•December 4, 2019•
The Central Illinois Conference announced all conference teams last week.
Two Sullivan/Okaw Valley players earned honors.
Junior Luke Vander Burgh earned second team all-conference honors as linebacker.
He was named to the honorable mention team the last two years.
Ian Plank was named to the honorable mention team as a wide receiver.
The Redskins finished the season 0-9 for the second straight season.
Category Archives: Sports
Helping Hands Swim with the Dolphins
Photo furnished
Helping Hands Swim with the Dolphins
Helping Hands is a non-profit organization in Sullivan. They are always looking for fun activities for children with disabilities to have time to interact with their non-disabled peers outside of the school day. In a Blue Dolphin’s board meeting, J.D. Graham, Vice President of the Sullivan Blue Dolphins, brought up the idea of having children with Helping Hands swim with the Blue Dolphin swimmers.
On November 14th after swim practice, the Blue Dolphins had several older swimmers step up and offer to stay to swim with children from Helping Hands. This was a great opportunity for the Dolphins Swim Team to interact with their peers and to show other children some swimming techniques. This is one of many examples of how Helping Hands and the Blue Dolphins are organizations that commit to our community. All of the children had a great time meeting each other and swimming together.
Photo courtesy Jamie Crosier
Pictured from left to right: Aaron Schrock, Liam Donovan, J.D. Graham, Brant Jesse, Cadence Schmohe, Max Kersten, Miles Kersten, Mary Crist, Olivia Hullum, Isaac Chambers, Libby Henry, CJ Chapman, Diannah Booker, Zoe Conlin, Noah Smith, Kennedy Fultz, Deanna Clark, Alivia Melvin, Lilly Graham, Linnea Graham, Sophie Foster, Landon Nuzzo
All Conference Volleyball Teams for Lincoln Prairie
•November 27, 2019•
The Lincoln Prairie Conference and the Central Illinois Conference announced all-conference volleyball teams this week.
In its inaugural year, the LPC unanimously voted Okaw Valley hitter Kate Jeffers to the first team.
OV senior Paige Coleman and Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond junior Mackenzi Bowles earned second team honors.
Okaw Valley finished 23-11, and ALAH finished 12-24.
In the CIC, Sullivan senior Avery Still received honorable mention honors.
ALAH Knights Pursue Turnaround Season
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boy’s basketball coach Brad McGill expects a turnaround season from last year.
How big of a turnaround is yet to be determined.
“The players are well aware of the season we had last year and are excited to change the results,” McGill said. “They have had a great attitude, bought in to what we are doing and are excited to do some very good things this season.”
Last season, McGill’s first year as Knights’ head coach, the team finished with a 3-22 overall record and 1-6 record in the Little Okaw Valley Conference.
The Knights lost their last four games, including a first-round loss to Broadlands in the Heritage Regional. Read More
All Conference Honors for ALAH Players
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Lincoln Prairie Conference announced all-conference team honors this past week, including several Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond players.
Lucas Otto earned first-team honors as a linebacker and offensive line. Read More
Sullivan Girls Team Sweeps Maroa Forsyth Tip Off Classic
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
To win another regional championship and make a deep run into the IHSA playoffs, Sullivan girls’ basketball coach Sheri McCain has her players focused on each step of the process during the long season.
The first step for the regular season schedule was to win the 2nd Annual Maroa-Forsyth Tip-off Classic by sweeping all three games.
Sullivan did just that.
The Redskins won their first game of the season 35-14 against host Maroa-Forsyth. Read More
Busy Week for Okaw Valley Girls Basketball
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball finished a busy first week of action to kick off the season.
The Timberwolves lost to Shelbyville but knocked off Meridian before entering the Pana Thanksgiving Tournament.
In the tournament, OV fell to Mattoon, Athens and Centralia.
Against Meridian last Tuesday, OV outscored the Hawks by five points in each of the first two quarters for a 27-17 halftime lead. Read More
OVHS Boy’s Basketball Team Returns with Experience
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
For the Okaw Valley boys’ basketball team to be successful this season, the Timberwolves will have to take advantage of its energy and game plans to over its lack of height.
OV returns five letter winners and quite a bit of experience.
“We don’t have much height, but we make up for that with effort and execution,” said coach Brooks Inman. “We will have to be fundamentally sound on defense and on the glass.” Read More
ALAH Girls Basketball Wins Opener
•November 27, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond girls’ basketball team won its season opener at home last Monday.
The Knights dismantled Meridian 52-18 with help from a defense that held the Hawks to six points or less in each quarter. Read More
Young Roster Fires Okaw Valley Basketball Team’s Future Season
Photo by Jason Brown
Timberwolves player Kate Jeffers eyes the rim during the state tournament two years ago. Jeffers looks to take that experience into a successful senior year.
•November 20, 2019•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team returned only one senior: Kate Jeffers.
At the same time, OV returned other Timberwolves who earned quality varsity playing time last season.
“We return a lot of varsity minutes, both in the back court and front court, more than last year in that respect,” said OV head coach Brad Ackers. “The girls know what is in front of them and what to expect this year, that will pay off when we face adversity this season too.”
Ackers will have to count on several young players to contribute for OV to have a successful season.
“Some young girls will see varsity reps, and we will get them as ready as we can,” Acker said. “I also think we are a bit deeper this year than we have been in the past. I could see up to ten girls in the varsity rotation here next week, and that is something we haven’t had since our first year here.” Read More