Posts Tagged ‘Matt Schuckman’
Schuckman: Truth allows Holzgrafe to bring bright smile, effervescent personality back to life
QUINCY — The sideways glances. The whispers. The feeling of being judged. The general uneasiness of being in public and knowing your character is in question. Brian Holzgrafe felt it all. For too long. Far too often. For no fault of his own. That’s what a false accusation does to a person. It tears them…
Read MoreSchuckman: Quincy connection gives local Cardinals fans additional reason to revere Herzog
QUINCY — Seated at a table just a few feet from the dais, Whitey Herzog looked across the room at legendary St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Rick Hummel and pointed out the Quincy native was more than likely the smartest person in the room. The Hall of Fame manager then leaned forward and said, “But…
Read MoreSchuckman: Epic sports stretch begins this weekend and other rainy day musings
QUINCY — Random thoughts on another rainy day … • The greatest stretch on the sports calendar is nearly here. Over an eight-day span, three champions will be crowned, baseball gives us a glimpse of which teams are trending upward and the final playoff push in the NHL takes place. It begins this Sunday with…
Read MoreThe List, Ep. 2: Former QU all-region first baseman Lance Logsdon ranks favorite baseball movies
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and Lance Logsdon talk about their favorite baseball movies. The List is a weekly podcast, produced by Muddy River Sports and hosted by Schuckman, that will rank the top 10 in a series of sports topics.
Read MoreThe List, Ep. 1: Favorite Fighting Illini basketball players with Andy Douglas
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman talks with Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas about their top 10 favorite basketball players from the University of Illinois. The List is a weekly podcast, produced by Muddy River Sports and hosted by Schuckman, that will rank the top 10 in a series of sports topics.
Read MoreSchuckman: In Buster’s case, man’s best friend truly was best thing in my life
QUINCY — The first time I told my co-workers I was going home to cuddle up to something warm and fuzzy, they flashed that “you did not just say that” look at me and assumed I was making some sort of sarcastic reference to my wife. They soon learned who I meant every time I…
Read MoreMuddy River Sports editor receives multiple awards from APSE for coverage of QND baseball and column writing
QUINCY — For the third consecutive year, Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman earned top-10 honors in multiple writing categories in the Associated Press Sports Editors writing and photography contest. The APSE recognizes the best in sports journalism nationwide through its annual contest with more than 2,000 entries this year. The organization announced the top…
Read MoreSchuckman: Intriguing possibilities abound, but hiring athletic director to move needle and push QHS forward needs to be priority
QUINCY — Over the past 20 years, the Quincy High School athletic department has been led by four different directors who each previously had been a coach at some level within the school district. Will the next athletic director have a similar background? Wednesday night, the Quincy School Board approved Superintendent Todd Pettit’s recommendation that…
Read MoreSchuckman: Logic seems flawed with setup of IHSA postseason basketball brackets
QUINCY — Is the Illinois High School Association postseason basketball series flawed? You be the judge. While scouring brackets and planning our coverage of this week’s boys basketball regionals, I ran across a number of scenarios that made me question the equitable nature of the setup. Because the Quincy schools are at the heart of…
Read MoreYear in Review 2023: Schuck’s favorite photos
QUINCY — Four years ago, Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman picked up a camera for the first time and attempted to shoot his own photos to accompany his stories. At the time, he prayed for one clean image. Over time, those expectations have changed. Now, Schuckman enjoys sharing photos of area student-athletes nearly as…
Read MoreYear in Review 2023: Top 10 most viewed columns
QUINCY — Opinions, debate and discussion are part of the sports culture, so here is a look at Muddy River Sports’ 10 most viewed columns in 2023: 1. Schuckman: Brock’s black eye brought on by gambling probe will fade and his true character will show “Brock likely won’t face any further charges, but he has…
Read MoreSchuckman receives IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award
QUINCY – Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman received his Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Distinguished Media Service Award Saturday night at Quincy Notre Dame HIgh School. QND had nominated Schuckman for the award for his long-term excellence in covering high school and college sports in West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri. IHSA Assistant Executive…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Bob Gough discusses growth of MRN, IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award and busy sports season
QUINCY — It’s been 2 1/2 years since Muddy River News launched and a little more than two years since Muddy River Sports joined the party, and MRN publisher Bob Gough continues to guide the ever-growing media outlet forward. Heading into a busy weekend, with a new sponsor for “Schuck on a Truck” in tow,…
Read MoreSchuckman: Gracie’s stamp of approval gives Kerkhoff leg up in starting jiu-jitsu school
PALMYRA, Mo. — Royce Gracie’s engaging personality and genuine love for his students, his family and his craft made for an entertaining 15 minutes sitting on the tailgate of my pickup discussing his mixed martial arts career. If only technology had been as accommodating. Gracie, world renowned for his jiu-jitsu career and a Ultimate Fighting…
Read MoreSchuckman among IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award winners
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to announce its ninth class of recipients of the IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award. The 2023-24 honorees include a Chicago TV legend, a Northern Illinois radio mainstay, and a pair of longstanding writers who have made their respective marks on opposite sides of the state. Matt Schuckman, sports…
Read MoreSchuckman: Those criticizing QU’s lopsided victory need to dig deeper to see final score didn’t come from lack of sportsmanship
QUINCY — The only way to truly understand how the Quincy University football coaches handled a situation none of them enjoyed would have been to be one of the few on the sidelines or in the coaches’ booth wearing a headset. Without being privy to those conversations, it’s difficult to claim the Hawks chose to…
Read MoreSchuckman: Weekend filled with football is reminder connections and people matter most
QUINCY — Waking up Monday morning, I realized there is one undeniable truth in life. The world is a better place when there is a weekend filled with football. Here’s why: Football is about connections more than it is collisions. Friday night, with my pickup truck parked next to the fence wrapped around the Airstrip…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: KHQA sports director Chris Duerr discusses start of fall sports
QUINCY — Chris Duerr’s summer sabbatical is over, and it’s time for fall sports. The Hall of Fame KHQA Sports Director took advantage of a quiet July to visit his native Sacramento, Calif., spend quality time with his family and get upstaged by his fire chief brother, Mark. Now that August has arrived and fall…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: Summer Breakdown
Since the Cardinals are terrible, Schuck and Ben are going on podcast hiatus for the month of July. So they close out the 2022-23 local sports calendar and get you ready for 2023-24.
Read MoreSchuckman: Ryan’s legacy is turning Little People’s into family outing, not just golf tourney
QUINCY — Each hug said goodbye. For now, not forever. Each “thank you” was earned. Not just now, but over the course of forever. Each story came with a smile. Nan Ryan tried to relish them now, but she’ll hold onto them forever. The 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships wasn’t just a tournament.…
Read MoreSchuckman: Truckin’ around covering area’s best athletes and teams is life worth living
QUINCY — Something unusual took place Saturday morning. I woke up with nothing to do. Well, that’s not entirely true. There’s a list of household chores I’ve ignored far too long, and Buster, my still rambunctious 13-year-old cheagle, was going to get a bulk of my attention. Plus, I’ve decided to replace my grill, so…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: Mount Rushmores
Schuck and Ben talk about the Mount Rushmores, or four bests, from Quincy sports.
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: What sport would you like to try?
Matt Schuckman and Ben Marth talk about the latest local sports topics and discuss what sport would they like to try that they haven’t yet. Pickleball, anyone?
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: A tradition unlike any other…
Schuck and Ben talk about best sports trophies and which local spring sports teams could possibly make deep playoff runs.
Read MoreSchuckman: Unshaken confidence allows Hammel to rejoin QU rotation with bulldogged effort
QUINCY — Doubt comes when confidence wanes. Everything Jay Hammel experienced in the first six weeks of the Quincy University baseball team’s season could have created doubt in himself, his ability to contribute on a nationally ranked team, and his decision to return for a final year of eligibility. Never once has he doubted any…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: Ben’s Back
Matt Schuckman and Ben Marth talk about the NCAA Tournament, spring sports and their favorite rappers.
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: NCAA Tourney talk with Schuck, David and Ron
Muddy Buddies unite! Matt Schuckman, David Adam and Ron Kinscherf help you last-minute bracket stuffers get it done.
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: Wrapping up prep basketball and the best minor league baseball nicknames
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman wraps up the high school basketball season with Ben Marth, and they discuss their top minor league baseball team nicknames.
Read MoreQuarter century of memories: Forbes ties 3-point record, sets career scoring high in Blue Devil Gym
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman began covering the Quincy High School boys basketball program during the 1998-99 season, and with this being his 25th season following the Blue Devils, he put together a list of his 25 most memorable games. Here is today’s installment: January 23, 2010 — Quincy 81, Hinsdale South 62 QUINCY — Mention…
Read MoreSchuckman: IHSA fails to meet its mission by forcing basketball teams to play third-place games hours after semifinals
NORMAL, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne listened intently as senior guard Abbey Schreacke discussed how the Raiders needed to regroup following a gut-punch loss Thursday in the Class 2A state semifinals and play the third-place game two hours later. “We’re going to have to find something deeper inside of us…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: The postseason herd thins
Matt Schuckman and Ben Marth breakdown the heavy area postseason hoops action this week and talk about how Eric Orne and his Quincy Notre Dame dynasty should be recognized.
Read MoreQuarter century of memories: Fairley’s buzzer-beater results in wild ride out of Blue Devil Gym
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman began covering the Quincy High School boys basketball program during the 1998-99 season, and with this being his 25th season following the Blue Devils, he put together a list of his 25 most memorable games. Here is today’s installment: February 19, 2011 — Quincy 68, Neuqua Valley 66 QUINCY — Mason…
Read MoreSchuckman: Conversations about golf, dogs and life create true heart-felt friendship
QUINCY — A casual question on a walk along one of the tree-lined fairways at Westview Golf Course sparked a conversation that had a continual flow no matter where it ended or when it happened to be picked up again. I can’t wait to start that conversation again someday. Six years ago, when Alex McCulla…
Read MoreMuddy River Sports editor receives pair of writing awards in APSE national contest
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman received national recognition in the Associated Press Sports Editors annual writing and photography contest, earning top-10 honors in two writing categories. The APSE announced the top 10 entries in all categories of the nationwide contest on its website this week. Official places will be released at a…
Read MoreQuarter century of memories: Technicals, ejections lead to Douglas getting one-night audition as head coach
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman began covering the Quincy High School boys basketball program during the 1998-99 season, and with this being his 25th season following the Blue Devils, he put together a list of his 25 most memorable games. Here is today’s installment: January 17, 2009 — Peoria Central 53, Quincy 46 QUINCY…
Read MoreQuarter century of memories: Blue Devils’ Anders teaches Panthers to show respect by going on two-minute scoring binge
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman began covering the Quincy High School boys basketball program during the 1998-99 season, and with this being his 25th season following the Blue Devils, he put together a list of his 25 most memorable games. Here is today’s installment: February 23, 2001 — Quincy 69, United Township 62 QUINCY…
Read MoreSchuckman: Taking trip down memory lane leads to list of 25 memorable QHS basketball games spanning 25 years on the beat
QUINCY — It started exactly where you would expect. Blue Devil Gym. A quarter of a century ago, I covered my first Quincy High School boys basketball game as the beat writer for the Quincy Herald-Whig — a 68-63 victory over Galesburg featuring J.D. Summers with 20 points and the Blue Devils going 23 of…
Read MoreSchuckman: QHS girls basketball players share opinions on gym space, upgrades and ceremonies
QUINCY — Mike Dade’s passionate plea to the Quincy School board last week asking for equal treatment for the boys and girls basketball programs succeeded in one important regard. It created conversation, opinion and debate. His speech also missed the mark in one very important aspect. He wasn’t a true voice for the players themselves.…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: Quincy Shootout
Matt Schuckman and Ben Marth preview this weekend’s Quincy Shootout, featuring some of the best high school basketball teams in the country.
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: January 12
Matt Schuckman and Ben Marth take a look at the week that was and the weekend upcoming in local sports.
Read MoreWhat the Schuck?: Ron Kinscherf
The Muddy River Odd Couple talk about local hoops and coaching.
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: Ben Marth
Ben Marth will now be a regular on Muddy River Breakdown to…break it down…with Schuck Daddy!
Read More2022 Year in Review: Most read columns
QUINCY — Stories of heart and soul, of community pride and compassion, of history and hope are what defined 2022. Here is a look at the most read columns at Muddy River Sports throughout the past year: 1. Schuckman: Empathy and respect create viral video moment between QHS, Glenwood football players 2. Schuckman: Homegrown talent…
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue or black doesn’t matter as long as jersey is worn with respect and pride
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Shock. That’s what Dominique Clay’s expression screamed. He wasn’t alone in his jaw-dropping assessment. “I had the same look, too,” Camden Brown said. After the Quincy High School boys basketball team dispatched Collierville (Tenn.) 62-48 in Thursday’s quarterfinals of the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic, the Blue Devils were headed to the…
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue Devil Gym featured in IBCA’s 2023 Unique Gyms of Illinois calendar
The middle of December brings holiday gift ideas, All-American game goals and memories of a game played more than 30 years ago … Two venerable high school basketball gyms in Illinois and arguably the two most historic within the Western Big 6 Conference are being featured in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s 2023 Unique Gyms…
Read MoreSchuckman: Memories become unforgettable, and Central football team’s legacy is equally undeniable
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — As they worked their way past the long line of Decatur St. Teresa faithful waiting to enter Memorial Stadium, a group of Camp Point Central football fans were abruptly stopped by some curious Bulldogs fans. “Did you get it done?” one asked. The disappointment echoed in the tone of the response. “It…
Read MoreSchuckman: Hawks forge unbreakable bonds by elevating volleyball program to unforgettable heights
QUINCY — One final wave to say thank you to an adoring, enthusiastic crowd was the Quincy University women’s volleyball team’s way to say goodbye as well. The season that changed the Hawks’ program forever was over. Yet, the bond created amongst a group of student-athletes — “incredible young women” in the words of Quincy…
Read MoreSchuckman: Emotion hits Hawkins leading up to second home debut as QU men’s basketball coach
QUINCY — Every version of the national anthem is unique and different. Singers with big, booming voices tend to drag out high notes, especially at the top of their vocal range. Nervous singers hurry through it, praying they don’t forget a word or miss a note and fight just to finish. Steve Hawkins would have…
Read MoreMuddy River Breakdown: Schuck and DOB discuss changing of seasons as basketball gets underway
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and his trusty podcast sidekick Don O’Brien tackle the start of prep boys basketball practices in Illinois, the first week for college hoops games and the shift from fall sports to winter sports in this week’s episode of the Muddy River Breakdown.
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN PODCAST: November 10
Schuck Daddy and DOB prepare for the changing of the seasons…sports seasons, that is.
Read MoreSchuckman: Playoff loss doesn’t change legacy of Bombers, who made Friday night football an event
MACOMB, Ill. — Emily Horrell better get used to this if she hasn’t already. A few days before the Macomb football team played host to Murphysboro in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs, the wife of Bombers coach Tanner Horrell happened to be at a local retail store when two retirement-age women began…
Read MoreSchuckman: By choosing to be phenomenal, Raiders ensure they are never to be forgotten
EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Be phenomenal or be forgotten. Such an easy choice. “No one wants to live their life forgotten,” said Jake Hoyt, a senior center back on the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team. “Doesn’t everyone want to be phenomenal?” When Raiders coach Greg Reis posed that challenge to his team on the…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: October 27
Schuck Daddy and DOB get you ready for high school football playoffs on this week’s Breakdown.
Read MoreSchuckman: Bombers finish one historic chapter, ready themselves to chase more benchmarks
CARTHAGE, Ill. — On a field where history grows with every blade of grass, the Illini West football team was intent on keeping history from happening. For nearly eight minutes, that seemed possible. Then in a blink, it became clear history wouldn’t be denied. Facing undefeated, state-ranked Macomb in the regular-season finale Friday night at…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: Remembering Hooch
With Schuck Daddy and DOB…also…special guest stars Ben Marth and the dreamy Tyler Tomlinson…all honoring HOOCH!
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue Devils, Raiders achieve desired outcome as Quincy won, breast cancer lost during ‘Volley for a Cure’
QUINCY — The outcome matters. It has to, otherwise the sweat equity put into practice and the commitment to be at your best wouldn’t matter so much. Still, there are nights where the final score takes on secondary importance, where winners aren’t determined solely by the numbers on a scoreboard but more by the integrity,…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Talking hunting season, fall weather and family memories with Schuck’s dad
QUINCY — Growing up, the best part of the calendar rolling into October meant hunting season was upon us and I had the opportunity to spend more time with my dad. No matter what we did outdoors, I was right by his side. That hasn’t changed in adulthood. With the archery deer season in full…
Read MoreSchuckman: A boy and a ball create perfect symmetry
QUINCY — A boy and a ball. That’s perfect symmetry. Hayden Hoskins’ job and his joy is to run around behind the goal at the northeast end of Flinn Stadium during Quincy High School boys soccer games and act as the ball boy. In reality, the 9-year-old just wants to play the way boys should.…
Read MoreSchuckman: By keeping the faith and trusting his game, Thompson guides QND golfers back to state stage
QUINCY — Golf can humble you. Infuriate you. Exasperate you. Baffle you. And if you let it, the game can break your spirit. Ross Thompson wouldn’t allow that to happen. A freshman when he made the six-man lineup in 2019 and was part of the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team’s second-place state finish, Thompson…
Read MoreMuddy River Breakdown: Tyler Tomlinson joins Schuck and DOB to talk professional soccer
QUINCY — The big reveal takes place on the Muddy River Breakdown with Schuck Daddy and DOB. With Don O’Brien having embraced English Premier League fandom, it became time for Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman to pledge his loyalty to an EPL team. So he turned to Culver-Stockton College women’s soccer coach Tyler Tomlinson…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN PODCAST: SCHUCK’S SOCCER SHOW
Very special guest star Tyler Tomlinson, Culver-Stockton Women’s Soccer coach, helps Matt Schuckman pick his EPL team. Don O’Brien, diehard Tottenham Hotspur fan, joins in the fun.
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN PODCAST: Sept. 28
Matt Schuckman and Don O’Brien get you caught up as some fall sports get ready for postseason (already?) and football reaches the halfway mark.
Read MoreSchuckman: Undefeated start generating enthusiasm for Macomb football program
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 MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN PODCAST: Sept. 21 2022
QUINCY — Outside of watching Scott Van Pelt host SportsCenter and the game coverage ESPN provides, Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and Don O’Brien discuss how they have veered away from watching the sports network and what other television program pique their interest on this week’s Muddy River Breakdown.
Read MoreMuddy River Breakdown: Schuck and DOB discuss ESPN, TV options and football
QUINCY — Outside of watching Scott Van Pelt host SportsCenter and the game coverage ESPN provides, Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and Don O’Brien discuss how they have veered away from watching the sports network and what other television program pique their interest on this week’s Muddy River Breakdown.
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 MoreSchuckman: Brown County, Central show how electric, energetic healthy rivalries can be
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 MoreMuddy River Breakdown: Schuck and DOB talk WB6 road trips, media scrums and going golfing
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports correspondent Don O’Brien made the road trip to Moline last Friday to cover the Quincy High School football team and realized Western Big 6 Conference gridiron road games mean late-night arrivals back home. He and Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman talk WB6 road trips, media scrums, basketball shootouts and…
Read MoreWhat the Schuck?: KHQA Sports Director Chris Duerr joins Matt Schuckman on podcast
QUINCY — From celebrity chef tables to prep football to Jirehl Brock’s season-opening performance, Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and KHQA Sports Director Chris Duerr offer insight on a variety of fronts. Check out this week’s podcast:
Read MoreMuddy River Breakdown: Talking prep and college sports
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and his sidekick Don O’Brien discuss kickoff times, prep football and the college football scene featuring local products.
Read MoreSchuckman: Dennis Guthrie appreciated being a golf dad, but his real gift came as a fun-loving family man
QUINCY — I laughed. Dennis Guthrie didn’t. My mind immediately began thinking, “What’s wrong?” Seated together on a bench near the 18th green at Quincy Country Club as the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys golf teams neared the end of their Ryder Cup match early in the 2007 season, Guthrie and I…
Read MoreSchuckman: Crowd, atmosphere elevate QHS-QND rivalry game to community celebration
QUINCY — A game of two-hand touch played by a gaggle of kids wearing their Junior Raiders football jerseys unfolded beneath the large oak and blaze maple trees casting shade across the uneven grassy space near the tennis courts in South Park. Kickoff for the season-opening showdown between Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN for August 17
Matt Schuckman and Don O’Brien talk a little college football.
Read MoreWHAT THE SCHUCK: Chris Duerr, 8-12-22
Two men who stuck it out covering local sports for more than nine months talk about the upcoming fall sports season. Matt Schuckman and Chris Duerr’s combined years of local sports coverage…206 years. Amazing.
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN for August 11, 2022
Schuck Daddy and DOB talk about the start of fall sports season as practices are underway.
Read MoreMuddy River Breakdown with Schuck and DOB: Episode 1
QUINCY — Reunited and it feels so good. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and the newest addition to the Muddy River Sports team, Don O’Brien, spent 13 years working side-by-side in the sports department of the Quincy Herald-Whig and sharing the studio for shows such as “The Sports Writers Journal” and “WGEM SportsCenter.” A…
Read MoreBrimming with confidence, Illinois squad proves it belongs on softball’s biggest stage
ROXANA, Del. — A glimmer of hope is all that was needed. When the Illinois District 17 softball team headed to the Central Regional in Michigan, advancing to the Senior League Softball World Series was still a pipedream, even if a spot in the 10-team field was only four victories away. “I think there were…
Read MoreSchuckman: Summer job allows Liberty’s Klingele to give new life to floor in gym he’s called home
LIBERTY, Ill. — The signs taped to the front doors of Liberty High School saying “Gym Closed” were a clear indication the administration didn’t want anyone coming around. Even if such warnings were ignored, no one was getting in the gym anyhow. Chains and padlocks on the doors ensured that. There was work to be…
Read MoreSchuckman: Memories of wiffle ball battles help keep game prevalent for generations
QUINCY — Has wiffle ball become the forgotten game? Quiet fields and empty side streets suggest so. Temperatures pushed toward 90 degrees Wednesday afternoon when three kids and two adults cast their lines into the ponds near R.J. Peters Drive running through South Park. Although they hadn’t caught any fish, they had been there for…
Read MoreSchuckman: Tale of Buster and his backyard nemesis is reminder to stay forever young
QUINCY — The porch door casually swung open, the way it does five or six times per day or as many times as Buster gets the inkling to go outside. Only this time, our 12-year-old cheagle didn’t follow the swinging of the door by bounding down the three steps leading to the sidewalk. He froze.…
Read MoreSchuckman: Rolling down county roads proves yet again to be good source of inspiration
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 MoreSchuckman: Support of Brown County community helps Hornets see journey and legacy matter more than final outcome
PEORIA, Ill. — Disappointment lingered, but only for so long. By the time the Brown County baseball players cleaned up their dugout and made their way to the grassy berm in the right-field corner, the green-clad wave of Hornets fans who had invaded Dozer Park on Saturday were ready to fete their conquering heroes. The…
Read MoreSchuckman: QND baseball fans indulge in ‘Bacon’ to keep winning ways alive
PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Everybody likes bacon, right? That’s undoubtedly true of the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players’ parents, grandparents and fans. But if you’re thinking it’s the sizzle-in-the-frying-pan kind of pork product they are so enamored with, you’d be sorely mistaken. In this case, “Bacon” is their good luck charm, a 4-inch crocheted, stuffed…
Read MoreSchuckman: Success on pool table helps stoke Bockenfeld’s ‘drive to go further and play higher in this sport’
QUINCY — The hardware Kelsey Bockenfeld has collected in the past five weeks has made her trifecta of titles complete. State champion. National champion. World champion. That’s quite a resume. The Quincy native won an American Motocross Association ATV national championship during her days racing quads, but has since found a passion and a drive…
Read MoreSchuckman: Crim’s induction into IBCA Hall of Fame is fitting honor for inspiring writer, friend
Intimidating. It seems funny to say it, but that is the most apt description for how I viewed Don Crim the first time I walked into the Quincy Herald-Whig newsroom nearly 33 years ago. The sports editor’s desk, complete with stain rings from his coffee cup and an overflowing ashtray of cigarette butts, served as…
Read MoreWhat the Schuck? April 29: Chris Duerr, KHQA
Matt Schuckman and Chris Duerr slog their way through a muddy Spring sports season.
Read MoreSchuckman: Opening Day and baseball should make us all feel like kids again
Blessed and spoiled. There is no more apropos description for the fall of 1982. By then, my passion for baseball and complete love for the game was complete. I was blessed to watch my favorite team and my favorite player fight their way to the National League pennant, and I was spoiled to listen to…
Read MoreSchuckman: Time has come for WB6, Alleman to go separate ways
The Rock Island Alleman athletic department may finally have hit rock bottom, and it’s time for the Western Big 6 Conference to address it. Last week, the Pioneers informed the remainder of the WB6 they would not be fielding a girls softball team this spring. Dwindling numbers saw less than nine players attend the first…
Read MoreSchuckman: Homegrown talent displaying hometown pride is what small-school basketball should be about
LIBERTY, Ill. — When the two-lane state highway without a shoulder snakes past the farms and fields and reaches the eastern border of Liberty, a sign looms large on the right side of the road. “Give me Liberty” it reads, and it lists the population of this Adams County village as 600. There may be…
Read MoreSchuckman: Eagles stick together to make state championship journey memorable and emotional
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Part of the wisdom Liberty boys basketball coach Greg Altmix has tried to impart on his players from his more than two decades on the bench is to enjoy the journey, not just the end result. So sitting in the lobby of the team hotel Thursday afternoon, while taking time to catch…
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue Devils’ Douglas pours every beat of his heart into love for his players
NORMAL, Ill. — Restless nights tend to accompany the calendar flip, when January rolls into February and high school basketball coaches worry about how to prepare for and sustain postseason success. When the nights grow shorter and sleep is a struggle in the middle of October rather than the middle of the season, something other…
Read MoreMuddy River Sports receives three awards in APSE annual national writing contest
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman received two writing awards in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest and Muddy River Sports won an additional award for its digital platform. Schuckman finished in the top 10 in the long feature and breaking news categories in Division D. In the long feature category, Schuckman…
Read MoreSchuckman: Finding coach to ’embrace this basketball crazy community’ shouldn’t be difficult for QU administration
QUINCY — Thirty-one minutes is all it took. The news of Ryan Hellenthal’s dismissal as the Quincy University men’s basketball coach broke at 10 a.m. Friday, and 31 minutes after that news hit social media, the first mention of a possible successor was posted. A plethora of posts followed. Fans in this basketball savvy community…
Read MoreSchuckman: Roar after Wells’ shot is reminder he is small part of Blue Devil tradition now and forever
QUINCY — The clamor began as soon as Wil Wells stood up and made his way to the scorer’s table to check in to Tuesday night’s game against Rock Island Alleman. He knew it wouldn’t stop until he scored. “It’s a little bit of pressure, I have to admit,” Wells said. A senior forward on…
Read MoreSchuckman: It’s gotta be the shoes as Quincy Shootout participants put their footware on display
Stylish, bold, eye-catching and colorful. And it’s all about sole. During the fourth Quincy Shootout, which took place Friday and Saturday at Blue Devil Gym and Friday night at the Pit, the shoe game of some of the top prep basketball players in the state and in the nation was on display. A handful of…
Read More‘Christmas in Quincy’: A Christmas carol for basketball fans throughout this area
Often my wife, Michelle, laughs at my quirkiness. Other times she just rolls her eyes. It all depends on how off-color or out-of-bounds I get. When we’re taking a road trip together — our goal each summer or fall is to visit a different national park — the radio is constantly tuned to music. My…
Read MoreSchuckman: QU coach drums up support, supplies to help her hometown remain Dresden Strong following tornado
The text came close to midnight as Ric Bailey needed to know his daughter, Quincy University women’s basketball coach Kaci Bailey, hadn’t been in the path of the tornadoes that skirted the St. Louis area and created a path of destruction moving past Edwardsville, Ill. “He was making sure I’m OK,” Bailey said. At the…
Read MoreWhat the Schuck? Podcast: QHS, QND coaches talk hoops ahead of Saturday’s crosstown showdown
QUINCY — For the seventh straight season, the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball teams will square off Saturday night in what has become a traditional pre-Christmas filled with spirit and a festive atmosphere befitting the holidays. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip at the Pit and will be…
Read MoreSchuckman: ’50 Teams After 50 Years’ will celebrate 50th anniversary of start of two-class system for Illinois basketball
For the better part of six decades, small-school boys basketball teams from West Central Illinois had their state tournament aspirations hit an inevitable roadblock. They simply couldn’t circumvent the city schools. Whether that foe came from Quincy, Galesburg or Springfield, there was a program with a larger enrollment, more resources and a history of postseason…
Read MoreSchuckman: Epic four-overtime game leaves Eagles, Suns exhausted but buoyed by their resiliency and moxie
AUGUSTA, Ill. — Ramsey Fry woke up Wednesday morning searching for energy. “Oh, my goodness, my whole body was exhausted,” he said. “I could barely move.” Cannen Wolf felt the same way as he left the gym the night before. “I’ve never been that exhausted after a game or while I was in a game,”…
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