"Best Of" Overall--Coach of the Year
"Best Of Overall-Coach of the Year Jason Clay of Vandalia-- There are many great things you can say about Jason Clay. But, probably the simplest way to boil it down is the man is a winner. In football during the 2023, the Vandals had a first year quarterback and were replacing an extremely talented Senior group. B...
Jul 27, 2024
"Best Of" Overall--Looking Back and Going Forward
"Best Of" Overall--Looking Back and Going Forward Todd Stapleton and Erica Foltz selected their favorite athlete to watch during the 2023-24 school sports season and the athlete they are most looking forward to watching in the 2024-25 school sports season. Todd's Favorite Athlete to watch during the 2023-24 s...
Jul 27, 2024
"Best Of" Overall--Female Athletes of the Year
"Best Of" Overall--Female Co-Athletes of the Year Sophie Bowers - Vandalia: Sophie has been known as an all-around athlete in the area for several years now and faced her biggest test this year showing resilience as she came back from a pair of surgeries on her knee and shoulder to stand out in two sports in ...
Jul 27, 2024
"Best Of" Overall--Standout Female Athletes
"Best of" Overall 2023-2024 - Female Standout Athletes Brooke Cowger - South Central: Cowger was an important three sport athlete for the Lady Cougars and Patoka/South Central/Odin/Sandoval track and field. The I70Sports.com Volleyball Co-Player of the Year helped lead South Central to their third consecutive...
Jul 27, 2024
"Best Of" Overall-Male Athlete of the Year
Male Co-Athletes of the Year Andrew Kelly-Vandalia: Andrew's Senior season was something to see. It started off with one of the greatest football seasons you will ever see a player put together, contributing 1,949 yards passing and 1,244 yards rushing during the season and averaging nearly 4 Touchdowns per game. He w...
Jul 27, 2024
"Best Of" Overall--Standout Male Athletes
"Best Of" Overall--Standout Male Athletes (in no particular order) Eli Miller-Altamont: Eli put together a strong two-sports season for the Altamont Indians. In basketball, Eli averaged 9.4 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists per game in helping the Indians to another 20-plus win season. ...
Jul 27, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Coach of the Year
Spring Coach of the Year- Alan Whitt-The Altamont Indians have been knocking on the door in post-season baseball for the past few seasons. And, they knocked the door all the way down this spring---not only winning a regional but winning a sectional and making it to the championship game of the Class 1A State Tournamen...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Female Track & Field Athlete of the Year
Female Athlete of the Year Hannah Brown - The sophomore shot put specialist from Vandalia picked up where she left off from her freshman season, putting together a strong 2023 season. After going into the 2023 IHSA 1A State Meet ranked 19th and finishing in 13th, Brown built upon that progress and grabbed two top 4 fin...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Male Track & Field Athlete of the Year
Male Athlete of the Year Ben Roedl - The Altamont junior continued to build his strong track resume with an outstanding 2024 indoor and outdoor season. Roedl proved to be a jack of all trades in 2024 competing in the 200m Dash, 110m Hurdles, 4x200 Relay, high jump, pole vault, long jump and triple jump during the seaso...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Track & Field Female Newcomers of the Year
Female Newcomers of the Year Sophie Bowers - Running in her first high school season as a junior and not even getting in meets until mid-April, Vandalia's Bowers quickly made her presence known in the sprint events. Bowers would place in the top 3 in the 100m Dash and the 400m Dash in each of her few times on the track...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Track & Field Male Newcomers of the Year
Male Newcomers of the Year Sam Bowers - The Vandalia hurdler has a breakout freshman season as he grabbed 9 top two finishes in 14 opportunities and another three 3rd place finishes in the 110 hurdles and qualified for the IHSA 1A State Track Meet in his first high school season. Bowers also turned in seven top 3 finis...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Softball Players of the Year
Players of the Year Grace Lemke - The Altamont Lady Indians pitcher continued to put up big numbers in her junior year, amassing 339 strikeouts and a 0.991 ERA this Spring while she allowed an average of just 2.31 hits and 2.26 runs per game. Lemke now stands at 729 career strikeouts heading into her senior season. Lem...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Top Softball Team
Top Team South Central-The South Central Lady Cougars went 24-12 in 2024 and owned a win streak of 9 games at one time this season and went on to capture their third consecutive Regional Championship beating Red Hill, 6-0, in their own South Central 1A Regional Championship game before falling to National Trail Confere...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Top Softball Moment of the Year
Best Moment of Season Moment #1 - South Central made the most of their home field advantage in the postseason and captured their third consecutive IHSA 1A Regional Championship in a row with a 6-0 win over Red Hill at Webster Family Park. Senior pitcher Taegan Webster tossed an 85-pitch no-hitter in the win while the L...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-All Area Softball Team
All Area Team (In no particular order) Madison Lupton - The junior stepped into a big leadership role for Vandalia this Spring as one of just two upperclassmen on the young Lady Vandals team. Despite battling a back injury most of the season, Lupton hit .429 with a .481 slugging percentage and .653 on base percentage. ...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Baseball Players of the Year
Players of the Year Dillan Elam -The Altamont Senior was very strong on the mound for the Indians in their run to the Championship Game. Dillan was 10-0 during his Senior season with 61 1/3 IP, 72 strikeouts and a 1.14 ERA. Dillan also added a .311 average at the plate with 2 HRs and 25 RBI in helping to lead the Ind...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Top Baseball Team
Top Team Altamont baseball put together their best season in team history going 31-10 en route to a 2nd place finish at the IHSA 1A State Tournament. The Indians made their state run with four one run wins in the postseason, beating North Clay 1-0 in the Regional Championship, beating South Central 5-4 in the Sectional...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-Top Baseball Moment of the Season
"Best Of" Top Moment of the Baseball Season- The Altamont Indians defeated Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, 3 to 2, at Dozer Park in Peoria in the State Semi-Finals to secure their spot in the State Championship game. With the game tied, 2-2, Kaden Davis led off the bottom of the 7th inning with a single and Dilla...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Spring Sports-All Area Baseball Team
All Area Team (In no particular order) Adam Atwood - The BSE senior hit .300 with a .456 on base percentage with 21 hits, 13 RBI and 23 runs scored. On the mound, Atwood pitched 50.2 innings with a 2.07 ERA with a 4-4 record and one save. Gunner Finley - The Ramsey senior led the Rams in batting average (.289), on base...
Jul 20, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Coach of the Year
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Coach of the Year Craig Carr, Altamont-There were a lot of coaches that put in outstanding years in the winter sports season of 2023-24. But, none were quite to the level of Altamont girls basketball coach Craig Carr. Coach Carr definitely stepped into a situation of a team with a lo...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Wrestlers of the Year
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Wrestlers of the Year Sophie Bowers-Sophie long ago established herself as a great wrestler and a trailblazer with her success against the boys. But, after battling through injuries, Sophie came up with a tremendous Junior year. Wrestling boys, Sophie was 18-5 on the season and helpe...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Wrestling Newcomer of the Year
"Best of" Winter Sports-Wrestling Newcomer of the Year- Max Philpot-It seems more and more over the years that Freshman are being asked to step in to bigger and bigger roles. And, you won't find one who put together a better season than Max did. In his Freshman year, Max was 52-3 for the Vandals with 31 pin...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Wrestling Moment of the Year
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Wrestling Moment of the Year There were many possibilities throughout an outstanding wrestling season for the Vandals, but winning a state championship still tops the list. Vandals Junior Wrestler Sophie Bowers---who established herself as a Freshman as a top wrestler in the state---c...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Girls Basketball Player of the Year
Our 2023-24 "Best Of" Girls Basketball Player of the year Grace Nelson, Altamont-Bouncing back from a knee injury that knocked out half of her Junior year, Grace put together one of the best girls basketball season ever seen in not only the region but throughout the state. Grace averaged 30.5 points per game...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Girls Basketball All Area Team
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Girls Basketball All Area Team (in no particular order) Macee Rodman, CHBC-Macee put together an outstanding season for the Lady Bobcats averaging 18 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, 2.5 steals per game and 1.8 assists per game. Macee was named 1st team All-NTC and 1st team All...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Girls Basketball Moment of the Year
The moment of the year goes along with the team of the year. The Altamont Lady Indians had guaranteed themselves a trophy advancing to the State Tournament in Bloomington. But, after falling in the semi-finals, they bounced back and ended the season with a win over Peru St. Bede, 64 to 56, to take 3rd place and cap o...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Girls Basketball Team of the Year
The 2023-24 Altamont Indians girls basketball team knew coming into the season they had a shot to be a very good team. But, nothing is ever guaranteed. The team took full advantage of their opportunities during the season and finished it off as only two teams get to do--with a win. The Lady Indians made it to state ...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Boys Basketball Players of the Year
Our 2023-24 "Best Of" Boys Basketball Players of the Year- Adam Atwood, SEB-Adam put together an outstanding Senior year in helping to lead the Eagles to a 20 win season. Adam averaged 15.9 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists per game. Adam was named 1st team All-NTC and was the Co-MVP of...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Boys Basketball All Area Team
Our 2023-24 "Best Of" Boys Basketball All Area Team (In No particular order) Tanner Robbins, Vandalia-The Vandals Senior put together an outstanding campaign averaging nearly 14 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game to lead the team in both categories. Tanner was name 1st Team All South Central Conferenc...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Best Moment of the Boys Basketball Season
It was just a regular season game, but it was a special one and really what High School Basketball is all about. In front of a packed house at Beecher City, the South Central Cougars and the CHBC Bobcats did battle on a Friday night in NTC Action (and it was our WKRV/I70sports Game of the Week). It was their second ma...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Winter Sports-Boys Basketball Team of the Year
Our "Best Of" Winter Sports Boys Basketball Team of the Year for the 2023-24 School Sports Season is the Altamont Indians. Coach Niebrugge's Indians put together another solid season as they went 21-9 overall and 7-1 in the NTC, with their only loss in conference to St. Anthony. It was Altamont's second yea...
Jul 13, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports---Fall Coach of the Year
Our Coach of the Year for the Fall of 2023 is Vandals Football Coach Jason Clay. After losing a very talented Senior group after the 2022 season, the Vandals kept their playoff streak going in 2023 with a 6 win regular season to earn an automatic playoff berth and then winning a road playoff game at Lawrenceville in Ro...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports---Male Golfer of the Year
Our Male Golfer of the Year for the 2nd straight year is Conner McCall of Vandalia. Conner will go down as one of the greatest athletes in Vandalia High School history, as he will continue on with his golf and academic career at the Division 1 level at Northern Illinois University. Conner was a medalist multiple times...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Female Golfer of the Year
Our Female Golfer of the Year for the 2nd straight year is Coree Keagy of Ramsey. Coree put together another very strong season. She was the medalist at 5 different events during her Senior year and helping the Lady Rams to a team record of 13-4-1. Coree also advanced to the Sectional Tournament for the first time, t...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports---Golf Boys and Girls All Area Team
Abby Tate and Sophia McNealy - Led the Lady Vandals to their highest team finish in the South Central Conference in program history. Tate had the highest individual finish in the SCC since 2011 (Rachelle Leiken finished second that year), coming in second at the SCC Tournament. After finishing as the top two scorers fo...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports-Football Players of the Year
Our Football Players of the Year are Andrew Kelly and Kohnor Depew Andrew put together one of the most incredible seasons you will ever see. Andrew threw for 1,949 yards and 23 Touchdowns. And, he ran for 1,244 and 23 Touchdowns. That averages out to 290 yards and almost 4 Touchdowns each game. Andrew helped lead t...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports---Top Football Game of the Year
Our Top Football Game of the Year is the Vandals' 34 to 22 win at Lawrenceville in Round 1 of the Playoffs. The Vandals jumped out to a 14 to 0 lead with 5:20 remaining in the first half. But, Lawrenceville would score twice in the next 4:09 including two point conversions to take a 16 to 14 lead at halftime. The gam...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports---Small, but Mighty Group of Football Seniors
In High School Football a lot is made about the size of your Senior class. Very often---when you hear people talking about teams they believe will be good---they will point out the size of their Senior class as a way to show the team's strength in numbers. For the 2023 season, the Vandals did not have a large group of...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports---Volleyball Players of the Year
Brooke Cowger - Cowger helped lead South Central to their third consecutive 20-win season in a row while leading the strong Lady Cougar hitting attack in kills with 255 and racking up 48 blocks while serving 37 aces with a serve percentage of 93.1%. Cowger was named National Trail Conference First Team All-Conference. ...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports---All Area Volleyball Team
Karlee Smith - The senior led CHBC in kills with 124 and blocks with 52 while tallying 31 aces and a 93.7 serving percentage. Smith was named as the MVP for the Egyptian Illini Conference and was also named Second Team All-Conference for the National Trail Conference for the 2023 season. Addie Sasse - As a sophomore, S...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports---Top Volleyball Team
The South Central Lady Cougars reached their third consecutive 20-win season in a row in 2023 going 22-13 while improving their record under current Coach Megan Murphree to 93-33 with a .738 win percentage. The Cougars claimed first place in the Silver Flight at the National Trail Conference Tournament and finished fou...
Jul 06, 2024
"Best Of" Fall Sports---Volleyball Top Moment
The 2023 Egyptian Illini Conference Volleyball Tournament Championship was an intense battle from start to finish. St. Elmo-Brownstown has been a familiar face in the title game for many years, while Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City came into the tournament as the #5 seed and upset top-seeded Ramsey and #4 seed Patoka-Odin ...
Jul 06, 2024