Sports | The Journal-News

Hopley Ups Midwest Super Series Lead With Win

Litchfield junior drag racer Greyson Hopley, son of Terra Hamby and Dan Hopley, picked up his third Midwest Super Series win on Aug. 27, at Bunker Hill Dragstrip in Indiana, with a final round win … more

9/7/23

Litchfield Girls Golf Hosts Trojans, Shells, Vandals

The Litchfield girls golf team welcomed Auburn, Roxana and Vandalia to town on Tuesday, Sept. 5, as they hosted a quad meet at the Litchfield Country Club. The Lady Panthers finished fourth on … more

9/7/23

Sporting camouflage jerseys sponsored by the Illinois National Guard, members of the Nokomis High School football team took time to honor the military prior to their game with Argenta-Oreana on Friday, Sept. 1, in Nokomis. After the ceremony was over, the Redskins marched through the Bombers' defense to the tune of 350 yards of offense for a 46-14 victory. More photos from this game can be found at nokophoto.smugmug.com.

Nokomis Marches Past Argenta-Oreana

The first half of Nokomis’ week one matchup in Arcola wasn’t the tone that Coach Paul Watson wanted for the start of the 2023 season, but since then, the Redskins have shown a little more … more

9/5/23

Litchfield High School senior Kendall Stewart (right) spoke about suicide awareness prior to the start of the Panthers' volleyball game in Hillsboro on Thursday, Aug. 31. Both teams sported "Spike Out Suicide" shirts prior to the game in honor of Suicide Awareness Month, which began Sept. 1.

Toppers Win Streak Continues At Expense Of Rival Purple Panthers

Nothing would have made the Hillsboro volleyball team happier than extending their season opening win streak to four games at the expense of their biggest rival, the Litchfield Purple Panthers. The … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 9/5/23

The Nokomis High School volleyball team finished second overall in the Altamont Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 2, going 3-1-1 to improve to 7-2-1 on the season. In front, from the left, are Kinley Stolte, Maddison DeWerff, Camryn Engelman, Grace King and Becca Hill. In the back row are Assistant Coach Amy Stolte, Lizzy Hill, Mackenzie Mehochko, Addison Glenn, Natalie Brownback, Reaghan Jonas, Presley Mehochko and Head Coach Megan Mehochko.

Lady Redskins 2nd At Altamont Invite

Nokomis’ four-game win streak to start the season may have come to a close in Shelbyville on Aug. 31, but the Lady Redskins bounced back from the setback in fine fashion as they finished second … more

9/5/23

Litchfield receiver Keenan Powell (#4) tries to create some space between himself and Southwestern Blake Rimbey (#4) and Deacon White (#62) during their game in Piasa on Friday, Sept. 1. Southwestern rallied back from a 21-7 deficit to edge the Purple Panthers in a 27-21 thriller. For more photos from the game, go to www.lmm-photography.smugmug.com.

Birds Snatch Victory From Panthers

Litchfield’s bid for their first win of the season came up just short in week two, as Southwestern defended their home turf with a 27-21 come-from-behind victory on Sept. 1. In the first two … more

9/5/23

Hillsboro quarterback Jace Stewart ran elusively at Greenville on Friday, Sept. 1, but Comet defenders like Austin Wall (#43) made offense difficult for the Toppers in a 27-7 loss to the home team.

Comets Hold Off Hiltoppers

When the football Toppers traveled to Greenville Friday night, Sept. 1, the game against the Comets was exciting and fun to watch for the first quarter. Then the Greenville … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/5/23

Schwab 2nd, Litchfield 3rd At Olney Invitational

In theological circles, St. Anthony is the patron saint for recovery of lost items, but in high school golf, St. Anthony doesn’t lose much of anything. The defending Class 1A state champions … more

9/5/23

Frailey Second At Hillsboro Country Club

Hillsboro’s Sam Frailey was just a stroke off of medalist honors on Friday, Sept. 1, as the Lady Toppers hosted Vandalia and Auburn at the Hillsboro Country Club. Frailey shot a 52 on the day … more

9/5/23

Taylorville’s Lincoln Coffey (#32) tries to stay a step ahead of Lincolnwood’s Charlie Clavin (#8, via Nokomis) during their game at Terry Todt Field in Raymond on Sept. 2. Behind five goals from junior Ian Keller, the Lancers improved to 5-1 on the season with an 8-0 victory over Taylorville. More photos from this game can be found at nokophoto.smugmug.com.

Keller, Lancers Score A Glut Of Goals

Like all sports, soccer has its own terminology. A brace is two goals. Three goals is a hat-trick. Four goals is a haul. But five goals? Five goals is a glut. By definition, a glut is an excessively … more

9/5/23

Toppers Finish Off Busy, Successful Week

After finishing off the Kickoff Classic on Route 66 as the overall champions, the first Classic title in school history, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team returned home Thursday afternoon to … more

9/5/23

Litchfield Girls Second For Second Straight Year

Despite losing Delanie Ulrich and Myka Fenton to graduation, the Litchfield High School girls cross country team repeated their second place finish from a year ago at the Carlinville Early Meet on … more

9/5/23

Litchfield Soccer Gets Past Lions In Shootout

After falling to Maryville Christian 6-0 in 2022, the Litchfield boys soccer team was hoping to exact a little revenge when the Lions came to town on Saturday, Sept. 2. As it turns out, the Panthers … more

9/5/23

To No One’s Surprise, Quarton Still Really Fast

A new addition to the Carlinville Early Meet kept Camden Quarton from repeating as the winner of the annual three-mile race that kicks off the Litchfield Cross Country team’s season each year, … more

9/5/23

The pickleball courts at Central Park in Hillsboro will be slammed once again as the MoCo Pickleball Club hosts the Central Park Slam Pickleball Tournament on Sept. 8-10.

Central Park Will Be Slammed September 8-10

The distinctive dink of a pickleball bouncing against a paddle will be heard all over Hillsboro on Sept. 8-10 as the MoCo Pickleball Club will be hosting the Central Park Slam Pickleball Tournament … more

9/5/23

Lincolnwood Boys 2nd At Shoal Creek

Tate Duckels and Carter Zilm shot matching 3-over-par 39s to lead Carlinville to a win at Shoal Creek Golf Course in Raymond on Thursday, Aug. 31. In addition to earning medalist honors with … more

9/5/23

Armentrout Medalist At Home Meet

The Lincolnwood girls golf team welcomed golfers from Carlinville, Carrollton and Shelbyville to Shoal Creek Golf Course on Thursday, Aug. 31. While the Lady Lancers were the only school in … more

9/5/23

Lady Panthers Host Cavies, Comets

The Litchfield High School girls golf team hosted players from Carlinville and Greenville on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the Litchfield Country Club. Keeley Tabor led the Lady Panthers with a 54 on … more

9/5/23

Litchfield's A.J. Odle shot a 2-over-par 37 to help the Panthers to a 151 on their home course and a win over Vandalia, Lincolnwood, Gillespie and Taylorville on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Panthers Go Low At Home

After having a pair of matches canceled last week due to the heat, the Litchfield boys golf team hit the links on their home course on Tuesday, Aug. 29, with Vandalia, Gillespie, Taylorville and … more

8/31/23

Lady Redskins Still Perfect In 2023

The Nokomis Lady Redskins continued their strong start to the season with a pair of wins over St. Elmo/Brownstown and Gillespie on Aug. 28 and 29. Both wins were in two sets as the Lady Redskins … more

8/31/23