Metro Sports Report

Oglesby could play point guard for Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - Josh Oglesby eats breakfast now and has gained 18 pounds since classes began at the University of Iowa, so that's a big change.

Here's another: Oglesby could become a point guard with the Hawkeyes after starring as a shooting guard at Cedar Rapids Washington.

Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said he's thinking about giving Oglesby a shot at the position this season.

"A little bit, yeah. I feel like he can play point," McCaffery said Thursday afternoon during media day activities at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

"I don't want to take him too far away from his strength, which is obviously shooting the ball and playing from the wing position," he said. "But I would play him there. I'm very comfortable with him there."

Oglesby didn't have to handle the ball a great deal in high school because Washington had Wes Washpun, one of the top point guards in the state. McCaffery made a late pitch for Washpun last season, but Washpun chose Tennessee instead.

Ironically, Oglesby could be the former Warrior who supports Bryce Cartwright at point guard this season. Devyn Marble served as Iowa's No. 2 point guard for much of last season behind Cartwright, but McCaffery apparently has other plans.

Majority of 4A schools want district football

BOONE - A majority of the 47 schools that are currently playing Class 4A football are in favor of adopting a district format for determining playoff teams, it was announced at a meeting of the IHSAA Board of Control Thursday morning.

All 47 schools were surveyed on the topic, and the results were 25-22 in favor of a change to district football.

The board took no action on implementing a district format and appointed two board members - Xavier Principal Tom Keating and Johnston Athletic Director Gary Ross - to co-chair a subcommitte that will seek further input from all 47 schools before the full board votes on the issue later this year.

The survey results are not binding on the board, but IHSAA director Rick Wulkow called the 25-22 results a "huge swing" in sentiment for 4A district football.

Wulkow recommended the formation of the subcommittee to give all 47 schools a chance to have full hearing on the subject before the board votes.

"A 25-22 sampling is a majority, but it's not an overwhelming majority," he said. "I don't want to ram this down anyone's throat."

Wagner ignores pain, wins MVC diving title

Linn-Mar senior Sam Wagner settled into a routine Thursday night at the Mississippi Valley Conference diving meet.

She'd stretch, perform her dive, cover herself with towels, slip into her ankle-length Linn-Mar cape and apply a heating pad to the lower part of her back.

Stretch, dive, bundle up, heating pad. Stretch, dive, bundle up, heating pad.

It worked.

Wagner won the MVC title with a season-high score of 388.35 points for 11 dives, nudging Betsy Osterberger of Dubuque Wahlert by 11.15 points in a slight upset at the Jefferson pool.

Lions sweep Mississippi, Aune wins Valley

The Linn-Mar boys and girls cross country teams were winners Thursday at the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division cross country meets at the Dubuque Soccer Complex.

Linn-Mar Josh Evans stayed unbeaten against Iowa preps in winning the boys 5k title in 15 minutes, 50 seconds. That time was 32 seconds ahead of Washington senior Robert Hogg, who finished second. The Warriors' Etienne Nzoyisaba was third. Linn-Mar won the meet with 47 points. Washington was second with 67.

The Linn-Mar girls won in a rout with 18 points. All five Lions finished in the top seven. Carolyn Newhouse, Morgan Uridil and Rachel Perry finished 1-2-3. Brooklynn Kascel was fifth and Maddie Saville seventh. Newhouse won the 4k race in 14:52. Uridil and Perry were timed in 15:01, Kascel in 15:07 and Saville in 15:16.

The Valley Division meet was held at Prairie and Hawks senior Jacob Aune was the winner of the boys title, running the 5k race in 16:22. Prairie finished third behind Cedar Falls and Iowa City West.

The Prairie girls also finished third. Iowa City West and Cedar Falls swept the top 10 spots and the Women of Troy pulled out a five-point win. The Hawks' Beth Heims and Bree Gaster finished 11th and 12th, respectively.