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By Rick Hobler

[OCT. 7, 2000]  No one expected the LCHS Railers to be beat the State-ranked Sacred Heart Griffin Cyclones last night. Most everyone expected that the Railers would be blown away by SHG’s high powered offense and shut down by its stingy defense. Many expected the Railers to concede the game before it started after a series of deflating losses over the last several weeks. But that’s not what happened at all. Instead, the Railers did the unexpected last night.

While the Railers didn’t win, falling to SHG 42-7, they played their hearts out and played to the very last play. The Railers committed no turnovers: no intercepted passes, no fumbles and no special team breakdowns.  In fact, the Railer special teams repeatedly returned kickoffs in such a way as to give the Railer offense good starting field position. The Railer defense didn’t allow any huge plays by the SHG offense. The Railer offense moved the ball, scored once and was 10 yards short on the final play of the game from scoring twice. The Railers played with emotion and intensity. And, for the first time this season, it appeared they actually did what you are supposed to do in high school athletics…the Railers appeared to have had some fun. All of which was refreshingly unexpected.

The first half saw SHG do what they have done to every opponent all year. SHG moved the ball at will and scored 35 unanswered points.  The SHG defense, which has not allowed a point to be scored against it the first quarter all year, repeated that performance.  SHG scored on the ground and scored in the air. They have certainly done a fine job of “recruiting” football players in all of the specialty areas. Senior Quarterback Brad Sellinger ran the offense with precision. Sophomore running back Kenni Burns has to be one of the fastest and best sophomores in the CS8. All of that was expected and carried out by SHG.

But the game’s real story was the unexpected Railer performance in the second half. The Railers came back from the intermission with some intensity and grit that one would not expect from a team down by 35 points. I witnessed great running by Sam Moore, Chad Tungate, Jimmy Babbs and others. I witnessed great passing by Quarterback Marty Ryan, especially to receiver Ryan Bast. On defense, I was thrilled to see the emotion filled performances and hard hitting done by Billy Barton, Sam Moore, Max Litterly, Nick Shaw, Adam Schonauer and Austin Charron, among others. I witnessed an on the field skirmish between Railer, Matt Hobler and an SHG player that resulted from the intensity of both kids going all out on their blocking assignments on a kickoff return play. That skirmish seemed to put even more fire in the Railer players.

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I witnessed a fired up Head coach, Ron Tomczak, call some special plays that surprised SHG for long gains. I witnessed that same Head Coach, with passion, protecting his players by pointing out the numerous mistaken calls made by the game’s officials.  I saw Railer fans, bearing the winter-like cold and wind, standing and cheering when Sam Moore scored, as if the score had put the Railers in the lead. I saw Railer players on the sidelines talking it up, patting each other on the back, cheering for their teammates and anxious to get back in the game again. I saw Ryan Bast running for the goal line, with time expiring, like he was running for the winning touchdown in a tied up game. All of this, and more, at a time when the scoreboard showed that the Railers had little chance to win.

So, as expected, SHG won the game by the final score of 42-7. The Railers, on the other hand, had an unexpected victory. In spite of being winless this season and in spite of being beaten badly on the scoreboard by SHG, the Railer players had just played their hearts out, had not given up, had played hard to the very last play and had fun doing it. In the locker room, after the game, you would have thought they had won. Perhaps they did.

The Railers are on the road again next week, facing Taylorville. They will return home in two weeks for the season’s final game and Senior Night against East Peoria. GO RAILERS!

[Rick Hobler]

High school volleyball report: Lincoln vs. Normal

[OCT. 7, 2000]  Lincoln Community High School’s girls volleyball team played Normal Community High School here in Lincoln on Thursday, Oct. 5. Normal beat Lincoln 15-3, 19-17.

Lincoln’s Kari McFadden served up seven points. Ashley Boyer and Kristina Cook each made six kills. Kristina Cook also blocked three shots. Kelli Gleason assisted 16 times.

Allison Buss of Normal made 14 service points and seven kills. Sarah Starnes had two blocks. Krystal Majernick helped her team with 13 assists.

Lincoln’s new record is 18-6-1. Normal’s record now stands at 19-7.

Normal’s junior varsity defeated Lincoln’s junior varsity team 15-4, 15-11.

Lady Lynx soccer team wins at East Peoria

[OCT. 6, 2000]  Lincoln College’s Lady Lynx soccer defeated Illinois Central in East Peoria yesterday, 5-0. Franci Noreiul and Rebecca Kostal each scored two goals. Amy Stoelinga scored one goal. Two of Lincoln’s teammates assisted: Rebecca Kostal and Jackie Maddox. Congratulations Lady Lynx!

LCHS golfers compete in Quincy Regional

[OCT. 5, 2000]  Lincoln High School’s men’s golf team competed in the Quincy Regional Tournament on Tuesday afternoon at the par-71 Westview Golf Course. Aaron Freesmeier qualified for the individual sectionals with an 80. The other players scores’ were as follows: Josh Specketer 83, J.T. Ashley 84, Bradon Fults 86, Jason Fitzpatrick 95 and Blinn Bates 97. Lincoln’s team score was 333, and they will not advance to the team sectional.

Olympia girls make waves over Peoria Manual

[OCT. 5, 2000]  In a tidal wave at Stanford on Tuesday, Oct. 3, it was Olympia 145, Peoria Manual 19 in high school girls swimming. Individual and relay results follow.

200-yard medley relay – Olympia: Mary Clark, Emily Melick, Katie Fraher, Emily Dare, 2:23.94

200 freestyle – Olympia: Deanna Fluty, 2:37.53

200 intermediate medley – Olympia: Jessica Legner, 3:00.06

50 freestyle – Peoria Manual: Baker, 32.65 sec.

Diving – Olympia: Rebecca Alberts, 160.85

100 butterfly – Olympia: Ashley Mahaffey, 1:28.94

100 freestyle – Olympia: Fraher, 1:06.95

500 freestyle – Olympia: Melick, 6:06.45

200 freestyle relay – Olympia: Erin Canopy, Jen Nafziger, Melick, Laci Smith, 2:04.41

100 backstroke – Olympia: Mahaffey, 1:24.87

100 breaststroke – Olympia: Katie Hentzen, 1:26.59

400 freestyle relay – Olympia: Gina Rawlins, Smith, Jennifer Bell, Legner, 4:50.76

Hartsburg-Emden volleys with Illini Central

[OCT. 5, 2000]  Hartsburg-Emden High School’s girls volleyball team defeated Illini Central 15-1, 15-5. The game was at Hartsburg on Tuesday afternoon. Hartsburg-Emden’s top players were Kate Wrage with 17 service points, Tasha Williams with nine kills, Carrie Rayburn with eight blocks, and Beth Guy with 20 assists. Hartsburg-Emden’s overall record is now 15-5, and their Tomahawk Conference record is 3-0. Hartsburg Emden’s junior varsity players also defeated Illini Central’s junior varsity team 15-1, 15-5.

Lincoln College volleys with Lincoln Land
[OCT. 5, 2000]  Lincoln College’s Lady Lynx volleyball played Lincoln Land yesterday at home. Lincoln Land beat Lincoln College 15-7, 15-9, 15-9. Lynx Coach Tina Rogers-Smith said, "We actually played pretty well. We had been going backwards; however, we had a good practice Tuesday and played well tonight. I think we are going to surprise some people. I certainly haven’t given up on them."

Candace Sheley was a huge asset to the Lady Lynx with nine kills, two blocks, five digs and two aces. Some of the other girls also made significant contributions to the game. Christine Lott made seven kills and four blocks. Adie Harmon had four kills, three digs and two aces. Amanda Pikert helped with five kills and four blocks. Bonnie Brown assisted 21 times.

Lincoln College’s record now stands at 1-19. They will compete in a tournament at Parkland on Friday and Saturday.

Meeting required for parents of LCHS winter athletes
[OCT. 5, 2000]  All LCHS winter athletes are required to have their athletic permit card on file in the activity director’s office before they may try out or practice for any sports. All parents/guardian of all athletes must attend a mandatory meeting Monday, Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the LCHS auditorium.  This 15-minute meeting will cover the athletic permit card, extracurricular code and parent/coach involvement. No athletes will be allowed to try out or practice until their parents/guardian attend this meeting. If you attended the fall parents meeting in August, you do not need to attend this meeting. If you cannot attend, please call Darrell Hanslow, activity director, to set up an appointment with him, (217) 732-4131, Ext. 250.

Sports starting dates

Girls basketball, Oct. 30

Boys basketball, Nov. 6

Wrestling, Nov. 6

Boys swimming, Nov. 20

Hear it here Friday night!

Football

Oct. 13:  Lincoln vs. Taylorville

[click here]

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