Iowa Prep Sports Podcast

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.

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)