After missing the postseason on a tiebreaker last year, Clayton Ridge isn’t leaving anything to chance.
The Eagles took sole possession of first place in Class 1A District 4 Friday with a 26-0 victory over Starmont at Guttenberg. It was the fourth consecutive shutout for the Eagles (4-1 overall, 3-0 1A-4).
“Our defense is playing really well,” said Clayton Ridge Coach Chad Harbaugh. “We put our defense in a bad spot right off the bat, but we held.”
Clayton Ridge fumbled the opening kickoff, and the Stars recovered inside the Eagles’ 25-yard line.
“It …

CEDAR RAPIDS — It’s not as if the Decorah Vikings had anything yet to prove.
But still …
“People don’t think of Decorah as a swimming community,” said Hannah Maher.
Think again.
Maher was the most complete swimmer, teammate MacKenzie Smith was the fastest sprinter, and the Vikings won five events on their way to an impressive second-place finish at the 10-team Cougar Invitational girls’ swimming meet Saturday at Kennedy High School.
Johnston captured the crown with 442 points. Decorah edged Cedar Falls, 390-385, when the Tigers’ 400-yard freestyle relay was disqualified after an apparent …

CEDAR RAPIDS — Organized hockey is relatively new compared to most recreational sports, but people are taking to the ice.
Adult hockey leagues have experienced a slight increase in teams over the last year, according to the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Hockey Director Kevin Brooks.
The four leagues consist of 20 total teams with 10 to 15 players per roster.
“I believe they’re up right now,” Brooks said about participation numbers. “I know they had around 20 teams a couple years ago. As far as I know the numbers are on their way …

TULSA, Okla. — Former University of Iowa two-time All-American wrestler and Tama native Paul Bradley won by unanimous decision at the Strikeforce Challengers Series event Saturday.
Bradley, 26, improved to 12-1, winning all three rounds against Levi Avera at 170 pounds. Bradley was a three-time state finalist and a 2001 Class 2A 171-pound state champ for South Tama High School.
Lisbon native and two-time state wrestling champ (1991-92) Zach Light also competed. Light, one of the top wrestling trainers in the sport, lost by armbar submission to undefeated Tyron Woodley (6-0) in the …

Benton Community rallied from a 12-7 halftime deficit to down DeWitt Central, 20-12 last night in Van Horne.
Zach Tweedt completed 7-for-11 passes for 111 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown to Mitch Lester. Tweedt also had 28 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Mark Himmelsbach had 14 carries for 102 yards rushing including a 29-yard touchdown for the Bobcats (3-2, 2-1 3A-4).

CENTER POINT-URBANA 31, TIPTON 12 — Dylan Ramsey had 16 carries for 89 yards and four touchdowns for host Center Point-Urbana (4-1, 3-0 2A-5).
WEST BRANCH 34, BELLE …