The Journal-News

The lights were on at football fields and other sports fields across Montgomery County and the state on Friday night, but not for the usual reason. Schools throughout Illinois turned on the lights at their playing fields as a part of Lights For The Fight, a show of support for the Class of 2020, who had their senior year cut short on Friday by order of Governor J.B. Pritzker. The lights glowed from 8:20 (20:20 military time) to 8:40 at Nokomis (above), Litchfield, Lincolnwood and Hillsboro on Friday, with the project also a way for those communities to show support for healthcare workers, first responders and all other essential workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lights Out For Sports For 2020?

Whatever slim hopes there were for even a short sports season for Illinois high school athletes may have been dashed on Friday, April 17, with Governor J.B. Pritzker’s declaration that school … more

4/20/20

Despite being sidelined with a broken ankle for all but 13 games of his senior season, Litchfield sharp-shooter Brady Bishop's work ethic and leadership was enough to earn him a shot at college basketball with Judson University.

Journal-News On The Line: Extra Work Leads To Bishop's Big Break at Judson

In the 2017-2018 season, Brady Bishop played in just nine varsity games and scored eight points for the Litchfield High School boys basketball game. Far from eye popping numbers by any … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/16/20

Center & Guard: Tough Break Can't Stop Bishop

All across the country, high school seniors are trying to wrap their heads around having their final seasons taken away from them by this invisible enemy known as COVID-19, but Litchfield senior … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/16/20

Control Disappears For Coaches, Athletes

Control. It’s important in all sports, including track and field. You have to control your breathing, your pace, your emotions and even your temper sometimes. But what happens when that control … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/16/20

Delay A Heartbreaker For Litchfield Softball Squad

Almost everyday, Litchfield Head Softball Coach Jessica Ball receives a reminder of what the COVID-19 pandemic is taking from her team. “I already uploaded the schedule and everyday it pops … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/6/20

Regional Repeat On Hold For Lady Purple Panthers

After losing just two players from last year’s team, which won Litchfield’s sixth regional championship in girls soccer since 2013, the 2020 edition of the Lady Panthers was ready to hit … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/6/20

Litchfield track coach Dan Newkirk talks strategy with Bailey Powell (385) from the stands at the 2018 IHSA State Track Meet in Charleston. Newkirk, who is in his 30th year of coaching, said that he has never encountered a season like the 2020 campaign, which has seen more than a third of the team's meets cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more cancellations expected.

‘Hopefully, We Will Never See Anything Like It Again’

For the first time since 1979, Dan Newkirk has had the spring off, but it’s definitely not by choice for the veteran coach of the Litchfield High School boys track team. “This is year … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/2/20

Purple Panthers Gut Out 2019 Season

Thirty-seven losses seems like a lot, and it is, especially when you are experiencing every single one of them first hand the way the Litchfield High School football team and their fans have. But … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/23/20

White At The Helm Of Purple Panthers

For the third time in five years, the Purple Panthers will have a new skipper patrolling the diamond at Litchfield High School as Conor White enters his first year as head baseball coach at … more

3/16/20

Hillsboro junior Nikya Harston earned first team all-conference honors for the 2019-20 season after leading the Toppers in scoring and rebounding and helping them to a share of their second straight South Central Conference title.

Harston, Tester Earn All-SCC Honors

Two Hillsboro High School players were among the 15 honored with all-conference recognition by the South Central Conference girls basketball coaches for the 2019-2020 season. more

3/5/20

2019-2020 Litchfield High School Girls Basketball Statistics

Litchfield Girls Improve In 2019-2020 Campaign

“At the start of the season, our team goals were to finish the season playing .500 ball, play better defense and be more consistent on offense,” Coach Rob Corso said of his Litchfield … more

3/5/20

2019-2020 Litchfield High School Boys Basketball Statistics

Snake-Bitten Panthers Look To Learn In 20-21

Sometimes throughout a season, players and coaches just want to hit the reset button. This year’s Litchfield Purple Panthers boys basketball team would look for that button in the second half … more

3/5/20

Litchfield senior Austin DeWitt successfully lifts 500 pounds in the deadlift event at the Panther Power Meet in Jerseyville on Feb. 29. DeWitt would finish second overall in the heavyweight division, joining a pair of competitors from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in the top three.

Austin DeWitt Second At Panther Power Meet

Litchfield High School senior Austin DeWitt, the son of Michelle and Archie DeWitt, Jr., joined 56 of other young lifters in Jerseyville on Saturday, Feb. 29, for the second annual Panther Power Meet … more

3/5/20

The Cougars of Breese Central were anything but a breeze for the Litchfield Purple Panthers on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Gillespie Regional. Central scored 37 points in the first half, en route to a 72-28 victory over Litchfield. Above, Litchfield senior Austin Niehaus tries to avoid Bradon Thomas' wingspan and add to the Panthers' side of the scoreboard. Niehaus had five points in his final game for Litchfield.

Panthers Fall To Big Cats From Breese

The Purple Panthers entered the 2020 regional in familiar territory against an unfamiliar opponent as Litchfield would battle Breese Central in the Gillespie Regional. The Central Cougars, … more

2/27/20

For the first time in the history of the Litchfield High School wrestling program, a Purple Panther stood atop the podium at the IHSA State Wrestling Finals as Litchfield junior Will Carlile finished a perfect 41-0 season with a state championship. Carlile defeated Ethen Doty, last year’s state champion at 126 pounds, in dramatic fashion by scoring two points late in the third period to earn a 2-0 decision victory.

Carlile Delivers Panthers First State Title

In the 51 years of the Litchfield High School wrestling program, the Panthers have accomplished a lot: seven regional titles, two team state trophies, 20 individual medalists and seven runner-up … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 2/24/20

Hillsboro's Nic Ondrey (left) and Jace Tuetken (right) try to impede John Corso's path to the basket during the Toppers' game against Litchfield on Friday, Feb. 21. Corso would put in a game-high 25 points in the Panthers' 61-60 win over the Hiltoppers.

Panthers Hold Off Hiltoppers

As often happens when Hillsboro and Litchfield compete in a high school basketball game, the Purple Panthers’ 61-60 win on Friday night, Feb. 21, had something for everyone. If anyone in the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 2/24/20

Litchfield senior Jefferson Thomas works to get position on Adam Maxwell of Warrensburg-Latham during their match on Friday, Feb. 21, at the IHSA State Wrestling Finals in Champaign. Thomas would lose 4-0 to Maxwell to end his season, but did pick up a win at state to put a bow on a stellar wrestling career.

Thomas Ends Career At State

If making it to state was fulfillment of a dream for Litchfield High School senior Jefferson Thomas, winning a match on his sport’s biggest stage had to be the icing on the cake. Thomas, who … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 2/24/20

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, surrounded by friends and family, Litchfield High School senior Caroline Quarton signed her letter of intent to run cross country and track for Eastern Illinois University. Seated with Quarton (center) are sister Victoria, mother Lori, father Brian and brother Camden. Behind Quarton are coaches Shane Cress and Jeremy Palmer. Unable to make the photo were Quarton’s sister Alexandria and coach Jon Yoch.

Quarton Goes From Purple Panthers To Blue

For the last 12 years, the name Quarton has been associated with success at Litchfield High School, be it on the track, the cross country course, or in the classroom. First it was Victoria, who … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 2/20/20

Litchfield's John Corso (#42) got an extra hand on this shot courtesy of Greenville's Gabe Lager during the Purple Panthers' road game in Bond County on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Corso had five points and ten rebounds in the Panthers' 64-44 loss to the Comets, who picked up the bulk of their lead in a 20-6 third quarter.

Purple Panthers Battle Adversity, Comets

In life, in sports, when things do not go your way, all the problems begin to pile up on you. When the negatives attack you it is not always the result that is looked for, but how you handle the … more

2/20/20

With a wink and a point to his family in the stands at Vandalia High School, Litchfield's Jefferson Thomas celebrates the victory over Caleb Bass of Red Bud that earned him a spot in this weekend's IHSA Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament. Thomas, a senior 220-pounder, went on to finish third at the sectional in Vandalia and will face Joel Baer of Eureka in his first match at state on Feb. 20.

Carlile, Thomas Are Bound For State

Thousands of snow geese dotted the fields just outside of Coffeen along the route from Litchfield to Vandalia on Saturday, Feb. 15, but the feathered flocks weren’t the only ones ready for a … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 2/18/20