Knights’ Runners Stay on Individual Track

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Five so far for cross country team in line with recent years by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond cross country team so far boasts just five runners. Compared to other area teams, the Knights may appear meager at best. But for head coach Ryan Whalen, his 13th season is getting off to much of the same start as those prior. “That’s fairly consistent with the numbers I’ve had,” said Whalen. “It’s teetered around five to six for the last eight to 10 years. At a school this size, that’s what you’re going to get.” But Whalen isn’t bitter about his … Read More

After Sweet 16 Run, Lancers Look to Continue Success in Cornwell’s Final Season

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

In Second Year, Knight Soccer Shifts

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Some returning players to take on new positions by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com After finishing 5-7-3 overall last year as a newly formed co-op, the Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond soccer team returns this year in hopes of improving on their first year record, while continuing to build up their program. “That’s not a bad start. For being a new team, we’re still trying to build the program up,” said head coach Jeff Trower. And in its second year, the co-op has 20 players out, including nine returning who saw varsity playing time last year. At the same time, the team lost several seniors, including … Read More

Perhaps Not Quantity, but OV Has the Quality

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Just eight golfers, but majority of whom spent summer on the greens 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. … Read More

Lady T-Wolves Certain to Avenge Last Year’s Poor Showing

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Reminder of 2-19 season to be volleyed away by Keith Stewart keith@newsprogress.com New Okaw Valley volleyball head coach Jodi McCormick says she has an idea that when she was first hired two years ago as the assistant coach, that varsity coach Jennifer Crowder had her eventual replacement in mind. “I have a feeling that she had a grand scheme in mind when she hired me two years ago,” said McCormick. “She has full confidence in me, and the day she told me she decided she didn’t want to coach anymore, I was pretty nervous. But I’ve had a lot of … Read More

Lindenmeyer Returns to Coach as Redskin Volleyball Tries to Build in Rough OVC

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After two seasons off, Lindenmeyer resumes head coaching duties by Kirk Whitaker  Arthur/Sullivan Reporter After finishing 18-10 with a second round loss to No. 1 St. Teresa last season, the Sullivan Lady Redskins volleyball team is looking to advance in a competitive Okaw Valley Conference, and this season, after two seasons off, Heather Lindenmeyer returns to head coaching duties. “I resigned so I could devote more time to working on my master’s degree in English composition. Then I had my first child,” explained Lindenmeyer. “I am now very close to finishing my degree. In terms of why I’m coaching again, … Read More

It’s Just Golden…An Emotional Epistle to My Exquisite Editor

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by John Golden NP Columnist Okay, Cupid, you and I have never really gotten along over the years. You have always been very careless with your arrows in my past, and you have subsequently gotten me into some various, somewhat hilarious, and usually precarious situations. I had once grown jaded and had begun to mistrust your judgment. … Read More

Understanding Illinois: Looking ahead to 2018 bicentennial

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By Jim Nowlan Outside Columnist Illinois has been going through a rough patch. It was not always so. When I was a kid in the 1950s, I was proud to be from Illinois. The state was rich, farming and manufacturing were booming, and we were the crossroads state, with Route 66 and Lincoln highways and long-distance “zephyr” trains connecting in Illinois. … Read More