•October 18, 2023•
by E. Scott England
The Sullivan Middle School Cross Country team capped off their season with both teams earning a spot in the state meet. The culminating meet featuring some of the best middle school runners in the state was held last Saturday at Maxwell Park in Normal, Illinois. Brimfield took home first in state for girls while El Paso-Gridley was the top team for the boys. Read More
•October 18, 2023•
Ethan Schmohe from Bethany, who is studying Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has earned a roster spot on the Warhawk men’s swimming and diving team for the 2023-24 season. The Warhawks finished fourth at last year’s Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships. UW-Whitewater is coached by Elise Knoche, who enters her sixth season at the helm of the program. The team garnered the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America Award for the third straight season in 2022-23.
photo submitted
Davis Diepholz rounds a corner chasing down the runner ahead of him while trying to stay warm at Saturday’s frigid and wet invitational.
•October 18, 2023•
by E. Scott England
The Sullivan Redskins Cross Country team traveled to Effingham last Saturday for their last meet of the regular season. St. Anthony hosted their annual Bulldog Classic XC Invitational which featured 17 teams. Effingham captured first place for the girls while St. Teresa was the top team for the boys. Read More
photo by Greg Floyd
Kyle Corkill (2) looks downfield as he completes his 67 yard touchdown reception during the Friday, October 13 game against Tri-County.
•October 18, 2023•
by E. Scott England
Though the temperatures were warmer, the field conditions were wet and muddy as the Tri-County Titans came to Sullivan in search of their first win of the season. That elusive win wouldn’t be found at Victory Field for the Titans as the Redskins cruised to an easy victory playing without several key players.
Sullivan/Okaw Valley wasted no time getting to work in the first quarter. After receiving the opening kickoff, the Redskins only needed two plays for Cooper Christensen to go deep to senior Aiden Ballinger for a 60 yard touchdown pass with just a minute off the clock. On SOV’s next possession, Christensen connected with junior Seth Forlines for a 36 yard reception. Christensen connected with Ballinger on the next play for a 17 yard touchdown pass. Ballinger finished the game with 96 yards receiving. Christensen capped off the first quarter scoring frenzy with a 38 yard rushing touchdown. The junior quarterback had 55 yards rushing in the first half. Read More
•October 18, 2023•
by E. Scott England
It would be hard to script a regular season finale as perfect as this one. Heading into week nine of the football season, two undefeated powerhouses, separated by only 11 miles, will clash for four quarters and 48 minutes to determine who the conference champion will be.
Undefeated and Playoff Experience
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond officially became ALAH for the 2014-2015 season. While they haven’t had an undefeated regular season in that time, they have made the playoffs four times, including the last two years. Knights head coach Ryan Jefferson says he “believes that [playoff] experience, for a lot of our kids who will be playing, will be helpful” when it comes to facing off against the Redskins. The last time an undefeated season was recorded for the Knights, it was when it was just Arthur-Lovington, guided by head coach Dale Schuering who led the team to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. Read More
•October 11, 2023•
Shelbyville/Moulton Middle School hosted the IESA 2A Cross Country Section at Forest Park on Saturday, October 7. Sullivan Middle School’s girl cross country came in second place and the boys team tied for third.
In the Girls 3200 meter run, Aaliyah Osborn led the girls with a fifth place finish in a time of 13:30.63, Avery Renfro in seventh with a time of 13:35.43, Addy Hendry came in 20th place, Sylvia Dawkins in 25th, Emmersyn Jianonni in 26th place, Aubrey Fultz in 27th place and Meila Wilson in 37th place.
In the Boys 3200 meter run Easton Wickline placed fourth with a time of 12:12.95, David Easton placed seventh with a time of 12:19.96, Bryson Hill in fourteenth with 12:30.34. Griffin Woods placed 32nd, Gavin Finn in 38th place and Gideon Walk in 39th place.
•October 11, 2023•
by E. Scott England
Brett Bushue and Shae Ellis each earned a spot in the two-day state golf tournament held at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur for the girls and Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington for the boys. The two day format includes a cut score that golfers must be under in order to advance to the second day. Bushue shot an 86 on Friday, which was under the cut score by two strokes. Ellis, too, advanced to the second day of golfing shooting a 91 on Friday, six strokes below the cut score. Read More
photo furnished
Sullivan Redskins Cross Country Seniors (left-right) Davis Diepholz, Easton England, Bella Harden, Aston Johnson, Luke Waelde, Allison Cullen.
•October 11, 2023•
by E. Scott England
The Sullivan Redskins Cross Country team honored their seniors last Tuesday ahead of a quad meet hosted by Sullivan at Tabor Park. The senior runners this year are Davis Diepholz, Easton England, Bella Harden, Aston Johnson, Luke Waelde, and Allison Cullen. Results from the meet were not available by press time. Read More
•October 11, 2023•
by E. Scott England
The Sullivan Redskins volleyball team had a busy week with the Lincoln Prairie Conference tournament last week. They opened up the tournament on Monday with back-to-back matches against Cumberland and Unity Christian. They concluded their tournament play on Wednesday against Tri-County and Blue Ridge.
Sullivan came out with strong serving in the first match against Cumberland. The team had a total of eight aces with Aeralyn Thrasher and Paige Conner leading with two apiece. Emily Miller, Isabelle Stone, Kiley Dyer, and Mayci Strauf combined for the other four. Strauf and Miller led the team in kills with four each. Tessa Seeley added another three. Mae Dawkins, Conner, and Thrasher each recorded one kill. Sullivan fell to Cumberland 18-25, 21-25. Read More
photo by Greg Floyd
Mason Booker (57) takes down the Nokomis ball carrier. Booker would lead the team in tackles in the homecoming win.
•October 11, 2023•
by E. Scott England
Injuries, penalties, and turnovers, oh my! The Nokomis Redskins came into town last Friday looking to spoil Sullivan’s homecoming. Both teams played neck and neck with the Redskins of Sullivan/Okaw Valley being triumphant in the end on a final touchdown with a minute and a half left in the game.
SOV struggled with penalties all evening, the first coming on the first play of a game calling back a 52 yard reception by junior Seth Forlines from senior Aiden Ballinger. Two plays later, junior quarterback Cooper Christensen tossed an interception. It was one of three interceptions thrown by SOV in the game. SOV’s defense came out strong on the first set of Nokomis downs, but a pass interference on a fourth and eight put the wind from SOV’s sails right behind Nokomis as they completed the eight play drive of 66 yards for their first touchdown of the game. Read More