EXPLORE: Local Sports
By Cyote Williams
Local athletes try to etch their names in the record books at IHSAA and IGHSAU championships while some of the next best professionals hone their skills.
IHSAA & IGHSAU FINALS
Various dates/locations
www.iahsaa.org & www.ighsau.org
The best athletes from their respective sports will compete this summer in hopes of writing their names into their schools’ history books.
May 16-18: Boys and girls track and field state championships, Drake stadium
May 18, 20, 24-25, 29: Girls tennis state tournaments, singles and team, various locations
May 20-21: Boys golf state tournament, Otter Creek Golf Course
May 21-22, 30-31: Boys tennis state tournament, various locations
May 23-24: Girls golf state tournament, various locations
May 28, 30, June 1: Girls soccer state tournament, Cownie Sports Complex, Des Moines
May 29, 31, June 1: Boys soccer state tournament, Cownie Sports Complex, Des Moines
July 22-26: Boys baseball state tournament, Veterans Memorial Stadium, Cedar Rapids
July 22-26: Girls softball state tournament, Harlan Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge
IOWA CUBS
Principal Park, 1 Line Drive, Des Moines
www.iowacubs.com
Affiliated with the MLB’s Chicago Cubs, our very own minor league baseball team has been around since 1969, originally known as the Iowa Oaks. Cheer on the Cubs all summer through September, with fireworks at Friday home games and the Fourth of July. Remaining home games this season:
May 21 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 22 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 23 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 24 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 25 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 26 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
June 4 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 5 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 6 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 7 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 8 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 9 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 25 at 6:38 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 26 at 12:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 27 at 6:38 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 28 at 7:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 29 at 6:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 30 at 1:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
July 4 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Omaha
July 5 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Omaha
July 6 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Omaha
July 23 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 24 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 25 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 26 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 27 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 28 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 30 at 6:38 p.m. vs. St. Paul
July 31 at 12:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 1 at 6:38 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 2 at 7:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 3 at 6:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 4 at 1:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 13 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 14 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 15 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 16 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 17 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 18 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 27 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Memphis
Aug. 28 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Memphis
Aug. 29 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Memphis
Aug. 30 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Memphis
Aug. 31 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Memphis
Sept. 1 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Memphis
Sept. 10 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 11 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 12 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 13 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 14 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 15 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Louisville
IOWA BARNSTORMERS
Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St., Des Moines
www.theiowabarnstormers.com
Iowa’s professional indoor football team led by Head Coach Dave Mogensen plays its home games at “The Well.” This season’s remaining home games:
May 24 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Green Bay Blizzard
June 15 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Quad City Steamwheelers
June 22 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Tulsa Oilers
July 6 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Jacksonville Sharks
July 13 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Sioux Falls Storm
DES MOINES MENACE
Valley Stadium, 4440 Mills Civic Parkway,
West Des Moines
www.menacesoccer.com
One of the nation’s best semi-professional soccer organizations, the Menace celebrate their 30th season this year. This season’s home games:
May 25 at 7 p.m. vs. Chicago City SC, played at Mediacom Stadium, 1427-1483 25th St., Des Moines
June 15 at 7 p.m. vs. St. Charles FC
June 22 at 7 p.m. vs. Sueno FC
June 29 at 7 p.m. vs. River Light FC
July 13 at 7 p.m. vs. Chicago Dutch Lions
PRAIRIE MEADOWS
1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona
www.prairiemeadows.com
Along with its impressive gambling and entertainment options, Prairie Meadows offers live and simulcast horse racing. Pick your winner and cross your fingers.
Weekends, May 10 through Sept. 28: Live thoroughbred and quarter horse racing
July 5-6: Festival of Racing
Aug 16-18: Regional Challenge
Sept 27: Quarter horse championships
Sept. 28: Iowa Classic
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY
Marion County Fairgrounds, 1000 N. Lincoln, Knoxville
www.knoxvilleraceway.com
Originally used for horse racing, the Knoxville Raceway now hosts a different type of sport: sprint car racing. Join more than 200,000 fans each year and visit the “Sprint Car Capital of the World” at racing events scheduled on most weekends or at one of the major events below:
Saturdays in May, 18, 25: Knoxville Championship Series
Saturdays in June, 1, 8, 15, 29: Knoxville Championship Series
Saturdays in July, 6, 13, 20, 27: Knoxville Championship Series
July 6: Midseason Championship
Aug. 1-3: 34th annual 360 Knoxville Nationals
Aug. 4: 12th annual Capitani Classic
Aug. 7-10: 63rd annual Knoxville Nationals
Sept. 14-16: 19th annual Late Model Knoxville Nationals
BOONE SPEEDWAY
1481 223rd Place, Boone
www.raceboone.com
This 1/3-mile high-banked dirt oval is known as “Iowa’s Action Track.” Catch the weekly Saturday night series through Aug. 19, or other special events:
Saturdays in May, 18, 25: Saturday night weekly series
Saturdays in June, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Saturday night weekly series
July 4: Eve of Destruction
Saturdays in July, 6, 13, 20, 27: Saturday night weekly series
Saturdays in August, 3, 10, 17, 24: Saturday night weekly series
Aug. 24: IMCA Super Nationals tune-up
Aug. 31, Sept. 1-7: 2024 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals
IOWA SPEEDWAY
3333 Rusty Wallace Drive, Newton
www.iowaspeedway.com
The paved track at the Iowa Speedway is 7/8-mile long and entertaining all the way around. For those of you with an RV, bring it to the multi-tiered viewing area situated along the backstretch to watch in style. This season’s events include:
June 14-16: Summer NASCAR weekend
June 14: ARCA Menards series race
June 15: NASCAR Xfinity series race
June 16: Iowa Corn 350
July 12-14: Hy-Vee IndyCar race weekend n
Local athletes try to etch their names in the record books at IHSAA and IGHSAU championships while some of the next best professionals hone their skills.
IHSAA & IGHSAU FINALS
Various dates/locations
www.iahsaa.org & www.ighsau.org
The best athletes from their respective sports will compete this summer in hopes of writing their names into their schools’ history books.
May 16-18: Boys and girls track and field state championships, Drake stadium
May 18, 20, 24-25, 29: Girls tennis state tournaments, singles and team, various locations
May 20-21: Boys golf state tournament, Otter Creek Golf Course
May 21-22, 30-31: Boys tennis state tournament, various locations
May 23-24: Girls golf state tournament, various locations
May 28, 30, June 1: Girls soccer state tournament, Cownie Sports Complex, Des Moines
May 29, 31, June 1: Boys soccer state tournament, Cownie Sports Complex, Des Moines
July 22-26: Boys baseball state tournament, Veterans Memorial Stadium, Cedar Rapids
July 22-26: Girls softball state tournament, Harlan Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge
IOWA CUBS
Principal Park, 1 Line Drive, Des Moines
www.iowacubs.com
Affiliated with the MLB’s Chicago Cubs, our very own minor league baseball team has been around since 1969, originally known as the Iowa Oaks. Cheer on the Cubs all summer through September, with fireworks at Friday home games and the Fourth of July. Remaining home games this season:
May 21 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 22 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 23 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 24 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 25 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
May 26 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
June 4 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 5 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 6 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 7 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 8 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 9 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Toledo
June 25 at 6:38 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 26 at 12:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 27 at 6:38 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 28 at 7:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 29 at 6:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
June 30 at 1:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
July 4 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Omaha
July 5 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Omaha
July 6 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Omaha
July 23 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 24 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 25 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 26 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 27 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 28 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Indianapolis
July 30 at 6:38 p.m. vs. St. Paul
July 31 at 12:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 1 at 6:38 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 2 at 7:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 3 at 6:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 4 at 1:08 p.m. vs. St. Paul
Aug. 13 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 14 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 15 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 16 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 17 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 18 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Columbus
Aug. 27 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Memphis
Aug. 28 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Memphis
Aug. 29 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Memphis
Aug. 30 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Memphis
Aug. 31 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Memphis
Sept. 1 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Memphis
Sept. 10 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 11 at 12:08 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 12 at 6:38 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 13 at 7:08 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 14 at 6:08 p.m. vs. Louisville
Sept. 15 at 1:08 p.m. vs. Louisville
IOWA BARNSTORMERS
Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St., Des Moines
www.theiowabarnstormers.com
Iowa’s professional indoor football team led by Head Coach Dave Mogensen plays its home games at “The Well.” This season’s remaining home games:
May 24 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Green Bay Blizzard
June 15 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Quad City Steamwheelers
June 22 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Tulsa Oilers
July 6 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Jacksonville Sharks
July 13 at 7:05 p.m. vs. Sioux Falls Storm
DES MOINES MENACE
Valley Stadium, 4440 Mills Civic Parkway,
West Des Moines
www.menacesoccer.com
One of the nation’s best semi-professional soccer organizations, the Menace celebrate their 30th season this year. This season’s home games:
May 25 at 7 p.m. vs. Chicago City SC, played at Mediacom Stadium, 1427-1483 25th St., Des Moines
June 15 at 7 p.m. vs. St. Charles FC
June 22 at 7 p.m. vs. Sueno FC
June 29 at 7 p.m. vs. River Light FC
July 13 at 7 p.m. vs. Chicago Dutch Lions
PRAIRIE MEADOWS
1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona
www.prairiemeadows.com
Along with its impressive gambling and entertainment options, Prairie Meadows offers live and simulcast horse racing. Pick your winner and cross your fingers.
Weekends, May 10 through Sept. 28: Live thoroughbred and quarter horse racing
July 5-6: Festival of Racing
Aug 16-18: Regional Challenge
Sept 27: Quarter horse championships
Sept. 28: Iowa Classic
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY
Marion County Fairgrounds, 1000 N. Lincoln, Knoxville
www.knoxvilleraceway.com
Originally used for horse racing, the Knoxville Raceway now hosts a different type of sport: sprint car racing. Join more than 200,000 fans each year and visit the “Sprint Car Capital of the World” at racing events scheduled on most weekends or at one of the major events below:
Saturdays in May, 18, 25: Knoxville Championship Series
Saturdays in June, 1, 8, 15, 29: Knoxville Championship Series
Saturdays in July, 6, 13, 20, 27: Knoxville Championship Series
July 6: Midseason Championship
Aug. 1-3: 34th annual 360 Knoxville Nationals
Aug. 4: 12th annual Capitani Classic
Aug. 7-10: 63rd annual Knoxville Nationals
Sept. 14-16: 19th annual Late Model Knoxville Nationals
BOONE SPEEDWAY
1481 223rd Place, Boone
www.raceboone.com
This 1/3-mile high-banked dirt oval is known as “Iowa’s Action Track.” Catch the weekly Saturday night series through Aug. 19, or other special events:
Saturdays in May, 18, 25: Saturday night weekly series
Saturdays in June, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Saturday night weekly series
July 4: Eve of Destruction
Saturdays in July, 6, 13, 20, 27: Saturday night weekly series
Saturdays in August, 3, 10, 17, 24: Saturday night weekly series
Aug. 24: IMCA Super Nationals tune-up
Aug. 31, Sept. 1-7: 2024 IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals
IOWA SPEEDWAY
3333 Rusty Wallace Drive, Newton
www.iowaspeedway.com
The paved track at the Iowa Speedway is 7/8-mile long and entertaining all the way around. For those of you with an RV, bring it to the multi-tiered viewing area situated along the backstretch to watch in style. This season’s events include:
June 14-16: Summer NASCAR weekend
June 14: ARCA Menards series race
June 15: NASCAR Xfinity series race
June 16: Iowa Corn 350
July 12-14: Hy-Vee IndyCar race weekend n