Even though they were nearly 5,000 miles from their native state of Illinois, the Midwest connection was alive and well between Pope Leo XIV and former Iowa Hawkeyes star Sam LaPorta earlier this ...

Sam LaPorta and his wife Callahan get blessed by Pope Leo XIV. Instagram/_slaporta and callahanlaporta “Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride,” LaPorta wrote in the caption ...

LaPorta was a groomsman in Campbell’s wedding in Iowa this summer, attended by all the Hawk House members. LaPorta is engaged to his long-time girlfriend. Expect a Hawk House reunion there.