A Handle On The Game

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
OLNEY - Sara Stevenson never remembers dictating defenses with her ball handling the way her sister Taylor does.
Eight years removed from being H&R's Area Player of the Year and four years since playing at Illinois State, Sara sees that Taylor's taken her game beyond what she ever did in high school.
It's the "total package," according to Sara, who admitted she was more of a shooter.
Taylor's all-around game that features the area's best point guard abilities helped another Stevenson win Herald & Review Area Player of the Year honors this season.
"She is very unselfish and can pass the ball, and her ball handling skills are great," said Sara, who watched Taylor and Olney East Richland play against Bloomington Central Catholic in the super-sectional. "You can tell she has developed her ball handling skills, and that's what you need to be a great point guard."
As a junior, Taylor is the cornerstone of one of the area's best programs.
Olney coach Brent McKinney points to Stevenson as the common denominator between back-to-back super-sectional runs for the Tigers. In 2009, they reached the state tournament with her in the starting lineup as a sophomore, averaging 11.5 points and the second-most assists behind a senior. In 2010, Olney's state tournament run was cut short by No. 1 Bloomington Central Catholic, the eventual Class 2A state champ. The season did include 25 wins, including one against state-ranked Teutopolis to win a sectional.
But Stevenson's role on the team grew as she averaged a team-high 15 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.7 assists a game. All of that came while running the show and committing only 1.5 turnovers a contest.
"It makes the coaches look that much better when you have a girl who can handle the ball," McKinney said about the value of Stevenson on the floor. "Maybe some teams like to press, and now they have to change their game plan because of what she can do in the open court with the ball.
"She's a special kid, and I love having her in the program."
When McKinney took over three years ago, he saw Stevenson had the potential to be something special.
That's because Stevenson hit the court as a freshman who grew up in gyms. She first played competitively in fourth grade and hit the AAU circuit as an eighth-grader. She was busy looking up to her two older sisters, who both got Division I scholarship offers.
"I always wanted to practice and be as good as them," said Stevenson, who talks like a seasoned basketball veteran. "I always followed basketball and I knew it took a lot of hard work, and I enjoyed that."
Often times, high school players plateau after a season or two at the varsity level, but that hasn't happened with Stevenson. McKinney has seen her put in enough work to reach her potential and redefine what her capabilities are.
"It's been nice to see her progress, and to her credit, she's done a great job to get in this situation," McKinney said. "She lived in the gym and was going to put the time in it."
With both her sisters being D-I athletes, Stevenson knows her career won't end after her senior season. That's why she'll be found in the gym working on her mid-range jumper during the summer and showcasing her talent in AAU.
So far, she's gotten interest from Lipscomb (Division I), Penn (D-I), University of Maryland-Baltimore (D-I), Indiana University-South Bend (NAIA) and Missouri Western State (D-II)
"I do think she can play D-I," Sara said. "It's huge for her this summer to get exposure while playing AAU."
Stevenson is the third player from Olney in the past nine years to win area honors. Sara won it in 2002, and Brittany Johnson, now playing at Ohio State, was a four-time winner from 2004-07.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in March 2010.

Small In Stature, Gordon Showcases Talent

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
TOLONO — Picking out the area’s most successful athlete at the Tolono Unity Sectional on Friday would have been a challenge.
It wasn’t a 6-foot plus kid. It wasn’t an upperclassman who had dominated the area plenty of times before. It wasn’t even someone who competed last year.
It was Monticello sophomore D.J. Gordon, a 5-10 kid sporting glasses, who opponents likely underestimated. There’s no doubt after the meet, the opposition will remember him.
He advanced to state in four events after winning the long jump (21-9) and 400 meter (52.04), helping win the 4x400 relay (3:28.73) and taking second in the 100 (11.33).
“When he came into track he didn’t have any idea of how to utilize his talents,” Monticello coach Jeff Butler said. “He has come so far and has let his talent blossom.”
Gordon’s had an impressive season for someone who last competed in track as an eighth-grader. He made state then in the long jump, but took his freshman year off to focus on transitioning to high school.
Despite playing some summer baseball, he was admittedly lazy.
“I took the year off almost,” said Gordon, who has become more coachable since working with assistant track coach Cullen Welter. “I had a streak where I just didn’t do anything. I kinda’ gained a little weight.”
With that behind him, he returned to the track and even surprised himself with his results on Friday.
“Wow, I had no idea this would happen at all,” Gordon said.
Gordon was a big reason why Monticello dominated the sectional.
The Sages, who had their streak of seven straight sectional titles snapped last year, won the meet with 118 points, 41 more than Tolono Unity. St. Joeseph-Ogden came in third with 76 points and Sangamon Valley finished in fourth at 69.
“These guys knew that last year was a down year and was a bummer and that was on their mind going in,” Butler said. “It feels good to get another one.”
Monticello senior Brett Winterbottom advanced to state in three events. Winterbottom ran in the 4x4, finished second in pole vault and won the 300 hurdles. Sophomore Steve Schroeder moved on in two events. Schroeder crushed the field in the 3,200 (9:48.25) and finished third in the 1,600 (4:36.00).
The Sages advanced five individuals and a relay to next weekend’s state meet.
“The mind is always a tougher place to conquer than another person,” Schroeder said about running alone ahead of the pack in the 3,200. “It’s a lot tougher than running with other guys, so it makes for good preparation for when you get to run against guys who are faster than you who will push you.”
Sangamon Valley fares well
Sangamon Valley notched fourth place behind a record performance by its 4x800-meter relay team.
The Storm added Tyler Ramsey to the mix and re-arranged the order and the result was a school record 8:16.27. The entire bunch had season-best splits, including the fastest 800 junior Casey Acree has ever run.
“We were just doing it for each other,” said Acree, who won the 1,600. “It was good competition and we knew we’d be able to get a good time.”
Along with Acree and the 4x8 team, Sangamon Valley advances three other athletes (Eric Leonard, Jordan McCall and Dan Rentschler).
Warrensburg advances a couple
Warrensburg-Latham nearly advanced three relay teams to state.
The Cardinals’ 4x1 team got edged by .01, but their 4x2 and 4x4 teams took second and moved on. Senior Eric Gibbs, who helped on the 4x4, won the 800 and senior Dejay Salmons took second in the shot put.
“We’re happy to get that team in,” Binkley said about the 4x2 after the same group got bad news in the 4x1. “We’re getting a few out (to state), so we’re happy.”
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in May 2010.

Hartman Set To Sign With Cubs

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR — It’s been 17 years since Mount Zion’s last athlete signed to play professional baseball.
Ryan Hartman’s ending that drought today.
Three days before the Arizona Rookie League begins, the 6-foot-3 left-handed pitcher is signing a contract to play for the Chicago Cubs, who drafted Hartman in the 16th round two weeks ago.
“I am still kind of speechless,” Hartman said. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime.”
Jeremy Current knows exactly what Hartman’s feeling.
Current was the last Mount Zion product drafted and still remembers the day vividly. He went on to play a couple years in the minors before returning to the area.
Fittingly, Hartman and Current have grown close during the past two years after Hartman joined the Decatur Commodores. On draft day, Hartman spent all morning and afternoon on Current’s pond trying to put the process out of his mind. Throughout the whole way, Current was there providing support and advice.
“We got to have some good conversations out there on what to expect on signing a contract and what it’s going to be like shipping out 2,000 miles away from home,” said Current, who knew Hartman was going to be a pro the first time he saw him throw. “I’m very excited for him. He’s got a great opportunity.”
Current emphasized that Hartman has to be prepared for some failure on what is an up-hill battle.
Most players make between $1,000-1,500 a month and the competition includes everything from high school studs to college graduates. The players lucky enough to make the bigs — or even make a living playing — go through a lot of growing pains.
“You’re going to struggle; it’s going to happen,” Current told Hartman. “You’re facing the best and half your team won’t speak English. You’re not pitching in the Apollo Conference anymore and it’s a lot different than Macon County.
“It’s baseball 8 hours a day. If you don’t love it, you’re going to learn to love it.
Even so, Current knows with the maturation that Hartman’s gone through during the past year will help him through the rough patches. And there’s always family and friends to lean on, too.
“He’s made some hurdles of bearing down mentally,” Current said. “He’s matured a ton in a year. Some may have doubted his maturity level, but they can’t now.”
Hartman finished his senior season 8-2 with a 1.28 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 60 innings. He was slated to play baseball at Eastern Illinois, but was going to entertain an offer to play professional ball depending on the money.
The Cubs’ offer was good enough.
Hartman and the Arizona Rookie League Cubs start play on Tuesday in Mesa and the season runs through August 29.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in June 2010.

Connor Torches First Round Of Futures

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR — Forgive Rachel Connor for thinking about shooting below 60 after nine holes on Thursday.
The 19-year-old rookie on the Duramed Futures Tour was having the round of her life at the Tate & Lyle Players Championship and wanted to stay aggressive after five early birdies.
Connor didn’t quite make enough shots for the 59 she wanted, but after five more birdies on her final nine holes the Brit opened up a healthy lead thanks to 9-under, 61.
Chelsea Curtis and Jenny Shin sit four strokes back at 5-under.
“I feel really confident playing here,” Connor said about Hickory Point Golf Course. “It’s similar to an English golf course, so I think that’s why I feel comfortable playing it, but my game just felt solid today.
“I felt like I was in my own little world. I enjoyed it. I really enjoyed it.”
Connor started her day off unlike she normally does.
She ignored the leaderboard and convinced herself to shoot for pins while trying to win the event. She was rewarded early and often for that approach.
Her day started with a birdie thanks to a 15-foot putt, which was a sign of things to come. After a bogey on her fourth hole, where the putt was only five feet, she reeled off three straight birdies with putts of 17, 10 and 16 feet. After another par on her eighth hole, she hit the turn after a 15-foot birdie putt on 18, too.
She didn’t slow down, either. After a “terrible” second shot, Connor sunk a 20-foot putt to start her 5-under final nine holes.
“I’m usually playing it a bit safe, but it’s not been working lately,” said Connor, who had trouble remembering each birdie as they blurred together. “So, I was like ‘you know what? I’m just going to do it, see what happens,’ and this is what came out.”
It’s a pleasant change of pace for Connor, who’s missed the cut in the past three tournaments she’s played in. After switching from a draw shot to a fade, she struggled, but she handled her new swing well in Round 1.
“I’ve been said Connor, who finished with a round-best 24 putts. “My coach said ‘just go for everything, you’ve got the game, just believe in it’ and that’s what I did today.
Heading into the second day, Connor has no plans to change her aggressive approach that helped her beat her previous career round by six strokes.
“I’m going to just go out with the same thought process really,” said Connor, who was hopeful her parents back home in England stayed awake for a phone call at 1 a.m. “It’s more just believing in my swing
“If I can trust it, I can do this again. That would be pretty cool.”
It wasn’t until Connor came along late in the day that Curtis, a rookie from Georgetown, lost her lead.
Curtis also used an efficient putter to position herself well, including a 50-foot birdie on her seventh hole, with her 5-under, 65. Along with the 50-footer, Curtis had three more birdies in the first nine holes and didn’t have a bogey all day.
“I definitely hit the ball close and gave myself a lot of opportunities,” said Curtis, who’s best finish on Tour this year is third. “I just had everything kinda going for me today.”
Jenny Shin also fired a 65 without having any trouble. She used birdies on two of her final four holes to put herself in a tie for second.
Esther Choe and Elisa Serramia sit in fourth at 4-under with four players locked at 3-under.
A total of 38 players shot under par in Round 1.
Action gets under way at 8:30 a.m. today. Connor is in the first group off tournament hole No. 1, while Shin goes off at 10:20 on No. 1 and Curtis at 1:20 p.m. on one.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in June 2010.

Moll Possesses Impressive Ability

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
SHELBYVILLE — All it took was one pitch from his 9-year-old daughter for Tony Moll to know she could be special.
Forget that the ball went over his head and the backstop; Grace’s ball possessed the “snap” to get your attention.
It was enough to send her new instructor, Stephanie Fitzpatrick, raving to her dad about the new girl she worked with. Fitzpatrick saw the wildness, too, but that was nothing new for a kid Grace’s age who possessed enough raw power to impress a former college pitcher.
The area got its first taste of Grace in high school this season with Shelbyville and hitters were in awe, too. She allowed only 54 hits in 22 games on her way to a 21-1 record, a 0.98 ERA and 291 strikeouts in 135 innings. All of that success earned her 2010 Herald & Review Area Player of the Year honors as a freshman.
“You can never judge how good you are going to be and you never want to go into it thinking you’re going to be great,” Moll said. “Have a positive and under control attitude. I would have never gotten that many wins without my teammates behind me.”
Moll has been able to keep her career in perspective, but plenty of people knew she would terrorize batters this year. There was talk about her long before she ever threw her first pitch in high school and Fitzpatrick had a good idea of what to expect.
“I think we all knew that she was going to have an outstanding season,” said Fitzpatrick, who’s a Stephen Decatur grad who played college softball in Evansville, Ind. “The 43 feet has made a big difference in high school ball and her movement and velocity kept her in games. You have to have both to be outstanding at 43 feet and she was.”
Just like that first pitch she threw to her dad, Grace always had plenty of movement and speed.
Thanks to Fitzpatrick and Moll’s willingness to work, Moll has been able to harness that wildness into a gift inside the circle. During Fitzpatrick’s first year of working with Moll, the 10-year-old progressed unlike most kids her age. Moll went from throwing 50 mph to 56 right away.
“The thing that sets her apart is that she has a drive, intensity and competitiveness that other girls her age don’t have,” Fitzpatrick said. “She’s a smart girl, too, and you pick that up right away.
“It’s hard to think about her as just a freshman.”
Moll’s maturity is evident throughout conversation. Moll doesn’t hesitate when detailing how important the other eight players on the field are or why consistent preparation for every opponent is important.
Her words mirror those of a coach or an upperclassman who’s been leading a team for a couple years.
“Where she is at today is with a lot of folks’ help,” said Tony, who started up a travel softball team when Grace was 9. “She’s wise beyond her years and I don’t think you can put a value on it.”
There have been some tangible results so far.
The year round competition and every day practice helped her hit .459 and drive in 29 runs this season, too. She’s also competing on a the Midland Magic ’94s, which is a 16-under, A-ball travel softball team that features some of the best players from the Midwest.
“We travel around and I have fun and enjoy it,” Moll said. “It’s never been about being good, it’s about having fun and just playing the sport I love.”
Moll is still eligible to play 14-under, but she’s playing up two years, which is something she’s familiar with.
She’s also seen her velocity increase to the high 60s and recently hit 72 on a gun, which is the fastest she’s thrown. That speed came after a couple weeks off, which had to come at a terrible time for Shelbyville.
The combination of throwing three games in four days back in early May, which was capped by a 4-0 win against Effingham St. Anthony, and lifting weights in P.E. irritated her ulnar nerve in her throwing elbow. The irritation caused pain, so she wasn’t available late in the season.
“The timing was horrible for the regionals,” Tony said. “For her it was the first time she had experienced any type of pain, so we decided to shut it down.”
St. Anthony coach Crystal Tipton was completely impressed with Moll when the Bulldogs faced her thanks to — you guessed it — the velocity and movement. Tipton was just appreciative the umpire measured the mound that day because the alternate field after rain was only 40 feet.
“Grace brought the heat,” said Tipton, who played with pitchers in junior college who topped out at 65 mph. “I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like at 40.”
Fitzpatrick said Moll’s already heard from plenty of college coaches and there’s no doubt in her mind she’s a Division I talent, mostly because she possesses great leadership qualities that include a strong work ethic.
“The possibilities are endless for her,” Fitzpatrick said. “Any program would be floored with her leadership in the circle. She’s a gamer. She will play 110 percent and any program would be ecstatic to have her.”
Despite plenty of talk that Moll is leaving Shelbyville, Tony emphasized his family wouldn’t relocate for softball and Grace is excited about what the next three years have to offer.
“I hope it’s bright, but it just depends on our motivation the next couple years,” Grace said about the next couple years. “It’s a team sport, not just a pitcher and catcher. There are nine players on the field and without those nine you can’t win games.”
Again, Moll proving she’s not your typical freshman.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in June 2010.

Tattoo Pushes Fore After Dad's Death

MACON — When his back screams in pain and his legs beg for a break from the basketball court, Kyle Fore finds rejuvenation on his right bicep.
The 6-foot-4 Meridian senior always gets a jolt of vigor from the portrait of Terry, his father, that’s etched into his body.
During the past seven months, that’s exactly what Kyle’s needed after losing his 49-year-old dad.
“He’s had a lot of frustration and anger built up, but he’s 17 years old," Meridian basketball coach Jack Blickensderfer said. “Why wouldn’t you when your dad dies unexpectedly?”
Two months after his dad drowned on Lake Decatur while working for the city, Kyle made what he calls “the best decision of his life” and honored Terry with the tattoo. Up to that point, Kyle still wasn’t sure how to operate without his dad.
There were days he thought about walking away from the sports Terry lived to see Kyle play. There were days Kyle worried about his mom and sister. All of it emotionally drained the 17-year-old and made life a chore for someone entering his senior year at Meridian.
“He had days that you could see it was tearing him up,” Meridian football coach Eric Hurelbrink said. “It was gut-wrenching.”
Ultimately, Kyle decided competing in football and basketball was what his dad would have wanted. After all, Terry went from being on the road as a truck driver to working for the city just to see his son compete.
Not much kept him from doing that.
The last time Terry saw his son in a Meridian jersey was in Peoria last March. Despite a severe cold and a doctor suggesting Terry stay home, he got to see his son hoist the Class 1A state championship trophy.
“That was a proud moment for him and me, and I’m glad it happened,” Kyle said.
With his dad not in the stands this season, Kyle's perseverance has been tested.
Still only months removed from his reality being shaken, sickness and injury have prevented his senior season from taking off. First it was a bout with mono that lingered for about a month. Then the herniated disc in his back started giving Kyle problems.
“He’s had to deal with a lot,” his mom, Lisa said. “Last year we had his dad for state, and now we don’t have him. Then his back and he gets sick.
“He’s really gone through some difficult times.”
Thankfully, the sickness is gone and his back is as healthy as it can be midseason. Fore thinks he’s about 80 percent physically. Despite battling on-court issues physically, Fore’s not sure what he would have done if he walked away from athletics considering he could be going to college to play football.
“Sitting around wasn’t going to do anything for me," Kyle said. “It wouldn’t have been good for me not to play sports.”
Emotionally, it appears some of his frustration and anger is slowly going away.
Between Lisa, Blickensderfer, Hurelbrink and many others, they’ve helped Kyle heal since June 26, a day Kyle will never forget. As anyone would expect, it’s taken a lot of time and the healing process is far from over.
“He’ll never fully heal. I don’t know how any kid could,” Hurelbrink said. “The one thing that Jack and I have talked about is that Kyle has his smile back a little bit.
“That’s what anybody would say about him before is that he was always smiling.”
As Kyle’s smiling personality resurfaces in the halls of Meridian High School, Blickensderfer has started to see a more focused kid on the basketball court.
“It’s been a tough year for him," Blickensderfer said. “He’s worked his butt off to get past everything. He’s competing hard, and his dad would be proud.”
Fore was able to get Meridian back on track last week after the Hawks suffered their first loss in more than a month. He scored 18 points in a win against Sullivan that could be turning point when Meridian looks back at the season in a month.
It’s no coincidence that performance came only days after Blickensderfer and Fore had a heart-to-heart about his dad’s death.
“A healthy and understanding Kyle is what we need," Blickensderfer said “He really didn’t want to deal with it, but he had and it’s helped.”
With his mom, sister and newborn niece in the stands and his dad on his arm and in his heart, Kyle will try to help Meridian back to the place where his dad last saw him play when the postseason begins in about two weeks.
lbridges@herald-review.com 421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in February 2010.

Bigger Concerns

ROBINSON - Moments after winning the biggest basketball game of his life, Meyers Leonard's attention leaves the court.
Leonard's eyes scan the stands and locate his mom before pointing in her direction. Following a familiar script from all season, Leonard heads into the crowd to hug his mom and find out how she's feeling.
"Mom, you OK? Everything fine?"
Forget that he's an intimidating 7-footer on the floor for Robinson; the 18-year-old has a special bond with his mother, Tracie.
This is the first time in years she's been able to watch her son play the game he dominates. She suffers from chronic back pain that stems from wear and tear through the years and unforgiving genes.
His love for the only parent he's known since he was 6 brings Tracie to tears with every postgame hug. They're tears of joy.
"It's just overwhelming," Tracie said. "It was just years of being there for both of my sons and for him to come up there to give me a hug, I was crying every time."
She wasn't going to miss Meyers' final year of making dreams come true with lifelong friends. Meyers' senior season couldn't have gone much better, as it included 27 wins and a state championship. He averaged 18.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 3.8 assists and was named AP first-team all-state.
He is the 2010 Herald & Review Area Player of the Year.
"Meyers is very driven to succeed," Tracie said. "He believes if you work hard and are determined with motivation, anything is possible."
For the past 12 years, Meyers, his brother, Bailey, and Tracie have needed plenty of drive and determination.
The three of them have grown together as a tight family after a tragic bicycle accident killed Jim, Meyers' dad. Meyers doesn't remember much about his dad, but photos help.
"It's been tough," Meyers said. "My mom and I are really close, and that helps."
Tracie credits the many coaches who have been father figures for both Bailey and Meyers with helping the two cope. With two boys only two years apart, she's been trying to keep up with baseball and basketball for years. And if it wasn't for surviving on one income, who knows how many sports the two would have taken on?
But it became clear when Meyers sprouted to 6-foot-10 as a sophomore and received a letter from North Carolina that he needed to drop baseball and invest all his time and effort into a basketball career.
"I knew then that there were a lot more to come," Tracie said about the letters from colleges that she still keeps on the kitchen table. "That to me sparked a new motivation for him to start focusing on basketball."
Sure enough, the letters flowed home from every college that knew he existed, especially Illinois. With the increased exposure in AAU, Meyers exploded into a hot topic. So much that Tracie has an entire kitchen wall devoted to stories written about her son.
"He knew there were people who did this for a living, and that reinforced his confidence because they assessed his potential and how much bigger and stronger he will become," Tracie said about scouts.
For all the positives that come along with being a 7-footer, Meyers has experienced the negatives. He's an easy target for opposing fans, not to mention every team's biggest player. It's taken some time and a lot of patience, but Meyers isn't a stranger to adversity.
"He's had to mature sometimes quicker than some teenagers have to," Robinson coach Bob Coffman said. "At times, it wasn't something he wanted to do.
"Basketball's been a good outlet for him. It's a chance for him to be himself and not let other things affect his game and who he is."
Since Jan. 25, basketball's been a different kind of escape for both Meyers and Tracie. Since then, it's been just the two of them after Bailey was deployed to Afghanistan with the Army for what's supposed to be nine months.
"She was really, really down when he left, but basketball was a good way to get her mind away from it," Meyers said. "We're getting through it and hoping he stays safe at war."
Before every opportunity that Meyers got to throw down dunks and swat shots this season, Tracie couldn't help but to think about Bailey with the national anthem playing. For her, it's about her two boys representing the "land of the free and home of the brave."
"Those are my two sons," Tracie said. "Bailey, the brave fighting for our country and Meyers, the free achieving dreams on the basketball court."
With two of his three lifetime goals accomplished - getting a scholarship to play Division I basketball and winning a state title - Leonard gets to work on his hopes of playing in the NBA. That quest has already begun: Every day, he hits the weight room trying to put on another 20 pounds.
Then it's off to play for the U19 USA Basketball team before transitioning to life at college in Champaign.
"All the hard work's paid off, so far," Leonard said.

Published in the Herald & Review in March 2010.

Preps Recap Videos

Here are links to the Preps Recap Videos I have done at the Herald & Review.

March 10, 2010
February 18, 2010
February 11, 2010
January 22, 2010
January 15, 2010
December 12, 2009
November 21, 2009

Preps Preview Videos

Here are links to the weekly Preps Preview vodcast I take part in at the Herald & Review.

February 22, 2010
January 18, 2010
January 12, 2010
November 25, 2009

Lewis Jackson Will Return

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
When Lewis Jackson arrived in Champaign on Monday he got a weird feeling.
Perhaps it's because he won't see the court against the Illini in his home state tonight.
Jackson's homecoming this year is far different from last year's when Jackson entered as fulltime starter for the nationally ranked Boilers. Now, he's a fulltime cheerleader before he gets cleared to settle Purdue down at the point guard spot after a foot injury in early November.
"You definitely get a new perspective from the bench," Jackson said. "The process is going real well, ahead of schedule," Jackson said about recovery.
"But I am ready to get back."
It appears that will be sooner rather than later. Jackson is back to wearing two shoes for the most part after donning a protective boot for weeks.
And Jackson's hoping to never wear the boot again after going to the doctor on Wednesday. That's when he's likely to hear the words "You can start running."
"Basketball is important to Lewis," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "When that is taken away, it crushes you. It crushed him.
"When somebody gets injured, and you have such high expectations after having a great freshman year like he did, you want to improve and have a better sophomore year."
With Jackson's sophomore year more than half gone, he still wants to get back on the floor. He hasn't thought much about the possibility of sitting out the rest of the season with a medical redshirt. He likes the idea of a full recovery by the end of January and then helping the team that's kept him involved in February.
That would get him back in time for the second matchup with Illinois.
"With the group of guys and all the people I have met outside of basketball, it makes you appreciate what Purdue gives you," Jackson said.
"For that, I will be back to help my team."
Considering the Boilers (14-3) are starting to show signs of needing a speedy point guard, that's good news for Painter. He's been pleased with the serious approach Jackson had with his academics while out and is ready to have his point guard back.
"His mom has done an excellent job raising him," Painter said. "Lew's done a great job and hopefully he continues to do that."
Jackson never thought his left foot would generate so much attention.
But for the past two months, that's all people want to talk about with the Purdue sophomore.
By now, everyone has heard about his injury, but few have been told what exactly happened to the Eisenhower product. So when Jackson showed up at the Decatur Turkey Tournament this year, he was hounded by inquiring minds.
"I might not have known how many people appreciated watching me play," Jackson said about people asking for updates on his foot. "People actually care about you. I appreciate all the support.
"I am playing for myself, but for other people, too."
Jackson's outlook on the injury hasn't always been so positive thanks in part to the unfortunate timing. Jackson was a day away from serving his third and final game of a suspension after a rocky offseason when it happened.
It was a Nov. 12 practice that he won't soon forget.
Senior teammate Chris Kramer went up to block his shot and landed on Jackson's foot. The diagnosis was a Lisfranc injury, which is caused by trauma to the top of the foot. The injury is uncommon, but it sidelined the Colts' Dwight Freeney for the final seven games of the 2007 season.
In Jackson's case, it was a torn ligament. If he didn't get it surgically repaired, every time he walked it would cause more damage. So, the following Tuesday (Nov. 17), Jackson went under the knife.
"Honestly, there are times you break down and wonder why this happened," Jackson said.
Thankfully, his mom, Zinda Jackson-Chargois, has been his savior.
From the beginning, Zinda has kept a positive outlook and helped her son stay on track emotionally. Sure, she wants her son to play the game he loves, but she just wants her baby healthy.
"I always tell him things happen for a reason," Zinda said. "I think it opens up his eyes that he really needs to get his education."
For the most part, that's what Lewis has been doing during recovery. He's been able to focus on school and spend time with his family during the holidays. He even connected with former Eisenhower teammate Jeremy Robinson, who's also in a state of transition after leaving Illinois State.
"We got to spend a lot of time together," Lewis said. "It's tough because we're both so competitive. Once you've been doing what you do and then you're not, it's a process of understanding how lucky we are to get to play."
Zinda's not so sure her son would have seen things that way a year ago. Being away from home and under the guidance of Purdue's coaching staff has matured Jackson.
"He has grown up," said Zinda, who talks to Lewis daily. "He's taken the injury much better than I thought he would."
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in January 2010.

Waiting For Attention

ROBINSON — It’s hard to average almost 20 points a game and go unnoticed.
Yet, when people talk about the area’s best players, they often forget about Robinson’s Ben Jones.
Colleges, too, don’t know much about the 6-foot shooting guard.
Jones has heard from only a few colleges — mostly Division II and junior colleges — despite his vital role on one of the state’s best Class 2A teams. Considering Jones’ ability to make a jump shot on demand and the constant praise from Robinson coach Bob Coffman, it’s a surprise more people aren’t packing Robinson’s gym to get a look at him play.
“Others may overlook him, but we don’t,” Coffman said. “We all know how valuable he is to our success. Beyond our basketball family some people may not quite know about him, but they should.”
Outsiders know all about Jones’ teammate, 7-foot Meyers Leonard. Leonard’s been a household name since being recruited to play for Illinois early in his high school career. What people forget is that Jones led Robinson in scoring a season ago and is the team’s leading scorer this year at 19.9 points a game.
“I know my role,” Jones said about playing with Leonard. “I am definitely a scorer. What’s hard is not having any publicity because I just want people to know I can play.”
Leonard has tried to help his teammate get the word out. When they played in Champaign against Rock Island and high-Division I recruit Chasson Randle back in early December, Leonard knew it was the perfect opportunity for Jones to get noticed.
“I told him for this game, he should really go at (Rock Island) and put himself on the map,” Leonard said after the game. “I think he really did. (Ben’s) a solid player.
“This is a bigger stage playing against Chasson and there are some scouts here. It was a good opportunity for him and he did pretty well.”
Robinson lost 58-53, but Jones impressed.
He led the Maroons with 17 points and six rebounds and defended Randle well. He also proved he could get his jumper off on the inch taller Randle who’s being recruited by Illinois and slew of other big schools.
“I think if I was two or three inches taller, I would be getting some Division I calls,” Jones said. “But I’ve been really working on my jumping.”
Jones has been able to dunk for a while, but it’s become easier with the work he’s done to improve his vertical.
It’s no surprise to Coffman that Jones has put that work in. Jones’ work ethic has always been a bright spot and it’s led to him being the strongest guy on the team.
Jones said he leads the squad in every lift in the weight room, benching 245 pounds (Leonard benches 235), power cleaning 250 and dead lifting 450.
“That’s one of my strong points — lifting,” Jones said. “Meyers has been catching me, though. We both push each other a lot in the weight room."
Jones’ strength was one of those characteristics that impressed Coffman four years ago.
Combine that with his ability to rebound and get to the rim and there wasn’t much missing from Jones’ game. Thus, he’s been a three-year starter for Coffman and reached the 1,000-point plateau as junior.
What’s left for Jones and Leonard is to lead Robinson (10-3) to its first-ever state title. And with it will come more exposure for Jones and possibly more scholarship offers.
“That would be huge,” Jones said about getting to state. “I have always wanted to go to state and that could translate to a scholarship.”
Until then, Jones will continue to work hard and hope someone sees that being a 6-foot shooting guard doesn’t matter.

lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in January 2010.

Argenta Ready For Success

ARGENTA — Success for Argenta-Oreana’s girls basketball team isn’t a common occurrence.
The last time the Bombers finished with a winning record came before most of the girls on the team were born. Sixteen years ago, they finished 21-6 under coach Bill Roberts.
Since then, the girls team has been an after thought to a successful baseball program and the occasional 10-win football team. But 10 games into this season, it looks like the Bombers are ready for another winning season.
After losing the final 11 games of the season in the spring, Argenta is 7-3 under first-year coach Tim Allen. And Allen’s team has some credible wins. Thanks to some team chemistry, added height and possibly the area’s best freshman — Kandie Bloch — the Bombers have wins against Warrensburg-Latham and Cerro Gordo. The team’s losses came against three of the Okaw’s best teams, Tolono Unity, St. Teresa and Central A&M.
“It feels great because before it wasn’t that much fun and now I enjoy going to practice,” senior guard Jenna Allen, who is Tim’s daughter, said about the team’s impressive start.
As the junior varsity coach last season, Tim knew the players he was inheriting and he was optimistic even after they went 5-20 last year.
He honestly thought a winning record was possible, especially with three vital additions to the team. Tim was able to talk Taylor Brunner and Hannah Millington — both volleyball players — into joining the team, which gave the Bombers much needed height.
“Last year we were short, but we took care of that and Taylor’s doing a great job with the minutes she’s getting,” Tim said. “I knew the talent we had. I knew with some hard work, this could be a good team.”
A year ago, Argenta had only one player taller than 5-foot-10. This year, Tim has three, one of whom is Bloch. In 10 games this year, Bloch, a 6-foot freshman, has seven double-doubles and is averaging more than 15 points and 11 rebounds a game.
“She has a nose for the basket,” Tim said. “When she puts the ball on the floor her intent is to score. She’s done a great job of scoring and rebounding for us.”
Bloch played one game on JV and scored 25 points before Tim moved her to varsity. In her first varsity game of her career, she had eight points and seven rebounds off the bench. She’s started every game since that 38-24 win against Arcola and in the team’s eighth game of the season she had 27 and 10 against Warrensburg.
“Last year was good, but it’s just different in high school,” Bloch said about succeeding as a basketball player. “It’s been a success for me so far.”
Bloch was a household name for Argenta girls basketball during the last winning season in 1993. That’s because Kandie’s aunt Karen was one of the area’s best players. She helped the Bombers to a regional title and was the Champaign News-Gazette Player of the Year.
“She has a lot of potential for sure,” Jenna said about Kandie. “She needs to get a little tougher, but us seniors are helping her with that and that will come over time.”
It’s not a surprise that the Jenna and the Bombers are enjoying the early-season success. Jenna’s been a part of only eight wins in the past two seasons combined, including back-to-back winless conference seasons in the Okaw. After losing to Central A&M 40-32 on Monday, Argenta is still near the top in the conference at 3-2.
“I told them, ‘I know how to coach the game and I know how to teach it, but I can’t do it all myself,’ ” Tim said. “ ‘I believe in you. You just have to believe in yourselves.’ ”
Through 10 games, Tim’s team clearly believes in themselves.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in December 2009.

A Journey Of Yards And Years

Another Hurdle Of Adversity For Tuscola

TUSCOLA — With no more film to watch, Rick Reinhart couldn’t keep his eyes open to watch Thursday night’s NFL game even though he hoped to.
Reinhart’s week leading up to Tuscola’s quarterfinal game against Astoria South Fulton was busier than he ever wanted.
On Tuesday, two days after his team notched a come-from-behind win against unbeaten Mount Sterling Brown County, Reinhart’s mother died. As Reinhart’s biggest fan, Irene helped talk him into taking the Tuscola job so she could be in the stands and watch her son coach. She did that once this season, but a fall led to further health problems that kept her at home.
“It’s been tough,” a choked up Reinhart said. “My mom was a great example of a football mom. We had all these plans, but she never quite made it back from the fall.”
Reinhart and Tuscola are no strangers to adversity. In the spring of 2008, wide receiver Gunnar Edwards’ mom died after falling on stairs at the family’s home. Thankfully for Reinhart and Tuscola, the practice field has given them a place to escape.
“I think what has made it able to cope is just the great coaches and the kids,” Reinhart said. “Just the fact on the practice field that you forget everything.”
The field has been a savior all year for the Warriors, who have battled bits of adversity related to the roster. Injuries and suspensions have dramatically changed the lineups between Game 1 and Game 12. The response from the players on the field every week has been the same — we can win with who we have.
“It seems like every week there is a different adversity and they have learned to stay focused and get better,” Reinhart said. “It’s a great credit to these kids who have stuck with it and had faith.”
Sophomore Josh Brookins was one of those players in last week’s win. Without stud linebacker Jordan Knerr, Brookins filled in and helped keep Tuscola’s defense strong and steady. Along with Brookins, T.J. Onstott, Chase Little, Phillip Meyer and Jack Leonard are some others who have stepped into roles.
“Every week something new seems to come up and it’s always tough, but we have a lot of players who we’re always confident in to put out there,” senior Matt Pflum said.
Reinhart credits his coaching staff for its talent evaluating skills because each roster move it makes seems to work, especially on defense. The Warriors (8-3) enter today’s game giving up only 7.2 points a game.
“The defense just continues to get better,” Reinhart said. “You look at who we started with and it’s totally different, but it hasn’t mattered.”
A Tuscola win would cap an emotional week for Reinhart and send his team to the semi-finals. Pflum said the team is ready to do “something special for him,” but Reinhart insists that he wants this win for the players who continue to battle each week.
“A win would mean a lot, but I want them to play for themselves,” Reinhart said. “I want them to win this game because we have so many kids who have made mistakes and the kids who haven’t deserve to win.
“This is for them.”
South Fulton brings similar style of defense
Tuscola quarterback Phillip Meyer is going to be seeing a lot of what his own team does defensively.
South Fulton (8-3) mirrors the Warriors on the defensive end with hopes of pressuring the quarterback into poor decisions. Rebels’ coach Dave Wilson knows what to expect from Tuscola and he thinks his team is ready.
“They only have 11 out there just like we do,” Wilson said about Tuscola. “It’s a game of football with basics of blocking and tackling. We’re playing pretty well and hopefully we can show up and play hard.”
South Fulton does have a quarterback who’s passed for more than 1,600 yards, but he left last week’s game against Greenfield in the first quarter with an injured ankle. His status for today’s game is unknown.
The Rebels also have a 1,300-yard back in Tyler Perry, who’s also scored six touchdowns.
Today’s game kicks off at 4 p.m. in Tuscola.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in November 2009.

Cumberland Reloads For State Title Run

TOLEDO — When a team loses four of its most productive players, the following season is usually one of rebuilding.
That hasn’t been the case for Cumberland’s volleyball team.
After a run in the postseason that led to a third-place finish in Class 1A a year ago, the Pirates lost its top hitter, setter, defender and their second-best blocker, along with five-year coach Drew Robertson.
Insert coach Monica McNeil, who coached the Pirates before Robertson, and the team hasn’t stumbled at all. In fact, the group enters tonight’s sectional with fewer losses (2) than last year’s team (4).
“It has been fun,” said McNeil, who coached all of her players at the junior high level during the last several years. “I am familiar with this group and it’s a good group. They’ve worked really hard to be where we’re at.”
McNeil was talked into taking the job back by her husband and her assistant. The logic was simple considering she helped these same girls to state during the junior high years. Other than age, nothing has changed with McNeil and the girls.
“She has always made us work hard and pushes us to be our best,” senior setter Brittany Whitaker said. “She really wants us back at state.”
Before the team can enjoy a return trip to state, it has to overcome two familiar opponents this week.
South Central and Edwards County were the only teams to beat Cumberland this season and both are in its sectional. First up is South Central who beat the Pirates without starting hitter Macy Shupe, one of the team’s best players.
“With her back, I think we have a really good chance,” Whitaker said. “We have improved tremendously.”
McNeil remembers the match against South Central all too well. Everything went wrong for her team and not having Shupe in the lineup didn’t help an off night for the Pirates.
“It will be a good fight,” McNeil said about the match against South Central. “South Central is a tough team and we know what kind of match we’re walking in to.”
If Cumberland gets by South Central, it’s likely that Edwards County will be waiting. During their run to state last year, the Pirates outlasted Edwards County in three sets in the sectional.
“It would be so big because we lost a lot of talent,” Whitaker said about getting back to state. “We had to become a new team and it’s been about putting it all together.”
After fighting illnesses, injuries and other distractions, McNeil is confident that her team can put it all together for this week’s competition.
“Honestly, if the girls are at 100 percent both nights, we have a chance to get out of this week,” McNeil said.
Cumberland’s match against South Central is at 7 tonight at Red Hill High School. If the Pirates win, they will play the winner of Edwards County and Eldorado at 7 p.m. Thursday.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in November 2009.

Pana Proves It Can Play Physical

PANA — Pittsfield got a great look at what Pana football is all about a week ago.
It’s unlikely Pittsfield would describe it as explosive or thrilling. But there’s no doubt they would label it effective.
The Panthers didn’t waver from its defense-first style of play that allows the offense to settle into games. In fact, with the game far from over, Pana used a punishing 20-play drive to melt nine minutes off the clock and seal its first-round 12-8 upset against the eight-win host.
“When you keep the ball that long, the other team’s offense can’t hurt you,” Pana (7-3) coach Al Stupek said.
Considering his defense has thrived all season behind five roaming linebackers, it’s a surprise he doesn’t want his defense on the field more. Stupek, in his second year at Pana, employs the 3-5 defense because he’s got great linebackers. The reasons they’re great are simple — they like to tackle and they work hard.
“It’s not a surprise to us that we’re playing good defense,” Stupek said. “Our linebackers are versatile, quick and they make plays. We have a whole bunch of guys who like to tackle people.”
Making life easier on the backers is nose tackle Alan Handy. Handy is 6-5, 320 pounds and demands double teams, which allows Stupek to bring blitzing linebackers from different places all game.
“It’s old,” Handy said about facing double teams. “But that’s the goal every game so a backer can come through free.”
Senior linebacker Jake Wicks has been one of those backers running free. He’s totaled 114 tackles, third-most in the area, while the unit is one of the area’s best. Pana hasn’t allowed any team to score more than 24 points and has allowed only 9.3 points a game.
“We have to try and get a helmet on all their defenders in every play and that’s a tall order,” Anna-Jonesboro (7-3) coach Brett Detering said.
Stupek likes that his aggressive, hard-hitting defense is complemented by a similar offense. While the group hasn’t put up incredible numbers (only averaging 21.1 points a game), it’s been able to win games just like last weekend.
“We are lining up and trying to run at people,” Stupek said. “If it doesn’t work then we’ll keep trying. But if we can control the clock by chewing up time and yardage, we’re going to do it.”
Anna-Jonesboro likes to run the ball, too, but it’s out of an option attack. Detering is hopeful that Pana’s too aggressive and that will allow his quarterback to make the correct read and pitch, which will create positive gains.
“Some times teams are still aggressive and disciplined, but there are breakdowns and we need to take advantage of those,” Detering said.
Handy compared the Wildcats run game to a Vandalia team that Pana beat 22-14. The Vandals rushed for 154 yards on 55 carries in the loss.
“They’re a good team, but we’re not too worried,” Handy said about Anna-Jonesboro. “If we play like we can, we should beat them.”
The smash-mouth football offensively and defensively has helped Pana to its most wins in 11 years and at 2 p.m. today the Panthers host Anna-Jonesboro. All three of Pana’s losses — Carlinville, Greenville and Hillsboro — came at home.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in November 2009.

Palla Brothers Enjoying Success

MONTICELLO — Ben Palla’s been waiting four years for a game this big.
After finishing last season winless, not many people thought Palla would ever play in an important October game. But all of that’s changed with undefeated No. 4 Tolono Unity hosting Monticello, who’s a surprising 5-1, tonight.
“It’s a statement game,” the Monticello quarterback said. “Any top 10 team is going to have a target on its back. It’s their game to lose and our game to win.
“We need to come out and prove to everyone that we belong.”
That’s the attitude Palla and the rest of the seniors developed once Cully Welter took over the program after the Sages’ 0-9 2008 season. Immediately, Welter knew he had to change the approach to day-to-day obligations.
“It’s a matter of becoming more intense and building confidence,” said Welter, who’s won three state championships. “We’re trying to work hard all the time so when adversity strikes during the season, we’re ready.”
Monticello’s built plenty of confidence as the team is on pace for its best season in seven years, including wins against Meridian (3-3) and Central A&M (4-2). The Sages are also receiving seven votes in the latest Associated Press poll.
Emerging from the stellar start has been Palla, who leads the area in every passing category. He’s racked up 1,424 yards and 15 touchdowns with a 58 percent completion rate.
“The offense is just more consistent,” said Palla, who’s also thrown five interceptions. “Last year, we had big plays and put points on the board, but we didn’t do it consistently. This year, coach’s expectations have grown with ours and we expect each play to go well.”
In the past, Monticello’s offense has centered on running the ball, but Welter wants balance. The option of establishing the run or the pass each game has allowed Palla to take advantage of his talent at wide receiver.
“Throughout the summer in 7-on-7, I thought our skill guys could stack up really well,” Welter said. “It was a matter of protecting the quarterback and we have been able to do that.”
Monticello’s big-play combination sends the Palla family into a frenzy as it’s Ben throwing to his brother Matt. Through six games, Matt has 21 catches, seven of which are for touchdowns.
“Matt’s great because I know when I put the ball in his hands only 5 yards down the field, he can break it open for 65 yards,” Ben said. “I know a lot of my success depends on what he does after I get him the ball, so I am thankful to have him out there.
“It’s really fun to have Palla to Palla out there.”
There’s been the typical brotherly fighting through the years, but Matt, who’s a junior, loves having his brother at QB.
“On the field it’s a lot of fun,” Matt said. “We both depend on each other a lot.”
The two will need each other tonight against Tolono (6-0, 2-0) in a conference game that could decide the Okaw Valley championship. Considering Tolono is coming off a 32-14 win against powerhouse No. 9 St. Teresa, the Pallas know things won’t come easy.
“Seeing them beat St. T (5-1, 1-1) was kind of threatening,” Matt said. “But if everybody plays hard, we can have a good game against them and it should be interesting.”

Published in the Herald & Review in October 2009.

Twins Picked Up Tennis Early

Amy and Tracy Kuhle picked up tennis rackets before they started learning math.
Since age 3, the twin sisters who have carried St. Teresa this season as freshmen have prepared for competition similar to the state tournament. Their father, Chuck, is a local tennis connoisseur, who comes from a family of tennis players.
“Once I saw them throw a ball,” Chuck said about knowing they would be good at tennis. “They both have above average service motions. A lot of players don’t have the fluid motion they had, so I knew.”
Tennis is in the Kuhles blood.
So, it’s not a surprise for some who hear about Amy and Tracy blanking opponents night in and night out. The duo has combined for 23 singles wins and only one loss. The loss came to Urbana’s No. 1 Katarina Marjanovic, who’s earned a scholarship to college.
As a doubles team, the two haven’t lost when playing together, including a 7-6, 6-2 win against Marjanovic’s doubles team. Split them up, and they’re still undefeated in doubles. They’ve helped St. Teresa to a 10-2 record.
“To have girls your age supporting you is really fun,” Amy said about playing her first year of high school tennis. “It’s not as competitive as USTA tennis, but it’s really fun playing with others.”
With thousands of matches already behind them, Amy and Tracy are freshmen playing with the experience of seniors. They’ve traveled around the country playing top-notch talent and their domination at the high school level has been a long time coming.
“They can play with anybody,” said first-year St. Teresa tennis coach Mike Brannon. “They’re already very accomplished.”
With the sectional play starting Saturday, not many know the true potential of the combo this year. Chuck, Amy and Tracy downplayed the expectation of winning a doubles state title now. In fact, Amy and Tracy simply want to outplay their brother, Patrick, who won four doubles matches at state as a St. Teresa freshman last year.
“We’re not hoping for anything huge this year,” said Amy, who’s also been helped by assistant coach Julie Heim. “We want to try and win more than our brother and just see how the competition is.”
Tracy added, “We’re just going to try and work hard and try to win it by our junior or senior year.”
It was two quality answers identical to their dad, who wants them to keep sharpening their game with hard work and determination.
“There are no guarantees,” Chuck said. “I don’t ever want to be the one who says they’re going to win it, but they have a shot at it eventually. They have a lot of work left to do.”
Amy admitted her backhand isn’t as strong as it should be. Tracy wants to work on her big serve because it’s her strength when it’s in. And other than Tracy being left-handed, the two are tennis twins, too, with not many holes in their game.
“Usually when people ask I say me, but honestly we’re dead even,” Tracy confessed in response to who was better.
What surprises Brannon the most is their easy-going personalities despite being so talented. He expected them to be a lot more intense, but they get the job done with ease.
“It’s unusual to see kids who are super competitive and laid back,” Brannon said. “They just like playing tennis and having fun and are really good at it.”
The Kuhles quest begins Saturday at the Casey-Westfield Sectional, which isn’t expected to provide any serious hurdles. Then it would be off to state a week from today, where the possibilities are still unknown.

Published in the Herald & Review in October 2009.

Another Hileman Moves From The Line To QB

It’s not often a player goes from being an offensive lineman to quarterback.
The last time North White coach Jim Davis can remember it happening was more than two decades ago.
It was D.J. Hileman who made the move. Now, his son Tyler is the tough guy making the switch.
“It’s an unusual switch,” Davis said of a player moving from the line to under center. “It’s kind of funny that it was his dad who was the only other player to make that move.”
That says something about the Hileman family. D.J. was the very first to lead Davis’ team at QB. There was a large gap until D.J.’s son Dustin came around but Davis was still at North White.
“Yeah, pretty much so,” Davis said to the Hileman’s being his quarterback family.
During Dustin’s time, the Vikings experienced a fair amount of success and were able to air it out because of Dustin’s arm. Now, with Tyler, who’s a junior, the offense has changed a bit. It’s not a pass first, run second team as it was with Dustin.
“We’re not going to ask him to throw the ball 25 times like we did with his brother,” Davis said.
The different quarterbacking styles have helped Tyler’s transition into the position. Because Tyler’s a runner, he’s not being compared to how Dustin threw the ball all the time.
“Dustin told me ‘You and me are different,’” Tyler said. “It’s a lot easier because I’m just trying to work on what I can be better at. I’m a different player.”
Dustin didn’t lack aggressiveness but Tyler volunteered to play on the line just to see the field as a sophomore. It’s obvious the two operate with a different mindset on the playing field.
“That’s really the kind of kid he is,” Davis said about Tyler’s willingness to play offensive line last season. “That’s what he’s willing to do.”
Tyler admits the position change made him tougher. But the move back to QB hasn’t been easy for Tyler. He’s spent a lot of time regaining his throwing routines and relearning the position.
“It’s been a hard process,” Tyler said. “But it’s going really well. I feel like I’m improving and the team’s improving every day.”
Tyler better hope for improvement because North White coaches have talked about moving him back to the line if his performance is sub-par. It’s all in fun, of course.
“He’s just a good kid,” Davis said. “He’s going to do whatever. He’s not your pre-Madonna quarterback kid.”
Davis and North White are hoping he continues his development this week against Tri-County on Friday.

Published in the Herald Journal in August 2009.

Twin Lakes Football Season Preview

Conference Making Way For CC

The pieces are falling into place for Central Catholic to join the Hoosier Athletic Conference.
The conference changed its bylaws on Wednesday to allow a team to join without having a unanimous decision by its members. Now, it only takes four of the seven schools.
“The meeting was about amending constitutional changes and bylaws that may down the road help adding a team,” Twin Lakes athletic director Kent Adams said.
Former AD Scott Leverenz said changing the rule has been talked about for more than two years. He also said the change was pushed because Central Catholic is looking for another conference after the 2010-11 school year.
“(Twin Lakes) is involved with everything, except football, with Central Catholic,” Leverenz said. “We’re looking at competition 12 months around and our kids are involved with Lafayette area schools.”
Central Catholic athletic director Tim Bordenet didn’t know about the rule change when contacted Thursday, but he does think it will help further conversations that the two sides have had.
“That would be a positive sign that at least some of their members are looking at adding,” Bordenet said. “Hopefully it will bode well for us in the future.”
With the prior rules the conference would have struggled reaching a unanimous decision on adding a team because of the conference’s diversity. Now, only one school can’t control the vote.
“Our conference is so diverse,” Adams said. “A unanimous decision is going to be difficult to get because of the size and interests with the schools.”
For instance, some schools don’t have teams to compete in conference tournaments. So, to have the ability to expand the conference with worthy schools is an option it needed and now exists.
“I know that the Hoosier Conference knows that we have interest,” Bordenet said.

Published in the Herald Journal in August 2009.

County's Class A Teams Slim Down

The county’s three Class A football teams are meager this season.
Not one team has more than 35 players, which is about average for all three.
Frontier has added a couple late in the week to reach 31, while North White is right at 30. Tri-County, meanwhile, is under 30 for the second-straight season with 21 kids.
“A couple classes that have gone through are small and it’s killing us,” Tri-County coach Jeff Hettinger said. “Football’s a numbers game. It’s hard to scrimmage and create depth if you don’t have the numbers.”
As it stands, all three junior varsity seasons have been nixed. It’s a move none of the coaches want to make but the numbers have forced the decision. The result of no JV squad is limited to no playing time for back-ups and no development.
“I don’t think there’s any question it does make it difficult,” North White coach Jim Davis said about not having a JV team. “There’s not a chance in the world some kids will see time in a varsity game. They would have had the chance to develop in JV.”
Each coach has a different perspective on the lack of players but none are confident they know why all three schools are down this year. For Tri-County, two small senior and sophomore classes are hitting football hard.
“It’s really going to impact all Tri-County sports,” Hettinger said.
Martz is pleased with his 11 seniors on the team. He thinks the numbers game goes in cycles for all Class A schools.
“If you’re around single A long enough it comes and goes in cycles,” said Martz, who’s been as low as 21 players at Frontier. “I don’t know that it’s a concern but it’s more of a reality that you know your numbers aren’t always going to be great.”
Davis doesn’t know if it’s just one thing keeping kids away from coming out for football.
“These kids 15-18 years of age, you just never know what to expect out them,” Davis said. “I don’t have any answers for it.
“There’s probably a different reason for each kid.”
Regardless of the reason, all three coaches will think about trying to develop some of the talent that was supposed to be playing JV. And all three coaches will be hoping to avoid injuries.
“Single A is hard,” Martz said. “I take a lot of pride in coaching single A.”

Published in the Herald Journal in August 2009.

Rock Bottom

Vikings Victorious

Bringin' The Heat

Final Four Preview Strip

Frontier Pulls It Out

Bringing Up Dirt

Maybe It Will Go In

Reason To Celebrate

Chip Away

Fourth of July Front Page

This was the front page I designed for the Friday before the Fourth of July.

2009 All-White County Baseball

This was a full-page poster I designed for the 2009 All-White County baseball.

Front Page Refers

I designed the front-page refers for the 2009 All-White County softball and baseball teams, which were the front page centerpiece.

2009 All-White County Softball

This was a full-page poster I designed for the 2009 All-White County softball team.

Moratorium Week Signals Break

Kent Adams had been waiting on this week to come for some time.
For the first time in about a year, the Twin Lakes athletic director and boy’s basketball coach doesn’t have to do anything related to high school athletics. That’s because Monday marked the beginning of the IHSAA’s mandated week-long no contact and no athletic activity period.
“I’ve been looking at this week for several weeks,” Adams said. “It’s a good time to catch our breath. I’m trying to stay away and not get caught up in anything athletic related.”
Fewer than 10 years ago the IHSAA instituted the seven-day period to give families time away from school activities. Every year around July 4, athletes, administrators, coaches and parents get this break.
“Families have one guilt free week away from school,” said Bobby Cox, assistant commissioner of the IHSAA. “
Finding time away from high school athletics is difficult these days, especially for smaller schools. At schools like all four in White County, many of the athletes compete in multiple sports, which doesn’t allow for any time off. Couple that with summer leagues, AAU and conditioning for future seasons and schedules become tiresome.
“There is a lot of pressure on athletes to get all their sports in,” Frontier athletic director and football coach Greg Martz said. “Throw in conditioning and AAU and there is so much going on. Where does it stop? We need this guiding hand to say there is too much.”
Martz was able to escape for a vacation with the break from all athletic activities. With the football season and the fall sports schedule inching up, Martz won’t have any time to take a break until this time next year.
“Most of our kids are going to start practice on August 3 and then they’re going until next June,” Martz said. “Rest is an important aspect of athletics that is often times left out.”
Cox said there has been some discussion of extending the mandatory week-long break for high schools. Nothing is immediately in the works but Martz thinks it should be longer.
“I think it should be two weeks,” Martz said. “They are weeks you aren’t supposed to be doing anything and people look forward to them. It should be longer but the IHSAA probably doesn’t want to tackle that issue.”
Adams is fine with the week-long break as it is. He just hopes his athletes take advantage of that time.
There is one other week that the IHSAA monitors and that’s the week before fall sports officially begin practice. Starting July 27, only fall sports are allowed to condition.

Published in the Herald Journal in June 2009.

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