MINNEAPOLIS (MCT) — There are plenty of surprises, disappointments and lingering question marks as all 32 NFL teams hit at least the halfway point of their seasons this week.

IOWA CITY (MCT) — The clearing of the trees from the north side behind Carver-Hawkeye Arena was the sign of progress.

The only 9-0 college football team has not been that impressive.

IOWA CITY (U of I) — Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer has been named a semifinalist for the 2009 Chuck Bednarik Award and coach Kirk Ferentz a semifinalist for the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award.

A total of three Colfax-Mingo players made an all-district team announced by the coaches of Class 2A District 7.

The Newton Cardinal varsity boys and girls basketball teams will once again be having Cardinal Club this year.

Sarah Patterson has had a lot of catch phrases and themes with her Newton-Cofax-Mingo-Pella swim program over the past 16 years.

AME (ISU — The Iowa State women’s basketball team is ranked 24th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ preseason poll, which was released Wednesday.

AMES (MCT) — New Iowa State wrestling coach Kevin Jackson doesn’t sound like much of a gambler.

Lynnville-Sully junior Tara Van Rees earned second-team South Iowa Cedar League honors and three other players were named honorable mention when all-conference teams were announced.

IOWA CITY (U of I) — University of Iowa defensive back Tyler Sash has been named a semi-finalist for The Jim Thorpe Award.

IOWA CITY (MCT) — The Iowa Hawkeyes have made the big time, and it just might be not a good thing.

AMES (ISU) — No. 8 Iowa State handed No. 2 Texas its first loss of the season with 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 25-15, 20-25, 15-12) win Wednesday night at Hilton Coliseum, running its winning streak to 11 matches. Texas is the highest-ranked opponent Iowa State has defeated in the history of the program.

NEW YORK (MCT) — Mariano Rivera had stood here before and kept picturing himself here again — delivering the final pitch of a World Championship season.

AMES (MCT) — Austen Arnaud wore an unsightly, inch-long scar on his throwing hand. Reggie Stephens recalled the fairly gory details of his recent appendectomy.

NEW YORK (MCT) — Phillies manager Charlie Manuel threw his support squarely in the corner of Cole Hamels, saying he would have confidence in sending the lefthander out to the mound for a potential Game 7 on Thursday.

FORT WORTH, Texas (MCT) — This was supposed to be the year Kyle Busch broke through and won a NASCAR championship.

AMES (ISU) — Iowa State center Reggie Stephens is cautiously optimistic that he will be back in the lineup against Oklahoma State after undergoing an appendectomy on Oct. 27. 

CEDAR FALLS (MCT) — Northern Iowa’s football team is peering into a cloudy future.

IOWA CITY (MCT) — Mike Kafka’s left hamstring received a ton of attention Monday. And it should, as it’s carried Northwestern’s offense all season.

The Newton Cardinal football banquet will be Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the Community Heights Alliance Church beginning at 6 p.m.

The fall sports season in Jasper County is nearing an end this weekend with the State Swim Meet in Marshalltown. Looking back, a lot has happened this season : PCM qualified for the substate round of the playoffs as Hutch Burns runs in front of a Dustin Moore block; NCMP junior Stephanie Griffith qualified for state in all three relays this past weekend and will try to help the Aquagirls get on the medal stand; Newton junior Miranda Huebner will provide the Cardinals with experience next year as all but one runner returns to the cross country team. Huebner ran in the regional meet and finished fourth on the team; Colfax-Mingo senior Ashley Stuva hits the homestretch during the Class 2A Regional Meet last week in Greenfield; Newton senior Ca

IOWA CITY (MCT) — During interviews, Ricky Stanzi kind of keeps his head down and stares straight ahead.

PHILADELPHIA (MCT) — Maybe this is just a one-night mirage, a short delay before the inevitable Yankees championship.

The Cedar Valley Fighting Association returns with another edition of “Friday Night Fights” on Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. at the VFW in Newton.

NCMP sophomores Ellen Colville (above) and Courtney Meyer will both be represented at the state swim meet this weekend. Colville will compete in the 500 freestyle and 200 Individual Medley, while both swimmers will compete in two relays.

BROOKLYN — Not even a monster effort by senior Abby Maher could propel the Collins-Maxwell-Baxter volleyball team to victory Friday.

BROOKLYN — Not even a monster effort by senior Abby Maher could propel the Collins-Maxwell-Baxter volleyball team to victory Friday.

IOWA CITY — Ricky Stanzi will forever be remembered in Hawkeye lore after his last-second touchdown pass to Marvin McNutt to beat Michigan State last weekend.

PHILADELPHIA (MCT) — Five appearances. Four innings pitched. One hit. No runs. That had been the postseason enjoyed by Brad Lidge before Sunday night.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Iowa State Cyclones are one win away from becoming bowl eligible.

Registration for the Newton Wrestling Club will take place Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

JOHNSTON — Despite several ill swimmers over the last couple of weeks, the Newton-Colfax-Mingo-Pella swim team managed to turn in some personal- and season-best times Saturday at the regional meet at Summit Middle School in Johnston.

FORT DODGE — It wasn’t the ending to a high school career that Newton senior Colten McDermott expected.