By Ben Cox
It’s been a busy last couple of weeks. We won’t have football results from Week 1 because of our Labor Day deadline. We will wrap and preview football games and scores next week. The first two weeks have been dominated by volleyball, soccer and golf.
Golf
The golf season got underway back on August 21. Jacksonville girls’ golf has been putting together some impressive finishes in their triangular and quadrangular meets so far. The young ladies finished first on August 21 against Springfield and Quincy. They captured another top finish against Lincoln and Springfield again on August 27. Myah Mefford was medalist at the August 27 meet with a 41.
Jacksonville boys’ golf had a second-place finish on August 25 against Sacred-Heart Griffin, Glenwood and Taylorville at Piper Glenn Golf Course. A.J. Charpentier was medalist, shooting a 39.
South County has also had a string of great matches. The Vipers started their season on August 20 at Edgewood Golf Course with a first-place finish over Taylorville, Auburn and North Mac. Collin Johnson and Owen Paluska tied for the top spot, shooting a 42. The Vipers boys’ and girls’ teams followed that up with a 2nd place finish each at Terry Park on August 22, with Carlinville taking the top spot. The boys’ team took another first-place finish at home at Terry Park on August 27 against Lincolnwood, Lutheran, Mt. Olive and Northwestern. Owen Paluska medaled with a 36.
The Routt boys’ golf team took home the top spot in a match at Rolling Greens Golf Course on August 27 against Brown County, Liberty and Barry-Western. Jacob Brown and Talon Thompson were a part of a 4-way tie for medalist, with each shooting a 40.
West Central’s boys team also got in on the action with a first place win at home at Plum Creek Golf Course on August 27 against Augusta. Nick Hamilton was the medalist with a 38.
Boys Soccer
Jacksonville’s boys’ soccer team has split their first two matches so far on the season. They shut out Central State 8 foe Lincoln at home on August 26 7-0. They ventured down to the Alton Redbird Tournament on August 27 and were shut out by Belleville West in the opening round 2-0. They were guaranteed at least one more opponent for the tournament as of press time.
Volleyball
The Jacksonville Crimsons have split their first two matches of the season. They lost a conference matchup to Lincoln in three sets on August 26. They turned around and followed it up by squeaking out a tough win over non-conference foe Macomb 25-23, 25-23 at home in the junior high gym on August 28. They welcome Quincy-Notre Dame and Springfield for their next two matches.
South County has also split their first two matches of the season. Williamsville swept them 25-17, 25-8 for their first match of the year on August 25. They picked up a three-set victory over Piasa-Southwestern 25-22, 25-27, 25-21 at home on August 27. Aliviah Colwell finished the Piasa game with 15 service points and 27 assists. Junior middle hitter Claire Ahlers added 11 kills.
Routt Catholic fell in its home opener at The Dome to WIVC foe Brown County 16-25, 25-18, 25-22. The Rockets will play in the Crusader Classic in Chatham over the Labor Day weekend.
The Triopia Trojans won their first match of the season on August 26, drubbing Pleasant Hill 25-13, 25-3. Senior Lucie Dion finished with 18 service points, 6 aces and 9 assists. Junior Ava Petefish added 13 service points, 5 aces, and 8 digs. The Trojans dropped Liberty in three sets 25-27, 29-27, 25-20 at home on August 28. Dion turned in another solid performance with 25 assists and 4 service points. Peyten Petefish was the star in this match with 4 service points, 11 kills, 17 digs, 2 assists and one block. Jaden Stambaugh led from the service line with 16 service points and 2 aces.
Triopia and West Central will each compete in the upcoming Meredosia Tournament that starts this week.
Notes
As the chaos of preseason football, volleyball, etc. go, it’s often hard to catch up with all the coaches to learn about position changes, transfer players and players who have decided to switch sports.
I had Routt junior Evan Cors lined up to play quarterback this year. Well, the Week 0 scrimmage showed that Head Coach Barry Creviston has opted for Mikey Reed, a converted receiver from Springfield Lutheran for the position. He’s one of the first Lutheran High players to earn a skill position spot since their co-op started. This is the first year he’s ever played quarterback. Mr. Cors will move into the backfield for another skilled position instead. My apologies.
A key transfer that occurred between Routt and Jacksonville’s volleyball also occurred in the offseason, too. Olivia Wood, a sophomore outside hitter, has brought some much needed size to the Lady Crimsons.
Last but not least, this note is about a former high school player. Jacksonville High School alum Blake Hance made it out of NFL preseason training camp with a spot on the Tennessee Titans 53-man roster. In the tweet announcing his pick up, coaches for the Titans say they enjoy Hance’s flexibility to play all the spots on the offensive line.
