Posts Tagged ‘Quincy Notre Dame’
Raiders’ ability to deliver quick strikes ensures Huskers never gain traction in efforts to rally
MENDOTA, Ill. — For a fleeting moment in both halves of Wednesday night’s Class 1A Mendota Sectional semifinal, the Serena boys soccer team saw a glimmer of hope. Quincy Notre Dame extinguished it each time before it ever got bright. The Husker trailed 2-0 nine minutes into the game, but a counterattack allowed them to…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Quincy Notre Dame vs. Serena in Class 1A Mendota Sectional semifinals
MENDOTA, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team looked like the team to beat in the Class 1A Mendota Sectional on Wednesday night, dispatching Serena 9-2 in the sectional semifinals. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman made the four-hour trek to Mendota to capture images of the Raiders’ third postseason victory. Check out…
Read MoreFront to back: Hoyt, Kurk transition to defensive stalwarts to bolster QND soccer team
QUINCY — Jake Hoyt doesn’t have an explanation for how he ended up in such unfamiliar territory. “Honestly, I still really don’t know,” the senior said of being moved from forward to center back to fill a void in the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team’s defense. There’s really only one viable reason. A master…
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue Devils, Raiders achieve desired outcome as Quincy won, breast cancer lost during ‘Volley for a Cure’
QUINCY — The outcome matters. It has to, otherwise the sweat equity put into practice and the commitment to be at your best wouldn’t matter so much. Still, there are nights where the final score takes on secondary importance, where winners aren’t determined solely by the numbers on a scoreboard but more by the integrity,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Quincy High School faces Quincy Notre Dame in girls volleyball
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…
Read MoreQND’s Schuetz reaches final four in singles at sectional, earns berth in state tennis tourney
QUINCY — Evie Schuetz’s leadership proved invaluable for the Quincy Notre Dame girls tennis team throughout the fall. Her persistence and preparation is why the fall season isn’t over just yet. The QND senior earned a spot in the Class 1A state tournament, finishing fourth in singles in the QND Sectional on Saturday at the…
Read MoreAnderson, QND seniors put stamp on home career with six-goal victory in Class 1A regional title tilt
QUINCY — Spending the final home game of a bally-hooed prep soccer career watching from the sideline had zero appeal for Tanner Anderson. So he rested, rehabbed and readied his aching hip in order to be available Friday night. The senior striker made sure he was more than just available, too. Anderson scored twice in…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, Roanoke-Benson advance to Class 1A boys regional championship game
QUINCY — Leo Cann didn’t give the Abingdon-Avon boys soccer team the chance to get settled. If Quincy Notre Dame can do the same thing to Roanoke-Benson come Friday night, another regional championship should be added the Raiders’ treasure trove of titles. Cann, the junior forward, scored less than three minutes into Tuesday’s regional semifinal…
Read MoreRaiders’ Knuffman, Blue Devils’ Gold and Geisendorfer all finish strong at state golf tourney
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…
Read MoreQND girls golf team misses cut by two strokes, two QHS golfers sit in top 35
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…
Read MoreTorturous four-hole stretch keeps QND boys golf team from making cut at Class 2A state tourney
NORMAL, Ill. — Nine holes into the Class 2A state tournament, the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team found itself in the thick of the chase. The Raiders’ top four golfers each posted a 4-over 39 playing holes 10-18, leaving them in fifth place in the 12-team field and in good position to make the…
Read MoreRaiders to face win-to-be-in scenario in final two weeks following Homecoming loss to Wildcats
QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell didn’t need to be told that it’s do-or-die time for his Raiders. If the Raiders are to continue their season into the IHSA playoffs, they’ll need to win their final two regular-season games after suffering a 17-0 Homecoming loss to Normal West on Friday night at…
Read MoreSchuckman: By keeping the faith and trusting his game, Thompson guides QND golfers back to state stage
QUINCY — Golf can humble you. Infuriate you. Exasperate you. Baffle you. And if you let it, the game can break your spirit. Ross Thompson wouldn’t allow that to happen. A freshman when he made the six-man lineup in 2019 and was part of the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team’s second-place state finish, Thompson…
Read MoreFit to be tied: QHS, QND dig in defensively as boys soccer showdown ends in scoreless draw
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Quincy High School vs. Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer at Flinn Stadium
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…
Read MorePrelude to a rematch? Macomb volleyball team beats QND in three-set thriller between sectional foes
QUINCY — With her Macomb High School classmates milling around and her Bomber volleyball teammates screaming in the background, senior outside hitter Kennedy Adair tried to sum up Wednesday night’s three-set victory over Quincy Notre Dame. “That was amazing,” a smiling Adair said after the Bombers survived a 25-17, 17-25, 25-23 thriller at The Pit.…
Read MoreRaiders, Bombers take care of business ahead of showdown between top Class 2A volleyball teams
QUINCY — Looking forward could have meant falling behind. The Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb girls volleyball teams both faced that scenario Tuesday. Both handled it with aplomb. The Raiders dispatched Southeastern 25-13, 25-15 at The Pit, while the Bombers put away Havana 25-17, 25-23 at the Washington Street Gym. Now, both squads can turn…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND girls tennis team square off at Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park
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:
Read MoreCrosstown showdown gives QHS girls tennis team boost heading into conference tournament
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…
Read MoreEftink leads charge as QND girls golf team captures program’s first sectional championship
LINCOLN, Ill. — The Illinois High School Association’s decision to use the iWanamaker scoring app for postseason golf events took some of the suspense away as the Quincy Notre Dame girls chased a sectional title Monday. However, it did little to diminish the Raiders’ joy. QND posted a 360 team score in the Class 1A…
Read MoreStrong closing nine enables QND boys golf to climb into top three, return to state tournament
BARTONVILLE, Ill. — The regional of death, as Quincy Notre Dame boys golf coach Brian Hendrian liked to call it, morphed into a sadistic sectional Monday at Coyote Creek Golf Course. Experience and depth led to the Raiders surviving both. But it wasn’t without some worry. “To be completely honest, when we made the turn,…
Read MoreSchuering beats Neisen to finish line in neck-and-neck race at Tom Oakley Invitational
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…
Read MoreMahomet-Seymour clamps down on QND, despite Raiders’ ability to create turnovers
MAHOMET, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame football team’s initial offensive possession Friday night ended with Deakon Schuette’s 37-yard field goal, but it showed the Raiders could move the ball against state-ranked Mahomet-Seymour. That was a fleeting feeling. Despite a defensive effort that forced five turnovers and scored a defensive touchdown, the Raiders weren’t able…
Read MoreThe Rundown: QND wins at Great River Classic, two homers carry Canton, Illini West cruises
The fall slate of postseason events is underway, but that doesn’t mean the action is simmering down. Here is a look at the highlights from Thursday’s action: • Cole Henkenmeier scored off a Colin Kurk assist in the first half as the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team beat Normal U-High 2-0 in the opening…
Read MoreBoudreau’s career-low round helps QND girls golf team capture third consecutive regional crown
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Hana Knuffman understands the Quincy Notre Dame girls golf team doesn’t have to rely on the same golfers day in and day out to post competitive scores. It’s the kind of depth that makes postseason success possible. “We have really good chemistry with each other, which makes it that we know…
Read More‘Nail-biting scenario’: QND boys golf team sweats out tense finish, advances to Class 2A sectionals
FORSYTH, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys golfers realized circumstances seemed bleak. “We didn’t have a hot front nine,” senior Colin Larson said following Wednesday’s Class 2A Maroa-Forsyth Regional at Hickory Point Golf Course. “We definitely did not start off strong. On or about the 12th or 13th hole, we were four shots back…
Read MoreQND volleyball seniors make sure to put outcome of match first on night they are feted
QUINCY — Everything about Senior Night is designed to bring out emotion. The swelling pride of parents. The camaraderie of classmates. The realization the end is near. It tends to make the game — no matter the sport — a secondary component to everything else. Wednesday night at The Pit, the six seniors on the…
Read MoreQND girls golf team captures back-to-back WCC championships
HAMILTON, Ill. — Back-to-back has a nice ring to it. The Quincy Notre Dame girls golf team won its second consecutive West Central Conference championship Monday at Deer Run Golf Course, placing all six golfers in the top 10 and winning by nearly 100 strokes. The Raiders posted a 386 team total. Rushville-Industry was second…
Read MoreHomecoming weekend: QND soccer products relish return to Gem City as part of Maryville program
QUINCY — As the charter bus navigated the Gem City streets while delivering the Maryville women’s soccer team to its hotel, Erin Barnes had a surreal realization. She had come home, but she wasn’t going home. “It’s one of those things where I’m like, ‘I should be going to my parents’ house or Notre Dame…
Read MoreCross country roundup: Liberty’s Neisen runs among top contenders at Spartan Invitational
ST. JOSEPH, Ill. — In a field of 140 cross country runners, mostly from the Champaign-Urbana area, Liberty junior Ariana Neisen proved yet again she belongs in the lead pack. Neisen finished third individually, posting a time of 17 minutes, 41.47 seconds at the Spartan Invitational hosted by St. Joseph-Ogden. Tolono Unity junior Erica Woodard…
Read MoreGolf roundup: QND boys use title at Galesburg as springboard into postseason
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…
Read MoreSecond-half defensive effort gets QND football team back on track with victory over Mater Dei
QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame senior Wilson Henning has sensed a trend so far this season. “We’ve played well in the first half, but in the second half, we are just gassed out,” the Raiders offensive lineman said. Friday night’s rivalry game with Breese Mater Dei looked as if it might go down the same…
Read MoreBlockbusters: Improved play at net makes Raiders tougher defensively in sweep of Chargers
QUINCY — Ali Entrup’s reaction spoke volumes. Her play at the net resonated even louder. During a tug-o-war portion of the first set Thursday night against Illini West at The Pit, the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team’s senior right side hitter stuffed a Chargers attack, giving the Raiders the point, the serve and the momentum.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND and Illini West square off in volleyball at The Pit
QUINCY — Here is a look at the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team’s 25-15, 25-18 victory over Illini West on Thursday night at The Pit through the camera lens of Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman:
Read MoreHome-course advantage: QND boys golf team navigates Westview with precision in winning WCC championship
QUINCY — The weather-related damage to Arrowhead Heights Golf Course that forced the West Central Conference boys golf tournament to be moved to Westview Golf Course proved to be a boon for Quincy Notre Dame. It was an unfortunate circumstance for everyone else. The Raiders took advantage of playing their home course Wednesday, posting five…
Read MorePhoto gallery: West Central Conference boys golf tournament at Westview Golf Course
QUINCY — Take a look at the action from the West Central Conference boys golf tournament, held Wednesday afternoon at Westview Golf Course, through the camera lens of Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman:
Read MoreThe Rundown: QND soccer beats SHG, Unity and Macomb volleyball sweep, Miller tosses one-hitter
Check out the news and notes from a busy Tuesday on the prep sports scene … • Trailing an unbeaten opponent by a goal midway through the first half, the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team trusted in its attack to adequately answer. The Raiders roared back for a 4-1 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin…
Read MoreQND volleyball team uses quality finishing touches to sweep Hannibal
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Playing a best-of-three or best-of-five series doesn’t seem to matter to the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team. The Raiders are dominant either way. QND rolled into Korf Gym on Tuesday night and swept Hannibal 25-17, 25-19, 25-12. Illinois teams play best-of-three series, while Missouri schools play best-of-five. Since the Raiders (18-1) traveled…
Read MoreStrong closing stretch carries ISU’s McCulla to best collegiate finish
CINCINNATI — Consistency carried Alex McCulla to the best finish of his collegiate career. The Quincy Notre Dame graduate played the final 10 holes of the Bearcat Invitational at Coldstream Country Club in 3-under par, helping the Illinois State University men’s golf team finish fourth in a talented field while McCulla tied for second individually.…
Read MoreQND girls golfers defend title at Kirksville, while Hannibal finishes third
KIRKSVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls golf team is priming itself for the postseason. Tuesday, the Raiders recorded a pair of personal-best 18-hole scores and successfully defended their championship of the Kirksville Invitational, shooting a 345 at Kirksville Country Club. Kirksville finished second at 376 and Hannibal was third at 391. Palmyra tied…
Read MoreCarmean’s career low round helps QHS girls capture Macomb Invitational title
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…
Read MoreIf you’re happy and you know it: QND volleyball players’ enjoyment shows in dominant results
QUINCY — The Pit is their happy place. To see how true that is, take a gander at the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players during warmups or pregame introductions. Smiles and laughter overtake everyone. “We love to be here,” senior outside hitter Laela Hernandez-Jones said. “We love games. We love getting to perform what we’re…
Read MoreQND searching for replacement after Hayti forfeits Saturday’s scheduled football game
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame football players were engaged in their pre-practice team meeting and watching game film when Raiders coach Jack Cornell interrupted everything with some disheartening news. Saturday’s opponent — Hayti, a Class 1 school from the Missouri bootheel with an enrollment of 260 students — was forfeiting. “Silent,” senior running back…
Read MorePicture-perfect setting turns into stellar times, performances at Running Raider Invitational
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.…
Read MoreQHS girls sweep doubles matches, fend off QND in singles to capture crosstown dual
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…
Read MoreCross country roundup: Hannibal boys, girls sweep team, individual titles at Palmyra Invitational
PALMYRA, Mo. — The Hannibal boys cross country team placed three runners in the top four individually and ran away with the team title Saturday in the Palmyra Invitational at Flower City Park. Hannibal also won the girls team title. Pirates senior Cameron Nichols rolled to a nearly 30-second victory, finishing the 3.11-mile course in…
Read MoreLand of missed opportunity: QND football team squanders scoring chances, falls to Chicago Hope
QUINCY — A progression of missed opportunities Saturday afternoon left the Quincy Notre Dame football players equally perturbed and perplexed by their mistakes. The best explanation the Raiders could summon was a failure to execute. “In all phases of the game, it really just comes down to execution, effort and technique,” said Dalton Miller, the…
Read MoreQND volleyball team rebounds after semifinal setback, sweeps Limestone in third-place match
LINCOLN, Ill. — The mark of a championship-caliber team is the ability to take a punch and come back swinging. The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team won’t ever stay down for the count. The Raiders saw a 14-match win streak get snapped in the semifinals of the Lincoln Tournament on Saturday at Roy S. Anderson…
Read MoreRaiders unable to capitalize on second-half opportunities, suffer one-goal loss to Senators
QUINCY — A taxing seven-games-in-11-days stretch became a distant memory when the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team returned to the pitch Thursday night after a week off. Yet, the second segment of the Raiders’ schedule started the same as the first. A shutout loss to high-quality team has the Raiders looking to quickly rebound.…
Read MoreQND’s Schreacke verbally commits to play basketball at Mizzou
QUINCY — Abbey Schreacke figured Wednesday’s trip to Columbia, Mo., for an official visit with the University of Missouri women’s basketball program might end with giving Tigers coach Robin Pingeton a verbal commitment. “I was thinking about it a lot and just waiting for the right moment,” Schreacke said. It came when she learned her…
Read MoreDominant run on Hoing’s serve sends QND volleyball team to 10th straight victory
QUINCY — As each Emma Hoing topspin serve befuddled the Rushville-Industry volleyball players, the Quincy Notre Dame advantage grew more insurmountable. “It’s kind of fun,” said Hoing, the junior outside hitter who enjoyed a nine-point run on her serve during the second set of Wednesday night’s match at The Pit. “I just want to keep…
Read MoreServing up victories: QND volleyball team’s attacking style nets pair of dominant efforts
QUINCY — The styles vary from Emma Hoing’s thunderous jump serve to Faith Kientzle’s precision from the back line, but they all have the same intent. Be disruptive. The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team showcased how vital the serve is to the attack during Saturday’s triangular at The Pit, dominating a pair of matches from…
Read MoreRaiders demonstrate ability to play physical, shut out Pioneers for first victory
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell wasn’t pleased with his team’s physical level of play in last week’s loss to Quincy High School. His concern was addressed on Friday night when his team rushed for 277 yards in a 38-0 victory over Rock Island Alleman at Lundberg Field on the…
Read MoreConnection to history: Evans sets up Anderson for record-breaking, game-winning goal in crosstown showdown
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…
Read MoreCheck out the highlight video from the QHS vs. QND boys soccer game at Advance Physical Therapy Field
Schuck on a Truck: QND’s Tanner Anderson discusses record-breaking, game-winning goal against QHS
QUINCY — With the game tied at 3 and less than five minutes remaining in regulation, the ball found Tanner Anderson’s foot. From there, it found the back of the net. The Quincy Notre Dame senior forward scored the game-winning goal in a 4-3 victory over Quincy High School on Thursday night at Advance Physical…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND beats QHS in first of two crosstown showdowns
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…
Read MoreReady to Brock and roll: Evans gives QND soccer team boost in first action of season
QUINCY — Spending five consecutive games watching from the sideline with a tweaked back is not a scenario Brock Evans wants to revisit. “It was awful,” said Evans, a senior midfielder who hadn’t played for the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team prior to Tuesday’s game against Hannibal. “Just the thought of it in my…
Read MoreRaiders win Early Bird Tournament title, while Blue Devils find footing after two tough losses
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…
Read MoreRaiders finish weekend undefeated, capture championship of own soccer tournament
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,…
Read MoreRaiders, Blue Devils open play in QND/Quincy Recycle Tournament with victories
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…
Read MoreTwice is nice for Rice: Sophomore tailback scores two TDs to lead QHS past QND in season opener
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,…
Read MoreSchuckman: Crowd, atmosphere elevate QHS-QND rivalry game to community celebration
QUINCY — A game of two-hand touch played by a gaggle of kids wearing their Junior Raiders football jerseys unfolded beneath the large oak and blaze maple trees casting shade across the uneven grassy space near the tennis courts in South Park. Kickoff for the season-opening showdown between Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame…
Read MoreGirls just want to have fun: Raiders start season with two-set victory over Mustangs
QUINCY — Faith Kientzle’s smile never fades. Why should it? Volleyball season is officially here. “It’s supposed to be fun,” said the Quincy Notre Dame senior libero, who has already verbally committed to Lincoln Land Community College. “And that’s what Coach told us. Just go out there and have fun and the other stuff will…
Read More2022 Friday Night Lights prep football preview section
Here is the Muddy River Sports preview of the 15 high school football teams in our coverage area. For mobile users, click on “Friday Night Lights” below to open the PDF.
Read MoreRaiders rebound with dominant first half against Tigers to earn first victory
QUINCY — One night after being shut out in the season opener by Peoria Notre Dame, the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team found its offensive rhythm. Tanner Anderson scored a hat trick in the first half and the Raiders rumbled to a 6-0 victory over Beardstown at Advance Physical Therapy Field on Tuesday night.…
Read MoreRaiders seek improvement after being shut out by Irish in season opener
QUINCY — It’s not where or how you start. It’s about where and how you end. So the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team will take Monday’s 3-0 loss to Peoria Notre Dame in the season opener at Advance Physical Therapy Field as a lesson learned and figure out how to make the ending better…
Read MoreSteady play leads Liberty’s Arnold to second-place finish at Quincy Invitational
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…
Read MoreExperienced nucleus to help QND girls tennis team generate consistent success
QUINCY — Long before the sound of tennis balls bouncing off the hard courts or banging off the fences began echoing through South Park, Quincy Notre Dame girls tennis coach Theresa Quintero knew this would be a unique season. That hasn’t changed now that matches are underway. Raiders senior Lia Quintero, the No. 1 singles…
Read MoreGolf roundup: Bombers place third in back-to-back tournaments
PEORIA, Ill. — The Macomb boys golf team seems to be finding a groove. The Bombers finished third back-to-back days in invitationals in Peoria and Normal. Macomb posted a 304 on Monday in the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational at Kellogg Golf Course to take third, while Quincy Notre Dame finished fifth with a 309. Connor…
Read MoreAbundance of options thanks to experience and depth should make QND volleyball team dynamic
QUINCY — Depth is a luxury the Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball players appreciate. It also creates a challenge they embrace. “If you’re working hard, it makes another person work hard,” senior outside hitter Avery Keck said. “You’re pushing each other all the way. You’re competing for a spot, but you’re also supporting your team…
Read MoreCraven leads QND boys golf team to victory in quadrangular at Spring Lake Country Club
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…
Read MoreQND boys soccer squad banking on right mentality, strong leadership to fuel state title chase
QUINCY — There’s an anxiousness shared by the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer players. “I wish we could play tomorrow,” senior midfielder Colin Kurk said. Knowing the season opener against Peoria Notre Dame isn’t until August 22, the Raiders have to temper their enthusiasm. “We have to get through the two weeks of practice first,”…
Read MoreQND girls golfers capture season-opening event at Deer Run Golf Course
HAMILTON, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame’s Hana Knuffman shot a 40 on the back nine Thursday at Deer Run Golf Course and posted an 83 to take medalist honors in the Lady Titan Invitational hosted by West Hancock. The QND girls golf team won the season-opening event with a 363. Macomb was second at 389…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Scenes from the start of fall sports practices
Adams County Aces softball tryouts to be held July 13 and 14
QUINCY — The Adams County Aces softball program will conduct tryouts for 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U teams July 13-14 at the Quincy Notre Dame softball field, 1400 S. 11th. In case of inclement weather, tryouts will be held indoors at QND. Tryout times are: July 13 10U-5-6:30 p.m. 12U-6-7:30 p.m. July 14 14U-5-6:30 p.m.…
Read MoreA Lion’s roar: Quincy native Hayes preps for final college season with St. Louis club in USL 2
ST. LOUIS — Cole Hayes isn’t harboring any grand illusions. A summer spent playing in a semi-professional developmental soccer league won’t change that. “I’m not pigeon-holing myself into it’s do or die,” Hayes said of the possibility of a professional playing career. “If that opportunity does present itself, it’s something I can pursue after the…
Read MoreHornets’ Blakeley, Raiders’ Miller pick up all-state accolades from IHSBCA
QUINCY — It’s only fitting the final two area baseball teams left standing in the Land of Lincoln were honored with spots on the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams. Brown County senior center fielder/pitcher Gabe Blakeley and Quincy Notre Dame junior first baseman/pitcher Dalton Miller were named to the Class 1A and…
Read MoreQND’s Cornwell earns first-team all-state, six area softball players receive second-team honors
QUINCY — Despite a shoulder injury that now has her prepping for surgery, Eryn Cornwell remained a force in the middle of the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s lineup. Her production resulted in receiving Class 2A first-team all-state honors from the Illinois Coaches Association. QND freshman Caitlin Bunte was a second-team selection, while five area…
Read MoreQND lands three juniors on girls soccer all-sectional list, two QHS sophomores earn spots
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…
Read MoreSchuckman: QND girls soccer program once again delivers when opportunity strikes
QUINCY — Mark McDowell did his best Avery Keck impersonation Sunday afternoon. When opportunity struck, he delivered. The Quincy Notre Dame principal took advantage of the recent addition of a large video board on the west wall of The Pit by having a picture loaded and ready to loom large over everyone during the welcome…
Read MoreSCHUCK ON A TRUCK: QND State Title Edition
Muddy River Sports sets a record for most people in the bed of Matt Schuckman’s truck as Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Longo and the whole team join in following the sixth state title in program history.
Read MoreSixth sense: Keck’s game-winning goal, lockdown defensive effort carry QND girls soccer team to sixth state championship
NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Annie Eaton’s tear-filled eyes and ear-to-ear smile told the same story. Her elation over helping the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team win the Class 1A state championship Saturday night was all-encompassing. “It’s every emotion you can think of,” Eaton said while standing in the courtyard outside North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND girls soccer team vs. Richmond-Burton in Class 1A state championship game
NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team won the sixth state championship in program history Saturday night, beating Richmond-Burton 1-0 on Avery Keck’s goal with 2 minutes, 8 seconds remaining in regulation of the Class 1A state title game at North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. Photographer Randy Dickerman captured the action and…
Read MoreLeft-handed hurler ruins QND baseball team’s win streak, championship dreams
PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — With his Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s season on the line Saturday afternoon, Raiders coach Ryan Oden knew all hope wasn’t lost. The Raiders trailed Maroa-Forsyth by five runs going into the bottom of the seventh inning of a Class 2A sectional championship game at Reiser Field. “I knew we had…
Read MoreRemaining resolute: QND girls soccer team’s determination leads to spot in state title game
NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The resolve of the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team continues to be put to the test. The biggest challenge awaits. The Raiders will play for a state championship without their leading scorer and all-state candidate. “We try to come in with a good mindset and try to control the emotions,” sophomore…
Read MoreGramke plays with confidence, comes through with clutch goal in QND’s title pursuit
NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Sophie Gramke never figured out why. So she concentrated on the how. How does she get better? How does she regain her knack for scoring? How does she find the spark that seemed to be missing? The rest of the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer players showed her how Friday night. “Coming…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND girls soccer team vs. Normal U-High in Class 1A state semifinals
NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team advanced to the Class 1A state championship game with a 1-0 victory over Normal U-High in Friday’s semifinals at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on the North Central College campus. Photographer Randy Dickerman captured images throughout the contest. Check out his work in this photo gallery:
Read More‘She’s been an unsung hero’: Keck’s return from knee injury solidifies QND’s pursuit of state title
QUINCY — Lying on the turf with athletic trainer Kyle Leapley tending to her right knee, Anna Keck could have had the “oh, no, not again” scenario running through her head. Instead, she focused on “get me back out there” thoughts. “I didn’t want to let my team down,” said Keck, a junior defensive midfielder…
Read MoreBusiness trip: While excited and loose, Raiders head to state tournament focused on task at hand
QUINCY — The newness of the state tournament experience wore off when the youthful Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team didn’t get the opportunity to play in the title game a year ago. “Disappointing,” junior forward Lia Quintero said. “I’d say it was disappointing.” So this time, it’s all business. The Raiders head back to…
Read MoreSchuckman: QND baseball fans indulge in ‘Bacon’ to keep winning ways alive
PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Everybody likes bacon, right? That’s undoubtedly true of the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players’ parents, grandparents and fans. But if you’re thinking it’s the sizzle-in-the-frying-pan kind of pork product they are so enamored with, you’d be sorely mistaken. In this case, “Bacon” is their good luck charm, a 4-inch crocheted, stuffed…
Read MoreRiding the storm out: QND baseball team beats rain, Shelbyville to earn spot in sectional championship game
PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The darkening clouds rolling in from the northeast mimicked the situation the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team faced. Ominous, very ominous. “I kept looking over my shoulder and seeing those clouds coming closer and closer to the point you see the line of rain at the right-field fence,” said Jack Linenfelser,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND baseball team vs. Shelbyville in Class 2A sectional semifinals
PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team ran its winning streak to 23 consecutive games and improved to 32-2 — the second-most single-season victories in program history — with Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Shelbyville in the Class 2A sectional semifinals at Reiser Field. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the Raiders’…
Read MoreReturn engagement: QND girls soccer team upends defending state champ to return to final four in Naperville
COLUMBIA, Ill. — The Illinois girls state soccer championships are returning to North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium in Naperville this weekend for the first time in three years. It’s only fitting Quincy Notre Dame returns, too. As QND coach Mark Longo put it, it is the Raiders’ “home away from home.” Figuring out how to…
Read MoreFirst-inning deficit too much for QND softball team to overcome in sectional semifinal loss
ATHENS, Ill. — Only 13 pitches into the game, Quincy Notre Dame freshman hurler Caitlin Bunte found herself in a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam. Buffalo Tri-City capitalized on it. The Tornadoes erupted for six runs on five hits in the first inning, propelling them to a 13-4 victory in the Class 2A sectional softball semifinals at…
Read MoreDelivering big blows: Connoyer’s home run helps shift momentum in QND’s favor in regional title game against Beardstown
QUINCY — The old bully on the postseason playground threatened to derail the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s title quest yet again. That was until a tag and swing knocked Beardstown to its knees. A legendary coaching career went down with it. The Raiders escaped danger in the first inning, tagging out the Tigers’ William…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND baseball team beats Beardstown for Class 2A regional championship
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team kept the good times rolling, winning its 22nd consecutive game with a 6-2 victory over Beardstown in the Class 2A regional championship at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Took a look at how Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the action through his camera lens:
Read MoreRaiders’ Cucuk dominates sectional field to win singles championship and grab state berth
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Marko Cucuk didn’t shift into cruise control just because his spot in the Illinois boys tennis state tournament field was secure. A sectional championship, a better state seed and the momentum from a string of victories mattered just as much as qualifying for the championships. The Quincy Notre Dame junior took care…
Read MoreFirst-inning onslaught propels QND softball team to Class 2A regional championship
PETERSBURG, Ill. — Heading into her first regional championship, Quincy Notre Dame freshman pitcher Caitlin Bunte admittedly was jittery. “I was really nervous,” Bunte said. “I felt pretty confident, but there were some nerves.” After recording the first two outs of the top of the first inning — the first on an amazing catch by…
Read MoreTrue believers: Raiders keep faith until final PK caroms off crossbar, outlast Cyclones to win sectional championship
QUINCY — Aly Young couldn’t stop smiling or shaking her head. Her excitement matched her disbelief. “It’s still just really crazy,” said Young, a sophomore goalkeeper on the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team. “I keep saying, ‘What the heck just happened?’” In one sense, the improbable happened. In another, destiny did. Either way, the…
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