Guys, I hit the ultimate goal of 100 pounds of weight loss on Monday. Here is a before picture, an after picture at the gym and a picture of my daughter and I celebrating the milestone.
I’m going to say it. I think Isaiah Moss transferred because he knew CJ Fredrick was an alpha dog. He plays with a chip, isn’t afraid of big moments and actually cares about defense. He is also just as skilled or more on the offensive end. He would have taken Moss minutes.
Weighed over 280 pounds on my 40th birthday. Today, one year later, I weighed in at 208.8. Flipping the script. More to go. But feeling absolutely spectacular.
The best I can do for a before and after pic. Hit the 70 pound weight loss mark today with another 4 pound drop. From 294 on Jan. 10 to 224 today.
#ThisIs40
Kudos to Kirk Ferentz for not running and hiding from the off the field issues. He could have shielded his assistants and the 4 suspended players from answering ? at media day. He didn’t. They handled it head on. That’s how you grow. That’s how you become better men. Well done.
Approaching 7 months on this weight loss lifestyle change. 66 pounds lighter. And feeling great. Better workouts. More water intake. Less alcoholic beverages, energy drinks with sugar and just an all around better choice of food consumption. 227 feels way better than 294.
Shoutout to this guy. He lost his father to cancer on Tuesday but played in Friday's football game and helped Colfax-Mingo to a win in the season opener. Never easy to do something like that. Continued thoughts and prayers to the Lewis family.
The states No. 1 ranked baseball team in 4A, Dowling Catholic, is done for the year because of a positive COVID test. If u want to finish the year, make a few sacrifices for the next few weeks. Keep outside contact to a minimum. 1 positive at this point is a season ending deal.
I was informed today that our paper has won a Best Sports Section award. With our limited space and opportunities, that’s always challenging but we did it. And I’m stoked. Also, 2 more Best Sports Columnist awards and lots of others in other categories coming for others on staff.
Governor Reynolds having a press conference when the news stations are live at 6 seems big to me. Like much bigger decisions with Covid big. If she says, “I trust Iowans to do the right thing” again though, I might lose my mind.
So
@MurphyKeith
traveled to both Iowa State and Iowa bowl games, was away from his family for 10 days or so (I assume), did a great job covering both teams and still got told he likes one fan base more than the other? Man, it’s a tough crowd. Can’t please everyone ever I guess.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association makes official what I have known for a few weeks. Former PCM Mustang and NFL TE Brandon Myers is a high school basketball HOF member this year. He'll be officially welcomed into the HOF at halftime of the 3A title game next week.
Charging schools $400 to broadcast postseason basketball games me is silly to me. Small schools doing this are using HS kids and parents to do these games. The HS kids are getting valuable experience. But it’s too much for most small schools to handle.
To those people who want Kate Martin to be cut to make Iowa fans mad, screw you. 1. She did nothing to deserve the hate. And 2. That’s just childish. Grow up.
I am all done here at the UNI-Dome. I hope I can do some justice for this team. The Mustangs were definitely GREAT in ONE EIGHT. Congrats to the team, the school and the community. Lots of fun covering this team.
Cody Wallace wins 4-3. And the tears flow. From barely winning 20 matches each of his first 3 seasons to approaching 40 and state berth this year. Good story.
#iahswr
I think the Iowa and Iowa State women will have better runs in the NCAA tournament than the men's teams and that game is Wednesday. I have heard 0 about it and every local radio station is all about the men. I get it. It's not as popular, but the women deserve some pub.
No pie/dessert today. And I stayed within the parameters of my daily food intake. Didn’t think it was possible. But stayed on track. Time to close on that 100.
PCM's
@reganfreland
ended her prep basketball career with 1,457 points. She should be a 4-time all-state player in a few weeks. Freland sets an incredible bar for the Mustangs in line to play after her. And she's easily one of the best basketball players I have ever covered.
Also, Baxter football coach Rob Luther tells me has been named a HC for the annual Iowa Shrine Bowl. To my knowledge, he is the first 8-man coach to be named head coach for the game.
#iahsfb
Iowa high school softball lost a good one to the college ranks. Former North Polk and now former ADM coach Rick Dillinger will be an assistant at Iowa next season. He’s won more than 1100 games in 42 seasons as a high school coach. I think he’s earned this promotion.
I have been trying to figure out or wondering if and when the last time PCM was ranked No. 1 in football. And I just got it confirmed by coach Greg Bonnett that it indeed has NEVER happened in the school's history. PCM is in the middle of a historic season.
#iahsfb
Why is Caitlin Clark a better NPOY candidate than Aliyah Boston? I need somebody to give me an actual reason opposed to she shooting 3s from logo and dropping 40 pieces.
Also discussed at the PCM board meeting tonight .... Mustang boys basketball coach Fred Lorensen has been awarded with a National Coach of the Year honor. He was nominated by the Iowa High School Athletic Association.
#iahsbkb
PCM senior Regan Freland officially became the school's all-time leading scorer tonight in the Mustangs' 53-18 win over Saydel. Freland finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 7 steals, 5 assists and 1 block. She now has 1,147 career points.
#iahsgbb
It is so hard to take days off from work when you are a one person sports department. But my 10 year old daughter's christmas card asked me to "please take more days off this year" really hits hard. So my New Year's Resolution is to do a better job with this. Somehow.
I didn't want to say this before tonight's game because I didn't want to jinx anyone. But when PCM faces West Liberty in the UNI-Dome next week, it will be the first time I will personally cover a football team in a state semifinal game in the Dome.
The Nationals offered Bryce Harper a monster 10-year deal reportedly worth $300 million and Harper turned it down. Now, he's not signed and I am supposed to feel sorry for him because teams refuse to dish out big money for one of the game's bigger stars? Well, I don't.
Just got word that former PCM wrestler and 2018 state champion Lucas Roland is officially part of UNI’s wrestling team. He was added to the roster online in the last week or so. Good luck to Roland at the next level.
#iahswr
Born shoots it well. Handles it well. Passes it well. Great body control against contact. UNI is getting a steal of a player. Hawks and Clones will regret the decision to not offer him.
It will be part of my story, but Wes Cummings told me tonight that he and his classmates broke a huddle after practice in 7th grade with "Dome on 3." This has been the goal for a long time. And when the game was on the line, Cummings was the workhorse that finished the win.
Looks like my 1-2 teams in 1A have reached the title game. I have been telling anyone who follows me on this site that Montezuma was the real deal. Trey Shearer is elite.
There will always be haters. Always. Those that are saying missing a free throw is dumb just don't get it. Besides, it should be his choice. And I wouldn't have faulted him either way.
Also found out tonight that PCM fans absolutely hate the PCM, Monroe tag that the state uses for state events. The people of those two communities just prefer PCM. They hate using one town or the other.
Coaches want to win. If they don't play you or your kid, it's not because he or she hates you. It may be because you didn't work hard enough to get better. Playing time is not a right, it's earned.
Baxter's new volleyball coach has been announced. Former Ankeny head coach Joe Morton has taken over the Bolts program. He guided Hawks to 5A state tournament the last 2 years. Won a lot of games in the CIML.
I hate seeing an 8-1 team out of the playoffs. The RPI consists too much of stuff programs can't control. The non-district schedule and districts are formed through the IHSAA. So using a format that deals with a strength of schedule the state builds is tough.
#iahsfb
Witnessed a fantastic football game tonight. PCM wins 21-20 over West Marshall. Mustangs trailed 12-0 at halftime. All 21 points came in the 3rd. Colby Tool changed the game with a pick 6 in the 3rd. Mustangs headed back to the Dome.
#iahsfb
As we head into another season, if you are an athlete or a parent of an athlete and wonder why you or your child isn't getting the playing time desired, ask how much time did you put in in the offseason? Playing time in season is largely earned because of what you do in offseason
@itzgetty2
Niners fan here. I hope you’re right. But looking at NO numbers without Brees isn’t right. They are so much better with him and Kamara. They’ll get better.
Lucas Roland has spent a total of 1 minute on the mat in his two matches. He got pins of 29 seconds and 31 seconds in his 182-pound bouts. He's now got 153 wins. He's 4 away from passing Xavier Miller for 3rd on the all-time wins list. Only Traush and Cummings would have more.
Watching the replay over Iowa-Indiana, I didn’t notice this live, but Baer was huge on the boards late in regulation and overtime. Kept Hoosiers to one shot a lot.