IHSA Announces Collaboration To Expand Opportunities For Student-Athletes

tate Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) are announcing their work together to expand opportunities for student athletes to compete in local and national sporting events, based on their work on the Right to Play Act (House Bill 3037).

"Through this measure, we are helping to connect youth in our communities to further opportunities, such as college scholarships, and allowing them more time to play a sport they enjoy before they graduate,” said Sen. Villivalam. “I am grateful for the continued collaboration between Representative Yang Rohr, IHSA and advocates who are working to address the concerns of many athletes.”

Currently, IHSA by-laws prevent in-season IHSA student athletes from competing in the same sport for a non-school team or event during the high school season, with exceptions made for competing for that sport’s national team (e.g., Team USA in basketball). House Bill 3037, known as the Right To Play Act and sponsored by Sen. Villivalam and Rep. Yang Rohr, would provide more opportunities for non-school participation for high school students during their IHSA season.

“We recognize that IHSA by-laws require occasional modifications,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “We appreciate Senator Villivalam and Representative Yang Rohr’s focus on serving their constituents. Their willingness to incorporate feedback from IHSA coaches and stakeholders and work within the existing IHSA framework was equally important, as the IHSA has been governed by member schools for over 100 years.”

A proposed IHSA by-law update would address the issues raised by student-athletes by expanding the number and type of special events in which a student-athlete would be able to participate. Each November, administrators from IHSA member schools attend Town Hall meetings to provide feedback on by-law changes submitted by fellow schools. The IHSA’s elected Legislative Commission then votes on each proposal, putting those that receive majority support onto an all-school ballot, where each member school has one vote.

“High school athletes and their families from across the state have raised their voices about the challenges they face," Rep. Yang Rohr said. "IHSA's guidelines help prevent overuse injuries and support high school sports, while also giving student-athletes more flexibility. I appreciate Sen. Villivalam and IHSA representatives for their work to create solutions that work for parents, schools and communities."

The IHSA is a private, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois. The Association was founded in 1900 and has grown to include over 800-member high schools in Illinois.

No Changes For MCHS As IHSA Releases Fall & Winter Classifications For 2025-26

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for a special meeting virtually on Tuesday, May 13, where the Board completed the multiplier waiver process for fall and winter sports, allowing the IHSA to release classifications for fall and winter sports for the 2025-26 school year.

The 2025-26 fall and winter sport classification information is available via link below:

2025-26 IHSA Classifications
Fall   |   Winter

The waiver process for spring sports will be completed at the Board meeting on August 25, with classifications for the spring of 2026 to be released shortly thereafter.

Additionally, the Board approved Hersey High School in Arlington Heights to serve as the official host site of the IHSA Girls Tennis State Finals beginning in 2025-26.

Aces Close Out Regular Season With Road Win At Marshall

From Coach Tyler Browning: Golden Aces (15-9 overall, 6-1 conference) round out conference play and the regular season with an 11-3 win over Marshall. All around great performance to head into regionals feeling good. We had 13 hits as a team, and committed 0 errors as a defense.

Bowser led the way with a 4-4 performance at the plate, while Sloss went 3-4 with another HR.

Linson, Coston, Reed split the game on the mound and were all very good. Time for regional play starting this Monday against Fairfield. The game will be played at Dee White Field at 4:30 p.m.

LEWIS ADVANCES TO STATE

On Thursday at the Monticello Sectional,  Lady Aces discus thrower, Leah Lewis, qualified for the 2A state championship. Lewis’ throw of 112 feet was a new school record and netted her a third place medal in the discus competition.

Sophomore, Hazel Earnest, also medaled for the Lady Aces with a 6th finish in the 100 meters high hurdles. Earnest time of 16.69 seconds was only .07 seconds away from meeting the state qualifying standard.

The only other scorer for the Lady Aces was freshman, Zoie Randall, in the high jump. Randall’s jump of 4 feet 10.5 inches netted her an 8th place finish, just 2 inches shy of the qualifying standard.

Lewis will compete this Friday at the 2A state meet held on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

Aces Tennis Blanked By Olney

Mt. Carmel - 0, Olney (Richland County) - 6,

Singles:
No. 1 - Aidan Weidner, Olney (Richland County) def. Tim Harness, Mt. Carmel, 6-0 , 6-0 , -;
No. 2 - Levi Hefferman, Olney (Richland County) def. Will Hudson, Mt. Carmel, 6-0 , 6-2 , -;
No. 3 - Brayden Beard, Olney (Richland County) def. Grant Lane, Mt. Carmel, 6-1 , 6-1 , -;
No. 4 - Brody Peavler, Olney (Richland County) def. Aiden McBroom, Mt. Carmel, 6-0 , 6-0 , -;

Doubles:
No. 1 - Marcus Kocher , Olney (Richland County) - Carter Seaman, Olney (Richland County) def. Will Hudson, Mt. Carmel - Tim Harness, Mt. Carmel, 6-0 , 6-0 , -;
No. 2 - AJ Padilla, Olney (Richland County) - Antoine Georis, Olney (Richland County) def. Grant Lane, Mt. Carmel - Aiden McBroom, Mt. Carmel, 6-0 , 6-0 , -;

Harris's 7th Inning RBI Propels Lady Aces To BIg LIC Win

The Lady Aces improve to 14-6 and 5-1 in the Little Illini Conference. The Lady Aces will take on the Robinson Maroons on Friday, May 16th at 4:30pm at 4th St Ballpark. With a win, the Lady Aces will be LIC Champions for the 2nd year in a row! The public is encouraged to come out and support the Lady Aces in the Conference Championsip on Friday! 

Today, Kinley Harris knocked in Evie Sellers with a 7th inning single to break up a scoreless game. Lyla Keepes blanked the Lady Lions on just 5 hits.

LEWIS WINS DISCUS AT LIC


On Thursday at Robinson, Illinois, Mt. Carmel Lady Aces sophomore, Leah Lewis, won the Little Illini Conference discus competition with a throw of 101 feet 10 inches. In addition, Lewis finished 4th in the shot put with a throw of 32 feet 1.5 inches.

Team scores:
Olney          126
Robinson   116
Newton.     105
Marshall.     67
Paris.           63
Casey.         44
Mt. Carmel 25
Lawrenceville 5

Also scoring for the Lady Aces:
Zoie Randall -  3rd high jump - 4’10.5”
Sarah McCorkle - 6th long jump - 14’4”
                                - 6th triple jump - 31’8.75”
                                - 5th 100 meters - 13.36
                                - 6th 200 meters - 28.19


4x200 meter relay - 6th - 1:59.1 (Mariska Hopper, Ava Brumagin, Avrey Costin, Linden Stevens)

Aces Sent To Fairfield For Class 2A Baseball Regional

 Fairfield Class 2A Baseball Regional

Mon., May 19

Game 1 at 4:30 pm: (7) Fairfield at (6) Mt. Carmel

Game 2 at 4:30 pm: (9) McLeansboro (Hamilton County) at (5) Carmi (C.-White County)

Wed., May 21

Game 3 at 4:30 pm: (2) Johnston City vs. Winner Game 1

Game 4 at 6:30 pm: (3) Harrisburg vs. Winner Game 2

Sat., May 24

Game 5 at 11:00 am: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Lady Aces Seeded 3rd In Class 2A Subsectional

Murphysboro Sectional (20T)

Sub-Sectional A

1. Carterville

2. Anna (A.-Jonesboro)

3. Mt. Carmel

#4. Harrisburg (Regional Host)

#5. Benton (Regional Host)

6. McLeansboro (Hamilton County)

7. Carmi (C.-White County)

8. Fairfield

9. Metropolis (Massac County)

10. Vienna

Sub-Sectional B

#1. Pinckneyville (Regional Host)

#2. Red Bud (Regional Host)

3. Chester

4. West Frankfort (Frankfort)

5. Johnston City

6. Zeigler (Z.-Royalton) [Coop]

7. Sparta

8. Murphysboro

9. DuQuoin (H.S.)

10. Nashville

Aces #6 Seed In Class 2A Baseball Subsectional

DuQuoin (H.S.) Sectional (21T)

Sub-Sectional A

#1. Metropolis (Massac County) (Regional Host)

2. Johnston City

3. Harrisburg

4. Vienna

5. Carmi (C.-White County)

6. Mt. Carmel

#7. Fairfield (Regional Host)

8. Anna (A.-Jonesboro)

9. McLeansboro (Hamilton County)

10. West Frankfort (Frankfort)

11. Eldorado

Sub-Sectional B

1. Nashville

2. Zeigler (Z.-Royalton) [Coop]

3. Red Bud

4. DuQuoin (H.S.)

#5. Carterville (Regional Host)

6. Pinckneyville

7. Murphysboro

#8. Sparta (Regional Host)

9. Chester

10. Benton

Meador Captures Regional Title In One Hole Playoff

Mount Carmel Junior High golfers competed in the SIJHSAA Regional Tournament on Monday May 5, 2025. Jr Lady Aces came in third and missed advancing to state as a team by 6 strokes. The first two teams advance to state and then the next 8 individuals. Lola and Sarah advanced as individuals and will play in the State Tournament next Tuesday at Kokopelli Golf Course in Marion. 

Lola earned her Medalist Honors in a 1-hole play off! 

Champions Woodlawn 165

Somersville 170

Mount Carmel 176

Salem 177

St.Marys 178

Field 189

MEDALIST Lola Meador 

Mount Carmel 176

Lola Meador 51

Sarah Ireland 59

Abby McBroom 66

Makenlee Seals 68

Congrats to all the Lady Aces on a great season!