Category Archives: Sports Feature

Sullivan Boys’ Golf Team Wins Regional Championship

News Progress Posted on by

Photo submitted
The Sullivan boys’ golf team poses with the championship plaque after winning the regional Monday.

•October 9, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ golf team is on a roll.
After finishing the season 26-0, the Redskins won the Central Illinois Conference meet for the third year in a row last Tuesday,
Sullivan followed that with a regional championship Monday.
To advance to the sectional meet, the Redskins won the Class A Okaw Valley Regional golf meet at Eagle Creek Golf Course with a score of 348. Read More

Okaw Valley Volleyball Kicks Off Season with a Sweep

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by R.R. Best

•September 4, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley volleyball team kicked of its season opener with a non-conference win against Neoga last Tuesday.
The Timberwolves swept both games, 25-17, 25-18.
Kate Jeffers recorded nine kills and four aces, and April Decesaro had 19 digs a
Grace Bunfill dished out 19 assists and served three aces, and Paige Coleman tallied four kills and seven digs.
This season, OV coach Sarah McDowell returned three seniors and five letter winners from last year’s squad that went 18-14 overall and 6-3 in the Little Okaw valley Conference.
The three seniors are Coleman, Decesaro and Jeffers.
“Our greatest strength is the leadership from our seniors,” said McDowell. “We have been a young team for the past several seasons and have three starters with multiple years of varsity experience. The three of them have been great role models for the team and can act as additional coaches for the younger girls.
The five letter winners include Coleman, Decesaro, Jeffers, Macie Fleshner, and Bunfill. Read More

Benning Closes Out Coaching Three Daughters at OV

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
The Benning family posed in 2016 after winning a regional championship. Left to right: Keeley (class of 2015), Bella (class of 2019), and Camille (class of 2012).

•August 28, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After losing a close 2-1 game to Nokomis in the Bethany Regional on May 13, Dave Benning stepped down as Okaw Valley softball coach.
“When I took the softball job, I had a goal in mind that I wanted to stick with it for all three of my daughters’ high school careers,” Benning said. “I achieved that. I got to coach all three girls, and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
In his nine years (2010-19), Benning finished his softball-coaching career at OV with an overall record of 138-134.
His teams won two regional titles (2015, 2016) and won the 2015 Little Okaw Valley Northwest Conference title.
When considering his some of his favorite coaching moments at OV, Benning thought back to the two regional championships.
He also recalled a couple games in his second year of coaching, in the regional quarterfinals.
“We were the home team, and we ended up scoring seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win,” he said. “We had a walk-off grand slam to win that game. At the time, it was one of the most exciting games I’ve been involved in whether it was softball or baseball.”
Benning also noted last year’s game-two of a doubleheader at Arcola. Read More

Comeback Rally Reels in Regional Championship for OVHS Baseball

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by R.R. Best
Okaw Valley pitcher Camden Coleman got the win over Central A&M last Wednesday to set up OV baseball’s sixth straight regional title appearance.

•May 22, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The chances of the Okaw Valley baseball team winning its second straight regional title did not look good in the Class 1A Moweaqua (Central A&M) Regional against Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division foe Decatur LSA Saturday.
The Timberwolves had already lost to LSA twice this season (2-1 and 10-4) and fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning.
OV was able to cut the lead to 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the first inning and another run in the third inning.
Decatur LSA extended its lead 4-2 with a run in the fifth inning.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, a second consecutive regional title and fourth OV regional title in six years looked out of reach.
But a 3-run comeback rally, capped off with Hank Yowell doubling in two runs, gave OV a 6-5 lead heading into the seventh inning.
Tyson Montgomery came in and closed out the game in a one-two-three scoreless seventh inning for another Timberwolves’ regional championship win.
Eli Hagerman got the win by relieving starting pitcher Dalton McGill in the first inning. Read More

Sullivan Girls’ Track Team Places in Sectional Meet

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Zoe Walton, Esther Miller, Natalie Drury and Emily White advanced to the state track meet in the 1,600-meter relay team.

•May 15, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan girls’ track and field team placed seventh place with 40 points in the 15-team in the IHSA Class 1A Central A&M Sectional at Moweaqua Thursday, May 9, and four Redskins competed in the News Gazette’s Honor Roll Meet meet Monday.
At the Honor Roll Meet Monday, Esther Miller took first place and broke the Sullivan school record in the triple jump with a leap of 35 feet 6.75 inches.
She also finished third in the 400-meter dash in 1:02.36.
Zoe Walton tied for second in the high jump at five feet, and Emily White tied for fifth at at 4 feet 10 inches.
The Redskins’ 1,600-meter relay team of Zoe Walton, Esther Miller, Natalie Drury and Emily White finished fourth with a season-best time of 4:20.90.
In the sectional meet Thursday, the same four Redskins advanced to the state track meet.
Miller advanced in three events.
She triple jumped 34 feet 9.5 inches to surpass the state qualifying distance of 33 feet 9 inches and place second. Read More

A Good Day at the Plate for the Okaw Valley Softball Team

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by R.R. Best

•May 1, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley softball team defeated Cerro Gordo/Bement but lost to Sullivan last week.
Friday OV scored two runs in each of the first two innings for a 4-1 lead.
The Broncos scored a run in the top of the fourth inning, but the Timberwolves answered with two runs to extend their lead to 6-2.
CGB scored two more runs in the fifth, but OV held off the Broncos in the last two innings for the 6-4 win.
For the Timberwolves, Madison Vogel and Grace Bunfill led the team with two hits.
Vogel added two runs scored and one RBI, and Bunfill had two RBIs and one run scored.
Bella Benning knocked in a run and scored a run, and Paige Coleman scored a run.
Miaya Lehman also knocked in a run.
Bunfill went seven innings in the circle, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out 10.
OV lost to Sullivan on Saturday 6-5.

Redskins Baseball Team Defeats Central A&M

News Progress Posted on by

Photo by R.R. Best
A back and forth season so far.

•April 17, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan baseball team defeated Central A&M but lost to Altamont and St. Teresa this past week.
Against St. Teresa Friday, a pitchers’ duel put the Redskins ahead 1-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning when the Bulldogs plated three runs for the eventual 3-1 win.
For Sullivan, Dalton Rogers pitched six innings in the loss. He gave up two earned runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out 10.
Kanin Elder was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Tim Lawyer, Austin Scott and Colin Wickiser each had a hit.
Scott knocked in the Redskins’ lone run.
Last Tuesday, the Redskins pounded CAM 16-0. Read More

OV Places Third

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
OV Eighth Grade Semifinalists
OV eighth grade players are: Lexie Bartimus, Karson Park, Bailey Bennett, Reagan Reedy, Abbey Luckenbill, Avery Bruns, Kaydence Kennedy, Danielle Simpson, Kayla Fleshner and Brie Williams.

 

Photo by Jason Brown
Reagan Reedy, Abbey Luckenbill, Lexie Bartimus and Avery Bruns celebrate after scoring a point.

•March 20, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley eighth grade volleyball team defeated Pontiac St. Mary’s 25-19, 25-21 to advance to the semifinals of the IESA State volleyball tournament in Pana Friday.
After losing to Peoria Limestone Walters (25-22, 25-3) in the semifinals, OV eighth grade volleyball defeated Royal Prairieview Ogden (25-14, 25-15) to place third in the state volleyball tournament.
The trip to state was the eighth grade team’s first.
The players are Lexie Bartimus, Karson Park, Bailey Bennett, Reagan Reedy, Abbey Luckenbill, Avery Bruns, Kaydence Kennedy, Danielle Simpson, Kayla Fleshner and Brie Williams.
OV finished the season with a record of 17-4.

Sullivan’s Brynna Sentel Swims in National Championships

News Progress Posted on by

Photo furnished
Brynna Sentel is pictured with Swimmer of the Year plaque.

•March 13, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

In her freshman year on the Franklin women’s swimming and diving team, Brynna Sentel was one second away in the 100-yard backstroke from qualifying to the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving National Championships.
Sentel, a Sullivan High School graduate, took that experience, as well as advice from her coaches, and channeled it into a new goal.
“My goal this year was to make it in the 500 freestyle because all throughout last year I focused on that so much it seemed like something that was going to be more realistic for me to make it in,” Sentel said. “And even through this season, my coach was like, ‘I think the 500 free is your best shot’ so I was constantly working toward that.”
During her sophomore year swimming for Franklin, Sentel racked up several awards.
She broke Franklin’s record and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s (HCAC) record in the 500 freestyle (4:54.99) and 200 freestyle (4:54.99) and earned HCAC championships in those events in Terre Haute Feb. 14-16.
She also won the 100-yard backstroke in 57.66 for the championships trifecta and was twice named HCAC Swimmer of the Week.
“We have a mid-season taper,” said Sentel. “I knew with the time I had then that I had a chance at swimming at nationals, but I didn’t know until I swam at our conference meet (that she qualified for nationals). When I swam the time I got, I knew I had a pretty good chance at getting in.” Read More