Category Archives: Sports Feature

Benning Closes Out Coaching Three Daughters at OV

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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

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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

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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

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•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

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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

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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

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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

A Good Time for a Swim at the IHSA State Meet

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Brodie Goss swims at state.

Goss Breaks School Record

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

Sullivan senior Brodie Goss picked the perfect time to swim his best races.
Heading into the Sectional meet at Centennial High School Feb. 16, Goss knew he had a good chance of making his first trip to state.
This had been a goal Goss had set when he was a freshman.
“He knew going into the state meet that this was a goal that was certainly attainable,” said coach Nichole Hendry. “He proved (us) correct, meeting that goal.”
He took advantage of the opportunity at sectionals and swam a personal-best time in the 100-meter breaststroke at 59.96.
“I surprised myself at sectionals,” Goss said. “I dropped two seconds which won the race and put me close to the school record.”
Brock Bales set the Redskin 100-meter breaststroke record with a time of 59:86 in 2013, which was also the last time a Sullivan swimmer advanced to state. Read More

Sullivan Senior Coop Swimmer Qualifies for State

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Addison Graham swims in the 200-yard medley relay race during the Champaign Centennial Sectional Saturday.

•February 20, 2019•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan coop boys’ swim team placed eighth with 53 points in the IHSA Sectional meet at Centennial High School Saturday, and one Redskin advanced to the state meet.
Senior Brodie Goss qualified for state in the 100-yard breaststroke with a first-place finish and a time of 59.96 16.
“Brodie is a senior USA regional and state qualifier who is now an IHSA 100 breaststroke state participant,” said coach Nichole Hendry. “He’s worked endlessly toward this accomplishment and has earned respect from teammates and coaches alike.” Read More