WVC LAUNCHES COED SAND VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE

Wabash Valley College is thrilled to announce the launch of its brand-new Coed Sand Volleyball League, an exhilarating opportunity for individuals of all ages to dive into the world of competitive sand volleyball. This is a call to action for everyone who's ever dreamed of spiking, setting, and serving their way to victory, as well as those who are simply looking to have a blast under the sun!

The excitement begins on Monday, August 14th, with the first day of sign-ups kicking off at 6 PM. Gather your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers, because this league promises an unforgettable experience filled with friendly competition.

Games will commence immediately after sign-ups and will continue each following Monday, starting at 6 PM and extending into the dusky hours of the evening. After sign ups, teams will receive a schedule allowing you to plan ahead.

Participation in this league is completely free! Form a spirited team of 6-10 players, ensuring a minimum of two female players on each team. Worried about assembling a full team? Fear not! Register as an individual (or small group), and our team will match you with like-minded players.

To maintain the highest standards of fair play and entertainment, each game will feature dedicated referees who will ensure that the matches are filled with enthusiasm, integrity, and sportsmanship.

Mark your calendars for Monday, August 14th, at 5 PM and join us at Wabash Valley College for the launch of the Coed Sand Volleyball League. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just looking to have a great time, this league is for you.

For more information contact Head Volleyball Coach Rachel Refenes at refenesr@iecc.edu.

WSJD Renews Deal With Westwood One For NFL Coverage

WSJD has signed an agreement to again carry Westwood One NFL games for the upcoming 2023 season.

WSJD General Manager Kevin Madden announced the coverage begins with the NFL’s Hall of Fame pre-season game on August 3rd and will culminate on February 11th with Super Bowl LIX in Las Vegas. In between, WSJD will carry every NFL primetime and postseason game.

“We’re excited to have close to 90 Westwood One NFL games this year,” Madden said. “Combined with our Mt. Carmel High School and University of Illinois coverage and Sunday afternoon NFL doubleheaders, we’re looking forward to a big fall and winter of football on WSJD.”

For the past three-plus decades Westwood One has been the exclusive network radio home for every NFL primetime and postseason game.

IHSA Releases 2023 Football Schedules & Dates

From the IHSA:

Key 2023 IHSA Football dates:
* Monday, August 7:                       Practices Start
* Thursday, August 24:                   Games may begin

* Saturday, October 21:                 256 Playoff qualifiers and brackets  revealed on IHSA Playoff Pairing Show
* Fri./Sat., October 27/28:            First Round Playoff games
* Fri./Sat., November 3/4:            Second Round Playoff games
* Fri./Sat., November 10/11:      Quarterfinal Playoff games

* Fri./Sat., November 17/18:       Semifinal Playoff games

* Friday, November 24:                  Class 1A-4A State Championship games at Illinois State University

* Saturday, November 25:            Class 5A-8A State Championship games at Illinois State University

All schedules can be found here: https://www.ihsa.org/Sports-Activities/Football/Conference-Schedules-Standings-Results

2023 Golden Aces Schedule

Aug 25 7:00pm    Home Fort Branch (Gibson Southern), IN

Sep 1 7:00pm    Away Effingham (H.S.)

Sep 8 7:00pm    Home Robinson

Sep 15 7:00pm    Away Newton

Sep 22 7:00pm    Home Paris

Sep 29 7:00pm    Away Olney (Richland County)

Oct 6 7:00pm    Home Casey (Westfield)

Oct 13 7:00pm    Away Marshall

Oct 20 7:00pm    Home Lawrenceville

Lady Aces In Texas For National Invitational

On today’s Morning Show, Lady Aces golf coach Karin Kelsey joined us to talk about the PGA High School Golf Invitational. The 54-hole, 3-day tourney is teeing off this morning in Frisco, Texas.

Follow the scoring here:

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/9375337736812146551?utm_campaign=High%20School%20Coaches&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=265622742&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8hQ_FDXCMFN_Emh87b3zlmIS6HLVfTnZSJ-J9ea4XeSbxMRVQBRrTIwllnIKlJTHvRfrs4eLtgo4DbVkDkc2mTSHA78Q&utm_content=265622742&utm_source=hs_email

5 Aces On All-LIC Baseball Team

BASEBALL ALL-CONFERENCE

First Team

Joe Short, Casey Westfield
Leyton Ivers, Lawrenceville
Jack Patterson, Lawrenceville
Landon Boatman, Marshall
Josh Kirkwood, Marshall
Levi Banks, Mt. Carmel
Jaxon Browning, Mt. Carmel
Brandon Einhorn, Newton
David Ferguson, Newton
Owen Mahaffey, Newton
Carder Reich, Newton
Gage Reynolds, Newton
Isaac Flowers, Newton
Brady Crippes, Paris
Landen Englum, Paris
Chance Lehman, Paris
Brett Kocher Richland, County
Wesley Liston, Robinson

Second Team

Maddox Pargin, Lawrenceville
Landon Sanders, Lawrenceville
Raidyn Franklin, Marshall
Dakota Mounts, Mt. Carmel
Ryder Sloss, Mt. Carmel
Payton Harris, Newton
Ethan Curl, Paris
Sebastian Daughtery, Paris
Colby Redman Richland, County
Julian Parker, Robinson

Honorable Mention

Jackson Maulding, Casey Westfield
Neilan Bickers, Lawrenceville
Will Ross, Marshall
JD Bowser, Mt. Carmel
Dalton Bahtzell, Newton
Kody Crampton, Paris
Rylan Hancock, Richland County
Judson Pinkston, Robinson

Browning, Sloss, Mounts, & Bowser Named To All Conference Baseball Team

Baseball All-Conference

First Team

Joe Short, Casey Westfield
Leyton Ivers, Lawrenceville
Jack Patterson, Lawrenceville
Landon Boatman, Marshall
Josh Kirkwood, Marshall
Levi Banks, Mt. Carmel
Jaxon Browning, Mt. Carmel
Brandon Einhorn, Newton
David Ferguson, Newton
Owen Mahaffey, Newton
Carder Reich, Newton
Gage Reynolds, Newton
Isaac Flowers, Newton
Brady Crippes, Paris
Landen Englum, Paris
Chance Lehman, Paris
Brett Kocher Richland, County
Wesley Liston, Robinson

​

Second Team

Maddox Pargin, Lawrenceville
Landon Sanders, Lawrenceville
Raidyn Franklin, Marshall
Dakota Mounts, Mt. Carmel
Ryder Sloss, Mt. Carmel
Payton Harris, Newton
Ethan Curl, Paris
Sebastian Daughtery, Paris
Colby Redman Richland, County
Julian Parker, Robinson

​​

Honorable Mention

Jackson Maulding, Casey Westfield
Neilan Bickers, Lawrenceville
Will Ross, Marshall
JD Bowser, Mt. Carmel
Dalton Bahtzell, Newton
Kody Crampton, Paris
Rylan Hancock, Richland County
Judson Pinkston, Robinson

​

Lady Aces Land 5 On All-LIC Softball Team

Softball All-Conference

First Team

Paige Cutright, Casey-Westfield

Carli Merrit, Mt. Carmel

Addy O'Dell, Newton

Maya Redman, Casey-Westfield

Haley McGuire, Marshall

Kayla Kocher, Newton

Megan Cribelar, Casey-Westfield

Selby Patberg, Mt. Carmel

Paige Sanders, Robinson 

Rylee Bloomer, Olney

Lynn Welborn, Marshall

Gracie Stallings, Lawrenceville

Kam Smith, Casey-Westfield

Adi Scott, Marshall

Camryn Martin, Newton

Emma Banks, Mt. Carmel

Mya Clark, Marshall

Marah Wyrick, Marshall

​

Second Team

Tristan Ring, Casey-Westfield

Avery Mulvey, Newton

Emma Spillman, Olney

Hailey Lang, Mt. Carmel

Becca Minor, Paris

Paige Kelly, Robinson

Bailee Frichtl, Newton

Ava Goble, Casey-Westfield

Madelyn Garza, Lawrenceville

​

Honorable Mention

Allyson Truelove, Casey-Westfield

Addy Brush, Lawrenceville

Kaydence Woodsmall, Marshall

Libby Horton, Mt. Carmel

Emma Kemper, Paris

Megan Gibson, Olney

Maci Smith, Robinson

Allie Stanley, Newton

Big 1st Inning Dooms WVC's National Title Hopes

The dream of a national championship ended early tonight for the Wabash Valley College Warriors in the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. Central Florida scored 9 runs in the first and 3 in the second and never looked back in beating WVC, 13-6 to claim the National championship. Wabash Valley was in the driver’s seat in the World Series winning their first four games in Colorado. But, Central Florida beat the Warriors Thursday night, survived an elimination game Friday night, and then would not be denied as they hammered WVC for a huge 9 run first inning and that was pretty much the game. Even with the disappointment of not bringing the national championship back to Mt. Carmel, the Warriors still finish 2nd in the country and end the season with a 57-13 record.

WABASH VALLEY COLLEGE ARCHERS TAKE AIM AT NATIONALS

When you think of Wabash Valley College Athletics, baseball, basketball, or softball might come to mind. However, there is another exceptional team that deserves recognition - the WVC Archery program. Celebrating its sixth year, the WVC Archery team has made remarkable strides in a short span of time.

Recently, eight talented archers from WVC participated in the highly competitive USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA, from May 18th to 21st. Over 400 archers competed at this prestigious event, representing 43 colleges and universities. The WVC team, consisting of Clay Dempsey, Jalyn Shoemaker, Sara Harrell, Zeppelyn Fiala, Carter Carpenter, Makenzie Provines, Matthew Steward, and Cade Maschino, showcased their skills on the national stage.

The USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals, often referred to as the "March Madness" of collegiate archery, commenced with equipment inspections, practice sessions, and opening ceremonies on Day 1. Day 2 featured qualification rounds in four different classes: Fixed Pins, Compound, Barebow, and Olympic Recurve. The excitement escalated on Day 3 as archers engaged in head-to-head elimination rounds and three-person team competitions. The tournament concluded on Day 4 with thrilling individual Gold Medal matches and the Gold Medal Mixed Team Match.

WVC's talented archers displayed their prowess throughout the event. In the elimination rounds, five archers reached the Top 16, while three advanced to the Top 8. Jalyn, an exceptional competitor, narrowly missed the semi-finals by just one point but achieved an impressive 6th place overall in her individual class. She (along with Sarah Harrell) secured 2nd place for Female Mixed Pins at Indoor Nationals, 2nd place for of All Around Archer of the Year, and was named to the All-American Team. Matthew, Sara, and Clay also received recognition as members of the All-American Team. This honor is bestowed upon only ten archers per class,

considering their exceptional performances at the indoor and outdoor national competitions.Clay encountered a challenging start, ranking 17th in the qualifications. However, he exhibited tremendous resilience, surging through the elimination rounds to ultimately claim the Gold Medal on Sunday. This victory served as a fitting conclusion to Clay's collegiate archery career, and he will be transferring to the University of Evansville next year. Furthermore, Clay's outstanding achievements have earned him a spot on the 2023 USAT Team, representing the United States at the highest level of archery competition.

Saturday witnessed intense Men's and Women's team rounds, where WVC excelled. The Women's Fixed Pin Team, comprising Makenzie, Sara, and Jalyn, emerged triumphant against William Carey University, securing the Bronze Medal. Similarly, the Men's Team, consisting of Cade, Matthew, and Clay, narrowly missed the finals but secured 3rd place by defeating Lindsey Wilson College, securing another Bronze Medal for WVC.

On Sunday, the Mixed Team rounds took place, with WVC fielding two teams. Carter Carpenter and Zeppelyn Fiala competed in the Compound Mixed Team but were eliminated in the 1/8th round by a formidable Mount Marty team. Clay and Jalyn, the defending Gold Medal champions from the previous year, put up a fierce fight in the Fixed Pins Mixed Team but fell short in a tough match against the University of Cumberlands. Nevertheless, they maintained their composure, finishing in 3rd place and bringing home another Bronze Medal.

Out of the 43 schools competing at the event, Wabash Valley College secured an impressive 8th place, earning recognition as a force to be reckoned with. Their dedication and skill were further showcased in the overall points standings, where they finished 7th at 3D Nationals and an impressive 5th at Indoor Nationals. These achievements are particularly commendable for a two-year junior college, given the unique nature of collegiate archery that does not follow divisions based on school size or athletic resources. The governing body for the collegiate program, USA Archery, ensures that both large and small schools compete on an equal level. Notably, powerhouses like the University of Cumberlands, boasting 55 archers on their team, and Texas A&M, with 52 team members, have World and Olympic champions on their rosters.

The success of the WVC Archery program is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the coaching staff. Head Coach Earl Lawrence, alongside Assistant Coach Sydney Jones, a former team member and Mixed Team Silver Medalist, have guided the team with unwavering support and strategic guidance. Reflecting on the season, Coach Lawrence expressed his excitement, stating, "This whole season has been an exciting one! I can't emphasize enough how blessed we are to have these incredible individuals representing Wabash Valley College." Assistant Coach Sydney Jones echoed the sentiment, sharing her pride in the team's accomplishments, remarking, "Words can't quite describe how proud I am of this exceptional group."

Acknowledgment is also due to the invaluable contributions of volunteers Jerry Jones and Dillon Thompson, who dedicated countless hours to fine-tuning equipment, resolving shooting issues, and sharing their extensive knowledge of the sport. Their selfless efforts have played a significant role in the team's achievements.

As WVC Archery continues to hit the target with unparalleled skill and determination, their name has become synonymous with excellence in the archery world. The future looks promising for this outstanding team, and they are poised to leave an indelible mark on the sport.

ELEVATE YOUR GAME WITH WVC SUMMER CAMPS

Are you ready to take your skills to the next level? Look no further than Wabash Valley College’s athletic camps, a premier training opportunity for young players! Elevate your game by working with our new coaching staff and experienced players from all three sports: volleyball, baseball, and basketball.

WVC’s Baseball Camp offers players a chance to refine their skills and learn from seasoned coaches and players. Campers, ages 6-12, will meet from 9pm-12pm and can sign up for one of two weeks; June 19th-June 21st or July 11th-13th. These camps consist of a full skill workout, simulated scrimmages, and written evaluations by the coaching staff. Register online at: https://info.collegebaseballcamps.com/warriors/?fbclid=IwAR39xvuueP5T-eEWN1SjTk6yyJYD6irLG7uSlPedeHWmVwR1CeCb3Itl7TE

The Basketball Camp will take place from June 19th-June 21st and is divided into two sessions. The first session, taking place from 9am-12pm, is for children entering kindergarten to 4th grade. The second session, from 1pm-4pm, caters to those entering 5th to 8th grade. Both sessions aim to enhance players' basketball abilities and foster a love for the game. This camp is open to both girls and boys. Register online at: https://wabashvalley.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2021-22/Summer_23_Camp.

You may also complete the attached form and mail/deliver to WVC Athletics, 2200 College Dr., Mount Carmel, IL 62863.

The Volleyball Camp will be held from July 10th to July 13th, offering two sessions tailored to different age groups and skill levels. Session 1, from 9am to 11:30am, is open to players aged 7 to 11, with a focus on improving fundamental skills such as passing, attacking, digging, setting, and serving. Session 2, from 12:30pm to 3:00pm, caters to older players (ages 12 to 18) who are preparing for tryouts and seeking to refine their skills under the guidance of experienced coaches and current players. Both sessions incorporate team games and mixed groups to enhance player development. This camp is open to both girls and boys. To register for volleyball camp, complete the attached form and mail/deliver to WVC Athletics, 2200 College Dr., Mount Carmel, IL 62863.

By attending these camps, participants will gain valuable insights, expert coaching, and ample practice time to enhance their performance on the field or court. Please note that the maximum capacity, and cost, may vary. For more information, contact Athletic Director, Luke Scheidecker, at 816-813-3090.

Mt. Carmel Jr High Volleyball Awards Banquet

The Mt. Carmel Jr. High Volleyball team had their awards banquet last Friday the 12th at the grade school. 

They celebrated a great season with some dinner, cookies, and ice cream. Kim Winters presented the 6th graders with their awards first. Opal Earnest took home the MVP with 50 Aces and 28 Assists, Hayleigh Prosise Best All around with 10 aces, 6 kills, Macy Glenn Aces Award 41 aces,6 kills, Peyton Simpson the Hustle Award 8 Aces, 2 Kills, Hannah Lewis with the Heart of the Game award 10 aces, Jersey Mounts Playmaker award 16 aces, 11 kills, 1 dig, Farryn King Powerhouse award 13 aces, 4 kills, 1 dig, Josie James Poise under Pressure 16 aces, 1 kill, Annie Kanipe Best Passer 3 aces, 3 kills, 5 digs, Erin Delong Best Team Player 10 aces, Most Improved Addie White 7 aces, 1 kill, 1 dig, Peyton King In it to Win It Award 1 ace, 3 kills, 1 assist.  They ended their season with 9 wins, 2 losses and 4 ties. They also won their 6th grade Volleybash we hosted at the grade school. 

Next the 7th grade Awards were given by their head coach Kenley Drone.  Quincy Keepes took the MVP with 70 Assists, 62 aces, Alivia Peach the Golden Ace Award 32 aces, 29 kills, 9 digs, 3 blocks,  Ryleigh Gill Defensive Player, 1 ace, 1 kill, 6 digs, Zoie Randall Offensive Player 40 aces, 34 kills, 4 digs, 4 blocks, Journey Loudermilk Serving Award 53 aces, 21 kills, 2 digs, Most Improved Avery Coston  17 aces, 20 kills, 1 dig, 3 blocks, Best Block Ella Turner 17 aces, 7 kills, 2 digs, 4 blocks, Bayley Andrews Setting Award, 3 aces, 1 dig 15 assist, Best Newcomer Stella Woodcock, 1 ace, Most Aggressive Chloe Toutloff 2 aces, 1 dig, Heart of the Game Gracee Haggard 2 kills.  Best Passer Addison Mobley 2 aces, 4 digs. The girls ended the season with 17 wins and 2 losses. They 7th grade team won the 7th NEC and they took 2nd in the Albion Tournament. 

Head Coach Bonnie Keepes presented the 8th grade with their awards last after they watched and laughed at a highlight reel of clips and pictures of the season. They had so many memorable moments that were fun to look back on. 

Kyleigh Smith was presented with the co-MVP with 38 aces, 85 kills, 21 digs, 4 assists, 17 blocks, Lyla Keepes was the other co-MVP she had 83 aces, 76 kills, 33 digs, 1 assist, Evie Sellers Offensive Award 35 aces, 47 kills, 3 digs, 13 blocks, Mylee Farmer Defensive Award 1 kill, 11 digs, Mercedes Dillard Best Passer, 6 aces, 4 kills, 12 digs, Riley Hershey Serving Award 66 aces, 15 kills, 2 digs, 7 blocks, Leah Lewis Setting Award 103 assists, 25 aces, 2 kills, 9 digs, Kinley Harris Setting Award 100 assists, 48 aces, 11 kills,  Madison Riggs Mental Toughness Award, 1 ace, 2 kills, 2 assist, 3 blocks, Leila Sweeney Determination Award 4 aces, 1 kill, Brynlie Mounts Heart of the Game, 4 kills 1 dig, Sophie Banks, Inspirational Player 3 aces. These girls really joined together and showed great teamwork, leading to huge accomplishments! Ending the season with 22 wins 5 losses, winning the NEC conference, SIJHSAA Regional, State Qualifier final 8 teams, Albion Tournament 2nd place. 

Jared Sellers presented 4 girls with a triple crown award,  Evie Sellers, Riley Hershey, Leah Lewis, and Lyla Keepes. They all started each sport, won a regional, and made a state appearance in Softball, 

Basketball and Volleyball.  Combined record in all 3 sports was 58-12, with a total of 24 girls in the 8th grade earning the regional champions title. 

Leah Lewis and Lyla Keepes were also able to go to state in track as well. Leah placed 2nd in discus, and 6th in shot put, while Lyla took 8th in the 400 meter dash. 

8th Grade pictured front row from left Mylee Farmer, Mercedes Dillard, Leah Lewis, Leila Sweeney, Top row from left, Riley Hershey, Evie Sellers, Kyleigh Smith, Kinley Harris, Lyla Keepes, Coach Bonnie Keepes. Not pictured Brynlie Mounts, Sophie Banks, and Madison Riggs. 

7th grade from Left Stella Woodcock, Bayley Andrews, Chloe Toutloff, Zoie Randall, Ella Turner, Avery Coston, Gracee Haggard, Alivia Peach, Quincy Keepes, and Coach Kenley Drone. Not pictured Journey Loudermilk, Ryleigh Gill, and Addison Mobley.

6th grade front from from left, Annie Kanipe, Hannah Lewis, Peyton Simpson, Hayleigh Prosise, Top row from left, Macy Glenn, Addi White, Farryn King, Josie James, Opal Earnest, Jersey Mounts, Peyton King, Erin Delong, and Coach Kim Winters. 

MVP award winners, Opal Earnest, Quincy Keepes, Kyleigh Smith, and Lyla Keepes

Triple Crown award winners Evie Sellers, Riley Hershey, Leah Lewis, and Lyla Keepes

Terrance McGee named WVC head men's basketball coach

Wabash Valley has named Terrance McGee as the new head men's basketball coach, it was announced by Athletic Director Luke Scheidecker on Wednesday. 

McGee takes over a proud program which has won 15 Region 24 and 13 Great Rivers Athletic Conference championships, in addition to one NJCAA Division I national title. The Warriors have been home to four First Team NJCAA All-American players and a total of 18 All-American selections. 

"Terrance McGee's impressive track record as a player and coach will be instrumental in recruiting the right players for the program and building a culture of excellence on and off the court," said Scheidecker. 

"I am excited for Terrance McGee to begin a new era in the proud history of Wabash Valley basketball." 

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, McGee comes to WVC from SIU-Edwardsville of the Ohio Valley Conference, where he spent the last year as an assistant coach. Prior to that, he spent five seasons with the Milwaukee Panthers of the Horizon League. 

Before Milwaukee, McGee spent six years at SIU-Carbondale of the Missouri Valley Conference as an assistant to Barry Hinson, who he had played for as a student-athlete at Missouri State. During his time with the Salukis, he was heavily involved in recruiting a 22-win team. 

McGee also spent two seasons as an assistant at Division II Grand Valley State, including a 19-8 mark and third-place finish in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2011. 

In college, McGee was a standout player for Hinson at Missouri State. As a senior, he averaged 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, and was a First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection. 

McGee was already familiar with the Wabash Valley program, as he worked to recruit Warrior players over the years. He has since gotten a closer look. 

"I had recruited players from Wabash Valley before, throughout my coaching career," he said. "Then, during the interview process, I got to meet a lot of people that work there. It's a family community, and that's a big deal to me." 

 As to what Warrior fans can expect from a McGee-coached team, he said "we are going to compete every day, even in practice. I believe that iron sharpens iron. We are going to put ourselves through the toughest of the tough. So that when we get to the game, they can't show us anything we haven't seen." 

McGee earned his bachelor's degree from Missouri State. He and his wife, Quianna, have two sons, Jaylen, and Noah.