Iowa Lakes Baseball will continue season following fatal bus crash

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa -- The Iowa Lakes Baseball team will resume its season a month after a bus crash claimed the life of one of its players and injured the rest of the team and staff. On Monday, Iowa Lakes Community College announced that the baseball team will resume its regular season starting Friday, March 13. The team will be traveling to Minneapolis to play against Minnesota North College -- Mesabi Range. "Our student-athletes have shown incredible resilience and strength during an unimaginably difficult time," Troy Larson, Iowa Lakes vice president of student services and athletic director, said. "Returning to the field is not about moving on, but about moving forward together. Baseball has always been a place where this team finds connection, purpose, and support from one another and the broader community." In February, the team's charter bus rolled along Highway 4 near the Twin Lakes area while they were traveling to a game in Arkansas. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 33 people were on board, and all were injured. One occupant, freshman player Carter (Tater) Johnson, died from the injuries he sustained in the crash. School officials shared an update on the team in late February, saying that one athlete and the bus driver remained hospitalized. Head Baseball Coach Chris Witzke said the decision to continue playing was made with the well-being of the athletes in mind. "Our players love this game, and they love competing for each other," he said. "We are taking things one day at a time, supporting one another, and honoring those impacted by the accident every step of the way. When we take the field, we do it as a family and with the incredible support of the Iowa Lakes community behind us." To see the full schedule for the Iowa Lakes Baseball 2026 season, click here.