News Progress

•February 10, 20201•

by Jason Brown
NP Sports

Whether coming off a good year or a bad year, coaches will tell everyone before the season starts that each year has different players and last year’s record doesn’t matter.
Last season, Okaw Valley coach Brad Ackers was rattling off each one of those sentiments after his team had come off a trip to the state basketball tournament.
This year, Ackers might have been saying the same things but for completely different reasons.
Those sentiments are more applicable to this unprecedented season than ever before.
First, each team has about half the games scheduled than last season.
Second, without much conditioning and practice before games started, players began in mid-season but are not necessarily in mid-season shape. Read More

•January 27, 20201•
by Jason Brown
NP Sports

With the possibility of high school spring sports starting soon comes the possibility of high school sport spectators.
But what are the minimum requirements according to the guidance issued by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)?
Here are a few of the suggestion for spectators attending spring sporting events.
For contact tracing purposes, sports organizers or venues should maintain a log of all spectators and non-participant visitors in attendance and schools or coaches should maintain a log of all participants in attendance.
Sports organizers require all participants and attendees to wear appropriate face coverings over their noses and mouths.
Sports organizers should direct all individuals to refrain from shouting, singing, or chanting. Read More

•December 23, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Champaign News Gazette announced its Boys’ Cross Country All-Area Teams Sunday.
A few local runners earned honors. Read More

•December 23, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Lyle Dorjahn keeps collection cross country coaching hardware.
A couple weeks ago, the Decatur Herald & Review named Dorjahn the 2020 Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Sunday, the Champaign News Gazette announced that Dorjahn was the All-Area Boys’ Cross-Country Coach of the Year.
Dorjahn took over as head coach of the Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond boys’ cross country team in 2019.
Dorjahn guided his teams to two straight regional titles and a sectional title.
Dorjahn was first introduced to cross country at Eastern Illinois University and has been a fan of track and field, so he got involved with the ALAH cross country program. Read More

•December 9, 2020•
By Jason Brown
NP Writer

The News Gazette announced its 2020 All-Area girls’ swimming and diving teams.
Swimmers from two area teams earned honors.
Shelbyville junior Gabrielle Spain, who swims for the Sullivan/Shelbyville/Okaw Valley cooperative team, earned first team honors.
Spain rated second in the 200-yard individual medley (2:17.51 seconds), third in the 100 backstroke (1:02.52) and fifth in the 50 freestyle (26.18). Read More