In Football
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 49, Tri-County 0. This Saturday saw a remarkable match-up in the Lincoln Prairie Conference, where the Knights (2-0) achieved a decisive victory over the Titans (1-1). The Knights showcased their dominance on the field, leaving no doubt about their capabilities this season, while the Titans look to rebound from this setback.
In Volleyball
Blue Ridge Early Bird Invite
Tribe takes runner-up. The Judah Christian team (5-2) demonstrated exceptional skill throughout the tournament, sweeping past Lowpoint, Hoopeston Area, and Blue Ridge to reach the championship match. Although they ultimately fell to Midland in a thrilling three-set finale—25-20, 14-25, 12-15—the team’s performance was stellar. Avoni Kelly emerged as the powerhouse of the offense, contributing an impressive 36 kills. Meanwhile, Kisandra Fazio fortified the defense with 36 digs, and Mackenzie Jackson facilitated the play with a remarkable 79 assists.
Olney Tournament
Knights win three matches. Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond (7-2) concluded the weekend on a high note, claiming victories against Olney, Mt. Carmel, and Mt. Zion. Despite falling to Hindsdale South and Unity, their performance solidified a winning record. Star players included Bella Romine with 21 kills, Leighton Poulos and Savannah Butcher each contributing 16 kills. On defense, Karaline Vanausdoll tallied 44 digs, while Annabelle Vanausdoll provided 37 assists.
Rockets win a pair. Unity (6-4) celebrated victories over Newton and Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond yet faced tougher competition against Fairfield, Mt. Zion, and Mt. Carmel. Jillian Schlittler showcased her versatility with 28 kills, 38 assists, and seven blocks. Supporting her efforts were Olivia Williams with 22 kills and Deri Behm with 18. Lauren Stratton also shined defensively with 55 digs and nine aces, while Olivia Hall contributed 11 aces from the service line.
Nontournament
Chillicothe IVC 2, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 0. In a decisive match, Paxton-Buckley-Loda (3-3) fell to Chillicothe IVC despite efforts from Kylie Rust, who recorded eight assists, and Ellie Dirks, who added four kills. The Panthers lost in straight sets, 25-10, 25-19, showcasing the need for improvement as they move forward.
In Boys’ Soccer
Bomber Classic
St. Joseph-Ogden 7, Meridian 0. The Spartans (9-0) extended their impressive start to the season with a commanding victory, clinching the Bomber Classic championship. Zach Harper was the star of the match, netting four goals and contributing one assist. Tyler Hess also made his mark, scoring two goals and providing one assist, while Lucas Stevens and Hunter Cler added to the assist tally.
Urbana Tournament
Tigers highest area finisher. Host Urbana (4-3) faced a tough battle, ultimately falling 2-0 to eventual runner-up Bradley-Bourbonnais in the semifinals. They finished their tournament journey with a 4-3 loss in penalty kicks against Springfield after a fiercely contested match. On the other side, Champaign Central (3-4-1) suffered a 1-0 defeat to Von Steuben and met Mahomet-Seymour (0-4-2), who lost 6-0 to Peoria Christian, in the seventh-place game where Central triumphed 1-0. Several area players earned spots on the All-Tournament Team, including Tim-Diego Graalheer for the Tigers and Raymond Zhang for the Maroons.
Nontournament
Uni High 4, Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 0. In a commanding performance, Robert Tu led the Illineks (3-1-1) to victory over the Bunnies (2-2-1), scoring three goals and tallying one assist. His efforts were complemented by Aldo Zepda, who also got on the scoreboard. Goalkeeper Muhammad Iftikhar made three crucial saves to secure the shutout.
In Boys’ Cross-Country
Charleston Invitational
Bulldogs dominate. The Mahomet-Seymour team delivered an outstanding performance at the Charleston Invitational, finishing 89 placement points ahead of their nearest competitor. All five of their scoring runners finished within the top 20 among 22 teams. Leading the charge was Henry McMurry, who took third place with a time of 15 minutes, 33.89 seconds. Other strong finishes included Tayten Gergen (seventh, 15:43.35), Tate Bode (eighth, 15:44.18), Adam Smigielski (13th, 15:55.21), and Auggie Gaudio (17th, 16:16.44). Sullivan’s Johnathan Iacobazzi finished as the area’s top individual runner-up, leading the Redskins to an 11th place overall finish.
Chrisman Cow Chip Classic
Sages duo fares well. In another competitive scene, Eli Anderson finished second with a time of 15 minutes, 59 seconds, and Tim Sikorski secured fourth place (16:07), leading Monticello to a runner-up team finish.
In Girls’ Cross-Country
Charleston Invitational
Foltz takes title. Kate Foltz is swiftly establishing herself as a formidable competitor in the cross-country scene. The Tuscola senior claimed the title at the Charleston Invitational with a stunning winning time of 17 minutes, 5.15 seconds, finishing a striking 45 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Mahomet-Seymour followed closely, finishing just five placement points shy of the championship title. Emily Anand finished fourth for the Bulldogs, leading to a strong overall team performance.
Chrisman Cow Chip Classic
Sages toward the top. Monticello placed fourth at the Chrisman Cow Chip Classic, thanks in part to impressive finishes from Taylor Mabry (seventh, 19:06) and Macie Owen (eighth, 19:30).
In Girls’ Tennis
Heather Bradshaw Invite
Vikings wrap up competitive tournament. The Danville team capped off their stay at Edwardsville with a mixed bag of results, earning a narrow 5-4 victory over Lindbergh but facing defeats against Teutopolis and St. Joseph Missouri. The standout performers included the No. 1 doubles team of Anna Houpt and Samantha Brown, both achieving a perfect 3-0 record. Recent successes were also noted from Aliya Morgan and Rosabella Beyer, each contributing both in doubles and singles for the team.