Sports briefs

State softball moving to double-elimination

The Iowa Girls High School Ahtletic Union announced Friday morning that the state softball tournament will be moving to a double-elimination format in 2026.

“Anyone that has watched the Softball College World Series knows how exciting the double-elimination format is,” said IGHSAU Executive Director Erin Gerlich in a press release Friday.

“We are thrilled to bring that excitement to the State Softball Tournament. This format will be exciting for both teams and fans, and we are grateful to the city of Fort Dodge for committing to enhancing Rogers’ Park to make a double-elimination tournament possible.”

The tournament will remain a five-day event with the new format.

Move to fall golf halted

Earlier this year, officials announced that boys’ golf in classes 1A-3A would be making a move to the fall starting in the 2025-26 season.

On Thursday, the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control decided that the move would be halted.

“We considered the feedback from our member schools and the board ultimately decided it was worth reconsidering our initial vote,” said board chairperson Dr. Andy Crozier, superintendent at Central Lee in a press release Thursday.

“It became clear that there were too many obstacles that need to be resolved in the short-term to make this change for the 2025-26 school year.”

The move to fall will be delayed but may still happen in the future.

“We appreciate our Board’s desire to continue its due diligence as it more fully considers a possible move of Class 1A, 2A, and 3A golf to a fall season,” IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said.