Schuckman: Favorite columns of 2024 come filled with emotion

QUINCY — Telling the story of area sports throughout 2024 meant appreciating those able to live out their dreams and embracing those forced to say goodbye to loved ones.

Emotions of all kinds impacted how the games were played and the stories we wrote.

Here are my favorite columns from 2024:

Lepper was big man with big heart, big laugh and big personality

When Tom Lepper stepped away from his role as an assistant coach with the Quincy High School boys basketball program two seasons ago due to health concerns, a number of people asked if a story would follow.

The only way I’d write one, I continuously reiterated, was if he wanted to talk about it.

He didn’t.

“Don’t write about me dying,” Lepper said. “Promise me that.”

Two years went by, along with the ups and downs of chemotherapy and radiation and the other challenges brain cancer presents, without that promise being broken. Lepper never wanted pity or sympathy or attention. The former QHS and Quincy University basketball standout wanted to live his life, not regret it.

He did so until his final breath. The 50-year-old Lepper passed away Thursday afternoon in his home surrounded by his family. In the hours after he passed, as text messages and phone calls were made and tears and memories were exchanged, one thing became clear.

I needed to break my promise.

So, Lepp, I’m sorry, but the story of your life — not your death — deserves to be told.

Schuckman: Lepper was big man with big heart, big laugh and big personality

In Buster’s case, man’s best friend truly was best thing in my life

It didn’t matter what time of day or night I arrived — it could have been 1 p.m. after lunch with the guys or 1 a.m. after meeting another deadline in the newsroom — Buster always greeted me at the top of the steps. I’d open the side door to our house and there the 37-pound cheagle would be standing, wagging his tail and waiting for me to come in.

After I’d pet his head and rub his belly, he’d bounce to the back door and want to go outside. A few minutes later, after he smelled what always felt like every blade of grass as far as he leash would let him go, we’d come back in and he’d get a treat.

Then we’d head to the living room to watch sports of some sort or maybe a show we had saved to the DVR. We’d play a little, often tug-o-war with his big blue stick or a game of fetch with one of the myriad of balls he had accumulated.

Once he tired, he’d settle in on the ottoman between my feet or jump up and lie across my chest and fall asleep.

Schuckman: In Buster’s case, man’s best friend truly was best thing in my life

Truth allows Holzgrafe to bring bright smile, effervescent personality back to life

Last Thursday, the former Quincy University tennis coach left that life behind.

With that, we get to see his gregarious personality and beaming smile in full bloom again.

“I feel like I have a voice again,” Holzgrafe said.

In the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Holzgrafe won his defamation lawsuit against Daniel Lozier, the former QU tennis player who levied false accusations of misconduct against Holzgrafe during a Title IX investigation conducted by the school in 2017.

The financial windfall of the case — a jury awarded Holzgrafe more than $2.9 millions in damages — is something Holzgrafe and his family may never see. Besides, money doesn’t restore a reputation or end the whispers and the snickering.

Only the truth does that.

Schuckman: Truth allows Holzgrafe to bring bright smile, effervescent personality back to life

Young golfers’ joy of making putts is something we should all embrace

In the end, as long as the ball rattles around in the cup, you’ve met the goal.

That’s easy to forget until you spend a morning with the littlest of the Little People.

Their enthusiasm for the game is infectious. Their delight in completing a hole is contagious. Their total disregard for the score is encouraging. What matters to them is what should matter to most anyone who plays the game — putting the ball in the hole.

Obviously, their participation in the 51st Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships requires scores to be kept, and it’s the caddie’s responsibility to do so, which is easy enough since either mom or dad is on the bag for the golfers in the 3-5 age division.

For the golfers, though, the score is inconsequential.

Making the final putt is what matters.

Schuckman: Young golfers’ joy of making putts is something we should all embrace

While watching MLB Draft, Palmyra’s Kroeger realizes ‘Holy cow, this is going to happen’

Kroeger was selected by the Braves in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Monday, being taken with the 311th pick overall in the 20-round draft. He became the first Palmyra product selected since Terry Bogener went in the eighth round to the Texas Rangers in 1978.

He is only the second Maryville player to ever be drafted, joining Robbie Gordon, who was taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 36th round in 2016.

“I didn’t expect it to be (Monday),” said Kroeger, who was named a second-team All-American this past spring by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the American Baseball Coaches Association. “I thought it would be Tuesday or as a free-agent signing, just based on conversations with my advisor and the way things had laid out throughout the year.”

Schuckman: While watching MLB Draft, Palmyra’s Kroeger realizes ‘Holy cow, this is going to happen’

Game-used football celebrates faith and family as much as it does King’s first TD

He landed in the end zone, having scored a 1-yard, go-ahead, game-winning touchdown with 14:56 remaining before scrambling to his feet to celebrate with the Mules’ offensive linemen. That’s when the referee asked for the ball for the extra point.

“I was like, ‘No, I need this ball,’” King said. “I tell him, ‘I can’t give it to you.’ He was like, ‘Oh,’ and didn’t really react. So I turned and ran off to the sideline.”

And then into the stands. King scaled the wall behind the Mules’ bench and met his mom, Andrea King, about halfway up the stairs in order to present her with the game ball.

“I hugged her and she was crying,” King said. “It was awesome. It was a cool experience.”

Schuckman: Game-used football celebrates faith and family as much as it does King’s first TD

Little’s commitment to building right culture around QHS football program leads to another milestone moment

Inevitably, that led Little to ask, “Can you win at Quincy?”

Those close to the program with whom Little sought counsel all gave him a definitive answer.

Yes, they said, with the added caveat they believed the QHS program was a sleeping giant that needed the right person to wake it.

Little proved to be that person, and he has Quincy playing like an ogre.

Friday night’s 43-21 victory over Moline at Browning Field gave the Blue Devils the upperhand in the Western Big 6 Conference title chase, marked their 15th consecutive regular-season victory and presented Little with a milestone moment.

It was the 100th victory of his Quincy tenure as he nears the midpoint of his 18th season. He has compiled a 100-68 record with the Blue Devils, leading them to 10 playoff appearances to date along with the first playoff victory in program history, the first home playoff victory and the first undefeated regular season since 1935.

Schuckman: Little’s commitment to building right culture around QHS football program leads to another milestone moment

Rabe knows sweat-on-the-brow coaches fit what QU athletic department needs

Brad Hoyt is the latest to fit that bill. As men’s basketball coach and athletic director at John Wood Community College the past 13 years, Hoyt poured his heart and soul into everything. He lined the soccer fields. He swept the gym floor. He set up for special events. He learned to run the video board. He did whatever was necessary.

He produced a winner, too, as he guided the Trail Blazers to four NJCAA Division II national tournament berths and a national runner-up finish during his tenure.

“He’s the guy who fit the bill in more ways than one for what we need,” Rabe said.

Rabe knows. He’s paid attention.

Schuckman: Rabe knows sweat-on-the-brow coaches fit what QU athletic department needs