August 20, 2014 Martinez scores hat trick in victory by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Despite an hour-and-a-half-delay to Tuesday’s season opener at Georgetown-Ridge Farm due to thunderstorms, the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond soccer team came out on top 4-2. … Read More
August 20, 2014 Lady Red starting with clean slate by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com After having three different coaches in three years, Sullivan volleyball looks poised for some consistency. Earlier this year Krista Smith was hired as a guidance counselor for the high school and was also asked about the possibility of coaching volleyball, a prospect the 2007 Edwards County graduate thought too good to be true. “When they talked about the coaching position during the interview I was elated because it’s volleyball, it’s the sport that I love,” said Smith. “I am geared up for this year, and I can … Read More
August 20, 2014 Another strong year expected by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Despite going 15-3 last year, the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond/Arcola golf team bowed out early in the postseason after being bumped up to double A regional play in Mahomet. There they faced schools such as Mattoon, Champaign Centennial, and Monticello. And this year could see a similar grouping, but head coach Tyler Renshaw believes his team will be better equipped to make a run for sectionals. “We had a great season last year,” said Renshaw. “We got a tough draw with double A. I think we probably would have gotten out as … Read More
August 20, 2014 SOV to begin season with two unfamiliar teams by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com It’s an exciting time right now in the Sullivan-Okaw Valley huddle. This year marks the start of the new Central Illinois Conference of which SOV is a part, not to mention the return of area decorated football coach Gerald Temples to the gridiron. “It’s been very exciting,” said Temples on his return to the grind of high school football. “It’s been a good bunch to work with. We’ve had good practices, although today (Thursday) wasn’t one. We took a step back today, and the kids … Read More
August 20, 2014 New coach hopes to continue winning tradition by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com New coach, new conference members, new team, and a slightly new team identity. The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond volleyball team has had a lot to grapple with in the way of change so far in the preseason, which will no doubt continue into the regular season this year. But first year ALAH high school coach Emily Crossman isn’t too worried. “The beautiful thing is the girls have taken all the of the change with a grain of salt, and it hasn’t affected them one bit,” said the former seventh … Read More
August 20, 2014 More height than recent years to be strength by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com When you combine returning varsity outside hitter Megan Dash along with up and coming athletes such as Nicole Miller and Christy Buford, not to mention the pleasant surprise by way of Amanda McClain, OV head coach Jody McCormick hopes this year’s team will have a lethal front line capable of second ball attacks. “I’m hoping if we get the rotation to work out, we’ll have a formidable front line,” said the second year OV coach. But the team will also have to deal with the … Read More
August 20, 2014 Group of 20 hopes to breed success by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com For head coach Andy Wagner, seeing his high school golf team grow from last year’s seven to this year’s 20 is more than just exciting. It’s promising. “I feel really good about this year with our numbers,” said Wagner. “The numbers are incredible. For a school of 165 students that has a JV team, a varsity team, and a girls’ team, the best thing I can say as a coach is locally, in this smaller community, junior golf is coming back and I really love that.” … Read More
August 20, 2014 Key 2014 graduates prompt search for fullbacks by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com There’s an ongoing search at the soccer field in Lovington. Last year’s 7-7-1 Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond soccer program graduated seven including defensive leaders in David Emrick and Natalie Bicknell who had long anchored the team’s fullbacks. When Emrick wasn’t sweeping or stopping, he was a big presence in the midfield along with fellow graduates Brianna Morgan, Matt Robinson, and Cassandra Lambdin. But as far as offense goes, this year’s team looks to fare better, at least initially, than its defense. “We lost a lot of seniors,” said head … Read More
August 20, 2014 Girls look to three-peat while boys try to get back to streak by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Ted Walk won’t hesitate to say he expects both his boys’ and girls’ teams to get to sectionals come November. Last year the Sullivan-Okaw Valley cross country team’s largely youthful bunch of girls reached sectionals as a team for the second year in a row. The boys missed qualifying out of the Shelbyville regional by just two points, a first in five years. And while the girls return most of their top seven from last year, the boys will have to … Read More
August 20, 2014 Offense, though not deep, looks strong with key returners by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com Last May’s graduation of players such as linebacker Logan West, defensive linemen Ethan Gingerich and Jesse Ruff, defensive back Curtis Plank, not to mention all-around contributor in Jordan Feagin, (all of whom were first-team all-conference selections), has this year’s Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond football team trying to fill gaps in the defense. “Defensively, we lost a lot, especially straight up the middle of the field. That’s where we’re at this point, concentrating and trying to find out who can play where and what we’re going to do … Read More