Metro Sports Report

Mustangs open Rinderknecht Athletic Center

The Mount Mercy University athletic department took another leap forward Friday with the Grand Opening of the Rinderknecht Athletic Center.

The transformed warehouse, located at 939 17th Street NE in Cedar Rapids, is a state-of-the-art wellness and athletic performance center. The building houses batting cages for baseball and softball, a golf hitting area and putting greens, a 60-meter sprint track, an athletic training room, fitness/cardio/weight equipment, a dynamic movement area for yoga and more.

Renovations to the building include a new HVAC system and new flooring, roof, siding and windows that look onto Mount Mercy's Plaster Athletic Complex that is located across the street. A neighboring facility, formerly the Barry K. Wendt building, houses new administrative offices for the athletic department.

The renovation was made possible through a substantial lead gift from John Rinderknecht, a Mount Mercy trustee and president of Ram Development Company.

Petersen created fond memories at Kirkwood

Bryan Petersen did not go hunting for a new job after leading the Kirkwood Eagles to their second NJCAA Division II national title in four years this past season.

As it turned out, an attractive new job found him.

Petersen, 32, has left the Kirkwood men's basketball program to become an assistant coach at South Dakota State, an NCAA Division I program that competes in the Summit Conference. Tim Sandquist, who led Rock Valley College to the championship game of the NJCAA DIII tournament this year, was hired last week as Kirkwood's new coach.

Petersen compiled a 157-38 record in six years at Kirkwood with national titles in 2016 and 2019. And although he was not looking for a new job, he was receptive when new South Dakota State Coach Eric Henderson offered him a spot with the Jackrabbits.

Henderson and Petersen have known each other for 10 years. Henderson worked with the Iowa State men's basketball program when Petersen played for the Cyclones as a junior and senior, and they communicated quite a bit the last two years when Henderson helped recruit Kirkwood All-American Doug Wilson to South Dakota State.

When Henderson became the head coach at South Dakota State this spring, he called Petersen and popped the question. "If I was going to leave Kirkwood, there were only a few places where I felt comfortable," he said. "This was one of them."

Petersen did not accept right away, but quickly became intrigued by the possibility of coaching at the NCAA Division I level.

Bosch Financial sweeps IWSL openers

Bosch Financial jumped to an early lead in the Iowa Women's Softball  League standings Sunday by sweeping Emil's Hideaway at Busse Field on  opening day for the summer collegiate program.

Ironside Apparel and Hawkeye Convenience Stores split their twinbill.

IRONSIDE APPAREL 7
HAWKEYE CONVENIENCE STORES 2

Jordyn Kleman of Winona State struck out 10 batters in six innings as  Ironside Apparel beat Hawkeye Convenience Stores, 7-2, in the first  game of the season at Mount Mercy.

Maleah Georgen of Luther hit a two-run single for Ironside Apparel  when the winners took control of the game with five runs in the second  inning.

IWSL starts 3rd season this Sunday

The Iowa Women’s Softball League will begin its third season Sunday,  with all the games this year at Busse Field at Mount Mercy University.

There are four teams in the IWSL, which is the only summer college  softball league in Iowa. The season will last for eight weeks, with  two doubleheaders each Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The playing dates are June 2-9-16-23 and July 7-14-21-28.

Thirty-three colleges from 10 states have players in the league this  summer. There is a blend of players from NCAA, NAIA and Junior College  programs, all playing side-by-side on the same teams.