Category Archives: Sports Section

Redskins Volleyball Pick Up One Win in Conference Tournament

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•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

SOV Tested by Nokomis; Prevails on Homecoming to Remain Undefeated

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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

B. Bushue Advances to Sectionals as Individual, Team Concludes Season

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•October 4, 2023•

by E. Scott England

The boys golf season came to an end in regional play last Tuesday. With the top three teams advancing to sectionals, the Redskins placed sixth out of 13 teams. Brett Bushue was the regional champion and advanced to the sectionals as an individual. Drew Woolen ended up in a three-way playoff but came up one shot short.

The boys also played a round against Teutopolis on Monday. Bushue shot a team low of 40 with Woolen, Caden Saul, and Camden Watkins all tying with a 49. The solid effort fell short though against a strong Teutopolis team. The team finished 8-9 on the year.

Bushue competed Monday at the Edgewood Golf Club in Auburn. Results will be provided in next week’s News Progress.

Lady Redskins Win Golf Regionals, First Time Since 1986

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•October 4, 2023•

by E. Scott England

There was no need to be alarmed when the fire truck rolled through town last Thursday with sirens blaring. They were just escorting the Sullivan High School Lady Redskins golf team back to SHS. In just the second time in school history, the Lady Reskins golf team are regional champions. Read More

Redskins Volleyball Drop Three on the Week

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•October 4, 2023•

by E. Scott England

The Redskin volleyball team had three matches last week. The week began with two conference matchups, first on the road against Argenta-Oreana and then at home against Cerro Gordo/Bement. They finished the week with a matchup against Chrisman in non-conference play.

The matchup with the Bombers saw two close sets, with the Redskins falling 19-25, 21-25. Aeralyn Thrasher recorded five of the 14 team kills for the evening. The sophomore would also lead the team in serving with three aces. Senior Paige Connor had four kills with one ace. Senior Tessa Seeley and junior Mayci Strauf combined for five kills. Read More

SOV Create Storm of Their Own, Blank Sangamon Valley/Tri-City

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photo by Greg Floyd. Aiden Ballinger tracks the ball carrier during last Friday’s SOV game against Sangamon Valley/Tri-City.

•October 4, 2023•

by E. Scott England

The Redskins traveled to Niantic last Friday to spoil the homecoming festivities for Sangamon Valley/Tri-City. The shutout victory moved SOV to 6-0 on the season.

As they have all season, the Redskins wasted no time getting to work in the first half. Aian Fryman helped put SOV on the board in the first quarter with a seven yard rushing touchdown. The Storm started to put together a decent drive that came to an abrupt halt when their running back lost control of the ball. Fryman added a 14 yard rushing touchdown on SOV’s next possession. The junior running back had 71 yards rushing for the game. Read More

Redskins XC Continue Season

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•October 4, 2023•

by E. Scott England

The Sullivan Redskins XC teams ran in Taylorville and Mattoon last week. The first meet of the week took place at the Christian County Fairgrounds against four other teams. Sophomore Johnathan Iacobazzi finished fifth overall with a time of 17:17.32. Seniors Easton England and Davis Diepholz both finished in the top 20 at 16th and 19th, respectively. The Lady Redskins only had three runners compete at the race. Sophomore Eiley Poe was the top finisher for the team with an 8th place finish. Senior Allison Cullen crossed the line in 12th while junior Brooklyn Booker finished 15th. They did not have enough members to record a team score. Read More

OV Golf Teams Compete at Lincoln Prairie Conference Golf Meet 

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•September 27, 2023•

The Lincoln Prairie Conference (LPC) Golf Meet for both boys and girls golf was held on Tuesday, September 19 at Moweaqua Golf Course. Teams that competed were Sullivan, Arcola, Blue Ridge, Okaw Valley, Villa Grove and Tri-County. Okaw Valley Girls Golfers were Rissa Montgomery, a senior with a 96, Kaya Forlines, a freshman with 110, Brylee Baker, a sophomore with 117, Kate Stauder, a sophomore at 129,  Annabelle Cheathan, a junior with 137 and Erin Harris, a freshman with 138. The final team score for the OV girls was 452. An all conference award went to Montgomery of Okaw Valley in fifth. Okaw Valley girls golf came in second during the meet. 

In the boys LPC meet schools competing were Sullivan, Arcola, Blue Ridge, Cerro Gordo, Heritage, Okaw Valley, Villa Grove, LSA and Tri-County. Okaw Valley had Gibson Dickens, a senior with 85, Braden Montgomery, a sophomore with a 92, Tucker Montgomery, a sophomore with a 99, Chase Creviston, a junior and Grady Sparks, a junior both with a 100, Cannon Bernstein, a senior with 108. An all conference award was given to Dickens of Okaw Valley in fourth.

Haegen, Lady Redskins Win Conference Title in Golf

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photo furnished
Sullivan Boys Golf took second in the Lincoln Prairie Conference Meet last week. Team members are (left to right): Camden Watkins, Caden Saul, Drew Woolen, Brett Bushue, Daniel Downs, Cameron Crowe

photo furnished
Sullivan’s Girls Golf Team won the LPC Conference Meet last week. Members of the team are Shae Ellis, Kate Bushue, Ruby Haegen, Hannah Righter, Devon Richardson, Taylar Mercer.

•September 27, 2023•

The Lady Redskins golf team has been dominant all year long. They proved that last week at the Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament hosted at the Moweaqua Golf Course. The boys golf team had a strong showing as well picking up second place.

Ruby Haegen led the lady golfers shooting an 80 on the day and picking up the individual conference championship title. Shae Ellis and Hannah Righter tied for second behind Haegen, each shooting a 90. Kate Bushue and Devon Richardson finished 7th and 8th, respectively. All five Lady Redskin golfers were named all conference. Read More

SOV Tame Broncos to Extend Winning Season

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photo by Greg Floyd
Dexter Parrish with one of his three runs. He had 63 yards rushing in the game.

•September 27, 2023•

by E. Scott England

The Sullivan-Okaw Valley Redskins put the Cerro Gordo-Bement Broncos to pasture last Friday with a dominant win of 59-7. The stampede by the Redskin offense started early and continued all four quarters with 7 different players finding the end zone throughout the night.

On just the second play of SOV’s first possession, junior ball carrier Aian Fryman did what he does best, taking his first carry of the night 82 yards for the first of his three touchdowns. The Broncos tried to respond with a methodical offensive possession that moved them down the field 72 yards within their own five yard line. The Redskin defense held strong with key tackles coming from seniors Landry Still and Hayden Moody and junior Elijah Beeler. The drive would result in a turnover on downs. Read More