Quincy swimmers earn medals at sectional championships

From left to right, Brooklyn Biggs, Emily Strieker and Maggie Mahoney show off the medals they won Saturday at the IHSA sectional championships in East Moline, Ill. Submitted photo

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…

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Anderson adds to QND soccer program’s string of consecutive all-state selections

Quincy Notre Dame junior forward Tanner Anderson, right, is the Raiders' eighth straight all-state selection. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Tanner Anderson’s goal-scoring prowess is rivaling that of the greatest finishers in the history of the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer program, including that of his other brother, Seth. The accolades he is receiving are quite similar, too. The junior forward led a cavalcade of Quincy products receiving honors this fall from the…

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Class 4A playoff preview: QND hopes to set tone defensively against Civic Memorial

Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell and the Raiders will face Bethalto Civic Memorial in the Class 4A playoff opener Friday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Photo courtesy Brendan Saak

QUINCY — Swipe. Score. Celebrate. It’s a recipe for success the Quincy Notre Dame football team has discovered works wonders. Having gone 6-3 in the regular season and earned a Class 4A first-round home playoff game, the Raiders understand their defense creates opportunities. In the six victories, QND has scored its first touchdown off a…

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Raiders show composure in face of adversity, capture regional title

The Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball team won the Class 2A Illini West Regional championship Thursday night by defeating Illini West in three sets. Photo courtesy Ben Marth

CARTHAGE, Ill. — The atmosphere generated by the Illini West faithful was something only a select few of the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players have ever experienced. Rarely have the Raiders faced a do-or-die situation as well. The top-seeded team in the Class 2A Illini West Regional proved capable of handling anything thrown its way.…

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‘The minute they take him away, you’re scared as hell’: Cranial surgery as infant doesn’t keep QND’s Lavery from game he loves

Quincy Notre Dame senior quarterback Calvin Lavery throws a pass during a regular-season game at Breese Mater Dei. | Photo courtesy of Paul Halfacre

QUINCY — Calvin Lavery didn’t realize the mistake soon enough. Having walked into a styling center for a haircut, he requested the stylist use an electric razor guard that would take off enough for a stylish look but not too much that he appeared to have shaved his head. The wrong guard was applied, and…

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IHSA football playoff pairings: Central earns No. 1 seed in Class 1A, QND receives home game to open Class 4A bracket

The Central football team is the No. 1 seed in its half of the Class 1A playoff bracket for the first time in program history. Photo courtesy Scott Bemis

QUINCY — Dylan Dickhut’s historical research uncovered a unique fact about the Central football program. The Panthers have never been a No. 1 seed in a playoff bracket, not even when finishing the regular season undefeated. Saturday night, history changed. Central drew the No. 1 seed in the Class 1A south bracket according to the…

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Poise carries QND’s Quintero to two victories at state tennis tournament

Quincy Notre Dame junior Lia Quintero went 2-1 on the first day of the Class 1A girls state tennis tournament in Arlington Heights, Ill. Submitted photo

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Lia Quintero needed composure and conviction as much as she did her powerful forehand to survive the first day of the Class 1A girls state tennis tournament. The Quincy Notre Dame junior showcased it all. Opening the singles draw against ninth-seeded Jocelyn Carmody of Troy Triad, Quintero scored an upset in…

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Raiders’ Quintero reboots mission with another state tennis tournament berth

Quincy Notre Dame's Lia Quintero serves in match against Hannibal earlier this season. The junior is making another appearance at the Class 1A state tournament beginning Thursday in the Chicagoland area. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — Lia Quintero’s mission is to leave her mark, and she’s OK if it comes with an asterisk. The Quincy Notre Dame junior set a goal coming into high school to be a four-time qualifier for the girls state tennis tournament, an effort that seemed doable after going 2-2 at the Class 1A state…

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Aggressive attack carries Raiders into sectional title game against Trojans

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — The effort in the two regional victories couldn’t be considered lackluster, but the pin-the-defense-back-with-an-all-out-attack seemed to be absent. Tuesday night, the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team brought it back to life. The Raiders scored three first-half goals, consistently applied pressure on the Somonauk goal and headed home with a 4-0 victory…

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Raiders get on same page, ignore distractions to sweep Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame's Lilly Marth digs a shot from Quincy High School during Tuesday night's match at the Pit. The Raiders won 25-18, 25-16.

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…

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With another regional title won, Raiders focus on preparing for sectional field

Quincy Notre Dame forward Tanner Anderson, center, drives into the penalty area during Saturday's Class 1A regional championship game against Monmouth-Roseville at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The regional reign continues. Sectional success should be a bit more challenging. To ensure the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer players are ready for whatever lies ahead in the Class 1A Chillicothe IVC Sectional, Raiders coach Greg Reis will hold practice on the grass fields to the east of the Boots Bush baseball…

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Raiders overwhelm Warriors to end three-game skid, become eligible for playoffs

Quincy Notre Dame's Jackson Stratton, left, celebrates his 7-yard touchdown run in the third quarter with linemen Isaac Hinkamper, center, and Wilson Henning, right, as the Raiders rolled to a 49-7 victory over Granite City. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Troy Cornell is off the schneid. The Quincy Notre Dame football team is, too. For the first time since his birth on September 22, the infant son of Raiders coach Jack Cornell witnessed QND set the tone with takeaways on special teams and defense, buckle down offensively in the second half and end…

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Example to follow: Raiders’ Kasparie provides blueprint for teammates on how to become playmaker

Quincy Notre Dame’s Ben Kasparie attempts to stiff arm a Breese Mater Dei defender during a game earlier this season in Breese, Ill. Photo courtesy Paul Halfacre

QUINCY — Ben Kasparie has been in every younger teammate’s shoes. It’s why he is cognizant of how his actions are perceived. “There’s a lot more pressure on me,” said Kasparie, the Quincy Notre Dame senior running back/linebacker who is a four-year starter and a mentor for players like Ben Schwartz, a sophomore starting on…

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Knuffman, Eftink enjoy season’s final round with solid scores at state tournament

Quincy Notre Dame girls golf coach Jason Knuffman talks with Raiders junior Blair Eftink during Saturday’s second round of the Class 1A state tournament at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur, Ill. Photo courtesy Douglas Cottle/PhotoNews

DECATUR, Ill. — Hana Knuffman and Blair Eftink said adios to the pressure and hello to the simple beauty of golf. Tee it up. Drive it. Find the green. Roll it in the cup. Then do it 17 more times without worrying about the score, the leaderboard or the end result. That’s how the two…

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Eftink’s series of pars, Knuffman’s steady play key to making cut at state golf tourney

Quincy Notre Dame’s Blair Eftink tees off during the first round of the Class 1A girls state golf tournament Friday at Red Tail Run Golf Course in Decatur, Ill. Photo courtesy Douglas Cottle/PhotoNews

DECATUR, Ill. — Blair Eftink’s double bogey on the first hole after making the turn Friday put her chances of surviving to play the second round of the Class 1A state golf tournament in limbo. A series of pars changed everything. Eftink rolled in par putts on six of her final eight holes, including four…

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Cann-do attitude: Sophomore’s goal boosts Raiders to victory over Blue Devils in city series

Quincy Notre Dame's Leo Cann, left, and Brock Evans, center, celebrate after Cann scored in the 23rd minute Thursday night to propel the Raiders to a 1-0 victory over Quincy High School at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Raiders use in-season experience to prep them for fight to reach state tournament

Quincy Notre Dame senior golfer Hana Knuffman Submitted photo

AUBURN, Ill. — There’s a benefit to playing a schedule chock full of talented opponents. The Quincy Notre Dame girls golfers are realizing that. The regular-season setbacks suffered against Quincy High School and Macomb — teams that won regional championships and are sending golfers to their respective state tournaments — prepped the Raiders to be…

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Game 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…

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Raiders defend WCC championship, while Eagles’ Arnold goes low to win individual crown

The Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team shot its second-lowest team score of the season with a 325 and defended its West Central Conference championship. Photo courtesy Kristina Thompson

QUINCY — The challenges the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team’s lineup faced early in the season due to COVID-19 quarantines and procedures have finally passed. Now, the Raiders seem to be hitting their stride at the perfect time. Blake Arnold does, too. QND defended its West Central Conference championship, posting its second-best team score…

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Blue Devils score equalizer, lock down defensively to forge tie with Raiders

From left to right, Quincy High School's Jensen Stiles, Carter Venvertloh, Boen Brockmiller and Jackson Richmiller celebrate after Venvertloh set up Brockmiller's game-tying goal in the 65th minute. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Raiders rally to forge tie, show resolve necessary to overcome anything

Quincy Notre Dame's Quinton Hankins, left, looks on after the Raiders' Logan Zanger was pushed down by the Gateway Legacy Christian Academy goalkeeper while lining up for a corner kick during Wednesday's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The memories from the five-goal outburst the Gateway Legacy Christian Academy boys soccer team enjoyed against what had been an otherwise impenetrable Quincy Notre Dame defense back in the spring remained fresh. So fresh, in fact, the Raiders felt like underdogs even in their own hallways. “A lot of people counted us out…

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State football rankings: QND, Brown County move up, Central cracks top 10

The Quincy Notre Dame football team moved up to No. 4 in the Class 4A state football poll this week. Matt Schuckman photo

Here are the Illinois high school football state rankings, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters and compiled by the Associated Press. The rankings were released Tuesday afternoon: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Gurnee Warren (7) (1-0) 79 1 2. Lincoln-Way East (1) (1-0) 72 2 3. Chicago (Marist) (1-0) 62 3…

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Crosstown showdown notebook: Lavery solid in debut as Raiders’ quarterback

The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame football teams opened their seasons against each other for the first time since 1985 on Friday night at Flinn Stadium. Brendan Saak photo

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…

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Something special happening here: Raiders turn tide with big plays in kicking game against Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell, left, celebrates with senior wide receiver Zach Friedersdorf after a 6-yard touchdown reception gave the Raiders a 24-0 lead over Quincy High School on Friday night at Flinn Stadium. Brendan Saak photo

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.…

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Quincy coaches remain coy about who starts at QB ahead of Friday’s showdown

Quincy Notre Dame senior quarterback Calvin Lavery and his teammates go through post-practice stretches at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Scoreboard 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…

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Championship aspirations continue to be driving force for Raiders

Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell talks to his players during a preseason practice at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame football team’s state semifinal berth in 2019 led to an offseason of believing a state championship was within reach if not the Raiders’ destiny. “And then COVID,” linebacker Elliott Maas said. The pandemic led to the 2020 fall season morphing into a six-game spring season with no playoffs. Those…

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Competitive atmosphere makes Raiders work to earn playing time

Quincy Notre Dame's Laela Hernandez-Jones, left, and Faith Kientzle go through stretching exercises with the rest of the volleyball team prior to Monday's practice. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The atmosphere appeals to Courtney Kvitle’s competitive nature. She hopes it brings out the best in the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players, too. Since the Raiders first entered the gym August 9 to begin preparing for Wednesday’s season opener in Mendon against Unity, Kvitle has seen nothing but relentless effort and spirited play,…

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Scoreboard 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…

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Scoreboard for Saturday, August 21

Girls Golf Alton Marquette Blastoff Invite at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course Quincy Notre Dame finished 10th in the 18-team event with a 383. Alton Marquette won the team title with a 313. QND’s Hana Knuffman finished 12th individually with an 85. Blair Eftink shot a 92. Women’s Volleyball At the UW Sports Factory, Rockford,…

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Raiders still chasing history as seniors look to bookend careers with state championships

Quincy Notre Dame senior wing defender Cayge Hughes brings experience and tenacity to a team that believes it can be a state title contender. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Cayge Hughes is quite confident had the coronavirus pandemic not altered the Illinois high school sports landscape last year the seniors on the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team would be staring down history. In a way, the Raiders still are. QND will kick off its season in less than a week with…

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Scoreboard for Monday, August 16

Boys Golf Peoria Notre Dame Invitational At Kellogg Golf Course, Peoria Macomb wins with a 305 team score. Connor Hamm leads the Bombers with a 71. Quincy Notre Dame finishes 10th at 330. Ross Thompson leads the Raiders with a 14th-place finish and Colin Larson finishes 18th, both making the all-tournament team. Girls Golf At…

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Schuckman: Heat, humidity and return to normal highlight opening of prep practices

Quincy High School football coach Rick Little, center, talks to his players during a water break during Monday's practice at Flinn Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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