Photo furnished. National Tumbler Six year old Sylvia Dawkins of Sullivan recently competed in the National Tumbling competition held in Florida earlier this month. Sylvia will be in the first grade at Sullivan Elementary School in the fall.
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Robinson at state tournament in Normal.
•June 27, 2018•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports
The 2017-18 sports year is over, but Okaw Valley athletes are still accumulating awards.
Recent graduates Paige Robinson and Garrett Fritz won the 10th annual ESPN Decatur Espy Award during the ceremony at Richland College, Sunday.
Paige Robinson
Robinson took home the prize for Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year for the second straight year.
Fritz took home the prize for Baseball Player of the Year.
Robinson set several school records and collected even more accolades.
Robinson was named to the 15-member Illinois Girls’ Basketball Coaches All-State Class 1A/2A first team.
The 5 feet 10 inch guard was one of five players named to the second team Associated Press All-State girls’ basketball team.
“I said Paige is the best player in the area and best player around to anyone who would listen in the last two years,” said OV coach Brad Ackers. “Paige just continued to prove it.” Read More
•June 27, 2018•
The News-Gazette announced its All-Area track and field teams last week.
Several area athletes earned honors.
For Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond boys’ team, senior distance runner Logan Hall earned all-area first team honors.
Senior high jumper Kobe Wells earned all-area second team honors.
Freshman distance runner Layton Hall and junior middle-distance runner Austin Romine were named to the honorable mention team.
For the ALAH girls’ team, sophomore hurdler and jumper Kenli Nettles earned first-team honors. Read More
•June 20, 2018•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor
Jeff Myers has some catching up to do.
Myers, who was hired as the Sullivan-Okaw Valley football coach a few weeks ago, has a short window to become familiar with his players, hold camps and start practice before the first game on Aug. 24.
“Right now we are primarily working in the weight room on strength and agility,” said Myers. “When we do get outside and use some of our contact days, we are concentrating on fundamentals. Once we come back after the Fourth of July, we will ramp up the football portion of our summer.”
This may sound like an overwhelming task for a first-time coach in his first year, but Myers has been around for more than two decades.
He served as an assistant coach at Central A&M (1992, 1998-2003), South Walton High School (2004-2015; 2017), and St. Teresa High School (2016).
He has been an offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, running backs coach, defensive line coach, defensive backs coach, and strength and conditioning coach. Read More
•June 20, 2018•
The Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division announced its softball all-conference teams last week.
Several area players earned honors.
For Okaw Valley seniors Grace Harlin and Natalie Jeffers were unanimously first team selections as position players. Read More
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Midwest Qualifiers from left are: Second place - Zach Williams, Caden Ellis of Sullivan winner and third place Kolten Bauer.
•June 20, 2018•
Caden Ellis, Sullivan High School golfer, won the Midwest Qualifier for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship to be held July 29 through August 1 at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The Midwest Qualifier has been held in Decatur for more than 30 years, This year’s tournament was two days at Red Tail Golf Course, and Ellis shot a record - 3 (68, 73 - 141 total).
The Optimist International Junior Golf Championships continues to be one of the most recognizable junior tournaments in the world with more than 6,000 golfers attempting to qualify.
Annually more than 660 of the best junior golfers, representing more than 30 nations, 45 states and six Canadian provinces, converge for a week of unsurpassed competition and fellowship.
Since 1978, Optimist-sponsored golf tournaments have served as a springboard for many of golf’s greatest players.[/s2If]
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Sullivan V-Ball Camps
Sullivan volleyball camps hosted third, fourth and fifth grade participants last week.
•June 13, 2018•
The Central Illinois Conference officials have announced the boys’ and girls’ softball and baseball all-conference teams.
For softball, Sullivan sophomore Gwen Diepholz earned second-team honors. Read More
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SHS Softball Banquet
The SHS girls’ softball team had their sports banquet. Captains were Jordan Bassett, Addison Darush, Irie Dulin and Madison Wall. Wall was selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player. Offensive Player Award was presented to Darush. Defensive Player was Alexis Britton. Montana Roberts was selected for the Redskin Award, Dulin was chosen for the Leadership Award and the Most Improved Award went to Erin Wallace. Gwen Diepholz made second team all conference and Dulin and Wall were selected as honorable mention.
•June 13, 2018•
The Illinois High School Softball and Baseball Coaches Association announced its 2018 Class 1A All-State Teams this past week.
Four area players earned honors.
For the boys, Okaw Valley senior catcher (and pitcher) Garrett Fritz earned the first team honors. Read More