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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Though a few key graduations, players to step up to fill voids

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured is the Arthur/Lovington volleyball team: Back, from left to right–Hannah Leal, Eilis Stewart, Ally Irwin, Logan Kauffman, Alyssa Herschberger, Chelsey Chupp, and Jordan Jent. Middle–Felicia Wolfe, Jessica Davis, Emily Seegmiller, Brooke Tabb, and Kaya James. Front–Sherelle Coller, Karly Goodman, and Hannah Schrock.

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

After back-to-back Regional Championships as Arthur and then as Arthur-Lovington High School, the Lancers of Arthur-Lovington are looking to continue the streak in Head Coach Valerie Cornwell’s 34th and final season at the helm.

“It was an easy decision, because that’s just the order of things,” said Cornwell on her retirement. “You teach for 34 years and then you retire! Although the finality of it may be difficult, only time will tell.”

Cornwell says that her retirement isn’t of concern when it comes to practice–things are business as usual.

A/L is coming into the season following a 26-6 record which lead them to the Sweet 16 before being knocked out by LOVC foe and eventual state finalist Tri-County. Read More

Just eight golfers, but majority of whom spent summer on the greens

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured is the Okaw Valley Golf Team, from left to right: Coach Andy Wagner, Colton Sroka, Devon Still, Jay Orris, Paige Harlin, Logan Tipsword, Drew Fruchtl, Justin Johnson, and Connor Cloyd.

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

High school golf experiences a quick eight week season. In that time, it’s often hard for players to improve by leaps and bounds. That’s why most golf coaches will stress the importance of the off-season, especially the summer.

For OV head golf coach Andy Wagner, his team listened as most spent the summer teeing off at one green or another.

“This is my third season, and I haven’t seen a group of kids play as much during the summer than this group,” said Wagner. “The neat part is to come out here and watch them because they’ve worked at it over the summer. It’s neat to see that improvement. The kids have gotten stronger because they’ve played. I’m seeing them actually swinging the golf club instead of last year where the golf club sometimes swung them.” Read More