Posts Tagged ‘Schuck on a Truck’
Schuck on a Truck: Abbey Schreacke discusses her freshman season with Mizzou hoops
QUINCY — Spring break is giving Abbey Schreacke the opportunity to spend some time with family and go fishing, as much as the weather permits. It doesn’t mean trips to the gym have been put on hiatus. The Quincy Notre Dame graduate has worked out at The Pit in order to be ready to help…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: KHQA Sports Director Chris Duerr talks basketball awards, spring sports
QUINCY — The end of the prep basketball season turns into awards season the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association announcing their all-state honors and local media outlets all-area teams. Or in the case of KHQA Sports Director Chris Duerr, he unveils his All-Do or Die teams. Duerr joined Muddy River…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Nebraska assistant coach Jessica Keller discusses NCAA Tournament, coaching ladder, QU roots
QUINCY — The leading scorer in the history of the Quincy University women’s basketball program is headed to the NCAA Tournament as an assistant coach, and following Nebraska’s effort against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament championship game, anything is possible for the Huskers. Jessica Keller is in her second season on the Nebraska coaching…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Marquee Sports Network digital reporter Andy Martinez discusses Riley Martin’s chances, Cubs bullpen
QUINCY — Andy Martinez has gone from a cub reporter as a student at Quincy University to a Cubs reporter producing digital content for the Marquee Sports Network. The Chicago native is a 2015 graduate of QU who returned to the Windy City after a stint working at the Quincy Herald-Whig. He landed a job…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS boys basketball coach Andy Douglas discusses Quincy Shootout, Blue Devils’ progress
QUINCY — Sitting on the tailgate of Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman’s pickup didn’t make much sense with snow blowing and temperatures dipping, so the latest episode of “Schuck on a Truck” became an inside edition as he and Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas hung out in the Blue Devils’ locker…
Read MoreYear in Review 2023: Most watched episodes of “Schuck on a Truck”
QUINCY — Anywhere Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman drives his pickup, the opportunity exists for an episode of “Schuck on a Truck” to take place. Throughout 2023, the truck ended up parked just beyond end zones, behind center field fences and at state tournament sites across the state. The tailgate became a place for…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: WIU’s Gravina discusses success on hardwood, Christmas holiday
MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois University women’s basketball team is rolling. The Leathernecks have won seven consecutive games heading into Sunday’s matchup at Missouri-Kansas City. An experienced corps of players who understand their role and the emergence of a high-scoring freshman have been the right combination for success. WIU coach JD Gravina joined Muddy…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS senior guard Tyler Sprick discusses upcoming weekend, playing in Blue Devil Gym
QUINCY — Tyler Sprick is a blue blood in the sense he bleeds Blue Devil blue. Having grown up playing in the Lil’ Devils program and attending games at Blue Devil Gym, the senior guard on the Quincy High School boys basketball program is well versed in the program’s tradition. So he knows how meaningful…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Dixon, Central senior football players celebrate Class 1A state championship
NORMAL, Ill. — Their legacy is complete, and there’s a state championship trophy to prove it. The seniors on the Camp Point Central football team and head coach Brad Dixon took the program to new heights Friday, beating Lena-Winslow 14-0 in the Class 1A state title game at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium for the…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Central’s Robert Gooding goes inside the locker room to talk about Panthers’ personalities
CAMP POINT, Ill. — On roster of more than 40 players who spend plenty of time together on and off the field, personalities and unique traits come to light. With the Camp Point Central football team headed to Normal, Ill., this week to play in the Class 1A state championship game against Lena-Winslow at Illinois…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Camp Point Central football players celebrate winning Class 1A state semifinal
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The mission to return to the Class 1A state championship game is complete. Only one step remains. In the words of the Camp Point Central football players, that’s payback. Central earned its spot opposite defending state champion Lena-Winslow in the title game by flattening Greenfield-Northwestern 54-20 Saturday inb the semifinals. Afterward,…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Central linebackers discuss playoff atmosphere, community support
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The crowd’s presence was undeniable. No matter if they were on the field or on the sideline, the Camp Point Central football players could hear its overflowing crowd and feel its energy during last Saturday’s Class 1A state quarterfinal victory over Belleville Althoff. The Panthers expect a more boisterous and potentially…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Seniors on QHS girls basketball team discuss upcoming season
QUINCY — They started as a group of freshmen with plenty of potential and now they are seniors coming off a 20-win season and looking to make a statement with postseason success. For Quincy High School’s Leah Chevalier, Leila Dade and Taylor Fohey, the upcoming basketball season is their chance to leave a legacy. The…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Phil Neally discusses QHS’s historic football season, carrying energy into wrestling season
QUINCY — Phil Neally saw the Quincy High School football team when it struggled as much as it ever has. Three decades later, he’s witnessing the greatest season in program history. As a junior offensive lineman during the 1991 season, Neally and the Blue Devils endured a winless season. The next season, Neally started at…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hannibal football players discuss district title game, Porter Stadium crowd
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal football team is right where it is expected to be — playing for a district championship on a Friday night in November. The Pirates (10-1) will face Warrenton (11-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at Porter Stadium in the Class 4 District 4 title game. Hannibal has won three straight district…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND football coach Jack Cornell discusses beards and playoffs
QUINCY — Jack Cornell decided to quit shaving when his high school wrestling career was over, and now the beard is part of his signature look. Success is part of that appearance, too. An offensive lineman at the University of Illinois who went on to be a part of the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad during…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS football coach Rick Little takes control of segment, becomes interviewer
QUINCY — The latest episode of “Schuck on a Truck” comes with a twist. Quincy High School football coach Rick Little turned the tables on Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and took over the interview, dubbing it “Schuck held hostage on his truck.” Movie lines, cinderella stories, influential coaches became the topics of conversation.…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Central football seniors discuss playoff atmosphere and tradition
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Playoff week is in full swing, which brings a new intensity and vibe to the Camp Point Central football team’s weekly preparations. The Panthers open the Class 1A playoffs at 2 p.m. Saturday at home against Bridgeport Red Hill. Central finished the regular season 9-0 and is the No. 1-seeded team…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Mettemeyer discusses QHS football team’s historic regular season following Blue Devils’ ninth victory
QUINCY — Jack Mettemeyer found the end zone in his final regular-season game at Flinn Stadium, helping the Quincy High School football team put a stamp on a dominant fourth quarter and a 56-33 victory over Mahomet-Seymour on Friday night. The victory pushed QHS’s record to 9-0, marking just the second undefeated regular season in…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hannibal girls golfers discuss program’s first trip to state tournament
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal girls golf team is making history one event after another. Come Monday, when the Pirates tee it up at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington, Mo., in the Class 3 state tournament, it will be the first time in program history they will play at state as a team. The…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Captains of Highland softball team discuss No. 1 ranking, postseason chances
EWING, Mo. — The Highland softball team heads into the postseason as the No. 1-ranked team in Class 2, riding an 18-game win streak and backed by a record-setting offensive attack. The Cougars’ captains — Emma Harshberger, Olivia Ritterbusch and Haleigh Winter — joined Highland coach Paul Scifres on the tailgate of Muddy River Sports…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Former QU All-American Dayson Croes discusses first season playing professional baseball
QUINCY — It started with the American Association’s longest hitting streak of the season and ended with Rookie of the Year honors. Dayson Croes’ first season as a professional baseball player was an undeniable hit. He capped it with a tournament championship in Mexico. Croes, the former Quincy University All-American infielder, signed with the Winnipeg…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Bob Gough discusses growth of MRN, IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award and busy sports season
QUINCY — It’s been 2 1/2 years since Muddy River News launched and a little more than two years since Muddy River Sports joined the party, and MRN publisher Bob Gough continues to guide the ever-growing media outlet forward. Heading into a busy weekend, with a new sponsor for “Schuck on a Truck” in tow,…
Read MoreMilestone moment: Seniors, Reis discuss his 400th victory as QND boys soccer coach
QUINCY — The third time proved to be the charm. With Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer coach Greg Reis sitting on 399 career victories, the Raiders suffered back-to-back losses to quality teams in John Burroughs and Rochester. Saturday, a team that traditionally has given the Raiders fits visited Advance Physical Therapy Field, and it brought…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Wives of Central football coaches discuss family, Friday nights together
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The wives of the Camp Point Central football coaches are a staff unto themselves. Each week, prior to Friday night, they game plan how to wrangle kids, pack enough juice boxes and gear to survive a three hours and make arrangements for postgame festivities. It’s done to allow their husbands to…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: South Shelby’s Hammond, Wiseman discuss ribeyes, success and big games
SHELBINA, Mo. — Kevin Hammond delivered like a champion, just as the South Shelby football team had. Thursday night, the father of Cardinals running back Kendal Hammond followed through on a promise to cook ribeyes for his son and the offensive linemen if Hammond rushed for more than 200 yards against Monroe City. The senior…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS offensive linemen discuss life in trenches for WB6 title contender
QUINCY — Want to know which of the five starting offensive linemen for the Quincy High School football team is the strongest? What about the cleanest? Or maybe you’re curious where they like to eat as a group, considering their camaraderie extends beyond the gridiron? They’ll tell you. They’ll smile and laugh while doing it,…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Macomb AD discusses family and football with grandkids by his side
MACOMB, Ill. — Macomb athletic director Steve Horrell continues to make Friday nights about football and family. Previously a long-time member of the Macomb football coaching staff, Horrell and his wife, Trish, raised their four kids at football fields throughout West-Central Illinois. Their son, Tanner, is now the Bombers head coach and his sons and…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS’s Tykell Hammers discusses season opener, heat adjustments, catchable passes
QUINCY — Tykell Hammers is one of the many offensive weapons Quincy High School quarterback Bradyn Little has in his arsenal, but Hammers’ skills aren’t limited to the gridiron alone. The QHS junior started in the outfield for the baseball team last spring after emerging as a high-quality wide receiver and defensive back during last…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND senior Ben Schwartz discusses football opener, being team captain
QUINCY — Ben Schwartz understands hard work. It’s engrained in you when you grow up in a farm family. Schwartz’s diligence and effort led to an opportunity to step into the starting lineup along the Quincy Notre Dame football team’s offensive line as a sophomore and he’s been an anchor ever since. Schwartz enters his…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hannibal’s Aneyas Williams discusses senior season, future with Fighting Irish
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Come the first weekend of December, when Missouri crowns its high school football state champions and puts a wrap on the fall season, the career of one the most dominant and electrifying athletes this area has ever seen will end as well. Luckily, all the football Friday nights and playoff games between…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Zanger discusses transition to college student, burgeoning career in media
QUINCY — Addi Zanger is about to have more free time than she’s ever experienced. After playing two sports throughout high school and helping coach youth softball as well, the recent Quincy Notre Dame graduate heads to the University of Missouri with no preseason practices to attend and no defined schedule that includes matches, games…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS volleyball players discuss upcoming season, pursuit of WB6 championship
QUINCY — A year ago, the Quincy High School volleyball finished tied for second in the Western Big 6 Conference. The Blue Devils would like nothing more than to regain the league crown, which they have worn more than any other team in league history. QHS has won 25 WB6 volleyball championships, but the last…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hannibal’s Rollins discusses soccer season, summer success with J.B. Marine
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Graduation losses are inevitable, but the Hannibal boys soccer program braced for that with a sizable junior class gaining valuable playing experience the past two seasons. Depth is still a concern with only two seniors on the roster and the need for freshmen to fill reserve roles, but quality over quantity is…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: KHQA sports director Chris Duerr discusses start of fall sports
QUINCY — Chris Duerr’s summer sabbatical is over, and it’s time for fall sports. The Hall of Fame KHQA Sports Director took advantage of a quiet July to visit his native Sacramento, Calif., spend quality time with his family and get upstaged by his fire chief brother, Mark. Now that August has arrived and fall…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Central wrestling coaches discuss program, Summerfest, eating contest
CAMP POINT, Ill. — What better way to end the summer than with a celebration. Saturday night at Bailey Park, that’s what the Central wrestling program and its supporters did. Summerfest, a fund-raiser for the Panthers’ grapplers, brought the community together for music, food, drinks and fun in a lively and entertaining setting. A celebrity…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Lucas Loos discusses summer with Gems, transfer to EIU, passion for baseball
QUINCY — Lucas Loos is a making a case to be the Prospect League’s Player of the Year. Friday night, the case grew stronger. The Quincy Gems third baseman belted his league-leading 13th home run during a 13-3, seven-inning victory over the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. The Payson Seymour graduate finished 3 for 4 with…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: CS8 football coaches discuss future of league, which will include QND
WINCHESTER, Ill. — On a farm pond in rural Scott County, Jacksonville football coach Mark Grounds showed the ability to slay 5- and 6-pound catfish over and over again. What he has done as president of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association is more impressive. The long-time Crimsons skipper has enhanced a network of…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Magnolia Schrage talks golf, medals and half-swings
QUINCY — Magnolia Schrage is carrying on a family tradition. The 4-year-old Quincy golfer competed this week in the 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships at the Knights of Columbus Par-3 Course, following in the footsteps of her father, Tim, who played in the event growing up in Quincy. After finishing her five-hole round…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND baseball team celebrates its third-place finish at Class 2A state tournament
PEORIA, Ill. — A record-setting season would have been incomplete without a victory on the final day of play. The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team understood that and made certain that happened, beating DePaul College Prep 7-2 in the Class 2A third-place game Saturday at Dozer Park. Winning the third state trophy in program history…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND baseball players celebrate state final four berth with No. 5 in their hearts
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The highs and lows of sports intersected with the tragedy and triumph of life in a 48-hour span for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players. They found a way to make history through it all. A 13-1 victory over Bloomington Central Catholic in the Class 2A Springfield Super-Sectional at Lincoln Land Community…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND’s Cucuk discusses return to state tennis tournament
QUINCY — Marko Cucuk understands the competition intensifies this week. Still, the Quincy Notre Dame tennis player is heading to the Class 1A state tournament on quite a roll. The recent QND graduate, who is making his third straight tournament appearance in the singles draw, won the singles bracket at the Class 1A Chatham Glenwood…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QU baseball parents become family of their own
QUINCY — The root of their lies in their success of their sons, but the parents of the Quincy University baseball players have formed a bond that is as tight as a baseball family gets. The shared a house during the season-opening road trip to Florida. They tailgate together wherever the Hawks play. They text.…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Mark Longo discusses legendary QND girls soccer coaching career
QUINCY — Mark Longo was asked to coach the inaugural Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team with no expectations and no preconceived notions of success. The next coach won’t be so lucky. From 1990 until now — 33 seasons total — Longo has been the only head coach the Raiders have had, and with him…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Future QU golfer Miller shows she can hang with the boys on her way to state
EWING, Mo. — When Payton Miller made it home Friday night, she had some serious packing to do. Saturday, she was off to Shelbina to compete in the Class 2 sectional track and field meet with the Highland girls track team. That night, she and her family headed to Springfield, Mo., to get prepared to…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS girls soccer team reacts to sweeping QND for first time ever
QUINCY — The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer programs played their first seasons in the spring of 1990 and have been scheduled to meet twice every spring since. Not once in the first 32 seasons of head-to-head competition — they didn’t play in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic — had…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Logsdon, Norris talk about how QU served as home, family during incredible athletic careers
QUINCY — The highs and lows — things both Lance Logsdon and Mattison Norris experienced throughout the Quincy University athletic careers — never sidetracked either, largely because of their competitive nature and dogged determination, but also because they had each other. The record-setting slugger for the QU baseball team and the All-American outside hitter for…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hunter Voth discusses dreams of being Cardinals play-by-play announcer and sheds light on Autism Awareness Month
QUINCY — Hunter Voth refuses to let anything stand in the way of his dream of someday becoming the radio play-by-play voice of the St. Louis Cardinals. Autism is one of those obstacles he simply pushes past. A Unity High School graduate who is a student assistant with the John Wood Community College men’s basketball…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: KHQA Sports Director Chris Duerr discusses crosstown showdowns, covering local sports on special game night edition
QUINCY — The image of Chris Duerr roaming the sidelines or basepaths with a camera on his shoulder is iconic. It’s also expected when the magnitude of the event rises, much the way the Quincy High School vs. Quincy Notre Dame matchups do. Wednesday night, the KHQA sports director was at the QHS softball field…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hobbs discusses becoming next C-SC men’s basketball coach
CANTON, Mo. — Dorian Hobbs Jr. found his way home. A former Culver-Stockton College student-athlete and assistant coach with the men’s basketball team, Hobbs joined the Millikin University coaching staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in May 2021. However, his ties to C-SC made him want to return after Aaron Hill resigned as…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Moline boys basketball coach Sean Taylor discusses Class 4A state title
QUINCY — Sean Taylor put himself in rare company when the Moline boys basketball team won the Class 4A state championship with its 59-42 victory over Lisle Benet Academy at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. The former Quincy High School coach has now led two schools to a state championship, having won the Class…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND girls basketball team celebrates its Class 2A third-place state finish
QUINCY — With spring break taking place on the backend of the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s third-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament, the Raiders had to wait an extra week for their fire truck ride and welcome home celebration. The time lapse gave the Raiders time to appreciate all they had…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Central wrestler Amber Louderback discusses historic state medal-winning season
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Amber Louderback’s determination cannot be undersold or overstated. She’s passionate, committed and tough. It’s why the Camp Point Central freshman became the first girls wrestler in program history to earn a medal at the state tournament, finishing fourth in the 125-pound class recently during the event held at Grossinger Motors Arena…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Cubs pitching prospect Riley Martin discusses spring training and his progress
QUINCY — Riley Martin admits it’s been a short offseason, but that hasn’t diminished his readiness for spring training. “I feel like I’ve put in some good work this offseason,” he said. “I’m excited to get back and get started.” The former Quincy University left-handed All-American hurler will head to Mesa, Ariz., next week to…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Event organizer Eric Stratman discusses fifth Quincy Shootout
QUINCY — The dip in temperatures and rainy weather forced “Schuck on a Truck” to become “Schuck in the Stands” this week, but it’s appropriate since the stands at Blue Devil Gym this weekend should be filled with basketball junkies and passionate fans. The fifth Quincy Shootout brings a nationally respected field to the Gem…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS wrestlers discuss Quincy Invitational
QUINCY — Owen Uppinghouse, Bryor Newbold and the Quincy High School wrestlers have spent most of their season flatbacking opponents. Coming off a victory in the 29-team Murdale Invitational last weekend in Carbondale, Ill., the Blue Devils get the chance to showcase their depth and talent in front of a home crowd at the Quincy…
Read More2022 Year in Review: Most watched episodes of ‘Schuck on a Truck’
QUINCY — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman drove his pickup truck across the state, chasing stories of success for area athletes and teams. Along the way, “Schuck on a Truck” became a fun way to introduce our readers to the personalities of athletes and coaches and celebrate state titles. Here is a look at…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Central football team’s offensive line
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Come Friday, the Camp Point Central football team will walk into Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus for the Class 1A state championship game to square off with Lena-Winslow, the reigning state champion who has won five state championships since 2010. Leading the way with be an experienced, stout…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Central football coach Brad Dixon discusses program success heading into state semifinals
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Central football players have traded cut-off t-shirts and shorts for stocking caps and sweatshirts. When that takes place, something more significant has, too. In this case, the Panthers have reached the Class 1A state semifinals for the fourth time in program history. Central (12-0) travels for the first time this…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Liberty coach Jared Schmidt talks cross country ahead of state meet
LIBERTY, Ill. — Liberty junior Arianna Neisen will run at Detweiler Park this weekend. Quincy High School senior Eric McClelland will, too, in what is the ultimate weekend for Illinois prep cross country runners. The state meet takes place Saturday in Peoria with three classes running 3-mile races on both the boys and girls sides.…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND boys soccer team celebrates Class 1A state championship
EAST PEORIA, Ill. — They grew curious — possibly more concerned — whether the suspension on Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman’s pickup truck could hold the weight of the entire Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team piled into the truck’s bed. Much like the Raiders throughout the postseason, Schuck’s truck held up just fine.…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND senior center back Colin Kurk discusses trip to state final four
CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team clamped down on Bloomington Central Catholic’s attack and limited the Saints to one shot in the first half of Wednesday’s 5-1 victory in the Class 1A Chillicothe Super-Sectional. That effort is carrying the Raiders to the final four in East Peoria, where they will play…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Talking hunting season, fall weather and family memories with Schuck’s dad
QUINCY — Growing up, the best part of the calendar rolling into October meant hunting season was upon us and I had the opportunity to spend more time with my dad. No matter what we did outdoors, I was right by his side. That hasn’t changed in adulthood. With the archery deer season in full…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Liberty golfer Blake Arnold discusses his season, family support and finishing his career at state tournament
LIBERTY, Ill. — A decorated high school golf career came to an end last Saturday when Liberty senior Blake Arnold finished tied for 13th at the Class 1A state tournament, and he finished it with a birdie on his final hole. In the process, Arnold became the highest individual state finisher in Liberty golf history.…
Read MoreSchuckman: Old-school vibes, new-school touches make Friday nights at Unity-Payson feel like it’s where you belong
MENDON, Ill. — When modern technology accents old-school charm, you wind up watching a prep football game in an environment artists pen songs about and screenwriters use as inspiration for movie scripts. Friday night, this Adams County village offered one of those backdrops. From the bonfire in the neighboring yard to a respected, celebrated old…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Andre White discusses Monroe City tradition, Mizzou days and next generation of standouts
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Andre White spent a majority of his summer traveling across the United States with his son, Dez, on the AAU basketball circuit, and the reward of seeing his son achieve the dream of receiving an NCAA Division I scholarship is priceless. The fact Dez White will be playing for a former…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: C-SC women’s soccer coach Tyler Tomlinson discusses life on The Hill
QUINCY — Tyler Tomlinson is doing what every successful coach does. He’s accepting the need to change. The first four games of the Culver-Stockton College women’s soccer team’s season didn’t go as well as hoped, so Tomlinson and his staff began retooling how the Wildcats need to play. It seems to be working. The Wildcats…
Read MoreSchuck 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 MoreSchuck on a Truck: QU football coach Gary Bass talks preparation for season opener
QUINCY — Quincy University football coach Gary Bass felt a productive offseason prepared the Hawks to be ahead of the game when fall practices began. With good weather and depth at nearly every position, the Hawks have taken advantage of every opportunity leading up to Thursday’s season opener. Bass joined Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Professional pitmaster Terry Bower discusses BBQ competitions, tailgate tips
QUINCY — Terry Bower took a weekend hobby of creating delectable barbeque and wood-smoked meats and turned into a professional career as a pitmaster on the Kansas City Barbeque Society circuit. He’s traveled the Midwest getting calls and winning honors at some of the most prestigious events. In this episode of “Schuck on a Truck”…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Truman State offensive coordinator Jason Killday discusses start of fall camp
BARING, Mo. — Jason Killday views the Truman State University football team’s start of preseason workouts the way he wants each of the Bulldogs to see things. It’s a brand new day. A year ago, when the Bulldogs went 9-3 and won the America’s Crossroads Bowl, Truman State established a single-season school record for yards…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Glenn Sanders talks about outdoors projects and MVHFA
QUINCY — Glenn Sanders has been synonymous with the outdoors and the opportunities afforded to youth anglers and hunters his entire life. A retired sergeant with the Illinois Conservation Police, Sanders currently is the president of the Mississippi Valley Hunters and Fishermen’s Association and arguably West-Central Illinois’ strongest advocate for wildlife resources. Sanders and Muddy…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Seth Anderson discusses SLU soccer experience
QUINCY — Seth Anderson stepped in as a freshman with the Saint Louis University men’s soccer program last fall and made an immediate impact as the Billikens went 16-1-4 and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The former Quincy Notre Dame all-state striker sat down with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman to discuss…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Gems manager Brad Gyorkos discusses first half of Prospect League season
QUINCY — The Quincy Gems won 13 games in a 16-game span in the first half of the Prospect League season, propelling them to first place in the Great River Division and guaranteeing them a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Gems manager Brad Gyorkos joined Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Andrew Smith discusses making two aces in 10-day span
QUINCY — When Andrew Smith realized he’d made his first hole-in-one, nearly every golfer scattered across the Spring Lake Country Club layout knew it. “I just jumped out of the golf cart while it was going 15 miles per hour,” Smith said. When he made his second ace 10 days later, the reaction was a…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hannibal golfer Quinn Thomas talks playing Bellerive and mud volleyball
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Golf is taking Quinn Thomas places most 16-year-olds can’t fathom. Recently, it had him walking fairways once crossed by legends. Thomas, who will be a junior at Hannibal High School in the fall, played in the 115th Missouri Amateur Championship, which meant teeing it up on the iconic Bellerive Country Club layout…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Brown County baseball team celebrates memorable season
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team reached historic heights during the 2022 season. The Hornets went 28-5, setting the program’s single-season record for victories. They won the first sectional title in program history and became the first team in any sport at Brown County to reach a state final four. After finishing…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Brown County baseball coach Jared Hoots talks historic postseason run
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team will be making the program’s first appearance in the state final four Friday when it faces Ottawa Marquette at 10 a.m. at Peoria’s Dozer Park in the Class 1A state semifinals. Hornets coach Jared Hoots sat down with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman for an…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: NCAA Tournament talk with QU baseball coach Matt Schissel
QUINCY — The QUuncy University baseball team is making its seventh straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional this week, the longest such streak in the region. The Hawks open play at 11 a.m. Thursday against Northwood in Caledonia, Mich. QU coach Matt Schissel joined Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman on the…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Millikin standout and Unity graduate Jordan Hildebrand
Jordan Hildebrand’s decision to stay at Millikin University for an extra year of eligibility, pursue a master’s degree and help the Big Blue women’s basketball team chase NCAA glory turned out to be a wise move. Not only will Hildebrand walk away later this year with two degrees in her hip pocket, but the 6-foot…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Professional basketball player Tanner Stuckman
QUINCY — Tanner Stuckman’s basketball career has been built around hard work, determination and an unwillingness to be told he couldn’t succeed. That’s why professional opportunities are coming his way. A graduate of Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy University, the 6-foot-9 Stuckman is currently playing in the National Basketball League of Canada for the Windsor…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Former QU All-American linebacker Cody Leonard
CARROLLTON, Ill. — Football is in Cody Leonard’s blood. Try as he might to turn the page to the next chapter of his life, the former Quincy University All-American linebacker couldn’t ditch the itch to continue playing. Now, he has that opportunity. Leonard has signed a professional contract to play with the Kuopio Steelers in…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: QHS Hall of Famer Kyle Cartmill
QUINCY — As a kid, Kyle Cartmill chose to be the Blue Devil mascot for his Halloween costume. His passion for the Quincy High School boys basketball program has never waned, no matter where life’s road has taken him. Cartmill, a 1995 QHS graduate, became a Hall of Fame player who enjoyed a solid career…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: SLUH guard Nick Kramer
The glimmer in Nick Kramer’s eye shined when he began talking about the situation he will be walking into this weeked. He’s entering his father’s old neighborhood. With that comes the understanding of history, tradition and legacy. Jack Kramer is part of all three when it comes to the Quincy High School boys basketball program,…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Iowa State University running back Jirehl Brock
AMES, Iowa — Patience, persistence and commitment are paying off for Jirehl Brock. One of the most decorated football players in Quincy High School history, Brock spent his first three seasons at Iowa State University playing behind consensus All-American tailback Breece Hall. It meant limited opportunities and limited carries, but he never wavered on Iowa…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Highland Shootout organizer Matt Powers
Matt Powers grew up in Quincy and was a senior on the 1996-97 Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team, which was the first coached by Scott Douglas in his legendary career. Now, aside from running his own financial planning and investment firm, Powers is the organizer of the Highland Shootout, one of the premier one-day…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Professional golfer Luke Guthrie
QUINCY — Luke Guthrie’s 10-year anniversary as a professional golfer is looming. So is the opportunity for the Quincy native to reinvigorate his career. Following his 11th-place finish in the second stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School, Guthrie earned conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the 2022 season. He went on…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: HD Intelligence vice president Andy Schmitt
Andy Schmitt’s love of competition and sports morphed into a passion for the processes coaches, athletes and teams go through over the course of a season and beyond to elevate their game to a championship level. The Quincy High School graduate saw it first hand as a student manager with the University of Illinois men’s…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom Edition: Former Quincy University pitcher Graham Spraker
Graham Spraker reinvented himself as a pitcher and could find himself pitching in the Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen in the near future. The former Quincy University right-hander, who was a 31st round draft pick of the Blue Jays in 2017 after leading the Hawks to the NCAA Division II World Series, is coming off an…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck Zoom edition: Liberty running back Wentric Williams III
The name is the same. And if you watch Wentric Williams III run with the football tucked tightly in his right arm, you’ll see glimpses of his father. And then there’s that million-watt smile. It’s part of what made Wentric Williams II electric. His namesake shares that electricity. But be clear about one thing —…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Matt Longo
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman talks to long-time local soccer coach Matt Longo about his career, his legendary father and Cardinal baseball.
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Episode 1 with Bill Connell
Muddy River Sports editor Matt Schuckman and Quincy Notre Dame athletic director Bill Connell reunite on the tailgate of Schuckman’s pickup truck to reminisce about the origins of the post-practice tailgate interviews and discuss everything from Connell’s football coaching career to the impact COVID had on athletics over the past year to his son battling…
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