The Journal-News

Hillsboro High School senior Magnus Wells made his college decision official on Wednesday, April 27, as he signed to play football and track at Augustana College after graduation. Seated in front are Wells, with his parents, Haley and Mike Wells. Standing, from the left are Magnus' siblings, Mia, Gabriel, Tytin and Zander, Hillsboro Head Football Coach Joe Reed and Hillsboro Boys Track Coach Zach Reed.

All-Everything Wells Headed To Augustana

Hillsboro senior Magnus Wells has had the kind of senior year that most athletes can only dream of: All-conference honors at three positions in football, a state medalist in wrestling and success in … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/2/22

Sandwiched between two Taylorville runners, Litchfield's Zach Leitschuh keeps his eyes on the finish line of the 100 meter dash during the Panthers' meet on Thursday, April 28. Leitschuh finished eighth in the 100 as the Litchfield boys went on to finish second in their home meet.

Panthers Second On Senior Night

The Litchfield girls track team picked up 11 wins in the 14 events as they finished second by just 3.5 points to Pleasant Plains in a four-team senior night meet at LHS on April 28. On the track, … more

5/2/22

Hughes Takes Hurdle Title At SCC Fresh/Soph Meet

The future of the Hillsboro High School track program was on display on Thursday, April 21, as the Toppers competed in the South Central Conference Freshman/Sophomore Meet at Southwestern High … more

5/2/22

Hillsboro junior Kyleah Reynolds played a big part in the Toppers' defensive effort against Jacksonville on Saturday, April 23, including two first half clearances that kept her team in front 5-0 at the half. Hillsboro would need every one of those five goals as Jacksonville scored four in the second half to come up one goal short of the Toppers.

First Half Blowout Leads Toppers To Close Victory

An old Irish blessing states, "May the wind always be at your back." On Saturday, the Hillsboro girls soccer team was blessed for half the game, then held on for a 5-4 victory when the wind favored … more

4/28/22

Riggs 'Has A Day' In Win Over Cavaliers

The expression, “Have a day, young man,” comes to mind when one ponders the performance of Hillsboro’s sophomore left-hander Deklan Riggs at Carlinville on Tuesday afternoon, April … more

4/28/22

Cavies Hold Off Hillsboro

The Carlinville High School softball team held Hillsboro to just three hits as they handed the Toppers a 7-0 South Central Conference loss on Tuesday, April 26. Only Taelyn Smith, Aubrey Evans and … more

4/28/22

Toppers Throw Their Weight Around At Greenville

Oddly enough, the Hillsboro High School track team had its biggest success in the track events at the Comet Relays on April 22, courtesy of four field event competitors. The Topper combo of Magnus … more

4/28/22

The eyes of Nokomis batter Baylee Cesaretti, umpire Louis Lang and Hillsboro catcher Sophia Blankenship follow the path of the ball after Cesaretti sent it careening toward the right side of the field in the Redskins' home game on April 21. Cesaretti had a base hit and one of Nokomis' 16 runs as they took the Toppers by surprise with a 16-0 victory.

Lady Redskins Stay Busy To End Week

It was a busy end to the week for the Nokomis High School softball team as they played three games in four days after being rained out on senior night after one inning. The Redskins tried to … more

4/25/22

Birds Score Late To Slip Past HHS

It was a beautiful morning for a baseball game in Hillsboro on Friday, April 22, but by the time Preston Lyerla threw his first pitch to Piasa Southwestern’s Rocky Darr at 4:30 p.m., a strong … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 4/25/22

Nixon Too Tough For Toppers

The Southwestern Piasa Birds picked up their first South Central Conference win of the season on Friday, April 22, at the expense of the Hillsboro High School softball team by a 9-1 final … more

4/25/22

Hillsboro's Aubrey Evans slides safely under the tag of Litchfield catcher Bella Roach in the second inning of the South Central Conference conflict on Tuesday, April 19. Evans' run was the first of six scored by the Toppers in the second as Hillsboro went on to beat the Lady Panthers 9-5.

Hillsboro Singled-Minded In Win Over Panthers

The Hillsboro High School softball team pounded out 14 hits, all of the one-base variety on Tuesday, April 19, to beat Litchfield 9-5 in Litchfield. Five of those 14 singles came in the second … more

4/21/22

Hillsboro pitcher Deklan Riggs tries to catch Litchfield's Tate Dobrinich leaning toward second with a pickoff throw to first baseman Nathan Matoush in the sixth inning of Tuesday's rivalry game in Litchfield. Dobrinich was one of the few to reach base against Riggs, who struck out 13, walked none and allowed just one hit, a leadoff double to Bryce Hires in Hillsboro's 8-0 South Central Conference win.

Riggs, Toppers Strike Down Litchfield

When Hillsboro High’s baseball team invaded Litchfield Tuesday afternoon, April 19, a pitching duel began – until the top of the fourth. Then the Toppers broke the magic with two runs off … more

4/21/22

Soccer Toppers Take Two From SCC Foes

Two to one has quickly become Hillsboro’s favorite score line after the Toppers pulled off a pair of conference victories over Greenville and Carlinville on April 15 and 18. Saturday’s … more

4/21/22

Wells Takes Top Spot At Pana

As the season goes on, Hillsboro’s Magnus Wells just keeps getting better and better in the discus. On Saturday, April 16, the Topper senior threw 139’ to claim the top spot at the Pana … more

4/21/22

Hillsboro Track Competes At Carlinville Relays

The Hillsboro track team was in Carlinville on Tuesday, April 19, for the Carlinville Relays. The six-team event was won by Pleasant Plains on both the boys and girls sides, with Carlinville … more

4/21/22

Rockets Take Down Toppers

With some pieces missing, the Hillsboro High School boys tennis team took to the courts of the Hillsboro Sports Complex on Monday, April 18, to play the Rochester Rockets. With weather more suitable … more

4/21/22

Hillsboro's Drake Vogel dives back into third base ahead of the throw to Nokomis third baseman Ian Keller during the championship game of the Montgomery County Tournament on Saturday, April 16. Vogel was 3-for-4 in the championship game with a double and a home run, helping the Toppers to a 5-3 win over the Redskins.

Topper Baseball Takes The Title

Hillsboro had two major questions as they began the championship game of the Montgomery County Tournament against Nokomis in Raymond late Saturday afternoon, April 16. The first question dealt … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 4/18/22

Hillsboro, Lincolnwood Slug It Out In Opener

If the organizers of the Montgomery County Baseball Tournament held in Raymond on Saturday, April 16, hoped for a quick, let’s-stay-on-schedule game when Hillsboro and Lincolnwood tangled in … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 4/18/22

Comet Comeback Halts Hillsboro

After picking up their first win of the season on Tuesday, the Hillsboro High School softball team looked to carry that momentum into Friday’s home game with Greenville. The Hiltoppers led … more

4/18/22

Soccer Toppers Rebound Against SCC Foes

After finding themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard in their previous three games, the Hillsboro girls soccer team began to right the ship on Thursday, April 14, at home against … more

4/18/22