Litchfield High Sports | The Journal-News

Lady Panthers Hold Off Lincolnwood

The Litchfield-Mt. Olive and Lincolnwood-Morrisonville softball teams have both had their struggles at times this season, so it was only appropriate that the two teams find their footing against one … more

4/15/24

Strong Finish Sends Comets Past Panthers

In the past 19 years the Litchfield Purple Panthers and the Greenville Comets have meet 33 times. On Wednesday evening, Feb. 21, the 34th meeting took place on neutral ground as the two teams squared … more

2/26/24

Litchfield's Harrison Thomas (#52) and Carson Saathoff (#11) try to clear out Hillsboro's Elliott Lentz (#54) and the other Topper defenders to give A.J. Sypherd some running room on Friday, Sept. 22. Sypherd had Litchfield's only touchdown, but that and a Cooper Martin field goal were enough as the Panthers scored a 9-7 win on homecoming.

Panthers Win Battle Over Toppers

Anyone who went to the Hillsboro/Litchfield South Central Conference football game held on the Purple Panthers’ home field Friday night, Sept. 22, expecting to see offensive plays up and down the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/25/23

Litchfield freshman Landon Wernsing looks for an opening against the Athens defense during the Panthers' home game on Thursday, Sept. 21. Wernsing scored three goals and assisted on four of Drake Gasperson's six goals as Litchfield improved to 11-2 with a 9-0 victory over the Warriors.

Split Does Nothing To Doubt Panthers Success

The Litchfield-Gillespie boys soccer team split a pair of games to end the week, but both the win against Athens and the loss to Civic Memorial showed just how far the Panthers have come this … more

9/25/23

Birds Keep Litchfield From First SCC Win

A tough second quarter kept Litchfield from their first conference victory of the season as Southwestern claimed their first South Central win by a 32-24 final score. The two teams were dead … more

2/8/24

Dobrinich Lights Out Against Lancers

Litchfield’s Tate Dobrinich pitched a seven-inning, two-hit shutout to help the Panthers pick up a 3-0 win over Lincolnwood in their opening game of the Montgomery County Baseball Tournament on … more

4/15/24

Litchfield High School senior Camden Quarton saved the best run of his cross country career for last as he set a new personal record with a time of 15:15.66 on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the IHSA Class 1A State Finals in Peoria. The time put Quarton in 15th and gave him his second state medal in cross country.

Quarton Saves Best For Last

In 2021, a Litchfield sophomore with a strong running pedigree finished 23rd at the IHSA Boys Cross Country State Finals to win the schools first state medal in boys cross country, running a time of … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 11/6/23

Litchfield's Nathan Schaake (#13) defends Drake Taylor of Nokomis during the seventh place game of the Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 20, in Litchfield. Schaake and the Panthers snapped a 15-year drought against the Redskins, winning 47-26 for their first victory over Nokomis since Jan. 15, 2008.

Panthers Avenge Loss To Redskins

After averaging 59 points in their first three games at their home tournament, the Litchfield boys basketball team showed that they could get it done on the defensive end too on Saturday, Jan. 20, in … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 1/22/24

Litchfield Panthers Get Big Win Over Ramsey

Simmons Gym would be once again rocking boys hoops as the Purple Panthers entertained the Ramsey Rams in Litchfield's home opener on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The Purple Panthers dominated the Rams from … more

12/7/23

Panthers Bounce Back Against North Mac

After dropping three of their last four, the Litchfield-Mt. Olive baseball team was back in the win column on Friday, April 12, as they defeated the North Mac Panthers 7-2 on the campus of Litchfield … more

4/15/24

For the first time in the program's history, the Litchfield High School boys golf team came home from the IHSA state tournament with a trophy. The Panthers shot a 311 on day two of the tournament (Oct. 7), tying eventual champion Effingham St. Anthony for the best team round of the weekend and securing third place at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington. From the left are Tug Schwab, A.J. Odle, Ian Otto, Brawly Jacobs, Sam Schwab and Tucker Maguire.

Panthers Third At State

After weathering the storm literally and figuratively on day one of the IHSA Class 1A State Finals Golf Tournament, the Litchfield boys golf team found themselves somewhere in between where they … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 10/10/23

Three Toppers, Three Panthers On All-SCC Volleyball Teams

Hillsboro and Litchfield both landed three players on the South Central Conference volleyball all-conference team, which was released last week. Hillsboro’s Kennady Clayton and Addison … more

11/6/23

Four Litchfield Middle School runners competed in the IESA Cross Country State Finals on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Maxwell Park in Normal. From the left are Coach Jenny Schwab, Madi Betz, Maggie Schwab, Jake Wilson, Nolan Engstrom, Coach Robyn Engstrom and Coach Vincent Fanelli.

Panther Cubs Compete At IESA State

Nearly 1,800 students from schools all over the state competed in the IESA Cross Country State Finals on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Maxwell Park in Normal, including four from the first-year program at … more

11/6/23

A Staunton defender gets a handful of Carson Saathoff's jersey in an effort to bring down the Litchfield senior during the Purple Panthers' trip to Staunton on Oct. 6. Litchfield's 37-0 victory over the Bulldogs put them at 4-3 on the season and moved them one step closer to their first playoff appearance since 2005.

Panthers Continue Playoff Push

It’s been a while since playoff fever has invaded Panther Country, but the possibility for postseason football for the first time since 2005 has fans in Litchfield on the edge of their seats. … more

10/10/23

Hillsboro's Amya Greenwood closely guards Litchfield's Kyndal Law during the match-up between the two Montgomery County foes on Monday, Dec. 11. Law and company gave Hillsboro all they could handle for three quarters, before the Toppers used a 17-0 fourth quarter to pull out a 49-24 win.

Hillsboro Tops LHS After Early Scare

At first glance, Hillsboro’s 49-24 win over Litchfield looks exactly like what you would have predicted if you just looked at the team’s records before the game. The Toppers were 5-5 … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 12/14/23

Shells Hold On To Beat Panthers

In a five minute stretch in the third quarter, the Litchfield boys basketball team showed what type of basketball they could play. During that stretch they would outscore the Roxana Shells 14-2, but … more

1/22/24

Litchfield Boys Go For Broke At Vandalia Meet

The Litchfield boys track team had 17 top three finishes and broke 28 personal records on Tuesday, April 9, as they continue to work toward sectionals at the end of the season. The Panthers … more

4/15/24

Six A Serious Number For Lady Panthers

The Litchfield girls track team picked up six wins and six runner-up finishes, as they finished second at a quad meet in Vandalia on Tuesday, April 9. The Lady Panthers collected 62 points, 23 … more

4/15/24

Oilers Spoil Career Night For Diveley

East Alton-Wood River (EAWR) got a running start on the Lady Panthers on Thursday, Jan. 18, as they outscored Litchfield 18-6 in the first quarter of their meeting in Litchfield. As it turns out, the … more

1/22/24

For the fifth time in the program's history, a Litchfield High School female athlete medalled in the 300 meter hurdles at the IHSA State Finals. Kendall Stewart, above, placed second at this year's meet, running a personal-best 45.21.

Stewart Second At State

The goal going into the 2023 track season was simple for Litchfield’s Kendall Stewart. On Saturday, May 20, that goal was accomplished as Stewart finished second in the 300 meter hurdles at the … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/22/23