The Journal-News

After one of the most prolific seasons in the last 10 years, Hillsboro High School senior Drake Vogel will be continuing his basketball and educational pursuits at Fontbonne University in St. Louis this fall. A key part of the Toppers’ golf team, Vogel was also offered a spot on the Griffins’ golf team as well. Above are 2021-22 Hillsboro Boys Basketball Coach Kyle McBrain, Rick Vogel, Drake Vogel and Barb Vogel.

Ball Continues To Be Life For Toppers’ Vogel

Of the seven players who are listed ahead of Drake Vogel on the Hillsboro High School boys basketball all-time scoring list, six played basketball in college. Now, the Topper sharpshooter can add his … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/26/22

Ethan Lentz (seated), recently made his decision to play soccer for Lewis and Clark Community College official once his time at Hillsboro High School is complete. Joining Lentz were his sister, Reagan Lentz, parents Brandi and Matt Lentz, and Hillsboro High School boys soccer coach, Jason Burke.

Lentz Blazes Own Trail To Lewis And Clark

For the last four years, Ethan Lentz has been a fixture on the pitch for the Hillsboro High School soccer team. Now, Lentz has the opportunity to blaze a new trail in the college ranks. After … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/26/22

For the second time in her career, Hillsboro's Kaci Papin landed on the medal podium at the IHSA State Finals track meet, taking a third place finish in the high jump on Saturday, May 21, after finishing second in Class 2A last year.

Papin Etches Name In Record Books

It’s not only been a challenging year for Hillsboro High School senior Kaci Papin, it’s also been a challenging career for the Toppers’ standout high jumper. Still, Papin managed … more

5/23/22

The Hillsboro Junior High track team went 3-for-3 at the IESA State Finals track meet on May 20-21, with all competitors bringing home medals. From the left are Jaida Linn, Izabell Fenton, Tytin Wells and Hillsboro Junior High girls track coach Brian Atkins. Not pictured is Hillsboro Junior High boys coach Tom Lunz.

Three Dragons, Three Medals At IESA State

The theory that if at first you don’t succeed, then try and try again worked pretty well for Hillsboro seventh grader Jaida Linn at the IESA State Finals, held May 20-21 at the Eastside Centre … more

5/23/22

For the second straight year, Hillsboro senior Magnus Wells be going to the IHSA State Finals track meet after finishing third in the shot put and second in the discus at the sectional in North Mac on May 18.

Hillsboro Boys Make Progress At Sectional

With a new coach, a move back to Class 1A and several new additions to the roster, the Hillsboro boys track team is a work in progress, with the keyword “progress.” That progress … more

5/23/22

Three members of the Hillsboro Junior High School track team won their events at the IESA Class 3A sectional in Virden on Saturday, May 14, earning a spot at this weekend's state finals in the process. From the left are Jaida Linn, Izabella Fenton and Tytin Wells.

Dragon Trio Earns Trip To State

Just a few days before his older brothers, Magnus and Xander, took their shot at making it to the state finals in track, Tytin Wells showed that the athleticism extends well beyond the high school … more

5/19/22

Hillsboro’s Ella Greenwood sprints to first to beat the throw from short by a step in the Toppers’ regional quarterfinal game against Vandalia on May 16. Playing on their home field, the Vandals scored in five of the six innings to end Hillsboro’s season with an 11-3 defeat.

Sun Shines On Vandals In Win Over Toppers

A long, rain-soaked season came to an end for the Hillsboro High School softball team on Monday, May 16, as the Toppers fell to Vandalia 11-3 on one of the few cloudless days in the 2022 … more

5/19/22

Mater Dei Bids Adieu To Toppers Title Hopes

by Ron Deabenderfer One inning made all the difference as Hillsboro traveled to Breese Mater Dei in Clinton County Monday afternoon, May 16; a five-run third inning for the Knights in … more

5/19/22

Online Auction Benefits Toppers

If 18 holes of golf sounds like a good way to ruin a long walk, but you still want to support the Hillsboro High School football team’s annual Rich Sanders Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday, … more

5/19/22

Toppers Surge Past Shells Late

When Hillsboro’s baseball team ventured to Roxana on Wednesday afternoon, May 11, they found themselves behind by a run until the top of the sixth. Then they banged out five consecutive hits … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/19/22

After almost a month on the shelf, Hillsboro's Kaci Papin punched her ticket to the IHSA State Finals for the third time in her career by finishing third and clearing 1.52 meters in the high jump at the Gillespie Sectional on May 12.

Papin Perseveres To Earn Third State Trip

To paraphrase William Shakespeare, while the Hillsboro girls track team be little, they are fierce. The three-person sectional squad from Hillsboro competed in six events at the sectional in … more

5/16/22

Fowler Leads Toppers In Miner Warm-Up

The Hillsboro boys track team had one champion and 10 top six finishes at the Gillespie Invitational on Friday, May 13, as they finished eighth in the 12-team sectional prequel. Junior Brayden … more

5/16/22

Hillsboro Girls Fall To Gillespie, Pana

Seven runs in the first and eight more in the fifth made for a tough night for the Hillsboro High School softball team, who fell to Gillespie on Wednesday, May 11, by a 19-1 final score. In … more

5/16/22

Toppers Beat Pana On Friday 13th

Based on the final score (Hillsboro 14, Pana 4), one could assume any bad luck associated with the baseball teams’ game on Friday, May 13, in Pana fell on the Panthers. Perhaps luck had little … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/16/22

Litchfield's Bryce Hires tries some fancy footwork to avoid the tag of Hillsboro's Drake Vogel after Hires was picked off during Tuesday's game at the Hillsboro Sports Complex. Despite a two-run rally in the top of the seventh by the Purple Panthers, Hillsboro held on for a 4-3 win, their 13th of the season.

Hillsboro Baseball Holds Off Litchfield

It was a baseball game fit for the lore of Litchfield/Hillsboro athletic contests. Hillsboro jumped ahead, then held on for a 4-3 win when the two teams met in South Central Conference play at the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/12/22

Litchfield's Emma Walch tees off on a pitch in the fifth inning for her second home run of the day as the Lady Panthers defeated Hillsboro 16-1 on Tuesday, May 10.

Walch, Panthers Slam Lady Hiltoppers

Based on their first meeting and similar records, one could have predicted that Tuesday’s softball game between Hillsboro and Litchfield would be a close one. Few would have predicted what … more

5/12/22

Macoupin County Teams Squash All-Montgomery Regional Title Hopes

Two things needed to happen for there to be an all-Montgomery County regional championship on Friday: there needed to be an upset and there needed to be a win by a conference co-champion. By the … more

5/12/22

Hillsboro's Ethan Schreiber picked up one of the Toppers' five singles wins on Tuesday, May 10, beating Granite City's Xavier Paul 6-4, 6-2.

Toppers Put Granite City In A Hard Place On Senior Night

The Hillsboro boys tennis team took time before their match on Tuesday, May 10, to honor senior Will Speiser, then gave their top player a 7-2 victory in celebration. Benefitting from three … more

5/12/22

Hillsboro High School angler Austin Loskot celebrates after landing one of the four fish he and teammate Jayden Jacobs caught during the Sangcris Lake Sectional on Thursday, May 5.

Toppers Fish At Rain-Soaked Sectional

In weather more ideal for fish than fishing, the Hillsboro High School bass fishing team put two boats in the water at Sangcris Lake in Christian County on Thursday, May 5, for the IHSA bass fishing … more

5/9/22

Hillsboro Takes Two At Altamont

As the bus headed east to Altamont for a 9 a.m. first pitch Saturday morning, May 7, observant eyes saw water standing in fields along the way. It made one wonder why the doubleheader scheduled for … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/9/22