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[OCT. 10, 2001]  Lincoln College raised its volleyball season record to .500 (12-12) with an impressive three-game win over Olney Central at Lincoln Tuesday night.  Lincoln won by the scores of 30-23, 30-17 and 30-17.

Coach Mark Tippett stated: "It is good to get back to the .500 mark, and we did it against a Division I program. We had everybody back and that made a difference. I also think the tourney at LCC last weekend really helped us. We were a lot quicker and sharper in nearly every facet of the game tonight."

Molly Owens had 11 kills and two blocks, while Janine Buettner had 12 points and six kills. Beth Guy contributed 29 set assists, eight points and four kills, while Angela Maestas had 10 points. Amy Cox was a contributor with six points, three aces, seven kills and three blocks.

[Bill Martinie,
Lincoln College sports information director]

[OCT. 9, 2001]  Illinois bounced back after last week’s loss at Michigan on Saturday in Champaign, defeating the visiting Minnesota Gophers 25-14.

Illinois totally dominated the first half of play, yet led just 13-0 at halftime. Twice in the first half, Illinois marched inside the Minnesota 10-yard line, only to see their offense stall. Each time, Illinois settled for a Peter Christofilakos field goal. Quarterback Kurt Kittner and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd resurrected their exciting partnership after a two-game absence, as Kittner completed nine passes to Lloyd for the game, including two long passes for touchdowns. Illinois’ running game also showed good signs of life, as three running backs (Rocky Harvey, Antonio Harris and Carey Davis) ran for 65 yards each, and the team rushed for 198 yards for the game.

The defense played great for three of the four quarters. Minnesota was shut out the entire first half and the fourth quarter. However, the Gophers had two sustained touchdown drives in the third quarter to make the game competitive.

Minnesota was coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Purdue last week. The Big Ten conference admitted two crucial mistakes by officials that eventually cost the Gophers the game. As a result, Minnesota appeared to be in a funk for most of the first half of the game.

Illinois is now 1-1 in conference play and 4-1 overall, and they need just two more wins to qualify for a bowl game. Next week’s game at Indiana was thought to be a fairly secure victory by most experts, but Indiana went to Wisconsin on Saturday and scored 32 points in the first quarter to blow out the Badgers 63-32. Illinois will face Wisconsin the following week (Oct. 20) on homecoming weekend.

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Plus points

•  Illinois’ running attack looked very strong and deep.

•  Kittner greatly improved his pass percentage.

•  Lloyd had another great game despite double coverage at times.

•  Illinois’ kicking and punting game excelled.

•  Illinois’ young linebackers are becoming a force to be reckoned with.

•  Senior Nick Piazza blocked a punt early in the third quarter.

•  Over 53,000 showed up — highest attendance in Champaign this fall.

Game time for Saturday at Indiana is 1 p.m., and the game will not be televised. Listed below is Illinois’ remaining schedule for 2001:

Oct. 13 — at Indiana, 1 p.m. (no TV)

Oct. 20 — Wisconsin, TBA

Nov. 3 — at Purdue, TBA

Nov. 10 — Penn State, TBA

Nov. 17 — at Ohio State, TBA

Nov. 22 — Northwestern, noon

[Greg Taylor]

[OCT. 8, 2001]  The Lincoln College volleyball team finished second in the Lincoln Christian College tournament by defeating Central Bible College in the first match and then losing to the champion Lincoln Christian College team in the finals.  

Lincoln College defeated Central Bible 30-21, 30-19, 22-30, 30-23.   The Lady Lynx then lost the championship match 25-30, 13-30, 24-30 to the host Lincoln Christian College squad. Lincoln College finished 2-2 in the tournament, with both losses coming at the hands of LCC.

Lincoln College (11-12) placed Beth Guy on the all-tournament team.  Guy contributed 36 set assists and four points for LC Saturday.  Guy played very little in the match against Central Bible, due to illness, but came back with the majority of her assists in the championship match.

Other contributors for the Lady Lynx were Janine Buettner, with 21 points, 20 assists, 16 kills; Elizabeth Conner, 10 points, four kills; Molly Owens, 29 kills, five blocks; Erica Miller, nine kills, 16 digs; and Stacy Schuler, 10 points, five aces, five kills, seven blocks.

"We played pretty well even though we aren’t 100 percent," said coach Mark Tippett. "We responded well and played with LCC, especially in the first and third games. Our girls are learning that we aren’t far away from being able to compete with the really good teams."

[Bill Martinie,
Lincoln College sports information director]

High school football

[OCT. 6, 2001]

LCHS           13
Taylorville    40

“A big part of it is making them believe that they can win, and learning how to win is a big part of getting the program turned around. It’s a hard lesson to learn when something slips away like this, but it will benefit us down the road”

-- Coach Oaks

College men's soccer

[OCT. 6, 2001]  Lincoln Christian College 1, North Central University 0

[OCT. 6, 2001]  It was the Nick Buysse show as Lincoln College handed Morraine Valley a 4-0 setback on the losers' field Friday afternoon. Buysse had an outstanding day, with three of the four LC goals.  The victory runs the Lincoln College record to 8-3 for the season.

Coach Mark Howard said, "The first goal Nick scored was phenomenal and that kind of lifted us up.  He took a corner kick from George Mweninsongole and put it in the net with just 13 seconds left in the first half.  Nick had an outstanding game.  He was almost like Superman on the field.

"We didn't play very well the first half, but we looked like a different team in the second half.  We got an early goal and then another, 15 minutes into the half.  After that we relaxed and had a lot of fun.  It was a team effort, with Nick being the standout."

Buysse scored the second goal on an assist from Chris Luther, five minutes into the second half.  The third goal was scored by John Lusicic with an assist from Jeremy Wood. Buysse closed out the scoring with an assist from Jeff Cohen.

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College sports information director]

[OCT. 6, 2001]  Lincoln College won one of two matches at the Lincoln Christian College volleyball tournament Friday.   The Lady Lynx posted an impressive 30-16, 30-17, 30-12 victory over Grace Bible College in their first match and lost in four games to Lincoln Christian College, 17-30, 30-28, 27-30, 20-30.

 "We got a lift by getting two of our starters back," said coach Mark Tippett. "Beth Guy and Erica Miller have both been out for personal reasons.  Things went a lot smoother and we played very well with their return.  We dominated against Grace Bible, and after the first game against LCC we played a very steady match.  We won the second game and were ahead by six points late in the third match before LCC came back to get the win."

Leading Lincoln College on the day were Molly Owens with 17 kills; Amy Cox had 20 kills, four blocks and seven points; Janine Buettner had eight kills, 19 points and four aces; Erica Miller contributed 25 points, four aces and nine kills; Beth Guy had 51 set assists, 19 points and five aces; and Marie Burash had nine points, four kills and four blocks.

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College sports information director]

[OCT. 5, 2001]

• Normal Community def. Lincoln 16-14, 15-6

• Mount Pulaski def. Raymond Lincolnwood 15-1, 15-1

• Olympia def. Central Catholic 13-15, 15-11, 15-12

[OCT. 5, 2001]  Lincoln College won its third-straight women’s soccer match by downing Parkland 3-2 in overtime at Lincoln Thursday afternoon. The victory gives Lincoln College a 3-5 mark on the season.

 "We struggled in the first half to put away any of our chances on goal," said coach Todd Spellman. "Our girls were making plays and getting shots, but they weren’t challenging Parkland’s keeper. We broke out of that midway through the second half and started capitalizing on their fatigue and making the most of our opportunities.

"Francie Noreuil has been waiting for her first goal, and what a way to get on the board!  She hit the game winner on a corner kick and swerved it in from there. The sideline erupted and the girls swarmed around her."

Parkland scored the only goal of the first half at the 27-minute mark on a kick by Katie Schehlein with an assist from Natalie Getz.  Parkland went up 2-0 at the 53-minute mark as Getz scored an unassisted goal.

Lincoln got on the scoreboard at the 64th minute on a goal by Ayana Evans with an assist from Noreuil. Evans scored again at the 80th minute with an unassisted goal to send the game into overtime and set up the game-winning goal by Noreuil.

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College sports information director]

[OCT. 4, 2001]  Southwestern Illinois of Belleville handed the Lincoln College men’s soccer team a heartbreaking 2-1 setback in overtime at Lincoln Wednesday afternoon. The loss drops the Lincoln College record to 7-3 for the season.

Coach Mark Howard stated, "We just didn’t come to play today.  Our focus was not there. We had numerous opportunities, but we couldn’t put it in the net."

Scoring the Lincoln goal was Nick Buysse on an assist from George Mwenisongle.   The goal came in the first half and gave the Lynx a 1-0 lead at halftime. Mike Schaeffer scored the Southwestern goal on an assist from Kevin Connolly to send the game to overtime.

Southwestern Illinois scored the game winner six minutes into overtime on a penalty kick by Matt Jackson.

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College sports information director]

[OCT. 4, 2001]  ^"For some reason we came out a little flat, and we were not able to overcome that and beat John Wood," said coach Mark Tippett after Lincoln College’s volleyball team lost in four games.

John Wood won the first game, 30-22, before Lincoln came back to take the second, 30-21. The hosts then won the next two games, 30-22 and 30-28.

Marie Burash led the Lady Lynx with 19 points, three aces and two kills. Amy Cox had 10 points, five aces, 12 kills and two blocks. Stacy Schuler and Elizabeth Conner both had six kills for Lincoln College.

"It was sophomore night for John Wood, and they played with a lot more intensity than we did," said Tippett.  "For some reason, we just didn’t get it all together. We played without two of our starters again, but that should not be an excuse."

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College sports information director]

[OCT. 5, 2001]  Don’t you love it when you can mix business with pleasure? I know I do. Thursday was one of those times.

I was to do some work at a church convention out west when I noticed a gaping hole or lull in my flight schedule. The lull would allow me the opportunity to maybe catch a few innings of the clinching performance, and I could use the ride over there to talk business with yet another gentleman.

That’s exactly what happened as I caught a few innings of one of St. Louis’ brightest moments this season and still made my flight west with time to spare. In fact, I made it out here safely and have a brutally early appointment with a potential donor… but, back to the story.

I had sorta promised our loyal LDN readers that if any of our local teams made it to state or if any of the teams we follow (and our readers have said that they follow the Sox, the Cards and the Cubs), that our LDN staff would try our very best to bring you some inside scoops (my wife loves it when I talk like a semi-professional sports writer… she even calls me "scoop"). So, when it appeared to me that a plan was coming together and that the possible playoff clinchin’ encounter would happen just 17 minutes from my departing plane flight, I just knew that God wanted me to bring this news to the LDN nation… so here it is:

The Cardinals got off to a great start when All-World rookie Albert Pujols doubled home J.D. Drew, who was aboard following a two-out walk. Jim Edmonds followed Uncle Albert with another two-out walk. Then Mark McGwire picked up the club with a single to give the good guys a 2-0 lead. The Brewers did get a base runner to second in their half of the first but eventually went down fairly quietly.

The Redbirds were back at it in their half of the third. Kerry Robinson and J.D. Drew coaxed no-out walks, and Jim Edmonds followed with a ground-rule double. Milwaukee added to their season-high 11 walks (and by the way, you can’t beat anybody if you walk 11 batters), by intentionally putting Edgar Renteria aboard to get to a struggling Mike Matheny. Matheny promptly foiled the strategy by ripping a single into center that scored Drew, and the rout was on!

[to top of second column in this article]

The Brewers employed the same plan again in the fifth, and Matheny burned them again to give the Cards a 5-0 lead.

All the while this was going on, Cardinal pitching ace Matt Morris was looking like the Cy Young winner that he should be. After the Birds’ pitching coach, Dave Duncan, was tossed early in the game for arguing some very questionable balls and strikes, Morris went berserk, and I believe he tallied 10 strikeouts in his seven innings of work. Yet another masterful performance. I was glad to see in person, for once, his season-long dominance.

In the sixth it was good to see the Big Guy get off the snied. Big Mac came to the plate with two on and two out. All he did in his at-bat was to crush an offering into the left field pavilion to put the game out of reach.

The celebrating had already begun. In the VIP digs and in the Cardinal parts of the dugout I was noticing a lot of Cheshire smiles (there is absolutely NO rooting allowed in any press box)! But the smiles said it all.

For me, just getting an inside look helped put it all in perspective. I had lunch with former Cardinal great Al Hrabosky. Al told us that the mood of the club is that they feel that they can beat anyone. And they expect to. He feels that St. Louis is as healthy as they have ever been entering postseason play. And he and they expect a long run.

As for us, we think it’s been too long since the last Midwestern championship and that maybe this is the year to raise another championship pennant. All we need is for another plan to come together!

[Jeff Mayfield]

[OCT. 2, 2001]   

[Click here for Part 2]

Q. What do you miss about living in Lincoln?

A. I miss seeing my family and friends on a regular basis. I have made some really good friends at school, but the people in Lincoln are the people who have known me since I was in diapers. Those are the people who accept me for who I really am, even with all my flaws.

Q. Do you ever get homesick?

A. I got a little homesick my freshman year. It was the first time I was away from home for an extended period of time, and I had a girlfriend back home, as well as the fact that life as a freshman is not very enjoyable. Since freshman year though, being homesick has not been an issue. I like getting home, but I am used to the fact that I do not [get] home very often.

Q. What do you like about living in New York or out East?

A. The thing I like the most about living out East is the fact there is so much to do within driving distance. I can drive to the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area one weekend and drive to Boston the next. Being in New York also gives me a perspective on how people and lifestyles are different in other parts of the country. All in all, it has been a good experience for me.

Q. It appears that you’ve made an excellent choice going to West Point? How so?

A. I am not sure how "excellent" it looked a few years ago, but I think I made the right decision for myself by coming here. I have been able to get a great education for no monetary cost to my family or myself. Since I get the opportunity to serve in the best Army in the world after I graduate, I do not even have to worry about finding a job. More importantly, West Point is a very unique experience, and I feel privileged to have been a part of the tradition here at the academy. Also, if anyone has any question about the academy, Lincoln Daily News has my e-mail address.

[to top of second column in this section]

Q. What advice would you give the kids of Lincoln today?

A. My advice to the kids of Lincoln would be to never limit yourselves, and enjoy being a young person in Lincoln. There is a whole world of opportunity waiting for people that are willing to take risks and go after their goals. Lincoln is a great place to live and grow up in, but do not get tunnel vision. There actually is a huge world that exists outside the Lincoln city limits. Do not be afraid to go into that world. Maybe Lincoln is the right place for you, but you will never truly know unless you see other places.

Whether you believe it or not, growing up in Lincoln is great. Lincoln is a safe place full of people who really care for you. Lincoln is a caring community all the way from its churches to its tee ball fields. Take advantage of the wisdom and love of all those people.

Q. Anything else that you’d like to say to the people of Lincoln?

The list is too long for me to thank everyone I know in Lincoln that helped me out along the way. But those people know who they are, and I am forever indebted to them. My outlook and attitude toward life was molded by a number of people from Lincoln. Anything that I ever do or accomplish in life has their imprints on it.

Finally, I would like to say to the people of Lincoln to never forget the important things in life. It is very easy to get caught up in paying the bills, going to practice and things of that nature. In light of the recent events in our country, I hope we never lose focus on things like family, friends, faith and community. Those things are always there when you come home at night. That is what matters in the long run. Also, all my love to my mom, dad, brother and stepdad. I am really lucky.

[Jeff Mayfield]

[SEPT. 28, 2001]   

Q. Is it hard to get fired up for an Army football game or is it easier?

A. We haven’t had a home game since the attack, but I think it will be easier. Now more than ever, the team represents something bigger than the academy. The team represents our country and all the ideals we hold true.

Q. Tell us a little about your experience in playing 150-pound football for the academy.

A. Well, I spent most of my time playing "left out." It was a challenging experience. The practices were more intense than any practices I had in any sport in high school. They were longer, tougher and just drained your energy.

Q. Are you just too busy to play now and are you playing any other sports like IMs?

A. I left the team because I wanted to improve my grades and because I wanted more time for myself. I would leave for practice a little before 3 p.m. and not get back to my room until 7 or 7:30 p.m. That is a big chunk of my day that I could be using for other things.

Everyone here has to do an IM if they are not involved in a varsity sport. I have done basketball and some other sports. Doing an IM is fun, competitive and takes up less time than a varsity sport.

[to top of second column in this section]

Q. Reflect on your days of being a Lincoln Railer...

A. Being a Railer. I know I have only been out of high school four years but it seems like so long ago. Being a Railer was great. The fans are great. They are always there to support you. My best friends from high school are people from the Railer teams I was fortunate enough to be a part of. High school was a lot of fun. I have some great memories from things like student council, homecoming, prom and just running around like an idiot with my buddies. But, I realize already that high school is just a short part of your life, and if the most meaningful things you ever did were in high school, then you have missed the boat on life.

Q. What did you like most about it? Least?

The thing I liked most about being a Railer was the whole atmosphere of high school. LCHS is not so small that you know everyone by first names but not so big that on your last day of your senior year you meet another senior for the first time.

Also, I enjoyed the laid-back environment. I feel strongly that high school should be as pressure-free as possible. Set accomplishable goals and achieve them. Everyone has a skill they excel at. High school is a time to search for those things. If you weigh yourself down with the pressure of doing everything, you will not find the skill you are the best at. I think I was able to find out what I was good at, thanks to the people and environment at LCHS.

The thing I liked least was changing the beginning of school from 8:50 to 7:30 after my sophomore year. That really threw my schedule off !

Seriously, the thing I liked least, in retrospect, is the overall lack of diversity in the LCHS student body. That is not the fault of anyone in particular, but you meet people of different colors, faiths, and backgrounds in the real world. There is no real exposure to that at LCHS, and that is a real disadvantage for its students.

[Jeff Mayfield]

[Click here for Part 3]

[SEPT. 27, 2001]   

Q. Jon, where were you when you heard of last week’s tragic events?

A. I was in between classes, and I heard another student say that the WTC was on fire. So, when I got to my next classroom I told my teacher what I had heard, and he turned on CNN. At that point the second plane had just crashed into the second tower and another plane had struck the Pentagon. All I could think was, "My God, we’re at war."

Jon Barton

Q. Did life as an Army cadet change for you immediately?

A. I think my life changed in the sense that my mission here at the academy became very real. I am here to become an officer in the Army and it is easy to lose sight of that when you have tests and papers and all the other distractions of college life. The current status of our nation’s military agenda has made me focus more on what I will be doing in 18 months.

Q. Will life for you be different for a long time coming?

A. Life will be different for me, but I think life is going to be different for every U.S. citizen. Many people are concerned about the safety of our country. No one knows if the attacks are over, so many people are reluctant to live their lives the way they did prior to the attacks.

On a positive note, the attack has brought our nation together in a way we have not seen since World War II. The way the country is going to retaliate is unclear, but the resolve and courage of our people is not. The citizens of this country will not be intimidated by the acts of a fanatical few bent on the destruction of our way of life.

[to top of second column in this section]

Q. What is your attitude and how is the mood in your dorm and on campus?

A. My attitude has taken on a more serious tone. I know now that I am not thinking as much about where my friends and I are going this weekend and more on the things I need to do to better myself as a leader before I graduate.

The attitude on campus is somber but focused. The academy is only 50 miles from New York City, so the attack really hit home. Many of us have visited the WTC. I even have friends that stayed at the Marriott at the base of the tower just a few weeks before the attacks. Another cadet who lives on my floor had a brother working in the WTC at the time of the attack. As of right now his brother is missing and presumed dead. The attacks are very real for most people at the academy.

Q. I imagine that you young men may have more purpose and more resolve than ever?

A. That’s true. I have never seen so much concern or resolve from myself and other cadets since I have been here. We realize now just how important the job of the military is going to be over the next decade, and there is not a more noble cause than protecting the people and the country you love.

Q. Is it hard to go to class, or did the events make your studies more real?

A. It has been very hard to go to class. There is all this horror and suffering going on 50 miles away, and I am sitting in a finance class learning the present value of a corporate bond. Class just seems very trivial right now. There has been an outcry from cadets to go to the city and help out, but there are enough volunteers right now. All we can do is sit and wait for our turn.

(To be continued)

[Jeff Mayfield]

[Click here for Part 2]

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