Posts Tagged ‘Quincy High School’
Blue Devils find footing after first quarter, figure out way to finally beat Statesmen
QUINCY — Coming off of its first Western Big 6 Conference setback of the season Friday night against Moline, the Quincy High School boys basketball team had less than 24 hours to wipe the memory clean. It turns out a few extra minutes were needed. Like eight extra. A slow first quarter offensively pinned the…
Read MoreRegional wrestling: Blue Devils push four wrestlers through with Garrett, Bringer as runners-up
QUINCY — The Quincy High School wrestling team is sending four wrestlers to the Class 3A Granite City Sectional after the Blue Devils finished fourth as a team Saturday in the regional at the QHS gym. The Blue Devils’ Kayden Garrett and Gage Bringer each finished as the runner-up in their respective weight class, while…
Read MoreWharton wipeout: Blue Devils’ opportunity to go undefeated in WB6 ends with loss to Maroons
MOLINE, Ill. — Momentum began to teeter in the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s direction Friday night when back-to-back baskets preceded the third quarter mask timeout. All the Blue Devils needed was a defensive stop or two when play resumed to sustain it. “(Assistant coach Bruce Bonness) mentioned that if we’re going to go…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: WB6 clash, SuperFan Shootout, wrestling regionals highlight weekend
QUINCY — A colossal conference clash. A cross-river showdown of state-ranked teams. A collegiate matchup with first place in the conference on the line. And champions to be crowned. It’s going to be quite a weekend. The madness starts Friday night when the Quincy High School boys basketball team travels to Moline with the chance…
Read MoreBlue Devils find way to heat up offense, rally in second half to beat Panthers in WB6 play
QUINCY — Brad Dance didn’t have an explanation for the Quincy High School girls basketball team’s inability to make a shot the first 10 minutes, 35 seconds of Thursday night’s Western Big 6 Conference game. He figures the snow might be the case. “We had a shootaround this morning, basically a light practice for about…
Read MoreQND Invitational: Pins and third-place finish give Blue Devils’ Newbold boost before regionals
QUINCY — A weekend of travel, multiple matches and relentless effort could have left Quincy High School wrestler Bryor Newbold a little weary. It actually has him energized. Newbold, a sophomore wrestling at 182 pounds, finished third in both Friday’s Western Big 6 Conference championships and Saturday’s Quincy Notre Dame Invitational, providing the jolt of…
Read MoreDefensive-minded Devils shut down Golden Warriors, increase lead in WB6 title chase
STERLING, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team’s effort last weekend against United Township resulted in a victory, but it was anything but perfect. Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas might describe it as imperfect. “There wasn’t a defensive possession in the first quarter where we didn’t make a mistake,” Douglas said. So he…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: QHS Hall of Famer Kyle Cartmill
QUINCY — As a kid, Kyle Cartmill chose to be the Blue Devil mascot for his Halloween costume. His passion for the Quincy High School boys basketball program has never waned, no matter where life’s road has taken him. Cartmill, a 1995 QHS graduate, became a Hall of Fame player who enjoyed a solid career…
Read MoreBlue Devils gain confidence with second straight victory over 17-win opponent
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team just might be peaking at the perfect time. The Blue Devils’ 40-25 Western Big 6 Conference victory Thursday night over a 17-win Galesburg club was the second straight win over a quality opponent, evening Quincy’s record at 8-8. Earlier this week, the Blue Devils downed Springfield…
Read MoreIllinois boys state basketball polls: Liberty receives first-place vote in Class 1A
QUINCY — Respect is growing for the Liberty boys basketball team. The Eagles remained No. 5 in the Class 1A state poll released Wednesday, but they received a first-place vote as the top of the Class 1A poll remains stacked. Four teams received first-place votes with No. 2 Yorkville Christian receiving the most with seven.…
Read MoreShooting down records: Talton breaks Douglas’ single-season 3-point mark as Blue Devil romp
QUINCY — Had Andy Douglas wanted to keep his single-season 3-point shooting record just a little while longer, he could have benched Jeremiah Talton after the senior sharpshooter made his fifth trey Tuesday night. “I should have,” Douglas said with a laugh. “That would have been hilarious.” Even if Douglas had taken Talton out, he…
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 MoreHarmann’s return to Blue Devil Gym is enjoyable, memorable experience
QUINCY — As Chris Harmann strolled out of the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s locker room and onto the Blue Devil Gym court last Saturday morning, instincts took over and guided him toward the home team’s bench. Then reality set in. He wasn’t supposed to be sitting on the north end of the gym.…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Kramer adds to family legacy in Blue Devil Gym by taking down Blue Devils
QUINCY — The son of a Blue Devil legend did all he could to keep a current Quincy High School boys basketball standout carving his own legacy from adding a Quincy Shootout victory to his resume. By doing so, Nick Kramer made the trip down memory lane unforgettable. Kramer, the St. Louis University High senior…
Read MoreQuincy Shootout: Blue Devils discover needed energy in fourth quarter, stay undefeated in WB6 by beating Panthers
QUINCY — Bradley Longcor III nodded at the suggestion it had been a week filled with low-energy practices for the Quincy High School boys basketball team. “It wasn’t the best,” the freshman guard admitted. Junior guard Reid O’Brien was a little more blunt. “We didn’t have any good practices all week long,” O’Brien said. So…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Talented teams, top-notch players to heat up Quincy gyms during Quincy Shootout
QUINCY — It’s cold outside. Like really cold. Like your truck doesn’t want to start and whines when you do start it kind of cold. That’s OK. It’s warm in Blue Devil Gym and the Pit and a myriad of high school venues around the area where some of the best basketball is taking place…
Read MoreInside the Shootout: Nationally ranked teams, Power 5 conference recruits highlight Quincy Shootout field
The fourth Quincy Shootout takes place this weekend with games being played Friday night at Quincy High School’s Blue Devil Gym and Quincy Notre Dame’s The Pit. Saturday, all eight games will be played at Blue Devil Gym. Here is a look at the teams and top players who will be worth the price of…
Read MoreDefensive pressure, QND’s scoring duo too much for QHS to overcome in rivalry game
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team didn’t score off the opening tip Tuesday night like it so often does. The Raiders didn’t convert on their opening possession either, which negated their ability to jump into a full-court press and create havoc for Quincy High School’s backcourt. It took 52 seconds for all…
Read MoreRaiders’ Eftink gets last laugh after shooting prowess helps take down Blue Devils
QUINCY — The raucous, creative and comical Quincy High School students who packed the bleachers behind the girls basketball team’s bench Tuesday night need to check their schedules. Their presence is requested at future games. “Tell them to come out there and get me fired up,” Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Blair Eftink said with…
Read MoreSharrow, Miller beat box their way to individual titles as QHS captures championship of own wrestling invite
QUINCY — Hugh Sharrow’s academic standing says freshman, but he’s obviously wiser — and talented — well beyond his years. “He’s legendary,” Quincy High School wrestling coach Phil Neally said through a wry smile. Neally likes to talk as much about Sharrow’s beat-boxing abilities as he does his skills on the mat. Both were in…
Read MoreTalton finds rhythm, Blue Devils avenge loss at Roy S. Anderson Gym by barraging Railsplitters
LINCOLN, Ill. — Jeremiah Talton could tell during pregame warmups Saturday night the right ankle he had tweaked 24 hours prior wasn’t going to be an issue. “It’s actually feeling pretty good,” the Quincy High School senior swingman said. “As soon as I got out there, I wasn’t feeling anything.” He also knew he had…
Read MoreHalfway home: Blue Devils reach midpoint of WB6 season in first place after fending off Silver Streaks
GALESBURG, Ill. — Quincy High School boys basketball Andy Douglas believes his players deserve a nomination for an Emmy or an Academy Award. Leading Galesburg by two points with 8.5 seconds remaining in regulation Friday night at John Thiel Gym, Douglas instructed the Blue Devils during a timeout called by the Silver Streaks to act…
Read MoreQHS, Central, Palmyra wrestlers ready to vie for championships at Quincy Invitational
QUINCY — Weather may have altered the brackets and forced some teams to decline making the trip to compete in the Quincy Invitational, but Friday night’s opening rounds of the long-time wrestling tournament showed the cream always rises to the top. Quincy High School had five wrestlers go unbeaten during Friday’s action, while Central had…
Read MoreMaple Leafs respond to Blue Devils’ challenge, win 30th consecutive game
QUINCY — Geneseo’s 30th consecutive girls basketball victory further legitimized its ranking as the No. 1 Class 3A team in the state. The Maple Leafs emerged from a one-point halftime deficit to hit Quincy High School with a 16-0 blitzkrieg at the outset of the third quarter. Following that outburst, it was not a matter…
Read MoreBlue Devils adapt, adjust and apply pressure to keep WB6 win streak going
QUINCY — Leave it to COVID-19 to disrupt the rhythm of the night. Still, the Quincy High School boys basketball team adapted. Due to positive COVID tests within its freshman team, Geneseo was forced to cancel Tuesday night’s preliminary game. So instead of watching the underclassmen play before going to the locker room to get…
Read MoreUnselfish play, clutch shooting carries Blue Devils to weekend sweep
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Bradley Longcor III caught the ball in a position to take a shot he’s been knocking down consistently all season. And he passed it up. Nothing could have made Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas any happier. After Terron Cartmill snared a defensive rebound on the first possession of Saturday…
Read MoreWrestling roundup: Blue Devils’ Garrett wins individual crown as QHS takes third overall
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Kayden Garrett’s individual championship helped the Quincy High School wrestling team finish third among 25 teams in the 60th Murdale Invitational at Carbondale High School. Garrett, a senior wrestling at 170 pounds, won his first two matches in pool play with a second-period pin and a 21-6 technical fall. In the championship…
Read MoreSaturday Rewind: Quincy, Galesburg on collision course next week in WB6 play
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team finds itself in a place the program has always thrived. At the top. Friday night’s 61-57 victory at Rock Island gave the Blue Devils sole possession of first place in the Western Big 6 Conference a week before the league hits the midpoint of its season.…
Read More‘It sucked the life right out of Rocky’: Back-to-back 3-pointers propel Blue Devils to top of WB6 standings
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Over the course of a six-minute span of the second half Friday night in which the Quincy High School boys basketball team chiseled a 13-point deficit down to one, Rock Island never lost its energy or its swagger. That is until Jeremiah Talton and Ralph Wires took it away. The senior…
Read MoreAnother slow start spells doom for Blue Devils in third-place game at Collinsville
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — A trend developed in the three days the Quincy High School boys basketball team spent at the 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic that has Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas legitimately concerned. His team keeps stumbling out of the blocks. It happened again Wednesday night in the third-place game against Collinsville. The…
Read MoreBlue Devils turn over chance to play for title, lose to Generals in overtime in tourney semis
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Faced with a setback for only the second time this season and denied a shot at a tournament championship for the first time, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas both understood and appreciated the Blue Devils’ reaction. They were disappointed, not despondent. The Blue Devils squandered a two-point lead with…
Read MoreBlue Devils rally in fourth quarter to beat Railsplitters, will face Generals in semifinals
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Whew. That was the collective reaction from the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s bench and the throng of Blue Devil backers inside Vergil Fletcher Gym on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue Devils were held scoreless the first four minutes of the second half of the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic semifinal against…
Read MoreBlue Devils change course at halftime, return energetic in blowing past Crusaders
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Sam Mulherin understands good things happen if you put yourself in the right position. Necessary things happen, too. Mulherin’s energetic pursuit of offensive rebounds helped the Quincy High School boys basketball team shake its first-half slumber and ignited a 31-point third quarter against Belleville Althoff on Monday afternoon at Vergil Fletcher Gym.…
Read MoreHoliday tournament guide: 37th Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic
QUINCY — Which team is considered the favorite in the 37th annual Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic? Take your pick. “There are a lot of really good teams in the field,” Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas said. “I don’t know if there is a team that is head and shoulders better than…
Read MoreBeyond the Boxscore: Talton adjusts to physical defense, Blue Devils regain series control, Raiders look to rebound quickly
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton hurt. Understandably so. Friday night, in the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s 63-49 victory over Moline in Western Big 6 Conference play at Blue Devil Gym, the Maroons chose to defend the league’s leading scorer by putting a defender chest-to-chest with the 6-foot-6 swingman. Talton got bumped on every cut…
Read More‘That hole is 6 feet deep and we’re buried in it’: Blue Devils’ offensive execution in second half flattens Raiders
QUINCY — Andy Douglas didn’t need to be boisterous with his halftime speech Saturday night. The Quincy High School boys basketball coach didn’t have to say much at all. “The guys were already talking about what we needed to do before I got in the locker room,” Douglas said. “A lot of it was said…
Read MoreFresh approach: Trio of youngsters play with no fear in shouldering scoring load as Blue Devils knock off Maroons
QUINCY — The innocence of youth and the confidence of experience. It’s a lethal combination a trio of Quincy High School freshmen seem to possess, and their brashness, play-making ability and no-fear attitude is creating problems for the rest of the Western Big 6 Conference boys basketball teams. Friday night, Moline discovered how devastating those…
Read MoreTurnover woes cost Blue Devils opportunity to upend Maroons in WB6 play
QUINCY — For a nine-minute stretch spanning the end of the second quarter and the start of the third quarter Thursday night, the Moline girls basketball team didn’t score. Quincy High School didn’t chisel away at the deficit either. The Blue Devils trailed 28-14 after the Maroons’ Caroline Hazen scored off a drive down the…
Read MoreLiquor Booth Shot of the Game: Jeremiah Talton finishes alley-oop dunk
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton’s breakaway, one-handed dunk in the third quarter last Friday night against Sterling added the punctuation mark to another blowout by the Quincy High School boys basketball team. Yet, it was his alley-oop dunk in the second quarter that kickstarted the rout. The Blue Devils led 26-17 when the Golden Warriors called…
Read MoreBlue Devils survive Bulldogs’ 3-point barrage to finish perfect week
QUINCY — How much has the Quincy High School boys basketball team improved from a season ago? Quincy’s 64-61 victory over Batavia on Saturday night at Blue Devil Gym completed a 3-0 week that also included wins over Sterling and Rock Island Alleman. Three victories, five days. Those three wins match the Blue Devils’ victory…
Read MoreSaturday Rewind: Rocks win battle of unbeatens, sit atop WB6 with Blue Devils
QUINCY — The boys basketball title chase in the Western Big 6 Conference has a clear favorite and a surprising contender, and the league slate hasn’t reached Christmas yet. Rock Island established itself as the team to beat, going to Moline’s Wharton Field House on Friday night and winning a battle of unbeatens with its…
Read MoreKing of the treys: Talton eclipses Smith’s record as QHS’s career leader in 3-pointers
QUINCY — Each milestone Jeremiah Talton reaches and record he breaks serves as incentive for his younger teammates to shoot to surpass him. It won’t be easy. One game after becoming the 22nd player in the history of the Quincy High School boys basketball program to score 1,000 career points, the 6-foot-6 swingman reached another…
Read MoreTalton’s milestone moment accompanies Blue Devils rounding back into form
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — A milestone moment came with a highlight reel dunk and one of the most lopsided victories in the history of the Quincy High School boys basketball program. Still, the victory and the ability to rebound from the first loss of the season mattered most. On a night when Jeremiah Talton became…
Read MoreCentralia shutters QHS offense in second half, hands Blue Devils first loss of season
CENTRALIA, Ill. — Reid O’Brien had visited Centralia’s Arthur Trout Arena before, so the Quincy High School junior guard quickly glanced toward his teammates when they first entered the venerable facility on Saturday afternoon to witness their initial reaction. “Everyone was looking around everywhere,” O’Brien said. “They were saying how nice it was and how…
Read MoreBlue Devils open WB6 play with complete effort in dismantling Panthers
EAST MOLINE, Ill. — With United Township boys basketball coach Ryan Webber absent Friday night, the Panthers struggled to stay disciplined and couldn’t contain Quincy High School’s Jeremiah Talton in suffering a 70-39 loss in the Western Big 6 Conference opener. Webber was out with an undisclosed illness — Abel Zertuche filled in as head…
Read MoreBlue Devils show composure, Talton provides finishing touch on tourney title
QUINCY — Based solely on the youthful aspect of the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s roster, composure isn’t an attribute most fans would associate with the Blue Devils. After this weekend, composure might be one of their strengths. With St. Mary’s of St. Louis constantly subbing players to run fresh bodies at Quincy and…
Read MoreYoung Blue Devils have high ceiling
QUINCY — With only three upperclassmen on the roster and one senior in the starting lineup, Brad Dance’s Quincy High School girls basketball squad will have some growing pains this season. And that’s OK. The Blue Devils are off to a 1-1 start as they were on both the giving and the receiving end of…
Read MoreBlue Devils show no fear while erasing fourth-quarter deficit against Phoenix
QUINCY — The way Keshaun Thomas sees it, there’s no reason to be intimidated by any atmosphere or situation the Quincy High School boys basketball team might find itself facing. “We just have to go out there and play,” Thomas said. “You can’t be scared of competition.” The freshman forward proved Friday night he’s scared…
Read More2021 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame Inductee: Jordan Smith, athlete
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The 2020 and 2021 classes are being inducted into the Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame together this year. Smith will be inducted on Saturday, Nov. 27 before QHS’s boys basketball game.) Being nominated to the Blue Devil Hall of Fame is something I never thought would happen. I am honored to…
Read MoreTalton’s career-best scoring effort highlights return of QHS hoops and Thanksgiving Tournament
QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton left no chore undone Thanksgiving night. He even mopped the floor. With the Quincy High School boys basketball team leading Lake Forest Academy by 15 points with 4 minutes, 37 seconds remaining in regulation Thursday night, Talton slid into the middle of the lane and drew a charge on Caxys guard…
Read MoreYouthful Blue Devils to follow Talton’s lead as they turn page looking for future success
QUINCY — It’s been nearly half a century since Bob Seger released “Turn the Page,” a song often covered by bands as acclaimed as Metallica that continues to be heard on classic rock radio stations. It might even be adopted by the Quincy High School boys basketball team as this season’s mantra. After enduring a…
Read More2020 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame Inductee: 2009 girls volleyball team
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The 2020 and 2021 classes are being inducted into the Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame together this year. The 2009 volleyball team will be inducted on Saturday, Nov. 27 before QHS’s boys basketball game.) A decade after the Quincy High School volleyball program earned its first state trophy in record-setting fashion,…
Read More2020 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame Inductee: Matt Schuckman, Friend of Sports
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The 2020 and 2021 classes are being inducted into the Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame together this year. Schuckman will be inducted on Saturday, Nov. 27 before QHS’s boys basketball game.) The author of “Stand Up and Cheer: A Century of Blue Devils Basketball” and a reporter who has covered the…
Read MoreSchuckman: Observations as basketball returns to November in Gem City
Monday, life seemed renewed. At 5:30 a.m., inside a fully lit Blue Devil Gym, the first high school boys basketball practice of the 2021-22 season at Quincy High School took place. It had been two years since the Blue Devils took the floor on a November morning to kickstart a campaign. For a moment, everything…
Read MoreQuincy swimmers earn medals at sectional championships
EAST MOLINE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School girls swimmers won five medals at Saturday’s sectional championships. QND senior Emily Strieker finished third in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing in 5 minutes, 26.39 seconds. Strieker also finished fourth in the 200 freestyle in 2:02.68. The Raiders’ Brooklyn Biggs was fourth in the…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ Rosen and Schuering earn spots in state cross country field
QUINCY — The sun sparkled Saturday, which made for perfect weather to run the Class 3A boys and girls cross country sectionals at Bob Mays Park. The only problem was there wasn’t enough sun prior to Saturday to dry out the 3-mile course. Muddy conditions seemed to bog down some runners, leading to higher times…
Read MoreBlue Devils challenge Metro East’s best runners, advance to sectionals
NORMAL, Ill. — Fiker Rosen and Anna Schuering led the pack the way they have all season for the Quincy High School boys and girls cross country teams. The Blue Devils are headed to sectionals thanks to that. QHS finished third in the team standings in both the boys and girls races Saturday in the…
Read MoreRocks dash Blue Devils’ playoff hopes with overwhelming defense in second half
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The Quincy High School football team created a glimmer of hope in its pursuit of a playoff berth. It faded with one bad snap. Despite allowing Rock Island to score touchdowns on its first three possessions Friday night at Almquist Field, the Blue Devils were in perfect striking distance down 21-18…
Read MoreStruggles offensively lead to early postseason exit for Blue Devils
ALTON, Ill. — The same bugaboo that had hampered the Quincy High School boys soccer team during the regular season became the Blue Devils undoing in the postseason. They struggled to finish. The fifth-seeded Blue Devils hit a post with one shot, nicked the crossbar with at least one other and created opportunities in front…
Read MoreRaiders get on same page, ignore distractions to sweep Blue Devils
QUINCY — Abbey Schreacke was keenly aware of the inherent distractions Tuesday night’s match brought. The city rivalry was front and center. The Pink Night celebration drew a bigger crowd. And a planned post-match recognition of Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Courtney Kvitle’s 100th career victory would lose some luster if the Raiders fell to…
Read MoreSomething to talk about: Conversation leads to successful stint at keeper for Blue Devils’ Cook
QUINCY — Ron Bridal had a plan if Grayson Cook was game. If it kept him from running cross country, Cook certainly was intrigued. Three years ago, when Cook and his parents were in the Quincy High School athletic office after enrolling him for his freshman year, they happened to cross paths with Bridal, the…
Read MoreRosen, Schuering, Blue Devils sweep WB6 cross country championships
STERLING, Ill. — Fiker Rosen made it a clean sweep. Anna Schuering and the rest of the Quincy High School cross country runners did, too. Rosen won his fourth consecutive Western Big 6 Conference individual championship while leading the QHS boys to back-to-back titles during Thursday’s conference meet at Hoover Park. Meanwhile, Schuering won her…
Read MoreScoreboard for Monday, October 11
Boys Soccer At Flinn Stadium, Quincy Quincy High School 7, Rock Island Alleman 0: The Blue Devils wrapped up the Western Big 6 Conference championship with the whitewashing of the Pioneers. Carter Venvertloh and Andrew Brown each scored twice, while Biruk Rosen, Blake Bunch and Boen Brockmiller each had a goal. Spencer Jenkins had two…
Read MorePutting issues cost Arnold chance to become first Liberty golfer to medal at state
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Putting success is attributed as much to rhythm as it is speed and accurate lines. That rhythm escaped Blake Arnold on Saturday. “Nope, never found it,” said Arnold, the Liberty junior golfer following his 6-over 78 in the second round of the Class 1A state tournament at Prairie Vista Golf Course. “I…
Read MoreBlue Devils share tears, laughs and hugs after rocky final round at state tournament
FORSYTH, Ill. — Laci Novosel didn’t sugarcoat it. “Oh, it was bad,” she said. But it wasn’t so bad she couldn’t laugh it off. “I only cried like twice,” she said with a chuckle. It was that kind of day for the Quincy High School girls golfers. A few tears accompanied wayward shots and frustration…
Read MoreByquist, Blue Devils grind out victory over Maple Leafs to continue chasing playoffs
QUINCY — During Rick Little’s tenure as Quincy High School football coach, the Blue Devils have been known as a pretty tough team to beat at Flinn Stadium. This fall, winning at Flinn has been anything but easy for the Blue Devils. On Friday night, the Blue Devils finally found the right combination, mixing heavy…
Read MoreBlue Devils make cut at state tournament, ready to chase trophy in final round
FORSYTH, Ill. — The fluctuating leaderboard had the Quincy High School girls golf team bouncing anywhere from fifth to eighth place every couple of holes Friday afternoon. It made everyone a little leery of what was transpiring. So as Laci Novosel, one of two seniors and the only current Blue Devil with state tournament experience,…
Read MoreCann-do attitude: Sophomore’s goal boosts Raiders to victory over Blue Devils in city series
QUINCY — With the start of the postseason looming just five days away, the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer players are confident they’re ready for a title chase. All it takes is a Cann-do attitude. Thursday night, a sophomore striker showed the Raiders how that looks. Off a long throw-in from the right sideline, QND’s…
Read MoreStudent of the game: Novosel’s competitive nature shines on course, in classroom
QUINCY — Laci Novosel couldn’t choose. Given the option of having a higher grade point average or a lower strokes-per-round average, the Quincy High School senior golfer and self-described nerd wavered in the middle. “Oh, gosh, I can’t pick,” Novosel said. “I have to have both. My entire life is school and golf. It equals…
Read MoreBlue Devils, Raiders unable to advance past sectionals
MORRIS, Ill. — Quincy High School boys golf coach Randy Mettemeyer understands there are days you tip your cap to the field and appreciate the darts others are throwing. Monday was one of those days. The Blue Devils had three players shoot in the 70s and posted a 311 total at the Class 3A Lockport…
Read MoreBlue Devils keep focus on matter at hand, power way to state tourney berth
WASHINGTON, Ill. — The Quincy High School girls golfers made a pact with Blue Devils coach Hanlynn Vahlkamp not to check the digital scoring app while on the course during Monday’s Class 2A sectional at Quail Meadows Golf Course. “It makes us a little too anxious,” Vahlkamp said. So Sophia Gold never took a peek.…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ miscues ruin any chance to sustain early momentum against Golden Warriors
STERLING, Ill. — A near-perfect start for the Quincy High School football team offered hope of beating Sterling for the first time as Western Big 6 Conference counterparts. A series of miscues dashed all hope. The Golden Warriors answered the Blue Devils’ game-opening touchdown drive by scoring 44 straight points and securing a 50-18 victory…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Week 5 of prep football
Friday’s schedule Galesburg (1-3) at Quincy High School (2-2), 7:30 p.m. • WGEM 1440 AM, 98.9 FM Quincy Notre Dame (4-0) at Breese Mater Dei (4-0), 7 p.m. • WTAD 930 AM Hannibal (4-0) at Mexico (4-0), 7 p.m. • KICK 97.9 FM Palmyra (2-2) at Monroe City (4-0), 7 p.m. • KRRY 100.9 FM…
Read MoreLiquor Booth Shot of the Game: Blue Devils’ Novosel records first hole-in-one
QUINCY — The moment after contact, Macomb’s Lily Vardaman called it. “As the shot was in air, she was like, ‘Hole-in-one, baby!’” Quincy High School senior golfer Laci Novosel said. “It sounded good, which is why she said that. And it looked good.” It turned out perfect. Last Saturday, playing in the Macomb Invitational at…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ Novosel, Cain cap careers with perfect record in WB6 golf championships
GALESBURG, Ill. — Laci Novosel and Paige Cain’s careers are perfect. At least they are against Western Big 6 Conference competition. The Quincy High School senior golfers led the Blue Devils to their fifth straight conference championship Monday, posting a team total of 310 at Lake Bracken Country Club. For both golfers, it’s four seasons…
Read MoreBlue Devils successfully defend WB6 title with three golfers finishing in top six
MILAN, Ill. — Quincy High School boys golf coach Randy Mettemeyer knew the Blue Devils could take nothing for granted despite their history of success in the Western Big 6 Conference championships and their status as the defending champions. “We knew it wasn’t just show up and bring the trophy home,” Mettemeyer said. They had…
Read MoreBlue Devils score equalizer, lock down defensively to forge tie with Raiders
QUINCY — For a team desperately trying to hold its rival at bay and make amends for the batterings of recent past, Boen Brockmiller’s game-tying goal gave the Quincy High School boys soccer team the belief any and everything was possible. The Blue Devils’ defense latched on to that. “It gives us a blanket of…
Read MoreAbility to get back in fight allows Blue Devils to post back-to-back victories
QUINCY — Quincy High School boys soccer coach Ron Bridal wasn’t about to allow fatigued legs from games on back-to-back nights morph into an excuse for sloppy, uninspired play. Learning to handle such a scenario is vital in the long run. “To come back tonight was a challenge,” Bridal said Wednesday night at Flinn Stadium…
Read MoreQHS’s decision to not play volleyball at Hannibal made ‘trying to be cautious’
QUINCY — The decision to cancel the Quincy High School volleyball team’s match against Hannibal, which was scheduled to be played Thursday night at the Pirates’ Korf Gym, was made with the best of intentions. “We’re trying to be cautious and make sure we get through the year,” QHS athletic director Matt McClelland said. The…
Read MoreCrosstown showdown notebook: Lavery solid in debut as Raiders’ quarterback
QUINCY — Calvin Lavery started to squat before realizing his muscles wouldn’t allow it. So the Quincy Notre Dame quarterback stayed standing as he talked about dealing with cramps throughout the Raiders’ 40-20 victory Friday night against Quincy High School in the crosstown showdown at Flinn Stadium. Temperatures topping out at 93 degrees with heat…
Read MoreSomething special happening here: Raiders turn tide with big plays in kicking game against Blue Devils
QUINCY — Ben Kasparie needed just 17 seconds to put plans into motion to erase 37 years of longing. On the opening kickoff of Friday night’s season-opening crosstown showdown at Flinn Stadium, the Quincy Notre Dame senior glanced to his left after fielding the kick and thought there was a seam opening toward the sideline.…
Read MoreQuincy coaches remain coy about who starts at QB ahead of Friday’s showdown
QUINCY — The most asked question of the past two weeks still doesn’t have an answer. Who is the starting quarterback? Both Quincy High School football coach Rick Little and Quincy Notre Dame coach Jack Cornell have been steely in how they’ve addressed it. Even days before Friday night’s season opener at Flinn Stadium, neither…
Read MoreScoreboard for Thursday, August 26
Girls Volleyball At The Pit, Quincy Notre Dame Quincy Notre Dame beat West Hancock 25-13, 25-18. Abbey Schreacke led the Raiders with eight kills and three aces, Emma Hoing had five kills and Maggie Drew dished out 25 assists. The Raiders had eight aces as a team. QND is now 2-0. Girls Golf At Gold…
Read MoreSeniors helping mold young roster as Blue Devils look to play with tempo, physicality
QUINCY — Rick Little isn’t kidding when he says this Quincy High School football team is unlike any he’s coached over the past 15 seasons. There will be only three seniors starting on offense Friday night when the Blue Devils open their season at Flinn Stadium against Quincy Notre Dame — the first crosstown showdown…
Read MoreBlue Devils feeling jazzy about possibilities for success with attacking style
QUINCY — The way Carter Venvertloh handled an off-the-cuff question is a sign the Quincy High School junior midfielder and his teammates can handle anything else thrown their way. A 10-year-old sports fan hanging out at one of the Blue Devils’ practices during the preseason had the chance to interact with the players following a…
Read MoreScoreboard for Monday, August 23
Boys Soccer At Peoria Notre Dame High School Quincy Notre Dame 4, Peoria Notre Dame 2: After surrendering a two-goal halftime lead, the Raiders rebound with two goals in the final 25 minutes to win their season opener. Quinton Hankins scored the game-winning goal off a Brock Evans corner kick. Tanner Anderson added a penalty…
Read MoreQHS girls tennis team looking for growth from youthful squad
QUINCY — The return to Ottawa brought the Quincy High School girls tennis program some normalcy. The rest of the schedule hopefully will, too. With a vast number of underclassmen, the Blue Devils need the challenges their traditional schedule provides, starting with last Friday’s Night Light Invitational at Ottawa. The Blue Devils finished fourth as…
Read MoreBlue Devils show poise in face of struggles during 72nd Quincy Invitational
QUINCY — Hope does more than float. It evaporates if you’re not careful. The Quincy High School golfers sensed that happening as the opening holes of Saturday’s 72nd Quincy Invitational proved treacherous. Yet, their experience, resolve and sticktoitiveness allowed the Blue Devils to shrug off the struggles and make a bid for a trophy. They…
Read MoreFormer QHS golfer Zach Burry finishes as runner-up at 101st Wisconsin State Open
KOHLER, Wis. — Zach Burry did more than just put together an amazing scorecard during his low round of the Wisconsin State Open. He made sure to maintain some consistency in his game. The former Quincy High School and Illinois State University golfer finished 72 holes of stroke play with a second-place finish, posting an…
Read MoreScoreboard for Wednesday, August 18
Girls Golf Metamora Invitational, Metamora Fields Golf Club Quincy High School takes first place with a 312 team total. Saya Geisendorfer leads the Blue Devils with a 74, while Sophia Gold shoots a 75, Laci Novosel cards a 79 and Paige Cain posts an 84. Boys Golf Monmouth Triangular, Gibson Woods Golf Course Quincy High…
Read MoreTop-level talent, abundance of enthusiasm for running gives Blue Devils boost
QUINCY — Anna Schuering’s goals are bigger and broader than fast times and top places. She wants the next evolution of cross country runners at Quincy High School to understand the sport isn’t solely about speed and endurance. Its enjoyment revolves around a desire to compete, a work ethic that doesn’t quit and a team…
Read MoreScoreboard for Tuesday, August 17
Boys Golf Alton Redbird Invitational at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course Quincy High School finishes fifth at 313. Breese Mater Dei wins the title with a 306, followed by Edwardsville (307), O’Fallon (311) and Springfield (312). Cameron Bergman leads the Blue Devils with a 76 to finish 10th individually, and Brady Walker posts a 77.…
Read MoreSchuckman: Heat, humidity and return to normal highlight opening of prep practices
QUINCY — High temperatures and humidity which meteorologists turn into the better-take-note-of-these heat indexes greeted high school athletes for the official start of the fall sports season. Don’t think for a moment that turned into an excuse to take a play off or slug through a drill. Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell drove…
Read MoreMeyers’ passion for becoming an elite triathlete leads to top-of-the-podium finish
QUINCY — When Alexandria Meyers discusses competing in her first kids triathlon roughly eight years ago and says her father, Glenn, “threw me into it,” let it be known he didn’t actually throw her into Moorman Lake. He threw her into a sport that has become her passion. Meyers was just 9 years old when…
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