2022 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee: John Groves, friend of sport

John Groves has been involved behind the scenes with Quincy High School athletics for more than four decades. | Submitted photo

QUINCY — A 1968 graduate of Quincy High School, John Groves has been a loyal supporter and contributor for more than 50 years. Groves began helping his father, Jerry Groves, when he started the first formal “Chain Gang” for the QHS football team in 1960. John took over those duties from his father in 1982…

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2022 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee: Tom Berry, coach

Tom Berry served as an assistant coach with the Quincy High School boys basketball and soccer programs before guiding the QHS girls basketball program to new heights. | Submitted photo

Editor’s note: The Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games in the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. QUINCY — A  1963 graduate of Quincy High School who played baseball and basketball through his sophomore year, Tom Berry chose to have…

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2022 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee: Matea Simovic, athlete

Matea Simovic won 140 matches in her high school tennis career. | Submitted photo

Editor’s note: The Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games in the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. QUINCY — One of the most successful girls tennis players in Quincy High School history, Matea Simovic was a four-time state qualifier, three-time…

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Chills and thrills: Blazing start, defensive stranglehold catapult Blue Devils to victory in season opener

Quincy High School junior swingman Camden Brown defends at the point of the Blue Devils' 1-2-2 zone during Thursday's game against Dixon in the 51st Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The lights go down, the flames go up and everyone in Blue Devil Gym awaiting the Devil’s arrival feels the chills. The players aren’t immune to that, no matter how focused on the game they might be. “I would think any abnormal person would say no they don’t feel anything,” said Tyler Sprick,…

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Family first: Harmann’s cousin showcases depth of ability in helping Blue Devils dispatch Dukes

Quincy High School guard Tyler Sprick slaps hands with a teammates as they go back on defense after Sprick scored in the second half of Thursday night's game against Dixon in the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The exuberant kid who tagged along every opportunity he had when Chris Harmann went to Blue Devil Gym during a decade spent as a Quincy High School boys basketball assistant coach has matured That wasn’t a good thing for Harmann’s Dixon club. Tyler Sprick, a QHS junior guard and Harmann’s cousin, turned Thursday’s…

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Photo gallery: Opening night of 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym

QUINCY — The opening night of the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament had everything Quincy High School boys basketball fans want — a down-to-the-wire affair, an intriguing storyline and a victory by the Blue Devils. Quincy opened with a 65-29 victory over Dixon after Springfield Lanphier outlasted Miller Career Academy 57-54. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…

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Handling expectations: Blue Devils staying humble, focused as hype builds around them

Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas, center, shares a laugh with several of his players during a break in practice at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — As the Quincy High School boys basketball team trudged through another preseason practice, those responsible for the sound system in Blue Devil Gym tested the acoustics, the decibel levels and the clarity for pregame introductions. “They started playing everything and I got chills,” senior guard Reid O’Brien said. The Blue Devils also were…

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2022 Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee: Jared Anders, athlete

Jared Anders was a two-time state medalist in the pole vault at Quincy High School and enjoyed an All-American career at Missouri S&T. | Submitted photo

Editor’s note: The Quincy Blue Devil Sports Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games in the 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. QUINCY — Jared Anders followed in his family’s footsteps — straight to the Hall of Fame. A two-time state medalist as a pole…

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Familiar face on Dixon sideline makes QHS Thanksgiving Tournament true holiday homecoming

Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas, right, discusses a play with sophomore forward Keshaun Thomas during practice leading up to this week's 51st QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — To the victor go the spoils. What exactly the spoils are Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas isn’t divulging. Thursday night, in the opening game of the QHS Thanksgiving Tournament, the Blue Devils will square off against Dixon at 7 p.m. at Blue Devil Gym. It also pits two close friends…

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QHS girls basketball team uses second-half rally to nearly topple reigning WB6 champion

Quincy High School guard Leila Dade, right, tries to shake a Geneseo defender in order to get the ball from teammate Taylor Fohey, left, during Tuesday night's Western Big 6 Conference game at the QHS gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The second-half rally and fight to the finish the Quincy High School girls basketball team engaged in Tuesday night had two components. “We totally changed our mindset,” Blue Devils senior guard Leah Chevalier said. “And a few people hit shots.” It was nearly enough to topple the reigning Western Big 6 Conference champion.…

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Anderson, Venvertloh uphold family traditions, receive all-state soccer honors

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Tanner Anderson delivers a corner kick during the Class 1A sectional semifinal against Serena in Mendota, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — All-state soccer honors are family traditions in the Anderson and Venvertloh households. The youngest brothers made sure tradition didn’t falter. Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Tanner Anderson and Quincy High School senior midfielder Carter Venvertloh recently were named to the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-state team, becoming the second and third…

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Third-quarter blues: Lemont scores 21 straight points after halftime, knocks QHS out of playoffs

Quincy High School linebacker Sawyer Mulherin, left, and linebacker Kory Fletcher try to drag down Lemont's Nate Wrublik during Saturday's Class 6A second-round playoff game at Flinn Stadium. | Photo courtesy Libby Phelps, Quippi staff

QUINCY — Coming out of the halftime locker room, Quincy High School football coach Rick Little and his counterpart at Lemont, Bret Kooi, had to play a bit of a chess game. Kooi’s squad led 17-10. Little had first choice and elected to receive the second half kickoff. Kooi was left to decide whether he…

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Schuckman: Empathy and respect create viral video moment between QHS, Glenwood football players

Quincy High School offensive lineman Cole Wagy, right, kneels down to console Chatham Glenwood linebacker Brock Rogers following last week's Class 6A first-round playoff game in Chatham, Ill. | Photo courtesy Derek Parris, Channel1450.com

QUINCY — Cole Wagy saw beyond the jersey, the helmet and the foe and took note of a fellow football player’s heartache. At that moment, the Quincy High School offensive lineman walked over, knelt down and put his right arm around his ailing adversary. “I didn’t even know his name,” Wagy said. Names aren’t necessary…

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Taking what they’re given: Blue Devils rack up 585 yards, record second playoff victory in school history

The Quincy High School football team's sideline celebrates at the end of Friday night's 49-42 victory over Chatham Glenwood in the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs in Chatham, Ill. | Photo courtesy Samantha Carmean

CHATHAM, Ill. — It’s not supposed to look that easy, especially in the playoffs. The Quincy High School football team racked up 585 yards of total offense, and sophomore quarterback Bradyn Little threw for a school-record 428 yards and four touchdowns as the Blue Devils won a playoff game for just the second time in…

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Blue Devils fight to bitter end, fall to Ironmen in Class 4A regional volleyball championship

The Normal Community volleyball team celebrates after beating Quincy High School in straight sets and winning the Class 4A Quincy Regional championship at the QHS gym. | Photo courtesy Libby Phelps

QUINCY — Quincy High School senior libero Carley Owsley wasn’t about to go down without a fight. “I was prepared for them to be all over the place and to make me move,” Owsley said Thursday night. “I wanted every ball.” And Owsley was able to dig a lot of them as the sixth-seeded Blue…

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Pressure-packed situation: Blue Devils need to harass Titans quarterback to gain upper hand

Quincy High School's Caron Banks, center, and Jett Noble, right, flush the Sterling quarterback out of the pocket during a Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium earlier this season. | Photo courtesy Libby Phelps

QUINCY — The pressure to get pressure lies squarely on the Quincy High School football team’s defensive front. “And we have to pressure all night,” defensive lineman Caron Banks said. Otherwise, Chatham Glenwood quarterback Jack Knudson gains the edge. “We know he’s really good in the pocket and doesn’t scramble much,” QHS linebacker Ty Douglas…

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Blue Devils show growth, improvement in upending Dragons in regional semifinals

Quincy High School's Naveah Baker, who rattled off nine consecutive service points in the second set Tuesday night, helped the Blue Devils eliminate Pekin in the Class 4A Quincy Regional semifinals at the QHS gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy High School volleyball coach Kate Brown collected herself, looked out on the court at the QHS gym and broke into a wide smile. “This was a team we haven’t seen all season,” Brown said of her sixth-seeded Blue Devils, who moments earlier pulled off an upset of fourth-seeded Pekin in the Class…

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‘What if magic happens?’: Senior linebacker’s INT critical to helping QHS football team navigate epic comeback

Quincy High School's Ty Douglas, right, and Jett Noble, left, take down a Rock Island ballcarrier during Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium. | Photo courtesy Samantha Carmean

QUINCY — Down 28-0 to Rock Island on Senior Night at Flinn Stadium, Quincy High School senior linebacker Kory Fletcher tried to keep a good attitude. “I kept thinking, ‘What if magic happens?’ ” Fletcher said. “And magic happened.” The Blue Devils rallied from that first-half deficit to pull out a thrilling 47-42 Western Big…

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‘Really, it’s all of them’: Limitless trust in wide receivers allows QHS quarterback to break passing record

Quincy High School’s Caeden Johannessen, right, makes a tough catch during a Western Big 6 Conference game against Sterling at Flinn Stadium. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — Bradyn Little deliberated before answering, and even then the Quincy High School sophomore quarterback struggled to give a single response. So which one of his wide receivers is the best at making the tough catches? “Caeden (Johannessen) has had a few tough catches. And Jack (Mettemeyer). And Tykell (Hammers),” Little said. “Really, it’s…

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Late goal not enough to keep QHS boys soccer team’s season afloat in regional semifinal loss

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Carter Venvertloh gave the Quincy High School boys soccer team a chance for an epic rally. It just never materialized. Venvertloh, the senior forward, scored with 4:40 remaining in regulation to cut into top-seeded Collinsville’s three-goal lead in Wednesday night’s Class 3A regional semifinal at Kahok Stadium. However, the Blue Devils couldn’t…

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Schuckman: Blue Devils, Raiders achieve desired outcome as Quincy won, breast cancer lost during ‘Volley for a Cure’

Quincy High School's Ayanna Douglas, left, and Genesis Torres encourage each other before a serve during Monday night's match against Quincy Notre Dame at the QHS gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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,…

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Photo gallery: Quincy High School faces Quincy Notre Dame in girls volleyball

Quincy Notre Dame's Lilly Marth, left, and Faith Kientzle react to winning a point during Monday night's match against Quincy High School at the QHS gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Monday night’s crosstown showdown continued the mission to find a cure for breast cancer, and the atmosphere in the QHS gym as the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball teams squared off proved to be electric. Here is a look at the images captured by Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…

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Trench gang: Stout offensive line paving QHS football team’s path to playoffs

Quincy High School junior left guard Chris Flachs, left, and senior left tackle Brady Wells head to the field before a game against Alton earlier this season. The QHS offensive line has paved the way to a 5-2 record and looming playoff berth. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Conner Cox seemed almost apologetic for not being overly elated when the Quincy High School football team scores a touchdown these days. As the junior offensive lineman sees it, scoring isn’t a rarity. It’s an expectation. “Every game, it feels almost routine to score a touchdown,” said Cox, a 6-foot, 250-pound right tackle.…

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Hayes sisters win doubles title as QHS girls tennis team shares WB6 championship with Moline

Quincy High School's Lily Hayes, left, celebrates a point with her sister, Phoebe, during their doubles championship match in the Western Big 6 Conference girls tennis tournament Saturday at Reservoir Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Lily and Phoebe Hayes lived up to the expectations. Anika Reddy and Mary Dodd exceeded them. Both of those things have been happening throughout the girls tennis season. The Hayes sisters, who were the No. 1-seeded doubles team for the Western Big 6 Conference tournament, rallied after losing the first set of the…

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Raiders’ Knuffman, Blue Devils’ Gold and Geisendorfer all finish strong at state golf tourney

Quincy Notre Dame senior Hana Knuffman walks up a fairway during the Class 1A state tournament Saturday at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur, Ill. | Photo courtesy Douglas Cottle, PhotoNews Media

DECATUR, Ill. — Hana Knuffman walked away with a solid closing stretch to her prep golf career. The Quincy Notre Dame senior shot a 1-over 37 on the final nine holes Saturday at Red Tail Run Golf Course, leading to a 5-over 77 that moved her into the top 30 individually at the Class 1A…

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QND girls golf team misses cut by two strokes, two QHS golfers sit in top 35

Quincy Notre Dame's Blair Eftink hits a tee shot during the first round of the Class 1A girls state golf tournament at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur, Ill. | Photo courtesy Douglas Cottle, PhotoNews Media

DECATUR, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls golf team found itself on the outside looking in Friday when the opening round of the Class 1A state tournament wrapped up. The Raiders missed the cut by two strokes, finishing ninth in the 12-team field with a 373 total. Massac County shot a 371 to snare…

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Hannibal boys soccer team grinds out one-goal victory over QHS

Hannibal's Thomas Janes, left, and Kevin Westhoff are all smiles after finishing off a 1-0 victory over Quincy High School on Friday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Eric Hill doesn’t mind the pressure and stress of a one-goal game. “It’s something that gets us prepared for where we need to be come postseason time and the type of game we’re going to be in,” the Hannibal boys soccer coach said. “That’s kind of a dogfight.” Friday night, the Pirates proved…

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Schuckman: A boy and a ball create perfect symmetry

Hayden Hoskins, a 9-year-old ball boy for the Quincy High School boys soccer team, kicks the ball around behind the northeast goal at Flinn Stadium during a game this season. | Matt Schuckman photo

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.…

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Fit to be tied: QHS, QND dig in defensively as boys soccer showdown ends in scoreless draw

Quincy High School defender Biruk Rosen, left, tries to keep Quincy Notre Dame's Leo Cann from getting a good angle on a shot during the first half of Wednesday's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — In a sport where the standard dimensions of the goal are sizable — 24 feet wide and 8 feet high — every inch still matters. Wednesday night, the diameter of the goal posts mattered most. A little more than six minutes into the second half of the boys soccer crosstown showdown at Flinn…

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Photo gallery: Quincy High School vs. Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer at Flinn Stadium

Players from the Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School boys soccer teams watch a corner kick sail over the goal during the first half of Wednesday night's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The intensity was the same as the previous matchup, but in the second installment of the crosstown showdown between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer teams, goal-scoring opportunities were at a premium. The scoreless draw was the first tie for both squads, and Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman…

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Blue Devils lock down defensively in second half, secure piece of another WB6 championship

Quincy High School's Evan Altman, right, battles with Geneseo's Brayden Combs for possession during Tuesday night's Western Big 6 Conference game in Geneseo, Ill. | Photo courtesy Gary Krambeck, Quad-City Times

GENESEO — The Quincy High School boys soccer team controlled its fate. Geneseo could do nothing in the second half of Tuesday night’s Western Big 6 Conference matchup to change that. The Blue Devils clamped down defensively over the final 40 minutes, holding the Maple Leafs without a shot and using Josh Stupavsky’s goal in…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND girls tennis team square off at Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park

The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls tennis teams pose for a picture before Monday's match at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls tennis team beat Quincy Notre Dame 7-2 in their season head-to-head matchup of the season. Check out some images from the event taken by Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman:

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Crosstown showdown gives QHS girls tennis team boost heading into conference tournament

Quincy High School's Lily Hayes, left, and Phoebe Hayes celebrate a point during the No. 1 doubles match against Quincy Notre Dame's Evie Schuetz and Addi Zanger during Monday's dual at Reservoir Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A little push in the right direction is welcome right before the Quincy High School girls tennis team chases a Western Big 6 Conference championship. Quincy Notre Dame provided that Monday. The Blue Devils won the crosstown dual 7-2 at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park, but two of the three doubles…

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QHS’s Gold, Geisendorfer allow steady play to carry them to Class 2A state golf tournament

Quincy High School senior Saya Geisendorfer tees off during Monday's Class 2A O'Fallon Sectional at Far Oaks Golf Club. | Photo courtesy Matt Kamp, Edwardsville Intelligencer

O’FALLON, Ill. — Sophia Gold and Saya Geisendorfer couldn’t have asked for a better start to their rounds Monday at the Class 2A O’Fallon Sectional. The steady play that followed allowed the Quincy High School girls golfers to earn spots in the state tournament field. Gold finished eighth individually and Geisendorfer tied for 14th, while…

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Schuering beats Neisen to finish line in neck-and-neck race at Tom Oakley Invitational

Cross country runners from Quincy High School and Liberty head out on the course at the start of Saturday's Tom Oakley Invitational at Bob Mays Park. | Photo courtesy Teresa Huner

QUINCY — A 3-mile duel was decided by a matter of seconds. Quincy High School cross country standout Olivia Schuering edged Liberty’s Arianna Neisen by six seconds Saturday, winning the Tom Oakley Invitational girls race at Bob Mays Park. The Blue Devils swept the individual crowns as Eric McClelland won the boys race. Schuering and…

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Overtime loss stings as QHS football players realize how oh-so-close to victory they were

Quincy High School linebacker Ty Douglas, center, and defensive lineman Todd Smith, right, look to pounce on a fumble during Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game against Sterling at Flinn Stadium. | Photo courtesy Libby Phelps

QUINCY — As Bradyn Little’s pass barely sailed over Jack Mettemeyer’s outstretched arm and fell to the turf Friday night, Kael Ryan and his Sterling teammates could finally exhale. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt better in my life,” said Ryan, Sterling’s do-it-all senior, moments after the Golden Warriors’ 34-28 overtime victory Friday night at…

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Gold, Geisendorfer top regional field, lead QHS girls to sixth straight regional golf championship

The Quincy High School girls golf team won its sixth straight regional championship by shooting a 334 on Thursday at the Class 2A Peoria Richwoods Regional at Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill. | Submitted photo

PEORIA, Ill. — The kinship Sophia Gold and Saya Geisendorfer share made the idea of an on-course playoff for the regional championship between the Quincy High School golfers incredibly unappealing. So they asked if they could avoid it. Gold, a sophomore, and Geisendorfer, a senior, topped the field in the Class 2A Peoria Richwoods Regional…

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Photo gallery: QHS’s Gold, Cory advance to sectional as Edwardsville wins regional title

Quincy High School junior Gabriel Gold tries to read a putt on the eighth green at Westview Golf Course during Wednesday's Class 3A Quincy Regional. | Matt Schuckman photos

QUINCY — Quincy High School junior Sam Cory played his final 10 holes in 2-over par, climbing the leaderboard of the Class 3A Quincy Regional at Westview Golf Course and securing one of 10 individual spots in next week’s sectional. QHS junior Gabriel Gold will be right there with him. Gold finished tied for 13th…

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Brown’s header off Brockmiller’s corner jumpstarts QHS soccer team’s offensive outburst

Quincy High School's Andrew Brown gets his head on Boen Brockmiller's corner kick and drives it into the net for the first goal in the Blue Devils' 7-1 victory over Sterling on Tuesday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The moment he said it, Boen Brockmiller sensed his critique of his own corner kick sounded braggadocious. So he smiled and paused. When he continued, Brockmiller’s genuine joy for how the play turned out showed. “I know I’m biased,” said the senior forward on the Quincy High School boys soccer team. “But it…

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Photo gallery: Quincy High School girls tennis team beats Macomb in dual at Reservoir Park

Quincy High School's No. 2 doubles team of Audra Cain and Amelia Willing, left, tap racquets with Macomb's Lanie Jones and Celena Managalaraj following their match Tuesday at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls tennis team improved to 9-3 in dual matches with Tuesday’s 8-1 victory over Macomb at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. After the Blue Devils’ Lily Hayes rallied to beat the Bombers’ Tali Stone 1-6, 6-2 (10-2) at No. 1 singles, Quincy swept the other five singles…

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Crim: Cappel’s three-year stint coaching QHS football created memories he still treasures

Former Quincy High School football coach Dean Cappel, right, and his wife Connie pose for a picture while attending a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. | Submitted photo

SHOREWOOD, Ill. — Dean Cappel and his wife, Connie, live in an active 55-and-older community west of Joliet. When they’re not traveling or doting on their six grandchildren, they like to spend time playing water volleyball and bocce ball and riding bicycles. “I just came back from the weight room,” Cappel said as we began…

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Golf roundup: QND boys use title at Galesburg as springboard into postseason

The Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team placed five individuals in the top 10 and won the team title Saturday at the Silver Streaks Invitational at Galesburg, Ill. | Submitted photo

GALESBURG, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team is heading into the postseason on quite a roll. Three days after winning the West Central Conference championship with a 291 team total, the Raiders captured the title of Saturday’s Silver Streaks Invitational at Bunker Links by placing five individuals in the top 10 and…

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QHS football team capitalizes on Galesburg’s miscues to inch closer to playoff contention

GALESBURG, Ill. — The Quincy High School football team took advantage of Galesburg’s mistakes Friday night. It resulted in a 42-14 victory in Western Big 6 Conference action at Van Dyke Field. “It’s a good victory and another lap in our marathon,” Quincy coach Rick Little said.  The Blue Devils (4-1, 2-1 WB6) headed into…

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High five: Venvertloh breaks QHS boys soccer team’s single-game scoring record in WB6 victory

Carter Venvertloh scored five goals in Tuesday's 6-1 victory over Galesburg, breaking the Quincy High School boys soccer program's single-game scoring record. | Matt Schuckman file photo

GALESBURG, Ill. — The right approach offensively is something the Quincy High School boys soccer players have tried to perfect. Tuesday night, the Blue Devils dialed it as well as they have all season. “The team was very calm on the ball tonight to begin the game, very organized and kept the ball in the…

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Seventh heaven: QHS girls golf team wins its seventh straight WB6 championship

The Quincy High School girls golf team celebrates after winning its seventh consecutive Western Big 6 Conference championship, shooting a 323 on Monday at Midland Golf Club in Kewanee, Ill. | Submitted photo

KEWANEE, Ill. — Sunday’s practice round at Midland Golf Club gave the Quincy High School girls team a blueprint for how to manage the course. “They really concentrated and took good notes,” Blue Devils coach HanLynn Vahlkamp said. Every notation led to something significant. Four QHS golfers finished in the top six individually as the…

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Carmean’s career low round helps QHS girls capture Macomb Invitational title

The Quincy High School girls golf team won the Macomb Invitational on Saturday at Gold Hills Golf Club in Colchester, Ill. | Submitted photo

COLCHESTER, Ill. — Samantha Carmean picked a perfect time to have a career day. The Quincy High School golfer posted a career low 90, helping the Blue Devils win the championship of the Macomb Invitational with a 330 team score at Gold Hills Golf Club. Macomb finished second at 344, and Quincy Notre Dame was…

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Give a Little, get a Little: QHS quarterback breaks two single-game records in WB6 rout of UT

Quincy High School's Gregory Quince, left, celebrates with Caden Johannessen after catching one of his two touchdown receptions in the 49-14 victory over United Township at Flinn Stadium. | Photo courtesy Libby Phelps

QUINCY — Quincy High School football coach Rick Little has seen his son Bradyn, the Blue Devils’ sophomore quarterback, get on a roll before. “Once he gets hot, he can be dangerous … it’s more than just the throws, but the reads,” Rick Little said. “The average fan is like, ‘He threw a ball and…

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The Gold standard: QHS golfers ban together for birdie fundraiser to honor late father, help brain cancer patients

The Gold family — from left to right, Gabriel, Nicole, Sophia and Mark — is providing the inspiration for the Birdies for Brain Cancer fundraiser the Quincy High School boys and girls golf teams are conducting this fall. | Submitted photo

QUINCY — Naturally, Dr. Mark Gold felt inclined to help his son, Gabriel, with his biology homework. “It really didn’t work that well,” Gabriel said with a laugh. His dad’s interest was genuine and understandable. Mark Gold worked as a board certified neurosurgeon for more than 30 years, spending 18 years with the Quincy Medical…

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Picture-perfect setting turns into stellar times, performances at Running Raider Invitational

Liberty junior Ariana Neisen leads the pack on the final mile of the girls race Tuesday in the 21st Running Raider Invitational at South Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The setting couldn’t have been more picturesque. Sun splashed across South Park’s rolling hills with a cool breeze rustling leaves on the thick, old oak trees looming over the final mile of the 3-mile cross country course spanning from one end of the park to the other for Tuesday’s 21st Running Raider Invitational.…

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Reignited and it feels so good: Second-half effort carries QHS soccer team to WB6 victory

United Township defender David Nelson, left, clears the ball before Quincy High School's Evan Sohn can challenge him during the first half of Tuesday's Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Garrick Homan whole-heartedly believes effort and intensity can be contagious. So he’s embraced the role of human dynamo off the bench for the Quincy High School boys soccer team. “I want to be that positive spark to keep everyone up and reignite us,” Homan said. Tuesday night, with the Blue Devils trailing United…

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QHS girls sweep doubles matches, fend off QND in singles to capture crosstown dual

Quincy High School's Lily Hayes hands two tennis balls to her sister, Phoebe, prior to the start of their No. 1 doubles match against Quincy Notre Dame's Evie Schuetz and Addi Zanger during Monday's dual at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles matches having wrapped up and the Quincy High School girls tennis team winning both, twin sisters Lily and Phoebe Hayes understood they could put the Blue Devils in prime position to win Monday’s dual match if they could survive. Their resiliency took the pressure off in…

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College football notebook: Brock hits 100-yard mark, Personett and Boyer contribute to Scots’ blowout, Griffith scores TD for Bulldogs

Former Quincy High School all-stater Jirehl Brock looks for running room during Saturday's game against Iowa. The Iowa State junior running back finished with 100 yards rushing in the Cyclones' 10-7 victory in Iowa City, Iowa. | Photo courtesy Roy Dabner

QUINCY — For the first time since Jirehl Brock stepped on the Iowa State University campus and the first time in Matt Campbell’s coaching tenure, the Iowa State football team took the Cy-Hawk Trophy back to Ames. Saturday’s 10-7 victory over Iowa at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, ended the Hawkeyes’ six-game win streak…

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QHS tennis team sweeps away Jacksonville to stay undefeated in duals

Quincy High School's Lily Hayes returns a shot during her No. 1 singles match against Jacksonville's Rachel Lay on Thursday at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls tennis team wanted to make sure it remained primed for some challenging and entertaining duals looming in the coming weeks. Sweeping away Jacksonville on Thursday afternoon did the trick. The Blue Devils lost only eight games total, winning 9-0 as four singles players and one doubles team didn’t…

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QHS girls tennis team showcases depth with singles, doubles titles at Moline Invite

The Quincy High School girls tennis team finished first in the Moline Invitational after winning titles at No. 2 singles and doubles. | Submitted photo

MOLINE, Ill. — Friday’s dual match victory over Moline gave the Quincy High School girls tennis team some welcome momentum heading into Saturday’s Moline Invitational. The Blue Devils used it to seize the day. Quincy won championships at No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles and shared first place at No. 1 doubles when rain…

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Playground bullies: Blue Devils dominate Redbirds up front to open season with back-to-back victories

The Quincy High School football team breaks through the cheerleaders' banner during pregame ceremonies Friday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy High School senior Gregory Quince wasn’t too surprised to see the Blue Devils bully Alton on Friday night at Flinn Stadium. “We watched film and our defensive line and offensive line were really looking forward to the game,” the QHS wide receiver/defensive back said. The big guys up front on both sides…

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Connection to history: Evans sets up Anderson for record-breaking, game-winning goal in crosstown showdown

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Tanner Anderson, left, reacts to scoring the first of his three goals Thursday night in a 4-3 victory over Quincy High School at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Consider it intuition or a sixth sense if you will, but some sort of extrasensory perception enables Brock Evans to know where, when and how to get Tanner Anderson the ball. “Every time Tanner yells, I know where he’s going to be even if I don’t see him,” the Quincy Notre Dame senior…

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Photo gallery: QND beats QHS in first of two crosstown showdowns

The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer players await a corner kick during the first half of their crosstown showdown at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The first crosstown showdown of the fall provided the intrigue and competitive grit that has made the Quincy High School vs. Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer rivalry so intense for the better part of the last four decades. The Raiders won 4-3 on Tanner Anderson’s goal with four minutes remaining in regulation at…

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Raiders win Early Bird Tournament title, while Blue Devils find footing after two tough losses

Quincy High School libero Carley Owsley reacts to winning a point in a pool play match against Kirksville during Saturday's Early Bird Tournament at the QHS gym.

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team refused to be denied, while the Quincy High School squad got over the hump. That made the day-long QHS Early Bird Invitational Tournament a success on all fronts. The Raiders swept five consecutive matches and overcame a five-point deficit in the second set of the title match…

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Raiders finish weekend undefeated, capture championship of own soccer tournament

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Tanner Anderson, left, looks to distribute during Saturday morning's game against United Township in the 33rd annual QND/Quincy Recycle Tournament at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The tournament bookends defensively might not have been ideal, but the persistence and aggressiveness with which the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team attacked in between those moments led to a championship effort. The Raiders finished 3-0 and won the title of the 33rd annual QND/Quincy Recycle Tournament at Advance Physical Therapy Field,…

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Raiders, Blue Devils open play in QND/Quincy Recycle Tournament with victories

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Tanner Anderson, left, congratulates freshman forward Cole Henkenmeier on his first career goal, scored late in the first half of Friday's 5-2 victory over Ladue Horton Watkins at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team was forced to show some wherewithal to survive its opening game in the QND/Quincy Recycle Tournament at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Trailing Ladue Horton Watkins 2-1 after Rams junior forward Dailyn Tate scored twice, the Raiders tied the game 11 minutes before halftime and scored four…

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Twice is nice for Rice: Sophomore tailback scores two TDs to lead QHS past QND in season opener

Quincy High School sophomore tailback Jeraius Rice, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Bradyn Little to cap a 21-13 victory over Quincy Notre Dame on Friday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Jeraius Rice plopped himself down at midfield Friday night, looking as happy as someone seeing their first snow.  Rice and several of his Quincy High School football teammates made “snow angels” at Advanced Physical Therapy Field to celebrate the Blue Devils’ 21-13 victory over crosstown rival Quincy Notre Dame. Rice, a sophomore tailback,…

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Schuckman: Crowd, atmosphere elevate QHS-QND rivalry game to community celebration

The Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School football teams went head-to-head in a game that brought the community together for a celebration of football. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Steady play leads Liberty’s Arnold to second-place finish at Quincy Invitational

Quincy High School's Gabriel Gold hits out of the greenside bunker on the 15th hole at Westview Golf Course during Saturday's 73rd annual Quincy Invitational. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Blake Arnold has figured out how to eliminate the chaos, keep things simple and avoid the kind of mistakes that can derail a solid round of golf. Only one player was better at it Saturday. Springfield’s Peyton Woods shot 1-under on both nines at Westview Golf Course to post a 2-under 69 and…

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Golf roundup: Saukees win own invitational, Blue Devils third in loaded field, Bombers take second

The Pittsfield boys golf team captured the championship of the Pittsfield Invitational on Saturday at Old Orchard Country Club. | Submitted photo

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Pittsfield boys golf team took advantage of playing on its home course Saturday, posting three scores in the 80s to capture the team championship of the Pittsfield Invitational at Old Orchard Country Club. The Saukees shot a 345, followed by Illini West at 351 and Rushville-Industry at 381. Illini West’s Nolan…

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Craven leads QND boys golf team to victory in quadrangular at Spring Lake Country Club

Quincy High School's Andrew Keane hits his approach shot to the first green at Spring Lake Country Club during Saturday's quadrangular. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Blustery conditions beneath a bright sun turned Spring Lake Country Club’s 18-hole golf course into a challenging track Saturday afternoon. Quincy Notre Dame’s Konnor Craven posted his second straight solid round, shooting a 2-over 74 to earn medalist honors in a quadrangular in which only three golfers broke 80. The Raiders won the…

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Blue Devils look to be patient, yet aggressive in attacking third to generate more offense

From left to right, Quincy High School's Carter Venvertloh, Boen Brockmiller and Trace Routh battle for possession during practice Wednesday at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — While watching his older brothers enjoy stellar high school soccer careers, Carter Venvertloh dreamed of the moment he’d be front and center in Quincy High School’s attack. That time is now. A four-year varsity player who was an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-sectional selection as a junior, Venvertloh has watched the…

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Johnson saves best for last, earns NCAA Division I All-American honors in process

Iowa sophomore Jordan Johnson, a two-time state champion at Quincy High School, unleashes a throw Friday at the NCAA Division I outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Ore. Photo courtesy Stephen Mally, University of Iowa

QUINCY — University of Minnesota thrower Kaleb Siekmeier’s reaction to Jordan Johnson’s throw made the Quincy native do a double take. Following his final throw in the discus at the NCAA Division I outdoor track and field championships last Friday in Eugene, Ore., Johnson watched the scoreboard for his distance and was admittedly slightly disappointed…

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QND lands three juniors on girls soccer all-sectional list, two QHS sophomores earn spots

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Lia Quintero received all-sectional honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The front-to-back, middle-of-the-field trio that carried the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team to a state championship earned some worthy postseason honors. So did Quincy High School’s dangerous sophomore connection. Raiders forward Lia Quintero, midfielder Avery Keck and sweeper Eva Dickerman — they are all juniors — received all-sectional plaudits from the Illinois…

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Search for right fit leads QHS all-stater Talton to JWCC to continue basketball career

Quincy High School's Jeremiah Talton, right, signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to play basketball at John Wood Community College. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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QHS’s Talton de-commits from University of New Orleans, seeks ‘place that really, really fits me’

Quincy High School senior swingman Jeremiah Talton, right, received a release from his national letter of intent with the University of New Orleans and is in the process of selecting a new college home. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The lure of an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship led Jeremiah Talton to make a hasty decision. He vows not to make the same mistake twice. The Quincy High School all-state swingman and Muddy River Sports Player of the Year received a release from his national letter of intent with the University of…

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Jetting to a state title: QHS’s Rose wins 200-meter dash at Class 3A state championship

Quincy High School's Jettason Rose stays ahead of Thornton Fractional South's Ryan Coleman in the 200-meter dash finals during the Class 3A boys state track and field championships at O’Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks/PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Jettason Rose fulfilled the promise of his name. The Quincy High School sprinter became the ninth individual state track and field champion in school history Saturday, jetting past the field to win the 200-meter dash at the Class 3A state championships at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium. Rose finished in 22.04 seconds,…

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Edwardsville’s powerful lineup knocks QHS baseball team out in regional championship game

Quincy High School's Connor Schwindeler reacts to a play during the Class 4A Alton Regional championship game against Edwardsville. | Photo courtesy Matt Kamp

ALTON, Ill. — Powered by the top three hitters in its lineup, the Edwardsville baseball team outmuscled Quincy High School in Saturday’s Class 4A Alton Regional championship. Grant Huebner, Spencer Stearns and Riley Iffrig went a combined 8 for 11 with two home runs, three doubles and six RBIs to send the top-seeded Tigers to…

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Rose jets way into state track finals, posts top preliminary time in 200-meter dash

Quincy High School's Jettason Rose leads the field to the finish line in his Class 3A 200-meter dash preliminary heat Friday during the Class 3A boys state track and field championships in Charleston, Ill. | Photo courtesy Chris Johns/PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Jettason Rose is in prime position to finish his prep track career on top of the podium. The Quincy High School senior sprinter posted the fastest time in the preliminaries of the 200-meter dash during the Class 3A boys state track and field championships Friday at O’Brien Stadium on the Eastern Illinois…

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Blue Devils’ Schroeder doesn’t wait until seventh to deliver game-winning RBI single

ALTON, Mo. — Walk-off Joe didn’t get the opportunity to end the Quincy High School baseball team’s regional victory in heroic fashion So junior second baseman Joe Schroeder settled for a game-winning hit an inning earlier. Following Noah Harbin’s two-out triple in the sixth inning of Thursday’s Class 4A Alton Regional semifinal at Lloyd Hopkins…

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Success on pitch, baseball diamond leads to All-WB6 honors for Blue Devils

The Quincy High School girls soccer team won the Western Big 6 Conference championship with a 7-0 record and placed 10 players on the All-WB6 teams. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — To the winner go the spoils. So it’s only fitting the Quincy High School girls soccer team landed the most players of any program on the All-Western Big 6 Conference teams. The Blue Devils placed three on the first team, two on the second team and five on honorable mention after they went…

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QHS’s Schuering reaches final in 800, will run twice on final day of state track championships

Quincy High School's Anna Schuering competes in the 800-meter run during Friday’s preliminaries at the Class 3A girls state track and field championships in Charleston, Ill. Photo courtesy Clark Brooks/PhotoNews Media

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Anna Schuering’s celebrated cross country and track career will end with two races on the final day of the season. The Quincy High School senior deserves that last hurrah. Schuering qualified for the 800-meter finals at the Class 3A state track and field championships Friday at O’Brien Stadium on the Eastern Illinois…

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Walk-off Joe delivers again as QHS baseball team earns WB6 split with Galesburg

Quincy High School's Joe Schroeder delivered a walk-off single in the ninth inning Tuesday in a 6-5 victory over Galesburg in the first game of a Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader at the QHS field. Matt Schuckman file photo

QUINCY — That boy’s just a walk-off Joe. For the second time in Western Big 6 Conference play, Quincy High School junior Joe Schroeder delivered a walk-off hit, this one coming in the ninth inning of the QHS baseball team’s 6-5 victory over Galesburg in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday at the QHS…

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Second-half goal pushes Edwardsville past Quincy in Class 3A regional semifinals

Quincy High School junior Anna Morrison, right, pushes the ball forward against Edwardsville during Tuesday's Class 3A Collinsville Regional semifinal at Kahok Stadium. Photo courtesy Matt Kamp

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — As the scoring chances continued to pile up despite no change in the scoreboard, Edwardsville freshman Mea Hook said the team wasn’t panicking. “It wasn’t frustrating. We weren’t mad about it. It was more aggravating,” Hook said. The aggravation turned to celebration when Hook scored the game’s lone goal in the 53rd…

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