Photo by Mikaela Moore

•September 4, 2024•

by E. Scott England

A decent crowd—armed with umbrellas, ponchos, and towels—braved a weather delay to watch the Sullivan-Okaw Valley Redskins cruise to a season-opener win over the Villa Grove Blue Devils. Weather wasn’t the only havoc wrecking variable as cramps kept sidelining players for a couple plays. At one time it looked like a makeshift infirmary on the SOV sideline with players scattered about getting their legs worked on to relieve the cramping muscles.

First Half

SOV received the ball to start the game, and it appeared that Villa Grove’s defense came to take care of business. They held the Redskins to a three and out, forcing a punt that gave the Blue Devils their first possession starting on their own 42 yard line.  Read More

•August 28, 2024•

by E. Scott England

It is inevitable that a team will lose players every year. But it’s a tougher pill to swallow when you lose four of your six starters. That is what Coach Tabitha Centers was facing to start this year. While she could have wallowed about the loss, she decided instead to look to the bright spots of the future. “I have 3 returning starters this year, and we do have a big freshman class with a lot of potential,” says Centers. 

Those freshmen add depth to an already solid roster that features regulars from last year such as seniors Addison Stollard, Emily Miller, Mayci Strauff, Addison Brush, and Kendall Penberthy. Junior Aeralyn Thrasher returns and looks to continue to dominate the net. Eiley Poe and Mae Dawkins, also juniors, saw playing time last year and adds versatility around the court. They are joined by four other juniors. Read More

•August 21, 2024•

The Sullivan Blue Dolphin Swim Team will be hosting swim team tryouts for children ages 5 and up on Monday, August 26th at five at the Sullivan Civic Center, 600 N Washington Street. There will be an information and check-in table set up in the lobby. Each swimmer trying out will need to be checked for the ability to make it across the pool in less than a minute in any form, do a forward flip into the water, no fear of water, put face in water and blow bubbles and follow instructions. For more information on tryouts call Kim Drury at (217)728-4541 or email at jaskimdrurey@gmail.com.

•August 21, 2024•

Aug 30 vs Villa Grove

Sept 6 at Arcola

Sept 13 vs Cumberland OV Homecoming

Sept 20 At Argenta-Oreana

Sept 27 vs Cerro Gordo

Oct 4 vs Sangamon Valley Homecoming

Oct 11 at Nokomis

Oct 18 at Tri-County/Oakland

Oct 25 vs ALAH

Sullivan Blue Dolphins with Head Coach Jason Drury and Coach Nichole Hendry after a 1st Place finish in Terra Haute.

•July 31, 2024•

The Sullivan Blue Dolphins Swim team has had a busy summer, but as they near the start of a new school year the long course season comes to a close. SBD kicked off long course with the annual THT Summer Steam meet in Terra Haute, IN where they once again walked away with the 1st Place Trophy. The team then traveled to Springfield, IL for the Capital City Classic where they ended the meet with 1271 total team points.

SBD Summer Championship Team, left to right: Scarlett Perrott, Mack Pogue, Jace Van Uytven, Addy Hendry, Grant Martin, Asher Hendry, Nathan Rafferty, and Emily Crosier (not pictured Emerson Risley).

This put SBD in 4th Place out of the 18 teams that attended. The final meet of long course took the team to Champaign for the Illinois Open. At the conclusion of this meet the team announced its Summer Championship Team swimmers which would continue on to the Regional and State Championship meets. We wish those swimmers good luck as they continue on. While the end of long course season means summer break for the swimmers is almost over, the team is excited to kick off short course season with team tryouts on August 26th.