Category Archives: Sports Section

Winning Big

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Submitted Winning Big The level three gymnasts at Mattoon Academy of Gymnastics had their state competition the weekend of March 7-9 in St.Charles, Ill. The girls competed against more than 800 other qualifying gymnasts in the state, and all of the level three gymnasts had to earn a 33.00 all around throughout the year in order to be eligible to compete at the state championship. Mattoon Academy brought home 13 individual event awards and three all around state title awards. From Sullivan, Kylie Godden (2nd row, far right) took 11th place on uneven bars, while Zoe Walton (2nd row, middle) placed in the all-around, taking second on vault, ninth on bars, second on floor and third all-around. The level three gymnastics team is coached by Michelle Gardner, Laura Sculley, and Lis White.

Submitted
Winning Big
The level three gymnasts at Mattoon Academy of Gymnastics had their state competition the weekend of March 7-9 in St.Charles, Ill.
The girls competed against more than 800 other qualifying gymnasts in the state, and all of the level three gymnasts had to earn a 33.00 all around throughout the year in order to be eligible to compete at the state championship. Mattoon Academy brought home 13 individual event awards and three all around state title awards.
From Sullivan, Kylie Godden (2nd row, far right) took 11th place on uneven bars, while Zoe Walton (2nd row, middle) placed in the all-around, taking second on vault, ninth on bars, second on floor and third all-around. The level three gymnastics team is coached by Michelle Gardner, Laura Sculley, and Lis White.

Winter Regionals for SBD

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Submitted Winter Regionals Pictured is the Sullivan Blue Dolphins team that went onto the Springfield winter regional championships hosted by the Academy Bullets. Finishing with either eighth place or better: Natalie Drury: first-100 back; second-50 back & 100 IM; sixth-50 fly; seventh-200 back & 100 breast; eighth-50 free & 100 free. Charlie Goss: first 50 free, 100 breast, 200 back, 100 back, 200 breast, & 200 IM; second-100 fly & 100 free. Bryce King: fourth-100 fly & 100 back; eighth-400 IM. Grant King:first- 200 fly & 100 back; second-200 back; fifth-100 fly & 400 IM; sixth-200 IM. Dalace Ray: fifth-100 breast. Connor Russell: second-200 fly; seventh-100 fly & 400 IM. Dylan Sanders: second-200 fly; fifth-500 free; sixth-100 fly. Brynna Sentel: second-500 free, 100 free, & 200 IM; third-200 free; sixth-100 fly. Gabrielle Spain: second-200 free; third-100 fly & 50 fly; fourth-100 IM; fifth-500 free; sixth-100 back;eighth-100 breast. Pictured front row: Gabrielle Spain, Noah Spain, Sophia Nuzzo, Mackenzie Erixon, and Calista Clark. Back row:Connor Russell, Dylan Sanders, Bryce King, Brynna Sentel, Dalace Ray, McKenna Kull, Natalie Drury, Jessica Renfro, Charlie Goss, and Grant King. Not pictured is Madison Fox, Anna Wooters, and Lauren Russell. In all, 18 swimmers qualified to compete in the Springfield regional. Goss, Spain, Sentel, and both Grant and Bryce King advanced to the State Age Group meet held March 13-16. Full results from the Springfield winter regional may be viewed at www.results.teamunify.com/ilabsc.

Submitted
Winter Regionals
Pictured is the Sullivan Blue Dolphins team that went onto the Springfield winter regional championships hosted by the Academy Bullets. Finishing with either eighth place or better: Natalie Drury: first-100 back; second-50 back & 100 IM; sixth-50 fly; seventh-200 back & 100 breast; eighth-50 free & 100 free. Charlie Goss: first 50 free, 100 breast, 200 back, 100 back, 200 breast, & 200 IM; second-100 fly & 100 free. Bryce King: fourth-100 fly & 100 back; eighth-400 IM. Grant King:first- 200 fly & 100 back; second-200 back; fifth-100 fly & 400 IM; sixth-200 IM. Dalace Ray: fifth-100 breast. Connor Russell: second-200 fly; seventh-100 fly & 400 IM. Dylan Sanders: second-200 fly; fifth-500 free; sixth-100 fly. Brynna Sentel: second-500 free, 100 free, & 200 IM; third-200 free; sixth-100 fly. Gabrielle Spain: second-200 free; third-100 fly & 50 fly; fourth-100 IM; fifth-500 free; sixth-100 back;eighth-100 breast.
Pictured front row: Gabrielle Spain, Noah Spain, Sophia Nuzzo, Mackenzie Erixon, and Calista Clark. Back row:Connor Russell, Dylan Sanders, Bryce King, Brynna Sentel, Dalace Ray, McKenna Kull, Natalie Drury, Jessica Renfro, Charlie Goss, and Grant King. Not pictured is Madison Fox, Anna Wooters, and Lauren Russell.
In all, 18 swimmers qualified to compete in the Springfield regional. Goss, Spain, Sentel, and both Grant and Bryce King advanced to the State Age Group meet held March 13-16.
Full results from the Springfield winter regional may be viewed at www.results.teamunify.com/ilabsc.

Area High School Award Banquets

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Area High School Sport Banquets

Sullivan's boys' basketball team and cheerleading squad as well as Okaw Valley's boys' and girls' basketball teams and Arthur-Lovington's boys' basketball team recently held their award banquets. Read More

Kibler Makes USTA National Team

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Ariel Kibler

Ariel Kibler

Ariel Kibler is a sophomore at Arthur-Lovington High School and the daughter of Angie and James Welker. Kibler has been training trampoline and double mini since the third grade in hopes of qualifying for the USTA National Team. Over the last four months Kibler has competed in three national team qualifiers to help her reach her goal as a member of the Sun Elite Athletic Club team. In order to qualify, an athlete must compete in at least two of the three events and is encouraged to take part in the third, as team standing is determined by points earned in their best two performances.

On December 7, 2013 the first team trial was held in Salem where Kibler placed seventh on the double mini and 23rd on the trampoline.

The second team trial was held on February 15 of this year in Decatur where Kibler placed 12th in both events. The final trial was held March 15 in Hammond, Ind. There, Kibler placed fourth on the trampoline and tied for first place on the double mini.  Read More

Sroka’s Home Run Ignites OV Offense in Victory Monday

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Photo by Keith Stewart Devon Still racked up 11 strikeouts against Central A&M Monday evening and was relieved after throwing 100 pitches in the still cool spring temps.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Devon Still racked up 11 strikeouts against Central A&M Monday evening and was relieved after throwing 100 pitches in the still cool spring temps.

Still’s 11 K’s, Hagerman’s clutch play leads OV past A&M

by Kirk Whitaker
Reporting in Bethany

Bases loaded, no outs, and Okaw Valley in the field. The season’s opening game was in danger of being blown wide open from 2-1, with Central A&M leading Okaw Valley in the top of the sixth inning. The Raiders had scored their two runs in the second off two errors and Devon Still’s only walk of the day, but senior Colton Sroka answered big with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead in half, but that all was a distant memory.

“We hadn’t had a hit to that point,” Timberwolves head coach Andrew Hagerman said. “It was a nice way to get off the snide, and he roped it. The team needed it, and it definitely gave us some momentum. Being down 2-0 that late in the game it feels like you’re down more, but with that and Devon’s great pitching we were right back in it.” Read More

Lady Pages Finish Third in 1A State Volleyball Tourney

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Submitted Pictured is the Arthur-Lovington seventh grade volleyball team that finished third in the state tournament Tuesday evening in Heyworth.

Submitted
Pictured is the Arthur-Lovington seventh grade volleyball team that finished third in the state tournament Tuesday evening in Heyworth.

Defeat Seneca 25-20, 26-24

by Kirk Whitaker
Reporting in Heyworth

The Arthur-Lovington seventh grade volleyball team signed off as the third best team in class 1A Tuesday with a victory over Seneca. But they had to first win two prior state  matches to get there.

Behind solid hitting from Taylor Powell and Marissa Herschberger, Arthur-Lovington’s seventh grade volleyball team first took down Blue Ridge 25-16 in the first set of Saturday’s Class 1A State Tournament in Heyworth. With a 22-16 advantage in the second, AL forced a Blue Ridge timeout, and it looked as if there would be déjà vu and an easy state win for the Pages, who brought a 21-1 record to the tourney.  Read More

Lady T-Wolves Win Home Opener

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Photo by Keith Stewart Junior Amanda McClain had a phenomenal season opener Monday against Central A&M, as she struck out 15, walked one, and had a double in the bottom of the first to get OV’s offense going.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Junior Amanda McClain had a phenomenal season opener Monday against Central A&M, as she struck out 15, walked one, and had a double in the bottom of the first to get OV’s offense going.

McClain goes distance with 15 Ks, 1BB

by Emily Scott
Bethany Reporter

In the first game of the season, timely hitting, consistent pitching, and a rally in the third inning allowed the OV Lady Timberwolves to get an opening win against the Central A&M Raiders.

After two weeks of preparation for the game, OV coach Dave Benning said he expected to see moments where his team would struggle defensively as well as solid hitting. Both of his predictions came true.

During the bumpy first inning, the T-Wolves allowed the Raiders to score when their leadoff hitter stole home base after getting on base due to an error. OV came back at the plate with a double from Amanda McClain and a single from Addessa Kesterson, after which Paige Harlin had an RBI to score McClain to tie the ballgame. Read More

SOV Girls Take Fifth out of 33 in Indoor Track Meet

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Photo by Keith Stewart ALAH shot putter Karly Goodman prepares to release Saturday morning at EIU’s Field House. Goodman’s throw of 39-1 1/4 bested her entire junior year and earned her first place.

Photo by Keith Stewart
ALAH shot putter Karly Goodman prepares to release Saturday morning at EIU’s Field House. Goodman’s throw of 39-1 1/4 bested her entire junior year and earned her first place.

ALAH’s Goodman takes first in shot

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

What better way to set the tone for the track season than with beginning it in an indoor meet just a building over from where it could all culminate come May’s outdoor state meet in Charleston?

That is where both Sullivan-Okaw Valley and Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s girls’ track teams officially began the season Saturday, just two of 33 teams to compete in the Field House at Eastern Illinois University. Read More

Lady Redskins Fall 5-0 Against Teutopolis in Home Opener

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Photo by Keith Stewart Sullivan’s Elissa Stewart eyes her popup during Tuesday’s home opener against T-Town.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan’s Elissa Stewart eyes her popup during Tuesday’s home opener against T-Town.

Inman supplies lone Redskin hit

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Ten foul balls. The Teutopolis half of the fourth inning started with a 13 pitch duel, which ended in a bloop single over Elissa Stewart’s outstretched glove at short. The Lady Shoes used that hit for a breakout inning—scoring four of their five runs in that half—and virtually sealing the game.

“I went and talked to Heidi after the ninth foul ball,” Redskins head coach Ben Richter said. “She was doing fine, and we talked a little strategy, but somebody had to come out on top in that battle and that girl did a good job of hitting. I think nine times out of 10 Heidi would come out on top of that, but just not today.” Read More

Sullivan Suffers 9-8 Loss at Pana

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With unfortunate irony, the Sullivan baseball team began the season Tuesday much like they ended last year’s–with a one-run loss to Pana.

Despite taking a 4-0 lead in the first, Sullivan couldn’t get out of the second inning as the Panthers took advantage of walks and two-out hits to post seven runs.

“Nick (Frerichs) was one out away from getting out of the inning giving up just the one run, but we couldn’t get that third out, and they made us pay,” said head coach Troy Rogers.

The Redskins didn’t go down without a fight though, as they held Pana scoreless through the next two innings and eventually tied the game in the fourth.

But the Panthers added two more runs in the fifth, and despite Sullivan’s last ditch effort in the seventh with one run, they came up short once again against Pana.

“The effort was there. We played pretty well defensively and hit the ball very well at times. There is still a lot of work to do to get where we want to be,” said Rogers. “We will turn the page and get ready for Mattoon Friday. You learn from it and move on.”