Yantis Swinging Away at Illinois College

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•June 29, 2016•

Kirk Whitaker
NP Sports

Noah Yantis Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond class of 2014, golf, Illinois College

Football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball.

Those are the sports that normally get the limelight in the summer at any level, but who could forget it is prime golfing season?

ALAH 2014 grad Noah Yantis sure hasn’t forgotten.

The Knight turned to-be junior at Illinois College has seen steady improvement and is looking to improve off a low score of 81, a 3-1 record in match play and a highest individual finish of third.  Read More

Blue Dolphin Food Drive Does Well

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Blue Dolphin Food Drive Does Well Blue Dolphins coach Jason Drury once again set a goal for the Dolphins, and once again they went beyond his expectations. SBD set a summer food drive challenge of 600 cans. The total cans is 795. Not only are the Dolphins filling the Food Bank shelves this summer, they are also helping Relay for Life. The Relay for Life team uses the cans to hold the luminaries and then turns them over to the Food Bank. Relay for Life Food Bank Donation Back Row: Brodie Goss, Coach Jason Drury, Brynna Sentel, Natalie Drury, Charlie Goss, Tyler Homann, Addison Graham, Ryan Schodlatz, Noah Kersten; 3rd Row: RFL Jessi Jess, Natalie Turnbaugh, Anna Wooters, Allison Oligschlaeger, McKenna Kull, Nicole Homann, Gabby Spain, Jessica Renfro, Mackenzie Erixon, CEFS Director Kristy Dawson; 2nd Row: RFL Diane Waggoner, Sofia Nuzzo Front Row: Calista Clark, Lilly Graham, Emily Crosier, RFL Jamie Crosier Photo furnished

Blue Dolphin Food Drive Does Well
Blue Dolphins coach Jason Drury once again set a goal for the Dolphins, and once again they went beyond his expectations. SBD set a summer food drive challenge of 600 cans. The total cans is 795. Not only are the Dolphins filling the Food Bank shelves this summer, they are also helping Relay for Life.
The Relay for Life team uses the cans to hold the luminaries and then turns them over to the Food Bank. Relay for Life Food Bank Donation
Back Row: Brodie Goss, Coach Jason Drury, Brynna Sentel, Natalie Drury, Charlie Goss, Tyler Homann, Addison Graham, Ryan Schodlatz, Noah Kersten;
3rd Row: RFL Jessi Jess, Natalie Turnbaugh, Anna Wooters, Allison Oligschlaeger, McKenna Kull, Nicole Homann, Gabby Spain, Jessica Renfro, Mackenzie Erixon, CEFS Director Kristy Dawson; 2nd Row: RFL Diane Waggoner, Sofia Nuzzo Front Row: Calista Clark, Lilly Graham, Emily Crosier, RFL Jamie Crosier
Photo furnished

Two Sullivan Football Players Make All Star Circuit

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•June 22, 2016•

Alec Ballinger from the Sullivan Redskins football team played in the Shriners All Star game held at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington Saturday, June 18.

Ballinger and Ty Molzen combine forces in Decatur in the Eastern Star game June 25.

Area Athletes Representing at the Collegiate Level

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•June 22, 2016•

By Kirk Whitaker
NP Sports

It’s about that time of year again. Summer practices, lifting weights, and running galore are the main activities for school sports programs starting their preparation for this coming sports season. Now we take a look at how some area athletes who are now at the collegiate level are doing:

Karly Goodman, Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond class of 2014, track and field Illinois Wesleyan.

After finishing fifth in the shot put her senior year, the Arthur native continued her career at Illinois Wesleyan and to this point in her career owns the school record in the outdoor shot school record: 42’ 6.75” and has been named All-Conference her freshman and sophomore campaigns. Goodman has also taken up the hammer and javelin throws and holds personal records at 141’8” and 115’ respectively.

Goodman credits her success to this point to coaching, training and a changed mindset.

“Training is a lot different. Because I’m not in any other sports and things are more geared toward strength and explosiveness, I’m in a different kind of “in shape”. My mindset in competition has changed from high school into college. There is always going to be someone better than you so rather than me competing against other athletes, I compete against myself. The coaching is a bit different as well. You are on a first name basis, but there is still an athlete coach barrier. There is definitely a lot more one-on-one time. You have to work harder than you’ve ever worked before. It’s not going to be easy, but if you love it, it’s worth it.”  Read More

Sullivan Siblings Win At Drive Chip Putt Championship

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Photo furnished National Drive Chip and Putt Competitors (left to right) Jordan Bardfield of Mt. Zion, Lane Ludwig of Effingham and Brett Bushue of Sullivan.

Photo furnished
National Drive Chip and Putt Competitors (left to right) Jordan Bardfield of Mt. Zion, Lane Ludwig of Effingham and Brett Bushue of Sullivan.

•June 22, 2016•

The first leg of local qualifying for the 2017 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship was held Friday, June 17 at Effingham Country Club. Brett Bushue of Sullivan won first place overall in the 10-11 year old age group; Kate Bushue won first place in the 7-9 year old age group.

A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States

Photo furnished Girls’ National Drive Chip and Putt competitors (left to right) Frank Chieppa who is employed with the PGA of America as Regional Manager of Player Development, Makenna Mayhood of Effingham, Kate Bushue of Sullivan and Elizabeth Hirtzel of Effingham.

Photo furnished
Girls’ National Drive Chip and Putt competitors (left to right) Frank Chieppa who is employed with the PGA of America as Regional Manager of Player Development, Makenna Mayhood of Effingham, Kate Bushue of Sullivan and Elizabeth Hirtzel of Effingham.

Golf Association and The PGA of America, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, sub-regional and regional qualifying in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel.

OV Players Make All State Team

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•June 15, 2016•

Okaw Valley High School softball players are among the 2016 Class 1A Illinois Coaches Association all state team players.

OVHS sophomore teammates Grace Harlin and Natalie Jeffers were named Third Team All-State. Read More

Mo-Co Rush Face a New Season

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Photo furnished Pictured above is the 10U after winning the championship in Terre Haute. Front Row L-R: Breanna Gray-Decatur, Charley Condill-Arthur, Bailey Bennett-Bethany, Alaina Moore-Sullivan, Ayla Condill-Arthur, Mackenzie Condill-Arthur, Kacie Sisk-Arcola, Reese Nichols-Findlay . Middle Row L-R: Ella Kinkelaar-Mode , Alisha Frederick-Arthur, Kailee Otto-Arthur, Kaitlyn Drew-Villa Grove, Kayla Schnippel-Mt. Zion. Back Row L-R: Coaches Kurt Schnippel, Wes Frederick, Dru Bennett and Ginny Condill.

Photo furnished
Pictured above is the 10U after winning the championship in Terre Haute. Front Row L-R: Breanna Gray-Decatur, Charley Condill-Arthur, Bailey Bennett-Bethany, Alaina Moore-Sullivan, Ayla Condill-Arthur, Mackenzie Condill-Arthur, Kacie Sisk-Arcola, Reese Nichols-Findlay . Middle Row L-R: Ella Kinkelaar-Mode , Alisha Frederick-Arthur, Kailee Otto-Arthur, Kaitlyn Drew-Villa Grove, Kayla Schnippel-Mt. Zion. Back Row L-R: Coaches Kurt Schnippel, Wes Frederick, Dru Bennett and Ginny Condill.

•June 15, 2016•

The Mo-Co Rush 10U completed their fall and winter seasons with a record of 23-5 and has continued their winning ways to start the spring/summer season, going 28-2 to bring their record to 51-7 overall. In nine tournaments they have four second place and five first place finishes.

Their most recent tournament saw them go 9-0 in three days at the Terre Haute Memorial Weekend Blowout.

Leading the way at the plate so far this season are Kayla Schnippel (.509 avg, four HR, 61 RBI), Kailee Otto (.456. avg), Charley Condill (.436 avg, 50 RBI), Alisha Frederick (.414 avg) and Kaitlyn Drew (.409 avg, 4 HR). Four pitchers have shared time on the mound for the 10U this season: Kaitlyn Drew (21-5, 1.82 era, 214 Ks), Kayla Schnippel (13-1, 4.85 era), Bailey Bennett (9-0, 2.31 era) and Alisha Frederick (8-1, 3.87 era). Read More

Donation Expands Sullivan Cheerleading Squad

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•June 15, 2016•

In discussions with the Sullivan-Okaw Valley cheerleading coach, the decision has been made to expand the roster of the 2016-2017 Sullivan-Okaw Valley cheerleading team from 16 up to the 21 members who tried out for the 2016-2017 team.

The coach has determined that she will be able to successfully coach and supervise this number of athletes.

A very generous donation from an anonymous local business owner has been made to the Sullivan-Okaw Valley cheerleading team.  Read More

AmBucs’ Golf Classic Tees Off June 24

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•June 15, 2016•

The Ramp-Builders Classic tees off at 8 a.m. Friday, June  24 on the Sullivan Country Club golf course.

Registration for the Sullivan AmBuc four-person charity golf scramble starts at 7:30 a.m.

Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third places.

There is a drawing for raffle and 50/50 winners. Read More

Medals for Sullivan Special Olympic Athletes

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Photo furnished Medals for Sullivan Special Olympic Athletes Sullivan School District had four athletes compete at the state level in Special Olympics this weekend at ISU in Normal. The Sullivan athletes who competed were Jon Kipp, Madison Moll, Amanda Willis and Diannah Booker. They each won a gold medal in at least one event. It was a fun-filled, two day event of going to a waterpark, attending opening ceremonies and competing in their individual events.

Photo furnished
Medals for Sullivan Special Olympic Athletes
Sullivan School District had four athletes compete at the state level in Special Olympics this weekend at ISU in Normal. The Sullivan athletes who competed were Jon Kipp, Madison Moll, Amanda Willis and Diannah Booker. They each won a gold medal in at least one event. It was a fun-filled, two day event of going to a waterpark, attending opening ceremonies and competing in their individual events.