Community Corner by J.R. Ogden

JR Ogden
I’m J.R. Ogden, community sports editor for The Gazette. I’ve been here long enough to remember when we didn’t have a Web site. This place has been like home to me for more than 30 years, first as a part-timer hired by my father, former executive sports editor Jack Ogden, to the day I was named sports editor, which happened to coincide with Kirk Ferentz’s hiring at Iowa. I now have a new role as "community sports editor." I’ve seen a lot of sports through the years, from recreation to high school to college to pros. Hope you’ll enjoy the continuing ride.

Blog Posts

0520_SPO_ADAM

COMMUNITY: A final look at supplements

Fitness tips from Adam Rees

Editor’s note: Adam Rees is founder of GRIT GYM, a gym based on results, creating a culture and lifestyle of performance, strength, health and freedom to live life on your own terms. Rees attended Wartburg, worked under nationally recognized strength coach Matt McGettigan at ISU and generally is a glutton for information and improvement in [...]

continue »

STEVECHARTERS

COMMUNITY: Playing into the wind

Golf tip from Steve Charters

Editor’s note: Steve Charters is in his 11th year as a pro at Twin Pines Golf Course. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Charters competed at Central College in Pella and has been a pro for 18 years in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. As you’ve already noticed, spring in Iowa brings with it the winds [...]

continue »

0526_SPO_ARNOLD

COMMUNITY: Another Panthers tale

AAU basketball program taught life lessons

From Tonya Slezak Arnold on last week’s feature on the Cedar Rapids Panthers girls’ basketball team. Slezak Arnold played for the Cedar Rapids Panthers from 1985 through ’87, was a four-sport athlete at Prairie, graduating in 1991, and played basketball at Mount Mercy and Coe. I was fortunate to be a member of the first [...]

continue »

ATHLETES IN ACTION

COMMUNITY: Photo from AIA golf marathon

Laurie Goodrich of the Athletes in Action Campus at the University of Iowa submitted this photo from the 23rd annual Athletes in Action Hawkeye Golf Marathon, a 100-hole event.

continue »

Erin Moeller and her husband Andy go on a lunchtime run, Monday February 28, 2011 in Hiawatha. The couple tries to plan their weekly run into Erin's training schedule. (Becky Malewitz/SourceMedia Group News)

COMMUNITY: Making ‘some day’ a reality

Running tip from Erin Moeller

Have you ever had the opportunity to join a pal for a run and found yourself listening to their hopes and dreams of “some day” putting in the extra time and working toward reaching their full potential? Or maybe you’ve allowed your mind to wander and dream a little about what could happen if you [...]

continue »

0519_SPO_TEAM99

COMMUNITY: Communication key on long runs

Team 99 Counties completes 44th county

Editor’s note: Daren Schumaker and Dennis Lee are crossing Iowa’s 99 counties, raising money for the American Heart Association. They have completed 44 counties. By Daren Schumaker, community contributor Communication is key when you’re attempting to chew up the middle miles of a long run. It just makes things easier. Whether the topic of your [...]

continue »

0519_SPO_PANTHERS

COMMUNITY: Panther era comes to a close

Editor’s note: Nicole Dighton of Cedar Rapids is the mother of two active children. Her daughter Kennedy, 14, played for the last Cedar Rapids Panthers team that her husband, Rob, helped coach. Kennedy and her son Carson, 8, play other sports as well, and Nicole volunteers with the Cedar Hills Booster Club. By Nicole Dighton, [...]

continue »

KIRKWOOD

COMMUNITY: Eagles flying high into nationals

Kirkwood No. 3 seed in NJCAA III tournament

The Kirkwood softball team is having a season for the ages. The Eagles (55-3) followed their Region XI title by capturing the District F Championship last weekend, beating Dawson Community College of Glendive, Mont., 12-0. The win was the 48th straight for Kirkwood and sent the team to the NJCAA Division II national tournament as [...]

continue »

0520_SPO_ADAM

COMMUNITY: Supplements with benefits (Part II)

Nutrition tips from Adam Rees

Editor’s note: Part II of a two-part series about the benefits of supplements by Adam Rees, founder of GRIT GYM in Iowa City. Rees attended Wartburg and worked under nationally recognized strength coach Matt McGettigan at ISU. Last week, I wrote about the benefits of fish oil, probiotics, vitamin D and green drinks. Here are [...]

continue »

STEVECHARTERS

COMMUNITY: Dial in the wedges

Golf tip from Steve Charters

Editor’s note: Steve Charters is in his 11th year as a pro at Twin Pines Golf Course. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Charters competed at Central College in Pella and has been a pro for 18 years in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. So you’ve reached that point where your close enough to the green [...]

continue »