By Ben Cox
Photo/Special to The Source
Winter sports were in high gear this week. The loudest applause this week belongs to the 7th Grade Winchester Elementary boys basketball team, which capped off a remarkable season with a second-place finish in the state tournament on February 5. Winchester fell in the championship game to Effingham St. Anthony by a score of 31-21, but the final result does little to diminish what was an extraordinary run.
Winchester finished the season at 26-1 overall, a record that reflects consistency, defense, and balanced scoring throughout the year. In the title game, Maddox Chapman and Knox Vortman led the scoring effort with six points each. While the offense was held in check in the final, several players delivered standout performances across the full state tournament.
Ezra Barber led Winchester in total tournament scoring with 38 points, though he was held scoreless in the championship contest. Chapman also made a major impact throughout the tournament, finishing second on the team with 22 total points. The group established itself as one of the most successful teams in program history.
The Jacksonville sports community also took time this past week to honor excellence across generations with the 2026 Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame inductions at The Bowl. The newest class reflects decades of achievement, leadership and athletic distinction. Inductees included Bobby Thomson ’88, Brian Scott ‘96, Latisha Johnson Nosa 2000, Gabe Megginson 2015, Jay Meyer ‘88, DeVante Clark 2014, Kara Brown Franke ‘98, Steve Bone ‘65, Julie Manker Brennan ’93 and Emilie Bezler 2018.
There is also major coaching news at Routt Catholic High School, where the volleyball program has named Rachel Rohn as its new head volleyball coach. Rohn brings both competitive experience and local leadership to the role. A graduate of Illinois College, she competed in both volleyball and track during her collegiate career.
Rohn and her husband, John, are well known in the Jacksonville area as owners and operators of several athletic and recreation-centered businesses, including Fitness World Health Club, K’s Creek Golf Club & Kitchen 63, and the Midwest Athletic Club. Rachel Rohn served as an assistant to longtime RCHS volleyball head coach Pat Gibson this past season. Gibson announced his retirement at the end of the season.
On the high school hardwood, the Jacksonville Crimsons boys basketball team is trending upward at the right time. Jacksonville is currently riding a three-game winning streak, highlighted by a 51-35 road win over Southeast in Springfield on February 3, followed by home victories over Bloomington and Mt. Zion this week. The Crimsons sit at 16-8 overall and 3-6 in the Central State 8 Conference. The remaining schedule offers both opportunity and challenge: a nonconference matchup with Beardstown (Feb. 9 at home), a final conference contest against Rochester (Feb. 13 at home), and the always emotional rivalry showdown with Quincy (Feb. 14 at home). The regular season closes with road trips to Jersey Community and Taylorville.
It has been a tougher stretch for the Jacksonville High School girls basketball team, which is working through a six-game losing streak during a difficult conference slate. The Crimsons dropped all conference games this past week and now stand at 4-22 overall and 0-8 in the CS8. Still, effort and attitude remain steady, and the team has two final regular season opportunities at home—Sacred Heart-Griffin on Feb. 11 and Chatham-Glenwood on Feb. 12—before regional play begins.
Late-season home games can often provide a spark, and community support can make a difference. With regionals opening February 14, the focus now shifts toward preparation, execution, and finishing strong regardless of record.
Jacksonville athletes made a strong statement on the mat as the JHS girls wrestling team placed fourth at the IHSA regional meet on February 7. Multiple wrestlers advanced to sectionals, continuing the program’s upward trajectory.
Athletes advancing to the Virden Sectional include Leana Cavender (110 lb.), Kaitlyn Knight (115 lb.), Lily Jones (125 lb.), Olivia Monroe (170 lb.) and Madeline Cooley (235 lb.). In addition, Violet Beck of the Illinois United co-op earned a sectional berth with a second-place finish at 190 pounds. The Illinois United co-op wrestling team, based at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) in Jacksonville, includes students from ISVI, the Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD) and Routt.
Conference races are tightening across the region, particularly in the WIVC boys basketball standings, where several teams remain in contention entering the final weeks. Routt Catholic (6-0) currently leads the conference, with Brown County (3-1) close behind. A pivotal showdown between those two programs at The Routt Dome on February 13 could effectively determine the conference champion.
Triopia fell out of title contention following a loss to Calhoun but will look to regroup heading into the postseason with games remaining against North Greene, Greenfield-Northwestern, Griggsville-Perry, and South County. West Central, at 1-6 in conference play, closes with a demanding slate that includes Payson-Seymour, North Greene, Roxana, and Camp Point Central.
Over in the MSM Conference, South County (4-2) remains mathematically alive but faces long odds with Bunker Hill (7-1) and Calvary (5-1) in stronger positions. A February 12 matchup gives the Vipers a chance to play spoiler and reshape the race.
On the girls side of the WIVC, Brown County showed why it earned a top postseason seed by delivering a decisive 63-31 win over Triopia on February 5, snapping the Lady Trojans’ four-game winning streak and ending their conference title hopes. Triopia now sits in a virtual tie for third with Carrollton at 3-2 with one conference game remaining.
West Central (22-8 overall, 4-2 in the WIVC) is watching closely as North Greene faces Brown County on February 12—a result that could influence final standings. Brown County currently holds a 5-0 conference mark. In the MSM Conference, South County-New Berlin is attempting to create a three-way tie at the top but must navigate a difficult path, including a key matchup with undefeated conference leader Nokomis. Girls regionals begin February 14, and several area teams appear well positioned for competitive runs.
At the collegiate level, Illinois College track and field delivered an outstanding showing at the Jim Green Invitational at King Fieldhouse. The men’s team captured three individual titles and two relay championships, while the women’s team recorded five event wins—an impressive combined performance.
Among the highlights was Jacksonville High School product Jacob Kollman, who won the long jump with a leap of 6.65 meters, continuing the tradition of local athletes contributing at the collegiate level.
On the basketball court, it was a split weekend for Illinois College. The Blueboys men’s team dropped a 79-87 decision to Lake Forest in Midwest Conference play at Sherman Gymnasium. That result moves the Blueboys to 10-11 overall and 7-5 in conference, keeping them in the middle of a tightly packed league race. A road conference trip to Grinnell on February 10 provides a quick turnaround opportunity.
The Lady Blues, meanwhile, delivered one of their most complete performances of the season with a dominant 87-48 victory over Lake Forest. The win improves the women to 9-12 overall and 5-7 in conference play. Like the men, they also travel to Grinnell on February 10, looking to build momentum at a critical point in the schedule.
