By Ben Cox
Photos provided
Athletes from Jacksonville-area schools and programs turned in impressive performances over the past several weeks and we didn’t want to leave anyone out as we are currently awaiting the outdoor spring sports season to get going.
Jacksonville Middle School wrestlers advance
The Jacksonville Middle School wrestling team delivered a strong showing at regional competition, with seven wrestlers earning placements and advancing to the next level. Leading the way were Shakil Berry, Jah’Vezes “Vezy” McBride, Sterling Finkle and Tristan Rice, who each captured first-place finishes in their respective weight classes.
Their performances helped highlight a successful day for the program. Greyson Leonard added to the team’s success with a second-place finish, while Jack Harper and Robert Mawson both secured third-place honors. Jaxx Harden rounded out the group with a fourth-place finish. All seven wrestlers qualified to compete at the sectional level. Among the standout performers was McBride, who competed in the 90-pound division in Class 2A.
McBride advanced through sectional competition as a champion, earning a berth at the state tournament held March 13-14 at Northern Illinois University, where he finished second overall in his weight class.
Jacksonville Area Wrestling School sends competitors to state
Local youth wrestlers also had success at the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation South Sectional, held in Belleville. Several members of the Jacksonville Area Wrestling School earned top finishes and qualified for the IKWF State Championship Tournament.
Sectional champions included Dawson Davidson, Jah’Nariya McBride and Jahnelys “Jenna” Gonzalez, each of whom captured first place in their respective divisions. Ava DeWitt placed third at the sectional meet to secure her spot at the state tournament.
Two additional Jacksonville-area competitors—Kailee Warren and Gabriella Thomas—did not place in the top spots but received wild card selections, allowing them to advance to the state championships as well. All six wrestlers were scheduled to compete at the IKWF State Championship Tournament, held March 13-14 at the Peoria Civic Center.
The event brings together top youth wrestlers from across Illinois and is considered one of the most competitive youth tournaments in the state. Jahnelys Gonzalez finished in 8th place on the podium in the 135-pound senior division.
ISVI swimmers reach state finals
Swimmers from the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) also turned in notable performances, qualifying multiple athletes for the Illinois High School Association state swimming finals.
Following competition in Edwardsville, four swimmers qualified in three separate events.
The 2026 IHSA state qualifiers included: Darrin McKeag, 50-yard freestyle; Omar Lopez, 50-yard freestyle; Daniel Olsen, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle; and Peyton Teel, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle.
The swimmers advanced to the IHSA State Finals in Westmont on Feb. 28, competing against athletes from across Illinois. Another standout performance came from Colin Kuhn, a senior at the Illinois School for the Deaf, who competes as part of the consolidated swimming team with ISVI.
Kuhn concluded his high school swimming career at the state meet, where he delivered an impressive performance by earning three All-State medals. He finished third place in all three of his events: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle.
The strong finish capped a remarkable career for Kuhn, who leaves high school as a four-time IHSA state qualifier and four-time IHSA All-State swimmer.
More swimming accomplishments
One of the most remarkable performances of the season came from Peoria Richwoods freshman swimmer Jude Hill, who captured four gold medals at the IHSA’s first-ever Combined State Championship meet.
The event, held at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont, brought together traditional high school competitors and athletes in the Athletes with Disabilities (AWD) division into one unified championship setting for the first time.
Hill, a double amputee competing in the AWD division, delivered a dominant performance throughout the meet. He opened the competition with a victory in the 200-yard freestyle, finishing in 2:42.13 and shaving four seconds off his sectional qualifying time. Hill followed that with another first-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle, clocking 34.64 seconds.
He continued his sweep with victories in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard freestyle, completing the meet undefeated across his four individual events. Hill’s performances helped lead Peoria Richwoods to a third-place team finish at the historic championship meet.
While Hill represents Peoria Richwoods in the pool, he has deep family ties to Jacksonville. He is the son of Greg and Jennifer (Stevens) Hill and the grandson of Jeanne and Wayne Stearns of Jacksonville. His grandfather, Les Stevens, a retired educator and writer, also lives in Jacksonville with his wife, Becky. Hill’s uncle, A.J. Stevens, is a graduate of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired and resides in Jacksonville as well. The meet carried special significance for Hill and his extended family as he competed alongside several athletes from Jacksonville’s Illinois School for the Deaf and Illinois School for the Visually Impaired programs.
Illinois College Track and Field earns national recognition
Athletes from Illinois College also earned recognition on the national stage during the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Senior Melvin Hodge, of Moro, finished 10th in the weight throw at the competition held March 13 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Hodge recorded his best throw on his second attempt, reaching 18.21 meters. His performance earned him second-team All-American honors.
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced its 2026 All-Region selections, which included four Illinois College athletes:
Riley Gardner, women’s high jump; Aleese Trimingham, women’s 60-meter hurdles and 4×200-meter relay; and Deja Anderson, women’s long jump.
Gardner, a freshman, won the Midwest Conference title in the high jump earlier this month and was scheduled to compete at the 2026 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships.
Trimingham, a junior, had a standout conference meet, capturing two conference titles in the 60-meter hurdles and as part of the 4×200-meter relay team.
Anderson, a junior, also claimed a Midwest Conference championship in the long jump.
