Category Archives: Sports Section

Swim Team Competes at Centennial Sectional Meet

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Photos by Jason Brown
SOVS Swim team back row from left: Jessica Renfro, Anna Wooters, Ailey Mitchell, Gabrielle Spain, Allison Oligschlaeger, McKenna Kull. Front row from left: Viviana Thurston, Lilly Graham, Natalie Drury, Natalie Turnbaugh.

•November 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan/Okaw Valley/Shelbyville girls’ swim team competed in the IHSA Centennial Sectional in Champaign Saturday.
Sullivan scored 170 points and placed fourth out of 23 teams.
Though the team did not advance anyone to the state meet, several individuals had podium finishes.
“Could not be prouder of the season these girls have had,” Sullivan coach Nichole Hendry said. “They worked hard and all of the podium finishes confirms that work paid off.”
The 200 freestyle relay team of Anna Wooters, Gabrielle Spain, Natalie Drury and McKenna Kull missed out on a state trip by .46 of a second. The relay ran a 2:15.5 and finished second.
The same swimmers also formed the 400 freestyle relay team and placed second with a time of 3:39.47.
Spain finished second place in the 200 IM with a time of 2:15.54, and she dropped five seconds of her season-best time of 5:31.26 for fifth place in the 500-yard freestyle. Read More

OV Robinson Improves as Drury Panther

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Paige Robinson is pictured.

•November 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

In February Okaw Valley girls’ basketball standout Paige Robinson led the Timberwolves to an IHSA Class 1A state appearance.
This week Robinson embarked on an all-new experience with the Drury Panthers, a Division II University in Springfield, Missouri.
Though Robinson has been improving her game on the court, the off-court adjustments from a high school athlete to a collegiate athlete has been huge.
“Time management has been a difficult adjustment for sure,” she said. “In high school the typical day was go to school for eight hours, then practice for two hours after. In college, there are workouts in the morning, then class, another workout, class again, try to get study hours in, practice, get shots up on your own, and of course trying to get a healthy sleep schedule in there. It’s definitely been an adjustment, but I’ve started to get the hang of it.”
The Panthers kicked of their season with games Friday and Saturday, and Robinson is getting the hang of collegiate basketball as well.
Drury won its season opener 98-60 over Kentucky Wesleyan in the Pops Duncan Classic in Nashville Friday.
Though she did not start the game, Robinson led all scorers with 24 points in her collegiate debut.
She was 6-of-9 from three-point range, all in the first half, and finished 9-of-14 from the field
She also recorded two assists, two steals and a block.
“Drury has been a really great experience for me so far, and I’ve enjoyed every aspect of it,” said Robinson…I’m excited to see what this season has in store for myself and the team.” Read More

Sullivan Blue Dolphins Travel for Honors

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•November 14, 2018•

By J.D. Graham
for the Blue Dolphins

Sullivan Blue Dolphins kicked off the 2018-2019 season with three meets in October.
They started off in O’Fallon competing with the Seahawks, then competed in Stanford where several swimmers placed and came home with trophies and medals. In the Olympia Susan Schuber Memorial meet swimmers placed in the top six honors.
Girls’ divisions: six and under - Addie Hendry earned second place. 10 and under - Alivia Melvin second place, Emily Crosier third and Devon Richardson sixth place.
In the Open Division the Blue Dolphins brought home five of the six trophies with Calista Clark taking first; Anna Wooters second; Madalyn Booker third; Mackenzie Erixon fourth; and Natalie Drury fifth. Read More

ALAH Girls Open Season with Overtime Win

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•November 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team opened its season with a 66-54 overtime win against Meridian Monday night.
Down two after the first quarter, ALAH outscored the Hawks 13-8 in the second quarter for a 27-24 lead.
The Knights extended that lead to 41-34 into the fourth quarter, but Meridian mounted a comeback in the fourth to tie the game at 52.
The Knights dominated in overtime, outscoring the Hawks 14-2 for the win. Read More

Sullivan Girls Take Maroa-Forsyth

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•November 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan girls’ basketball kicked off its season with a 56-42 win against Maroa-Forsyth in the Maroa-Forsyth Round Robin Monday.
The Redskins took a 3-point lead after the first quarter and gradually extended that lead in the next three quarters for the win.
“We played a much better second half than our first half,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “We still have a lot of work to do, especially on the defensive end. We rebounded well tonight, but we didn’t capitalize on our offensive rebounds. We have to do a better job taking care of the ball and cutting down on our unforced turnovers.” Read More

OVHS Girls’ Basketball Looks Forward to Next Chapter

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•November 7, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

In his fourth year as Okaw Valley girls’ basketball head coach, Brad Ackers is coming off a historical season.
Last year the Timberwolves finished the season 29-7 overall, 5-0 in the Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest division, and with a final four state tournament appearance.
But that was last year, and this is this year.
The Timberwolves returned three key players from last year’s squad: senior Bella Benning, senior Madison Voegel and junior Kate Jeffers.
Benning, who has had a lot of varsity experience, averaged just over eight points and three rebounds per game last season, and she made 66 3-pointers.
Voegel, who started 26 games last season as a proven defender and rebounder, averaged nearly four and a half points and rebounds per game.
Jeffers, who was a key player off the bench but played starter minutes, averaged nearly four points and five rebounds per game, and the 5 feet 10 inch post player should provide defense and rebounding. Read More

Sullivan Girls’ Swim Team Sets Record at Terre Haute

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SHS Coop Swim Team: Back row from left-Coach Nichole Hendry, Gabrielle Spain (Shelbyville), Mackenzie Erickson (Arthur), Anna Wooters(Okaw Valley), Allison Oligschlaeger (Shelbyville); second row- Viviana Thurston(Sullivan), Lily Graham(Sullivan), Natalie Turnbaugh (Sullivan); front row-Natalie Drury (Sullivan) and McKenna Kull (Shelbyville).

•November 7, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan girls’ swim team placed well in the Terre Haute meet in Indiana two Saturdays ago.
The Redskins’ 200-freestyle relay team of senior Anna Wooters, freshman Gabrielle Spain, senior Natalie Drury and senior McKenna Kull took first place.
They finished with a time of 1:42.94, which set a new pool record by more than a second.
“This is a testament to their hard work and determination,” said Redskin coach Nichole Hendry. “Along with the pool record, they also outdid their own previous relay time that was held by Wooters, Drury, Kull and (Brynna) Sentel. Gabrielle has stepped up to take Brynna Sentel’s spot on the relay. As a freshman we are looking forward to a lot of great swims in her future.”
The 200-medley team of Wooters, senior Allison Olischlaeger, Drury and Kull also placed first.
Drury swam seven events and placed second in the breastroke, fourth in the 50 freestyle, fifth in the 100 backstroke, 100 free, 100 butterfly and 200 intermediate.
Kull swam in seven events and brought home second place in the 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 IM.
She also placed third in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, fourth in the 100 backstroke and fifth in the 100 breastroke.
Wooters also swam seven events. Read More

LOVC Announces All-Conference Players

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•November 7, 2018•

The Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest division announced all-conference honors this past week.
Four area players earned the honors.
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond players Marissa Herschberger and Taylor Powell, who were co-captains of the team, took home first-team honors. Read More

WSS Volleyball Ends Season

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•November 7, 2018•

After knocking off North Clay in the sectional semifinals at Effingham St. Anthony’s Enlow Center Monday night, the Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg volleyball team could not carry that momentum into the championship game against St. Teresa.
Against the Bulldogs, WSS fell behind 8-1 in the first set, and eventually lost 25-13.
The Hatchets battled back in to win a close second set 27-25, after clutch kills by Megan Schlechte.
“Although the loss took a big hit on us as a team, we are going to choose to use our successes to define this team,” said WSS coach Ronda Schlechte. “These girls know how to work hard and they proved it everyday they walked into the gym. They make my job fun and easy.” Read More

WSS Players Make NTC All-Conference

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•November 7, 2018•

The National Trail Conference announced its 2018 volleyball all-conference teams Saturday.
Five Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg players earned honors,.
Senior Megan Schlechte was named the Most Valuable Player of the conference. Read More