Iowa Prep Sports on Facebook) » https://twitter.com/iowaprepsports (Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter) » https://www.instagram.com/iowaprepsports/ (Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Instagram)

The Iowa high school state wrestling tournament delivered once again. The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher (https://twitter.com/kjpilcher (@kjpilcher)) and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs (https://twitter.com/JHawkforever (@JHawkforever)) break it all down, from the team races to the standout individual performances on this segment of the Pinning Combination, a show about all things wrestling in Iowa. Related reading: https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-prep-sports/mississippi-valley-conference-trio-make-saturday-night-the-norm/ (4 more takeaways from the state wrestling tournament) » https://www.facebook.com/iowaprepsports/ (Like Iowa Prep Sports on Facebook) » https://twitter.com/iowaprepsports (Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter) » https://www.instagram.com/iowaprepsports/ (Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Instagram)

From East Buchanan to Springville and many more, The Gazette's Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder discuss the latest boys' and girls' basketball storylines as the postseason rolls on. And by the way, the shot clock era is approaching. "Savor" these last few games without it ...

The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs discuss the standout performances from the sectional tournaments and regional duals and preview Saturday's districts on this segment of the Pinning Combination podcast. » https://www.facebook.com/iowaprepsports/ (Like Iowa Prep Sports on Facebook) » https://twitter.com/iowaprepsports (Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Twitter) » https://www.instagram.com/iowaprepsports/ (Follow Iowa Prep Sports on Instagram)

The Gazette's Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder break down the postseason pairings for Class 3A and 4A boys, take a look back at Friday's Cedar Rapids Kennedy-Cedar Rapids Washington doubleheader and run down the area conference races on the Prep Basketball Huddle.

The regional pairings are in for Iowa girls basketball, and so are the district and substate assignments for boys basketball. The Gazette's Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder discuss on the latest Prep Basketball Huddle.

It was a historic weekend for wrestling in Iowa as the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union announced it would sanction the sport for the 2022-23 season. The Gazette's J.R. Ogden was at Xtream Arena in Coralville https://www.thegazette.com/wrestling/girls-wrestling-going-up-up-up/ (for the announcement) during the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association state tournament and joins The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs on the Pinning Combination to talk about the scene. Now, what's next? There are a few questions to answer as the IGHSAU prepares for its first wrestling season and we break them down one by one. Plus, it was another busy weekend of boys' wrestling tournaments and we preview this Saturday's conference tournaments.

In Iowa high school boys' basketball, we have the Associated Press poll. BC Moore and Varsity Bound have metrics-based rankings. Prep Hoops Iowa has its own set of rankings. So who does it best, and how should sportswriters rank teams in different parts of the state? The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union ranks teams itself and uses that for the postseason. What are the pros and cons of that system? The Gazette's Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder discuss on the latest Prep Basketball Huddle after talking about the notable games of the week. That includes Cedar Rapids Kennedy's convincing boys' win over Dubuque Hempstead and Iowa City High taking its first two losses on the girls' side.

Jeff Linder and Jeff Johnson take a look at Gazette area Iowa high school basketball storylines on the Prep Basketball Huddle podcast. Iowa City West knocked off 4A No. 4 Cedar Rapids Prairie on Tuesday, continuing the parity in the Mississippi Valley Conference. It's a similar story for the girls in the Wamac as Solon beat Marion. Speaking of the Wamac, Grinnell will make the move there in 2023 from the Little Hawkeye Conference. What's next for conference realignment?

The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs look at the weekend that was in Iowa high school wrestling, including takeaways from Cedar Rapids Jefferson's J-Hawk Invitational, Marion's Loyd Shaffer Invitational and Solon's Ed Hadenfeldt Invitational. Plus, a look at the week ahead.

The Gazette's Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder are bringing back the Prep Basketball Huddle! In the first episode of 2022, a look at the top storylines in each of the Gazette area conferences (Mississippi Valley, Wamac, River Valley, Tri-Rivers, Northeast Iowa, Upper Iowa and South Iowa Cedar). Plus, the depth of Class 2A boys, Hannah Stuelke's record-breaking night for Cedar Rapids Washington and more.

The Gazette's K.J. Pilcher and Hall of Fame coach Dick Briggs take a look at the weekend wrestling action, including West Delaware’s win at the Benton Bobcat Jerry Eckenrod Invitational, Vinton-Shellsburg’s potential and takeaways from Ames’ Jack Mendenhall Invitational. Plus, is Linn-Mar a wrestling school now? And a trophy idea for the Cedar Rapids Kennedy-Cedar Rapids Xavier dual.