l august 2009 l 1

2 l august 2009 l

l august 2009 l 3

Italian B.M.T.® Flatbread

For a limited time only. Valid at participating SUBWAY® restaurants. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor's Associates Inc. ©2009 Doctor's Associates Inc.

subpad_6685_09_SI_SportsConnection_Ad_F.indd 1 6/1/09 3:55 PM

TIMEZONEONE JOB#: BNV5402BANK: Bank of MarionPUB: SI Sports Connection

ISSUE: julyDUE: 27th juneAD SIZE: half pageTRIM: 7.5” x 4.75”

LIVE AREA: XXXXXXXXXBLEED: XXXXXXXXXXCOLOR: cmykLINESCREEN: XXX

BN

V540

2/M

ario

n/S/

TZ1

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as of 04/09/09. Minimum to open account is $100. Rate tiers are as follows: 3.05% APY applies to balances of $0.01 - $25,000 and 0.50% APY applies to balances over $25,000 as long as qualifications are met each statement cycle. 0.25% APY applies to all balances if qualifications are not met. All balances will earn 3.05% - 0.50% on all balances as long as qualifications are met. Rates may change after the account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings. Qualified debit card purchase is any purchase of $10.00 or more, excluding PIN based transactions. ATM fee refunds up to $30 per statement cycle.

www.kasasa.com/marion

Do you want massive

interest in CA$H?

Kasasa

A FREE checking account that

pays you MASSIVE interest in cash.

Make more moolah with Kasasa cash.

Do you Kasasa?

is moolah magic.

That,s right. Pays y

ou!

Free checking No monthly fees No minimum balance Free online banking with bill pay VISA check card First order of checks free Nationwide ATM fee refunds*

To get massive interest and nationwide ATM fee refunds, just do these simple things each month: make a minimum of 10 debit card transactions, 1 ACH auto debit or direct deposit, access your account online, and receive your monthly account statement electronically.

A checking account that actually pays you. Only available at America’s fi nest community banking institutions.

Do you Do you Do you Do you Do you want massive Do you want massive Do you

interest in CA$3.05% APY*

UP TO $75,000

BONUS RATE

Free online banking with bill pay 0.50% APY*

OVER $75,000

MID RATE

0.25% APY*

if all qualifications are not met

BASE RATE

BNV5402_Marion_CashDetail_7.5"x4.75"_SISportsConnection_FA.indd 1 19/06/09 1:15 PM

4 l august 2009 l

Features

on the COVER:Can you believe it? SISC celebrates its second anniversary this month!

GAME ON!After a two year dress rehearsal, Vienna unveils its brand new football program

16Something for EveryoneJALC’s Community Health EducationComplex has experienced record-breaking success and skyrocketing attendance32

26

Anticipating AugustUnlike any other sport, the start of the high school football season has a different feel Swinging for the

StarsA new Marion business has area baseball and softball players sweetening their game

34

Golden TeammatesThe camaraderie that still exists between the 1957 Christopher Bearcats is proof that old friends really are the best

29

l august 2009 l 5

Murf’s Turf...............................46

Ask the AD..............................12

JALC Journal...........................40

Around the Horn.....................14

In Focus...................................42

Faith on the Field....................15

Publisher’s Greeting..................7

RLC Report..............................38

From Where I Sit.....................10

Volume 3 Number 1

RIGHT:Hannah Fowler of Harrisburg competes

in the fifth annual Clothes for Kids Tournament

Chris Kays photo

The L ineUp

Ask the Coach............................8

Ask the McDocs......................34

Swinging for the StarsA new Marion business has area baseball and softball players sweetening their game

6 l august 2009 l

Publisher/Editor Jim Muir

Creative Director Toby Brooks

Account Executive Cheryl Hughey

Photographers Christopher Kays Ceasar Maragni

Contributing Writers Teri Campbell Danny Czerwinski Chris Denault John Homan Roger Lipe Ceasar Maragni Mario Moccia Jim Muir Mike Murphy Jackie Myers Les O’Dell Sean Patrick Nathan Wheeler Tom Wheeler

l august 2009 l 7

Publisher’s

greetingG reetings and welcome to the August issue of

Southern Illinois Sports Connection.

Two years, 24 months, 104 weeks, 730 days, two dozen issues … any way you add it up this is our second anniversary at SISC. And to say that I’m thrilled with what we have accomplished would be an understatement. Please notice that I wrote ‘what we have accomplished’ because this is really a team effort each month. And as any coach will tell you, the word ‘I’ is not found in ‘team.’ While I’m listed as the publisher, I’m smart enough to know that there are a lot of moving parts that keep this machine rolling along each month bringing you quality stories about the wonderful world of sports here in southern Illinois. It’s a flat-out promise from me that I will never, ever take the ‘we’ aspect of this magazine for granted.

Looking back over the past two years it would be virtually impossible to pinpoint a story or even a particular issue that is my favorite, perhaps because all the stories and issues, and I mean every single one, hold a special place with me. I think if I ever lose that feeling it would be time to move on to something else.

On somewhat of a lark, I thought it might be interesting and revealing to go back and see what I wrote in this space two years ago in our inaugural issue. As I read along I realized just how poignant those words are two years later. Also, keep in mind that when I wrote this we had not yet published our first magazine, and to be truthful there was more than a few times in the weeks leading up to August 2007 when I wasn’t sure we ever would.

Consider these two paragraphs that appeared in the August 11, 2007 edition of SISC.

“When I came up with the idea to develop this magazine I did so with the idea of taking readers beyond the game. Sure, you’ll see a mention of scores and team records from time to time but for the most part what you are going to see in this magazine is feature stories showcasing southern Illinois sports, all aspects of southern Illinois sports. As you’ll see there is also an impressive collection of contributors – contributors with an extensive knowledge about southern Illinois sports.”

The first thing I did when starting this adventure was pick the brain of every person who might be able to

offer advice about such an endeavor. I then played the part of a sponge and soaked up all that wisdom and knowledge. Next, I surrounded myself with people who love sports as much as I do and employed their skill and expertise. The culmination of those two things can be found in the pages you hold between your fingers.”

As I read those paragraphs two things popped into my mind. First, looking back over the past two years I think I can say ‘mission accomplished’ in our effort to take readers beyond the game. Secondly, I don’t want that focus to ever change.

There was one other paragraph that jumped out at me and I would be remiss today if I didn’t make this point.

That particular paragraph from two years ago reads:

“I’ve always believed that life is a collection of doors closing and doors opening. Recognizing when a door opens or closes sometimes takes a leap of faith and that was certainly the case in this endeavor. A few months ago, and completely unforeseen, a door closed in my life. But just like clockwork, and within a matter of hours it seemed, God opened this door for me. I believe that, period. In welcoming you to the first-ever issue of Southern Illinois Sports Connection, I invite you to walk through that new door with me.

Despite double-digit unemployment, a lingering recession, the worst economy since “The Great Depression” and decreasing ad revenue I still believe that God opened this door for me and I will not waiver from that belief.

Echoing the same invitation that I offered to readers two years ago let me invite you once again to continue our walk through that new door.

Let’s all say it together … ‘Happy Second Anniversary to SISC!’

All the best,

Jim Muir

8 l august 2009 l

J eremy Clodfelder is starting his third year as varsity football coach in Benton.

Coach Clodfelder has his Rangers compete in many 7-on-7 games this summer. The Rangers attended a 7-on-7 camp at the University of Illinois and got six games in at the West Frankfort tournament.

Coach Clodfelder said rules vary dramatically at different camps.

“Each school has different rules, some four downs to go 10 yards for a first down, some 15 yards; these sometimes change the closer you get to scoring. Other games are based on a running clock. At Frankfort, after a score you could go for one point from the three or two points from the ten but they also gave three points for your team on every interception.”

The Ranger’s energetic coach listed the advantages of the activity.

Benton Rangers coach Jeremy Clodfelder

Chris Kays photo

l august 2009 l 9

“We do what we do when the season starts, some teams run schemes that everyone knows they won’t use during the season. It is great for our quarterback, the many reps he gets in ‘live’ action. Since we are a shotgun team we take our center with us which gives him many snaps. I like the fact you can watch your athletes compete against another team in game type situations which is a great way for our coaches to evaluate the players going into the season.”

Coach Clod also discussed the downside to the 7-on-7 competition.

“An athlete can pick up bad habits, since it is basically a game of one hand touch it doesn’t teach a player to ‘break-down’ and be prepared to tackle.” He also raised the question about whether or not helmets should be used in these games.

“If helmets were worn, would the games become more physical?” the Benton coach asked.

H amilton County’s varsity football coach Jeff Rush is starting his sixth year in McLeansboro.

Coach Rush is a believer in the 7-on-7 summer games but did not have his Foxes compete this summer. Coach Rush explains, “With our size school we must share our athletes and they had so much going on this summer with baseball, basketball and summer jobs. Many of our players

had good summer jobs which was hard to get, so we were not about to ask them to have to miss work.”

Coach Rush, who coaches one of the most exciting offenses in the south, has competed for many summers at SIU’s 7-on-7 camp. He is a believer in it not only for the offense but for the teaching on the defensive side as well.

Some “cons” Coach Rush has encountered include getting athletes completely frustrated when they are out of their element. In some cases you will have to play people a lot who will then play very little when the season starts, this causes problems. A negative summer could have the players coming in with the “we-are-not-very-good-attitude.”

Don’t think the Foxes are going to be down though because the players know his system. He returns four experienced wide outs coming back along with a high-quality quarterback. Mix in his first-class football camp with great attendance and the Foxes will be ready for the season, Rush said.

Hamilton County coach Jeff RushMarty Cox photo

10 l august 2009 l

From where I SIT

By Tom Wheeler

A s we roll into the ‘Dog Days’ of summer, all it took

was one trip to “THE GARAGE” (Did you notice Jim, all capital letters?) to get me ready for some high school football. Take a little trek down memory lane with me this month and see how many of these guys you remember?

50 years ago (1959-60) The Champaign News Gazette all-state team listed only one southern Illinois player. Larry Kristoff a 5-feet-10-inch, 210 pound guard from Carbondale High coached by Frank Bleyer … Sesser High school would open the season with a new football coach, Zeigler graduate George Earl, who welcomed back a pair of three-year starters in his back field, Walter Klein and David Basso, their opponent was McLeansboro coached by the late Gene Haile who’s only backfield returnee was the renowned Curt Reed. At SIU, Johnston City native Jan Jansco and Carmi’s Ron Winter had good years for coach Carmen Piccone.

40 years ago (1969-70) The Johnston City Indians of coach Jan Jansco finished the year 10-0 and were led by the state’s leading scorer Terry Hughes (138 pts). Other scoring leaders in the south included Metropolis’ Carl Johnson (112 pts), Nashville’s Ken Nagel (92 pts) and Marion’s Roger King (88 pts) … Centralia also finished the season 10-0 (remember, this

was before the playoffs.)

30 years ago (1979-80) in the Black Diamond, current Carlyle principal Joe Wilkerson Jr. was the MVP, the Evansville Courier picked Carterville’s John Hancock as the Diamond’s MVP, the MVP of the independents was McLeansboro’s Murray Reed while the paper picked the South Seven’s MVP Parry Duncan, the Bulldogs coach Ken Joggerst was the “Coach of the Year” … leading scorers in the south were Pinckneyville’s Dan Cairns (74 pts) and West Frankfort’s Matt Florian (66 pts), top rushers Nashville’s Dan DeMoss (956 yards) and Jeff Butler of Harrisburg (692 yards), the top passers of the year were Johnston City’s Steve Eisenhauer (995 yards) and Murphysboro’s Scott Maloney (664 yards) … for the Salukis, Carbondale native Tom Striegel averaged 36.1 yards punting for coach Rey Dempsey.

20 years ago (1989-90) Carbondale’s Matt Murray, by way of Unity Point Junior High was named Player of the Year … two transfers who ended up being all conference players was John Sala who moved from Herrin to Carterville and Les Robinson who transferred from Sparta to DuQuoin … Buckner native TJ Wheeler, who had earlier signed to play basketball for the University of Illinois, was tabbed as the Christopher Bearcats starting quarterback by coach Bill Rogers … Sesser-Valier’s Shad Zimbro was the Black Diamond’s MVP … top rushers in the south were the Metroplis duo of Mark Neal (1310 yards) and Steve Crim (1165 yards), top passers were Mike Naiper of Pinckneyville (1416 yards) and Elverado’s Mike Davis (1236 yards) while the top receivers was Elverado’s Bart Funk (837 yards) and Herrin’s Jay Wright (776 yards) … DuQuoin’s Jeff Karnes made the traveling squad at Brown University and Carterville’s Jeff Fisher and Jason Howell were starting at Illinois Wesclin … West Frankfort native Gary Hart, a local legendary coach had open heart surgery in St. Louis … new coaches in southern Illinois included Jim Woodward at Anna Jonesboro who left Eldorado where Vern Pollock replaced him … SIU was led by two Benton High school graduates, quarterback Fred Gibson and punter David Peters (39.5 yards per punt), for coach Bob Smith.

10 years ago (1999-00) the Black Diamond MVP was Carterville’s Nate Johnston while top receivers in southern Illinois were Harrisburg’s Braden Jones (602 yards) and West Frankfort’s Jonathan Sloan (536 yards). Top rushers were Nashville’s Justin Morris (1599 yards) and Carterville’s Johnston (1416 yards), top passers were Harrisburg’s Adam Nolen (1,004 yards ) and Mt. Vernon’s John Flood (723 yards) … Carterville graduate Mark Shasteen caught passes for 419 yards for the Salukis under coach Jan Quarless.

See you ‘under the lights’ on Friday night!

l august 2009 l 11

12 l august 2009 l

Ask the AD

By Mario Moccia

I s SIU or the Missouri Valley Football Conference considering a home-and-

home challenge series in football like we have in basketball with the Mountain West?Our league and the commissioner, Patty Viverito, haven’t mentioned this as a possibility. In the sport of football, there are very limited opportunities for non-conference games. In a typical year, there are a total of 11 games (some years we are allowed to play 12). The usual breakdown is eight conference games and three non-conference games. Of those non-conference matchups, one is going to be a FBS opponent (preferably close enough for us to bus), and the other two would be regional-type games, such as what we have just scheduled with Eastern Illinois and SEMO. The sport of football just doesn’t lend itself to dual conference match-ups.

Since the Salukis are playing Marshall this fall in football, I have heard from reliable sources that they would be interested in a home and home series in hoops. Have you pursued this? Thanks from a Saluki fan in Huntington.Well, I know that just last week, Marshall named UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick as their new

director of athletics, and I have never spoken to him about this, nor have I heard this from anyone at Marshall. I am sure if they were interested (and perhaps they are) we could begin a discussion. I will mention this to Coach Lowery when he gets off the recruiting trail.

Last year, my two sons and I (who are also veterans) had the pleasure of attending your Veterans Appreciation Day football game. This was the first time I had been to campus since I left in 1953. Will you be doing another Veterans Day again this year?We certainly will. Military Appreciation Day will be held on September 26, when we take on North Dakota State. I know our assistant athletic director for marketing, Mark Gazdik, is working on a fly-over, as well as the Wounded Warrior project – similar to last year. I hope you can make it again, and we will do our best to make sure the men and women of the armed services are well-represented and properly thanked and honored.

With the fall sports season getting close, have any improvements been made with regards to the quality of Saluki All Access streaming video?Yes. Tom Weber, our director of media services, has been working on improvements with our provider, Stretch Internet. This year, the video streams will not be software dependent, meaning you can watch them through any internet browser, rather than requiring QuickTime. Check to make sure your computer has Flash installed. Also, Tom reports that the picture quality is improved. The only caveat I must include is that we are still a year away from having new facilities. There are inherent network issues at McAndrew Stadium and SIU Arena that we must continue to deal with. Overall, I think you will be pleased with the improvements, however.

Member FDICwww.banterrabank.com

For Tickets Call...1-877-SALUKIS

l august 2009 l 13

14 l august 2009 l

Around the

hornBy Sean Patrick

W here does the time go? I’m sure the theme around the

columns of this month’s SISC will be the fact that summer is almost over and school will be started again soon. Well, it’s true. But you know what they say, “time flies when you’re having fun.”

It’s also a time of new beginnings. A new lineup for the Cards, a clean slate for the area prep football teams, and another season in the broadcast booth for me and my partner, Roger Medlen.

What a month it’s been for the Redbirds. It’s always kind of a running joke around my house that the Cards and Cubs often trade their ‘rejects’ and those players always have a little more gas in the tank for their new teams. Now, most of the time that’s not always the case, but the past two instances are great examples of guys getting even at their old teams for getting rid of them.

Look at Jim Edmonds. After eight pretty good years in St. Louis, the Cards cut him loose, only for him to catch on in Chicago and hit 19 homeruns for the North Siders in just 85 games (remember, he played 26 games for San Diego to start the 2008 season). Now, after starting this season with Cleveland, and after a very productive nine seasons in Atlanta, Mark DeRosa

comes to St. Louis after batting a combined .289 with 31 homeruns and 159 RBI’s for the Cubs. He now finds himself right in the middle of a pennant race in St. Louis. Through 14 games with the ‘Birds, DeRosa has hit 6 homeruns with 10 RBI after starting 0-17 in his first five games.

For the record, DeRosa hasn’t won anything in the post season besides a Division Series championship with the Braves back in 2001. Let us not forget that the Cubs were quickly bounced from post season play in both 2007 and 2008. That should give him some motivation to get the Cardinals back to the World Series for the third time in three years.

Throw in Matt Holliday, who’s only hitting .529 through five games for the Cardinals, as well as Julio Lugo’s .474 batting mark through four games with the ‘Birds (don’t forget Lugo has experience in the World Series, when his Red Sox beat Holliday’s Colorado Rockies in four straight games in 2007), and the Cardinals have to be a top contender to be the National League representative in the Fall Classic this year.

Now if the Cardinals would go get a quality starter to fill in the five spot in the rotation, we’d be golden! Also, if we can only get the National League to ever win an All-Star game, an NL team could have home-field advantage in the World Series. By the way, that is the DUMBEST rule I’ve ever heard of, don’t you agree? I have a suggestion Mr. Selig, why not flip a coin to see who bats first, like in my old P.E. class?

I’m sure excited to hop back in the booth with Roger and broadcast the 2009 season of Carbondale Terrier football on WDBX (91.1 FM). I know second year coach Dan Koester has had the boys out on the practice field this summer and into this fall, so hopefully things will turn around from last year’s 3-6 overall and 2-3 South 7 marks. Winning always makes everything better, doesn’t it?

Get out there and catch a high school or junior high contest this fall. Football, volleyball, cross country, golf, tennis, baseball, softball and so much more to see – there’s something for everybody. The young men and women across southern Illinois deserve your support for all their hard work and dedication.

Thank you for your time, this time, until next time, so long… when we go Around the Horn!

l august 2009 l 15

Faith on theField

By Roger Lipe

The Textures of Sport

W hat does it feel like when your baseball bat hits a ball dead center and sends it screaming into the outfield? Some of us know how that feels in our hands and that

feeling calls us back to the ball park again and again. There are a number of textures we feel on our skin that is the pure essence of playing one’s heart out.

I love the feel of:

Catching a baseball in my left hand, pulling it from the glove • and confidently gripping the seams as I prepare to throw.The solid resonance of a well-struck 2-iron from the fairway, • sending it on its way to the green – on in two with an eagle putt to come.The wide, raised seams of an experienced football in my hands • while returning balls to the kickers during pre-game at a college football stadium.The pain and swelling in my elbow after having pitched both • ends of a double header of fast-pitch softball.Football jerseys, soaked with sweat while embracing a player • who has played his heart out.A wrestling mat under my knees as I start the second period of • a match I am officiating.The pain which rises from the soles of my feet, through my • ankles and knees, eventually settling in my hips after a long day on the sidelines of a college football game.Sweat dripping from my eyebrows as I prepare to hit a hard-• drive serve into my opponent’s backhand corner during a hotly contested racquetball match.Cleaning mud from my cleats with the handle of my bat before • stepping into the box.

These feelings, full of pleasure and pain, are the stuff of life if you play your heart out. Join me on the field of competition and feel them all deeply, to the depth of your soul.

The Aroma of Sport

I love the aromas associated with sport. I recall vividly the smells, both beautiful and not so pleasant, from my life of playing my heart out.

I love the aroma of:

Icy Hot on my elbow on October evenings as I drove to the •

softball field.My new baseball glove • with 3-in-1 oil rubbed into it, a ball in the pocket and tied shut with a shoestring – laid carefully by my pillow for the night.Charcoal smoke wafting • from nearby tailgaters into the football stadium during pre-game on fall afternoons.Newly mowed, dewy grass • on spring mornings at high school baseball parks.A busy, August, football • locker room; less than pleasant, but smelling of competition and passion.New baseballs, fresh from • the box as we free them from their cloaks of thin paper.Popcorn and roasted • peanuts at a major league baseball park on a June evening.

I love these aromas because when I smell them they lead me to recollections of simpler days, of passionate competition and of rich relationships with teammates and opponents who played their hearts out.When you next go to the gym, the ball park, the stadium or the locker room; take a deep breath and drink in the aroma of sport. It smells like life!

16 l august 2009 l

l august 2009 l 17

18 l august 2009 l

F ollowing the 2006 school year, then-59-year-old Mike Rude retired as principal at Washington Grade

School in Johnston City and at the same time tendered his resignation as

t h e highly successful football coach at Johnston

City High School, a position he had held

for 16 years.

Despite his retirement and his decision to leave

an established p r o g r a m

where he

compiled a 111-53 (.677 winning percentage), won six Black Diamond Conference titles and led the Indians to the playoff 12 times in 16 years, Rude was certainly not ready for a rocking chair.

Instead, the C h r i s t o p h e r n a t i v e undertook the mammoth task of starting a

football program from scratch at Vienna High School. In fact, the last time that Vienna played high school

football was 1931. As an historical measuring stick,

Franklin Roosevelt was

president of the United States, the nation was right in the middle of the Great Depression, gas cost 10 cents a gallon and a brand new Chevrolet cost $600. In short, it’s been a long, long time.

Those that know Rude know the answer to why he would embark on such a grueling task after his retirement. But, for those who don’t know the longtime coach the answer to that question can be summed up in one word – passion.

“Football is what I do every day of the year and what I love,” said Rude. “There is not a single

day that goes by, and I mean seven days a week, 365 days a year, that I don’t work on something football-related.”

Shortly after his retirement Rude met with Vienna officials and the groundwork was

laid to start the program. The initial plan – a plan that has been followed to the letter – was designed for the program to be open to freshmen and sophomore players and for Vienna to play an eleven-game freshman schedule in 2007 with a team made up of both freshmen and sophomore players.

Also during the 2007 season, the Eagles played a four-game sophomore schedule. During the 2008 season freshmen and sophomores played a separate nine-game schedule each. Now, at the outset of the 2009 season, Vienna is set to join the Black Diamond Conference, taking the place of Cairo who disbanded football prior to the start of the 2006 season. During the first two years the Eagles played all road games.

Perhaps as an omen of things to come with the newest team in the BDC, the inaugural 2007 team finished with a 9-2 mark. In 2008 the Vienna freshmen team went 4-4 while the JV squad went 5-1. Overall, since the program began, Vienna has a combined mark of 18-7.

Rude said three key elements were established in that first year when the program was launched.

“First of all we won games,” Rude said. “Also, we had good numbers to start with and the kids

l august 2009 l 19

stayed out, we started with 31 players and we finished with 31. And we didn’t have any major injuries, which I think was really a plus.”

In making his point about how important those three things were in launching the program, Rude looked at it from the opposite perspective.

“There were people that were skeptical about how much success we would have and then when we won it just really drove the stake in the ground that we were there for good,” said Rude. “We started with 31 players and if we would have finished with 22 or 23 players and maybe had a major injury like a broken leg or neck injury it would have made it very difficult. Those three things were just huge for us in getting the program off the ground.”

Rude said his first practice gave him a quick lesson in the size of the task in front of him.

“First of all, we had no facilities so we really didn’t have a place to practice and I’ve never been an athletic director so I’ve never had to order equipment,” Rude said. “Right down to the very basics, we didn’t have anything. We’ve had to order everything from knee pads to helmets to game jerseys and footballs. Then you think about the volunteers involved and the coaching staff, it’s been a huge undertaking.”

Vienna Athletic Director Ross Hill said the “planets aligned” and created a perfect start to the program back in 2007. Hill listed a $350,000 grant that enabled the school

to purchase equipment, Cairo dropping out of the BDC which

paved the w a y

20 l august 2009 l

for Vienna to immediately join the BDC and have a full schedule and the hiring of Rude as key elements in getting started on the right note.

“It just all snowballed in a very positive way,” said Hill. “All the other schools were so helpful giving us games right off. Everything just fell into place and then on top of that the community really has supported us. It’s really just been amazing what

has taken place here in only two years.”

Of all those events that fell into place Hill said landing Rude to start the program was the key element.

“Not just anybody could do what Mike has been able to accomplish,” said Hill. “For us to land a hall of fame coach was just incredible. The

system he’s put in place and his leadership has just been huge.”

Hill said another major obstacle that is still being cleared is construction of a playing facility. Property was purchased near Interstate 24 and is nearing completion, Hill said, adding that former superintendent Marleis Trover and current superintendent Terry Moreland both embraced the project.

Hill said seeing the start of the football program through to completion is extra important to him because his dad played on the very last Vienna High School team back in 1931.

“Overall, everybody in every aspect has just done a tremendous job,” said Hill. “I’m getting close to retirement age and this is really a dream-come-true to see this program get off the ground.”

Rude said he also realized in those early days that there was a communication problem with his players.

“I got in the car to drive home after that first practice and I realized that I had to

It just all snowballed in a very positive way. All the other schools were so helpful giving us games right off. Everything just fell into place and then on top of that the community really has supported us. It’s really just been amazing what has taken place here in only two years.

-Ross Hill, Vienna AD

l august 2009 l 21

reevaluate where things were at because I realized immediately that they were not nearly as far along as I thought they might be,” said Rude. “We were working on some defensive and secondary stuff and I said ‘I need a wingback, a flanker and a slotback over here’ and nobody moved. It dawned on me that they didn’t have any idea what I was talking about. We’ve had to begin with very basic things.”

A 1966 graduate of Christopher High School and a 1970 graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Rude began his coaching career at tiny Wyanet High School in central Illinois where he stayed two years.

“They (Wyanet) had lost 26 in a row when I got there and I helped them get it to 34 in a row. We did go 3-5 my second year there. I stayed there long enough to find out that I didn’t know as much as I thought I did.”

From there Rude spent five years at Kankakee Bishop McNamara as an assistant coach before moving back to southern Illinois to coach at Anna-Jonesboro where he stayed from 1977-1981. Rude then coached at Marion from 1982 to 1991 and at Johnston City from 1992 to 2006.

Despite the 18-7 overall mark registered thus far ,Rude said he is trying to prepare this year’s team about the difference in playing at the freshmen and sophomore level as compared to varsity football.

“That’s a real concern for me right now,” said Rude. “I’m having a hard time making them understand how much the game is going to speed up at the

varsity level. There is no way to assimilate that in practice. When we take the field on August 29 our entire team will have never played in a varsity game and there will be a big difference. It’s something we’re just going to have to learn on the fly.”

During his long tenure at Johnston City Rude dusted out the archives and revived the old single-wing offense and has brought the same offensive scheme to Vienna.

“They’ve picked it up very well,” said Rude.

Rude said he has a wide range of emotions as he enters the final weeks of practice in preparation for the season opener against Hamilton County, a Saturday afternoon game on August 29. He said as a way to show his team what’s in store, he has also been a frequent visitor to the IHSA website where he has compiled the records of other teams in recent years that started a new football program from scratch.

“There’s Manteno, Metro East Lutheran, Bunker Hill, Trenton-Wesclin and a couple others that started new programs like this and I print out what these teams did in their first years when they went 0-9, 0-9, 1-8, 2-7, 2-7,” said Rude. “Nobody has started from scratch and won right off the bat. I want them to get in their heads that we can’t put the expectations so high that they think it’s a complete failure if we don’t win at the varsity level immediately.”

Certainly winning will be a focus but Rude also said building a program that will remain on solid

ground is equally as important.

“I want to build the

22 l august 2009 l

foundation here for this football program,” Rude said. “And then when the time comes for me to quit coaching football pass it on to good hands. Building a solid foundation here is important to me.”

Rude also gave high marks to those two classes back in 2007 that launched the first teams at Vienna. The freshmens are now sophomores and the sophomores make up this years’ senior class.

“Those kids came out and stuck with us,” Rude said. “Many of them made the decision to play football instead of other fall sports. They’ll always be remembered as the

ones who got the program going.”

While Rude notes that he is experiencing a wide range of emotions these days the veteran coach said the primary feeling he has as he prepares to start his 40th year of coaching is “anticipation.”

“I’m chomping at the bit,” said Rude.

“I can’t wait to get

started.”

I want to build the foundation here for this football program. And then when the time comes for me to quit coaching football pass it on to good hands. Building a solid foundation here is important to me.

Mike Rude, Vienna football coach

l august 2009 l 23

*VALID UNTIL 08/31/09. MAY NOT COMBINE OFFERS. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS.**TO QUALIFIED BUYERS. SEE DEALER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS.

BACKREST/WINDSHIELD COMBO

CUSTOM TWO COLOR PAINT

CUSTOM EXHAUST SYSTEM

24 l august 2009 l

l august 2009 l 25

26 l august 2009 l

By Jim Muir

Perhaps it’s the anticipation of a new school year, a fresh start and a new beginning or maybe it’s just the sheer excitement associated with it, but there is no high school sport that has the build up and the ‘feeling’ that’s associated with high school football.

It’s an annual happening here in Southern Illinois as July vanished into a memory, two-a-day practices will give way to the beginning of a nine-week battle all geared at being one of the ‘chosen’ team that will earn – and in many instances fight and claw – for the opportunity to play football on those chilly, gray afternoons in November.

From Chester to Mt. Carmel, from Mt. Vernon to Massac County and from all places in between, high school football is right now in dress-rehearsal mode gearing up for an August 28 performance. In an effort to help our readers get in that game-ready frame of mind SISC asked seven area coaches to summarize in a few sentences what August and the start of another season means to them personally.

Tod Rushing – Pinckneyville – “This time of year it always gets exciting, we’ve worked real hard this summer and we’re looking forward to the start of practice. This time of year the air just starts feeling a little different; to me you can just smell it in the air.”

,

l august 2009 l 27

Nick Batts – Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton – “Emotionally it gets harder for me when August gets here especially the first week and half when we can’t have any contact. You spend all summer long

getting ready and putting in the hours and then there’s this week and a half waiting to get started. When the calendar turns over to August you just want to get out

there and play football. And it is different than any other sport, there’s just a feel to August and the start of the season that you don’t have with other sports.

Jason Karnes – Herrin – “As a coach when August gets here you know that you and your staff have put your hours in and you can’t wait to get started. It’s just an exciting time and there’s a lot of anticipation, every year I think August is never going to get here.”

Kerry Martin – Marion – “I’ve been a head coach for 20 seasons and I don’t think the feeling has ever changed for me when August rolls around. The feeling and the anticipation are still there for me, as much now as when I first started coaching. The excitement of the unknown, everybody comes in so optimistic and every game matters so much. There’s just a feeling in the air in August that you just don’t find with any other sport. I think it’s so important to get off to a good start so that just adds to the anticipation. A good start in football is more important than any other sport.”

28 l august 2009 l

Jeremy Clodfelder – Benton – “It’s just an exciting time, full of anticipation and the opportunity is there to go out and prove something. The slate is clean for everybody and everybody is optimistic. When you’re trying to rebuild a program sometimes you think, ‘oh no … is it here already.’ When the calendar rolls over to August it also means that the anxiety level and the sleepless nights increase.”

Chad Spence – West Frankfort –“When August gets here it’s almost like you can smell football in the air. I don’t know if it’s the cut grass when you practice but you can feel it, there’s a different feel in the air that’s hard to describe. The kids have worked so hard through the contact days and there’s just a build up because it’s time to get after it. It seems like there is a yearlong build up just to play nine games. The anticipation level just increases every day in August.”

Jason Roper – Harrisburg – “It’s the start of the new school year and everybody is optimistic about their team. The anticipation and excitement level is high when August rolls around. We had some storm damage back in May and we’ve a new scoreboard and a new press box going in and even though those things are a little bit of a distraction I think it’s made the excitement and anticipation level even greater this year.”

l august 2009 l 29

Teammates

In the front row from left to right are Head Coach Bob Astroth, Ken Berryman , Jeff Troutt, Dave Meinert and their 8th grade coach Glenn Byars. In the second row from left to right are Jim An-derton, Jerry Reed, Gordon Gossett, Gary West and Fred Neal.

Goldenstory by JIM MUIR

photos by CEASAR MARAGNI

More than 50 years after they hit the hardcourt together, the camaraderie that still exists between the

1957 Christopher Bearcats is proof that old friends really are the best

30 l august 2009 l

T here’s a children’s song that states, ‘Make new friends but keep the old,

one is silver and the other is gold.’

The 1957 Christopher High School basketball team is living proof that the words to that clever little ditty hold more than just a measure of truth. In fact, the camaraderie displayed by this group of former athletes more than five decades after they played together might best be described as off the charts.

Benton attorney Jeff Troutt was a starting guard on the ’57 team and notes that the players were always a tight-knit group but also ended an 18 year draught.

“ C h r i s t o p h e r had not had a winning season in basketball since 1939 and in 1957 we went 18-7 while playing a pretty tough schedule,” recalls Troutt who still resides in Christopher. “At that time Christopher was known more as a football town so for us to win 18 games was quite an accomplishment.”

Troutt said the group of athletes was a tight-knit group both on and off the field.

“We were just always a very close group even when we weren’t participating in sports together,” Troutt said. “Several of us lived close together and we always ran around together.”

Even after graduation and in the ensuing years when college and careers were getting started the teammates remained close – Gary West served as best man at Troutt’s wedding. But in 1989 the former Bearcats started what might be an unprecedented event – an annual reunion – that continues to thrive more than 20 years later.

“We started out with just a couple of players and our coach,” said Troutt. “And then it just continued to grow and more players got involved and now the entire team

gets together.”

Troutt said some of the former teammates travel from as far away as Texas, New Hampshire, Alabama and Georgia to attend the event.

“Every year we meet now it just becomes more special to me,” said Troutt. “These are really lifelong friends. I think it’s really unique that we continue to get together and particularly for some because it.”

Ken Berryman, of Chatham located near Springfield, has attended the reunion every year since its inception. Berryman said Troutt and Fred Neal were the “backbone of the team’ and still vividly recalls a major upset registered by the Bearcats during that 1957 campaign.

“We knocked off Benton that year and that was unheard of and in fact that was the last time that Christopher ever beat them,” said Berryman. “That was just unheard of then. It was like David knocking

off Goliath.”

Berryman, a retired senior medical rep with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, echoed Troutt’s words about the friendship that existed between the players even away from sports.

“We just did a lot of things together that had nothing to do with sports,” said Berryman. “We’ve stayed

together throughout the years and I think that’s remarkable. We look forward to seeing each other and having fun. We’ve been close for more than 50 years and it all started through playing sports.”

After a one year stint coaching at Assumption High School in East St. Louis and two years at Aviston, Bob Astroth was hired as a coach at Christopher High School in 1955. He points out that he inherited at team that was winless during the 1954-55 season. Astroth’s first year at Christopher the Bearcats

l august 2009 l 31

won 17 games and then followed up with the 18-7 mark in 1956-57.Astroth made light of the winless mark prior to his arrival.

“We didn’t have any direction to go but up,” As-troth said.

Astroth said he believes the closeness of the ’57 team led to the overall success they enjoyed.

“They spent a lot of time together off the court, even on weekends,” said Astroth. “I was still young back then and even on weekends I’d get together with them and we’d play touch football, basketball or Indian ball, whatever was in sea-son.”

Astroth left Christopher following the 1957 sea-son and coached one year at Springfield Junior College and then coached at Springfield Griffin for six years before ending his coaching career to become a school administrator at Aviston where he later served as superintendent of the school district for 31 years.

The now-81-year-old Astroth said he “thorough-ly enjoys” the annual reunion and told an amus-ing story about his former players, who are all now 69 and 70 years old.

“I told a friend recently that I was going down to Southern Illinois to play golf with the ‘kids’ I coached from Christopher,” said Astroth. “It fi-nally dawned on me that their not kids anymore, heck their drawing Social Security.”

Troutt said the memories, stories and recol-lections shared at the annual reunion become more special each year.

“It was just a fun time in life,” said Troutt. “I’ve said many times over that I feel very fortunate to have grown up in a small town like Christopher in the 1950s, it was just a very special time. We didn’t have anything but we had the most important things, love, a good family and close friends.”

And just like that children’s song reminds us … those old friends are gold.

32 l august 2009 l

J ohn A. Logan College students have had a fit-ness center at their dis-

posal on campus since 1985. But what started out as a few exercise machines, bikes, treadmills and free weights in one large room next to the gymnasium has evolved into a state-of-the-art health center that is now utilized by students and the general public.

Jerry Bechtel is the director of the college’s Community Health Education Complex, which opened to the public in January 2004. The facility, located on the campus’ southwest end facing Illinois 13, is home to both an aerobics and aquatics center.Bechtel, who serves as facility director, has witnessed the transformation.

“In the early years when we were located next to the gym, we pretty much just appealed to the 19- to 21-year-old age group. But today, I would say that 60 to 70 percent of our clientele is age 50 and older,” Bechtel said. “And we’ve exceeded all expectations with numbers. When we opened the new health complex in 2004, we were projecting 1,000 to 1,200 users and we shot up over 2,000 the first year, which led to our most recent expansion (March of this year).”

Bechtel said he now projects in the neighborhood of 4,000 visitors to the facility by the end of this calendar year.

“From tiny tots to the elderly, everyone uses this health complex,” he said.Bechtel said on the aerobics side there are 23 treadmills, 14 recumbent bikes, 10 elliptical machines, a super

circuit consisting of 24 stationary bikes and 24 weight-training machines, 46 singular weight-training machines and a free-weight area that includes dumbbells, squat racks, power racks and benches.

Moreover, there is a designated area specifically for stretching and warm-ups, a new four-lane walking track and classrooms. The college’s new wildly popular massage therapy center is also housed at the complex.There is also a second-level to the complex that has not yet been finished.

“We certainly wanted to reach out to the general public, particularly the senior citizens of Southern Illinois, to give them another alternative for improving their overall health,” Bechtel said. “And we’re constantly trying to offer activities that appeal to different groups – activities like yoga, step aerobics, fitness walking and spinning (an aerobic workout with bikes).”

The health complex is also becoming a central meeting place for wellness checks that include free cholesterol and blood pressure checks, as well as prostate and diabetes screenings. Flu shots may be administered there in the months ahead.

“I can see us continuing to expand in the years ahead,” Bechtel said. “We offer something for just about everyone.”Bonnie Franklin is a retired teacher from Herrin. She said she makes the trek to Carterville each Tuesday and Thursday to participate in a water aerobics class before lifting weights to increase her strength.

“I work out in both the deep and

shallow water,” Franklin said. “It’s good exercise without placing pressure on the joints.”

Franklin said she had particularly weak ankles.

“Chris (aquatics director Georgantas) has been great to work with. He has a lot of concern for you as an individual and sets up a workout program that is specifically geared to help you. It’s like having your own personal trainer.”Franklin said this is the fifth semester she has been enrolled at the health center.

“When I first signed up two years ago, I didn’t know how to operate any of the machines or how to adjust the seating. Chris and others have been very patient in showing me everything there is to know about the machines.”

James Lumos of Creal Springs moved to the region from Cape Girardeau. He is enrolled this summer in weight lifting and aqua-cise classes at the health complex.

“This is a really nice facility,” Lumos said. “I’d be coming here even if I wasn’t taking classes.”

The father of two kindergarten-age boys, Lumos said his work at the health complex is helping him shed some unwanted extra pounds.

Sharon Riley of Carterville said she has been participating in water exercises at the center for the last three years.

“It helps strengthen the muscles in my legs and improves my overall physical condition. And another added benefit is that I have made

JALC’s Community Health Education Complex has experienced record-breaking success and skyrocketing attendance

Something for EveryoneStory & photos by John D. Homan

l august 2009 l 33

some good friends out here.”

Georgantas oversees the water aerobics exercises.

“For many people the aquatic center is not only the best method to be active and stay functional, but in fact, the only way to safely be active. The buoyancy and supportive surrounding provided by the water makes possible activity that is often not possible on land.”

Georgantas said the social aspect is also a “major benefit” to many who partake in the activities.

“It is the interaction and contact with others in a physically motivating environment that makes the difference for the body and mind,” he said. “Our patrons look forward to coming to class and really miss it if they cannot be here for some reason.”

Classes also provide a good degree of accountability and guidance, Georgantas said, for some patrons who need more structure in their lives.

The John A. •Logan College C o m m u n i t y Health Education Complex opened in January 2004.

An expansion •featuring three m u l t i - p u r p o s e rooms and an indoor walking track was revealed in March of this year.

Participation has •basically doubled from 2,000 visitors to 4,000 over the lastfiveyears.

The health •complex is open from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Retired teacher Bonnie Franklin of Herrin works on a back exercise at the JALC Community Health Education Complex.

34 l august 2009 l

Swinging for the StarsHit Repair, a new business in Marion, is bustin’ at the seams

with youngsters looking to develop and hone their baseball and softball skills

story by jim muirphotos by ceasar maragni

l august 2009 l 35

A new Marion business is taking advantage of the that fact more and more athletes are specializing in one sport.

Hit Repair, located at 1907 Princeton Avenue in Marion, deals specifically with baseball and softball, offering one-on-one instruction in hitting and pitching. Hit Repair also offers the services of two well-known area coaches/players that have decades of experience behind them.

Bob Simpson, a Harrisburg native and former coach at Southeastern Illinois College, has more than 20 years experience helping hitters improve their swing. Several players that Simpson coached and instructed have gone on to collegiate and professional careers.

Assisting Simpson is Crab Orchard native Cory Bailey

who also played college baseball at Southeastern Illinois College before embarking on a professional career that included stints with the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox.

Marion Living photojournalist Ceasar Maragni (quite an aspiring baseball player himself back in the day) paid a visit to Hit Repair and captured the high intensity workouts of several area players.

As you focus on these top quality photos you can almost hear the sound of leather popping and bat meeting ball.

Anyone wanting more information about Hit Repair can contact Simpson at 618-926-1079 or Bailey at 618-889-9708.

ABOVE: Blake Jackson of Carterville attacks a

pitch in the cage.

LEFT:Ryan Darnell lets one rip

from the indoor mound as twin brother Lance looks

on. The two are from Thompsonville.

FAR LEFT: Hit Repair owners Bob Simpson and

Cory Bailey head up the area’s newest baseball

training facility

36 l august 2009 l

Ask the

McDocsBy Dennis McGuire & John McConnaughy

Importance of Core Muscle Training in Athletes of All Sports

C ore training has become a buzz phrase in the sports

performance industry over the past few years. And while the core is critical for sports success, it has been slightly misunderstood from a training perspective.

For core strength, exercises should involve movement of the spine and hips into flexion, extension and/or rotation (such as crunches, back extension and any twisting or rotating movement). For core stability, exercises should have no movement of the spine, only maintain spinal positions (examples being bridging progressions, kneeling on stability balls or other balance type exercises).

How do athletes themselves know where to begin?

There is a difference between training for core stability and training for core strength. It is important to be strong and stable through rotation, from side-to-side and from front-to-back. The core, or trunk, has the main purpose in athletics of allowing an athlete to transfer force from the ground upward and outward. It’s crucial for everything from

throwing, to blocking, to kicking, to diving, etc. If the trunk isn’t stable, the force will dissipate back into the athlete’s core and will not be expressed against an opponent or object. In other words, athletes cannot advance – themselves, the ball in their hand, the puck on their stick, etc. – and they can easily get knocked over and hurt.

Contrary to what most people believe, the core is not only abdominals and low back muscles, but everything from the neck down, excluding extremities. This also involves the hips and shoulders – if they’re unstable, the athlete is at high risk for injury. Many of the most critical muscles involved in core stability are not even visible, but are below the surface muscles (e.g. transverse abdominis, quadratus lumborum, to just name a few).

Because everyone wants a strong core, many fantastic new ways of training these muscles have been devised, in addition to some of the older methods seeing a come-back. But an athlete’s goals have to be specific in order to choose which to use and how to train effectively.

Many of the training devices used for core stability have a great value to athletes if used properly. The idea behind the

stability ball, for instance, is that by forcing an athlete to perform movements while on an unstable surface, the deep abdominal wall, quadratus lumborum and mutifidus will need to control the trunk to successfully perform the movements. This can be extremely effective, but should be used in its proper context. Not every exercise needs to be done on an unstable sur face all the time.

l august 2009 l 37

Medicine ball training, a tried and true method, can also be an effective training tool, especially for developing trunk power. But medicine ball drills come in many forms. An athlete can do slower repetitions with heavier weighted balls, super-fast repetitions with lighter weighted balls, and anything in between to create different training effects. Compound free-weight exercises, such as squats, Olympic lifts and snatches are also extremely demanding on the trunk because there is a lot of weighted movement going on that the body has to stabilize and adjust to. Even some “stationary” types of the exercises, such as planks, can be useful, since the trunk’s main function in sport is many times to be a stabilizer, not a flexor or extensor.

The one constant in the multitude of core stability options is that an athlete has to be aware of the goal in order to get the proper training and the ultimate sport success. What’s the sport? What’s the position? In what phase of training is the athlete? The answers to these questions dictate what exercises get chosen and how much or

how little of each should be done. The trainers that work with the athletes in each town or facility must incorporate the right core workout into an overall strength and conditioning program that takes their game to new levels.

Core stability benefits everyone, from young people to top professional athletes. Exercises for core stabilization should be part of every conditioning program, along with flexibility, strength, and aerobic training. These concept’s of training should start with our children and continue through adulthood. As the body starts to age in the 30s and 40s, core muscle training will help support the spine and minimize the effects of aging on the spine. This can help us get to the “core” of the problem.

If you have any questions concerning this topic, you can contact Dennis McGuire, D.C. at 805 North Main St, Benton, IL or at 250 Small St., Harrisburg IL or John McConnaughy, D.C. at 1311 South Division St, Carterville, IL.

38 l august 2009 l

RLC Report

By Nathan Wheeler

Dear SISC readers, Last things first. Sorry for the blog feel to this. The exhaustive creature that is social networking is slowly stripping away my writing fundamentals. In some cases, the concept of a vowel is completely out the window. And I admit, even shorter uses of the 21st Century written word – e.g., btw and idk – are found frequently in my e-mails, text messages and scrawls on the walls of me Facebook mateys. (I changed my Facebook language to English for pirates. Try it sometime. It’s kind of fun.) I’m trying to stay fresh and up to date on technological advancements, especially those that can make me more efficient at workflow and time management. However, it saddens me to say that falling behind in the hypertext, hi-def, and information superhighway hamster wheel is most likely inevitable. With two young children, 2 and 6, I wonder when the tipping point will take place. It’s that moment when your kids

are doing something on some gadget – that, btw, may or may not be improving their lives – and you are lost in the deep, dark woods of still trying to figure out, ‘Just what is 3G anyway?’ I recently read a quote from Penn State Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno. He told reporters, “You guys have to talk about something. The fans have to put something on those -- what do you guys call those things, Twittle-do, Twittle-dee?” Well, that’s one thing the 82-year-old coach and I have in common. Neither of us will be Tweeting anything in the near future. There are moments now, at 31, when I feel Paterno’s pain. Now on to the news …

Warriors’ national golf title holder and 2009 RLC grad Leroy David Griffin (Effingham) signs with Bulls coach Jim Fee at University of South Florida. Another Warrior signed is Ryan Keller (Nashville) with McKendree University. Returning sophomore golfer Jared Harp (Benton) wins 62nd Annual Benton Gold Cup over his coach, Lucas Cromeenes, who finished third. All but one sophomore and a freshman on last year’s women’s basketball team have signed to play at the next level. Candyce Flynn (Oregon), Kemmy Dominique (Western Michigan), Natasha Bonner (Hannibal-LaGrange), Jaleesa Octalien (Georgia Southwestern). Conference ‘Freshman of the Year’ Ebony Wilson signed with the University of South Carolina with three years of remaining eligibility. Warriors’ short-distance national champ Ryan Bailey signs a professional running contract with Global Athletics and Marketing. Jimmy Duke (University of Arkansas Class of 2005, Eureka College, Velocity Sports) joins RLC coaching staff for track and field. Duke is former Missouri pole vault champion and Razorback heptathlon school record holder. Coach Brent McLain welcomes new cross country runners Bianca Rockwood (Hazelcrest), Althea Smith (Denver), Lewi Manirumva (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Jamie Smith (Edinburgh, Scotland), Jacob Swearingen (Potosi, Mo.), Anthony Winkleman (Marion) and returning runners Kali Bonner (Carterville), Roshane Boreland (St. Ann, Jamaica), Shantaia Carter (Danville), Vasity Chemweno

l august 2009 l 39

(Eldoret, Kenya), Jeniffer Chepkemboi (Eldoret, Kenya), Sarah Kimaiyo (Nairobi, Kenya), Lillian Lagat (Nairobi, Kenya), Quinnyka Smith (Fairfield), Peter Kiplagat (Eldoret, Kenya), Matthew Kotut (Eldoret, Kenya), James Noonan (Rockford), 2008 national champ Stephen Sambu (Eldoret, Kenya), Scott Speare (St. Charles), Dey Tuach (Thornton, Colo.). First meet is Sept. 4, Stegemoller Classic at University of Southern Indiana. Volleyball coach Sara Crews welcomes newcomers Miranda Bunge (DuQuoin), Ali Mulvaney (Salem), Haley Evans (Springfield), Dani Price (Harrisburg), Sarah Mausey (Crab Orchard), Leamber Broady (Mt. Vernon), Tylanna Smith (Vienna), Emily Doty (Scheller) and returning players Michelle Kramper (Nashville), Jordan Short (Broughton), Chasity Tilley (Duquoin). First match McKendree JV tournament Aug. 28-29. Baseball coach Tony Etnier recruits Richard Arias (Lynn, Mass.), Ethan Beasley ( DuQuoin), Ray Blackwood (Brighton), Christian Camacho (Isabella, PR), Kyle Crump (Milan, Mich.), Blake Derocher (Murphysboro), John Easter (Decatur), Kyle Hudson (Herrin), Andrew Kenyon (O’Fallon), Zach LaBuwi (Benton), Josh Larrison (Mt. Zion), AJ Martin (Belleville), Nick Mitchell (Enfield), Daniel Peters (Decatur), Gavin Petrea (Salem), Ryan Quick (Mt. Vernon), Treg Vandekerkhove (Mulkeytown), Erick Warren (Paducah, Ky.), Kaleb Warren (Herrin), Justin Wille (Noble), Alex Wood (Marion, Ky.). Returning players Spencer Ammons (Durant, Okla.), Freddie Cabrera (Isabella, PR), Ray Delvalle (Miami), Zach Elliott (Vienna), Patrick Flanagan (Salem), Raymond Fuentes (Isabella, PR), Brandon Heard (O’Fallon), Hayden Hicks (Pinckneyville), Tyler, O’Daniel (Calvert City, Ky.), George Oquendo (Gurabo, PR), Tomas Rodriguez (Camuy, PR), Luke Shuemaker (Paducah, Ky.), Kendall Toliver (Carbondale). Fall Ball kicks off at RLC Aug. 27 hosting Kaskaskia. Softball coach Dave Ellingsworth signed freshmen Brittni Bogges (Carterville), Courtney Orange (Belleville), Chelsi Heflin (Collinsville),

Ashlee Winstead (Booneville, Ind.), Leah Exmeyer (Evansville, Ind.), Katie Watts (Elkville), Katie Sater (Evansville, Ind.) and Student Assistant Lyndsey Scott (Woodlawn) to 2009-10 roster. Returing sophomores are Rachel Mulvey (Evansville, Ind.), Nicole Miller (Shelburn, Ind.), Katie Wojtowicz (Nashville), Jackie Kurwicki (Nashville), Bethany McGhee (West Frankfort), Tosha Ellis (Belle Rive), Carly Clark-Stokes (Carbondale), Kassandra Korte (Belleville), Nichole Rein (Belleville), Malori Loker (Vienna), Asthyn Krough (Carbondale). First game is Friday of Labor Day weekend at John A. Logan Classic. RLC Soccer Coaches Jim Duncan and Vimal Patel signed Jared White (Troy), Marcus Fernandes (Nixa, Mo.), Neil Houlihan (Springfield), Josh Sears (Mt. Vernon), Tyler Appleby (Mt. Vernon), Micah Duncan (Mt. Vernon), Joel Harrison (Mt. Vernon), Jordan Grace (Hopkinsville, Ky.), Eric Wright (Harrisburg), Griffin Groves (Olney), Cesar Garcia (Effingham), Juan Arreola (Anna), Marcos Godinez (Anna), Justin Montgomery (Robinson), Jared Rosine (Effingham), Michael Lemond (Winslow, Ind.), Eli Bradley (Marion), Keiler Dillman (Anna), Thad Snell (Columbus, Ohio) and welcome back Logan Gregg (Harrisburg), Jared Butler (Harrisburg) and Andy Jerome (Collinsville) and Tyler McKibben (Anna). Soccer kicks off Aug. 22 at Williams Baptist College. As always, for all things athletic at RLC, visit online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.

40 l august 2009 l

JALCJournal

By Teri Campbell

Logan Volleyball Begins Burnside Era

This fall marks a new era in John A. Logan College volleyball. Bill Burnside, who spent seven seasons as assistant volleyball coach at Logan, was named head coach and took over the reins from Fae Ragan who resigned that position after 22 years. Jerry Halstead, athletic director at Logan, says promoting Burnside to head coach has provided a smooth transition in leadership to the volleyball program.

“Fae was here a long time and did a great job. We’ll miss her, but we are fortunate to have Bill move into that role,” Halstead said. “He’s a capable, experienced coach and has been involved in every aspect of Logan’s volleyball program. He knows the players and the system, and we expect him to continue running the team in a first-class manner.”

In addition to his coaching experience at Logan, Burnside served as head volleyball coach

at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn., for four years. He has also coached men’s club teams, worked at collegiate volleyball camps, and earned a USA Volleyball CAP Level II Coaching Certification.

Burnside, a native of Lewes, Del., who played club volleyball at the University of Delaware, says he is excited about being the head coach.

“Logan is where I want to work, and this is the job I want to do,” he said. “It’s a good fit for me and my family and I’m really happy to have this opportunity. Logan has a strong volleyball tradition, and I’m looking forward to building on it.”

Last year, the Lady Vols had one of their best seasons. They set a school record for wins with 41 and won both the Great Rivers Athletic Conference and Region 24 titles.

“We had great success last year, but we only have four players back from that squad,” Burnside said. “Five of the sophomores who graduated were either all-conference or all-region players so they will be impossible to replace. Right now, we’re trying to build a whole new nucleus for the team.”

The returning players are Jaclyn Rodriguez, a libero from Allen Park, Mich., outside hitter/libero Courtney Bast of Highland, outside hitter Kaylee Newcomb of Vienna, and Nicole Search, an outside hitter from Chester.

“Jaclyn and Courtney will be important players this year for their ball control ability. They are really good passers and defenders,” Burnside said. “Kaylee is a strong outside hitter. We needed her at middle hitter last year so she mostly played there last season. This year she’ll go back to her more natural position on the outside. Nicole also brings experience to the outside.”

The Lady Vols also have nine freshmen on the roster.

“We’re young, and with so many newcomers, we’re still finding our identity,” Burnside said. “There’s a lot of potential with this group. They are good athletes, and I like what I’ve seen so far in practice, but there’s a long way to go. A lot depends on how dedicated they are and how quickly they develop.”

Burnside says defending the conference and region championships

l august 2009 l 41

will be a difficult task.

“Lake Land always has a strong team, and the other teams in the league have improved, too,” he said. “The conference is going to be a lot better this year. With so many freshmen, it’s hard to predict where we will finish, but I expect us to make progress throughout the season and compete for the title. Overall, my goal is to build the program into one that is consistently ranked in the top 25 in the country. That will be quite a challenge, but I think it is attainable.” The Lady Vols will open play at the McKendree Invitational in Lebanon, Ill., on August 28. For more information on Logan’s volleyball team, visit the John A. Logan College athletics website at: www.jalc.edu/athletics/.

Logan Wins GRAC All-Sports Trophy

John A. Logan College was awarded the 2008-2009 Great Rivers Athletic Conference All-Sports Trophy, an honor given annually to the top-performing athletic program in the nine-team league. Logan’s volleyball team and men’s golf team both finished first in the conference, and 16 Volunteers and Lady Vols earned all-conference honors.

Jerry Halstead, athletic director at Logan, was pleased with the recognition.

“We are thrilled to receive this award,” Halstead said. “We play in a tough conference so this is a great accomplishment. This is the third time we’ve won the trophy this decade, and I think that’s a reflection on the quality of the program overall and the dedication and hard work of our coaches and student-athletes.”

Halstead said credit for the Athletic Department’s achievement also belongs to the program’s supporters.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of the administration, Board of Trustees, and our loyal fans,” he said. “Their continued commitment to Logan athletics has allowed us to build a successful program.”

42 l august 2009 l

InFocus

By Ceasar Maragni

There was a popular hit song released in 1981 entitled WILLIE,

MICKEY & THE DUKE. Terry Cashman’s recording soon became commonly referred to as TALKIN’ BASEBALL and it’s still often heard at ballparks and on the air. Serious baseball fans know who the song’s title is about: Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider. In the 1950’s there were no better centerfielders in baseball than Mays of the New York Giants, Mantle of the New York Yankees and Snider of the Brooklyn Dodgers. All were superb outfielders, hitters and all played in the same city at the same time. Pretty hard to imagine such a scenario today. Three different Major League Baseball teams in one city and the three best centerfielders in the game all in the same town. But that’s the way it was then, a far different time in American sports and culture. From when Mantle and Mays became big-leaguers in the spring of 1951, until 1958 when Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers to Los Angeles, Willie, Mickey and the Duke were the toast of the town in the Big Apple. Fans in all five boroughs argued over who was the best centerfielder.

Some touted Mays as the best since he was not only a rare five-tool player, and is still arguably the best overall player in the game since Babe Ruth, while others lifted Mantle up as the gold-standard of centerfielders because of his great defense and offense, and what he meant to the Yankees lineup, then Dodgers fans touted Snider, The Duke of Flatbush, because of the graceful way he owned the outfield at Ebbets Field and his prowess at the plate. Irregardless of who was the best centerfielder in New York City at that time, it had to be baseball heaven for any baseball fan who loved the game and who could on any given weekend when all three teams were in town, for the price of some subway tokens and game tickets, see three future Hall of Famers do what they did best. Mays’ biography at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown reads - Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid, played with enthusiasm and exuberance while excelling in all phases of the game -- hitting for average and power, fielding, throwing and base running. His staggering career statistics include 3,283 hits and 660 home runs. The Giants superstar earned National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1951 and two MVP Awards. He accumulated 12 Gold Gloves, played in a record-tying 24 All-Star games and participated in four World Series. His catch of Vic Wertz’s deep fly in the ‘54 Series remains one of baseball’s most memorable moments.

l august 2009 l 43

Mantle’s says - Mickey Mantle was a star from the start, parlaying a talent for the game and boyish good looks into iconic status. In spite of a series of devastating injuries, Mantle accumulated a long list of impressive accomplishments, finishing his 18-year career with 536 home runs and a .298 batting average. The switch-hitting Commerce Comet won three MVP Awards (1956, ‘57, ‘62) and a Triple Crown (1956). He contributed to 12 pennants and seven World Series titles in his first 14 seasons while establishing numerous World Series records, including most home runs (18). Snider’s says - A graceful center fielder with a picture-perfect swing, Duke Snider was the biggest bat in the Brooklyn Dodgers’ potent lineup of the 1950s. He hit 40 or more homers five consecutive times and led all batters in home runs and RBIs during the ‘50s. The Duke of Flatbush hit four homers in two different World Series (1952 and ‘55), clouting a total of 11 Series home runs and 26 Series RBIs.

After his baseball career ended Snider had a successful career as a broadcaster covering Montreal Expos games as shown in my photo taken during that period. He has since retired from that job and at age 82 takes life easy now. Mays just turned 78 recently and still enjoys appearing at baseball related events on occasion. Mantle died in 1995. As Cashman aptly stated in the final verses of his iconic tune: Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)It was Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)I’m talkin’ Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)Say Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)

44 l august 2009 l

Prices and participation may vary. Excludes DOUBLE STACKED™ and Premium Subs. May not be combined with coupon offers or discount cards. Plus tax where applicable. ©2009 Doctor’s Associates Inc. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc. All rights reserved.

Veggie Delite®

Subpad_6685_EDV_Ad.indd 1 6/1/09 3:57 PM

l august 2009 l 45

46 l august 2009 l

Murf’s

Turf By Mike Murphy

Yes, I Know It’s Football Season

Y es, I am in the throes of football withdrawal and anxiously await

the start of the pigskin season. That being said, this column concerns the round ball and a season that is still several months away.

The signings that are talking place in the JALC Men’s Basketball pro-gram are hard to ignore and be-come even more eye-popping when you consider how many players are coming back to a Logan team that went 22-10 last year and came within one game of a trip to the Na-tional Tournament.

Logan recently announced its final signing and it’s a doozy. The Vols landed 6-9, 218-pound sophomore Andre Clark who transfers from the University of Arkansas. Clark played in 24 of the Razorback’s 30 games including some rough-and-tumble Southeastern Conference affairs and averaged almost 10 minutes per game, scoring 2.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a fresh-man.

Logan Coach Mark Imhoff says that after a year of playing in the SEC, Clark could be a “difference-maker for us.”“Andre can score both inside and on the perimeter,” said Imhoff. “He’s long and athletic and we are count-

ing on him to be productive.” However, Clark isn’t the only newcomer that will be attracting attention from opposing coaches and D-I scouts this winter. The first signing Imhoff and his recruiting ace, Kyle Smithpeters announced was 6-8 forward DeMario Hines of Cleveland, Ohio. The 6-8, 215-pound Hines averaged 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks a game as a se-nior at Garfield High School who won three conference championships and went 58-8 the past three years. The Vols followed up the Hines signing by bringing in a big shooting guard from Puerto Rico, 6-5 Nathan Butler. Butler is rated by HoopScoop Online as one of the top 100 fifth-year prep players in the nation and can play shoot-ing guard or small forward.

Anyone that knows Logan Coach Mark Imhoff knows he doesn’t make a point to fawn over recruits. So when Imhoff describes Butler as a player who “can do it all” you start to get a bit excited. Add to that, some of my sources hanging around the JALC gym this summer, say Butler is already turning heads and raising eyebrows. Apparently there won’t be the normal learning curve that most freshmen go through on their transition from the high school ranks.

Another newcomer to JALC Basketball will be Jeff Jackson Jr., a 5-feet-10-inch all-state point guard from Little Rock, Arkansas. All Jackson did was average 15 points, six assists and 3.5 steals each game for his high school and played varsity ball all four years. Although point Lazeric Jones does return to run Imhoff’s ballclub, the verteran coach stresses you can never have enough depth.

All in all, with the newcomers joining a roster that already boasts front line players at 6-11 (Jacquel Webster), 6-10 (Antwond Roshell), 6-8 (Jesse Per-ry)and 6-6 (Isiah Simelton) and a pair of talented wing players in Russell Moore and Kenneth Harris, the Vols will be imposing.

Imhoff adds this year’s team will be “one of the biggest, if not the biggest” team Logan has ever put on the floor.

Imhoff credits assistant coach and former Harrisburg Bulldog / SIC Falcon / SIU Saluki Kyle Smithpeters for this year’s recruiting coup. All coaches will tell you they are only as good as their players and if Smithpeters has that golden touch in recruiting, one can only predict a white-hot future for the lik-able assistant.

So enjoy the football, I know I will. Basketball is right around the corner though, and the things that are happening at JALC could be BIG…VERY BIG, if you catch my drift.

Let’s meet here next month.

l august 2009 l 47

48 l august 2009 l

437-5321 • www.rlc.edu

WARRIOR

LALANG800-meter semifinalist at 2008 • Olympics in BeijingProfessional Runner for Adidas• Holds nine RLC records• Studying business accounting• Transferring to SIUC•

Want to be a Warrior?