Thursday's are "Football Fever" days. Basically, I have set myself into a fall routine with the hectic IHSSN items to update. On Sundays, I finish the weekly stat leaders, and begin on the following week's broadcast schedule (http://www.ihssn.net/2010/week-six-football-games). The broadcast schedule gets finished on Monday night. Tuesday is Coaches Poll day (http://www.ihssn.net/2010-football/preseason), while also getting some other web pages finished (such as the videos page: http://www.ihssn.net/football/2010-illinois-high-school-volleyball.
Wednesday has been the work ahead day, getting basketball previews in. http://www.ihssn.net/table/2010-11-boy-s-basketball/.
Thursday is when the preparation goes into overload for the weekend's football broadcasts. It is very hard to juggle a Friday night high school broadcast, followed by a Saturday afternoon college broadcast, but I map it out well ahead of time to be prepared.
This week, in looking at the local sports schedule, I noticed that Galesburg was hosting multiple events on the GHS campus. The Galesburg pregame interview is done following the Streaks Thursday football practice, as I watch the final 30-40 minutes of practice and then talk to coach Wes Olson.
After our talk today, I picked up the video camera and headed over to the tennis courts, as the Streaks were hosting Peoria Notre Dame. It was a beautiful afternoon, with temperatures in the upper 60's to low 70's and the sun beating down. Video was shot from center court, where Galesburg's Rachel Sensabaugh was battling Notre Dame's Kelly Rice. Video will be added to the IHSSN video page later. Sensabaugh would win that matchup, 6-3, 6-3.
I headed over to the other court where Notre Dame's Maggie Shadid was facing Galesburg's Jessica Witherell. Shadid won, 7-5, 6-7, 10-4.
In the middle of the latter matchup, I noticed it was getting later and the soccer match would be wrapping up. Walking across the GHS campus past the football grandstand, the Monmouth-Roseville/Galesburg soccer match was tied, 1-1, early in the second half. Standing along the far sideline, some video was shot (also heading to the IHSSN video page shortly). Nothing much of significance was taken, and the score would end in a tie.
After taking some video, I walked across near the scorer's table and talked with Marty Touchette of the Monmouth Review-Atlas and Jeff Holt from Galesburg's The Paper. Marty and I discussed different things in our respective media fields, and where the future of local media could be headed.
Spoke with both head coaches following the game, Monmouth-Roseville's Aaron Sikorski and Galesburg's Tim Redington.
One more contest to take in before calling it a night. United Township was in town for a Western Big 6 volleyball match with the Silver Streaks. The sophomore match was in the middle of the second set when arriving. I ducked into the near tunnel next to the bleachers and spoke with Pete Thierry briefly.
At the end of the sophomore match, I exited that area as the varsity was getting ready to run out onto the court. I made my way over behind the benches near the scorer's table and said hello to Robb Strack (Galesburg Register-Mail). During warmups, I was able to avoid some errant volleyballs. Every volleyball match I cover, it seems as though at least a dozen people get hit in the face with loose volleyballs. I should take video of warmups, and put together a collage of those....or maybe not!
Galesburg freshman football coach Brad Swanson and sophomore basketball coach Ryan Hart emerged from the coaches room area, and talked with them for a few minutes. Swanson stuck around for the volleyball match and talked about some of the girls. He is also a fresh/soph softball coach, and many of the girls played the spring sport.
Injured Silver Streak Kelsey Meredith sang the National Anthem and did a tremendous job, garnering a lot of cheers from the fans.
I was impressed with the athleticsm of Galesburg's Jorden Thomas. Amy Blucker also had a good night, with 11 kills. United Township got some very timely hitting, with some very key blocks and digs throughout both sets in their 25-17, 25-19 win. Erin Walker led UTHS with 9 kills, and along with Bailey Escontrias, had a great game for the Panthers.
After the match, I spoke with Marla Clay for a few minutes to get postgame comments. She felt the defense was where the Streaks lacked in the loss, that dropped them to 8-10 on the season, and 1-4 in the Western Big 6.
A long day, but a lot accomplished. More work to get done, and it's a Football Friday!!!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
IHSSN: From the Archives (1975 Football)
IHSSN has dug into the archives for the football relics from the fall of 1975. Enjoy!
Alleman Pioneers Football (1975)
Stronghurst Southern Football Roster (1975)
ROVA and Abingdon Football Rosters (1975)
Princeville Princes Football Roster (1975)
Stronghurst Southern Playoffs Program (1975)
Geneseo and Mendota Football Rosters (1975)
Forrest-Strawn-Wing Football Roster (1975)
Football Playoffs Preview (1975)
Farmington & Eureka Football Rosters (1975)
ALLEMAN PIONEERS 1975 FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Alleman Pioneers Football (1975)
Stronghurst Southern Football Roster (1975)
ROVA and Abingdon Football Rosters (1975)
Princeville Princes Football Roster (1975)
Stronghurst Southern Playoffs Program (1975)
Geneseo and Mendota Football Rosters (1975)
Forrest-Strawn-Wing Football Roster (1975)
Football Playoffs Preview (1975)
Farmington & Eureka Football Rosters (1975)
ALLEMAN PIONEERS 1975 FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Catching Up
A Potpourri of IHSSN Musings
It's been a whirling dervish around the IHSSN offices (a.k.a. a corner in my home office/laundry room), over the past few days. Here's a reader's digest version of what's happening with www.ihssn.net at the time in present.
Powder Puff Football
For the fourth year, I have announced the powder puff football game during Homecoming week at Bushnell-Prairie City High School. When it began, my then-broadcast partner Tony Davis (now the head softball coach at Lowpoint-Washburn) teamed up to provide a mish-mash of play-by-play, P.A. announcing, and comedy/entertainment for the crowd on hand. For the past two years, Dave Arnold (B-PC/A baseball coach) has assisted. Last year, we had the girls create fun facts for themselves. Some of the fun facts are general ("likes the color purple"), while others are, quite honestly, a little strange ("likes to meap"). Never did find out what meaping is. Once again, the Class of 2011 claimed the Powder Puff championship this year. The seniors never lost a powder puff game, going 8-0 in competition during their high school career. A number of different folks were in the press box for the affair with us. Football coach John McCormick (who joined us between games for a bit), trainer Doc Wakefield, and Spartans basketball coach Matt Colston (running the scoreboard). Coach McCormick's wife, Bridget, and B-PC student council advisor Kim Rench were also on board for the fun upstairs.
The Basketball Transition
IHSSN is in the transition period between fall and winter, already. Basketball previews have gone up, with a half dozen online already. Expect more to come, as we are at a crazy pace to publish as many as possible. Links below.
Boy's Basketball Previews. http://www.ihssn.net/table/2010-11-boy-s-basketball/
Girl's Basketball Previews. http://www.ihssn.net/table/girl-s-basketball/
IHSSN Basketball Coaches Polls
Some emails have been sent to coaches gauging interest in this year's coaches polls. There will be a top ten for each class in both boy's and girl's basketball. Any head coach or assistant coach wanting to participate, please email beauspencer82@hotmail.com. The preseason voting will begin in mid-to-late October.
Football Stats
The weekly stat leaderboard is coming along quite nicely. http://www.ihssn.net/football/week-5-stat-leaders. Coaches, if you could be so kind to send me along any stat leaders, it would be greatly appreciated (beauspencer82@hotmail.com).
Broadcast Central
IHSSN Broadcast Central has offered visitors between 45-55 online football broadcasts this fall. That number should bump up, as we will offer links to live VIDEO broadcasts for week six, thanks to our partnership with iHigh (www.ihigh.com).
Broadcast Central II
Plans are in the works for a Broadcast Central this basketball season. Due to other concerns with the website, it was not continued into the winter last year. A template is under construction to prepare for the cyclone that is a winter broadcast season. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, it will not be as up-to-date as the football broadcast central, though we will work as hard as possible to make this happen.
IHSSN Coaches Poll "How They Fared" for Week 5
It's been a whirling dervish around the IHSSN offices (a.k.a. a corner in my home office/laundry room), over the past few days. Here's a reader's digest version of what's happening with www.ihssn.net at the time in present.
Powder Puff Football
For the fourth year, I have announced the powder puff football game during Homecoming week at Bushnell-Prairie City High School. When it began, my then-broadcast partner Tony Davis (now the head softball coach at Lowpoint-Washburn) teamed up to provide a mish-mash of play-by-play, P.A. announcing, and comedy/entertainment for the crowd on hand. For the past two years, Dave Arnold (B-PC/A baseball coach) has assisted. Last year, we had the girls create fun facts for themselves. Some of the fun facts are general ("likes the color purple"), while others are, quite honestly, a little strange ("likes to meap"). Never did find out what meaping is. Once again, the Class of 2011 claimed the Powder Puff championship this year. The seniors never lost a powder puff game, going 8-0 in competition during their high school career. A number of different folks were in the press box for the affair with us. Football coach John McCormick (who joined us between games for a bit), trainer Doc Wakefield, and Spartans basketball coach Matt Colston (running the scoreboard). Coach McCormick's wife, Bridget, and B-PC student council advisor Kim Rench were also on board for the fun upstairs.
The Basketball Transition
IHSSN is in the transition period between fall and winter, already. Basketball previews have gone up, with a half dozen online already. Expect more to come, as we are at a crazy pace to publish as many as possible. Links below.
Boy's Basketball Previews. http://www.ihssn.net/table/2010-11-boy-s-basketball/
Girl's Basketball Previews. http://www.ihssn.net/table/girl-s-basketball/
IHSSN Basketball Coaches Polls
Some emails have been sent to coaches gauging interest in this year's coaches polls. There will be a top ten for each class in both boy's and girl's basketball. Any head coach or assistant coach wanting to participate, please email beauspencer82@hotmail.com. The preseason voting will begin in mid-to-late October.
Football Stats
The weekly stat leaderboard is coming along quite nicely. http://www.ihssn.net/football/week-5-stat-leaders. Coaches, if you could be so kind to send me along any stat leaders, it would be greatly appreciated (beauspencer82@hotmail.com).
Broadcast Central
IHSSN Broadcast Central has offered visitors between 45-55 online football broadcasts this fall. That number should bump up, as we will offer links to live VIDEO broadcasts for week six, thanks to our partnership with iHigh (www.ihigh.com).
Broadcast Central II
Plans are in the works for a Broadcast Central this basketball season. Due to other concerns with the website, it was not continued into the winter last year. A template is under construction to prepare for the cyclone that is a winter broadcast season. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, it will not be as up-to-date as the football broadcast central, though we will work as hard as possible to make this happen.
IHSSN Coaches Poll "How They Fared" for Week 5
Class 1A
1) Tuscola: beat Warrensburg-Latham (53-7)
2) Dakota: LOST to (2A RV) Eastland/Pearl City (20-25)
3) Moweaqua Central A&M: beat Argenta-Oreana (37-6)
4) Brown County: beat (1A #7) Routt (17-7)
5) Triopia: beat Virginia/A-C Central (60-0)
6) Lewistown: beat Peoria Heights (69-0)
7) Routt: LOST to (1A #4) Brown County (7-17)
T8) Aquin: beat Durand (8-0)
T8) Villa Grove: beat Martinsville (54-6)
10) East Dubuque: beat Ashton-Franklin Center (63-7)
Receiving Votes
North Fulton: beat (1A RV) Bushnell-Prairie City/Avon (53-12)
Galena: beat Milledgeville (55-0)
B-PC/A: LOST to (1A RV) North Fulton (12-53)
Lexington: LOST to LeRoy (28-47)
Class 2A
1) Sterling Newman: beat Ottawa Marquette (54-0)
2) Casey-Westfield: beat Vincennes (Lincoln), IN (41-13)
3) Stark County: beat West Prairie (69-0)
4) Marshall: beat Oblong (33-12)
T5) Maroa-Forsyth: beat Macon Meridian (49-0)
T5) Morrison: beat Riverdale (12-0)
7) Clifton Central: beat St. Thomas More (47-21)
8) Lena-Winslow: beat Princeton (49-14)
9) Westville: beat Milford (47-0)
10) Mercer County: beat Princeville (34-8)
Receiving Votes
Deer Creek-Mackinaw: beat Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (43-7)
Eastland/Pearl City: beat (1A #2) Dakota (25-20)
Carlinville: beat Roxana (30-7)
Rockridge: beat (3A RV) Central/Southeastern (21-10)
Staunton: beat Pawnee (6-5)
Orion: beat Monmouth-Roseville (35-28)
Class 3A
1) Illini West: beat West Hancock (42-14)
2) Mt. Carmel: beat Washington, IN (22-20)
3) Wilmington: beat Seneca (42-12)
4) Greenville: beat Alton Marquette (66-34)
5) Nashville: beat Pinckneyville (55-6)
6) Auburn: beat Riverton (49-7)
7) Tolono Unity: beat Sullivan (61-14)
8) Decatur St. Teresa: beat Shelbyville (45-0)
9) Immaculate Conception: LOST to Woodstock Marian (7-54)
10) Aurora Christian: beat (4A #8) Elgin St. Edward (29-22)
Receiving Votes
Central/Southeastern: LOST to (2A RV) Rockridge (10-21)
Red Bud: beat Freeburg (27-7)
Oregon: LOST to (4A #4) Stillman Valley (13-38)
DuQuoin: LOST to Carterville (12-27)
Class 4A
1) Quincy Notre Dame: beat Peoria Central (34-0)
2) Rochester: beat Taylorville (41-6)
3) Breese Mater Dei: beat Breese Central (53-0)
4) Stillman Valley: beat (3A RV) Oregon (38-13)
5) Richmond-Burton: beat Burlington Central (34-6)
6) Geneseo: beat Dixon (41-8)
7) Bishop McNamara: LOST to (7A #5) St. Rita (21-41)
8) Elgin St. Edward: LOST to (3A #10) Aurora Christian (22-29)
T9) Alleman: beat Galesburg (21-7)
T9) Pontiac: beat (4A RV) Bloomington Central Catholic (28-10)
Receiving Votes
Bloomington Central Catholic: LOST to (4A #9) Pontiac (10-28)
Class 5A
1) Joliet Catholic: beat Nazareth Academy (57-0)
2) Richwoods: beat Peoria Notre Dame (36-0)
3) Vernon Hills: beat (6A #7) Antioch (34-0)
4) Metamora: beat Dunlap (49-21)
5) Sacred Heart-Griffin: beat (6A #6) Springfield (35-21)
6) Sycamore: beat (5A #9) Sterling (30-5)
7) Marion: beat Mt. Vernon (38-20)
8) Montini: beat Aurora Central Catholic (48-0)
9) Sterling: LOST to (5A #6) Sycamore (5-30)
10) Lincoln-Way West: beat Tinley Park Andrew (23-20)
Receiving Votes
Tinley Park: LOST to Oak Forest (29-35 - OT)
Washington: beat Pekin (44-14)
Class 6A
1) Danville: beat Normal West (28-20)
2) Lemont: beat Thornton Fractional South (23-17)
3) Rock Island: beat United Township (39-6)
4) Normal Community: beat Champaign Centennial (31-7)
5) Morgan Park: vs. Vocational (Sat. night)
6) Springfield: LOST to (5A #5) Sacred Heart-Griffin (21-35)
7) Antioch: LOST to (5A #3) Vernon Hills (0-34)
8) Hubbard: beat Bogan (43-6)
T9) Marmion Academy: beat Guerin (52-0)
T9) Lake Forest: LOST to (8A #3) Stevenson (20-41)
Receiving Votes
Prairie Ridge: beat Lake Forest Academy (48-6)
Oak Lawn Richards: beat Burbank Reavis (34-14)
Robeson: beat Chicago Marshall (57-0)
Class 7A
1) Wheaton-Warrenville South: beat (8A #5) Naperville North (41-13)
2) Glenbard West: beat Proviso West (41-15)
3) East St. Louis: beat O'Fallon (52-6)
4) Carmel: beat (8A RV) Marist (20-16)
5) St. Rita: beat (4A #7) Bishop McNamara (41-21)
6) Lake Zurich: beat Libertyville (44-22)
7) Crystal Lake South: beat Dundee-Crown (40-0)
8) Elk Grove: beat Buffalo Grove (23-7)
T9) Lincoln-Way East: beat Homewood Flossmoor (31-21)
T9) Rockford Boylan: beat Rockford Jefferson (47-8)
Receiving Votes
Wheaton North: beat West Aurora (21-13)
Class 8A
1) Glenbard North: beat West Chicago (42-14)
2) Simeon: beat Curie (42-0)
3) Stevenson: beat (6A #9) Lake Forest (41-20)
4) Minooka: LOST to Plainfield South (31-41)
5) Naperville North: LOST to (7A #1) Wheaton-Warrenville South (13-41)
6) Belleville East: vs. Belleville West (Sat.)
7) Lyons Township: beat Oak Park-River Forest (14-9)
8) Schaumburg: beat Fremd (17-14)
9) South Elgin: beat Neuqua Valley (21-14)
10) Loyola: beat St. Ignatius (35-0)
Receiving Votes
Mt. Carmel: beat De La Salle (35-14)
Marist: LOST to (7A #4) Carmel (16-20)
Friday, September 24, 2010
Game Day: Alleman @ Galesburg
ALLEMAN @ GALEBSURG
GAME NOTES
9/24/10
It's a big night in the Western Big 6. The Galesburg Silver Streaks (3-1, 1-0) host the Alleman Pioneers (4-0, 1-0) at C.C. Van Dyke Field. The Pioneers are tied for 9th in Class 4A in this week's IHSSN Coaches Poll (http://www.ihssn.net/2010-football/preseason). The Pioneers defense has allowed just 34 points in four games, while the Galesburg offense has scored 150 points. The Streaks have also averaged 420 yards of total offense, led by Robert Jackson (534 yards) and Andrew Steck (501 yards) on the ground. Steck has completed 14-17 for 264 yards in the passing game.
Truth be told, the Streaks have not really been tested halfway through the season. The win-loss record for Galesburg's opponents is (5-11). However, Alleman's opponents are (6-10). The Pioneers fought to a 13-6 win over then Class 7A state ranked (AP) Quincy last week.
Last year's game was a 7-0 decision in favor of the Alleman Pioneers. Turnovers plagued the Silver Streaks in that game, and that is the biggest key of the game for Coach Wes Olson, is ball security. Olson also said controlling the lines is crucial.
Tune into AM 1590 WAIK (www.1590waik.com) for a broadcast extravaganza tonight at 7:00. Analysis from both head coaches (Wes Olson - Galesburg & Dave DeJaegher - Alleman), along with sophomore Streaks head coach Jake Miller. We will also get an update on all GHS athletics with Athletic Director Ralph Henning. Galesburg Register-Mail Streaks beat writer Aaron Frey will join us at halftime, and defensive coordinator Shawn Hickey gives us postgame analysis. This week's guest announcer is Dennis Staggs.
Here are tonight's starting lineups....
GAME NOTES
9/24/10
It's a big night in the Western Big 6. The Galesburg Silver Streaks (3-1, 1-0) host the Alleman Pioneers (4-0, 1-0) at C.C. Van Dyke Field. The Pioneers are tied for 9th in Class 4A in this week's IHSSN Coaches Poll (http://www.ihssn.net/2010-football/preseason). The Pioneers defense has allowed just 34 points in four games, while the Galesburg offense has scored 150 points. The Streaks have also averaged 420 yards of total offense, led by Robert Jackson (534 yards) and Andrew Steck (501 yards) on the ground. Steck has completed 14-17 for 264 yards in the passing game.
Truth be told, the Streaks have not really been tested halfway through the season. The win-loss record for Galesburg's opponents is (5-11). However, Alleman's opponents are (6-10). The Pioneers fought to a 13-6 win over then Class 7A state ranked (AP) Quincy last week.
Last year's game was a 7-0 decision in favor of the Alleman Pioneers. Turnovers plagued the Silver Streaks in that game, and that is the biggest key of the game for Coach Wes Olson, is ball security. Olson also said controlling the lines is crucial.
Tune into AM 1590 WAIK (www.1590waik.com) for a broadcast extravaganza tonight at 7:00. Analysis from both head coaches (Wes Olson - Galesburg & Dave DeJaegher - Alleman), along with sophomore Streaks head coach Jake Miller. We will also get an update on all GHS athletics with Athletic Director Ralph Henning. Galesburg Register-Mail Streaks beat writer Aaron Frey will join us at halftime, and defensive coordinator Shawn Hickey gives us postgame analysis. This week's guest announcer is Dennis Staggs.
Here are tonight's starting lineups....
| TONIGHT'S STARTERS | ||||||||||||
| GALESBURG | ALLEMAN | |||||||||||
| QB | 11 | Andrew Steck | 5'11" | 180 | SR | DT | 50 | Jon Fieweger | 6'0" | 240 | SR | |
| FB | 24 | Robert Jackson | 5'10" | 165 | SR | DT | 79 | Alex Wilson | 6'4" | 300 | SR | |
| Slot | 5 | Andy Holloway | 5'8" | 165 | SR | NG | 53 | Tanner Wood | 6'0" | 195 | JR | |
| Slot | 22 | Travon Diggins | 5'8" | 160 | SO | DE | 69 | Nick Kavanaugh | 6'0" | 200 | SR | |
| WR | 10 | Nathan Mines | 5'9" | 155 | SR | DE | 95 | Matthew Correthers | 6'3" | 200 | SR | |
| WR | 14 | Jared Carl | 6'4" | 170 | SR | LB | 44 | Michael Peters | 6'0" | 160 | SR | |
| RG | 66 | Tyler Brackett | 6'0" | 195 | JR | LB | 51 | Jacob Sharp | 6'1" | 215 | SR | |
| LG | 50 | Cole Spinks | 6'1" | 225 | SR | CB | 9 | Kevin McGinnis | 5'11" | 170 | SR | |
| C | 63 | Ryan Ricketts | 6'4" | 265 | SR | CB | 24 | Justin Quintana | 5'8" | 145 | SR | |
| LT | 55 | Kevin Heard | 6'2" | 250 | SR | SS | 27 | Kevin Wetherell | 5'11" | 170 | SR | |
| RT | 75 | Matt Taylor | 6'3" | 230 | SR | FS | 46 | Ryan Sheley | 6'0" | 170 | SR | |
| ALLEMAN | GALESBURG | |||||||||||
| QB | 5 | Tim Boland | 6'1" | 185 | SR | NG | 55 | Kevin Heard | 6'2" | 250 | SR | |
| FB | 33 | Max Mendoza | 5'9" | 180 | JR | DE | 63 | Ryan Ricketts | 6'4" | 265 | SR | |
| HB | 24 | Justin Quintana | 5'8" | 145 | SR | DE | 15 | Tyler Inness | 6'3" | 200 | SR | |
| HB | 27 | Kevin Wetherell | 5'11" | 170 | SR | ILB | 35 | Drew Carlson | 5'11" | 185 | JR | |
| TE | 95 | Matthew Correthers | 6'3" | 200 | SR | ILB | 25 | Trimaine Carson | 6'1" | 185 | SR | |
| SE | 46 | Ryan Sheley | 6'0" | 170 | SR | MLB | 50 | Cole Spinks | 6'1" | 225 | SR | |
| OT | 50 | Jon Fieweger | 6'0" | 240 | SR | OLB | 14 | Jared Carl | 6'4" | 170 | SR | |
| OT | 77 | Nick Janoski | 6'2" | 245 | SR | OLB | 2 | Dee Dortch | 5'5" | 160 | SR | |
| C | 52 | Dan Saskowski | 6'2" | 180 | SR | CB | 1 | Chaz Benton | 5'9" | 145 | SR | |
| OG | 51 | Jacob Sharp | 6'1" | 215 | SR | CB | 24 | Robert Jackson | 5'10" | 165 | SR | |
| OG | 62 | Kyle Nelson | 5'11" | 175 | SR | FS | 5 | Andy Holloway | 5'8" | 165 | SR | |
| K | 84 | Patrick Ewald | 6'2" | 170 | SR | K | 35 | Drew Carlson | ||||
| P | 84 | Patrick Ewald | 6'2" | 170 | SR | P | 11 | Andrew Steck | ||||
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Random Takes Tuesday
Random Notes
Tuesday (9/21/10)
Apologies for the tardiness in blog updates recently. IHSSN updates were held off until Sunday night, due to a trip to Chicago over the weekend. Listened into the Dave Matthews Band concert at Wrigley Field from the comfort of the Goose Island patio across the street.
United High School Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
The inaugural Hall of Fame class at United High School will be inducted this Friday at halftime of the United/Ridgewood football game. United High School consists of the former Alexis, Monmouth Warren, and Yorkwood high schools. The initial consolidation of Alexis and Warren formed the school in 2004. That year, the Red Storm football team won the Class 1A state championship. That team will be inducted into the Class of 2010. Individuals being enshrined will be Anna Damos (athlete), Greg McGraw (athlete), Barb Bohan (coach), and Ben McIntosh (coach).
Congrats to West Prairie Volleyball Coach Teri Paul
West Prairie Cyclones volleyball coach Teri Paul won her 700th career match over the weekend at the Mt. Pulaski Fall Festival. The winning match was a (25-19, 25-20) decision over Eureka. Paul's coaching career began in 1982, guiding the Colchester Indians (Colchester is now apart of the West Prairie district). She has posted (11) 30-win seasons in her career, and has 9 trips to the state finals, including trophy finishes in five of them.
Football Milestone Reached: Bill Mitz Wins 200th Football Game
Algonquin Jacobs football coach Bill Mitz won his 200th football game as a head coach last Thursday. The Golden Eagles downed Grayslake Central (24-7) to give Mitz the milestone on his home field. It was Jacobs' home opener. In passing through Algonquin over the weekend, a billboard read: "First Home Football Game 9/16. Don't Mitz It." The team is now (3-1) on the season.
Basketball Update
Call me crazy, but I have turned focus from football and volleyball, to a mish-mash of the latter two sports, with basketball. Questionnaires started getting sent out to boy's and girl's basketball coaches last week. IHSSN is about halfway through the email list for coaches around the state. If you have not yet received a questionnaire, you can expedite the process by sending me an email at beauspencer82@hotmail.com. The first basketball previews will be written and published online (www.ihssn.net) this week.
Coaches Polls
Due to the success of the coaches polls last year in Class 1A & 2A girl's basketball, IHSSN has expanded the polls to all classes for both genders. An email will be sent out to coaches in the coming weeks to gauge interest. The basketball coaches polls are open to ANY head coach and assistant coach in the state. Please email beauspencer82@hotmail.com, if interested. Those that confirm voting status, will be added to the coaches poll mailing list. The preseason voting will open in mid-to-late October.
Volleyball Broadcast
The first IHSSN fall broadcast will take place next Tuesday. The volleyball broadcast will feature two of the top programs in small-school volleyball. Illini Central travels to Hartsburg-Emden. The broadcast will be available online at www.ihssn.net, through our audio broadcast partner, Network1Sports (www.network1sports.com). Hartem athletic director Rodney Knuppel was instrumental in organizing this broadcast. The hopes are to bring more volleyball broadcasts on IHSSN as we continue through the 2010 season, and approach the regionals.
Tuesday (9/21/10)
Apologies for the tardiness in blog updates recently. IHSSN updates were held off until Sunday night, due to a trip to Chicago over the weekend. Listened into the Dave Matthews Band concert at Wrigley Field from the comfort of the Goose Island patio across the street.
United High School Inaugural Hall of Fame Class
The inaugural Hall of Fame class at United High School will be inducted this Friday at halftime of the United/Ridgewood football game. United High School consists of the former Alexis, Monmouth Warren, and Yorkwood high schools. The initial consolidation of Alexis and Warren formed the school in 2004. That year, the Red Storm football team won the Class 1A state championship. That team will be inducted into the Class of 2010. Individuals being enshrined will be Anna Damos (athlete), Greg McGraw (athlete), Barb Bohan (coach), and Ben McIntosh (coach).
Congrats to West Prairie Volleyball Coach Teri Paul
West Prairie Cyclones volleyball coach Teri Paul won her 700th career match over the weekend at the Mt. Pulaski Fall Festival. The winning match was a (25-19, 25-20) decision over Eureka. Paul's coaching career began in 1982, guiding the Colchester Indians (Colchester is now apart of the West Prairie district). She has posted (11) 30-win seasons in her career, and has 9 trips to the state finals, including trophy finishes in five of them.
Football Milestone Reached: Bill Mitz Wins 200th Football Game
Algonquin Jacobs football coach Bill Mitz won his 200th football game as a head coach last Thursday. The Golden Eagles downed Grayslake Central (24-7) to give Mitz the milestone on his home field. It was Jacobs' home opener. In passing through Algonquin over the weekend, a billboard read: "First Home Football Game 9/16. Don't Mitz It." The team is now (3-1) on the season.
Basketball Update
Call me crazy, but I have turned focus from football and volleyball, to a mish-mash of the latter two sports, with basketball. Questionnaires started getting sent out to boy's and girl's basketball coaches last week. IHSSN is about halfway through the email list for coaches around the state. If you have not yet received a questionnaire, you can expedite the process by sending me an email at beauspencer82@hotmail.com. The first basketball previews will be written and published online (www.ihssn.net) this week.
Coaches Polls
Due to the success of the coaches polls last year in Class 1A & 2A girl's basketball, IHSSN has expanded the polls to all classes for both genders. An email will be sent out to coaches in the coming weeks to gauge interest. The basketball coaches polls are open to ANY head coach and assistant coach in the state. Please email beauspencer82@hotmail.com, if interested. Those that confirm voting status, will be added to the coaches poll mailing list. The preseason voting will open in mid-to-late October.
Volleyball Broadcast
The first IHSSN fall broadcast will take place next Tuesday. The volleyball broadcast will feature two of the top programs in small-school volleyball. Illini Central travels to Hartsburg-Emden. The broadcast will be available online at www.ihssn.net, through our audio broadcast partner, Network1Sports (www.network1sports.com). Hartem athletic director Rodney Knuppel was instrumental in organizing this broadcast. The hopes are to bring more volleyball broadcasts on IHSSN as we continue through the 2010 season, and approach the regionals.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Game Day: United Township @ Galesburg
United Township @ Galesburg
Western Big 6 Opener
9/17/10
Murphy's Law has reared it's ugly head interrupting my Friday. It all began with a cool shower, followed by a lukewarm coffee. After nearly spitting the first swig of my morning jolt onto my steering wheel, I knew this day is doomed to go awry.
As I unpacked my laptop back in my office....it was missing something. Ahhh yes...the ever so important power cord. Sure, any other day this week it would be a moot point, not today. It is needed for Friday night's football broadcast, since I run my own commercials back at the station from my computer on location.
Adding insult to injury, as I pull into Galesburg I am notified that the MARTI unit is not in working order. Keeping calm, I pondered why this issue wasn't brought to my attention earlier in the week. The one thing that did go right, was backup equipment was not being used. This is something that is a rarity with four broadcasts in one night.
I take all of the comments I blogged about last Friday regarding the stellar record of the broadcast equipment, and no problems on the day of the game. That was a big, fat jinx!
United Township snapped their 26-game losing streak in week one against Dixon (34-13), but enter the Western Big 6 opener on a 16-game league skid. The Panthers are (1-2). The Streaks are (2-1), but were not tested in their wins. The combined score by the Streaks in their 2010 victories is, 99-6.
Ron Litchfield is in his first season as head coach at UTHS, after spending his coaching career in the Kansas City, MO suburbs. In his most recent stint as a head coach, at Park Hill South, Litchfield guided the team t a (55-28) record and a berth in the Missouri Class 5A semifinals in 2004. As an assistant at Blue Springs, he was on staff for a Class 5A state championship (2001). Also of note: Litchfield was an assistant at Fort Osage (1994-98) when Albert Pujols was attending that high school.
Here are tonight's starters.
Western Big 6 Opener
9/17/10
Murphy's Law has reared it's ugly head interrupting my Friday. It all began with a cool shower, followed by a lukewarm coffee. After nearly spitting the first swig of my morning jolt onto my steering wheel, I knew this day is doomed to go awry.
As I unpacked my laptop back in my office....it was missing something. Ahhh yes...the ever so important power cord. Sure, any other day this week it would be a moot point, not today. It is needed for Friday night's football broadcast, since I run my own commercials back at the station from my computer on location.
Adding insult to injury, as I pull into Galesburg I am notified that the MARTI unit is not in working order. Keeping calm, I pondered why this issue wasn't brought to my attention earlier in the week. The one thing that did go right, was backup equipment was not being used. This is something that is a rarity with four broadcasts in one night.
I take all of the comments I blogged about last Friday regarding the stellar record of the broadcast equipment, and no problems on the day of the game. That was a big, fat jinx!
United Township snapped their 26-game losing streak in week one against Dixon (34-13), but enter the Western Big 6 opener on a 16-game league skid. The Panthers are (1-2). The Streaks are (2-1), but were not tested in their wins. The combined score by the Streaks in their 2010 victories is, 99-6.
Ron Litchfield is in his first season as head coach at UTHS, after spending his coaching career in the Kansas City, MO suburbs. In his most recent stint as a head coach, at Park Hill South, Litchfield guided the team t a (55-28) record and a berth in the Missouri Class 5A semifinals in 2004. As an assistant at Blue Springs, he was on staff for a Class 5A state championship (2001). Also of note: Litchfield was an assistant at Fort Osage (1994-98) when Albert Pujols was attending that high school.
Here are tonight's starters.
| TONIGHT'S STARTERS | ||||||||||||||
| GALESBURG | UNITED TOWNSHIP | |||||||||||||
| QB | 11 | Andrew Steck | 5'11" | 180 | SR | DE | 62 | Dalton Morse | 6'0" | 210 | SR | |||
| FB | 24 | Robert Jackson | 5'10" | 165 | SR | DT | 78 | Sam Simon | 5'8" | 220 | JR | |||
| Slot | 5 | Andy Holloway | 5'8" | 165 | SR | NG | 53 | Markus Murphy | 5'4" | 170 | SO | |||
| Slot | 22 | Travon Diggins | 5'8" | 160 | SO | DT | 77 | Mitch Beck | 6'0" | 230 | SR | |||
| WR | 10 | Nathan Mines | 5'9" | 155 | SR | DE | 75 | Tre Weeks | 6'1" | 220 | SR | |||
| WR | 14 | Jared Carl | 6'4" | 170 | SR | LB | 30 | Andrew Greer | 5'9" | 165 | SR | |||
| OG | 55 | Kevin Heard | 6'2" | 250 | SR | LB | 88 | Tyler Cox | 5'10" | 185 | SR | |||
| OG | 50 | Cole Spinks | 6'1" | 225 | SR | DB | 1 | Ryan Sodeman | 5'8" | 150 | SR | |||
| C | 63 | Ryan Ricketts | 6'4" | 265 | SR | DB | 20 | John Simon | 5'6" | 145 | JR | |||
| LT | 69 | Austin Finley | 6'2" | 260 | SR | DB | 42 | Dedrick Bonilla | 5'9" | 160 | JR | |||
| RT | 75 | Matt Taylor | 6'3" | 230 | SR | DB | 80 | Darnell Bennett | 5'7" | 155 | JR | |||
| KR | KR | |||||||||||||
| KR | KR | |||||||||||||
| UNITED TOWNSHIP | GALESBURG | |||||||||||||
| QB | 5 | Gilbert Venegas | 5'6" | 160 | JR | NG | 55 | Kevin Heard | 6'2" | 250 | SR | |||
| RB | 20 | John Simon | 5'6" | 145 | JR | DE | 63 | Ryan Ricketts | 6'4" | 265 | SR | |||
| RB | 30 | Andrew Greer | 5'9" | 165 | SR | DE | 15 | Tyler Inness | 6'3" | 200 | SR | |||
| WR | 11 | Brad Daniels | 5'11" | 165 | SR | ILB | 35 | Drew Carlson | 5'11" | 185 | JR | |||
| WR | 21 | Raimon Clay | 5'10" | 165 | SR | ILB | 25 | Trimaine Carson | 6'1" | 185 | SR | |||
| WR | 31 | Tayvian Johnson | 6'4" | 185 | JR | MLB | 50 | Cole Spinks | 6'1" | 225 | SR | |||
| LT | 75 | Tre Weeks | 6'1" | 220 | SR | OLB | 14 | Jared Carl | 6'4" | 170 | SR | |||
| LG | 64 | Emmett Hayslett | 5'9" | 230 | SR | OLB | 2 | Dee Dortch | 5'5" | 160 | SR | |||
| C | 62 | Dalton Morse | 6'0" | 210 | SR | CB | 1 | Chaz Benton | 5'9" | 145 | SR | |||
| RG | 55 | Dylan Hollars | 6'0" | 225 | SR | CB | 24 | Robert Jackson | 5'10" | 165 | SR | |||
| RT | 77 | Mitch Beck | 6'0" | 230 | SR | FS | 5 | Andy Holloway | 5'8" | 165 | SR | |||
| K | K | 35 | Drew Carlson | |||||||||||
| P | P | 11 | Andrew Steck | |||||||||||
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Soccer Coverage & Information on Upcoming Quest for....150 Broadcasts
Macomb @ Monmouth-Roseville (Soccer)
9/14/10
For some reason, Tuesday has been my big coverage day, when I get out in the field. This isn't exactly the best day to be doing it since it is also the time of my updating the upcoming online broadcast schedule (now online at http://www.ihssn.net/2010/week-four-football-games) and compiling the latest coaches polls (online at http://www.ihssn.net/2010-football/preseason).
Speaking of the broadcast schedule, please bare with me on some things on the new website. I am using an entirely different platform, so I am learning on the go with some things. Plus....I'm a sports guy, and no very little about computer stuff and websites....but I am learning feverishly. Also, a public apology to Donnie Laur (www.illinoispigskin.com), who redesigned the site. Let's just say our relationship over the past six weeks has resembled the annoying kid in class who asks a question about every little detail. Fortunately, Donnie has been calm with me throughout the whole process!
My biggest pet peeve (besides littering, obnoxious & loud people, and toilet paper going under instead of over) is not knowing how to do something. I am sort of obsessive compulsive when it comes to things and I will sit and dwell until it's been figured out. The reason I bring this up is the week four broadcast schedule is not lined up correctly. It's due to the images, which are not all to scale. I have found smaller images for some. I have been racking my brain on why this particular week, the dimensions are off. I digress.
Like I said earlier, my week is pretty preoccupied with the length of time it takes to compile the broadcast schedule, along with the time in the coaches polls on Tuesday nights. IHSSN is still working some things out for some potential volleyball broadcasts this fall. Whether they are audio and/or video, is currently up in the air at the current time. Hopefully within 10 days to two weeks we will hit the broadcast trail.
Anyway, back to soccer. Macomb visited Monmouth-Roseville for this Tuesday afternoon affair. There are always great matchups between these bordering school districts. The match was played at Eugene Tinker Field in Roseville, about the halfway point between Monmouth and Macomb.
As I pulled off of Route 67 to enter Roseville, I noticed it was just 4:05. I would have about 20 minutes to burn before the start of the game. Reaching the former Roseville High School (current Junior High), there weren't too many cars in the parking lot. Worse yet, no Macomb school bus. Uh, oh!
Before I headed to the field, I had to make a call to Bushnell-Prairie City to confirm my broadcasting duties for their Homecoming Powder Puff football game next Thursday. This will be their fourth edition of the event, and I have announced each year. This year's senior class has never lost a Powder Puff game in their career!
I walked up to the field and jotted some pregame notes for the Titans/Bombers game. I figured they wouldn't drive from Monmouth to Roseville to practice, so there must be a game. Then I thought...maybe it's a 5:00 start, instead of 4:30 (my schedule had 4:30). Titans coach Aaron Sikorski walked over and talked for a minute. He said the match was a 5:30 start. Samsonite....I was WAAAAAY off! (note: Dumb and Dumber reference). I said I would be back later, that was much too long to wait, and my drive home was just 20 minutes. Of course, I would be spending 40 minutes on the road, and the wait would be an hour and 15 minutes. I can't sit still, I drove back to Macomb.
In the meantime, I decided to do something that I have ignored for some time....run. Over the past couple weeks, I have had those end of summer blues. It hits me every September. I get a hankering to deep fry food, gain weight, and bum around because summer is over. This year....I take exception! The run was great, and it may have been the hardest 2 miles I've ever ran. Despite the 1-2 month layoff, I ran my typical course around the same time, possibly two minutes faster....I lost my last timing. Afterwards, I felt amazing. This will be added to my routine. The downside, I woke up the next morning with mild shin splints. The last time I got shin splints, I couldn't run for two weeks, they hurt pretty bad. These weren't so bad, just a nuisance.
On the road (back) to Roseville, I arrived midway through the first half. The Titans had already jumped out to a 2-0 lead (goals by Diego Suarez and Jairo Ojeda). Marty Touchette, Sports Editor of the Monmouth Review-Atlas was near the concession stand, and we waxed poetic on football, not the futbol in front of us. The big topic was the season-ending injury to Alex Tanney, quarterback for the preseason nationally ranked Monmouth College Fighting Scots. Tanney was also just 3,000 yards shy of the all-time Division-III passing record, and was last year's Melberger Award winner (D-3 equivalent to the Heisman). When coach Steve Bell said it was most likely a season ending injury, my heart fell into my stomach. Marty and I also discussed area football and how we felt some of the area teams would finish, including Monmouth-Roseville, United, and West Central.
In my time chatting away, Macomb's MacLean Johnson scored a goal to pull the Bombers within a goal. MacLean's dad, Eric, walked past. He is the head men's soccer coach at Western Illinois University. I also just talked with him last week, as I was dining at the Sports Corner in Macomb.
At halftime, it was still a 2-1 game, despite some miscommunication on a penalty kick, late in the first half. Macomb took a shot at goal on the penalty kick, as Monmouth-Roseville goalie Bernardo Marquez stood watching. The goal would not count, as the referees were not ready. Macomb coach Jeff Moore pleaded for an explanation, after a minute did get the officials call on why the goal was not counted.
Midway through the second half, Chino Ayala scored another goal for Monmouth-Roseville, giving the hosts the 3-1 advantage. MacLean Johnson would pull the visitors within a goal again. With time winding down, Macomb fired a shot at goal that was deflected off of goalie Bernardo Marquez with time expiring, preserving a Monmouth-Roseville victory (3-2).
Videos from the match can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7C44D6D8D4A10A44
After the game, Dave Giles came down to chat. He keeps score for the Titans, and does all of the scorekeeping during basketball season (I won't lie....my passion in sports comes between November and March!). Due to my Galesburg play-by-play coverage, I won't be covering all of the Monmouth-Roseville games as I have in the past two seasons. That got me thinking about the "home" teams I have covered since I took over play-by-play duties. Here's a year-by-year compilation...
2002-03
1500 WGEN: Geneseo girl's and boy's basketball
102.5 WHHK: Games of the Week (Galva, Cambridge, Alwood, ROWVA, Stark County)
2003-04
104.7 WLMD: Bushnell-Prairie City Spartans
2004-05
104.7 WLMD: Bushnell-Prairie City Spartans
2005-06
100.1 WKAI: Macomb Bombers
2006-07
100.1 WKAI: Macomb Bombers
2007-08
100.1 WKAI: Macomb Bombers
2008-09
97.7 WMOI: Monmouth-Roseville Titans
2009-10
97.7 WMOI: Monmouth-Roseville Titans
1590 WAIK: Galesburg Silver Streaks girl's basketball
www.ihssn.net: Various Games
It seems like just last year I was broadcasting my first season of high school basketball. In that same thought, it feels like it's been twice as long. Some people ask how I keep the radio stations in order. Honestly...that's tougher than memorizing the names of 15-team rosters sometimes. During the 2008-09 season, at the WIU Holiday Tournament, here are the teams I covered, with the radio station (I did play-by-play on 21 of the 26 games in the tournament).
www.holidaybasketball.com: Games not carried on radio
100.1 WKAI: Macomb Bombers
104.7 WLMD: Bushnell-Prairie City Spartans
92.5 WKXQ: Brown County Hornets
97.7 WMOI: Monmouth-Roseville Titans
1330 WRAM: Abingdon Commandoes
1590 WAIK: Knoxville Blue Bullets
107.9 WCDD: Farmington Farmers
1560 WBYS: Lewistown Indians
Of course, I lead into basketball.....
I have slowly crept into basketball preparation. Last year, in the Quest for the Century Club, I randomly picked games with no rhyme or reason. In fact, one of my biggest listening audiences came in a game that I did not decide on broadcasting until the day before (Class 4A girl's sectional championship between Moline and Edwardsville at Normal West).
This year, there has been a little more planning involved, at least for the first couple weeks of the season. The current plans have a schedule as follows for girl's basketball...
Monday: Macomb Lady Bomber Classic
Tuesday: Illini West at Galesburg
Wednesday: Ridgewood Pre-Thanksgiving Tournament
Thursday: TBA
Friday: Galesburg Tournament
Saturday: Galesburg Tournament
Other plans have a three-day stint in the deep south of Illinois. This initial plan could occur in January, when various tournaments take the floor. Stay Tuned...
With that being said, the continuation of the old blog will be reactivated shortly. The new blog will be entitled; The Quest 2: 150. Broadcasting 100 games was easy, but 150 will be a chore. Fortunately last year, I only missed two games due to a lost voice. Orange Juice will be consumed heavily this winter!!!
9/14/10
For some reason, Tuesday has been my big coverage day, when I get out in the field. This isn't exactly the best day to be doing it since it is also the time of my updating the upcoming online broadcast schedule (now online at http://www.ihssn.net/2010/week-four-football-games) and compiling the latest coaches polls (online at http://www.ihssn.net/2010-football/preseason).
Speaking of the broadcast schedule, please bare with me on some things on the new website. I am using an entirely different platform, so I am learning on the go with some things. Plus....I'm a sports guy, and no very little about computer stuff and websites....but I am learning feverishly. Also, a public apology to Donnie Laur (www.illinoispigskin.com), who redesigned the site. Let's just say our relationship over the past six weeks has resembled the annoying kid in class who asks a question about every little detail. Fortunately, Donnie has been calm with me throughout the whole process!
My biggest pet peeve (besides littering, obnoxious & loud people, and toilet paper going under instead of over) is not knowing how to do something. I am sort of obsessive compulsive when it comes to things and I will sit and dwell until it's been figured out. The reason I bring this up is the week four broadcast schedule is not lined up correctly. It's due to the images, which are not all to scale. I have found smaller images for some. I have been racking my brain on why this particular week, the dimensions are off. I digress.
Like I said earlier, my week is pretty preoccupied with the length of time it takes to compile the broadcast schedule, along with the time in the coaches polls on Tuesday nights. IHSSN is still working some things out for some potential volleyball broadcasts this fall. Whether they are audio and/or video, is currently up in the air at the current time. Hopefully within 10 days to two weeks we will hit the broadcast trail.
Anyway, back to soccer. Macomb visited Monmouth-Roseville for this Tuesday afternoon affair. There are always great matchups between these bordering school districts. The match was played at Eugene Tinker Field in Roseville, about the halfway point between Monmouth and Macomb.
As I pulled off of Route 67 to enter Roseville, I noticed it was just 4:05. I would have about 20 minutes to burn before the start of the game. Reaching the former Roseville High School (current Junior High), there weren't too many cars in the parking lot. Worse yet, no Macomb school bus. Uh, oh!
Before I headed to the field, I had to make a call to Bushnell-Prairie City to confirm my broadcasting duties for their Homecoming Powder Puff football game next Thursday. This will be their fourth edition of the event, and I have announced each year. This year's senior class has never lost a Powder Puff game in their career!
I walked up to the field and jotted some pregame notes for the Titans/Bombers game. I figured they wouldn't drive from Monmouth to Roseville to practice, so there must be a game. Then I thought...maybe it's a 5:00 start, instead of 4:30 (my schedule had 4:30). Titans coach Aaron Sikorski walked over and talked for a minute. He said the match was a 5:30 start. Samsonite....I was WAAAAAY off! (note: Dumb and Dumber reference). I said I would be back later, that was much too long to wait, and my drive home was just 20 minutes. Of course, I would be spending 40 minutes on the road, and the wait would be an hour and 15 minutes. I can't sit still, I drove back to Macomb.
In the meantime, I decided to do something that I have ignored for some time....run. Over the past couple weeks, I have had those end of summer blues. It hits me every September. I get a hankering to deep fry food, gain weight, and bum around because summer is over. This year....I take exception! The run was great, and it may have been the hardest 2 miles I've ever ran. Despite the 1-2 month layoff, I ran my typical course around the same time, possibly two minutes faster....I lost my last timing. Afterwards, I felt amazing. This will be added to my routine. The downside, I woke up the next morning with mild shin splints. The last time I got shin splints, I couldn't run for two weeks, they hurt pretty bad. These weren't so bad, just a nuisance.
On the road (back) to Roseville, I arrived midway through the first half. The Titans had already jumped out to a 2-0 lead (goals by Diego Suarez and Jairo Ojeda). Marty Touchette, Sports Editor of the Monmouth Review-Atlas was near the concession stand, and we waxed poetic on football, not the futbol in front of us. The big topic was the season-ending injury to Alex Tanney, quarterback for the preseason nationally ranked Monmouth College Fighting Scots. Tanney was also just 3,000 yards shy of the all-time Division-III passing record, and was last year's Melberger Award winner (D-3 equivalent to the Heisman). When coach Steve Bell said it was most likely a season ending injury, my heart fell into my stomach. Marty and I also discussed area football and how we felt some of the area teams would finish, including Monmouth-Roseville, United, and West Central.
In my time chatting away, Macomb's MacLean Johnson scored a goal to pull the Bombers within a goal. MacLean's dad, Eric, walked past. He is the head men's soccer coach at Western Illinois University. I also just talked with him last week, as I was dining at the Sports Corner in Macomb.
At halftime, it was still a 2-1 game, despite some miscommunication on a penalty kick, late in the first half. Macomb took a shot at goal on the penalty kick, as Monmouth-Roseville goalie Bernardo Marquez stood watching. The goal would not count, as the referees were not ready. Macomb coach Jeff Moore pleaded for an explanation, after a minute did get the officials call on why the goal was not counted.
Midway through the second half, Chino Ayala scored another goal for Monmouth-Roseville, giving the hosts the 3-1 advantage. MacLean Johnson would pull the visitors within a goal again. With time winding down, Macomb fired a shot at goal that was deflected off of goalie Bernardo Marquez with time expiring, preserving a Monmouth-Roseville victory (3-2).
Videos from the match can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7C44D6D8D4A10A44
After the game, Dave Giles came down to chat. He keeps score for the Titans, and does all of the scorekeeping during basketball season (I won't lie....my passion in sports comes between November and March!). Due to my Galesburg play-by-play coverage, I won't be covering all of the Monmouth-Roseville games as I have in the past two seasons. That got me thinking about the "home" teams I have covered since I took over play-by-play duties. Here's a year-by-year compilation...
2002-03
1500 WGEN: Geneseo girl's and boy's basketball
102.5 WHHK: Games of the Week (Galva, Cambridge, Alwood, ROWVA, Stark County)
2003-04
104.7 WLMD: Bushnell-Prairie City Spartans
2004-05
104.7 WLMD: Bushnell-Prairie City Spartans
2005-06
100.1 WKAI: Macomb Bombers
2006-07
100.1 WKAI: Macomb Bombers
2007-08
100.1 WKAI: Macomb Bombers
2008-09
97.7 WMOI: Monmouth-Roseville Titans
2009-10
97.7 WMOI: Monmouth-Roseville Titans
1590 WAIK: Galesburg Silver Streaks girl's basketball
www.ihssn.net: Various Games
It seems like just last year I was broadcasting my first season of high school basketball. In that same thought, it feels like it's been twice as long. Some people ask how I keep the radio stations in order. Honestly...that's tougher than memorizing the names of 15-team rosters sometimes. During the 2008-09 season, at the WIU Holiday Tournament, here are the teams I covered, with the radio station (I did play-by-play on 21 of the 26 games in the tournament).
www.holidaybasketball.com: Games not carried on radio
100.1 WKAI: Macomb Bombers
104.7 WLMD: Bushnell-Prairie City Spartans
92.5 WKXQ: Brown County Hornets
97.7 WMOI: Monmouth-Roseville Titans
1330 WRAM: Abingdon Commandoes
1590 WAIK: Knoxville Blue Bullets
107.9 WCDD: Farmington Farmers
1560 WBYS: Lewistown Indians
Of course, I lead into basketball.....
I have slowly crept into basketball preparation. Last year, in the Quest for the Century Club, I randomly picked games with no rhyme or reason. In fact, one of my biggest listening audiences came in a game that I did not decide on broadcasting until the day before (Class 4A girl's sectional championship between Moline and Edwardsville at Normal West).
This year, there has been a little more planning involved, at least for the first couple weeks of the season. The current plans have a schedule as follows for girl's basketball...
Monday: Macomb Lady Bomber Classic
Tuesday: Illini West at Galesburg
Wednesday: Ridgewood Pre-Thanksgiving Tournament
Thursday: TBA
Friday: Galesburg Tournament
Saturday: Galesburg Tournament
Other plans have a three-day stint in the deep south of Illinois. This initial plan could occur in January, when various tournaments take the floor. Stay Tuned...
With that being said, the continuation of the old blog will be reactivated shortly. The new blog will be entitled; The Quest 2: 150. Broadcasting 100 games was easy, but 150 will be a chore. Fortunately last year, I only missed two games due to a lost voice. Orange Juice will be consumed heavily this winter!!!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Inside the Mind: Chicago Road Trip
Galesburg @ Ridgewood (Football)
9/10/10
Garmin GPS unit, notebook and pen are key necessities on long trips when IHSSN takes to the road. Much to my chagrin, so is cash and change when traveling the tollways of the Chicago suburbs....oops. The GPS unit is for obvious reasons. For those that know my navigating style...it's poor at best. The notebook and pen is for the notes that I jot down while cruising down the road...and as I think about it, probably more dangerous than texting while driving.
The Galesburg Silver Streaks had a long Friday night road trip during week three of the football season, meeting the Ridgewood Rebels in Norridge. The village of Norridge, along with Harwood Heights, are completely surrounded by the city of Chicago. The high school sits just a few miles east of O'Hare Airport.
I am a stickler to getting to my events on time, and when I mean on time....I mean several hours early. In fact, in each of the past two trips for the Silver Streaks football team, I have reached the destination before the sophomore team.
It was an early wakeup call on Friday morning, with a co-worker dialing me at 4:59 a.m. He needed to be walked through on some problems at the radio station. Flying blindly, I was able to walk him right through the problem to get it fixed, which still surprises me. After about an hour of tossing and turning, I was able to get an hour of sleep before heading to the office for a few hours.
Not only to I like to arrive to my destinations early, I insisted that I come into the office at the normal time Friday morning, just to make sure I had everything finished at work. Working under the gun, I was able to finish some last minute projects before 11:30 a.m.
As I took off for Chicago before noon, I hadn't realized that Garmin wanted me to take Interstate-88 instead of Interstate-80. This was no good, because I never carry cash on me. Typically, I always have a lot of change in my car (coffee money), but I was in the radio station Mercedes....errr Ford Taurus.
I stopped in Hillsdale to gas up and to get some cash out of the ATM and get a Gatorade and something to snack on. I wasn't that hungry, since I ate a big breakfast, so I decided to just hit the last exit before the first toll booth (Dixon).
Something I noticed while driving down I-88. I was careening past fellow drivers like I was Mario Andretti. Okay, so Andretti is probably a poor reference for my IndyCar (does that still exist?) or NASCAR fans reading this, so insert the top race car driver in place of Andretti. This is something I picked up on, because it seems as though everytime I take this route, I always seem to be the speed demon at 73 miles/hour. On the other hand, when I drive 73 miles/hour on I-80, I feel like Grandpa Moses in the minivan. The average speed on that stretch of interstate seems to be 90 mph.
I may have even sped up a bit when Spacehog's "In the Meantime" came on the radio. For some reason, each time this song is played, I am reminded of my time at Black Hawk East. It must have been on a mix CD I made during my "coming-of-age years."
So many things go through my head on long road trips. One such thought was the fact that I have not had any phone calls (crossing my fingers before kickoff tonight) from any of my broadcasters saying they don't have this piece of equipment, or this cord, etc. This, too, is more unbelievable because we have added a fourth broadcast to our high school football schedule this season.
The change I made was being extremely organized with the equipment, taking over the broadcast equipment at the radio station in dictatorial status. The problems in the past have been free reign by the broadcasters. In other words, each one of them had their hands in the cookie jar. What happens when a bunch of grubby little hands dive into the cookie jar? The more crumbs that fall out onto the floor! I don't want any crumbs on the floor!!! So....my hand goes into the cookie jar, and if someone wants a cookie...I will get them one, lol.
One of my mind-occupying passions while traveling is searching through the radio dial and naming songs and artists. It's much more fun with a travel companion, but when alone....I can time myself! A song popped on 97.7 in the Sterling/Rock Falls area. The hook was "Anyone Like You" or "No One Like You". You gotta love Google! I just typed in those words, and sure enough...the David Crowder Band popped up. It's a christian rock band, which I normally don't listen to, but really like the song. It reminded me of early Finger Eleven, or the little-known band, 8 Stops 7. I checked, no one was affiliated with those bands (with quick research).
Driving past the DeKalb Oasis, I wondered....when did rest stops become Oases? Up until the past couple years, I remember only being able to get a Pepsi, Snickers, and USA Today at a rest stop. Now...you can get gas and McDonalds! I did some research, and found that these Oases were renovated in 2003-05 and there are seven in the Chicago-area. An interesting read on the Illinois Tollway Oases here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Tollway_oasis
When I got closer to O'Hare, it became difficult to follow my Garmin. Many times in fast thinking situations with many exits, the Garmin is just not quick enough. What we need, is a Sam Kinison-voiced Garmin. Yeah...you know when your turn is approaching, Sam (in his calm voice) says turn left....but if you're not turning left he starts his yell. Turn Here....then the sarcastic Sam Kinison voice speaks out condescendingly....TURN HERE....and then when you don't.....AHHHH....AHHHHH.....TURN HERE YOU FREAKIN MORON!!!! OHHHHHHH!!! I would buy that product.
It was about 3:15 when I pulled into Norridge, and took a drive by the high school. I wanted to grab a water, so I hit up a gas station a mile down the road. By 3:45, I was back at Ridgewood High School and headed in.
Athletic Director Pat Woods met me at the gates, and the soccer team was on the field practicing. We chatted for a minute, and said he had just spoken with Galesburg, and they were eating their pregame meal in Morris.
Ridgewood has some brand new facilities, with FieldTurf, and an all-weather track around the football field, a new softball complex, and a brand new gym. Pat gave me a brief tour and showed me the gymnasium. The Rebels were able to get three basketball games in the new complex last season. I asked him about the soccer team, and he said they were 7-1 and had a pretty good team this season.
I got all set up and took down some notes and walked around a bit. Jim Lee from WGIL arrived shortly after I did, and the sophomore team arrived around 4:15. I had two special guest announcers for the game. One was Ursula Kucharski, a trustee for the village of Norridge. She was going to be my guest in the first half to talk about the history of the village and what it has to offer. Rich Mussaro was my second half announcer. He came up at about 4:30 and we talked extensively about each community (Galesburg and Norridge) and a lot of sports.
The Galesburg varsity team came in sometime around 5:30 or 6:00. According to coach Wes Olson, it was about 45 minutes later than they had planned. Apparently they took a wrong exit, and were caught in traffic. I talked with Wes, defensive coordinator Shawn Hickey, and freshman coach Brad Swanson for a moment.
Then, I did my pregame interview with coach Olson. As I started, I mumbled my words, so I needed to start over. I blurted out an expletive, to which Olson replied, "You can't say that on the radio!" Good thing he reminded me, so I could delete it right away. There have been times, when the wrong track on the digital recorder gets pushed for whatever reason. That wouldn't have been good!
Swanson came up a little later to our broadcast position in the back row of the bleachers on the Ridgewood side in front of the press box. In the renovations made....no press box was added. The team gets very little press coverage. I joked to Brad, asking him if the big dinner wasn't enough, as he had a plate of nachos with him, but he had driven up himself, so did not partake in the Morris meal.
The Silver Streaks played a solid game, winning 42-6 and did many good things in the running game, and for the first time this season, threw the ball and had success. During their first two games, not too many passes were thrown. I was also impressed with the skill players by Ridgewood. The Rebels only ran the ball about a half dozen times, but made some spectacular plays in the passing game. Both the sophomore game (43-3) and varsity (42-6) finished with the mercy rule.
After the game, I packed up after a quick postgame interview with coach Hickey, and headed out. It was about 10:00 when I left the Ridgewood parking lot....in search of a late-night meal. I was thinking Gyro, but ended up stopping at White Castle for four sliders and a coke.
Fortunately, I was staying at my parents' house in Annawan, and not driving all the way back to Macomb...because I would never have been able to stay awake that extra one hour forty minutes. The final half hour of the trip down I-80 was a chore. I did all the tricks for a late night stay up while driving (window down, radio up, constantly turning the radio, checking my cell phone).
It would be a quick night's sleep, before heading out in the morning for a day of college football broadcasting between Monmouth College and Grinnell.
9/10/10
Garmin GPS unit, notebook and pen are key necessities on long trips when IHSSN takes to the road. Much to my chagrin, so is cash and change when traveling the tollways of the Chicago suburbs....oops. The GPS unit is for obvious reasons. For those that know my navigating style...it's poor at best. The notebook and pen is for the notes that I jot down while cruising down the road...and as I think about it, probably more dangerous than texting while driving.
The Galesburg Silver Streaks had a long Friday night road trip during week three of the football season, meeting the Ridgewood Rebels in Norridge. The village of Norridge, along with Harwood Heights, are completely surrounded by the city of Chicago. The high school sits just a few miles east of O'Hare Airport.
I am a stickler to getting to my events on time, and when I mean on time....I mean several hours early. In fact, in each of the past two trips for the Silver Streaks football team, I have reached the destination before the sophomore team.
It was an early wakeup call on Friday morning, with a co-worker dialing me at 4:59 a.m. He needed to be walked through on some problems at the radio station. Flying blindly, I was able to walk him right through the problem to get it fixed, which still surprises me. After about an hour of tossing and turning, I was able to get an hour of sleep before heading to the office for a few hours.
Not only to I like to arrive to my destinations early, I insisted that I come into the office at the normal time Friday morning, just to make sure I had everything finished at work. Working under the gun, I was able to finish some last minute projects before 11:30 a.m.
As I took off for Chicago before noon, I hadn't realized that Garmin wanted me to take Interstate-88 instead of Interstate-80. This was no good, because I never carry cash on me. Typically, I always have a lot of change in my car (coffee money), but I was in the radio station Mercedes....errr Ford Taurus.
I stopped in Hillsdale to gas up and to get some cash out of the ATM and get a Gatorade and something to snack on. I wasn't that hungry, since I ate a big breakfast, so I decided to just hit the last exit before the first toll booth (Dixon).
Something I noticed while driving down I-88. I was careening past fellow drivers like I was Mario Andretti. Okay, so Andretti is probably a poor reference for my IndyCar (does that still exist?) or NASCAR fans reading this, so insert the top race car driver in place of Andretti. This is something I picked up on, because it seems as though everytime I take this route, I always seem to be the speed demon at 73 miles/hour. On the other hand, when I drive 73 miles/hour on I-80, I feel like Grandpa Moses in the minivan. The average speed on that stretch of interstate seems to be 90 mph.
I may have even sped up a bit when Spacehog's "In the Meantime" came on the radio. For some reason, each time this song is played, I am reminded of my time at Black Hawk East. It must have been on a mix CD I made during my "coming-of-age years."
So many things go through my head on long road trips. One such thought was the fact that I have not had any phone calls (crossing my fingers before kickoff tonight) from any of my broadcasters saying they don't have this piece of equipment, or this cord, etc. This, too, is more unbelievable because we have added a fourth broadcast to our high school football schedule this season.
The change I made was being extremely organized with the equipment, taking over the broadcast equipment at the radio station in dictatorial status. The problems in the past have been free reign by the broadcasters. In other words, each one of them had their hands in the cookie jar. What happens when a bunch of grubby little hands dive into the cookie jar? The more crumbs that fall out onto the floor! I don't want any crumbs on the floor!!! So....my hand goes into the cookie jar, and if someone wants a cookie...I will get them one, lol.
One of my mind-occupying passions while traveling is searching through the radio dial and naming songs and artists. It's much more fun with a travel companion, but when alone....I can time myself! A song popped on 97.7 in the Sterling/Rock Falls area. The hook was "Anyone Like You" or "No One Like You". You gotta love Google! I just typed in those words, and sure enough...the David Crowder Band popped up. It's a christian rock band, which I normally don't listen to, but really like the song. It reminded me of early Finger Eleven, or the little-known band, 8 Stops 7. I checked, no one was affiliated with those bands (with quick research).
Driving past the DeKalb Oasis, I wondered....when did rest stops become Oases? Up until the past couple years, I remember only being able to get a Pepsi, Snickers, and USA Today at a rest stop. Now...you can get gas and McDonalds! I did some research, and found that these Oases were renovated in 2003-05 and there are seven in the Chicago-area. An interesting read on the Illinois Tollway Oases here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Tollway_oasis
When I got closer to O'Hare, it became difficult to follow my Garmin. Many times in fast thinking situations with many exits, the Garmin is just not quick enough. What we need, is a Sam Kinison-voiced Garmin. Yeah...you know when your turn is approaching, Sam (in his calm voice) says turn left....but if you're not turning left he starts his yell. Turn Here....then the sarcastic Sam Kinison voice speaks out condescendingly....TURN HERE....and then when you don't.....AHHHH....AHHHHH.....TURN HERE YOU FREAKIN MORON!!!! OHHHHHHH!!! I would buy that product.
It was about 3:15 when I pulled into Norridge, and took a drive by the high school. I wanted to grab a water, so I hit up a gas station a mile down the road. By 3:45, I was back at Ridgewood High School and headed in.
Athletic Director Pat Woods met me at the gates, and the soccer team was on the field practicing. We chatted for a minute, and said he had just spoken with Galesburg, and they were eating their pregame meal in Morris.
Ridgewood has some brand new facilities, with FieldTurf, and an all-weather track around the football field, a new softball complex, and a brand new gym. Pat gave me a brief tour and showed me the gymnasium. The Rebels were able to get three basketball games in the new complex last season. I asked him about the soccer team, and he said they were 7-1 and had a pretty good team this season.
I got all set up and took down some notes and walked around a bit. Jim Lee from WGIL arrived shortly after I did, and the sophomore team arrived around 4:15. I had two special guest announcers for the game. One was Ursula Kucharski, a trustee for the village of Norridge. She was going to be my guest in the first half to talk about the history of the village and what it has to offer. Rich Mussaro was my second half announcer. He came up at about 4:30 and we talked extensively about each community (Galesburg and Norridge) and a lot of sports.
The Galesburg varsity team came in sometime around 5:30 or 6:00. According to coach Wes Olson, it was about 45 minutes later than they had planned. Apparently they took a wrong exit, and were caught in traffic. I talked with Wes, defensive coordinator Shawn Hickey, and freshman coach Brad Swanson for a moment.
Then, I did my pregame interview with coach Olson. As I started, I mumbled my words, so I needed to start over. I blurted out an expletive, to which Olson replied, "You can't say that on the radio!" Good thing he reminded me, so I could delete it right away. There have been times, when the wrong track on the digital recorder gets pushed for whatever reason. That wouldn't have been good!
Swanson came up a little later to our broadcast position in the back row of the bleachers on the Ridgewood side in front of the press box. In the renovations made....no press box was added. The team gets very little press coverage. I joked to Brad, asking him if the big dinner wasn't enough, as he had a plate of nachos with him, but he had driven up himself, so did not partake in the Morris meal.
The Silver Streaks played a solid game, winning 42-6 and did many good things in the running game, and for the first time this season, threw the ball and had success. During their first two games, not too many passes were thrown. I was also impressed with the skill players by Ridgewood. The Rebels only ran the ball about a half dozen times, but made some spectacular plays in the passing game. Both the sophomore game (43-3) and varsity (42-6) finished with the mercy rule.
After the game, I packed up after a quick postgame interview with coach Hickey, and headed out. It was about 10:00 when I left the Ridgewood parking lot....in search of a late-night meal. I was thinking Gyro, but ended up stopping at White Castle for four sliders and a coke.
Fortunately, I was staying at my parents' house in Annawan, and not driving all the way back to Macomb...because I would never have been able to stay awake that extra one hour forty minutes. The final half hour of the trip down I-80 was a chore. I did all the tricks for a late night stay up while driving (window down, radio up, constantly turning the radio, checking my cell phone).
It would be a quick night's sleep, before heading out in the morning for a day of college football broadcasting between Monmouth College and Grinnell.
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