Archives for 2013

Cicardi, Lehman, Miller all go yard in RLC softball sweep of Shawnee

April 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

INA, Ill. – Rend Lake College softball has won seven games in a row after sweeping Shawnee Community College, 4-3 and 13-1, Tuesday in Ina.

Shawnee scored all three of its runs in the third inning of the first game. It had five hits and did not commit an error. Rend Lake scored one run in the first, two in the second and one in the fourth for four runs on 10 hits and one error. The winning pitcher was Taylor Thomas (Arcola) with Alaina Reeves (Mt. Vernon) behind the plate.

rlc logo

Thomas threw seven innings, struck out five, walked two, and gave up two earned runs. Thomas is now 6-7 on the mound for RLC. Hitters for the Lake: Taylor Cicardi (Pinckneyville) went 2-for-3 with a home run and RBI, Haley Miller (Rockport, Ind.) went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, Kendyl Ahrens (Poseyville, Ind.) went 2-for-4, and Breanne Pelker (Nashville) went 2-for-3 with a double.

In the nightcap, Shawnee scored its only run in the fourth inning. It had six hits and committed three errors in the field. RLC won in five innings after scoring two in the first, one in the second, and 10 in the third for 13 runs on 13 hits and no errors. The winning pitcher was Amanda Holloway (Benton) with Abbie Lehman (Marissa) behind the plate. Holloway threw five innings, struck out three, and gave up six hits and one earned run. She is now 9-11 on the mound for RLC. Hitters for The Lake: Fallon Clayton (Anna) went 2-for-3 with a double, Cicardi went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, Molly Whaley (Benton) went 2-for-2, Ahrens went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI, Emily Cripps (Herrin) went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI, and Lehman went 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and three RBI.

Rend Lake is now 10-16 in the league and 20-22 overall. The Lake will host Southwestern Illinois at 2 p.m. Thursday. RLC heads to Lincoln Trail on Friday and Southeastern Illinois for a makeup doubleheader on Saturday. The regular season will wrap up with a home doubleheader at 2 p.m. Sunday. For all things athletic at The Lake, visit RLC online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.

Filed Under: College Sports

Logan takes two from Mineral Area

April 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

BY JOHN D. HOMAN

Logan Media Services

CARTERVILLE – Sophomore Keelin Rasch banged out four hits and drove in four runs, including a three-run homer, and sophomore Zac Mishler stroked four hits and also drove in four runs to lead the John A. Logan College baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of visiting Mineral Area College Tuesday.

jalc baseballThe Vols, now 24-19 overall, won the opener, 15-5 in five innings, and then earned a hard-fought 4-2 victory in the nightcap over a Cardinals team that was 29-10 coming into the day.

A Harrisburg native, Rasch said getting a pair of wins after losing two of three over the weekend to Lake Land College, was a boost to the team morale.

“I think we really needed this,” he said. “We didn’t play our best ball over the weekend, so getting a couple of wins definitely helps to get us back on the right track.”

Rasch’s home run in Game 1 was his fifth of the season, a team high. He has also driven in 34 runs to lead the team. The sophomore has raised his batting average to.342, and his 52 hits ranks him second only to Anthony Bayus’s 55.

“I’m just trying to slow things down when I’m at the plate,” Rasch said. “I’m seeing the ball pretty well right now.”

Things did not appear so rosy for Logan in the opener as the Cardinals put up a five spot in the top of the first inning against Vols starter, Austin Denault. But it was all Logan from that point forward.

The Vols sent 12 batters to the plate in the second inning and posted nine runs on five hits. Mark Self had a two-run single. J.C. Davis had an RBI from a bases-loaded walk. Mishler singled home two. Tanner Scott singled in a run and Rasch followed with his three-run bomb to left.

Logan tacked on four runs in the third with RBIs from Mishler, Scott and Rasch again. The game ended in the bottom of the fifth inning of the scheduled seven-inning contest when the Vols tallied two more runs. Mishler singled in a run and Bayus followed suit.

Denault, after his first-inning struggles, settled down and shut out the Cardinals the next four innings on one hit. He helped himself out by picking off a stunning three Mineral Area baserunners. For the game, he struck out two and walked four in improving his personal record to 3-3 on the spring.

Vols head coach Jerry Halstead was pleased with the outburst of scoring and deferred credit to his assistant coach, Kyle Surprenant, who works primarily with the hitters.

“I thought Kyle’s superior coaching skills with the hitters really showed today,” Halstead said. “He unleashed the bats on Mineral Area. He gets all the credit for this one.”

In Game 2, another Harrisburg native, Tyler McGowan, was a key factor in a win. The freshman righthander took care of business on the mound in leading the Vols to a 4-2 win. McGowan evened his record to 2-2 on the spring with the win. He went six innings, allowed two unearned runs on only two hits, struck out seven and walked seven.

Sophomore Anthony Spangler came on in relief in the seventh inning with one on and no outs and worked out of the jams to record his third save.

Trailing 2-1 in the second inning, DeJohn Suber tied the game with an RBI single to center. Logan took the lead at 3-2 in the third when Derek Repking drove in a run with a groundout. The Vols added an insurance run in the fifth when Rasch singled, was bunted to second by Bayus and scored on a single to right by Self.

Logan had 23 hits on the day – 12 in Game 1 and 11 more in Game 2.

“Hitting is contagious,” Halstead said. “Today, we hit the ball a lot and we hit it hard for the most part. That nine spot we put up in the second inning of Game 1 was the most runs we’ve put up in any inning all year. Hopefully, we’re settling in here and will get on a roll.”

Not to be overlooked was the defensive efforts of Suber, who has been switched from shortstop to rightfield. The freshman from Chicago made a Jim Edmonds-type catch with his back completely to the infield near the warning track in the opener. He followed up that gem with a racing catch in foul ground next to the wagon gate in Game 2 and put an exclamation point on his day when he threw out a pinch runner attempting to go from first to third after an errant pickoff attempt at first base.

“DeJohn was drafted as a shortstop, so there’s some serious talent there,” Halstead said. “He’s never played the outfield, but we were in a position injury-wise where we needed to get one of our best athletes in the outfield. And let me tell you, he showed a Major League-plus arm when we took infield practice before the game at Lake Land Sunday. And we saw that again today. It won’t take long for the word to get out about what he’s done in the outfield. The two catches he made today…you don’t see those made at this level. They were big-time catches and that throw was a big-time throw.”

The Vols are scheduled to play host to Southwestern Illinois at 3 p.m. Thursday and will travel to Belleville in a return match Saturday at noon.

Filed Under: College Sports

Susan Glodich name principal at Denning Elementary

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Bruce A. Fasol
Calling it a “perfect fit” Susan Glodich has been hired as the new principal at Denning Elementary school, in West Frankfort.
 Glodich will begin those duties at the end of this school year. She currently is a sixth grade teacher at Frankfort Intermediate School. She has experience at Denning School as well, superintendent Greg Goins said.  Glodich has taught in the District 168 system since 1985.
Susan Glodich, hired as principal at Denning Elementary

Susan Glodich, hired as principal at Denning Elementary

Glodich replaces Leanne Miller who becomes principal at Frankfort Intermediate School, replacing Mark Zahm who is leaving for a job in another district.
Natalie Fry has been named as the district’s curriculum co-ordinator and will be an assistant principal.  Previously, Kevin Toney was named as the special education director for District 168.
Overall, Goins reflected positively to the changes to the district administrative team.
” I feel very excited about our new adminsitrative team, and confident we can continue to make academic progress in the District,” Goins said.
In other news from the Monday night School Board meeting:
– The summer drivers’ education program has been approved for this summer
– The agreement with SIU regarding student teachers was approved.
Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News, Uncategorized

Rangers pick up Ohio Division win over Murphysboro

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Jim Muir

Cameron Rock had a two-out, two-strike single helping Benton to a 5-run third inning and an 8-4 SIRR Ohio Division victory over Murphysboro in action at Eovaldi Field.

The Rangers trailed 2-0 entering the third inning after the Red Devils had scored one in the first and another in the top of the third. On top of the 2-0 deficit starting pitcher Dakota Head was moved from the mound to shortstop after experiencing soreness in his shoulder and senior Zach Mocaby was called on in relief.

The Rangers half of the third inning began with Tyler Owens going down on strikes followed by a walk to Gus Gibbs. Martin Ward, who had three hits on the day, singled moving Gibbs to second and Head laced a line drive up the middle scoring Gibbs. Benton catcher Ethan Hughes, who missed three games after being hit in the head with a pitch, flied out to shallow left field leaving runners on second and third with two outs for Rock.

The Benton senior hit one back up the middle scoring two to give Benton a lead it would never relinquish. Benton added another run in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to secure the win.

The Rangers had lost three in a row heading into the Ohio Division match up and improved to 12-8 over all and 4-3 in conference play with the win.

“I don’t think we’re where we can be,” said Benton coach Brett Blondi. “But, this was a nice win for us and something to build on.”

Along with Ward’s three hits Head and Mocaby also had two hits for the Rangers who pounded out 10 hits in the victory.

Benton will be in action on Tuesday afternoon against West Frankfort at Eovaldi Field at Benton Community Park.

 

Filed Under: High School Sports

Our Universities: The Presidency

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

University presidents carry a moral burden to act with integrity.  When they don’t, universities suffer and communities, students, and alumni pay the price.
“…for what is a share of a man worth? If he does not contain the quality of integrity, he is worthless.  If he does, he is priceless. The value is either nothing or is infinite.”

Elbert Tuttle, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
_______________________________________________________

By Walter Wendler

Little has more impact on the learning environment for students, the working environment for faculty and staff, and the service environment for the communities and states where universities are located than ethical leadership, or lack thereof, exerted by the president.  And university leadership has economic impact in host communities.  Five great and prosperous college towns: Amherst, MA; Ann Arbor, MI; Athens, GA; College Station, TX; and Berkeley, CA, all have extended histories of bold, insightful presidential leadership. Admittedly, these are special towns, but in any university community the president exerts force, for better or worse.

Walter Wendler mug 2An April 12, 2013, Library Journal entry suggests that college presidencies are in shambles. University personnel, students, families, donors, and alumni look for bold and decisive leadership from university presidents and rarely find it. At Rutgers the basketball coach ran amok; at Penn State, the football program lost all moral credibility and integrity; and at Emory University the books were cooked for an edge in national ranking systems, lying about test scores and other characteristics of university quality; these few notorious examples lead to, or follow from, a lack of integrity of presidential leadership.  Each case begs the question: Is the credibility of university leadership evaporating?

The helm wants the absent helmsman.

Tears in the fabric of integrity in universities come internally, from executive leadership, not from outside forces. The statehouses, tough economic times, declining enrollments, lack of community support, all may make the job challenging, but don’t compel leaders to violate the West Point Honor Code, “A cadet [president] will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.”  Presidents decide to own or shed integrity.

Lapses of veracity are exercised for personal or institutional benefit… unseemly in either case, and fueled by avarice in both.   At Rutgers, when the basketball coach behaved in a despicable way, it seemed the concern of university leadership was damage control rather than the student athletes, or the example set.  It is patently clear that subterfuge was the case at Penn State. The fear of the lost dollar or diminished power ruled and integrity suffered.

The ethical framework, or lack of one, allows impropriety in any quarter to creep into academic decision-making in every quarter. And the bright light of 24/7 news and Internet availability of every form of commentary makes hiding the truth a delusion of the past.  These conditions, coupled with intense political pressure — especially at state institutions — cause university presidents to hide in the dark shadows of our ivy-covered halls. In many cases, presidents are afraid to lead as leadership will always bring about resistance from some corner of the campus or community.

Steven Bell points out in the Library Journal that university presidents are often ruled by fear with this query: “When was the last time a college or university president produced an edgy piece of commentary, or took a daring stand on a contentious manner?” It’s hard to find a university leader willing to risk the danger of a contentious position, yet supposed leaders are willing to cover up malfeasance – personal and corporate — while denying the consequences of such behavior on academic quality, students, campus life, and the community.

Our universities need determined presidential leadership.  University presidents have been, and continue to be, a moral force on campus and in town:  a positive moral force by encouraging and expecting integrity and academic excellence in all decisions or, conversely, a negative moral force by demonstrating behaviors of selfishness and personal gain as the roots of all action.

You can’t have it both ways:  It’s either worthless or priceless. Judge Tuttle was astute.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, Opinion, Uncategorized

RLC Sports Hall inductees: Harris, Sanders, Weathers, ’06 Cross-Country

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Bob Kelley

Retired RLC Sports Information Director

INA, Ill.  Any Hall of Fame is meant to give recognition to the best of the best.

The Rend Lake College Sports Hall of Fame must be doing something right. Consider the Class of 2013, comprised of three individuals and one team:

The deserving 14th Class of RLC Sports Hall of Fame Inductees will be honored Saturday, April 27, on the Ina campus. Festivities get under way at 5:30 p.m., in the Student Center Pat Kern Private Dining Room. The public is invited to attend. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the RLC Athletic Department at (618) 437-5321, Ext. 1250, or by email to oxford@rlc.edu.

• Rebecca Harris (Mascoutah) was one of the top two scorers in Women’s Basketball history when she played for the Lady Warriors from 2004-06.  She ranked No. 3 in the country by scoring 707 points and averaging 23.6 points-per-game as a sophomore, earning All-America Honorable Mention status before becoming the first Juco recruit in six years at the University of Illinois.

• Craig Sands (Highland) established Warrior Baseball records for most single-season and career pitching victories (16 and 31, respectively), complete games (16 and 28) and innings pitched (144 and 258). They erased standards that were established 11 years prior to his arrival, and they remain on a pedestal alone to this day . . . especially impressive since he played from 1987-89.

• Brad Weathers (hometown, Benton) was a reliable contributor to winning RLC Basketball Teams, including 20-6 Southern Illinois College Conference frontrunners, who went on to play for McKendree College (now McKendree University). But it is as an Alumni Coach that he gained entry into the McKendree Hall of Fame in 1999, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005 and now the RLC Hall of Fame. He was “Coach of the Year” following a 32-3 Carlyle Indian Class A State Championship season in 1988-89 and his teams have won 477 games in 23 seasons at Carlyle and the last four at Nashville Community High School.

• Ho-hum, another NJCAA National Championship Cross-Country Team – more specifically, Fall 2006 – from RLC. Not so fast. Do not dismiss a fourth title – following those of past RLC Sports Hall of Fame Inductees representing Fall 2001, Fall 2002 and Fall 2003 – as mere formality. This one came as a Division I competitor, just three years after the top two NJCAA divisions were combined; i.e., the challenge was even more demanding for the three-time D-II champs, who settled for third the next two years following consolidation before the D-I breakthrough.

Rebecca Harris (Women’s Basketball 2004-2006)

Hall of Fame Charter Member Susie Woodward (Class of 2000) is the Lady Warrior record-holder in basketball after scoring 849 points her second year and 1,368 points from 1981-83.
Statistics for seven games her freshman campaign are not available for “Bec” Harris. But she netted 498 points in 22 documented games. Even without those seven “missing” outings, her 1,205 points surpass the 1,110-point total of 2003 Hall of Fame inductee Cheryl Weis (1987-89) to rank No. 2 behind Woodward. And the 22.6-point freshman average for Harris projected over seven more games would put her very close to Woodward’s total.
She formed a potent 1-2 punch with 3-point specialist Courtney Magness. Harris scored 30 points or more at least 10 times. Included were 33 (with four treys), 33 and 30 in a four-game span early in 2004-05 and back-to-back-to-back outbursts of 35 (23-24 FT) versus GRAC champ Southeastern Illinois, 35 in a home win over Vincennes (IN) and 30 (three 3s) versus Olney Central late.
She recorded games of 32, 33 (four treys) and 30 (13-15 FT in her swan song) down the stretch as a sophomore, when she also averaged 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals under first-year Head Coach Glenn Box. The Lady Warriors were 18-13 and 19-12 with Harris earning All-GRAC and All-Region XXIV honors, behind “Player of the Year” and All-American Amber Holt of SIC.
Her 23.6-ppg average trailed only Naelonda Zamudio (28.2) of Kennedy-King College in Chicago and Alberta Auguste (23.7) of Central Florida C.C. in D-I. Her 707 points in 30 games ranked behind Aisha Mohammed (729 / 33) of Central Arizona and Rita Kollo (711 / 34) of Colby C.C. (Kan.). Harris hit 47.4 percent FG (249-525), 39.0 percent 3FG (41-105) and 75.0 percent FT (168-224) as a sophomore.
For the Fighting Illini, she played in 30 games as a junior before starting 25 of 35 games at point guard as a senior. She averaged 10.1 ppg en route to Academic All-Big Ten and an All-Big Ten Tournament berth sparked by a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) in an opening win over Wisconsin, 22 points in a quarterfinal upset of No. 22 Ohio State and 15.3 ppg as her team reached the finals. U of I career statistics – 8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 36.9 percent 3FG (third-best all-time) and 79.3 percent FT (sixth all-time).
Harris spent the past season as a Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach for Chipola College (Fla.).

Craig Sands (Baseball 1987-1989)

Sands, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound hard-throwing righthander, completed all seven starts with a 6-1 record as a freshman in Fall 1987 and never let up during a sterling career, capped by All-GRAC and All-Region XXIV recognition.
He set combined Fall-Spring single-season records as a newcomer with 16 wins (16-6, including two fall losses in relief and 10-3 in the spring) and 16 complete games in 19 starts and the 144 IP. He departed with career marks in the same categories – a 31-11 record, 28 CG in 37 starts and the workmanlike 258 innings.
Coach Paul Evans & Co., captured a GRAC title – 23-8 overall in the fall – thanks to freshman Sands and his 2.83 earned run average. His decisions included a 10-0 blanking of Kaskaskia and a pair of 4-1 verdicts over John A. Logan. Evans called his four-hit, 3-1 win in 10 innings over Lincoln Land that spring (unearned run) “probably the best pitched game I’ve seen here” in his two years as a Pitching Coach and third year as the Head Coach.
An effective breaking pitch and the ability to throw strikes helped Sands to a 3.13 ERA for a squad that finished 69-31-1 overall that first year. His batterymate was sophomore Chad Stombaugh, a Kansas City Royals draft pick named to the RLC Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
As a sophomore, he was 9-2 in the fall for a 24-8 team, 15-5 overall (62-29 team) for Head Coach Jim McGuire. Career stats – 45 appearances, seven shutouts, 3.66 ERA and 200:122 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Sands continued his RLC connection at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State U.), where he played for Coach Keith Guttin, a Warrior Assistant in 1982, and Pitching Coach Evans. His three shutouts in Spring 1990 tied a Bears record he still shares. A 1.60 ERA, also as a junior, ranks third all-time.
Before hanging up his baseball uniform, Sands returned to RLC as an Assistant Coach one season under McGuire (1991-92) and two seasons with Rich Campbell (1992-94).

Craig Sands

Craig Sands

Brad Weathers

Brad Weathers

Rebecca Harris

Rebecca Harris

 

 

Brad Weathers (Alumni Coach)

Weathers emerges from two classes of former Warriors (1971-72 and 1972-73) which produced at least eight future coaches. His playing credentials were steady-but-less-than-spectacular (4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds as a freshman, 6.4 and 5.5, respectively, as a sophomore) but were more than enough to qualify him as an Alumni Coach, the first to be inducted in that niche of the RLC Sports Hall of Fame.
In addition to the 1989 Class A State crown, Weathers guided five other Carlyle teams to 20-win seasons; the school’s first Regional title in 1985-86 and two others besides the championship season (1987-88 and 1999-2000), and overall mark of 391-288 (.576) between 1981-2004.
Led by University of Illinois signees Phil Kunz and Tom Michael, the Indians were 132-23 during five seasons capped by the Class A crown. All-State Tournament pick Jason Peters played two seasons for RLC and was an Academic All-American.
Weathers left the bench after 2003-04 to become Nashville Community High School Principal. He would return as a Volunteer Assistant for RLC product Darin Lee, then retired as an administrator after 35 years in education to succeed Lee as NCHS Head Coach in 2009. He has led the Hornets to a record of 86-36 (.705) and the 2013 Regional title.
His record as a Head Coach is 477-324 (.596), with 10 league titles.
When he was welcomed into the McKendree Sports Hall of Fame, he was deemed “an outstanding credit to McKendree College and his community. Not only has he led winning teams, but his teams always exhibit respect for opponents, dignity in victory or defeat and good sportsmanship. His influence on his players extends beyond their high school years.”
Weathers was District 19 Class A “Coach of the Year” in 1988 and both IBCA and Southern Illinois Coaches Association Class A “Coach of the Year” in 1989. He is a Past President of the SICA and serves on the IBCA Board of Directors and the IHSA Basketball Advisory Committee.
James Bradley Weathers and wife Cindi are the parents of three adult children – Lindsay Fark, who has worked at Carlyle Jr. High five years; Patrick, who has been NCHS Sophomore Coach four seasons, and Holly, a senior at McKendree who coaches the high school Dance Team.
As a player, he learned from three of the best – Hall-of-Famers Rich Herrin (BCHS), Jim Waugh (RLC) and Harry Statham (McKendree). The Warriors were 18-11 his first season, 20-6 (7-1 Southern Illinois College Conference champs) the second year.
Among teammates – 2011 RLCF “Alumnus of the Year” Ron Smith, SIUC Associate Head Coach at the time and a former Ranger as well, and GRAC Basketball Official Steve Morris, MVTHS Softball Coach.
Other coaching alums/Weathers teammates include John Kretz, who returned to RLC early in his coaching career and is now a member of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee; Greg Hale, Executive Director of the Southern Illinois Jr. High School Athletic Association after retiring as Pinckneyville Community H.S. Softball Coach; David Loucks; Don Smith; Mike Guthrie, and Mike Hayes.

2006 Cross Country Team

Marked improvement in Fall 2006 did not seem likely for the Winged Warriors when individual champion Tyson David (Kenya) burst through the finish line first for Central Arizona C.C. Close behind were CACC teammates in fifth- and sixth-place.
But fellow African Elkanah Kibet (Eldoret, Kenya), despite a tactical error during the race, managed to finish third as RLC’s expected frontrunner. Freshman Kibet, who paced himself initially with a frontrunner who was unable to maintain the speed, was timed in 22:44, behind the 22:36 of David and the 22:41 of runner-up Daniel Maina of Cowley County (Kan.) over the flat, 8K El Paso, Texas, course.
Don’t jump to conclusions. First-Team All-American Kibet had some friends of his own not too far behind. Teammates Steeve Gabart (Miami Shores, FL) and Cory Currie (Ontario, Canada) were Second-Team All-America and All-America Honorable Mention, respectively. Gabart was ninth in 24:07 and Currie was 11th in 24:24.
And Kibet had more of them. More friends, that is. Fast friends forever. Better balance from Kyle Cash (Greenup), 19th in 24:55, and Ahmed Mohamed (Carol Stream), 26th in 25:16. The latter two were acknowledged as NJCAA Cross-Country Coaches Association All-America for being in the Top 15 American-born participants.
Every Rend Lake College entrant set his season PR (personal record).
Discounting any placements of top runners competing as individuals rather than members of a team, Coach Brent McLain’s five-man Warrior contingent racked up a low total of 64 points – 3-9-11-19-26, minus four independent runners – to 74 for second-place Central Arizona, whose last two runners could do no better than a combined 62 points. Let’s hear it for Cash and Mohamed. Butler County (KS) C.C. was a distant third with 107 points. There were 26 teams vying for honors.
Also competing for Team RLC were Jeremy Whitaker (Granite City) in 67th-place (26:12) and Trevor Popravak (Ft. Myers, FL), 77th in 26:26.
McLain indicated this victory “was the sweetest of all four” earned by his program. No doubt, in part, because it had Division I distinction.
“Regarding his team’s reaction,” Rend Lake College Sports Information Director Narthan Wheeler reported, “McLain said it was the most exciting running achievement for (the Warriors) to date. However, the pride runs deeper than the seven runners who brought home a championship.
“ ‘This isn’t just for the team or the Athletics program,’ ” Wheeler quoted McLain. “ ‘This one is for the entire Rend Lake College family. It’s for everyone who has supported us.’ ”
The expanded 2006-07 Cross-Country Team also counted Assistant Coach Mark McCall, Phil Mevert (Steeleville), Robert Kapsoiyo (Eldoret, Kenya), Chris Rengifo (Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada), Alphonso Shepherd (Dayton, OH), Stephen Williams (Marion), Andrew Acuna (Indianapolis, IN), John Kennedy (Pittsboro, IN) and Ty Williams (Panama City, FL) among its ranks.
Kibet was back in Fall 2007, repeating as a First-Team All-American in fifth. The Warriors were fourth as a team. Team members also included Whitaker and Kapsoiyo.

CHAMPS - The 2006 national championship cross country team is greeted upon their return from Texas to the Rend Lake College campus. L-R, Kyle Cash (Greenup, Ill.), Jeremy Whitaker (Granite City, Ill.), Trevor Popravak (Fort Myers, Fla.) , Cory Currie (Ontario, Can.), Steeve Gabart (Miami Shores, Fla.), Ahmed Mohamed (Carol Stream, Ill.), Head Coach Brent McLain, Elkanah Kibet (Eldoret, Ken.), Assistant Coach Mark McCall. (Photo by Nathan Wheeler/RLC Sports Information)

CHAMPS – The 2006 national championship cross country team is greeted upon their return from Texas to the Rend Lake College campus. L-R, Kyle Cash (Greenup, Ill.), Jeremy Whitaker (Granite City, Ill.), Trevor Popravak (Fort Myers, Fla.) , Cory Currie (Ontario, Can.), Steeve Gabart (Miami Shores, Fla.), Ahmed Mohamed (Carol Stream, Ill.), Head Coach Brent McLain, Elkanah Kibet (Eldoret, Ken.), Assistant Coach Mark McCall. (Photo by Nathan Wheeler/RLC Sports Information)

 

Filed Under: Featured

Salukis to play first-ever college football game at Busch Stadium

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ST. LOUIS – Southern Illinois will play Southeast Missouri State at Busch Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21, marking the first football game in the storied tradition of that stadium and giving St. Louis-area fans and alumni of the two schools an opportunity to see the teams in their own backyard.

Dale Lennon speaks at Busch Stadium on Monday.

Dale Lennon speaks at Busch Stadium on Monday.

The official announcement of the game took place during a press conference on Monday and is the culmination of months of behind-the-scenes work between officials at SIU, SEMO and the Major League Baseball Cardinals. The pro franchise will rent-out the facility for the day while their team is out of town for a week during the regular season.

“We are thrilled to host our first football game in Busch Stadium with two great schools that have such a large following in St. Louis,” said Bill DeWitt III, President of the Cardinals. “We are excited to showcase the versatility of Busch Stadium as a multi-use venue ideally suited for special football games like this historic game between two longstanding rivals.”

SIU Chancellor Dr. Rita Cheng lauded the cooperation between the schools as a key factor in securing the agreement to play the non-conference game at a neutral site.

“We have a great rivalry on the field, but off the field, we share the commitment to student success and the success of our communities,” Cheng said. “It’s fitting that we should have this historic event in this beautiful stadium.”

Combined, the two University have approximately 40,000 alumni in the St. Louis area, plus thousands of current students.

“Nearly 40 percent of this year’s freshman class at Southeast is from the greater St. Louis region,” said Kenneth W. Dobbins, President of Southeast Missouri State University. “Playing this game at Busch Stadium is exciting for all our students and great exposure for our University and the Redhawk football program.”

The 80-game series between two schools separated by just 45 miles dates all the way back to 1909. While the Redhawks hold a 39-33-8 advantage overall, Southern has won six of the last seven meetings.

“It’s intense — it’s what you want in a rivalry,” said SIU head coach Dale Lennon. “Now you put it in the city of St. Louis where both programs recruit heavily, you have the alumni bases that are very strong in the community — I hope we can make something special.”

Tickets will go on sale June 3 and prices start at $5 for students and $10 for adults. Fans will be able to purchase seats through the Cardinals website at Cardinals.com/football, and each school will have blocks of tickets to sell on consignment.

“This game can only be a success if our fans rally behind it and support this,” said SIU Deputy AD Chet Savage. “I make an open call to Saluki Nation — whether you’re in the St. Louis area or Metro-East, Carbondale and beyond, we’d love to see you here September 21st at Busch Stadium for a first-class event.”

busch field

Filed Under: College Sports, More Featured Articles

Terror will never win … It’s a new day

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

I was en route to broadcast a high school baseball game on Monday afternoon when I heard about the explosions that rocked the area near the finish line of the famed Boston Marathon.

muir mug ihsaAs we have become accustomed (or calloused) to, the news broadcast was giving sketchy details about the the incident – details that here in the 21st Century we know will get worse.

After I arrived at the press box at Eovaldi Field at Benton Community Park I went about the task of getting my equipment set up with that old familiar question rolling through my mind: What is wrong with people? And like I did please feel free to drag the word ‘wrong’ out. It seems to help me with the helpless, hopeless, irritating, frustrating, infuriating madness that we now know is a way of life at any location on the globe.

And really I can’t say I was surprised because I have feared, dreaded is a better word, the day that sporting events that are such a part of our makeup and fabric, were targeted by insanity. For the umpteenth time, the red line of the unthinkable has been moved again.

I went ahead with the ballgame – Benton vs. Murphysboro – which of course was the only thing I knew to do. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get going, is what my dad would have told me, so that’s what I did. I mentioned at the top of the broadcast the old standby line, ‘our thoughts and prayers are with the good folks in Boston’ and then I trudged ahead.

It was a good ballgame with the Rangers falling behind early 2-0 but then rallying for 5 runs in the third inning on some timely hitting and base running. Benton tacked on three more runs late and won 8-4. The Rangers had dropped three in a row coming in so it was nice to see them get back on the winning track.

I take a 60 second commercial between every half inning and I found myself scouring the news apps on my phone to try and get an update (or perhaps make sense) after the tragedy in Boston. A day of celebration and triumph in one of America’s greatest cities will now forever be marked by a tragedy. The date April 15, 2013 will now be linked with a growing list of dates and locations, an infamous list of dates and locations where evil and terror showed up to try and destroy innocence and a way of life.

But that won’t happen. Never. Ever. Never.  And let me explain why that won’t happen.

As I went about the task of unhooking my equipment and putting it neatly away I glanced out the press box window at Benton Community Park, which was a virtual beehive of activity. Games or practices going on at five fields and players and coaches raking and working on Eovaldi Field where the game had just been completed. I could see people walking dogs, using the concrete walking track that winds around the sprawling park.  Young girls in a group huddled up talking, children in the playground area. Life goes on, I thought.

As I walked to my truck a girl’s softball game was in progress, the good smell of the concession stand filled the air and the sun broke through a cloud cover and shined brightly. People were relaxing in lawn chairs, visiting, watching children and grandchildren learn the very American games of baseball and softball. I’m a decent wordsmith but I would have trouble trying to describe the feeling that this scene gave me.  In the words of the old country song, ‘I guess you had to be there.’

But there was one sight that stood out to me and caused me to stop before entering my truck and just watch and take it all in.

On Field 2, a field I had coached young boys on many years ago, I watched a coach give instruction on running the bases. ‘Catch the inside of the bag with your foot,’ he properly instructed the youngsters that I guessed to be seven or eight years old. And as each youngster ran the bases and crossed home plate he was greeted with a high five and a pat on the back. Again, there were people in lawn chairs taking in the practice, watching, chatting, living.

As I stood and watched these young boys learning the wonderful game of baseball – a game that they will teach their children to love someday — it crossed my mind that this is why cowards working in the shadows cannot destroy our way of life.

They might be able to blow up a building, a car, or an airplane but they cannot blow up our way of life. And the people that are hellbent on trying to destroy our way of life know nothing about the makeup of Americans or they would know just how futile their attempts are. There are thousands of recreational facilities just like Benton Community Park that dot the landscape across our great country where the same activities I witnessed played out yesterday and will continue today, tomorrow and forever.

While the cowards slither off into the darkness of their miserable life to plan their next terror attack Americans will move forward – proud, unwavering, resilient and a maybe a little defiant – knowing that a gutless act of terror will not change us or our way of life. Let me say it again. Never. Ever. Never.

It’s a new day. God Bless America … and batter up!

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, Opinion

Doug Collins to step down as 76ers coach at end of season

April 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Multiple news sources reporting that Benton native Doug Collins will step down from coaching the Philadelphia 76ers at the end of the season.  Here’s the link at ESPN.

espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9172277/philadelphia-76ers-coach-doug-collins-planning-resign-season-end-according-source

Filed Under: More Featured Articles

Benton police make weekend arrests

April 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Benton police make weekend arrests:

On April 13, 2013 Benton Police arrested Shannon L. Brake, age 34, of Benton on an active Jefferson County warrant for failure to appear. Brake was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On April 13, 2013 Benton Police arrested David P. Gosnell, age 32, of Benton for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Gosnell was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, More Featured Articles
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