News Progress

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Sullivan Blue Dolphins and the Sullivan Civic Center celebrated their 60th birthday on Sunday, September 21st. SBD invited the EIU swim team to come in and work with some of the Silver, Gold, and Titanium swim groups. The SBD enjoyed their time and learned a lot from the EIU swimmers. 

The community was there and enjoyed open swim, the Sullivan High School boys’ basketball team, bounce houses, and the many vendors. The local Boy and Girl Scouts pitched in by selling food at the event.  

•September 17, 2025•

Sullivan traveled to Sangamon Valley Friday night and stormed home with the win. Sangamon Valley got on the board first with a 59-yard touchdown pass, but Logan Fleener returned the ensuing kickoff 74 yards for the Redskin score. Owen Smith then punched one in from 15 yards out and converted on the two-point conversion to give Sullivan the 14-7 lead at the end of the quarter. In the second quarter, Aiden Dinger scored on a pair of rushing TDs and Addison Hullum ran one in from 5 yards out to stretch the lead to 34-14 at the half, and the Redskins held on for the 42-29 win.

•September 3, 2025•

A strong Sullivan rushing attack and a stout defense led to a 61-6 victory last Friday night over Arcola-Cerro Gordo. The Redskins jumped out to an early first-quarter lead when Owen Smith scampered 57 yards to the house to make it 6-0. Smith then connected with James Feldkamp for the only Sullivan passing score of the day: the 51-yard reception made it 12-0. Addison Hullum rushed in for the two-point conversion, making it 14-0 at the end of the quarter.

Sullivan HS students Piper Conlin, Grace Crothers, Savanna Dendy, Lillian Hood, and Avery Renfro won 1st place in the Apex 2025 4V4 Sand Volleyball Tournament, winning $200 and a 1st place trophy for the school’s volleyball program.

•July 16, 2025•

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The Sullivan High School volleyball program hosted University of Illinois head coach Chris Tamas and members of the Fighting Illini women’s volleyball team for an exciting one-day camp that was open to freshman through senior athletes on Wednesday, July 9th.

Tamas, now in his eighth season as head coach since being hired in February 2017, has transformed Illinois into a force in the Big Ten and on the national stage. Under his leadership, the Illini have compiled a 149–94 overall record (.613) and secured five NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by a memorable 2018 Final Four run. Before his tenure at Illinois, he served as an assistant coach at Nebraska under Hall of Famer John Cook (2015–2017), as well as at Cal Poly, Minnesota, and UCRiverside.