Sports | The Journal-News

Prior to the game seniors Amy Frerichs, Taylor Bradburn, Kendall Stewart and Annika Rhodes were honored along with their parents for their service to the program. All four players played a part in Thursday’s win.

Litchfield Volleyball Team Wins On Senior Night

The Litchfield High School volleyball team sent their seniors out on a high note on Thursday, Oct. 19, with a two-set win over North Mac 25-18, 25-23. Prior to the game seniors Amy Frerichs, Taylor … more

10/23/23

The College Report: Janssen Starts A Streak

Nokomis graduate Ryan Janssen has a streak going. The Millikin University senior catcher has hit safely in five games in a row. “Much of my early season success at the plate comes to … more

by Dan Chamness | 3/4/24

'Skins Earn Share Of MSM Title

The Nokomis High School volleyball team had the chance to clinch a share of the MSM Conference championship on Tuesday, Oct. 17, as the Calvary Saints came to Nokomis for the final conference game … more

10/19/23

Litchfield's Braxton Kieffer looks toward the clock during his 144-pound regional championship match with Quinten Chizmar of Auburn on Saturday, Feb. 3, in Auburn. Kieffer beat Chizmar 10-6 in the match to earn his first regional championship and advance to the sectional, one of six Litchfield wrestlers to move on to Vandalia next weekend.

Braxton Key For Panthers' Regional Success

When illness kept Litchfield sophomore Braxton Kieffer from competing in the Panthers’ home tournament in the last weekend of the regular season, the Rich Lovellette Classic, Coach Chance … more

2/5/24

Powell Sets The Standard In 2024 Debut

The Litchfield High School track team made their 2024 debut on Saturday, March 2, at Lantz Fieldhouse on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, but one member of the team may … more

3/4/24

Pictured above, in front, from the left are Adrianna Remer, Karsyn Jones, Eisley Kudyba, Timberleigh Everett, Lainey Barcum, Sawyer Spencer, Aubrie Smith and Perry Barcum. In the second row are Lucy Boyett, CJ Yeske, Lily Barnes, Sophia Odle, Katrina Millburg, Savannah Bequette, Payton Ronco, Avery Barcum and Mabry Bondurant. In the third row are Elaina Kenny, Ryleigh Hamm, Gracie Chambers, Braelynn SanMiguel, Summer Spencer, Tenleigh Schulte, Emma Rhodes, Harper Fuller, Kyla Greenwood and Kate Cunningham.

HEAT Tumblers Compete At Nationals During June

The week of June 19 through June 24, 60 athletes from Hilltop Elite Academy of Tumbling and Trampoline, Inc. (HEAT) in Hillsboro traveled to Springfield to compete against other … more

7/10/23

Hilsboro Wrestling Coach Garrett Young congratulates Zander Wells after the Topper senior won the regional title at 165 pounds in Auburn on Saturday, Feb. 3.

Topper Trio Goes 1-2-3 To Sectionals

It was a productive trip to Auburn for the Hillsboro High School wrestling team as the Toppers advanced three wrestlers on to the Vandalia Sectional on Feb. 9-10. The top three finishers in each … more

2/5/24

Hughes, Linn, Smith Get Wins In Opener

The Hillsboro High School track team opened up the 2024 season with a bang on Saturday, March 2, at the Rushville-Industry Invite at King Fieldhouse on the campus of Illinois College in Jacksonville. … more

3/4/24

Hillsboro’s Pollard Named USTA National Champion

Ainsley Pollard of Hillsboro recently competed at the USTA Trampoline and Tumbling Nationals in Springfield on June 19 to 24. Pollard was named the national champion in the double-mini category for … more

7/10/23

Soccer Toppers Fall in Regional Final

The 2023 season ended in heartbreak for the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the Effingham St Anthony IHSA regional final as the Toppers fell to the Newton Eagles by the … more

10/19/23

Hillsboro's Jace Stewart slams on the brakes as Litchfield's Keenan Logan (#1) goes up for the block during the game between the two rivals on Friday, Feb. 2. After a close first half, Litchfield pulled away from the Toppers for a 61-36 win, their fifth in as many opportunities in South Central Conference play.

Purple Panthers Get Toppers In Round 2

The theory that the 2023-24 version of the Litchfield Purple Panthers is better than the same vintage Hillsboro Hiltoppers was proven decisively Friday evening, Feb. 2, in Simmons Gym when Litchfield … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 2/5/24

Roller Coaster Season Yields 20-Wins, SCC Title For Litchfield

It’s hard to imagine a ball club that has experienced as many ups and downs as the Litchfield boys basketball team has experienced in the last four years: four head coaches (including one that … more

3/4/24

Claire Trader, pictured above, of Hillsboro competed at the Power of Dance National Competition on Tuesday, June 27. She placed second overall in the Tween Intermediate Lyrical Solo Category.

Trader Places Second At National Dance Competition

Claire Trader of Hillsboro recently attended the Power of Dance National competition on Tuesday, June 27, in Chicago. After attending a Power of Dance competition in April where she received 6th … more

7/10/23

Lancers Come Up Short In Regional Title Game

On paper, Tuesday's regional championship game between Lincolnwood and Pleasant Plains looked like it would be a defensive battle. On the field, nothing occurred to dissuade fans from that thought as … more

10/19/23

Nokomis Edges Hillsboro In Barn-Burner

A relatively warm late January/early February became a bit warmer in Hillsboro Saturday evening, Feb. 3, when the Nokomis Redskins and the Hillsboro Hiltoppers staged a barn-burner of a high school … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 2/5/24

2023-24 Hiltoppers Grew As Season Went On

The 2023-24 basketball season was one of contrasts-low points (the home 53-21 loss to Pana in the first conference game of the season) was the lowest to me because as the Panthers’ season … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 3/4/24

Lancers Avenge Lutheran Losses

The Lincolnwood and Springfield Lutheran boys basketball teams had already met twice before going into the game between the two MSM Conference rivals on Thursday, Feb. 1. The Crusaders won the first … more

2/5/24

Litchfield's Dan Newkirk was the grand marshal for the IESA Parade of Champions at the state wrestling championships in Dekalb on Saturday, March 9. Pictured with Newkirk are his son Seth, wife Amy, daughter and son-in-llaw Betzy and Jake Szerletich and his granddaughters, Emma and Chloe Szerletich.

Newkirk Leads The Way Again

From when he helped start the program in 2002 until his retirement last spring, former Litchfield Middle School wrestling coach Dan Newkirk had his fair share of memorable moments at the IESA State … more

3/11/24

Freshman Tori Elvidge goes up for a kill early in the Lancers’ loss to Pawnee on Monday, Oct. 16. With several key players out due to injury, Coach Kimberly Denney has had to turn to her underclassmen to carry some of the load the last few weeks.

Pawnee Keeps Lancers From Conference Crown

The Lincolnwood High School volleyball team entered their game on Monday, Oct. 16, with a shot at a share of the MSM Conference title. Unfortunately, Pawnee had other ideas and kept the Lancers from … more

10/19/23

Litchfield's Ethan Saathoff defends Civic Memorial guard Adam Ogden during the first quarter of the Panthers' final pool play game at the Rick McGraw Memorial Invitational in Litchfield. Ogden had 34 points, including 16 from the free-throw line, in Civic Memorial's 74-63 win over Litchfield, which moved them to Friday's championship round.

Eagles Slip Past Purple Panthers

After a convincing win in their first pool play game the Litchfield boys basketball team looked to wrap up pool play with an unblemished record and a chance to play Friday night basketball in Simmons … more

1/18/24