The Journal-News

From the left, Deklan Riggs, Dillon Smail and Drake Vogel celebrate at home plate after Vogel's home run in the championship game of the Montgomery County Tournament in Raymond. The trio were three of the four Hillsboro batters who hit over .300 for the year, with sophomore Ketch Mills the outlier with a team-best average of .424.

Just as Hillsboro High’s baseball team rallied from a 3 wins, 7 losses record in the first third of the 2022 season to finish 15-10 overall (6-3 in the South Central Conference), sophomore … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 6/16/22

Twenty-three players from schools stretching from New Berlin to Altamont played in the sixth edition of the Grace Cup All-Star soccer game on Saturday, June 11, at Terry Todt Field in Raymond. In front, from the left, are Ethan Lentz, Connor Stalets, Melissa Rufus, Josh Klenke, Dima Powell, Grace Conner, Charlotte Herschelman, Reece Butcher, Levi Weir, Caleb Stevens, Spencer Hoehl and referee Brock Eddings. In the back row are Coach Travis Matthews, Coach Matt Lentz, Josh Bauman, Joe Mattson, Coach Dave Mattson, Matt Page, Lukas Moore, Devin Speiser, Cameron Crow, Brayton Strawkas, Austin Dohleman, Noah Klimpel, Bryce Suckow, Duncan Scheidenhelm, Adam Anderson, Carson Franks and Kyle and Mary Herschelman. Not pictured are assistant referees C.J. Matthews and Kenny Lauderdale and ball boys Cody Matthews, Connor Billington and Lucas Stewart.

Sixth Grace Cup Was Worth The Wait, Challenges

Almost everything about the Grace Cup was a challenge this year. But at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, two teams took the field and played for the love of the game of soccer and in support of a little … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/13/22

Seven members of the Hillsboro High School girls soccer team were named to the South Central Conference all-conference team in 2020-21. From the left are Abbigail Schreiber, Layne Rupert, Sally Mattson, Isabella White, Alex Frailey, Kinley Richardson and Sierra Compton.

Soccer Toppers, Panthers Land Nine On All-SCC

Nine players from Montgomery County were among the 36 honored by the girls soccer coaches of the South Central Conference recently as members of this year’s all-conference teams. Hillsboro, … more

6/2/22

Five Montgomery County high school baseball players earned all-conference recognition from the coaches of the South Central Conference during the 2020-2021 baseball season. Form the left are Deklan Riggs, Dillon Smail, Drake Vogel, Carson Saathoff and Bryce Hires.

Baseball All-Conference Honorees Shine On The Diamond

The Hillsboro High School baseball team earned four all-conference roster spots, while the Litchfield Purple Panthers had two honorees on this year’s 39-player all-conference list selected by … more

6/2/22

Four Montgomery County high school softball players earned all-conference recognition from the coaches of the South Central Conference during the 2020-2021 softball season. Form the left are Taelyn Smith, Taylor Brakenhoff, Bella Roach and Annika Rhodes.

South Central Softball Doles Out All-Conference Honors

Thirty-eight players from the nine South Central Conference schools earned all-conference honors this year as the final teams wrapped up their seasons. Gillespie, the conference champion at 8-0 … more

6/2/22

Four Montgomery County high school wrestlers earned all-conference recognition in the South Central Conference during the 2020-2021 wrestling season. From the left are Alex Powell, Griffen Hughes, Magnus Wells and Ian Malloy.

Three Toppers, One Panther On All-SCC Wrestling

Three Hillsboro wrestlers and one Litchfield wrestler were among the 14 athletes who earned all-conference honors in the South Central Conference for the 2021-22 season. The honorees were … more

6/2/22

Four Montgomery County high school boys basketball players earned all-conference recognition from the coaches of the South Central Conference during the 2020-2021 boys basketball season. From the left are Drake Vogel, Victor McGill, Gavin Matoush and Keenan Powell.

Four From County Honored As All-SCC Basketball

Earlier this year, the Litchfield and Hillsboro boys basketball teams both landed two players on the 18-player South Central Conference boys basketball all-conference team. The Montgomery County … more

6/2/22

Three Hillsboro High School girls basketball players earned all-conference recognition from the coaches of the South Central Conference during the 2020-2021 girls basketball season. From the left are Layne Rupert, Sierra Compton and Alex Frailey.

HHS Trio Earns All-SCC Girls Basketball Honors

Three Hillsboro High School girls basketball players were among the 19 honored by the coaches of the South Central Conference for the 2021-22 all-conference team. The year’s honorees … more

6/2/22

Hillsboro senior Magnus Wells finished 21st in the shot put and 19th in the discus in the preliminaries of the IHSA Class 1A State Track and Field Championships on Thursday, May 26, to wrap up a fantastic three-sport career that included trips to state in track and wrestling and all-conference honors in football.

Wells Throws At State Before Throwing In The Towel On His Prep Career

In an era of specialization amongst high school athletes, Magnus Wells breaks the mold. He was all-conference lineman and Augstana College recruit in football, a state medalist in wrestling and a … more

5/31/22

After a successful senior season, Hillsboro High School senior Abbigail Schreiber will be continuing her soccer career at the next level as a member of the Kaskaskia College women's soccer team. Joining Schrieber for her signing, seated in front were her parents, Chris and Georgia Adams, and sister, Delaney Adams (far right). In the back row are Hillsboro High School girls soccer Assistant Coach Matt Lentz and Head Coach Dave Mattson and Kaskaskia College Head Coach Joe Basch. Not available for the photo was Impact FC Coach DJ Morgan.

Position Change Pays Off Big For Schreiber

Being asked to change positions is rarely easy and sometimes it’s met with great resistance. But when it’s successful, the payoff can be great. That was the case for Hillsboro senior … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/31/22

After one of the most prolific seasons in the last 10 years, Hillsboro High School senior Drake Vogel will be continuing his basketball and educational pursuits at Fontbonne University in St. Louis this fall. A key part of the Toppers’ golf team, Vogel was also offered a spot on the Griffins’ golf team as well. Above are 2021-22 Hillsboro Boys Basketball Coach Kyle McBrain, Rick Vogel, Drake Vogel and Barb Vogel.

Ball Continues To Be Life For Toppers’ Vogel

Of the seven players who are listed ahead of Drake Vogel on the Hillsboro High School boys basketball all-time scoring list, six played basketball in college. Now, the Topper sharpshooter can add his … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/26/22

Ethan Lentz (seated), recently made his decision to play soccer for Lewis and Clark Community College official once his time at Hillsboro High School is complete. Joining Lentz were his sister, Reagan Lentz, parents Brandi and Matt Lentz, and Hillsboro High School boys soccer coach, Jason Burke.

Lentz Blazes Own Trail To Lewis And Clark

For the last four years, Ethan Lentz has been a fixture on the pitch for the Hillsboro High School soccer team. Now, Lentz has the opportunity to blaze a new trail in the college ranks. After … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/26/22

For the second time in her career, Hillsboro's Kaci Papin landed on the medal podium at the IHSA State Finals track meet, taking a third place finish in the high jump on Saturday, May 21, after finishing second in Class 2A last year.

Papin Etches Name In Record Books

It’s not only been a challenging year for Hillsboro High School senior Kaci Papin, it’s also been a challenging career for the Toppers’ standout high jumper. Still, Papin managed … more

5/23/22

The Hillsboro Junior High track team went 3-for-3 at the IESA State Finals track meet on May 20-21, with all competitors bringing home medals. From the left are Jaida Linn, Izabell Fenton, Tytin Wells and Hillsboro Junior High girls track coach Brian Atkins. Not pictured is Hillsboro Junior High boys coach Tom Lunz.

Three Dragons, Three Medals At IESA State

The theory that if at first you don’t succeed, then try and try again worked pretty well for Hillsboro seventh grader Jaida Linn at the IESA State Finals, held May 20-21 at the Eastside Centre … more

5/23/22

For the second straight year, Hillsboro senior Magnus Wells be going to the IHSA State Finals track meet after finishing third in the shot put and second in the discus at the sectional in North Mac on May 18.

Hillsboro Boys Make Progress At Sectional

With a new coach, a move back to Class 1A and several new additions to the roster, the Hillsboro boys track team is a work in progress, with the keyword “progress.” That progress … more

5/23/22

Three members of the Hillsboro Junior High School track team won their events at the IESA Class 3A sectional in Virden on Saturday, May 14, earning a spot at this weekend's state finals in the process. From the left are Jaida Linn, Izabella Fenton and Tytin Wells.

Dragon Trio Earns Trip To State

Just a few days before his older brothers, Magnus and Xander, took their shot at making it to the state finals in track, Tytin Wells showed that the athleticism extends well beyond the high school … more

5/19/22

Hillsboro’s Ella Greenwood sprints to first to beat the throw from short by a step in the Toppers’ regional quarterfinal game against Vandalia on May 16. Playing on their home field, the Vandals scored in five of the six innings to end Hillsboro’s season with an 11-3 defeat.

Sun Shines On Vandals In Win Over Toppers

A long, rain-soaked season came to an end for the Hillsboro High School softball team on Monday, May 16, as the Toppers fell to Vandalia 11-3 on one of the few cloudless days in the 2022 … more

5/19/22

Mater Dei Bids Adieu To Toppers Title Hopes

by Ron Deabenderfer One inning made all the difference as Hillsboro traveled to Breese Mater Dei in Clinton County Monday afternoon, May 16; a five-run third inning for the Knights in … more

5/19/22

Online Auction Benefits Toppers

If 18 holes of golf sounds like a good way to ruin a long walk, but you still want to support the Hillsboro High School football team’s annual Rich Sanders Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday, … more

5/19/22

Toppers Surge Past Shells Late

When Hillsboro’s baseball team ventured to Roxana on Wednesday afternoon, May 11, they found themselves behind by a run until the top of the sixth. Then they banged out five consecutive hits … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/19/22