Litchfield High Sports | The Journal-News

Litchfield’s Rilynn Younker went 4-2 at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals on Saturday, July 14, finishing in the top 24 out of 128 competitors in her division at the elite tournament in Fargo, ND.

The best wrestlers in the country descended on Fargo, ND this week for the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, or “Fargo” as it is more commonly known. Among that group was Rilynn … more

7/14/25

FCA Power Camp participants, staff and huddle leaders smile together wearing their camp T-shirts. The camp hosted 45 campers along with 20 coaches and huddle leaders.

Litchfield Hosts 2025 FCA Power Camp

Litchfield hosted the 2025 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Power Camp on June 23 through June 25. Young athletes from all over the area gathered together at the high school and middle school … more

6/30/25

Rilynn Younker, pictured with her teammate and coach for the weekend, Vincent Moore, took first in her weight class at the Illinois Freestyle State Wrestling Tournament earlier this year, which earned her a spot on Team Illinois for the Women’s National Duals. Younker and her teammates finished fourth out of 29 teams at the event, which was held on June 18-21, in Westfield, IN.

Younker, Team Illinois Take Fourth At Nationals

It’s been a busy last few months for Rilynn Younker, but it’s just the start for the Litchfield High School junior-to-be. On June 18-21, Younker was in Westfield, IN, for the … more

6/30/25

Sixty years after sustaining injuries that would cost him his life, four brothers of the late Ricky Dees presented Litchfield High School with his framed football jersey in honor of Dees and concussion awareness. From the left are Bill Dees, Litchfield Superintendent Dr. Kelly McClain, Frank Dees, Tim Dees and Denis Dees.

Dees Story Still Has Impact 60 Years Later

In a more perfect situation, Ricky Dees would be celebrating his 60th reunion this summer with his fellow classmates from the Litchfield High School class of 1965. Instead, Dees’ presence will … more

6/23/25

Max Leitschuh Named To 2A IHSBCA All-State Team

For the first time since 2012, Litchfield High School has an all-stater in baseball. After a stellar junior season, Max Leitschuh was named to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches … more

6/23/25

Seventeen members of the Litchfield Middle School/High School trap shooting team competed in Illinois State High School Clay Target League State Tournament on June 1, in Bunker Hill. Team members, in front, from the left, are Hanna Abel, Cam Bone, Ryan Gray, Kaylee Belusko, Jace Pennock and Leo Woodring. In the back are Coach Kyle "Hootie" Sutton, Allison Belusko, McKenna Harmon, Cal Frerichs, Tyler Belusko, Hudson Walker, Lee Johnson, Ethan Rosado, Dean Gibbs, Wyld Gilmore, Jaida Biechler, Adia Melchert and Coach Tommy Melchert.

Litchfield Trap Team Shoots Their Shot At State Tourney

Seventeen members of the Litchfield Middle School/High School trap shooting team made the trip to the Brittany Shooting Park in Bunker Hill on June 1, for the Illinois State High School Clay Target … more

6/19/25

Half Dozen From Montgomery County Land On All-SCC Team

Six players from Montgomery County snagged seven of the 35 spots on the South Central Conference all-conference baseball team, which was voted on by the coaches of the conference. … more

6/16/25

Two Toppers, Three Panthers Make All-SCC Softball Squad

The Hillsboro and Litchfield/Mt. Olive softball teams combined to put five players on this year’s South Central Conference all-conference team, which was voted on by the coaches of the … more

6/9/25

Thirteen From County Make All-SCC Soccer Team

Thirteen Montgomery County soccer players were among the 36 honored with all-conference recognition by the coaches of the South Central Conference recently, as the nine teams in the SCC wrapped up … more

6/5/25

Litchfield's Jaxon Ray reaches back to take the handoff from Martavious Jones during the Panthers' 4x200 meter run at the IHSA State Finals on Thursday, May 29. The pair also ran the 4x100 with teammates Will Cress and Alec Roach, finishing in the program's second fastest time ever, a 43.92.

Litchfield 4x100 Saves Best For State

The Litchfield boys 4x100 relay team saved their best performance for last as they ran the second fastest time in the program’s history to highlight the Panthers’ trip to the IHSA State … more

6/2/25

Litchfield junior Izabella Fenton continues to do better at state each time as she posted her best state finishes yet, a 19th in the triple jump and a 20th in the long jump during the preliminary rounds on Thursday, May 22, in Charleston.

Lady Panthers Put Best Foot Forward At State

The beautiful thing about track and field is that your biggest competition is the one you know the best - yourself. Entering the IHSA State Finals track meet with the 34th best sectional time in the … more

5/27/25

For the first time since 2012, and after placing second by two points last year, the Litchfield High School boys track team claimed a sectional championship on Wednesday, May 21, scoring 102 points to take the top spot by 20. The team also qualified for state in eight events, the most since they sent nine entries in 2003 and 2004.

Litchfield Boys Track Wins Sectional Title

A lot has to go right for a team to win a sectional title in track and on Wednesday, May 21, almost everything did for the Litchfield Purple Panthers. After missing a sectional championship by two … more

5/27/25

Auburn Pushes Past Litchfield

The Litchfield-Mt. Olive baseball team’s 2025 campaign came to a close on Saturday morning, May 24, in Auburn at the hands of the Auburn Trojans in the regional championship game. The Trojans, … more

5/27/25

Litchfield Stymies Sullivan To Move To Title Game

The Litchfield/Mt. Olive baseball team began their postseason journey on Wednesday afternoon, May 21, as the second seeded Purple Panthers squared off against the eighth seeded Sullivan Redskins. … more

5/27/25

For the first time since 2019, the Litchfield High School girls soccer team claimed a regional championship, beating Staunton 4-3 on Tuesday, May 20. In front, from the left, are seniors Kristin Gruelle and Daphney Hartel. In the middle row are Maya Estell, Avery Stewart, Adia Melchert, Emma Weidner, Lynzie Reid, Charlotte Reyes, Kathryn Cox, Savannah Carle, Cheyenne Cobix and Kyndal Law. In the back are Assistant Coach Brian Vazzi, Alexia Baiget, Melody Vazzi, Naja Kjeldson, McKenna Harmon, Ava Ballard, Halle Rogers, Kilee Hoover, Jordyn Ferguson, Chloe Law, Assistant Coach Lonnie Law and Head Coach Dominique Ranger.

Panthers Survive Staunton’s Best Shot

With 19 of their 24 games decided by two goals or more, the anxiety of the final seconds of a close game is an experience that the Litchfield-Mt. Olive girls soccer team hasn’t experienced much … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/22/25

Litchfield-Mt. Olive's Chloe Green slides into home plate to score the game-tying run in the seventh inning of the Lady Panthers' regional game against Hillsboro on Monday, May 19. While the Panthers rallied from a two-run deficit in the seventh to send the game to extra innings, they weren't as fortunate in the extra frame as Hillsboro scored four times in the eighth and went on to win 10-6, advancing to the regional semifinal against Greenville, who they beat 4-3 on Tuesday, May 20.

Hillsboro Gets Past Panthers In Eight Innings

The phrase, “It ain’t over, ‘til it’s over,” never rang so true as it did on Monday, May 19, when Litchfield hosted Hillsboro for the softball regional opener between … more

5/22/25

Father McGivney Picks Up Second Win Over Panthers

Both the Purple Panthers and the Father McGivney Griffins would have a first round bye in post season action. What better way to pass the time away before their first game in regionals, than … more

5/22/25

A volunteer with the Litchfield youth wrestling and football programs, Devin Hansel (right) was named the recipient of the inaugural Collin A. Davidson Memorial Litchfield Wrestling Foundation. Chance Davidson, Collin’s cousin and the head coach of the Litchfield High School wrestling team, presented the scholarship to Hansel during the Litchfield Open Tournament on May 10.

Hansel Receives Inaugural Collin Davidson Scholarship

Nearly 400 competitors from four to almost 50 years old flooded the two gyms at Litchfield Middle/High School on Saturday, May 10, for the 2025 Litchfield Open Tournament. While there plenty of … more

5/22/25

Litchfield senior Alex Gasperson leads a pack of runners around the fourth turn at the North Mac Sectional on Friday, May 16. Gasperson narrowly missed a spot at state, but finished fifth and ran a personal best time of 2:36.62 in the 800 meters at the sectional.

Panthers Qualify Four From Sectional Storm

It took two days and two venues, but four Litchfield High School athletes are headed to state after competing at the Riverton-turned-North Mac Sectional on May 15 and 16. Senior Caitlyn Travis, … more

5/19/25

It's Litchfield/Staunton For The Regional Title

The best that the South Central Conference has to offer will meet again on Tuesday, May 20, but this time, there is a regional title on the line. Litchfield (18-3-2) handed Staunton (18-1) their only … more

5/19/25