Photo by Crystal Reed
Season Opener against Newton
The Sullivan-Okaw Valley varsity football team had their season opener on Friday, August 26 at home versus Newton. The Redskins took the win over Newton 33-27. They will play again this Friday, September 2 at Nokomis.
Photos submitted by Natalee Hunter
•August 31, 2022•
Nobody could’ve asked for a better start to the 2022 Sullivan-Okaw Valley football season than the Redskins winning their first varsity game in five years by a score of 33-27 over the Newton Eagles in the August 26 home opener. This game will be one to remember for years to come.
Sophomore running back Aian Fryman said that this game was the end of the losing era and the beginning of a winning era. An early win like this has already pumped up the players to make this a successful season.
Principal Daniel Allen expressed his opinion on this win as well, “A moment like that transcends the walls of the school and brightens the climate throughout the entire community.”
The win is a bright spot for SOV’s program after the varsity football season was canceled last year. Head Football Coach John Bertetto said, “Looking back to last year, canceling the varsity season was a very tough decision, but it was the best decision to keep our kids safe and give them a chance to compete at the varsity level for the future.” Read More
Photo furnished
Hendry Siblings Place at AAU Junior Olympics
Asher (11) and Addy (10) Hendry of Sullivan qualified for and attended the AAU Junior Olympics July 28- August 1, 2022. Both athletes started swimming with Sullivan Blue Dolphins (SBD) in 2016 and have been swimming year round since.
They spent the last two seasons with Lakewood Ranch swim team of Florida where they participated in both USA and AAU team swimming. Their qualifying times allowed them to participate in the Championship meet in Greensboro, NC.
At the meet Addy swam the following events with placements on the podium for each event: 200m free-2nd, 100m free-2nd, 200 Individual Medley-3rd, 50m fly-6th, 50 free-6th, 50 back-8th.
Asher dropped time in all events; 200m free, 50m free, 200m Individual medley, 50m back, 100m free. He qualified for finals in 3 events and placed 5th overall for 100m back earning a trip to the podium.
Photo courtesy of Kim Drury
Liam Donovan Competes At Championship Meet
Liam Donovan of the Sullivan Blue Dolphins competed at the 2022 Illinois Long Course Age Group Championship meet in St. John, Indiana. Liam finished 19th overall in the 100 backstroke and 26th in the 200 backstroke. Head Coach Drury commented, “Liam is the perfect example of a swimmer whose dedication and hard work pays off. He never gave up through the COVID setbacks over the last couple of years. As you age up in swimming the time cuts get tougher to achieve. Liam has held steady and committed to improving and this year his efforts have paid off. Illinois Age Group time cuts are some of the hardest cuts to obtain. Liam is a racer he thrives under competition. He did a great job representing Sullivan Blue Dolphins at this level of competition.”
Photo courtesy of Jason Drury
SBD Competes At Illinois Open
Sullivan Blue Dolphins plunged into the water at the 2022 Illinois Open at the University of Illinois July 8. It was a great opportunity for the swimmers to compete at a 50 meter indoor pool with lots of competition. High points for girls 10 and under: Avery Hess and Scarlett Perrott. High points for girls 13-14: Cadence Schmohe. High points for girls open: Emily Crosier. High points for boys 10 and under: Robert Pogue. High points for boys open: Liam Donovan. Pictured are Kinsley Eads, Avery Hess, Scarlett Perrott.
•August 3, 2022•
Lake Land College’s Laker Athletics will host its annual golf outing fundraiser on Sunday, August 14 at Meadowview Golf Course in Mattoon, Illinois.
Registration and lunch will begin at noon with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.
The two-person scramble will include the green fee, cart fee, lunch and giveaway for a total of $75 per person. Read More
•August 3, 2022•
Millikin Track and Field Team Names Letter Winners
Millikin Track and Field Team recently named their letter winners. Sophomore Madalyne McPheeters of Sullivan received her second letter.
Millikin Women’s Basketball Team Names Letter Winners
The Millikin University women’s basketball team recently announced award and letter winners for the 2021-22 season. Freshman Emily White of Sullivan received her first letter.
Photo by Jason Drury
SBD Competes At Quincy
Sullivan Blue Dolphins hit the water June 17-19 in Quincy, IL for the 28th Annual Firecracker Classic. High point winners for 8 and under: boys, Bryce Badman 90 points; girls, Kinsley Eads 36 points. High point winners for 9-10 years: boys, Eli Crosier 22 points; girls, Clarice Standerfer 85 points. High point winners for 13-14 years: boys, Liam Donovan 62 points; girls, Emily Crosier 68 points. High point winner for boy’s open was Ethan Schmohe with 79 points. High point winner for the girl’s open was Madalyn Booker with 90 points.
Photos Furnished
SHS Baseball Awards Presented At Banquet
Several awards were presented at the baseball banquet that was held recently. The following awards were given: Tristan Ruppert, Offensive Player of the Year and One Tribe Award; Jackson Matheson, One Tribe Award; Dawson Foster, Grit Award and Will Haegen, Most Improved Player.
Additionally the following players were selected to the All-Conference team: Tristan Ruppert, 1st team; Jackson Matheson, Honorable Mention; and Jake Stewart, Honorable Mention.
•July 20, 2022•
Photo by Kim Drury
Dolphins who competed for a chance to advance to the State Championship meets were front row: Addy Hendry, Johnathan Iacobazzi, Emily Crosier, Madalyn Booker. Back row: Asher Hendry, Liam Donovan, Ethan Schmohe, Matthew Wesselman, Miles Kersten.
by Sara Cremeens
Sullivan Blue Dolphins had nine swimmers qualify for the 2022 Summer Regional Championship team. They competed the weekend of July 15th at the Central Park Pool in Peoria. In order to attend this meet a swimmer must get a qualifying time in the event based on their age group. Illinois Swimming time standards are some of the toughest in the nation.