The Journal-News

Tennis Toppers' First Match Is August 22

The Hilsboro High School girls tennis team will have a new person in charge as Marian Williams takes over as head coach for the 2022-23 season. Williams takes over for Jodi Speiser and welcomes … more

8/11/22

Golf Teams Kick Off 2022-23 Sports Season

The first high school athletic events of the 2022-23 season will begin this week as the four of the eight golf teams start their seasons. The Hillsboro boys and Lincolnwood boys and girls both … more

8/8/22

Sports Booster Drive To Benefit Toppers

The Hillsboro High School athletic teams are preparing for a successful 2022-23 school year, and the Hillsboro Sports Boosters are trying to make sure the Toppers have all the tools necessary to do … more

7/28/22

Sponsorships Available For 2022 Grace Tourney

Preparations are underway for the 2022 Montgomery County Grace Invitational volleyball tournament, which will be hosted by Nokomis this year on Sept. 9-10. The 16-team tournament features all four … more

7/21/22

Sanders Golf Tourney Will Help The Toppers

There’s still time to get signed up for the annual Rich Sanders Memorial Golf Tournament, set for Saturday, July 23, at Indian Springs Golf Course. Proceeds will benefit the Topper … more

7/11/22

SCC Standings Hopefully A Sign Of Things To Come For HHS

Steve Moore, Staunton’s South Central Conference savant, made his SCC all-sport standings available once again this year and for the sixth year in a row, Hillsboro finds themselves in the upper … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/23/22

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.

Toppers Solid In Rain Soaked Season

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