News Progress

•August 30, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

With a complete new coaching staff and a young team, Okaw Valley volleyball head coach Sarah McDowell has had to shuffle several new situations before her team even took the court.

In her first year as head coach, McDowell has been joined with first-year junior varsity coach Kirsten Durflinger and first-year assistant coach Maggie Luckenbill.

“We have three new coaches to the high school program,” said McDowell, “so it has taken time for our players to get comfortable with our style of coaching. We are…challenging the players every day in practice to be leaders regardless of age and push them to ask questions and share their successes and failures from previous seasons with the coaching staff in order to better plan for this year.”

Despite the varsity being made up of a majority of underclassmen, the returning players do have experience, and some have been participating in club leagues around central Illinois and improving their skills all winter.

Plus, she has better overall numbers of players out this season than last. Read More

•August 23, 2017•

School is in session and fall sports seasons are beginning. On Friday, August 18 fans of Sullivan Okaw Valley football, Sullivan golf and cross country teams along with volleyball and cheerleaders gathered to kick off the season in grand fashion. Each team was introduced to an enthusiastic group of fans, family and friends.

Athletic Director Ryan Aikman welcomed the crowd and introducted fall coaches: SOV Head Football Coach Andy Kerley, SOV Cheer squad Coach Marsha Kirby, Golf Coach Ben Richter, Cross Country Coach J.D Graham,  and Swim Coach Scott Bales.

Each coach then introduced the teams to the audience. Read More

•August 23, 2017•

The Sullivan boys’ golf team defeated Windsor-Stew-Strasburg at Fox Prairie last Wednesday.

The Redskins finished with a score of 164 to WSS’s 219.

Caden Ellis and Leighton Burcham each shot a 38 to lead Sullivan. Read More

Photo furnished
OVHS Golf Wins First
The Okaw Valley High School varsity golf team won the six team Moweaqua Invite Thursday, August 10 to open the season. The team shot a 336 to win. Junior Case Crawford was individual medalist with a 78. Remaining individual scores: Cameron Nickerson 84; Tanner Coleman 85, Austin Harsman 89, Grace Harlin 92 and Ethan Macklin 107. Photo front row: Cameron Nickerson, Austin Harshman, Grace Harlin; back Row - Ethan Macklin, Tanner Coleman, Case Crawford. The OV golf team is coached by Steve Nickerson. They play their home matches at Eagle Creek golf course.

•August 16, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

If the Okaw Valley golf team wants to make a run at state this year, then it has started off the season in correct fashion.

The Timberwolves won its first meet of the season, the Meridian Early Bird Invite, Thursday.

Junior Case Crawford, the most improved award winner from last season, won the Individual with a score of 78.

Senior Cameron Nickerson placed fourth with a score of 84.

Head coach Steve Nickerson in his second year returns a senior and junior filled team including eight letter winners and six senior boys and one senior girl.

“They have played with one another for a few years now,” Steve Nickerson said, “and have a lot of confidence this year as they have continually progressed and have really started to see some results and had some really good finishes.” Read More