News Progress

Photo by Keith Stewart
ALAH sweeper Natalie Bicknell chases the ball out of the Knight’s territory as Mt. Pulaski forward Eli Grieshiem chases her down Saturday. The Knights dismantled the Hilltoppers 7-2.

Mt. Pulaski unable to counter Knights’ speed and footwork

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

The visiting Mt. Pulaski Hilltoppers may have been the first to strike Saturday morning, not even five minutes in, but it was the ALAH Knights who not only served up an equalizer 50 seconds later but went onto break open the game to win 7-2.

“I’ve coached teams where if the other team scored on you, you knew you were done because they just went down,” said ALAH head coach Jeff Trower, “but these guys weren’t going to do that. They just kept saying, ‘We’re going to win this game.’ “

After sophomore Jovanny Martinez scored from just a few yards out to tie the game, co-captain and brother Omar put a shot on just outside the 18, scoring to take a 2-1 lead with 30:23 remaining in the half. Read More

Purple-Rider Knights take close second

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Sophomore Drew Fruchtl led his Timberwolves Tuesday night to their first win of the season, shooting a 43 after nine holes, defeating both Clinton and the new co-op Arthur/Lovington-Atwood/Hammond-Arcola (ALAHA). Read More

Former assistant coach to instruct 19 golfers this fall

Photos by Phil Dickens/Dickens Studio
Pictured is the Sullivan boys’ golf team: Front row, left to right– Cody Johnson, Tristan Hendrix, Andrew Freeman, Gavin Harlin, Luke Delong, and Tommy Schibur. Back row-Coach Ben Richter,Kenneth Farley, Sam Mulligan, Layne McMahon, Dylian Liddiard, Liam Bechtold, and Joey Davison. To purchase this photo visit www.dickensstudio.com.

Photos by Phil Dickens/Dickens Studio
Pictured is the Sullivan girls’ golf team: Front row, left to right– Dani Boyer, Emmalee Hortenstine, and Jessica Yantis. Back row: Kali Forsyth, Beretta Phelps, Ariel Heppe, and Alexis Matlock. To purchase this photo visit www.dickensstudio.com.

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Taking on the head softball coach position last year was just the beginning for Sullivan High School teacher Ben Richter. On August 12, he was also made the head golf coach after serving as the assistant to Jerry Lane last year. And though the new head coach says this year will be a rebuilding year for Sullivan golf, the program has attracted 19 players this year, providing an encouraging sign for the years to come.

“We’re mostly freshmen, sophomores, and a couple juniors so it’s going to be a rebuilding year,” said Richter. “Coming into it, a lot of these kids didn’t get to play very much over the summer.”

While the team graduated only two seniors last year, including then number one golfer Lucas Mossman, the team’s rebuilding woes continue from last year with still a largely young group of players.

Of the 19 golfers out this year, 12 are boys, while seven are girls, including four returning varsity players in senior Emmalee Hortenstine, Jessica Yantis, Ariel Heppe, and Beretta Phelps.

“Emmalee is the only senior girl on the team, and she is definitely the leader of the girls’ team,” said Richter. “Thursday we competed in a scramble in Charleston. Emmalee and Jessica Yantis and Beretta and Ariel paired up and both did very well, shooting a 45 and 46. It was very impressive. They were having a lot of fun which was neat to see. They knew that they were sticking with the pack, so they could see their game was improving while having a good time.” Read More

Big squads to continue breeding success

Photo by Phil Dickens/Dickens Studio
Pictured is this year’s SOV cross country team’s seniors: Front - Devin Mosier. Middle, left to right– Maggie Plank, Brooke Mitchell, Noah Workman, Abigail Weybright, and Elizabeth Priest Back–Reagan Miller, Patrick Hogan, Adam Davis, Sam Harshman, Mollie Bowman, and Tori Floyd. To purchase this photo visit www.dickensstudio.com.

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

After fourth place finishes in the OVC for both the SOV boys’ and girls’ cross country teams, both are looking to advance in a competitive OVC.

Just as a gauge of conference strength, in the girls’ division, St. Teresa won the state meet and on the boys’ side Shelbyville finished third and fellow conference foes Monticello and Tolono Unity qualified for the state meet as teams.

But SOV cross country has by no means been a slouch in the OVC.

“Last year was the first in the last four years where we didn’t have a state qualifying runner,” stated head coach Ted Walk. “Ethan Lehman ran about a 16:45 at the sectional meet and was two individual places away from qualifying for state. This year he is looking really well and has been working hard. I believe if things keep going well he has a very realistic shot at making state.”  Read More

After going 7-3 last year, Knights excited for another go

by Kirk Whitaker
Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

After a first season co-oping with Atwood-Hammond yielded a 7-3 record and playoff berth, Arthur/Lovington-Atwood-Hammond is looking to repeat the act this season.

The Knights bowed out in the first round of the playoffs last year to no. 6 Carlinville 46-12 but have since been taking steps to get back to the post season.

“We lifted three days a week and had a 10 day camp,” said Knights head coach Dale Schuring. “The players are bigger, stronger, and quicker than last season and have a much greater knowledge of our offense and defense.”

Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured are the Arthur/Lovington-Atwood-Hammond football team’s returning varsity lettermen, from left to right: Jesse Ruff, Drake Nelson, Tyler Schuring, Jordan Feagin, Logan West, Cody Sebens, Steven Wright, Colton Yeakley, Mitchell Helton, Curtis Plank, and Dylan Black.

Read More