All The Right Moves

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
MAROA — Escaping a bad situation with hopes of success doesn’t always work how people envision. A change in environment can be underestimated, expectations can be too much and acceptance from a new set of peers can be a struggle.
Gary Scott embraced it all.
The one-time Eisenhower athlete first thought about transferring to another school after his freshman year, but with a new coach entering the program, Gary’s father encouraged his son to stick it out. After two seasons that included one win and little use of him at running back, the Scotts decided to invest in their son’s future and move to Maroa.
A year after making that decision, Scott became the most complete running back Maroa has had recently, and it led to Scott winning the 2010 H&R Macon County Player of the Year award.
“I knew it was probably going to be a better situation than I was already in, even if I didn’t start or play much,” Scott said. “I just wanted to do anything I could to help out the team and the program.”
That humble approach is what sold Maroa-Forsyth’s entire football program on Scott when he enrolled before last January.
Scott knew there were a handful of guys who had spent their entire lives playing football for Maroa and were in line to start at running back. So, he didn’t show up with any demands. Rather, he proved in the weight room that he was willing to work for a spot on the team.
It didn’t take long before Maroa coach Josh Jostes and the players took notice.
“He was a good kid and came in with a great work ethic,” Jostes said. “He just came in and wanted to be successful. It worked out great and when you have parents who are committed, that’s just great to see.”
When Scott’s father told Jostes the move was being made, Jostes didn’t know a lot about the 5-foot-9, 190-pound back. All of his knowledge came from playing against Eisenhower in 7-on-7s during the previous two summers when he noticed Scott’s size. Considering the stature of Toby Propst and Dustin Hoffman — the two backs who would have shared most of the rushing load this season — Jostes was happy to add a bigger kid to the position.
It wasn’t until summer camp and practice in pads rolled around that Jostes knew just how good of a player he had.
“He brought a bit of an edge,” Jostes said. “He was bringing it once the season started.”
The rest of the area got a good glimpse of Scott’s ability in Week 1 when he helped Maroa trounce Clinton 49-7 with scoring runs of 40 and 5 yards. He finished with 112 yards for the first 100-yard game of his career.
After getting his second 100-yard game in Game 2, the normally quiet Scott spoke up in Week 3 against Shelbyville. With the Trojans up 33-0 at halftime and Scott sitting at 168 yards, he reminded Jostes he had never rushed for 200 yards.
“We’ll get 200 when it matters,” Jostes replied.
Sure enough, against undefeated Tuscola four weeks later, Scott punished the Warriors for 233 yards as Maroa pounded the defending Class 1A state champs 39-17.
“I made sure to grab him and say ‘Enjoy that one,’ ” Jostes said.
As the season progressed, Scott kept enjoying career firsts. In the first playoff game of his career, Scott helped bring Maroa from behind against Marshall with 172 yards and two TDs. And every week, Scott was one of the first in line to pick up the Trojans’ newest playoff shirt as they finished second in Class 2A.
“It was anything you could wish for,” Scott said. “The opportunity to actually just go out there and compete every game was worth it.”
Scott did more than just compete. He was far and way the most productive back in the area with 1,943 yards on 232 carries (8.4 yards per carry) and 21 TDs. He also caught 18 passes for 194 yards and a score. On defense, he finished with 70 tackles.
While his production might have surprised some people, Jostes knew that Scott’s mentality and mid-year enrollment at Maroa would eliminated any transition period academically and athletically.
“I am really happy for him,” Jostes said. “He was an honor roll student coming in and it’s going to be an adjustment and he’s had to adjust. He’s taking advanced placement tests and has had to adjust and he’s been willing to make that effort.”
With all of Scott’s success coming late in the game recruiting wise, he’s still holding out hope for a couple big programs. His electric season piqued the interest of Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, Drake and Murray State, but with other scholarship offers out to players they’ve recruited long before, it’s a waiting game for Scott.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in December 2010.

Taking Over

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
TUSCOLA - The thought of a former Little Okaw Valley Conference team running the table in the Okaw five years back would have been irrational.
The Okaw was steeped in tradition and stacked with larger schools that played better football.
Even when the LOVC talked about banishing mighty Tuscola and the Warriors joined the Okaw, it looked like another team that could compete, but not dominate. The 83-10 record Tuscola piled up in 12 years competing in the LOVC was going to be a thing of the past.
Tonight, Tuscola, the smallest school in the conference, has one final major hurdle - Class 2A No. 6 Maroa-Forsyth - on its way to a 9-0 mark against the Okaw. The Warriors finish the season with Meridian and Argenta-Oreana, teams that are a combined 1-11 so far.
That would be 9-0 with arguably the state's toughest Class 1A schedule. Wins would include Class 3A No. 3 Tolono Unity, then top-five Class 3A St. Teresa, then top-10 Class 1A Central A&M and the highly-regarded Trojans.
It would be something not even last year's state championship team or 2007's runner-up group could do.
"Quite honestly, it would be an amazing thing," Tuscola coach Rick Reinhart said of an undefeated season in the Okaw. "But at the start of every scouting report, it's business as usual. We have our toughest test coming (tonight)."
When Reinhart took over at Tuscola in 2008, he saw the level of competition the Okaw brought. He also saw the high level of training the Warriors were putting in during the offseason to position itself for success.
Just this past summer, Reinhart had 50 guys participating in summer workouts, which is the foundation for any successful season regardless of the league.
"I have always been at a small school in a big conference," Reinhart said. "It's not how many numbers you have; it's about having the right numbers.
"I just thought it was a situation that we would win. To dominate and win it all, no, not year-in and year-out."
Since joining the conference, Tuscola has the fourth-best regular-season record. It's had no less than six wins each season. Against the larger schools in the Black division, the Warriors are an impressive 13-3 with wins against every school.
"I knew when we went in we would be solid, but we happened to be blessed with a lot of kids who can play football and sometimes that doesn't happen in 1A," said Tuscola assistant Stan Wienke, who coached the Warriors during their first season in the Okaw. "But you didn't know how much of a beating you would take and if that would neutralize the talent we had.
"Luckily, we've been able to dodge that and kids have been able to step up into positions we need them to."
Maroa-Forsyth coach Josh Jostes was the first Okaw coach to lead his team past the Warriors. It pitted two spread teams and two highly ranked squads against each other in 2007. The Trojans outlasted Tuscola 35-28.
Up until a 28-0 beating last season, Jostes was one of just two coaches not to lose to Tuscola since it joined the conference.
"I am not surprised," Jostes said of Tuscola's success in the Okaw. "They are well coached and have some tradition. They continue to get the kids and work hard year round."
Any number of intangibles takes a team only so far. Sustaining success in one of the best football confer-ences in the state takes talent.
Throughout the past decade and certainly since Tuscola joined the Okaw, the Warriors have been ripe with athletes, and Reinhart's the first to bring that up.
"We have had a great run of talent," Reinhart said. "Let's be honest, it all starts with talent. That's the main thing."
The playoff run the Warriors are enjoying started in 1994 with the likes of NFLer Fred Wakefield. Then Dusty Burk, an Illinois State player, came through. During that first year of Okaw play, current Iowa quar-terback John Wienke was around.
"We knew the teams were bigger, but it was high school football," Wienke said about that first year in the Okaw. "The success isn't surprising because it's just a good situation.
"We want to win at all costs, and that's just how it goes at Tuscola. They put it in their mind that they al-ways want to win."
There's also a quality coaching staff that guides that talent every day on the field. The familiarity of the staff is a big plus that Stan pointed out. A lot of the same guys who were on his staff in the early '90s are still roaming the sideline for Reinhart.
"We have a pot-load of athletes, and the coaches are so consistent it makes it a lot easier," Wienke said. "Every time we graduate between nine and 20 players, the next guys take their spots and there isn't much of a difference.
"And this has been going on since the early '90s."
Even in that '07 season, when Tuscola fell in its seventh game of the season to the same opponent it faces tonight, Wienke made sure his team knew what was important - the postseason.
Just the same, Reinhart has his team hungry for another Okaw win, but understanding that the ultimate goal is taking home another trophy from Champaign as a Thanksgiving celebration.
"We're going to be as good as we can be," Reinhart said. "If that's good enough to win conference or state, and you have to be lucky to do that, then so be it."
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in October, 2010.

Far From Bitter Coaching Rivals

By LEROY BRIDGES
H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR — It’s easy to see why Scott Davis and Josh Jostes would be adversaries.
Old school vs. new school. Tradition vs. innovation. Run vs. pass.
Throw in the fact that they lead two of area’s best football programs, St. Teresa and Maroa-Forsyth, in the premiere rivalry of the county and it’s an easy fire to stoke, right?
Not exactly.
“I think that’s a real misconception,” Maroa-Forsyth athletic director Dana Dale said. “When they’re on the field, they’re both competitors, but when it’s all said and done, they speak to each other and are great friends.”
Dale knows.
When Jostes applied for the head coaching job at Maroa back in 2000, Davis was at the top of Jostes’ references — something that might shock people given the intensity of the St. T-Maroa rivalry nowadays.
“Scott and I have no qualms with each other,” Jostes said. “He helped me get the (Maroa) job.”
Fresh out of Millikin, Jostes knew that getting into coaching had an element of who you know — especially local coaching successes. So, he didn’t hesitate to turn to an already-established Davis, who can be intimidating, for some help.
“I was pretty confident he would give me a reference because there was a lot of history between our families,” Jostes said.
Josh’s grandfather was on the Macon school board that gave Davis his first coaching gig. It was 1980 and Josh was a wide-eyed 7-year-old soaking up everything Ironman football, while his uncle, Reed, coached with Davis.
“I would say he was the same guy, but a lot younger and a lot tougher than he is now,” Jostes said of Davis. “The whole family loved him.”
Davis had a favorable opinion of Jostes, too. After years of relying on Reed as a player and a coach and spending time with his grandparents, Davis had no problem recommending Jostes for any coaching position.
“I thought he would do a good job,” Davis said of vouching for Jostes. “Yeah, I think (it was a good reference).
“They’ve had some good football tradition and Josh has been able to build on it and continue to keep it moving.”
It wasn’t easy-going at first.
The first four seasons Jostes led the Trojans into battle against Davis and St. Teresa, it was a death march. The new Maroa coach had heard all about a heated match-up with St. Teresa, but several bad losses to the Bulldogs soured Jostes on the showdown.
That was until Jostes ditched his run-first offense, adapted to the skill guys the Trojans annually have and started winning games.
“When you get killed every week, I wasn’t so sure about a rivalry,” Jostes said. “It’s not a rivalry until we win games and when it goes back and forth. We’ve been fortunate enough to do that.”
In 10 years at Maroa, Jostes has validated Davis’ recommendation by going 78-27. Couple the rise of Jostes with Davis’ continued success and the Maroa-St. T showdown has taken off.
But each school’s success has come a bit differently.
When Davis went 16-20 in his first four years at St. T, the hard-nosed coach never waivered from his power run game. Jostes’ 10-26 start at Maroa forced his hand to adapt to his personnel and the younger mind turned it into an offense predicated on skill guys.
But dig a little deeper and both programs are built on the same principals of hard work and discipline.
“(Davis) expects the most out of his kids and that’s what Josh does, too,” said Tony Klein, who played under Davis at Macon and coached with Jostes at Maroa. “They just go about it different ways. A lot of people see that.
“They’re both great guys and great teachers. They’re the same but in different ways.”
Klein has noticed the increased chatter about Davis and Jostes not liking each other through the years. He chalks it up to the growth of a great rivalry and a product of the Trojans’ success.
“You didn’t hear any of that in the first four years,” Klein said. “It’s just the rivalry.”
The height of competitiveness in both men is staggering, so when there’s not much of a pregame conversation or a postgame handshake, don’t read into it.
These two go back 30 years.
lbridges@herald-review.com|421-6970

Published in the Herald & Review in October, 2010.

The Face of a Rivalry

New Preps Recap Videos

Here are links to the Preps Recap Videos I have done at the Herald & Review. These are from August 2010 and on.

Aug. 27, 2010
Sept. 4, 2010
Sept. 11, 2010
Sept. 18, 2010
Sept. 26, 2010
Oct. 9, 2010
Jan. 15, 2011
Jan. 21, 2011
Jan. 25, 2011

New Preps Preview Videos

Here are links to the weekly Preps Preview vodcast I take part in at the Herald & Review. These are from August 2010 and on.

Aug. 25, 2010
Sept. 1, 2010
Sept. 8, 2010
Sept. 15, 2010
Sept. 29, 2010
Oct. 6, 2010
Oct. 13, 2010
Oct. 21, 2010
Jan. 4, 2011
Jan. 13, 2011
Jan. 26, 2011

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