The Journal-News

The College Report: College Football Wraps Up

Litchfield graduate Trevor Geggie simply had his best two football games of the year in the last three games of the year. That is what the stats and the numbers say for the Knox College … more

by Dan Chamness | 1/18/22

After more than 50 years as a softball official, Hillsboro's Paul Tomazzoli, pictured here in 2009, has officially hung up his chest protector. Tomazzoli, who also officiated baseball and football, has umpired games at all levels, including some for the United States National Team.

Tomazzoli Hangs It Up After Legendary Officiating Career

For the past 50-plus years, Hillsboro’s own Paul Tomazzoli has umpired football, baseball and softball at the high school, collegiate and national level. On Dec. 31, 2021, Tomazzoli retired and … more

by D.W. Stewart | 1/13/22

The College Report: Geggie Catches Fire For Knox

Trevor Geggie, a Knox College football player and Litchfield graduate, achieved the football version of a hat trick against Lawrence University. His three touchdowns were instrumental in helping … more

by Dan Chamness | 1/10/22

The College Report: Brockmeyer Comes Up Big

Some things in sports are foregone conclusions. The latest: Abby Brockmeyer, a Lincolnwood graduate, being named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week in the sport of … more

by Dan Chamness | 12/20/21

As the weather cools down, Hillsboro's Sammi Matoush is starting to heat up for the Washington University women's basketball team. Matoush, who is in her junior year, has put up double digit points in three games this year, most recently in Washington's 85-65 win over Fontbonne on Dec. 8, when she had 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

The College Report: Matoush Hitting Her Stride at Wash-U

Over time, Sammi Matoush, a Hillsboro graduate, will get more and more used to playing down low, closer to the basket. But Washington University students are known to be not only incredible … more

by Dan Chamness | 12/13/21

The College Report: Scroggins Plays Through The Pain

Not even an injury can keep Jade Scroggins from the basketball floor. The Hannibal-LaGrange University player, a Hillsboro graduate, is struggling with a hand injury, but even dealing with a … more

by Dan Chamness | 12/6/21

Lincolnwood grad Abby Brockmeyer is back at Southern Illinois University for her fifth year and is climbing up the standings for the Carbondale school's career scoring leaders.

College Report: Brockmeyer Back At It For Salukis

Lincolnwood graduate Abby Brockmeyer is movin’ on up like the Jeffersons. Not just academically, as the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale product is now a graduate student, but up on … more

by Dan Chamness | 11/18/21

With almost three decades of dedication to the sport of horseshoes and counting, Litchfield’s Mike Wood (left) was inducted into the Illinois State Horseshoe Pitching Association Hall of Fame during the state tournament in Moline in September. Pictured with Wood is Austin Bailey, who nominated Wood for the honor and was also inducted into the hall of fame in 2021.

Wood Inducted Into Horseshoe Hall Of Fame

For almost three decades, Mike Wood has dedicated much of his free time to building up the sport that he loves. Now, that sport has given the Litchfield horseshoe pitcher a little love back. more

11/15/21

It has been a solid fall season for Litchfield's Alex Bishop as the Purdue Northwest senior set a school record for most rounds at par or better and was the school's first men's golfer to earn Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Men’s Golfer of the Week honors.

Bishop Has Record Year At Purdue Northwest

Alex Bishop’s fourth year at Purdue Northwest University may be his best one yet. At the ONU Bill Johnson Fall Invite at the Elks Country Club in St. Anne on Sept. 17-18, the Litchfield … more

11/4/21

The final four of this year’s Litchfield Country Club Club Championship, from the left, were Curt Faas, Brad Niehaus, Doug Graham and Steve Poffinbarger, who dropped in a hole-in-one on the 220-yard 10th hole en route to the overall title.

‘Poff’ Aces Litchfield Club Championships

It was a long journey to the Litchfield Country Club Club Championship for Steve “Poff” Poffinbarger, but one he won’t soon forget. On Oct. 20, the final day of the tournament … more

11/4/21

Hillsboro’s Chase Saathoff will add a few digits to his familiar number six as he races the number 106 Turner Racing Honda in the Progressive American Flat Track pro racing series next year.

Saathoff Picks Turner Racing To Go Pro

It’s been quite the year for Hillsboro racer Chase Saathoff. Of the 105-plus races he entered, Saathoff finished first 86 times, with 18 other top six finishes and just two DNFs (did not … more

10/28/21

The College Report: Atkins Brothers Compete

If there is a way to point out the strength of the Greenville University Cross Country team, it is simply this: Hillsboro graduates Isaiah Atkins and Elijah Atkins were not part of the varsity … more

10/25/21

Pictured above are Timothy Hearn with his parents, Michelle and David, and his younger brother Brayden in victory lane at Central Illinois Dragway in Havana.

Hearn Wins Big At Central Illinois Dragway

Litchfield racer Timothy Hearn picked up a trophy and a little spending money on Oct. 9 as he won the Alan Hutto Memorial Junior Dragster Race at Central Illinois Dragway. Competing in the 7.90 … more

10/25/21

Area Riders Pick Up Wins At Cahokia Creek

Several area riders came home with wins from the Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders Hare Scrambles on Sept. 12, including Jhadyn Walker who topped the AA class and the overall adult race. The Morrisonville … more

10/25/21

Gillespie’s Collin Johnson rides through one of the creeks that run through the Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders grounds during the Big Red Enduro on Sunday, Oct. 17.

Area Riders Go Big At 2021 Big Red Enduro

The Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders hosted their annual Big Red Enduro on Sunday, Oct. 17, with 70 riders competing in this year’s event. Several area riders took home wins from the five-section … more

10/25/21

The move to 125cc hasn't slowed down Donnellson's Zach Duff, who grabbed two top finishes at Megacross in Mendota on Sept. 4.

Megacross Mega-Good For Duff Boys Racing

The Duff brothers picked up four top 10 finishes at the Megacross race in Mendota on Saturday, Sept. 4, including a pair of wins. Younger brother Cooper Duff would pick up wins in both the 65cc … more

10/14/21

Donnellson's Cooper Duff, pictured here at Megacross in Mendota, picked up a pair of wins in the Fox Valley Off Road Series finale on Sept. 25-26, in Wedron. Duff took first in the 65cc Grand Prix, with his dad, Ryan, and brother, Zach, taking first and second respectively in their divisions on Sept. 25, then took first again in the 65cc Hare Scramble the next day.

Duffs, Komor Get Wins At Fox Valley

The Fox Valley Off Road Series in Wedron closed out its 2021 season with grand prix races on Sept. 25, followed by hare scrambles on Sept. 26. Donnellson’s Duff Boys racing team all competed … more

10/12/21

Walshville's Travis Lentz shows off his hardware after winning round nine of the IXCR Cross Country Series in Madison, IN, on Sept. 19. Lentz also won round 10 of the series and currently sits first in the points.

Lentz Claims Two IXCR Wins

Walshville racer Travis Lentz picked up two victories in three races in the Indiana-based IXCR Cross Country Series to help keep him atop the overall points leader board in the 65cc class. At … more

10/12/21

Pictured above, from the left, are Dustin Bryant, Phil and Sharon Bryant and Corey Wood, along with the Chevrolet Vega he piloted to a second place finish at the Summer Door Car Shootout, owned by Roger and Pam Burdell.

Wood Second At Summer Door Car Shootout

It was a good weekend at the Summer Door Car Shootout on Sept. 17-19 for Corey Wood as the Litchfield racer took second in Sunday’s $10,000 race. Wood, who also made it to the fourth round on … more

10/12/21

Lentz Gets First GNCC Win Of 2021

After a break of more than a month, the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series started back up in September, with races in Beckley, WV and Millfield, OH. Round 10 of the 12-round series, … more

10/12/21