Mount Pulaski makes it back-to-back 7th Grade Class 2A State Championships

[March 12, 2018] 

The Mount Pulaski Honeybears have done it again! The Honeybears dominated the competition on Saturday at the 2018 7th Grade Class 2A State Championship in Pawnee and became back-to-back state champions.

The Honeybears handed Ashland A-C Central their first loss on the season Saturday in the semifinal round of the state tournament. Mount Pulaski breezed to 25-13 and 25-8 wins over the Knights. Alexis Wade led Mount Pulaski with 9 kills.

In the championship match Mount Pulaski defeated the Paris Crestwood Eagles 25-10 and 25-17. Je'Na Rentmeister led Mount Pulaski with 9 kills.

The Honeybears end their season on top with 23 wins and 2 losses.

Mount Pulaski Head Coach Donna Dulle admitted following the win, "This never gets old. It's always different for every kid, every year."

Dulle, the veteran coach who possesses the kind heart of a child, is always more pleased to see the reaction of the kids and their smiling faces. She is all about making memories for her team and throughout her illustrious career she has succeeded in that many times over.

Saturday night standing in the corner of the Pizza Man in Mount Pulaski, Dulle was exhausted yet elated as she gazed around the room full of players and their families. "We played really well together," she said of yet another state tournament. "I thought every player contributed. I think that even our players that didn't get in - that are nonstarters - helped us and made us a better team during practices. We had some 6th graders digging some balls in practice that were phenomenal to make us have to work and be a better team. So it was definitely a team effort all the way around. We passed well and everybody did something to help out the entire weekend."

A packed Pizza Man of Mount Pulaski made for the best post-championship celebration.

Just a few happy pizza-eating state champion Honeybears!

Congratulations, Honeybears on the 2018 Class 2A State Championship!

One other note worth mentioning:

Central Illinois is just a mecca for volleyball talent, as obviously indicated with this year's state champions. All the champions hail from Central Illinois.

Class 1A ~ Hartsburg-Emden (23-0)
Class 2A ~ Mount Pulaski (23-2)
Class 3A ~ Pleasant Plains (26-0)
Class 4A ~ Normal Kingsley (25-2)

It's just how a small town does it ~ the victory laps around the Mount Pulaski square.

Flashing a number one smile is bus driver and grandpa Ron ~ also known as "Ex-Con Ron" for his checkered past on the highway. He was once pulled over in the bus for speeding 25 years ago during his daughter Nikki's volleyball career.

Mount Pulaski stats versus Ashland A-C Central:

Kills:

Wade 9
Rentmeister 6
Daigh 4
Davis 2
Stewart 1
Wilham 1

Assists:

Daigh 19

Digs:

Wade 11
Daigh 2
Davis 8
Stewart 4
Wilham 5
Rentmeister 13

Aces:

Wilham 6
Stewart 2
Daigh 1
Rentmeister 1

Mount Pulaski stats versus Paris Crestwood:

Kills:

Rentmeister 9
Wilham 6
Wade 4
Daigh 1

Assists:

Daigh 18

Blocks:

Stewart 1
Wilham 1

Digs:

Wade 6
Wilham 6
Rentmeister 4
Daigh 3
Davis 3
Stewart 3

Aces:
Wilham 4
Stewart 3
Wade 2
Daigh 2
Rentmeister 2
Davis 2

[Teena Lowery]