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Thursday, Nov. 7

Super-Lady Railers serve up humble pie

By Rick Hobler

[NOV. 8, 2002]  Humble pie. Best served piping hot and in large slices. Highly recommended for people needing to eat their own words. Served last night, with style, by the Lincoln Lady Railers.

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Centennial was not done yet, though, as Shannon VanAntwerp rotated back to the line and got the Chargers what would be their last three points of the season. A critical, well-placed tip by Kari McFadden created the side-out on the next serve, and then Kari showed her senior leadership at the service line. Three bullets, one of them an ace, and the score stood at 11-11. Brooklyn Robbins, Maria Benitez and Samantha Conrady got the Railers their next three service points. Michelle McFadden refused to let Centennial score, snuffing out three successive Charger service attempts, with some rockets to the floor for side-outs.

But at the end, it was truly a senior moment. After a nice serve from Maria Benitez, senior Kari McFadden tipped the ball over a block and into an open area for point 14. After a side-out to Centennial, Maria again dug a ball off the floor and into the waiting hand of senior Missy Aper for a kill — side-out Railers. As I scanned the floor to see who was ready to serve, I knew it was soon to be over — senior Christina Xamis was there. With years of experience under fire, Christina calmly stepped up and served deep into the Charger back line. Then an amazing thing happened. The ball came back to the Railer side, straight for Kari McFadden. I just knew she would pulverize it for the win. She didn’t. She gently tipped the ball all the way to the very back corner where diving Chargers could not reach. Game, match, championship!

As with any team win at this point of the season, everyone had to play well and together, and they did. I thought Brooklyn Robbins really came of age last night. She played with more passion, precision and emotion than I had seen before from her. The back line, no matter who was there, but especially Christina and Maria, was awesome on defense. Michelle, Samantha, Melanie, Julie, Megan Hoffert and, of course, Kari and Missy, were awesome at the net. Melanie and Julie were both key to the victory. Christina, Melanie and Kari were especially effective at the service line at critical points. The emotional impact of Missy coming back was critical, especially in Game 3.

The players who didn’t get in were awesome in their encouragement from the sidelines. Coaches Howe, Conrady and Wurth had done some great preparation and coached the match with their usual excellence and dignity. The Railer fans, both student-type and the older ones, were loud and motivating. It was an awesome night in high school sports — one which those present will not soon forget.

Congratulations, ladies! You deserve to be the champions. I hope you enjoyed it last night!

Now, on to the next step: the super-sectional at Bartonville Limestone High School tomorrow evening.

At this point, every great team like the Lady Railers must ask itself a few crucial questions. The answers aren’t easy. Here is a sample. Coach Howe probably has some more:

Are we satisfied with being the regional and sectional champions, or do we want more? Do WE (not our coaches, not our parents, not our fans — but do WE) believe we can and will win the next match? Are we willing to play the next match with such intensity that, when it’s over, regardless of the outcome, we can say, "We left it all on the floor; we gave it our very best"? And finally, would it be more fun to WATCH the state finals in Normal or be IN the state finals in Normal?

You have to answer these questions for yourselves. Your coaches, your parents and your fans love you no matter what. We believe you will be in Normal next week. How about you?

And by the way, Centennial coach Bergman — I hope you enjoyed the pie. Our fine ladies enjoyed serving it to you.

GO, RAILERS!!

[Rick Hobler]

[Stats]

High school volleyball

[NOV. 8, 2002] 

Class A sectional championships

At Hartsburg

Central Catholic def. Hartsburg-Emden 15-11, 15-13.

Hartsburg-Emden:  Kills, Nikki Chapman 12; blocks, Megan Leesman 2; assists, Molly Klokkenga 17; service points, Danielle Bergman 10.

Record:  Hartsburg-Emden 28-10.

At Arcola

Mount Pulaski def. Oakland 15-0, 15-3.

Mount Pulaski:  Kills, Bethany Dulle 8; blocks, Mary Olson 4; assists, Mallory Clements 15; service points, Olson 12.

Record:  Mount Pulaski 37-2.

Class AA sectional championships

At Rantoul

Lincoln def. Champaign Centennial 15-6, 13-15, 15-11.

Lincoln:  Kills, Kari McFadden 14, Michelle McFadden 13; blocks, K. McFadden 10, M. McFadden 5; assists, Brooklyn Robbins 36; service points, Christina Xamis 10, Maria Benitez 10, Melanie Boyer 9; aces, Xamis 2, Boyer 2, K. McFadden 2; digs, Robbins 11, K. McFadden 11, Xamis 8, Samantha Conrady 8.

Record:  Lincoln 31-8.

[Click here for article by Rick Hobler]

High school swimming

[NOV. 8, 2002] 

At Pontiac

3. Lincoln 91

First-place finishers for Lincoln:
200 individual medley:  Ernst, 2:55.58
Diving:  Barr, 161.90
500 freestyle:  Ernst, 6:39.28
Freestyle relay:  Lincoln (Brooks, Carmichael, Carnahan, Couch), 2:27.82

LCC begins basketball season at Cincinnati tourney

[NOV. 8, 2002]  Lincoln Christian College won its first game of the 2002-2003 season by edging out Kentucky Christian College 104-101. The win came in LCC’s first game in the Cincinnati Bible College Tip-Off Classic.

Leading the Preachers in scoring were Joel Searby and Brian Dunaway with 17 each.

LCC faces Trinity Baptist on Friday afternoon.

[LCC news release]

Weisbecker tribute set for Dec. 2

[NOV. 8, 2002]  NORMAL — The athletics department at Illinois State has tabbed the men’s basketball game against Chattanooga on Dec. 2 as Milt Weisbecker Tribute night, to honor the late director of athletics.

Prior to tipoff, which is slated for 7:05 p.m., the department will honor Weisbecker in a pre-game ceremony. Current director of athletics Perk Weisenburger has been a longtime admirer of Weisbecker’s work.

"Milt had a profound and lasting effect on Illinois State athletics," Weisenburger said. "His leadership and vision came at a time when this university needed it the most, as he ushered and elevated our program to the Division I level."

Weisbecker hired the first African-American head basketball coach at a major university, introduced synthetic turf to football fields in Illinois and brought Illinois State University into Division I athletics as its athletics director from 1966 to 1974. The imprint he left on Redbird Athletics is clearly visible three decades later.

Head coach Tom Richardson is a benefactor of Weisbecker’s foresight.

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"On May 17, 2002, Illinois State University and the world of intercollegiate athletics lost a pioneer, a visionary and an exceptional human being," Richardson said. "To honor and celebrate the life of Milt Weisbecker, we will dedicate this season to a man who was so instrumental in this program’s success, past and present."

The Redbird men’s basketball team will wear black patches with the initials "MW" this season, in honor of the former leader, while the athletics department plans to hang a banner from the rafters of Redbird Arena to memorialize Weisbecker for his many contributions to Illinois State.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by calling the ticket office at Redbird Arena, (309) 438-8000.

[Todd Kober, ISU director of media relations]

Articles from the past week

[NOV. 4, 2002]  Is it November already? Where did the year go? Someone PLEASE tell me that the years of my boy’s life are not going to continue to march on at this pace! Work and school are already deep into their routines. At least there are a lot of sports activities. Notice I didn’t say that there was a lot to cheer about. Central Illinois seems to be in a big slump… Maybe something will snap us out of it soon. Until then, let’s take the voyage together and sort through the local sports scene…

My coach of the week could very easily be my coach of the year, and that is none other than LCHS head football coach John Oaks! Coach Oaks told me and a LIVE TV audience on "FANdamonium" BEFORE the season began that he had high hopes and high expectations for his gridders. They reached several of those lofty dreams and goals. It took some of the hardest work and patience that you can ever imagine, but this man and his team got the job done and turned in what I believe is the best record in some 11 years. And that’s not the half of it! The freshmen may have had their best season ever, or at least one for the ages, as well. And the sophomores had their moments too! I’m compelled to give John and his staff the award as just a grateful fan.

Thanks, you guys, for beginning to restore some of the pride back into the program. Perhaps this season will serve as a launching pad to greatness! The LDN salutes you!

Staying with this same theme, I’m picking the Lincoln High School football team (on all levels) as my team of the week. Seldom will you see me reward a team on this side of the ledger, but you have to start somewhere. And this is a special team. First of all, I commend EVERY kid who just stuck it out! Especially those of you who went through it all for four years! And then to all of you who talked your friends into going out for the team. And then to you guys who went out amidst pressure NOT to do so from friends, family or whoever. You guys showed what hard work, determination and teamwork can do when no one cares who gets the glory! Hopefully our city and county officials are getting a glimpse of this picture.

At any rate, we here at the LDN salute your performance, and we’re proud of your accomplishments. May those of you who return next year, pick up the baton and head straight for the playoffs!

The LDN wants to take this opportunity to extend condolences to the family of coach Ed Butkovich. Coach had some exciting days and I believe has at least one Class A state title in his rich legacy.

He was especially good to me in my early days as the coach out at LCC. He allowed his players to come to our summer camp.

(You might be surprised that SOME coaches don’t let their kids come to our camp or any camp other than their own for that matter. I can STILL remember the scathing letter I received from one of the coaches from Jacksonville, questioning the methods I employed. History shows that some of the kids from THAT area needed more than just ONE week of our camp experience… BUT I won’t go into that now. Let me just say that our graduates went on to win many A and AA regional, sectional and a few state titles. I THINK that speaks for itself).

Anyway, coaches Butkovich and Rucks and Gasaway and others in Mount Pulaski always supported me and my program, and I’ll never forget that. I will always be loyal and grateful for that kind of friendship, especially when it comes from an unexpected source like that.

Other area teams had and have just as much at stake and have every opportunity to be supportive of LCC and other area colleges but choose to focus solely on themselves. That is their option.

I’m glad coach Butkovich wasn’t like that. He came as a favor to watch my teams practice every year and then offered me tremendous insights and suggestions. If you don’t know much about basketball, let me just say that few things could be worth more to you than having someone with his expertise helping someone like me who was REALLY struggling at the time.

And more than that, Ed was just a good guy. Whenever I saw him in public, he always had a kind or gracious word for me.

I was sad and stunned to hear the news of his passing. He was an icon in and for this area.

Thank you, Coach, for what you meant to me and for countless others. Godspeed!

Yes. The Bears had another chance to win a game in the waning moments. And unlike last year, when no matter who threw the ball it would always end up in a Bear’s hands, that’s NOT the case this year!

The thing that this reporter is amazed by is that whenever a Bears coach states that he’s content to always have at least a chance, I have to ask, "What???" I don’t want just a CHANCE. If I can kick the tar out of you and win by two or three touchdowns, that’s what I’m going to do (my apologies to those of you who thought I was a nice guy).

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[Photos by Tom Seggelke]

Take for instance the score tied in the fourth quarter with the Bears possessing the ball just inside their 20-yard line. They run a pitch or a toss play that they’ve run six to eight times already during the game (which begs the question, is their playbook really THAT small?). On top of that, they try to run it this time to a wide-out. Is it just my imagination or are wide-outs suppose to run down the field and catch passes? When you run something like that you deserve to fumble and lose the game. I will never be able to figure out that kind of stuff!

Even just before half they ran some vertical passing offense and were able to jet down the field in less than a minute in time to get a last-second 53-yard FG from Paul Ettinger! I realize that the zone was a little softer in that situation, but do we KNOW that for sure? There was no attempt to go back to that except in third and long situations and in desperation mode.

On the other hand, I did feel that the Bears defense played well. With the exception of two or three runs by Donovan McNabb (and folks, this guy’s going to break away every once in a while; he’s just that good), the Bears held them in check. Great pursuit by Urlacher and others gave the Bears at least a CHANCE to win (I STILL don’t like that phrase!).

But when the offense didn’t put up even positive yardage in the second half until the last desperation drive, that’s what happens. I know the schedule is tougher this season, but I’m just not sure this group can get it done.

Click here for more Bears photos.

Our own Greg Taylor tried to help Illini coach Ron Turner. Greg suggested that coach Turner stick with QB Jon Buetjer, but Turner didn’t, and by the time Jon was inserted into the game he didn’t have enough time to incite a comeback, as the Illini dropped an 18-7 ugly one to Penn State!

And what’s up with the tackling? Or lack thereof? I haven’t seen such sloppy technique since guys used to run over me!!!

My mom used to say not to say anything if you can’t say something nice… THEREFORE, this subject matter is closed!!!

The Lady Railer volleyball girls just keep winning. Now they will travel to Rantoul for a Tuesday night showdown with who we believe will be the Champaign Central Chargers at 6:30. Good luck, ladies!

That’s the only other sports news that’s been turned over to me. If you’ve got something else, get it to us as quick as you can. You can reach us at ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com.

Tonight our guests include the LCHS swimmers of George and Ruth Sloot, fresh off a fourth-place finish at the CS8 meet.

Illini assistant coach Billy Gillespie has accepted the head coaching position at UTEP. I hate to see him go!

Why didn’t Illinois give Donovan McNabb a better recruiting pitch when he was in high school?

Lincoln’s Brian Cook and Jerrance Howard will have to miss the first two games of the season because of playing in a non-sanctioned summer tourney. Don’t get me started with the NCAA and the IHSA again… Let’s just leave it alone!!!

Cook is featured in the new issue of Slam magazine. (Click here for details.)

Lincoln’s Greg Alexander and his ISU Redbirds get things started tonight versus SIU-E at 7:05 in Normal. Plenty of good seats STILL available!!!

LCC opens their season this weekend with a tourney in Cincinnati. LC dropped two tough ones on the road in their openers.

Have a great week, everybody!

[Jeff Mayfield]

[Click here for past columns]

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