Sports | The Journal-News

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.

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

Ten Litchfield runners competed in the East Alton-Wood River Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 7. From the left are Matt Green, Kenny Traylor, Mitchell Floyd, Joelle Hughes, Camden Quarton, Braxton Kieffer, Alec Roach and Chris McGee. Not pictured are Rilynn Younker and Darby Braasch.

Braasch, Quarton Second Overall At EAWR

Few were faster at the East Alton-Wood River Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 7, than Litchfield’s Camden Quarton and Darby Braasch as the pair of Panthers finished second overall at the 5,000 … more

10/10/23

County Dual Heads North To Mt. Zion

For several years, the annual regular season meeting between the Litchfield and Hillsboro wrestling teams took place in one of three places: Hillsboro, Litchfield or Mt. Olive, who was the customary … more

12/14/23

Cumberland's Kelby Bierman (left) and Hillsboro's Nathan Matoush fight for possession during the third place game of the St. Elmo Holiday Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 16. The pair led their respective teams in scoring, with Bierman scoring 13 and Matoush finishing with 15, as the Pirates escaped with a 53-46 come-from-behind victory over the Hiltoppers.

Toppers Can't Close Gap With Cumberland

Poor free throw shooting and eight fourth quarter turnovers were the primary reasons Hillsboro’s boys basketball team fell to the Cumberland Pirates 53-46 in the third place game at the St. … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 12/18/23

Lincolnwood Girls Fall To Hawk Invite Hosts

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville girls basketball team had the misfortune of playing the host school in the Lady Hawk Invitational as they faced off against Carrollton, who was 15-6 entering the game. … more

1/22/24

Relays Lead Lady Redskins At North Mac

The Nokomis Lady Redskins finished in the top three eight times on Wednesday, April 10, at a six-team meet in Virden. The host Panthers took the top spot on their home track, scoring 179 points. … more

4/15/24

Lancers Get Second Win Over Litchfield

One of the few good things about the Litchfield-Gillespie soccer team being relegated to Class 2A is that the Panthers won't have to see Lincolnwood any more in the 2023 season. In the final … more

10/10/23

Toppers Start Tourney With A Win

As the top seed in the St. Elmo Christmas Tournament, the Hillsboro Hiltoppers had two distinctions; they were selected to play the opening game on Tuesday, Dec. 12, and they were pitted against the … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 12/14/23

Poffinbarger Rolls Second 800 Series At Litchfield

It had been seven years since anyone had bowled an 800 series at the Litchfield Bowling Alley when Bobby White rolled an 824 on Nov. 27, in the alley’s Monday night league. The next 800 series … more

1/22/24

Beating the throw from the outfield to Lincolnwood-Morrisonville catcher Kaci Bethard, Hillsboro’s Audrey Shultz slides into home plate for the Lady Hiltoppers’ eighth run of the game. Hillsboro went on to score two more after Shultz’s sprint to the plate as they defeated the Lady Lancers 10-5 in Hillsboro on Monday, March 11.

Hillsboro, Lincolnwood Square Off In Softball Season Opener

It’s usually a toss-up when it comes to early March weather in Illinois, but the Lincolnwood and Hillsboro softball teams had about as good of conditions as you can get for their season opener … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 3/14/24

Nokomis Sweeps Springfield Lutheran

Nokomis scored 11 runs in the second inning as they defeated Springfield Lutheran 18-0 in Springfield on Thursday, April 11. The Redskins scored in all four innings of the shortened game, … more

4/15/24

Nokomis' Irene Vandenbergh earned the school's first medal in track, jumping 10.5 meters to finish eighth in the triple jump on Saturday, May 20, at the IHSA State Finals track meet in Charleston. Vandenbergh made it to the finals thanks to a 10.27 meter jump (above) on her last attempt in preliminarys on Thursday, May 18.

Vandenbergh's Medal A First For Nokomis

“I was hoping to have fun.” That was Irene Vandenbergh’s goal going into the IHSA Class 1A State Finals track meet on May 18 in Charleston. Two days later, Vandenbergh got that … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/22/23

Carlinville Slips Past Panthers

After winning back-to-back games to get over the .500 mark for the season, the Litchfield High School volleyball team ran up against a tough Carlinville squad that had won four of their last five. … more

10/10/23

Highland Pulls Out Victory Over Litchfield

After falling behind 10-0 in the opening quarter of their game with Highland on Dec. 12, the Litchfield boys basketball team pulled within one point of the lead in the opening minutes of the third … more

12/14/23

Bonnell Picks Up First Win As Head Coach

In a blink of an eye the world can change and for the Litchfield High School boys basketball team, a major change occurred Thursday evening, Dec. 14. Just 24 hours before their South Central … more

12/18/23

Litchfield's Ethan Saathoff allowed just three hits in five innings, while striking out five PORTA batters as he helped the Panthers defeat the Bluejays 5-3 in the season opener on Monday, March 11, in Litchfield.

Panthers Turn The Tables On Bluejays

A year ago, PORTA Bluejays spoiled the Litchfield-Mt. Olive baseball team’s season opener with a 4-1 victory. On Monday afternoon, the Purple Panthers flipped roles with the visiting … more

3/14/24

With a conference title in boys soccer and basketball, a playoff appearance in football, a third place finish at the boys state golf tournament and a state medalist in cross country among the list of accomplishments already this year, the 2023-24 school year has been a banner one for the class of 2024. On Monday, March 18, the families and friends of 13 of those individuals who made this year special were recognized during Litchfield High School's signing day at Simmons Gym as they prepare to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. From the left are Victor McGill, Tug Schwab, Annika Rhodes, Tisha Jarden, Alyssa Lohman, Keenan Powell, Mannix Hancock, Easton Grammer, Tate Dobrinich, A.J. Odle, Amy Frerichs, A.J. Sypherd and Carson Saathoff.

Journal-News On The Line: Litchfield Hosts Signing Day For Class of 2024

Before introducing the 13 students from Litchfield High School who have chosen to extend their athletic years into college, Athletic Director Mark Elvers listed some of the Class of 2024’s … more

3/21/24

The College Report: Detmers, Janssen Come Up Big For Big Blue

Drew Detmers , a Chatham-Glenwood graduate and Nokomis native, deserved to earn a victory for the Millikin University Big Blue long before the 12-2 triumph over Elmhurst University. But, … more

by Dan Chamness | 4/15/24

Nokomis' Addison Dangbar prepares to make the throw back into the infield after a double to center field during the Lady Redskins' regional championship game in Carrollton on Saturday, May 20. The regional hosts used a five-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach as Carrollton defeated Nokomis 10-2 to take the title.

Flowers Brings Title To Carrollton In May

Carrollton sophomore Lauren Flowers was impressive in the circle and at the plate on Saturday, May 20, as the Hawks ended Nokomis’ season with a 10-2 win in the regional championship in … more

5/22/23

Hillsboro senior Ellie Miller (#12) sets up Addison Lowe for the attack during the Toppers' home game on Oct. 5, against Staunton. The Bulldogs picked up their 38th straight win in the South Central Conference, beating the Toppers 25-10, 25-21.

Staunton Still Top Dog In SCC

With a 4-0 South Central Conference record in 2023 and a 37-game SCC win streak dating back to 2019, Staunton was the consensus favorite to win the conference title for a fourth straight year in … more

10/10/23