Sports | The Journal-News

It's Hillsboro, It's Litchfield, It's Week Five For Football

Questions abound before the Hillsboro at Litchfield varsity football game tomorrow, Sept. 22; known answers aren’t as obvious. The weatherman Wednesday afternoon said rain was probable … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/21/23

More than $22,000 has been raised for the Capital Area Career Center, Panhandle School District special education and other charities during the five years in which the Austin Krager Memorial Golf Tournament has been held. Pictured above are Krager’s family and representatives from two of the organizations the outing has helped. From the left are Austin’s sister Skylar (Krager) Thomas with his nephew, Drew Austin; tournament organizer Matt Jones; Wes Aymer of Capital Area Career Center; Lincolnwood Principal Ken Schuster; Austin’s parents Mark and Jill Krager, Austin’s sisters Cassie and Maddie Krager and Austin’s nephew, Crue Anthony Walker (left) and Drew Austin Thomas.

Golf Tournament Continues To Help Causes Important To Krager Family

Over the last five years the Austin Krager Memorial Golf Outing has raised more than $22,000 for causes that meant a lot to the tournament’s namesake and his family. Krager, who passed … more

9/21/23

Zander Wells, one of Hillsboro’s dynamic duo Friday night, compiled 238 rushing yards on 10 carries against Gillespie. One of his backfield partners, Dylan Lessman, gained 234 yards on 10 carries as the Toppers scored 62 points, 45 more than the Miners in the win on Sept. 15.

Dynamic Duo Major Problem For Miners

Defensive coordinators on all levels of football know its imperative to have two cornerbacks who can “set the edge,” keep the opposing players from breaking down … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 9/18/23

CENTER AND GUARD • The Grace Cup Returns

Soccer was always Grace and I’s thing. Her Uncle Daniel got her first soccer ball for her just a few days after she was born. She used to dribble around the ottoman in our living room, with … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 9/18/23

Litchfield's Max Leitschuh works to haul down Greenville running back Carson Bearley during the Panthers' week four match-up with the Comets on Sept. 15. Litchfield put a scare into the undefeated Comets, trailing just 28-20 going into the fourth quarter, before Greenville held on for a 34-20 victory.

Panthers Nearly Steal One From Greenville

The year was 2003 and Litchfield and Greenville would be set for a week eight match-up. Litchfield suffered their first loss of the season the week before and carried a 6-1 record into the contest, … more

9/18/23

With the help of blockers like Daryl Evans (#22) and Hunter Arkebauer (#53), Nokomis running back Nolan Herpstreith was able to run for 211 yards on just 21 carries on Friday, Sept. 15, as the Redskins defeated Cerro Gordo-Bement 46-7 to improve to 2-2 on the season.

Redskin Running Game Bust Broncos

Three weeks into the 2023 season, Nokomis wasn’t where they wanted to be. So going into week four’s game against Cerro Gordo-Bement, Coach Paul Watson took a step back. “After three … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 9/18/23

In front, from the left, are Emoree Shepard, Hanna Hughes, Reagan Lentz, Kennady Clayton, Maycie Fuller, Leah Satterlee and Amya Greenwood. In the back are Tyler Beard, Tatum Christian, Addison Lowe, Kearstynn Davis, Ellie Miller, Sophia Blankenship and Coach Emily Zimmerman.

Lady Hiltoppers Third At Vandalia Tourney

After losing a three-set heartbreaker at home to Carlinville on Thursday, the Hillsboro High School volleyball team was looking to rebound with a strong performance at the Vandalia Tournament on … more

9/18/23

Nokomis Continues To Roll Along In 2023

Last year’s 18-win season was the most prolific in 20 years for the Nokomis High School volleyball team, but 18 games into the 2023 season and the Lady Redskins are well ahead of the pace that … more

9/18/23

Lancers Bounce Back, Get Denney's 300th

The Lincolnwood-Morrisonville volleyball team saw their season-long 12-game winning streak come to an end on Friday, Sept. 15, at the Ray Long Volleyball Classic in New Berlin, but came back with a … more

9/18/23

Soccer Toppers Get Big Win At North Mac

After a hard fought tilt against the Greenville Comets on Tuesday that took just about all of the allotted 80 minutes to decide, the Hillsboro High School boys soccer team traveled to North Mac … more

9/18/23

Eagles Land Lancers In Second

It was a good day for eagle watching on Sept. 14, as the Lincolnwood boys golf team scored not one, but two eagles in their match at the Pana Country Club on Thursday. Bryce Cowdrey and Zeke … more

9/18/23

Litchfield Picks Up Two More Victories

The Litchfield boys soccer team improved to 9-2 overall and 4-0 in the South Central Conference this week as they picked up a pair of wins over Pana and Metro-East Lutheran on the road. The … more

9/18/23

Lancers Tie Springfield Lutheran

Carson Contreras had one save and recorded his seventh shutout of the season on Friday, Sept. 15, as the Lincolnwood soccer team tied Springfield Lutheran 0-0. The Lancers were supposed to play … more

9/18/23

Weiss Medals As Toppers Down Panthers, Trojans

The Hillsboro boys golf team improved to 8-0 on the season with a victory over North Mac and Auburn in Girard on Friday, Sept. 15. Playing on the short, but unique layout of Oak Hills Country … more

9/18/23

Litchfield Boys Golf Avenges Loss To Staunton

The Litchfield boys golf team avenged their lone loss of the season on Tuesday, Sept. 12, as they knocked off Staunton and four other South Central Conference teams at the back nine of Timber Lakes … more

9/18/23

Panthers Shoot Season Best At Home Meet

The Litchfield girls golf team picked up their second win of the year on Tuesday, Sept. 12, as they finished second on their home course in a match with Glenwood and Pana. The Panthers shot a … more

9/18/23

Lincolnwood Girls Break 200 For First Time In '23

The Lincolnwood girls golf team broke 200 as a team for the first time this year as the Lady Lancers improved to 13-3 with a second place finish in the triangular at Pana Country Club on Thursday, … more

9/18/23

College Report: Belsher, Pence Killing It In College

When former Lincolnwood volleyball player and Morrisonville High School grad Hailee Belsher is not on the court, she is learning the sport of college volleyball. But, with her performance and … more

9/18/23

Litchfield's Camden Quarton finished second in this year's Dave Holden Open in Greenville, running a 17:17 to help the Panthers to a one-point win over East St. Louis on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Panthers Run At Shelbyville, Greenville

The Litchfield High School cross country team added a new stop to their schedule this year as they made the switch from the PORTA Invitational to the Shelbyville Trail Invite, held Saturday, Sept. 9, … more

9/14/23

Greenville was in full bloom for Litchfield's Caitlyn Travis (left) and Greenville's Katrina Campbell as the two competed in the Dave Holden Open on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Campbell finished second in the race that honors the late founder of the Greenville cross country program, but Travis and the Panthers took the top team spot, with six runners finishing in the top eight.

Litchfield Girls Off To A Quick Start

East St. Louis and Greenville took the top two individual spots in the Dave Holden Open on Tuesday, Sept. 12, in Greenville, but everything else belonged to the Litchfield Lady Panthers. Zhakeya … more

9/14/23