Lady Pages Finish Third in 1A State Volleyball Tourney

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Submitted Pictured is the Arthur-Lovington seventh grade volleyball team that finished third in the state tournament Tuesday evening in Heyworth.

Submitted
Pictured is the Arthur-Lovington seventh grade volleyball team that finished third in the state tournament Tuesday evening in Heyworth.

Defeat Seneca 25-20, 26-24

by Kirk Whitaker
Reporting in Heyworth

The Arthur-Lovington seventh grade volleyball team signed off as the third best team in class 1A Tuesday with a victory over Seneca. But they had to first win two prior state  matches to get there.

Behind solid hitting from Taylor Powell and Marissa Herschberger, Arthur-Lovington’s seventh grade volleyball team first took down Blue Ridge 25-16 in the first set of Saturday’s Class 1A State Tournament in Heyworth. With a 22-16 advantage in the second, AL forced a Blue Ridge timeout, and it looked as if there would be déjà vu and an easy state win for the Pages, who brought a 21-1 record to the tourney.  Read More

Lady T-Wolves Win Home Opener

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Photo by Keith Stewart Junior Amanda McClain had a phenomenal season opener Monday against Central A&M, as she struck out 15, walked one, and had a double in the bottom of the first to get OV’s offense going.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Junior Amanda McClain had a phenomenal season opener Monday against Central A&M, as she struck out 15, walked one, and had a double in the bottom of the first to get OV’s offense going.

McClain goes distance with 15 Ks, 1BB

by Emily Scott
Bethany Reporter

In the first game of the season, timely hitting, consistent pitching, and a rally in the third inning allowed the OV Lady Timberwolves to get an opening win against the Central A&M Raiders.

After two weeks of preparation for the game, OV coach Dave Benning said he expected to see moments where his team would struggle defensively as well as solid hitting. Both of his predictions came true.

During the bumpy first inning, the T-Wolves allowed the Raiders to score when their leadoff hitter stole home base after getting on base due to an error. OV came back at the plate with a double from Amanda McClain and a single from Addessa Kesterson, after which Paige Harlin had an RBI to score McClain to tie the ballgame. Read More

SOV Girls Take Fifth out of 33 in Indoor Track Meet

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Photo by Keith Stewart ALAH shot putter Karly Goodman prepares to release Saturday morning at EIU’s Field House. Goodman’s throw of 39-1 1/4 bested her entire junior year and earned her first place.

Photo by Keith Stewart
ALAH shot putter Karly Goodman prepares to release Saturday morning at EIU’s Field House. Goodman’s throw of 39-1 1/4 bested her entire junior year and earned her first place.

ALAH’s Goodman takes first in shot

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

What better way to set the tone for the track season than with beginning it in an indoor meet just a building over from where it could all culminate come May’s outdoor state meet in Charleston?

That is where both Sullivan-Okaw Valley and Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond’s girls’ track teams officially began the season Saturday, just two of 33 teams to compete in the Field House at Eastern Illinois University. Read More

Lady Redskins Fall 5-0 Against Teutopolis in Home Opener

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Photo by Keith Stewart Sullivan’s Elissa Stewart eyes her popup during Tuesday’s home opener against T-Town.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan’s Elissa Stewart eyes her popup during Tuesday’s home opener against T-Town.

Inman supplies lone Redskin hit

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Ten foul balls. The Teutopolis half of the fourth inning started with a 13 pitch duel, which ended in a bloop single over Elissa Stewart’s outstretched glove at short. The Lady Shoes used that hit for a breakout inning—scoring four of their five runs in that half—and virtually sealing the game.

“I went and talked to Heidi after the ninth foul ball,” Redskins head coach Ben Richter said. “She was doing fine, and we talked a little strategy, but somebody had to come out on top in that battle and that girl did a good job of hitting. I think nine times out of 10 Heidi would come out on top of that, but just not today.” Read More

Sullivan Suffers 9-8 Loss at Pana

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With unfortunate irony, the Sullivan baseball team began the season Tuesday much like they ended last year’s–with a one-run loss to Pana.

Despite taking a 4-0 lead in the first, Sullivan couldn’t get out of the second inning as the Panthers took advantage of walks and two-out hits to post seven runs.

“Nick (Frerichs) was one out away from getting out of the inning giving up just the one run, but we couldn’t get that third out, and they made us pay,” said head coach Troy Rogers.

The Redskins didn’t go down without a fight though, as they held Pana scoreless through the next two innings and eventually tied the game in the fourth.

But the Panthers added two more runs in the fifth, and despite Sullivan’s last ditch effort in the seventh with one run, they came up short once again against Pana.

“The effort was there. We played pretty well defensively and hit the ball very well at times. There is still a lot of work to do to get where we want to be,” said Rogers. “We will turn the page and get ready for Mattoon Friday. You learn from it and move on.”

Honn, Stain Advance to State 3-Point Shootout

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Neither able to make it to finals

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Although both Arthur-Lovington and Sullivan boys' basketball teams didn’t finish the seasons as they wanted on the team level, both teams sent individuals to State for the 3-point shootout at the Peoria Civic Center Thursday, March 13.

“I would have rather had a regional and had the chance to keep playing,” Derrek Stain commented.” But it is definitely something I am proud of.”

Arthur senior Clayton Honn and Sullivan Stain were the two individuals to advance; both were the first from their respective schools to advance to that level in quite some time, but for Stain it took some luck and clutch shooting to advance. Read More

Sullivan Show Choir Invitational a Success as Groups From Three States Compete

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Center Grove takes grand championship

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

Eighteen competing groups, encompassing three states, flooded to Sullivan Saturday for the 28th Annual Sullivan Show Choir Invitational.

But this year’s competition looked different from years past. First there was the fact that there would be no finals portion of the competition. And second, was the fact that neither Decatur area school with a prominent show choir—Mt. Zion nor Eisenhower—came to Sullivan, rather both groups respectively competed in Wheaton where last year’s Sullivan Invitational Grand Champions Waubonsie Valley took Grand Champions to boot.  Read More

SHS Swim Banquet

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Photo by Keith Stewart SHS Swim Banquet The Sullivan swim team held their awards banquet last Thursday at the Sullivan Country Club. Pictured left to right are: Kali Forsyth, most improved female; Shawn Cody, most improved male; Bruce King, highest male sectional finish (second place); Brynna Sentel, highest female sectional finish (second place), Lily Bales, captain; Grant King, captain.

Photo by Keith Stewart
SHS Swim Banquet
The Sullivan swim team held their awards banquet last Thursday at the Sullivan Country Club. Pictured left to right are: Kali Forsyth, most improved female; Shawn Cody, most improved male; Bruce King, highest male sectional finish (second place); Brynna Sentel, highest female sectional finish (second place), Lily Bales, captain; Grant King, captain.

Future Redskins Youth League Ends with Championship

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Photo by Keith Stewart Haiden Dringenburg races upcourt with the basketball Wednesday as teammate Ryan Bailey tries to keep up. Carmen Howard looks to move in on defense, while her teammate J.J. Standerfer sneaks up from behind.

Photo by Keith Stewart
Haiden Dringenburg races upcourt with the basketball Wednesday as teammate Ryan Bailey tries to keep up. Carmen Howard looks to move in on defense, while her teammate J.J. Standerfer sneaks up from behind.

Cavaliers pull away in 26-22 win

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Chester Reeder still remembers what is was like to be in fourth grade playing basketball.

“I remember my coaches, and I still remember the plays that we ran,” he said.

The first year SHS varsity coach, drawing on his still fond memories, decided last year to form the Future Redskins basketball league, a youth basketball league in Sullivan geared towards both building skills at an early age and getting the Sullivan youth interested in the sport. Read More

SHS Girls’ Basketball Banquet

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Photo by Keith Stewart SHS Girls’ Basketball Banquet The Sullivan girls’ basketball team held their awards banquet last Thursday at the Sullivan Country Club. Pictured left to right are: April Shuman, Lady Redskin award; Elissa Stewart, MVP, top defensive player (129 steal, 5.2 pg), captain, All-OVC honorable mention; Maggie Plank, captain, hustle and heart award; Brittin Boyer, captain, top rebounder (250, 10pg, 16.4ppg) first team All-OVC, fourth team All-State; Emily Neuhauser, captain, top offensive player (464 points, 18.6ppg), first team All-OVC; and Tatum Ellis, most improved player.

Photo by Keith Stewart
SHS Girls’ Basketball Banquet
The Sullivan girls’ basketball team held their awards banquet last Thursday at the Sullivan Country Club. Pictured left to right are: April Shuman, Lady Redskin award; Elissa Stewart, MVP, top defensive player (129 steal, 5.2 pg), captain, All-OVC honorable mention; Maggie Plank, captain, hustle and heart award; Brittin Boyer, captain, top rebounder (250, 10pg, 16.4ppg) first team All-OVC, fourth team All-State; Emily Neuhauser, captain, top offensive player (464 points, 18.6ppg), first team All-OVC; and Tatum Ellis, most improved player.