Category Archives: Sports Feature

Sullivan Girls Basketball Team Picks Up Pressure for Two Wins

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Photo by Jason Brown
Sullivan coach Sheri McCain shouts words of encouragement to her players.

•December 5, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan girls’ basketball team picked up more wins this past week by defeating Shelbyville on the road last Thursday (Nov. 29) and Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Monday night in Arthur.
Against ALAH, the Redskins fell behind early in the first quarter when the Knights jumped out to a 7-2 and 12-6 leads.
Sullivan made a late first-quarter push with its consistent full–court press and scored the last 13 points to push ahead 19-12.
The Redskins kept the pressure on in the second quarter to outscore the Knights 21-8 for a 40-20 halftime lead.
“It wasn’t a real good shooting night for us as we shot 13-for-53 from the field (2-point field goals),” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “The good news is we crashed the boards and had 54 total rebounds. We played a good first half and became a little complacent in the second half.” Read More

ALAH Girls Hold On to Beat Oakwood

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•November 28, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team split a pair of nonconference games this past week.
The Knights defeated Oakwood in a close game Monday night but lost to Salt Fork last Tuesday.
Against Oakwood Monday, the Knights jumped out to an early lead then held on for the one point win.
ALAH took a 16-11 first-quarter lead then extended the lead by six at half, 29-18.
The Comets cut the lead to three points after the third quarter and outscored the Knights 20-13 in the fourth quarter.
The Knights were able to hold off the Comets for the final 56-55 score. Read More

OVJH Student Competes on the World Gymnastics Stage

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•November 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

It is not often an Okaw Valley Junior High student gets to tell her friends that she’s jetting off to New York, North Carolina and Russia.
But that was the journey Reese Nichols just finished taking.
Nichols competed for the Team USA in the double mini trampoline event at the World Age Group Competition in Russia this past weekend including top athletes from each participating country.
She finished 10th in the world but missed advancing by two spots (3/10 of a point). Only the top eight moved on to the finals.
“She’s heartbroken and feels she could have done better,” said her father Chris Nichols, “but the competition was obviously elite.”
Chris stayed home while his wife, Bethany, made the trip with Reese to Russia, where Reese competed at 2:30 a.m. 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

Hatchet Volleyball Team Dominates Regional Tournament

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Photo by Bridgette Cole
WSS Hatchet Class 1A Regional Champions.

•October 31, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The No. 1 seeded Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg volleyball team knocked off Neoga and Okaw Valley to win the Hutsonville Class 1A Regional championship Thursday.
The Hatchets, the National Trail Conference champions, advanced to the sectional semifinals where they easily defeated North Clay at Effingham St. Anthony’s Enlow Center Monday night.
Against North Clay, a team WSS defeated Sept. 27 and in last year’s sectional championship, WSS defeated the Lady Cardinals 25-8, 25-16 this year to advance to the sectional championship against Decatur St. Teresa.
Megan Schlechte recorded six aces, 10 kills and digs, and Mackenzi Tabbert tallied 14 assists and three digs.
Carson Cole collected four assists and nine digs, and Calla Roney hit six kills. Read More

Sullivan Boys’ Golf Team Remained Goal Focused

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Historic Journey to State
The Sullivan High School boy’s golf team fought frigid weather to place fifth in the Class 1A state golf tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington. Pictured: Coach Ben Richter, Leyton Ellis, Leighton Burcham, Tim Lawyer, Caden Ellis, Aiden Short, Logan Westjohn and Drew Rogers.

•October 17, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

It is not often a team sets several goals for the season and accomplishes every one of them.
But that was what the Sullivan boys’ golf team did this season.
Saturday the Redskins completed their last goal of the year: competing in the state golf meet.
“We started the season at the practice green at the country club,” said Sullivan coach Ben Richter, “and we said what were our goals: ‘We need to go undefeated.’ It was, ‘We need to win the conference.’ And then it was, ‘Win the regional, win sectional and go to state.’ They achieved all of their goals so I am really proud of them.”
Sullivan placed fifth with a score of 337 in the Class 1A state golf meet at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington Saturday. Senior Caden Ellis earned all-state honors with a tie for third place with a score of 76. Read More

First Sectional Championship Earned by Sullivan Golf Team

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Sectional Meet Champions: (Left to right) Drew Rogers, Logan Westjohn, Aiden Short, Caden Ellis, Leighton Burcham, Tim Lawyer, Leyton Ellis and coach Ben Richter.

•October 10, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan sports program had not celebrated a sectional title in any sport since an Amanda Glazebrook led team won a basketball sectional in 2002.
Earlier in the year, the boys’ team won the Little Okaw Valley Conference for the fourth time in five years, then finished the regular season a perfect 21-0.
Last Tuesday, the boys’ golf team won its third golf Class 1A Regional championship in the last four years.
And Monday at the Danville Country Club, the Sullivan boys’ golf team won its first sectional championship in school history and qualified for the state meet for the first time since 1979.
“They are really proud of their accopmlishment,” Coach Ben Richter said. “It was a tough day in tough conditions and with the added pressure of being the number 1 seed in the sectional they played a little above their average but still hung on for the win.”
The boys’ team shot a combined low of 339 to win the Danville (Schlarman) Sectional title Monday. Read More

Cross Country Runners Step it Up at Conference Meet

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•October 3, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

R. R. Best photo
Okaw Valley cross country runners Parker Perine (first) and Preston Ozier (second) start the Little Okaw Valley Conference meet Saturday in Bethany.

Area cross country runners placed well in the Little Okaw Valley Conference meet in Bethany Saturday, including Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ medalist Layton Hall.
Hall ran a meet best time of 16:15.40.
Other Knights’ times include Austin Romine’s 18:16.80, Quentin Morgan’s 18:48.30, Justin Miller’s 19:21.80, Jace Green’s 19:26.10 and Jack Rollyson’s 22:07.20.

Submitted Photo OV Freshman Karlie Stauder finished second with a time of 21:10 to earn all-Little Okaw Valley Conference honors.

For the Okaw Valley girls’ cross country team, freshman Karlie Stauder’s personal-best run of 21:10 earned her all-Little Okaw Valley Conference honors for her second place finish.
Other OV girls’ runners include Kylie Stauder and Mia Harris, who ran personal best times of 22:30 and 22:38, respectively.

All four OV girl runners and all three OV boy runners finished with personal best times.

Submitted Photo
Layton Hall earned medalist in the Little Okaw Valley boys’ cross country meet Saturday in Bethany.

For the boys’ team, Parker Perrine beat his best by seven seconds with a time of 18:43.
Preston Ozier ran a personal-best time of 18:45.60, beating his old time of 19:02, and Canaan Christenson ran a best 19:41.
Damien Coney ran 28 seconds faster than his best time at 21:42.
Cumberland won the meet with a low score of 30, and ALAH placed second with 51 points.
The OV and ALAH cross country teams are scheduled to enter the Cumberland Invitational at Lake Land College at 9 a.m. Saturday.[/s2If]

ALAH Volleyball Team Captures Arcola Invitational Title

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•September 26, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

After a tough loss Thursday night against Cerro Gordo, Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond volleyball coach Emily Crossman was concerned with going into a tough Arcola tournament.
Against the Broncos, her team played tense and did not rise to the occasion.
But the Knights responded to the challenge Saturday by winning their second-straight Arcola Invitational. Read More

Sullivan Boys Golf Team: State Playoff Bound

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Caden Ellis earned medalist honors with a score of 68 at the Windsor Invitational Saturday.

•September 19, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Sullivan boys’ golf team is on the road to its final destination this year.
The state playoffs.
The Redskins have won two regionals out of the last three years and three Central Illinois Conference championships in the last four years.
This year, the boys’ team has dominated the season to a 15-0 start.
“Our school has an enrollment of 328,” head coach Ben Richter said last Thursday. “Our golf team has 18 boys which is enough for three teams. Our varsity team is 15-0 with our sights on the state playoff.”
The top six Sullivan golfers are averaging scores less than 90.
Caden Ellis is averaging an area leading 71.57 and has won medalist in nearly every meet this season. Read More