The Journal-News

The mental toughness that Litchfield grad Tessa Steffens showed as a member of the Purdue-Northwest softball team should serve her well in the future. Steffens is finishing up her first year of law school at Indiana University in Bloomington after four successful years in Hammond.

College Report: Pride Of Litchfield Excels With Pride Of PNW

From Tessa Steffen’s own lips regarding college softball, “it is much harder to hit the ball than in high school.” While it might be the statement of every college hitter … more

by Dan Chamness | 5/18/20

Dominic Ruppert's passion for bull riding has only grown since he first connected with the sport as a junior in high school six years ago. Ruppert, pictured during the Shop Creek Cattle Company's Gateway to Danger event in Raymond last summer, recently graduated from Kansas State University and plans to pursue a professional career in bull riding.

Ruppert Along For The Ride

The last few years of Dominic Ruppert’s life have been unforgettable. He’s been able to meet new people, see new places and do things he never thought he’d be able to do... like be … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/14/20

Guest Editorial: Quarantine Puts Sports In Perspective

The following is from Carlinville High School Athletic Director Darrin DeNeve’s “Today in Carlinville Athletics” newsletter from Wednesday, May 13. Good morning, CHS … more

by Darrin DeNeve | 5/14/20

In addition to high school athletes all over Illinois, the COVID-19 pandemic has also put youth sports on the sidelines for the spring. The Impact FC soccer club, which has 200 players and 12 teams from Montgomery and Macoupin counties, had several tournaments and their league play cancelled for the spring season.

COVID-19 Impacts Local Soccer Club

by Kyle Herschelman High schoolers haven’t been the only athletes to take a hit due to cancellations over the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it be soccer, basketball, baseball and … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/30/20

Derick Bell (left) and Austin Akre took first place in the inaugural Nokomis Bass Fishing Tournament on Sunday, April 26. Bell and Akre weighed in atop the standings at 14.6 pounds, with their largest fish weighing 4.3 pounds.

Bell, Akre Win Nokomis Bass Tourney

Sixteen young anglers hauled in almost 65 pounds of fish in the inaugural Nokomis Bass Fishing Tournament on Sunday, April 26. “I was looking for a good way to have a fun activity while … more

4/30/20

Center & Guard: 'Who Was The Best?' Provides Escape From Quarantine Blues

Just over a week ago, I threw out a question on social media that I hoped would draw some discussion: If you went to school in Montgomery County, what year was the best boys basketball team in your … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 4/23/20

Illinois College senior Carly Cameron goes up for a block during a game against Lake Forrest. Cameron overcame an ACL tear during her time with the Lady Blues to average 10 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

The College Report: Cameron Overcomes Injuries At IC

The success of any athlete, especially a college athlete, is a team effort. Team Carly Cameron was easily identified. Not only did it include the Hillsboro graduate’s Illinois College … more

by Dan Chamness | 4/20/20

Hillsboro grad Austin Grabow gets out in front to lead the Illinois College rushing attack during the Blueboys' homecoming football game against Knox College. Grab recently completed his career at Illinois College and will be attending law school in the future.

The College Report: Grabow To Go From Gridiron To Courtroom

Austin Grabow’s football career at Illinois College officially ended last fall, but the education is scheduled to continue. The Hillsboro graduate started his football career as an … more

by Dan Chamness | 4/9/20

Litchfield High School graduate Victoria Francis (back row, second from right) had hopes to see her teammates from the U.S. national wrestling team in State College, PA, this coming weekend, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the U.S. Wrestling Olympic Trials on April 4-5. A few days after the trials were postponed, the Olympic Committee did the same to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, pushing them back to 2021.

Covid-19 Delays Francis’ Olympic Hopes

While it didn’t become official until March 24, Victoria Francis wasn’t surprised when the decision was made to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics until 2021. more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/30/20

Olympics, Real World On Hold For Held

When the Covid-19 outbreak first hit, 2016 Olympic gold medalist Ryan Held feared the worst. “In my mind, I thought postponement equaled cancellation,” said Held, a graduate of Sacred … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/30/20

IHSA Considering Extension For Spring Sports

Things are still at a standstill in the world of high school sports, and in the world in general, but IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson hinted on March 25 that the governing body may be willing … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/30/20

Lincolnwood grad Abby Brockmeyer averaged 10 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a junior forward for the Southern Illinois University Salukis this past season, which was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic. Brockmeyer currently sits at 915 points in her collegiate career.

College Report: Brockmeyer Chases Improvement, Title

Had Abby Brockmeyer’s season not been ended early due to the Coronavirus, she would have gotten even closer to 1,000 points. But, as the sun set on the third year of her career, the … more

by Dan Chamness | 3/30/20

Center & Guard: Rock, Newspaper, Scissors

I’ve sat here for 15 minutes trying to describe what happened on the JNSports Twitter last week and I can’t find the words. So... I guess I’ll forget about being clever and just say … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/26/20

Center & Guard: Time To Make Up For Lost Time

Call it making up for lost time. While we have a few weeks off (or more) from the regular spring high school sports schedule, I want to go back a few months and finish up something that got away … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/23/20

The College Report: Greenville Tops SLIAC Meet

Greenville University, coached by Hillsboro native Brian Patton, simply does not have a peer in track and field in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. And Litchfield graduate … more

by Dan Chamness | 3/19/20

Litchfield Middle School sixth grader Vincent Moore gets a lift from teammate, eighth grader Hunter Hancock, after the pair qualified for the IESA State Tournament by both finishing third at the sectional in East Peoria. Unfortunately, the state tournament was cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus and the health of the wrestlers and spectators.

Coronavirus Tech Falls State Tournaments

The good news for Vincent Moore and Hunter Hancock is that they both qualified for the IESA State Wrestling Tournament and made it through this past weekend undefeated. The bad news is that they also … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/16/20

Coffeen official Louis Lang was recognized with the Blue Rock Award by the 3 Rivers Softball Association of Illinois during a meeting hosted by the group on Saturday, Feb. 29. Pictured above are Paul Tomazzoli, USA Softball of Illinois Umpire in Chief; Lang; Glen Vetter, Illinois Deputy Umpire in Chief; and Charles Carlson, who was Illinois Deputy Umpire in Chief for 13 years.

Lang Honored By 3 Rivers Softball Association

On Saturday, Feb. 29, Louis Lang of Coffeen attended a mandatory USA/ASA softball umpires clinic at the Wood River Recreation Center. This meeting was hosted by the 3 Rivers Softball Association and … more

3/16/20

The College Report: Matoush Wraps Up First Season

Sammi Matoush, a Hillsboro graduate, and the rest of the Washington University women’s basketball team will probably look back at the 2019-2020 season as the season they started to turn it … more

by Dan Chamness | 3/12/20

Crawford Picked For Pro Matches

Kayla Crawford of Hillsboro will be participating in the Midwest Indoor Pickleball Championships Pro Exhibition Matches in Charleston, Illinois, on the campus of Eastern Illinois University on March … more

3/9/20

Good Things Come In Threes In Junior High Volleyball

It's the postseason for seventh grade volleyball and three area teams are still alive in three different classes. In IESA Class 7-3A, Hillsboro picked up a regional championship in Divernon, while … more

3/9/20