Category Archives: Local Sports

Lincoln High School Senior named Gatorade Player of the Year

Lincoln High School Senior named Gatorade Player of the Year

By Blake Haas LINCOLN – Besides guiding her team to an IHSA Class 3A State Championship, a 5-foot-9 senior basketball standout at Lincoln High School now has another accolade to add to her trophy case. Lady Railsplitter standout Kloe Froebe secured her spot as the best in the state with the Gatorade Illinois Girls Basketball…MORE

Normal Community Ironmen runners-up in IHSA Class 4A Championship

Normal Community Ironmen runners-up in IHSA Class 4A Championship

By Jake Fogal CHAMPAIGN – After the best season for the program since 2015, Normal Community boys basketball came up just short of hoisting the IHSA Class 4A State championship Saturday night in Champaign, falling to Homewood-Flossmoor 60-48. Three Vikings scored in double figures, as Bryce Heard poured in 21 points. Jayden Tyler had 15,…MORE

Ironmen push past Palatine; advance to IHSA State Title Game

Ironmen push past Palatine; advance to IHSA State Title Game

By Jake Fogal CHAMPAIGN – Normal Community took the court at the State Farm Center in Champaign for the first time Friday under long time head coach Dave Witzig, but the Ironmen are no stranger to this type of success. Community picked up the victory over Palatine in the IHSA Class 4A State Semifinals, 58-38…MORE

IHSA’s cheerleading finals coming to Bloomington this weekend

IHSA’s cheerleading finals coming to Bloomington this weekend

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The annual Illinois High School Association Competitive Cheerleading State Finals will be hosted in Bloomington this weekend at Grossinger Motors Arena. The state’s top 100 teams will journey to the Twin Cities to participate in four separate classes. Over 13,000 spectators are expected to attend the two-day event, according to…MORE

Eureka College announces head football coaching hire

Eureka College announces head football coaching hire

By Jake Fogal EUREKA – Eureka College is bringing in a two time NFL Pro Bowler to take over as the head coach of the Red Devils football program. The college announced Monday, that Randy Starks will takeover as the 20th all-time coach of the program. “There are a lot of people that coach their…MORE

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…