Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
June 29, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
ST. LOUIS — Cole Hayes isn’t harboring any grand illusions. A summer spent playing in a semi-professional developmental soccer league won’t change that. “I’m not pigeon-holing myself into it’s do or die,” Hayes said of the possibility of a professional playing career. “If that opportunity does present itself, it’s something I can pursue after the…
Read Full Article June 28, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Blake Arnold seemed to take it all in stride. “It felt like just another tournament,” he said. However, not every tournament ends in a three-hole playoff. The Liberty golfer saw his lead in the boys 16-17 division of the State Farm Youth Classic dwindle to a single stroke on the back nine…
Read Full Article June 26, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Zach Willing finally got to finish what he started. A year ago, in the championship match of the men’s open division of the Quincy City Tennis Tournament, Willing took the first set from Ryan Schnack and led 1-0 in the second set when Schnack, a three-time city champ, was forced to retire with…
Read Full Article June 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Delaney Straus felt insulted. As the Missouri girls were milling around John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center ahead of Saturday’s Muddy River Showcase, the Marion County standout overheard a conversation in which a tongue-in-cheek prediction about the boys game was made. However, she thought the prediction of a 24-point Illinois victory was…
Read Full Article June 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The spirited battles Jeremiah and Joshua Talton have engaged in either on the family basketball court or during open gyms at John Wood Community College moved to a much more public and brighter stage Saturday. That didn’t mitigate Jeremiah’s height advantage. “Let me get to be about 6-foot-7 and then it would be…
Read Full Article June 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — A family showdown. A preview of things to come for the John Wood Community College men’s basketball program. A last hurrah for two storied senior classes. The start of a new summer basketball tradition. The Muddy River Showcase boys basketball all-star game had it all. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the…
Read Full Article June 18, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — By the time she finally had a chance to sit and relax for a moment, Caydee Kirkham felt the aftereffects of spending 39 of the 40 minutes in the inaugural Muddy River Showcase girls basketball game on the floor. “My legs are cramping a lot,” she said. “But it was fun, so that’s…
Read Full Article June 18, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The inaugural Muddy River Showcase got off to a rousing start as the Illinois girls all-stars overcome diminished depth to outrun Missouri and post a 67-55 victory Saturday at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the intensity, camaraderie and enjoyment of the players and coaches…
Read Full Article June 17, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Greg Altmix floated the idea. The Muddy River Showcase organizing committee became enamored with it. And Brock Edris signed off on it. Right then, another level of intrigue was added to the Illinois vs. Missouri all-star basketball event. Quincy High School all-stater Jeremiah Talton originally declined his invitation to play in the boys…
Read Full Article June 17, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — After running up and down the court for the better part of an hour Thursday night, the Illinois girls all-stars wrapped up their final practice before Saturday’s inaugural Muddy River Showcase. They weren’t quite done, though. Hallie Ray and Abbie Johnson, teammates at Illini West, asked if they could stick around John Wood…
Read Full Article June 16, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 15, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — It’s only fitting the final two area baseball teams left standing in the Land of Lincoln were honored with spots on the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams. Brown County senior center fielder/pitcher Gabe Blakeley and Quincy Notre Dame junior first baseman/pitcher Dalton Miller were named to the Class 1A and…
Read Full Article June 15, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Despite a shoulder injury that now has her prepping for surgery, Eryn Cornwell remained a force in the middle of the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s lineup. Her production resulted in receiving Class 2A first-team all-state honors from the Illinois Coaches Association. QND freshman Caitlin Bunte was a second-team selection, while five area…
Read Full Article June 14, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 14, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
ROLLA, Mo. — The lure of Bellerive proved far too tempting for Alex McCulla to ignore. So he withdrew from a qualifier for the Illinois State Amateur, paid to join the Missouri Golf Association and an extra origination fee for a spot in Monday’s Missouri State Amateur Last Chance Qualifier and trekked to Oak Meadow…
Read Full Article June 14, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The shift that has taken place within the Quincy University athletic department in the past year so noticeable to those on the inside is becoming more and more noticeable to those on the outside. Cathy Monroe sensed it during the interview process. “I liked the energy I was feeling from the athletic department,”…
Read Full Article June 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — University of Minnesota thrower Kaleb Siekmeier’s reaction to Jordan Johnson’s throw made the Quincy native do a double take. Following his final throw in the discus at the NCAA Division I outdoor track and field championships last Friday in Eugene, Ore., Johnson watched the scoreboard for his distance and was admittedly slightly disappointed…
Read Full Article June 10, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 10, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 9, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Throughout the majority of my sports writing career, when my creativity requires recharging or it’s time to unwind my mind, I jump in my truck and spend some time exploring the countryside on county roads. Thursday, a walk through the woods was needed, so to speak. And as the sun headed for the…
Read Full Article June 9, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 8, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Brad Hoyt often has said the John Wood Community College men’s basketball program sticks together like family. How true that is these days. Brody Gronewold, a former standout at Illini West and JWCC, recently was named an assistant coach at Dodge City Community College, an NJCAA Division I program located in Dodge City,…
Read Full Article June 8, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The front-to-back, middle-of-the-field trio that carried the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team to a state championship earned some worthy postseason honors. So did Quincy High School’s dangerous sophomore connection. Raiders forward Lia Quintero, midfielder Avery Keck and sweeper Eva Dickerman — they are all juniors — received all-sectional plaudits from the Illinois…
Read Full Article June 7, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 7, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 7, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article June 7, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
LINCOLN, Neb. — Jessica Keller continues climbing the coaching ladder. The all-time leading scorer in the history of the Quincy University women’s basketball program is heading to the Big 10 Conference, joining Amy Williams staff with the University of Nebraska women’s basketball program as an assistant coach. Keller spent the previous five seasons on the…
Read Full Article June 6, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Carla Passini’s passion to see Quincy University succeed academically and athletically is nearly unrivaled. QU athletic director Josh Rabe is one whose heart and soul for his alma mater runs just as deep. So it makes sense they will work hand-in-hand to push the QU athletic department forward. Passini resigned in May as…
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