Okaw Valley Girls Get Home Win Over Shelbyville

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Photo by R.R. Best
Okaw Valley’s Hope Ruppert controls the ball during the girls’ basketball team win over Shelbyville Monday.

•November 15, 2017•

Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team won its first game of the season over Shelbyville 60-40 at Bethany Monday night.

After a one point lead, OV outscored the Rams 19-4 to burst the game open and take a 34-18 halftime lead.

Senior Paige Robinson led the team with 19 points, including two 3-pointers.

Three other players scored in double digits.

Natalie Jeffers tallied 16 points, scoring at least three points in each quarter.

Kate Jeffers and Bella Benning each scored 10 points.

Benning made two 3-pointers.

OV is scheduled to travel to Pana at 7:30 p.m. Friday then to Central A&M Saturday for an 11 a.m. start.

Sullivan Boys Plan a Bounce Back in Basketball

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•November 15, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Sullivan boys’ basketball coach Chester Reeder knows what a down year feels like after last season’s overall 2-23 record and 0-7 Little Okaw Valley Conference.

This season, Reeder in his fifth year at the helm, is hoping to see what it feels like to have a bounce-back season.

“We have a group of young men who are not afraid of hard work,” said Reeder. “A lot of them put in a lot of hours over the summer. We will definitely take a step forward, and we will take a huge step forward if we get the right type of leadership.” Read More

Four Swimming Girls Advance to State

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Girls’ Swim Team: Left to right: Natalie Drury, McKenna Kull, Alison Oligschlaeger and Anna Wooters.

•November 15, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan/Okaw Valley/Shelbyville girls’ swim team competed in the Girls’ Swimming and Diving Sectional in Champaign (Central) at Centennial High School, Saturday.

The swim team finished fourth out of 32 teams (138 points) and advanced four swimmers to the state meet at Winnetka (New Trier) Friday and Saturday.

“These girls are really dedicated to their sport, and they swim all year round, even summer,” said coach Scott Bales. “Most people don’t realize the hours of practice our swimmers must put into their sport to even drop a few seconds in any event. The fact that this is their third year in a row to qualify for the state swim meet is a testament to their hard work and dedication.” Read More

Logan Hall is Running for Illini

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ALAH award winning runner Logan Hall commits to the University of Illinois with parents Darlene and Kurt Hall by his side.

•November 15, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond runner Logan Hall verbally committed to the University of Illinois.

Monday in front of family, friends and coaches the senior made it official and signed a National Letter of Intent to run track and field and cross country at the University of Illinois.

Hall was runner up in the IHSA Class 1A State Cross Country Championship meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria two weeks ago.

“Hands down, Logan is the best runner to ever come through this area, and we may not see one like him ever again,” said ALAH coach Derik Eaton. “Through his commitment, dedication and sacrifices, Logan is not only one of the state’s best but also one of the top runners in the midwest. Proof of that is signing with the University of Illinois several weeks ago.” Read More

OV and ALAH Volleyball Players Make All-Conference

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•November 15, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Little Okaw Valley Conference Northwest Division announced 2017 all-conference teams for volleyball and football this past week.

For volleyball, four Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond players and two Okaw Valley players earned honors.

For the Knights, senior setter Madison Brown was a unanimous selection to the first team.

Brown was on the first team in 2015 and in 2016 earned honorable mention.

Middle hitter Taylor Powell also earned all-conference first team honors. Read More

From Bethany to U of I Football Manager

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University of Illinois football manager Logan Tipsword stands on the sideline of TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis Saturday, Oct 21.

•November 8, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Like many athletes who grow up in Bethany, Logan Tipsword was an avid follower of Illini athletics.

Once Tipsword graduated from Okaw Valley High School in 2015 where he played three sports, he attended the University of Illinois and is now a junior majoring in crop science.

“I chose the U of I because I loved Illini athletics and knew it was one of the best schools in the country,” he said. “I never wanted to go anywhere else.”

During the summer while playing golf in Sullivan, Tipsword met a University of Illinois alumnus, Ben Kuhns, who worked for the football team several years ago.

Tipsword decided he again wanted be a part of a team, even if he was not a player, so with help from Kuhns and Trent Chestnut, who is head of equipment, Tipsword applied and was accepted to be one of the 13 managers for the Illini football team. Read More

Brothers Shine at State Cross Country Championship

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Photo by Sally McCarthy
Running strong at State Championship were ALAH’s Logan Hall (No. 693) and his brother Layton Hall (No. 692).

•November 8, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond senior Logan Hall was runner-up in the in the IHSA Class 1A State Cross Country Championships meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria Saturday.

“Hands down, Logan is the best runner to ever come through this area, and we may not see one like him ever again,” said ALAH coach Derik Eaton. “Through his commitment, dedication and sacrifices, Logan is not only one of the state’s best but also one of the top runners in the midwest. Proof of that is signing with the University of Illinois several weeks ago.” Read More

Blue Dolphins Bring Home Splash Trophy

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Blue Dolphins bring home Terre Haute Splash meet trophy.

•November 8, 2017•

By J.D. Graham
For the News Progress

For more than a decade now the Sullivan Blue Dolphins have accomplished two things.

First, having head coach Jason Drury on deck to teach swimmers from the beginning level to the state level how to swim successfully.   Read More

OV Girls’ Basketball Returns with Experience 

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•November 8, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Last season the Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team came close to winning the Little Okaw Valley Northwest Division Champions, the LOVC Conference Tournament and the regional.

This year, the Timberwolves expect to get over that hump and achieve all three goals.

Brad Ackers, in his third year as OV coach, returns four players with significant varsity experience including one of the best Class 1A players in the state, senior Paige Robinson.

The three other players include senior Natalie Jeffers, senior Hope Ruppert and junior Bella Benning. Read More