Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Coverage of the South Shelby football program is brought to you by: SHELBINA, Mo. — The South Shelby football team rose to the top of the Clarence Cannon Conference last season behind a high-powered offense and a stingy defense. Now that winning has become the norm, the Cardinals believe they can stay at the top.…
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QUINCY — Cam Appenzeller had been there before. A couple hours earlier in fact. The Chatham Glenwood left-handed golfer pulled his tee shot on the par-4 18th at Westview Golf Course — the first hole in a three-way playoff Saturday for individual medalist of the 75th Quincy Invitational — and ended up just off the…
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QUINCY — Hunter St. Clair sees his game improving daily. He wants his younger teammates to see that as well and follow suit. The Quincy High School junior golfer played the back nine Saturday in 1-over 36 and closed his round of 4-over 75 with a birdie on the par-4 18th hole to secure a…
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To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photo,click here to visit our SmugMug site. QUINCY — It took breaking 80 on a windy, humid Saturday at Westview Golf Course to crack the top 20 in the 75th Quincy Invitational. It took flirting with breaking par to be at the top. Solid ball…
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QUINCY — Beau Eftink likes Dr Pepper. A lot apparently. He also likes winning and making birdies. A lot as well. Those things went hand-in-hand Saturday as the Quincy Notre Dame junior golfer won a playoff to earn individual medalist honors at the 75th Quincy Invitational and won a bet with Raiders coach Brian Hendrian…
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Coverage of the Highland football program is brought to you by: EWING, Mo. — The current crop of Highland football players were the freshmen and junior high schoolers who bore witness to and were inspired by the 2021 team’s 8-3 record and run of success. Now, they want to pave a path into Highland history…
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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Jacob Kroeger’s start to a professional baseball career has been promising. The Palmyra, Mo., product and former Maryville University All-American hurler was drafted in the 10th round of the MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, signed a contract and was assigned to the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets of the Carolina League. It took…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Waylon Anders has quarterbacked the Hannibal football team to 20 victories in two seasons as the starting signal-caller. His experience and understanding of the Pirates’ offense is a critical reason Hannibal is considered a viable state title contender in Class 4. Anders joined Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman on the tailgate…
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Coverage of the Brown County football program is brought to you by: MT. STERLING, Ill. — For a Brown County football program that has won 65 percent of its games over the past two decades with 16 playoff appearances and a handful of conference titles, the way the 2023 season played out can be described…
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Coverage of the Brown County football program is brought to you by: MT. STERLING, Ill. — Dylan Reische gives the Brown County football team’s offensive line an experienced anchor at center and some personality. Anyone nicknamed “Chili” is bound to have character, right? Reische joined Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman on the tailgate of…
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MENDON, Ill. — It has become a tradition for the Unity-Payson football team to practice at the stroke of midnight the first allowable day Illinois High School Association schools can begin working out in full pads. So Friday night, just before midnight, the Mustangs pulled up at their home field to see the lights shining…
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QUINCY — Jason Killday used one term to describe the second week of the Quincy University football program’s fall camp. Growth. The first-year head coach has watched the Hawks develop some consistency and maturity in their first two weeks of practice. After a lackluster end to the first week, the Hawks made certain the second…
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Coverage of the West Hancock football program is brought to you by: HAMILTON, Ill. — Nolan Gooding truly believes better days are ahead for the West Hancock football program. His enthusiasm and confidence are born from having learned second-year head coach Coy Dorothy’s system and a lifelong connection with a senior class ready to make…
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QUINCY — The biggest leap of faith was made with complete faith it would work. Still, it took loyal readers to make that happen. Thank you for sticking by us. Today marks the third anniversary of the launch of Muddy River Sports, and because of your trust in the news we provide and the product…
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QUINCY — The flag officially dropped Thursday on the start of the high school sports season. The traditional boys golf lidlifter — the D.A. Weibring Invitational — took place at Westview Golf Course with Illini West winning the team title with a 322 total and Pittsfield sophomore Isaac McGlauchlen taking individual medalist honors with an…
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MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Monroe City football program has a tradition and a history rooted in success. Valle Catholic has a tradition and a history rooted in championships. Those forces collide in Week 1 at Lankford Field in one of the best small-school matchups in the state. The Panthers’ Trey Smyser and Jayden Holland…
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CENTER, Mo. — Brayden Moss has been a fixture along the Mark Twain football team’s line since he joined the varsity program as a freshman. Now a senior, Moss expects the leadership and maturity that comes with being a four-year starter to pay off as the Tigers look to turn things around and chase a…
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Coverage of the Pittsfield football program is brought to you by: PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Pittsfield football program’s playoff drought is long enough that senior linebacker Draven Puterbaugh doesn’t remember seeing one. “It hasn’t happened in quite some time,” he said. Fifteen years in fact. Yet, there’s a distinct hope and strong belief this could…
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Coverage of the Pittsfield football program is brought to you by: PITTSFIELD, Ill. — With nine starters returning on defense and the biggest offensive line its enjoyed in quite some time, the Pittsfield football program has the makings of what could be a run at ending a 15-year playoff drought. Senior lineman Jaron White joined…
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QUINCY — All of the windshield time her parents amassed this summer allowed 14-year-old Khloe Nicholson to catch up on two important necessities. “Sleep and watch TV,” she said. Specifically, that meant watching Netflix. “I was a little of everything,” she said. “I liked ‘Cobra Kai.’” But unlike Daniel LaRusso in “The Karate Kid” —…
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Andrew Rupcich’s focus and determination have never changed, even as the circumstances around him have evolved. That’s why the former Culver-Stockton College All-American offensive lineman is in a position to challenge for a starting spot at right guard for the Tennessee Titans. Last week, the Titans released their first unofficial depth chart…
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QUINCY — Each Quincy University football practice Bradyn Little attended last spring allowed the Quincy High School quarterback to foster a stronger relationship with first-year Hawks coach Jason Killday. “I know who he is,” Little said. With that comes a level of comfortability that can’t be matched. “I trust him,” Little said. “That’s big for…
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QUINCY — The progression is designed to be natural. First, set the foundation. Then, add the layers. “We’re trying to build a structure here,” Brock Inman said. That’s why no one fretted when the Quincy University football team’s first fall practice wasn’t as crisp as anyone would have liked. The Hawks needed to lay the…
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QUINCY — Each day, the repititions get a little quicker, the reactions get a little better and the intensity gets a little stronger. By the time the Quincy University football players go to full pads, they should be ready to rumble at full speed. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent time with the Hawks…
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QUINCY — Jackson Stratton did exactly what a big brother is expected to do. He looked out for his little sister. As Sage Stratton navigated the recruiting circuit throughout the past year — the Quincy Notre Dame senior received interest from a variety of NCAA Division II women’s basketball programs — she leaned heavily on…
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QUINCY — Most mornings, Bill Stitchcomb wakes to his labrador retriever, Gus, pawing at the side of the bed or the smell of percolating coffee now that he has learned how to set the coffee maker to kick on automatically at 6:30 a.m. “My grandkids bought me the new coffee pot for Christmas,” he said.…
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FLOSSMOOR, Ill. — Luke Guthrie mounted a charge only one golfer withstood, and it proved the 34-year-old Quincy native still has the game to compete. Guthrie played the back nine of the Flossmoor Golf Club in 3-under 33 Wednesday afternoon, closing with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to post a 6-under 210 total…
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QUINCY — Dom Clay’s junior season with the Quincy High School boys basketball team ended with a lot of people curious where his natural gifts and improving consistency might take him. They now know. It’s carrying him to the NCAA Division I level. The 6-foot-3 Clay recently committed to Austin Peay State University, making him…
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QUINCY — Soon enough, Alex Stratman will return home and begin preparing for the fall hunting season, where he will serve as a guide for those chasing whitetail deer and turkey. After that, he’ll focus on guiding hunters during the spring turkey season. Before that happens, he’s going to savor every minute he has in…
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QUINCY — As the recruiting process began to evolve, Caitlin Bunte realized there was more to think about than softball alone. “I looked past that at the beginning,” the Quincy Notre Dame softball standout said. “I was like, ‘I want to play softball. I want to find somewhere where I can step in and play.’…
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