CEDAR RAPIDS — Most people’s exposure to water polo is a brief glimpse during the Summer Olympics.
Now, people can become more familiar with the sport through new leagues offered at the Stoney Point YMCA.
Water Polo leagues are being offered for ages 8 and older and all levels Sunday evenings, beginning Oct. 25. The session will extend until Dec. 6.
Stoney Point started running the league at the end of July.
“We do have a youth league, a young adult league and an adult (league),” Stoney Point YMCA Aquatics Director C.J.  Hoffman said. “Right …

AMES — Monday marks the deadline for the Iowa Sports Foundation’s Flag Football State Championship set for Oct. 24-25 on the Iowa State campus.
The inaugural event will be held at the Southeast Athletic Complex, located east of Jack Trice Stadium.
The 7-on-7 competition includes a double-elimination tournament with a blind draw and is limit to the first 32 teams entered. Players need to be at least 18 years old to participate.
Registration is $375 per teams and must be done at www.iowasportsfoundation.org/SpecialOnlineRegistrations/SpecialEventEntry.aspx.
For more information, contact the tournament director Jim Zimmerman at (515) …

STANWOOD — Members of North Cedar High School and the Stanwood community created a special event in memory of a special person.
A night road race will be held in honor of the late North Cedar student Ashley Himes, a multi-sport athlete who died from a brain tumor in April about a month before graduating.
The “Believe” 5K road race is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9, following North Cedar’s homecoming football game against Tipton. The race is scheduled for 10 p.m. with registration at the City Park from 7 to 9:45 p.m. …

ANAMOSA — The Jones County Conservation board and the Sticks In The Water Paddle Group will be holding the Annual Fall Colors and Archaeology Float on Saturday, Oct. 10.
The 8.6-mile excursion at down the Wapsipinicon River for cancers and kayakers will begin at Anamosa State Park and finish at Newport Mills Access.
Participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch and essential gear. For more information or to preregister, contact Michele Olson at (319) 481-7987 or naturalist@co.jones.ia.us.

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 …

Sisters Emily and Katy Klinefelter, both of Iowa City, will be top headliners at the Johnson County Fairgrounds (4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd. SE in Iowa City) on Friday, Sept. 11. They will fight at “Unforgettable” which should feature nine bouts, beginning at 7 p.m. at the South Outdoor Arena.
Many local and professional fighters will be competing, and Chris Weitz, of Iowa City, will perform a Muay Thai demonstration to go along with the scheduled bouts.
The Klinefelters will be the biggest attraction the two of them are a combined 8-0 …

CEDAR RAPIDS — Chicagoans take a lot of pride in 16-inch slow pitch softball.
After all, the game originated there in the late 1800s with the 16-inch no-glove variety becoming popular in the 1920s. The Windy City has dominated the game since its inception.
Things haven’t changed as Traffic won the Amateur Softball Association Men’s 16-inch slow pitch A national tournament Sunday at Tait Cummins Sports Complex.
Traffic beat OBI, also of Chicago, 16-0, in five innings in the final championship game. OBI forced an “if-game” with a 9-3 victory in the first …

Local rugby has moved on without Ian Cullis and that’s perfectly fine with him.
Actually, he considers it a way to measure his impact on the game.
Cullis contribution was honored by his selection in the inaugural class of the Cedar Rapids Rugby Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 29.
“It’s OK to do something, but if it continues without you then you must have done something right,” Cullis said. “The game has continued and to me that’s the greatest gift. Men are still enjoying it, organizing it and playing it even though …

Cedar Rapids finally gets its chance to host its national championship. It’s just a year later than expected.
The city won a bid to host the 2008 Amateur Softball Association men’s 16-inch slow pitch Class A national tournament, but flooding of the Cedar River forced the event to Urbandale.
The ASA worked with local groups to secure this year’s event instead, and it starts tonight at Tait Cummins Sports Complex. First-round games begin at 6:30.
“We’re thrilled about it,” Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director of Sports Tourism Mary Lee Malmberg …