Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
September 29, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
FORSYTH, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys golfers realized circumstances seemed bleak. “We didn’t have a hot front nine,” senior Colin Larson said following Wednesday’s Class 2A Maroa-Forsyth Regional at Hickory Point Golf Course. “We definitely did not start off strong. On or about the 12th or 13th hole, we were four shots back…
Read Full Article September 29, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Everything about Senior Night is designed to bring out emotion. The swelling pride of parents. The camaraderie of classmates. The realization the end is near. It tends to make the game — no matter the sport — a secondary component to everything else. Wednesday night at The Pit, the six seniors on the…
Read Full Article September 29, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MACOMB, Ill. — The electronic scoring system the Illinois High School Association uses for postseason golf puts the leaderboard at everyone’s fingertips. That makes it tempting to peek at where the field stands. “When you have to put the scores in on your phone, it’s hard to stay away and not hit the leaderboard button,”…
Read Full Article September 28, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
CARTHAGE, Ill. — The physical tools Nolan Deitrich needs to excel at both golf and basketball are decidedly different. The mental approach is remarkably the same. Rolling in 4-foot par putt with a top finish at stake and hitting clutch free throws in a hostile gym will equally test your concentration and resolve. “The pressure…
Read Full Article September 28, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The moment he said it, Boen Brockmiller sensed his critique of his own corner kick sounded braggadocious. So he smiled and paused. When he continued, Brockmiller’s genuine joy for how the play turned out showed. “I know I’m biased,” said the senior forward on the Quincy High School boys soccer team. “But it…
Read Full Article September 28, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls tennis team improved to 9-3 in dual matches with Tuesday’s 8-1 victory over Macomb at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. After the Blue Devils’ Lily Hayes rallied to beat the Bombers’ Tali Stone 1-6, 6-2 (10-2) at No. 1 singles, Quincy swept the other five singles…
Read Full Article September 27, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Rick Gengenbacher didn’t want to witness history through a 4-inch screen. So when St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols walked to the plate in the fourth inning of last Friday’s game at Dodger Stadium, neither Gengenbacher nor his wife, Becky, nor their daughter, Kristen, pulled a cellphone from their pocket in hopes of recording Pujols’…
Read Full Article September 27, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
PALMYRA, Mo. — While last Friday’s thunderstorms and rain wiped out most of Saturday’s slate of softball games, Palmyra was able to play a pair of games at the Montgomery County Cluster. Abbey Redd took full advantage of it. Redd jacked a grand slam and scored twice in the Panthers’ 10-0 victory over South Callaway,…
Read Full Article September 26, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — As the charter bus navigated the Gem City streets while delivering the Maryville women’s soccer team to its hotel, Erin Barnes had a surreal realization. She had come home, but she wasn’t going home. “It’s one of those things where I’m like, ‘I should be going to my parents’ house or Notre Dame…
Read Full Article September 26, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The sheer excitement of the moment needed to be quickly tempered. Less than five minutes remained in regulation Sunday afternoon when Jessica Felix toe-poked in the game-tying goal and elicited an emphatic response from both the Quincy University women’s soccer team’s sideline and the sizable Legends Stadium crowd. Still, the Hawks couldn’t afford…
Read Full Article September 24, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — It goes in the ledger as a loss, but in terms of progress being made — from Week 1 to Week 4 this season and over the course of the last 364 days — Saturday’s outcome needs to be viewed as a small step in the right direction for the Quincy University football…
Read Full Article September 24, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MACOMB, Ill. — If rainfall and lightning strikes can’t put a damper on the enthusiasm surrounding the Macomb football program, what can? Right now, nothing. Friday night’s crowd was asked to leave the stadium complex to wait out a thunderstorm cell that passed over the area just before Friday night’s kickoff against Farmington. It delayed…
Read Full Article September 22, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Ali Entrup’s reaction spoke volumes. Her play at the net resonated even louder. During a tug-o-war portion of the first set Thursday night against Illini West at The Pit, the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team’s senior right side hitter stuffed a Chargers attack, giving the Raiders the point, the serve and the momentum.…
Read Full Article September 21, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Kelsey Scherder Cerven’s suggestion didn’t fall on deaf ears. Nora Hark just couldn’t follow through on it right away. Scherder Cerven was Hark’s mathematics teacher as a freshman as well as the javelin coach for the Hannibal track and field team. She encouraged Hark to give javelin a chance since she already…
Read Full Article September 21, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The weather-related damage to Arrowhead Heights Golf Course that forced the West Central Conference boys golf tournament to be moved to Westview Golf Course proved to be a boon for Quincy Notre Dame. It was an unfortunate circumstance for everyone else. The Raiders took advantage of playing their home course Wednesday, posting five…
Read Full Article September 20, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
GALESBURG, Ill. — The right approach offensively is something the Quincy High School boys soccer players have tried to perfect. Tuesday night, the Blue Devils dialed it as well as they have all season. “The team was very calm on the ball tonight to begin the game, very organized and kept the ball in the…
Read Full Article September 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
KEWANEE, Ill. — Sunday’s practice round at Midland Golf Club gave the Quincy High School girls team a blueprint for how to manage the course. “They really concentrated and took good notes,” Blue Devils coach HanLynn Vahlkamp said. Every notation led to something significant. Four QHS golfers finished in the top six individually as the…
Read Full Article September 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The determination and moxie it takes to hold onto what many suggest is the most strenuous lead in soccer is what the Quincy University men’s soccer team hasn’t shown. At least not yet. Monday night, in a Great Lakes Valley Conference matchup delayed a day due to transportation issues, the Hawks twice squandered…
Read Full Article September 17, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Saturday felt like a warm, welcoming hug. John Wood Community College opened its arms to the community, and Quincy embraced it. “Yeah, this is neat,” Trail Blazers athletic director Brad Hoyt said as he surveyed the meshing of JWCC athletes and personnel with fans and community members across a large swath of the…
Read Full Article September 17, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Nest deserved a little TLC. The Brown County football team hadn’t played at home since its Week 1 victory over Calhoun when it was one of the first teams in the state to take the field, opening on a Thursday night. In the three weeks since, the Hornets’ all-natural grass…
Read Full Article September 16, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Andre White spent a majority of his summer traveling across the United States with his son, Dez, on the AAU basketball circuit, and the reward of seeing his son achieve the dream of receiving an NCAA Division I scholarship is priceless. The fact Dez White will be playing for a former…
Read Full Article September 15, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The Pit is their happy place. To see how true that is, take a gander at the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players during warmups or pregame introductions. Smiles and laughter overtake everyone. “We love to be here,” senior outside hitter Laela Hernandez-Jones said. “We love games. We love getting to perform what we’re…
Read Full Article September 15, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame football players were engaged in their pre-practice team meeting and watching game film when Raiders coach Jack Cornell interrupted everything with some disheartening news. Saturday’s opponent — Hayti, a Class 1 school from the Missouri bootheel with an enrollment of 260 students — was forfeiting. “Silent,” senior running back…
Read Full Article September 14, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Naturally, Dr. Mark Gold felt inclined to help his son, Gabriel, with his biology homework. “It really didn’t work that well,” Gabriel said with a laugh. His dad’s interest was genuine and understandable. Mark Gold worked as a board certified neurosurgeon for more than 30 years, spending 18 years with the Quincy Medical…
Read Full Article September 14, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The roar of the Harley Davidsons. The swaying of the crowd. The green and white banners everywhere. How could a Brown County football player not be energized coming out of the locker room and running into such an environment? “It is the greatest thing ever,” said Colby Wort, the Hornets’ senior…
Read Full Article September 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The setting couldn’t have been more picturesque. Sun splashed across South Park’s rolling hills with a cool breeze rustling leaves on the thick, old oak trees looming over the final mile of the 3-mile cross country course spanning from one end of the park to the other for Tuesday’s 21st Running Raider Invitational.…
Read Full Article September 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Garrick Homan whole-heartedly believes effort and intensity can be contagious. So he’s embraced the role of human dynamo off the bench for the Quincy High School boys soccer team. “I want to be that positive spark to keep everyone up and reignite us,” Homan said. Tuesday night, with the Blue Devils trailing United…
Read Full Article September 12, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — With the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles matches having wrapped up and the Quincy High School girls tennis team winning both, twin sisters Lily and Phoebe Hayes understood they could put the Blue Devils in prime position to win Monday’s dual match if they could survive. Their resiliency took the pressure off in…
Read Full Article September 12, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MACOMB, Ill. — If Jack Duncan wanted to reconsider his college plans — and for the record, he doesn’t — there would be a vast number of college football coaches willing to invest the effort in trying to land the Macomb quarterback. When you erase the name of the legendary Phil Bradley from the top…
Read Full Article September 12, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Tyler Tomlinson is doing what every successful coach does. He’s accepting the need to change. The first four games of the Culver-Stockton College women’s soccer team’s season didn’t go as well as hoped, so Tomlinson and his staff began retooling how the Wildcats need to play. It seems to be working. The Wildcats…
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