Hot and humid Friday night a battle in and of itself

Photo by Keith Stewart
SOV senior linebacker Kainan Bushert goes to strip the ball from Tuscola quarterback Zach Bates Friday night. Bushert’s defensive showing included one fumble recovery.

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Failing to convert on their second two-point conversion late in the third quarter, SOV stood just two points behind heading into the fourth quarter Friday night in Tuscola. But it was a combination of a hot night, cramping muscles, and a diligent fourth quarter Warrior run game, which chiseled away at the clock that paved the way to a 23-14 Tuscola win.

“You put your next person in, and you hope that you’ve prepared them well, and we did. What we got hurt on is something we don’t have, an incredible amount of speed,” said SOV head coach Charles Brown. “That’s not a shocking thing; everyone can see that. But we’ll work better on stopping some of those sweeps, but when they were able to manage the clock, that’s what they were doing, and we just don’t have the speed to counteract that. That’s not faulting effort, that’s not faulting the kids, that’s not faulting anything but the fact that they found something they were a little bit better at than we were defensively.” Read More

The team taking first at Monday night’s scrambler at Timberlake with a combined 8-under par consisted of Brett “B-Money” Marshall, Scott “T. Rex” Ohm, Seth “Soy Sauce” and Tim “Soy Bean” Sawyer. Read More

Former assistant coach to instruct 19 golfers this fall

Photos by Phil Dickens/Dickens Studio
Pictured is the Sullivan boys’ golf team: Front row, left to right– Cody Johnson, Tristan Hendrix, Andrew Freeman, Gavin Harlin, Luke Delong, and Tommy Schibur. Back row-Coach Ben Richter,Kenneth Farley, Sam Mulligan, Layne McMahon, Dylian Liddiard, Liam Bechtold, and Joey Davison. To purchase this photo visit www.dickensstudio.com.

Photos by Phil Dickens/Dickens Studio
Pictured is the Sullivan girls’ golf team: Front row, left to right– Dani Boyer, Emmalee Hortenstine, and Jessica Yantis. Back row: Kali Forsyth, Beretta Phelps, Ariel Heppe, and Alexis Matlock. To purchase this photo visit www.dickensstudio.com.

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Taking on the head softball coach position last year was just the beginning for Sullivan High School teacher Ben Richter. On August 12, he was also made the head golf coach after serving as the assistant to Jerry Lane last year. And though the new head coach says this year will be a rebuilding year for Sullivan golf, the program has attracted 19 players this year, providing an encouraging sign for the years to come.

“We’re mostly freshmen, sophomores, and a couple juniors so it’s going to be a rebuilding year,” said Richter. “Coming into it, a lot of these kids didn’t get to play very much over the summer.”

While the team graduated only two seniors last year, including then number one golfer Lucas Mossman, the team’s rebuilding woes continue from last year with still a largely young group of players.

Of the 19 golfers out this year, 12 are boys, while seven are girls, including four returning varsity players in senior Emmalee Hortenstine, Jessica Yantis, Ariel Heppe, and Beretta Phelps.

“Emmalee is the only senior girl on the team, and she is definitely the leader of the girls’ team,” said Richter. “Thursday we competed in a scramble in Charleston. Emmalee and Jessica Yantis and Beretta and Ariel paired up and both did very well, shooting a 45 and 46. It was very impressive. They were having a lot of fun which was neat to see. They knew that they were sticking with the pack, so they could see their game was improving while having a good time.” Read More

Big squads to continue breeding success

Photo by Phil Dickens/Dickens Studio
Pictured is this year’s SOV cross country team’s seniors: Front - Devin Mosier. Middle, left to right– Maggie Plank, Brooke Mitchell, Noah Workman, Abigail Weybright, and Elizabeth Priest Back–Reagan Miller, Patrick Hogan, Adam Davis, Sam Harshman, Mollie Bowman, and Tori Floyd. To purchase this photo visit www.dickensstudio.com.

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

After fourth place finishes in the OVC for both the SOV boys’ and girls’ cross country teams, both are looking to advance in a competitive OVC.

Just as a gauge of conference strength, in the girls’ division, St. Teresa won the state meet and on the boys’ side Shelbyville finished third and fellow conference foes Monticello and Tolono Unity qualified for the state meet as teams.

But SOV cross country has by no means been a slouch in the OVC.

“Last year was the first in the last four years where we didn’t have a state qualifying runner,” stated head coach Ted Walk. “Ethan Lehman ran about a 16:45 at the sectional meet and was two individual places away from qualifying for state. This year he is looking really well and has been working hard. I believe if things keep going well he has a very realistic shot at making state.”  Read More

After going 7-3 last year, Knights excited for another go

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

After a first season co-oping with Atwood-Hammond yielded a 7-3 record and playoff berth, Arthur/Lovington-Atwood-Hammond is looking to repeat the act this season.

The Knights bowed out in the first round of the playoffs last year to no. 6 Carlinville 46-12 but have since been taking steps to get back to the post season.

“We lifted three days a week and had a 10 day camp,” said Knights head coach Dale Schuring. “The players are bigger, stronger, and quicker than last season and have a much greater knowledge of our offense and defense.”

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured are the Arthur/Lovington-Atwood-Hammond football team’s returning varsity lettermen, from left to right: Jesse Ruff, Drake Nelson, Tyler Schuring, Jordan Feagin, Logan West, Cody Sebens, Steven Wright, Colton Yeakley, Mitchell Helton, Curtis Plank, and Dylan Black.

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