Posts Tagged ‘John Wood Community College’
Club Four coach named head coach of women’s volleyball team at John Wood Community College
QUINCY — John Wood Community College recently announced the appointment of Nick Pudlowski as the new head coach for its women’s volleyball team. Pudlowski has more than a decade of experience coaching teams at the club and high school levels in Quincy and St. Louis. Most recently, he coached with Club Four Volleyball in Quincy…
Read MoreTrail Blazers mount late rally, can’t erase entire deficit in Region 24 loss to Hawks
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The John Wood Community College baseball team didn’t go away quietly. Trailing nationally ranked Heartland Community College by seven runs in Saturday’s championship game of the Region 24 tournament at the Corn Crib, the Trail Blazers put together a five-run rally in the eighth inning. The rally ended there. The Hawks, ranked…
Read MoreMartinez’s walk-off homer in Region 24 Tournament keeps JWCC’s season alive
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Kevin Martinez kept the John Wood Community College baseball team’s season afloat with one swing. Leading off the bottom of the ninth inning in Friday’s elimination game of the Region 24 Tournament at the Corn Crib, the Trail Blazers designated hitter hit a home run to right field to give JWCC an…
Read MoreJWCC’s Eftink earns all-region honors, while Carthage native Harrell is MWAC Player of the year
QUINCY — Blair Eftink is taking more than her 3-point prowess across town. A handful of accolades are going with her. The John Wood Community College sophomore guard, who has committed to play at Quincy University next season, recently received All-Region 24 honors and second-team All-Mid-West Athletic Conference plaudits. Eftink, a 5-foot-8 guard who was…
Read MoreJWCC’s Wallingford earns all-conference and all-region honors
QUINCY — Jake Wallingford continues to show what he is capable of doing when fully healthy. The 6-foot-9 forward battled injuries his senior season with the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team and his freshman season at John Wood Community, but he played in 26 games this past season and averaged more than 23 minutes…
Read MoreCrim: College basketball teams to jockey for postseason position over next two weeks
QUINCY — Local college basketball teams are entering the final two weeks of the regular season. The Quincy University women’s team finds itself in the thick of the Great Lakes Valley Conference race with four games remaining after being picked to finish seventh in the preseason coaches’ poll. A 14-game winning streak has catapulted the…
Read MoreLet it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!: JWCC guard comes off bench to provide second-half spark
QUINCY — Ryan Snow had been a man without minutes, but not without confidence. “I know when I get on the court I have to shoot with confidence or else there is no point in being out there,” he said. So when Snow was inserted into the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team’s lineup…
Read MoreTrail Blazers never recover from Loggers’ 16-point blitz to start game, suffer conference loss
QUINCY — When the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team hits the road Saturday to begin the second half of the Mid-West Athletic Conference schedule, the Trail Blazers see it as starting with a clean slate. “If we just execute well, it will give us a chance,” sophomore guard Blair Eftink said. It’s something…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC men’s and women’s basketball teams split with Lincoln Land
QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team shot 64.5 percent from the field in the second half of its 81-55 victory over Lincoln Land Community College on Wednesday night at the Student Activity Center. Meanwhile. the JWCC women’s basketball team fell behind 16-0 at the start and lost 88-60 to Lincoln Land.…
Read MoreTrail Blazers mount massive comeback, run out of gas before completing it in loss to Cobras
QUINCY — Just when it appeared momentum was on its side, the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team hit a wall. The Trail Blazers overcame early shooting woes to gradually whittle a 16-point first-half deficit against Parkland College to three with 2 minutes, 10 seconds left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer from…
Read MoreTrail Blazers unable to keep good vibes rolling, get shot down by Cobras’ sizzling perimeter game
QUINCY — Riding a two-game winning streak and having won four of its previous six games, the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team was eyeing a signature victory over nationally-ranked Parkland College on Saturday afternoon. The Cobras, smarting from being upset three days earlier by Danville, would have none of it. Guard Drew Lewis…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC men, women unable to keep pace with Parkland in MWAC doubleheader
QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams couldn’t get over the hump Saturday afternoon in Mid-West Athletic Conference play. The JWCC women ran out of gas after trimming the deficit to three in their 78-62 loss to Parkland at the Student Activity Center, while the JWCC men trailed from start…
Read MoreCrim: Camp Point Central graduates receive full community support in head-to-head coaching battle
QUINCY — The women’s basketball game between John Wood Community College and Danville Area Community College on Saturday afternoon could have been billed as “Camp Point Central Day.” The coaching matchup featured Kyle Bent (Central Class of 2004) for the visiting Jaguars and Ali Schwagmeyer-Belger (Central Class of 2008) for the host Blazers. Pockets of…
Read MoreShelton’s return to JWCC lineup provides spark in conference victory over Danville
QUINCY — Jordan Shelton and the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team shook off whatever rust they may have had. In Shelton’s first game of the year and the Trail Blazers’ first game in 21 days, Shelton scored 25 points and John Wood recorded its highest scoring game of the season in a 91-79…
Read MoreJaguars go on third-quarter run to keep Trail Blazers from putting pieces of puzzle together
QUINCY — The missing pieces caught up to the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team against Danville Area Community College on Saturday. With three players injured, the Trail Blazers struggled to meet their halftime goals and saw a two-point deficit balloon to double figures as the Jaguars went on a 19-4 run to close…
Read MoreAll Wires-d up: Chargers guard makes key defensive play to preserve victory in hometown
QUINCY — The experience was everything Ralph Wires could have hoped for. To him, though, winning was the best part. The Quincy High School graduate, now a freshman guard on the Carl Sandburg College men’s basketball team, helped the Chargers down John Wood Community College 73-67 on Wednesday in his first collegiate game in his…
Read MoreLast-second free throws give JWCC women spark that ignites final push to victory
QUINCY — The spark that spurred the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team’s second-half run against Carl Sandburg College on Wednesday was just as effective as it was unusual. With the Trail Blazers leading 62-60 in the waning seconds of the third quarter, Kylee Barry stole the ball from the Chargers’ Gabbie Vontz. Barry…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC basketball teams split home doubleheader with Carl Sandburg
QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams split a doubleheader with Carl Sandburg College on Wednesday night at the Student Activity Center as the JWCC women won 84-74 and the men tumbled 73-67. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreJWCC responds to allowing early goal, scores three times to advance in district play
QUINCY — The situation could have been demoralizing. The reaction to it proved otherwise. The John Wood Community College women’s soccer team, with the wind blowing in its face from the start, surrendered a goal to Parkland four minutes into Tuesday’s NJCAA Division II Great Lakes District matchup at Quincy Recycle Field on the JWCC…
Read MoreTrail Blazers erase two-goal deficit, earn first victory with late offensive flurry
QUINCY — A two-goal deficit at halftime in what had been a winless season to date could have turned into a playing-out-the-string effort from the John Wood Community College women’s soccer team Wednesday afternoon. Trail Blazers coach Hayley Womack refused to let that be the case. “The halftime talk with the team had one focus…
Read MoreKasparie sees ‘a lot of opportunity’ to grow his game with Purdue Fort Wayne baseball program
QUINCY — Engage Ben Kasparie in a conversation about baseball if you get the chance. What you will discover is a player whose appreciation for the craft is as strong as his spirit to compete. “A swing is like painting a picture,” said Kasparie, a graduate of Quincy Notre Dame and John Wood Community College…
Read MoreBirthday celebration: Week before turning 28, Dahl lands opportunity to be JWCC hoops coach
QUINCY — This wasn’t on Jonny Dahl’s birthday wish list, but it will go down as one of the most memorable gifts he’s ever received. “Unbelievable,” he called it. Nine days shy of his birthday — Dahl turns 28 years old on July 3 — he was officially introduced Monday as the new John Wood…
Read MoreDoyle, Wires spark Illinois’ full-court attack in third straight Muddy River Showcase victory
QUINCY — Dion Doyle decided this was the perfect opportunity to run it back. The Macomb basketball standout was part of a team that included Quincy High School’s Ralph Wires that won back-to-back Gus Macker 3-on-3 championships when the event was a Memorial Day weekend staple in downtown Quincy. Saturday, the duo reunited in the…
Read More‘I knew I wanted to be in this community’: Schwagmeyer-Belger brings instant credibility to JWCC women’s basketball coaching job
QUINCY — With a limited window between John Wood Community College calling a press conference and Ali Schwagmeyer-Belger being introduced as the new women’s basketball coach — less than 24 hours in fact — she didn’t expect much of a crowd to gather Friday afternoon. Seeing family, friends and her high school coach in attendance…
Read MoreJWCC splits pair of Region 24 tournament games, faces ICC with chance to advance
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The John Wood Community College baseball team put itself in position to advance in the Region 24 Tournament by upsetting third-seeded Lincoln Land Community College 11-3 to start postseason play Friday. The Trail Blazers then suffered a 5-4 loss in 12 innings to Illinois Central College. JWCC (26-30) and ICC (24-33) meet…
Read MoreJWCC women’s basketball coach resigns to pursue full-time coaching opportunity
QUINCY — Lauren Bogle openly talked about how coaching the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team enabled her to grow both in her ability to draw up Xs and Os and the organization of a program. So what was the most important thing she learned in two seasons at the helm? “Besides everything?” she…
Read MoreAround the area: Dance, Trail Blazers sweep twinbill; Pirates, Eagles split doubleheader
VINCENNES, Ind. — Tyler Dance found his footing. The John Wood Community College freshman right-hander threw six scoreless innings Saturday, striking out eight and walking one as the Trail Blazers opened a four-game Mid-West Athletic Conference series with an 8-0 victory over Vincennes University. JWCC also won the nightcap of the doubleheader 14-4. Dance, a…
Read More‘It’s weird today’: Hoyt leaves JWCC after life-long association, school needs to fill three positions
QUINCY — The navigation on Brad Hoyt’s car needs to be reprogrammed. Instead of the daily drive to the John Wood Community College campus, a route he’s taken for the past 13 years as men’s basketball coach and athletic director, Hoyt will be cruising across town to the Quincy University campus to begin his new…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC baseball team drops both ends of doubleheader to Parkland
QUINCY — Field conditions forced the Parkland baseball team to travel to John Wood Community College on Friday, but the Trail Blazers couldn’t take advantage of the home field. The Cobras swept the Mid-West Athletic Conference doubleheader, winning 8-6 and 5-4. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent some time at the ballpark and put…
Read MoreTrail Blazers’ bid for spot in national tournament gets sideswiped by Cobras’ second-half blitz
INA, Ill. — The way the first half of Sunday’s Region 24 championship game went back and forth had John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt sensing his team was in a championship dogfight. “It was physical,” Hoyt said. “And it was a game of runs. I expected more of that to happen…
Read MoreTrail Blazers able to zone in defensively, earn spot in Region 24 championship game
INA, Ill. — It isn’t often John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt decides to have the Trail Blazers play zone defense. It’s even rarer for them to play that style for an extended period. Saturday was that rare occurrence where it was needed. Trailing by four points at halftime of the Region…
Read MoreFourth-quarter comeback falls short as JWCC women lose in Region 24 semifinals
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The patented second-half comeback was happening yet again. Only this time, it stalled out. The John Wood Community College women’s basketball team trailed top-seeded Parkland 58-39 at the end of the third quarter Saturday in the semifinals of the Region 24 tournament at Lincoln Land Community College. Three minutes later, on the…
Read MoreSchuckman: Eftink’s return to court gives JWCC women’s basketball team perfect boost at perfect time
QUINCY — Blair Eftink’s roommate may have hinted at or suggested a time or two the former Quincy Notre Dame sharpshooting guard not give up on her basketball career. “Or maybe a lot,” Katey Flynn said with a smile and a chuckle. And for good reason. The John Wood Community College women’s basketball team needed…
Read MoreShelton sparks offensive outburst as JWCC men earn spot in Region 24 semifinals
QUINCY — The Rend Lake College men’s basketball wanted nothing more than a trip home. So John Wood Community College sent the Warriors home for good. Instead of returning to Ina, Ill., where the Rend Lake campus is located, for the final two rounds of the Region 24 postseason tournament, the Warriors must watch the…
Read MoreComfort creates confidence for JWCC women during second-half surge in Region 24 victory
QUINCY — If the John Wood Community College women’s basketball players could attack the basket at the east end of the Student Activity Center all the time, they truly believe they’d never trail. “This side is our basket,” sophomore point guard Jada Dupree said. “We practice on it every single day. When we go that…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC men, women pick up Region 24 quarterfinal victories at home
QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams took the first step toward national tournament berths Wednesday night by winning their Region 24 quarterfinal matchups at the Student Activity Center. The third-seeded JWCC men beat Rend Lake 75-61 and will face second-seeded Illinois Central College at 3 p.m. Saturday at Rend…
Read MoreDynamic second-half defensive effort gives Trail Blazers momentum heading into postseason
QUINCY — A simple one-word answer sufficed for everyone. The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team turned a two-point halftime advantage Saturday afternoon into a 74-59 Mid-West Athletic Conference victory over Illinois Central College to wrap up the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Region 24 postseason tournament. So what exactly did the Trail…
Read MoreTrail Blazers go on attack in second half, earn home postseason game by beating Cougars
QUINCY — A forgettable first half was forgotten quickly. It had to happen for the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team to play at home again. Trailing by eight points at halftime Saturday after shooting just 22.6 percent from the field, the Trail Blazers went on a 17-2 run over the final 6 minutes,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC men and women close regular season with home victories
QUINCY — The home slate didn’t end Saturday for the John Wood Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams. By sweeping a Mid-West Athletic Conference doubleheader from Illinois Central College — the JWCC men won 74-59 and the women won 61-52 — both will play host to quarterfinal games in the Region 24 postseason tournament…
Read MoreTrail Blazers chisel away second-half deficit, score crucial conference victory over Jaguars
DANVILLE, Ill. — Trailing by 18 points with 16 minutes remaining in one of those must-have games, the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team didn’t do anything drastic or dramatic. “We just plugged away and plugged away,” JWCC coach Brad Hoyt said. The Trail Blazers avoided mistakes, too. JWCC limited Danville to 22 second-half…
Read More‘We’re just soul-searching a little bit’: Mistakes, inconsistency lead to Trail Blazers getting upset
QUINCY — The outside doors to the Student Activity Center had been locked and a few of the inside lights dimmed by the time John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt emerged from the locker room after meeting with his team. “We’re just soul-searching a little bit,” he said. “We’re just trying to…
Read MoreWinless Spoon River provides perfect tonic for home-court woes for John Wood women
QUINCY — Winning at home has been a struggle for the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team this season. Until Wednesday night. The Trail Blazers scored the opening 12 points and 23 of the first 25 to coast to an 87-31 victory over winless Spoon River College in a Mid-West Athletic Conference game at…
Read MoreAll By Myself: Without twin sister by her side, Flynn becoming one of top scorers in JWCC history
QUINCY – John Wood Community College guard Katey Flynn admits it’s strange not playing alongside her twin sister, Klare, on the basketball court this season. The Flynn twins had been teammates in whatever sport was in season growing up in Mount Sterling. The only previous separation came during their freshman year in high school when…
Read MoreShelton gets transition game into high gear as Trail Blazers blow out Danville in second half
QUINCY, Ill. – John Wood Community College guard Jordan Shelton spent all but five minutes of the first half of Saturday afternoon’s game against Danville Area Community College on the bench with two personal fouls. He went from spectator to spectacular in the second half. The 5-foot-11 freshman from Mexico (Mo.) High School scored all…
Read MoreJWCC women struggle offensively in final three quarters, lose third consecutive game
QUINCY – It was one of those games when it seemed like a lid was on the basket. The John Wood Community College women’s basketball team went more than nine minutes overlapping the second and third quarters without a field goal and managed just seven points in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon to drop a…
Read MoreLate baskets by Gianquinto help JWCC men pick up critical region victory on home floor
QUINCY — An offensive rebound basket by Cachao Gianquinto put the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team ahead with 2:10 remaining in the game, and a layup by Gianquinto moments later provided the cushion necessary to post a 72-68 victory over Lincoln Land Community College on Wednesday night at the Student Activity Center. The…
Read MoreJWCC men head into new year with good vibes, right demeanor after back-to-back victories
QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s basketball players packed a six-game losing streak in their belongings and carried it home for the holidays. That’s where they left it. The Trail Blazers ended the 2023 portion of their schedule with back-to-back wins, beating Kishwaukee College 62-51 on Sunday in the JWCC New Year’s Classic…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC completes weekend sweep to seize momentum with MWAC play looming
QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team’s 62-51 victory over Kishwaukee College on Sunday at JWCC’s Student Activity Center capped a perfect weekend as the Trail Blazers won both of their games in the JWCC New Year’s Classic. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the afternoon with the Trail Blazers and…
Read MoreTalton’s 3-pointer lifts JWCC men to victory in first game of New Year’s Classic
QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team has some fight in it. That didn’t get left at home during the holiday break. In the Trail Blazers’ first game in two weeks, they scored the final five points, including Joshua Talton’s 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in regulation, to snare a 76-73 victory…
Read MoreRumble on the River scoreboard and schedule
QUINCY — Here are the results and the remaining schedule for the 16th Rumble on the River Shootout at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center.
Read MoreSpotlight on Rumble on the River continues to grow along with talented prep hoops field
QUINCY — Chris Duesdieker’s tireless effort is done with one goal in mind. Put the spotlight on area basketball. The collection of talented teams he is bringing to John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center and the intriguing matchups he has created for the 16th Rumble on the River have transformed the event from a…
Read MoreTrail Blazers unable to stop bounce back as Stormers fend off second-half rally
QUINCY — Brad Hoyt knows the yo-yo happens. “Finding a way to stop the bounce back is what’s critical,” he said. The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team couldn’t do that Saturday afternoon. Although Milwaukee Area Technical College led from start to finish in an 82-69 victory at the Student Athletic Center, the Trail…
Read More‘Weekend full of toughness’: Trail Blazers begin to forge identity with pair of victories
QUINCY — Brad Hoyt used two words to describe the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team’s defensive effort last weekend he hopes will be the same two words he uses to characterize the Trail Blazers all season. Toughness and physicality. JWCC won a pair of games in the John Wood Classic last weekend at…
Read More2023-24 Muddy River Sports college basketball preview section
QUINCY — Check out a 30-page preview of the area college basketball scene with an in-depth look at the men’s and women’s programs from Quincy University, John Wood Community College, Western Illinois University and Culver-Stockton College.
Read MoreAdded responsibilities on campus do not change Hoyt’s focus in leading JWCC hoops program
QUINCY — The number of times Brad Hoyt criss-crosses the John Wood Community College campus on a given day probably isn’t as high as some might think. The number of questions he fields from every corner of the campus … well, that’s a number he’d rather not calculate. The JWCC men’s basketball coach’s “my door…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC men’s soccer team suffers loss at home to SWIC
QUINCY — The John Wood Commmunity College men’s soccer team surrendered two goals in each half of a a 4-1 loss to Southwestern Illinois College on Thursday on the JWCC campus. The Trail Blazers are 3-7 overall. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent time with the Trail Blazers on Thursday and put together this…
Read MoreCollege notebook: Arnold leads charge for Danville golfers, Stratton sees first action, changes happening at JWCC
DANVILLE, Ill. — The influx of talent from West-Central Illinois is giving the Danville Area Community College men’s golf team a competitive edge. Liberty product Blake Arnold is at the forefront of that. Arnold tied for the individual low score at the Vincennes Invitational last weekend, shooting 4-under 140 over 36 holes at Country Oaks…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC volleyball team sweeps Lewis & Clark in home opener
QUINCY — After playing 13 consecutive matches on the road, the John Wood Community women’s volleyball team finally had the chance to come home Wednesday night. The Trail Blazers showcased why the road seemed friendly. A dominant effort at the net and quality serving enabled JWCC to sweep Lewis & Clark 25-15, 25-13, 25-18 at…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Lucas Loos discusses summer with Gems, transfer to EIU, passion for baseball
QUINCY — Lucas Loos is a making a case to be the Prospect League’s Player of the Year. Friday night, the case grew stronger. The Quincy Gems third baseman belted his league-leading 13th home run during a 13-3, seven-inning victory over the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. The Payson Seymour graduate finished 3 for 4 with…
Read MoreShowcase notebook: Reunion of traveling team quite Magic-al for Illinois all-stars
QUINCY — Do you believe in Magic? The Illinois girls all-stars certainly do. Q-City Magic, that is. Six of the 10 players on the Illinois roster for the Saturday’s Muddy River Showcase began playing together in sixth grade as part of the Q-City Magic program coached by the late Gayland Blakemore. It allowed the Showcase…
Read MoreIt’s game day! Muddy River Showcase to highlight area’s depth of talent and success
QUINCY — The depth of talent that will be on display Saturday during the second Muddy River Showcase is quite impressive. Consider these stats: • Among the 40 players comprising the four rosters, 14 scored 1,000 or more points in their high school careers; • There are 14 planning on playing basketball in college; •…
Read MoreJWCC slugger Mansfield earns NJCAA Division II first-team All-American honors
QUINCY — A record-setting season on the field should end with a worthwhile honor off it. The John Wood Community College baseball program received that Monday. Freshman outfielder Payton Mansfield was named an NJCAA Division II first-team All-American, becoming the first JWCC product to earn All-American honors since 2015 and just the fourth first-team selection…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase rosters highlight basketball talent, success throughout area
QUINCY — There is one thing each of the players participating in the second Muddy River Showcase have in common. They can call themselves alumni. The top senior basketball players from West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri have all officially graduated from their respective high schools, but they will team up to represent their communities and…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hunter Voth discusses dreams of being Cardinals play-by-play announcer and sheds light on Autism Awareness Month
QUINCY — Hunter Voth refuses to let anything stand in the way of his dream of someday becoming the radio play-by-play voice of the St. Louis Cardinals. Autism is one of those obstacles he simply pushes past. A Unity High School graduate who is a student assistant with the John Wood Community College men’s basketball…
Read MoreHurricane warning: Former JWCC basketball player with front row seat for Final Four as student manager for Miami
QUINCY — Kameron Whiteman and his family were walking around a Kansas City, Mo., business district during last weekend’s Midwest Regional finals when he ducked into a store filled with NCAA Tournament gear. He found shirts for the Houston, Texas and Xavier men’s basketball programs. “They didn’t have any Miami gear,” Whiteman said. He took…
Read MoreFishing expo for youths set for April 22 at JWCC Ag Education Center in Baylis
BAYLIS, Ill. — Plans are underway for a fishing expo for youths ages 5-18 from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 22, at the John Wood Community College Agricultural Education Center, 37803 IL 104, in Baylis. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. The University of Illinois Extension, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and JWCC will…
Read MoreJWCC’s Talton finds ‘great fit for me’ as he commits to play at Division I Lindenwood
QUINCY — Looking back now, the sidestep Jeremiah Talton took on his path to an NCAA Division I college basketball program might have been the best thing for him. Lindenwood University gets to see the benefits of that for the next three years. The John Wood Community College freshman swingman and former Quincy High School…
Read MoreTrail Blazers’ Talton earns Region 24 and MWAC Player of the Year honors
QUINCY — For the fifth straight season and the eighth time in the past 10 seasons, the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team has produced the Region 24 Player of the Year. This year, for just the second time in that stretch, the Trail Blazers swept three major postseason awards. Credit Jeremiah Talton for…
Read MoreTrail Blazers’ season ends in unfamiliar territory with loss in Region 24 quarterfinals
CANTON, Ill. — The dark ride home gave John Wood Community College men’s basketball Brad Hoyt to accept there will be no tomorrow, at least not for this year’s team. “The reality has sunk in,” Hoyt said. “You get spoiled.” For the first time in six years, the Trail Blazers won’t play for the Region…
Read MoreCrim: Coaching, teaching basketball keeps JWCC assistant Rafferty in ‘his happy place’
QUINCY — Pat Rafferty says he will know when it’s finally time to walk away from basketball and coaching. At 72, after spending nearly a half-century with teams in high school and college gymnasiums, that time has yet to arrive. “He’s in his happy place,” John Wood Community College coach Brad Hoyt said of his…
Read MoreEmpty possessions cause headaches for Trail Blazers in two-point loss to Jaguars
QUINCY — Brad Hoyt might not sleep too soundly if he goes to bed with visions of a one-possession loss to nationally ranked Danville dancing in his head. “When you have a one-possession game, you think about all those one possessions that don’t go very well,” the John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach said.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC suffers one-possession loss to Danville in final home game
QUINCY — Fighting for a higher seed in the Region 24 Tournament, the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team suffered a 60-58 loss to nationally ranked Danville Area Community College on Saturday at the Student Activity Center. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the action courtside in this photo gallery:
Read MoreFirst-half drought too much for John Wood men to overcome in home setback
QUINCY — When you’re a .500 team, you win some and you lose some. You will have good moments and bad moments. The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team lost Saturday afternoon at home to Parkland College 65-62. The Trail Blazers’ record sits at 14-13, and like their season, the contest included good things…
Read MorePhoto gallery: John Wood drops to 14-13 after home loss to Parkland
The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team lost Saturday afternoon at home to Parkland College 65-62, missing a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Trail Blazers’ record sits at 14-13, and they’re 2-5 in region play. MRN Editor David Adam captured some of the images from the game.
Read MoreTrail Blazers survive Cougars’ pressure and chaotic pace to capture MWAC victory in OT
QUINCY — Brad Hoyt should have felt comfortable watching his team control the tempo and continuing to knock down shots to open a 19-point lead at home five minutes into the second half. He wasn’t. “It made me nervous,” the John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach admitted. His apprehension proved to be well founded.…
Read MoreEasy does it: JWCC shares basketball efficiently during critical stretch to earn win in MWAC opener
QUINCY — While his players on the floor rotated back to play defense after Logan Robbins flushed a two-handed dunk off a nifty baseline bounce pass, John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt implored his bench with a familiar refrain. “See, make it easy,” Hoyt said. For a stretch of the second half…
Read MoreGot your six: JWCC women’s basketball team wins MWAC opener despite depleted bench
QUINCY — Lauren Bogle doesn’t dwell on the fact the John Wood Community College women’s basketball team has only six players healthy and eligible at this juncture. “You just need five on the floor, right?” the first-year Trail Blazers coach said. If the Trail Blazers can maintain the right level of defensive aggressiveness without getting…
Read MoreTrail Blazers set stage for conference play by hitting target with victory over Archers
QUINCY — In essence, conference play arrived a week early. Because of it, the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team may just be ready for its second season after all. The Trail Blazers built a 15-point lead midway through the second half Wednesday night, only to see St. Louis Community College chisel the deficit…
Read MoreTrail Blazers unable to meet challenge Bears present in suffering double-digit loss
QUINCY — Coming out of the holiday break, John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt gave his team an immediate challenge. The Trail Blazers struggled to meet it. Des Moines Area Community College, ranked 15th in the latest NJCAA Division II national poll, used an opening salvo that created an 11-point lead in…
Read MorePanthers use toughness, tenaciousness to finish off weekend with solid Rumble on the River victory
QUINCY — Camp Point Central boys basketball coach James Barnett admits the preparation for this weekend’s pair of challenges included some uneasiness. “Nervous,” Barnett said of the one word he thought of having to travel to play West Central Conference opponent Quincy Notre Dame on Friday night and then play a neutral site affair against…
Read MoreRobbins’ layup off Talton assist gives Trail Blazers one-point upset of nationally ranked Stormers
QUINCY — On a day when Jeremiah Talton was the game’s leading scorer, it was his lone assist that cemented the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team’s victory over a nationally ranked opponent. With the ball on the baseline underneath the Trail Blazers’ basket, Milwaukee Area Technical College owning a one-point lead, and only…
Read MoreTrail Blazers unable to sidestep own ‘ragged’ effort in loss to open weekend
QUINCY — Darius Bolden was disappointed in the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team’s inconsistent play Friday night. The Trail Blazers sophomore guard went as far as to say JWCC’s overall performance bordered on “ragged.” It was hard to argue. Kansas City (Kan.) Community College pulled away down the stretch for an 82-73 victory…
Read MoreTrail Blazers show toughness in knocking off fourth-ranked Bears
DES MOINES, Iowa — John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt schedules games in events such as the DMACC Classic to see if the Trail Blazers can handle the physical and mental challenges. The answer is quite clear. This group is on the right path to success. After beating 20th-ranked Iowa Western by…
Read MoreTalton breaks JWCC single-game 3-point record as Trail Blazers outlast Warriors in overtime
QUINCY — When Jeremiah Talton was deciding where the best college fit would be, the former Quincy High School all-state basketball player wanted to find a program with an offense tailor-made for his game. “I’m a shooter,” Talton said at the time. Opponents of the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team are figuring out…
Read MoreThe Rundown: JWCC men lose, C-SC sweeps hoops games, WIU shut out at home
QUINCY — The transition to winter sports is gradually happening. Here’s a look at some of the action that took place Saturday: • The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team stumbled out of the gate and never fully recovered, losing 98-83 to 14th-ranked Kirkwood in the final game of the Town and Country Inn…
Read MoreTrail Blazers pick up pace in second half, find space to excel offensively against Eagles
QUINCY — Space equals pace. If the John Wood Community College men’s basketball players execute such a notion more consistently, the offense Trail Blazers coach Brad Hoyt has designed for this group will run more efficiently. The first seven minutes of the second half Friday night against Rock Valley College proved that point. Leading by…
Read MoreTrail Blazers prepare for challenging week by stomping Wildcats in season opener
QUINCY — Saturday’s official season opener for the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team was more like a dress rehearsal. The main act starts Tuesday. The Trail Blazers kickstarted everything with a 90-42 victory over the Culver-Stockton College JV at the Student Activity Center in which three local products scored in double figures and…
Read MorePhoto gallery: JWCC men’s soccer team wins 5-0, establishing single-season record for victories
QUINCY — Leave it to a Quincy product to score the first goal in a Quincy soccer team’s historic victory. Logan Zanger, a freshman defender on the John Wood Community College men’s soccer team and a Quincy Notre Dame graduate, moved up to join the attack on a restart and finished from outside the far…
Read MoreSchuckman: JWCC showcases family-based culture for entire community to see
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 MoreJWCC to be host of Blazer Bash from noon-6 p.m. on Saturday
QUINCY — John Wood Community College will be the host of a free community event called Blazer Bash from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, on the Quincy campus at 48th and Harrison. This event is all about community, fun, free food, family and JWCC Blazer sports. The schedule of events is: 9-10 a.m., 10-11 a.m. or…
Read MoreJWCC women christen new soccer field with quick goal, fall in home opener
QUINCY — The John Wood Community College women’s soccer team looked right at home on its new turf. Two minutes into Thursday’s home opener, the Trail Blazers’ Alondra Zacarias-Ortiz scored off a Bella Jaramillo assist and carried a one-goal lead into halftime against Southeastern (Iowa) Community College. Just like the 1-0 lead JWCC had at…
Read MoreFormer assistant coach returns to JWCC to take over women’s basketball program
QUINCY — John Wood Community College athletic director Brad Hoyt’s short list of candidates to consider for the women’s basketball coaching position didn’t change because of the relatively short timeframe in which he had to conduct his search. Lauren Bogle’s name was always there. “Her energy and her commitment while she was here has resonated…
Read MoreRodriguez retires after nearly three decades coaching women’s basketball at JWCC
QUINCY — If there is a universal truth Norm Rodriguez can take from his nearly three decades coaching women’s basketball at John Wood Community College, it might be this. Even the best laid plans go awry. Rodriguez intended to coach one more season and then join his wife, Anita, at their new home in Tennessee,…
Read MoreMuddy River Showcase: Future of JWCC men’s basketball program to be on display
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 MoreCollege notebook: Former JWCC standout Gronewold joins staff at Dodge City
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 MoreSearch for right fit leads QHS all-stater Talton to JWCC to continue basketball career
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton wanted to play for a college basketball coach he could build a relationship with beyond the court and a program that would help his game mature. He didn’t have to leave town to find the right combination. The Quincy High School all-state swingman signed his national letter of intent with John…
Read MoreTearing Loos: Payson Seymour product creates powerful legacy with JWCC baseball program
QUINCY — Graduation day ended up being spent on a baseball field. There aren’t many places Lucas Loos would rather be. His favorite fishing hole might be one of them. “I don’t think it’s better than baseball,” he said. “But it helps me relax and get my mind off things.” More recently, the woods have…
Read MoreLoos jacks three home runs to help Trail Blazers split final home doubleheader
QUINCY — Lucas Loos went out with a bang. Three bangs in fact. The Payson Seymour product blasted three home runs during his final home doubleheader with the John Wood Community College baseball team, jacking two in the nightcap as the Trail Blazers earned a 9-4 victory over Illinois Central College in Mid-West Athletic Conference…
Read MoreJWCC unable to make leads last in dropping both ends of MWAC doubleheader to Lewis & Clark
QUINCY — Solid starts in both games of Saturday’s Mid-West Athletic Conference doubleheader put the John Wood Community College baseball team in good position. Poor finishes led to JWCC getting swept. Lewis & Clark rallied late in both games to snare a 9-8 victory in the opener and a 6-4 victory in the nightcap. JWCC…
Read MoreCollege notebook: JWCC’s Jennings receives All-American honors for second straight season
QUINCY — For the seventh time in the past nine seasons, the John Wood Community College men’s basketball program has produced an All-American. Sophomore forward Jarvis Jennings was named to the NJCAA Division II All-American third team, making him one of 30 players nationwide as selected by the NJCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee. Jennings,…
Read More