2 months ago
Boston Celtics reserve big man Luka Garza held a youth basketball camp in the state he played his NCAA basketball, the Celtics center putting together his second Luka Garza Academy skills camp of the summer in Indianola, Iowa. Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla paid a visit to the camp as well in one of his many stops to spend time with his players this offseason.
Garza shared some thoughts on why he continues to make time for the camps with local ABC station KCAU-TV Sioux City, saying that "Iowa just means an incredible amount to me and my family."
"I feel like my life changed when I came here and I was able to get to my dreams and goals because of the University of Iowa," he added.
"Because of what I was able to learn here, because of the way I was able to develop here and I think within that time, the people here that supported me, that put their arms around me and pushed me every single day," said the Celtics center.
"I always feel like I owe something to them. And so for me every summer is trying to come and give back a little bit because I know how much was given to me in my time here."
#here #garza #luka #Basketball
Garza shared some thoughts on why he continues to make time for the camps with local ABC station KCAU-TV Sioux City, saying that "Iowa just means an incredible amount to me and my family."
"I feel like my life changed when I came here and I was able to get to my dreams and goals because of the University of Iowa," he added.
"Because of what I was able to learn here, because of the way I was able to develop here and I think within that time, the people here that supported me, that put their arms around me and pushed me every single day," said the Celtics center.
"I always feel like I owe something to them. And so for me every summer is trying to come and give back a little bit because I know how much was given to me in my time here."
#here #garza #luka #Basketball
3 months ago
The last time Indianola played in an Iowa high school baseball state semifinal was July 31, 1969.
The population of the town was nearly 8,000; there was just one class of high school baseball in Iowa – Elvis Presley returned to perform in Las Vegas after eight years away, to the day – and the National Balloon Classic event had not yet made its way to Indianola.
The conversation throughout the Indianola baseball team from the start of the 2026 season was not just to make the Class 4A state championship game, but to win the first state crown in program history.
"Very realistic, I mean, when we set our goals in the beginning of the year, we're winning the state championship, and we worked for it," said Indianola junior George Blake. "That was on our mind every practice, every day, every day just on our mind."
And after an 8-1 state semifinal win over Valley (24-16) on July 23, with the final out recorded just before 11 p.m, Indianola punched its ticket to the state ****** le game for the first time.
#indianola #every #high
The population of the town was nearly 8,000; there was just one class of high school baseball in Iowa – Elvis Presley returned to perform in Las Vegas after eight years away, to the day – and the National Balloon Classic event had not yet made its way to Indianola.
The conversation throughout the Indianola baseball team from the start of the 2026 season was not just to make the Class 4A state championship game, but to win the first state crown in program history.
"Very realistic, I mean, when we set our goals in the beginning of the year, we're winning the state championship, and we worked for it," said Indianola junior George Blake. "That was on our mind every practice, every day, every day just on our mind."
And after an 8-1 state semifinal win over Valley (24-16) on July 23, with the final out recorded just before 11 p.m, Indianola punched its ticket to the state ****** le game for the first time.
#indianola #every #high
4 months ago
OTTUMWA — You never know when an opportunity will arise.
Quinn Larsen, for example, took full advantage of an opportunity to produce a power surge like few Ottumwa hitters have experienced. Stepping up with the first game of an Iowa Alliance Conference south division doubleheader at Des Moines East on the line, Larsen connected on the first of five home runs in six trips to the plate including a game-winning home run against the Scarlets and a two-run home run in a 7-1 win over ninth-ranked (4A) Fort Dodge.
The power surge helped spur Ottumwa to six wins in seven games at a key point of the season. The run not only helped the Bulldogs reach 20 wins in a season for the sixth straight summer, but helped Ottumwa to secure at least one extra home game this season as the Bulldogs prepare to host Iowa City High in a Class 4A, Substate 8 first round contest on Friday.
"It's a really good way to look at it. Our doubleheader with Iowa City Liberty didn't have to be our last two home games of the season," Larsen said. "If we played our best baseball, we knew we could earn this opportunity."
While the results weren't always in Ottumwa's favor, the lessons learned from a competitive schedule that featured 12 games against teams that spent time in the Class 4A statewide rankings this season. Three straight conference wins over Des Moines Roosevelt and Des Moines North, in which the Bulldogs outscored the Roughriders and Polar Bears 43-11, helped Ottumwa secure its 15th winning season in 16 years despite opening with four straight losses to top-10 opponents West Des Moines Valley and Indianola.
Quinn Larsen, for example, took full advantage of an opportunity to produce a power surge like few Ottumwa hitters have experienced. Stepping up with the first game of an Iowa Alliance Conference south division doubleheader at Des Moines East on the line, Larsen connected on the first of five home runs in six trips to the plate including a game-winning home run against the Scarlets and a two-run home run in a 7-1 win over ninth-ranked (4A) Fort Dodge.
The power surge helped spur Ottumwa to six wins in seven games at a key point of the season. The run not only helped the Bulldogs reach 20 wins in a season for the sixth straight summer, but helped Ottumwa to secure at least one extra home game this season as the Bulldogs prepare to host Iowa City High in a Class 4A, Substate 8 first round contest on Friday.
"It's a really good way to look at it. Our doubleheader with Iowa City Liberty didn't have to be our last two home games of the season," Larsen said. "If we played our best baseball, we knew we could earn this opportunity."
While the results weren't always in Ottumwa's favor, the lessons learned from a competitive schedule that featured 12 games against teams that spent time in the Class 4A statewide rankings this season. Three straight conference wins over Des Moines Roosevelt and Des Moines North, in which the Bulldogs outscored the Roughriders and Polar Bears 43-11, helped Ottumwa secure its 15th winning season in 16 years despite opening with four straight losses to top-10 opponents West Des Moines Valley and Indianola.
4 months ago
The week of June 21-27 saw high school baseball continue to thrive in the Ames area.
Ames went 6-1 during the week, with its only loss coming to Class 4A No. 1 Sioux City East. Gilbert split four games, with one of its losses coming at the hands of 3A No. 6 Carlisle and 3A No. 9 Ballard went 2-3 with two losses to North Polk and one setback against 4A No. 2 Indianola.
Roland-Story, the No. 2 team in 2A, ran its winning streak to 15 games, improving to 30-1 with six wins during the week. Nevada split four games, Collins-Maxwell went 3-1 and Colo-NESCO was 2-2.
There were several standout individual performances from area baseball players during the week.
Here are the Ames Tribune male Athlete of the Week nominees for the week of June 21-27. AmesTrib.com readers vote to determine the winner, who will be announced at the end of the week.
Ames went 6-1 during the week, with its only loss coming to Class 4A No. 1 Sioux City East. Gilbert split four games, with one of its losses coming at the hands of 3A No. 6 Carlisle and 3A No. 9 Ballard went 2-3 with two losses to North Polk and one setback against 4A No. 2 Indianola.
Roland-Story, the No. 2 team in 2A, ran its winning streak to 15 games, improving to 30-1 with six wins during the week. Nevada split four games, Collins-Maxwell went 3-1 and Colo-NESCO was 2-2.
There were several standout individual performances from area baseball players during the week.
Here are the Ames Tribune male Athlete of the Week nominees for the week of June 21-27. AmesTrib.com readers vote to determine the winner, who will be announced at the end of the week.
