SIU Picked to Finish 8th In 2018 Missouri Valley Football

North Dakota State has been tabbed as the Missouri Valley Football Conference pre-season favorite in a poll conducted by league coaches, media and sports information directors. NDSU has been picked first in the pre-season poll for seven-straight seasons.

North Dakota State has earned the league title for seven-straight years, four times sharing it with another league school. This year, NDSU was a unanimous choice, receiving all 39 first-place tallies and a total of 390 points. It marks just the second time in league history that a team received all of the first-place votes in the MVFC pre-season poll (NDSU also did it in 2013.) South Dakota State earned the second spot in the poll, finishing with 340 total points, followed by UNI (270), Youngstown State (258), Illinois State (248) and South Dakota (206). The league is coming off a season in which five teams represented the conference in the playoffs.

The MVFC has had four or more playoff teams in four-straight seasons (earning five each in 2014, 2015 and last year). Western Illinois was one of the league's five playoff teams a year ago, and the Leathernecks -- with new head coach Jared Elliott at the helm -- are picked seventh with 163 total points. Western is followed by Southern Illinois (139), Missouri State (90) and Indiana State (41) in the voting.

A pre-season favorite has claimed the league crown 20 times (in 32 previous polls). North Dakota State was picked to win the league last season, and the Bison earned both the league title and the national title (following a 17-13 win over previously unbeaten James Madison in the NCAA Division I Football Championship game in Frisco, Texas).

Valley Football is celebrating its 34th season in 2018. In its first 33 seasons the league owns eight national crowns. MVFC teams combined for an 8-4 record in last year's playoffs, while North Dakota State and South Dakota State both reached the semifinals. That marks the third time in the past four years in which two league teams played in the semis. North Dakota State, meanwhile, represented the league in the title game, marking the 7th-straight year at least one MVFC team has reached the championship game -- an FCS record. Notably, MVFC teams have combined for a 52-23 record in the playoffs this decade.

Only one other league has as many as 20 wins since 2010 (CAA Football is next best with 37.) The 2018 season begins Thursday, Aug. 30, with four league teams in action. Nine non-conference games feature road matchups against FBS opponents. An MVFC school has recorded a win against an FBS school in each of the past eight seasons, setting a league record in 2016 with four that year. Conference play begins Thursday, Sept. 27, as Indiana State hosts UNI in the first league tilt of the season.

The MVFC will announce its pre-season all-conference teams this week (Tuesday-Offense; Wednesday-Defense). North Dakota State tops the league with 11 total selections, including a league-best eight on the first-team unit. South Dakota State, meanwhile, has the second-most selections, with eight total honorees. Youngstown State has five firstteam selections, meanwhile, which is second-best to NDSU.

Scenes From Smash On The Wabash

Softball teams from around the area are in Mt. Carmel this weekend for the Smash On The Wabash hosted by Wabash Mission.

Click the photos for a gallery taken Sunday morning.

Allendale Girl Is National Champion

Kerrigan Bogard of Allendale recently competed in the USTA Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She won National Champion in tumbling for sub-beginner girls age 5! She competes for Star Studio in Olney IL.

Wabash Mission 05 Wins Father's Day Tourney

Wabash Mission 05 provided their Dads with a real nice treat this past weekend going 7-1 on the weekend, winning the 12U division of the USSSA Father’s Day tournament.  Mission played very well in their two pool-play games on Saturday winning 5-3 over the Southern Indiana Hotshots and 11-4 over the HERricanes to claim the #1 seed in the 7 team tournament.  A night of rest and an early 8 a.m. start did not fare well for the Mission girls as they came out flat, losing their first-round bracket game 4-3. A first round loss in the double elimination tournament meant a long road back to the championship, with heat indices soaring about the century mark. The loss must have woken the Mission girls and their bats up as they went on to outscore their next three opponents 40-0, including a 15-0 win over Kentucky Lightening, a 15-0 win over 12U Triple Threat, and a 10-0 win over the Southern Indiana Hotshots.  The third win of the day put Wabash Mission in the championship to face the HERricanes who provided Mission’s only loss of the weekend earlier that morning. Kadie Simmons took to the circle in the first championship game tossing a complete game, allowing 0 runs on 1 hit, striking out 4 and walking only 1 batter. The team belted out 13 hits with Carli Merritt having 3 hits (1 RBI), Libby Horton 2 hits (3 RBI), Mack Sanders 2 hits (1 RBI), Kadie Simmons 2 hits (2 RBI), Piper Belt 2 hits, Rachel Gill 1 hit (1 RBI), and Kathryn Blake 1 hit (1 RBI). Mission scored 12 runs on those 13 hits with the HERricanes recording 3 errors in the field.  Final score of the first championship game was 12-0.

The two teams had to turn around and play a three-inning game to decide the champion as each team had only suffered one loss in the double elimination bracket play. Rachel Gill was given the ball in the second championship game and came out dealing well, holding the HERricanes scoreless for the first two innings while Mission managed to scrap out a run in the first frame and a run in the second frame taking a 2-0 lead into what looked to be the final inning of the weekend.  That is when things became very interesting.  The HERricanes managed to squeak out two runs on a walk, two singles and error in the third inning, tying the game but leaving the home team an opportunity to walk it off and head home as champions. Three well struck balls all managed to record outs for Mission, resulting in an extra inning, international tie-breaker. The tie breaker started each inning with a runner on 2nd and 3rd and one out in the books.  The HERricanes managed to score 3 runs in the top of the fourth inning on an infield single followed by two throwing errors.  Wabash Mission decided that the game wasn’t quite over with Carli Merritt, Mackenzie Sanders, and Kadie Simmons all scoring on a single and fielder’s choice to tie the game once again at 5-5.  Gill walked her first batter to load the bases in the top of the fifth inning but received some great defensive help when Piper Belt caught a line drive and tossed to Selby Patberg at second base to record the third out of that inning. Mission came to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning, once again starting with a runner on second and third with one out; Piper Belt drew a walk loading the bases. Kathryn Blake came to the plate and lined to center for the second out but was shallow enough that Mission was unable to score the run from third. Selby Patberg popped out to the third baseman to end the fifth inning. Kadie Simmons returned to pitch the top of the sixth inning for Wabash Mission and shut down the HERricanes receiving a grounder back to the pitcher and then managed to strike out the three-hole batter swinging in three pitches. Kathryn Blake was placed on second base and Selby Patberg on third base to begin the tie-breaker in the bottom of the sixth with Rachel Gill up to bat. Gill wasted no time ending the game, belting the first pitch she saw over the centerfielders head with Selby Patberg sliding head first into home plate in a walk-it-off fashion. The win provided Wabash Mission with some much needed USSSA points as they will be traveling to Gulf Shores, Alabama in July to play for a week in the USSSA National Championships. Mission 05 will take to the diamond again this weekend in Louisville, Kentucky to compete in the USSSA Kentucky State Championships.  They will be hosting their Third Annual Mission Smash on the Wabash in Mt. Carmel on July 7th and 8th.

Front row left to right: Hannah Parr, Selby Patberg, Emma Adams, Carli Merritt

Back row left to right: Piper Belt, Mackenzie Sanders, Rachel Gill, Kadie Simmons, Libby Horton, Brianna Hiatt, Kathryn Blake

Combined picture with the 12U HERricanes

Ella Banks Signs To Play Softball At McKendree

Family, friends, coaches, and well-wishers gathered this evening in the MCHS Gym as Ella Banks, Senior at Mount Carmel High School, signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball for McKendree University, Lebanon, IL. Ella is receiving both Athletic and Academic scholarships. 

Among her many accomplishments, Ella was named 3rd team All-State in Class 2A and was an All Big 8 Conference selection.

VOLLEYBALL CAMP OFFERED AT WVC

Calling all volleyball enthusiasts! Wabash Valley College will be offering a Volleyball Camp for girls this summer on July 9-12 in the Spencer Sports Center. Session I will be offered from 9:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. for grades 5-6-7-8, with Session II offered from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. for grades 9-10-11-12. The cost is $90 for the 4-day camp.

Registration may be done online at www.wvcwarriorathletics.com; payment and registration may be sent to: Wabash Valley College Volleyball, 2200 College Drive, Mt. Carmel, IL 62863. Phone: 618-262-8641, ext. 3320. For any questions, contact Mark Colvin at 618-263-2918. Registration deadline for T-shirt is July 1. The concession stand will be open for campers for drinks and snacks.

Scenes From 2018 Aces Cheer Camp

The Aces Cheer Camp wrapped up this afternoon at MCHS.

Click the photo for a gallery of today's camp.

Carpenter Announces Transfer From SEMO TO WVC

A press conference was held this morning to announce that former Mt. Carmel All-Stater Justin Carpenter is transferring from Southeast Missouri to Wabash Valley College. 

During the press conference, Carpenter said there were no issues at SEMO, just that WVC is a better fit...

Last year at Division I SEMO, Carpenter finished with these stats:

Games played: 30
Minutes/game: 21.4
Points/game: 8.5
FG Pct: 52.4
3FG Pct: 27.3
FT Pct: 67.1

Rebounds/game: 4.7
Assists/game: 0.7
Turnovers/game: 1.2
Assist/turnover ratio: 0.6
Steals/game: 0.4
Blocks/game: 0.4

Scenes From 2018 Mt. Carmel Public Library 5K Run/Walk

Click the photos for a gallery of photos from Saturday's 5K Run/Walk.

Results of the race can be found by clicking the link....

http://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_plain_text.php?race_id=64101

Future Aces Camp Session 2 (4th-6th)

Award Winners and Team Pic from Session 2 of Camp

4th-6th - All Campers Picture

Camper of the Week: (L-R)

4th Grade - MJ Militoni

5th Grade - Evie Knapp

6th Grade - not pictured Landon Johnson and Lane Toothman

Dribble Cone Speed Dribble Champ: (L-R)

5th Grade - Blake Strine

4th Grade - Dean Belt

6th Grade - not pictured Andrew Militoni

Hot Shot Shooting Champions: (L-R)

6th Grade - Tobias Fullop

5th Grade - Macee Randall

4th Grade - Owen Blake

Last Second Shot Champs (L-R)

6th Grade - Levi Banks

4th Grade - Shain Meador

5th Grade - Elliott Acree

Tournament Team Champions (L-R)

Levi Banks, Emma Etheridge, Brendan Bowser, Blake Strine, Lane Alka

Future Aces Basketball Camp Session 1 (K-3)

Team Pic and Awards from Session 1 of the Future Aces Camp (K-3)

K-3 All Campers

Campers of the Week (L-R)

K-1 - Steven Culp

2nd - Braylin Pierce

3rd - Zane Wilcox

Dribble Cone Fast Dribble Champs (L-R)

K-1 - Brady Hershey

2 - Macy Glenn

3 - not pictured Mataio Militoni

Last Second Shot Champions (L-R)

K-1 - Cade Tillotson

2 - Carter Willingham

3 - Vance Taylor

Layup Champs (L-R)

K-1 Chase Price/Steven Culp/Bennett Witsman/James Brewer

2 - Zeke Kassinger

3 - Elias Knapp

Tyra Buss Visits Future Aces Basketball Camp

Tyra Buss was the guest speaker today at the Future Aces Basketball Camp at Mt. Carmel Grade School. After a brief message to campers, Tyra took time to talk with reporters and update where her professional career plans currently stand....

Brayden Peterson Signs To Play Golf At LTC

Brayden Peterson, Senior at Mount Carmel High School, signed a National Letter of Intent to play golf for Lincoln Trail Community College, Robinson, IL. The signing took place this evening at the Mount Carmel City Golf Course. 

Peterson is the third member of the Aces' golf team to sign to play college golf. Blake Golden will go to John A. Logan this fall while teammate Dawson Brown will golf for the Rend Lake College squad. 

The Aces, under the direction of Coach John White, finished third at state last fall.

WVC ATHLETES SET ACADEMIC RECORDS

“Athletics” and “Academics” can go “hand-in-hand,” and the athletes and coaches at Wabash Valley College have made this a reality with the success of the athletes in the classroom this year. This “Banner Academic Year” was the “Best on Record” for Athletics at WVC!

The 2017-18 athletes touted a combined 3.17 GPA; there was a record 58 student-athletes (66%) who earned a 3.0 GPA or higher for the Spring Semester; WVC had 61 student-athletes (69%) who earned a 3.0 GPA or higher in the 2017-18 school year, which is also a new record; and most importantly, WVC athletes are GRADUATING and transferring on to 4-year colleges and universities.

WVC athletes’ graduation rate for 2018 was an impressive 81%, which was much higher than the national average of 52%. Also, the Men’s Basketball team boasted a remarkable 100% graduation rate!!

WVC will have 3 teams named to the 2018 All-NJCAA Academic Team (Men’s Basketball, Softball, and Baseball) – an outstanding accomplishment!!

Commenting on the pride he takes in WVC’s student-athlete achievements this year, Athletic Director Mike Carpenter said…. “Our athletes did a tremendous job in the classroom once again this year. We have to give a lot of credit to our coaches, who have done a great job stressing academics and recruiting high-character student-athletes, as well as our instructors, who have really stepped up their communication efforts with the athletes and coaches.”

Allendale Hosts Annual Sports Banquet

Guest Speaker was Jackson Marcotte, a Yellow Jacket alumand future Division 1 football player at the University of Wyoming

On Monday, May 21st, the Allendale Yellow Jackets held their 2017-2018 Sports Banquet at the Allendale Ruritan Building. The meal for the evening was provided by the Ruritan Club and the Guest Speaker was Jackson Marcotte, a Yellow Jacket alumand future Division 1 football player at the University of Wyoming. The fall sports of baseball and cross country recognized those who participated, even though their co-op banquet was held back in the fall. The following sports gave special recognitionto the following:

Cheerleading: Kinze Cusick, Lexi Fisher, Alex Isaac, Katie Jackson, and Lauren Fisher.

Basketball: Matthew Jackson (Most Improved), JD Bowser (Freethrow %), Bryce Lane (Most Points), Owen Gher (Most Rebounds), Trentin Casburn (Most Assists), Kollin Kelsey (Most Steals), JD Bowser (All-Conference Honorable Mention), Bryce Lane (All-Conference Honorable Mention), JD Bowser (Most Valuable Player).

Volleyball: C-team - Chloe Cusick ( Best Passer and MVP), Chloey Wheeler (Best Server and Most Improved); B-team - Chandler Cusick (Best Server and MVP), Kristen Richards (Best Passer and Most Improved), Chloey Wheeler (Best Spiker); A-team - Katie Jackson (Best Server), Kinze Cusick (Best Passer), Alex Isaac (Best Spiker and Most Improved), Lexi Fisher (MVP).

Track: Taylor Woods (Team Spirit and Support / State Finals Participant), Matthew Jackson (Most Improved), Holly Lofton (Most Improved), Trentin Casburn (Most Points), Chandler Cusick (Most Points), Lexi Fisher (State Finals Participant), Kinze Cusick (State Finals Participant), Emma Baxley (MVP and State Finals Participant), Raven Adams (GoldenSpikes Initiative Award), Chase Gher (Golden Spikes Initiative Award), Konner Kelsey (Golden Spikes Initiative Award).

All-Sport Athlete Award: Lexi Fisher

Indianapolis 500 Returns To WSJD Next Sunday

The 102nd Indianapolis 500 returns to WSJD next Sunday morning at 10am. Today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, our WSJD cameras captured Danica Patrick's return to the Speedway for qualifications. Patrick finished 9th overall today making the Fast Nine with a chance with the pole tomorrow. 

Harrisburg Runs Away With Early Lead In Victory Over Aces

• Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity fell behind early and couldn't come back in a 16-1 loss to Harrisburg on Wednesday. Harrisburg scored on a groundout by Gaunch and a double by Martin in the first inning.
• The Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity struggled to contain the high-powered offense of Harrisburg, giving up 16 runs.
• Harrisburg got on the board in the first inning. Gaunch grounded out, scoring one run.
• Burtis led the Harrisburg to victory on the hill. He lasted four innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out nine.
• Kaleb Applebey took the loss for Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity. He surrendered four runs on three hits over two innings, striking out one.
• Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity hit one home run on the day. Bret Doan went for the long ball in the fourth inning.
• Doan and Cade Newkirk each managed one hit to lead Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity.
• Harrisburg scattered 13 hits in the game. Lambert, Holland, Burtis, and Gaunch all managed multiple hits for Harrisburg. Harrisburg didn't commit a single error in the field. Crabb had nine chances in the field, the most on the team.

MCJHS 8th Graders Perform Well At State Track Meet

On Saturday May 12th, 2018 the SIJHSAA Class L State finals for Track were held in Carterville, IL. Going to the State Finals this year from MCJHS were four 8th Grade Athletes.  Taylor Singer in High Jump and Shot Put, Flynn Guard for 100 Meter Low Hurdles, Zeke Hadra for 200 Meter Dash and Long Jump and Luke Laws for Shot Put. 

Taylor Singer scored 2nd Place in the High Jump with a height of 5' which is her personal best and in Shot Put she scored in 11th Place with a throw of 28' 6"

Flynn Guard scored 6th Place in 100 Meter Low Hurdles with a time of 17.17 which is her personal best. 

Zeke Hadra Scored in 8th Place in the 200 Meter Dash with a time of 24.69 which is his personal best and 14th in Long Jump with a jump of 17' 1"  

Luke Laws scored 7th Place in the Shot Put with a throw of 40' 10" which is his personal best. 

Coach Hadley and Coach Judge are very proud of all of our Athletes this Track Season and look forward to seeing Taylor, Flynn , Zeke and Luke excel in their High School Athletic Careers. 

Fairfield Blanks Lady Aces In Regional Semifinal

Mt. Carmel Softball

Regional semifinal
Fairfield - 7
Mt. Carmel - 0

Ella Banks pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up 6 runs, 3 earned on 7 hits and struck out 3.
Lexie Simmons pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up 1 run on 4 hits.

Lexie Simmons had the lone Aces hit. 

The Lady Aces end the season with a record of 9-15. 
 

Golden Aces Baseball Claims Victory Over Hamilton County

·         Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity Claims Victory Over Hamilton County

·         Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity beat Hamilton County 8-4 on Monday.

·         Evan Kieffer took the win for Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity. He allowed eight hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out five.

·         Rapp took the loss for Hamilton County. He surrendered six runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out six.

·         Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity racked up nine hits. Aden Gill and Kaleb Applebey all collected multiple hits for Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity. Gill led Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity with three hits in four at bats. Mt. Carmel Golden Aces Varsity didn't commit a single error in the field. Gill had six chances in the field, the most on the team.

·         Hamilton County tallied eight hits on the day. Hunt and Chapman each had multiple hits for Hamilton County.