Staab on Sports

  File Photo / ICC Athletics East Peoria, Ill. - As we await the start of competition for athletes within the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the organization came out with some big news on Thursday afternoon.  Per a release from the NJCAA, their Board of Regents voted that "all 2020-21 NJCAA sport seasons will not count towards student-athlete eligibility".  The organization's move to allow such breathing room for current student-athletes at institutions like Illinois Central College follows similar moves at the NCAA level.  In the release, NJCAA President & CEO Dr. Christopher Parker feels this decision was made while keeping the student-athlete in the forefront. "The Board of Regents feels this decision is best for the success and well-being of our student-athletes and member colleges at this time," Parker said. Troy Tucker is the chair of the NJCAA's Eligibility Committee. He says that it wasn't the easiest of decisions, but...

Katie Lalumandier and Ian O'Laughlin run during Saturday's Runnin' Red Invite PHOTOS / ALEX STAAB Metamora, Ill. -  It wasn't exactly the most convential way to run the 44th Annual Runnin' Red Cross Country Invitational at Metamora's Black Partridge Park, but with the COVID-19 pandemic still active, the races found themselves split into two days. Once Saturday came around, it was finally the turns for the Lady Runnin' Red and Runnin' Red to take it to their home course.  For the girls side of things, once the race got into a comfortable spot after the start, a group of three began to pull away, featuring two girls from Eureka and one from Bloomington. Beyond that was Lady Runnin' Red junior Katie Lalumandier.  After being in that position when the groups first became visible in the central area of the course, those places essentially stuck. With Lalumandier having more space between her and that pack, she says it can be hard to truly determine whethe...

Incoming junior Kayla Pacha wins the opening tip for the Lady Redbirds, who'd go on to defeat East Peoria in their opening scrimmage, 40-13. PHOTO / ALEX STAAB METAMORA - Earlier in the day on Wednesday, the Metamora Girls Basketball team met as a group for the first time since a frustrating regional final loss to #7-ranked Kankakee. You could see the beaming joy on the face of 7th-year head coach Brianna Morrow when she entered the gym, as was the case for nearly everyone inside Toepke Gym. "Today was like a Christmas again. We're super excited to be back in the gym." The Lady Redbirds have been on hold waiting to tip off their summer season, after the COVID-19 pandemic began and step-by-step, slowly shut all sports down. When the State of Illinois moved to Phase 4, and not too long after - the IHSA moved to Phase 2, it allowed groups of 50 and sport-specific drills, clearing the way for things like Wednesday night's scrimmage. Coach Morrow says it'...

PHOTO / IHSA GERMANTOWN HILLS - IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson doesn't exactly have the most open schedule among the people of Illinois right now, but he was gracious enough to take time to talk on Wednesday morning. Below is our Q&A with Anderson from Wednesday's chat. How are you? "Yeah, well, I'm hanging in there. I get a lot of support from our (IHSA) staff. They're great to work with. We bounce a lot of ideas off of each other. At home, dealing with my sons, who are home from school, one of which wanted to play baseball this spring as a sophomore in high school. While this is stressful and making these difficult choices, I get to be home with him, and I'm also working him (son) through the disappointment of what he's facing this spring. I'm doing fine. A few sleepless nights, wondering what direction we should be taking, knowing that we're really challenged during this time. I think about, personally, the impact this has ...

The new Head Football Coach, Jared Grebner, applauds his defense's efforts during his time as defensive coordinator during the 2019 season. PHOTO / CHRISTOPHER LEE METAMORA - Not since the fall of 1989 has the Metamora Redbirds had a head football coach other than Pat Ryan. That has changed. This past Thursday evening, pen was put to the paper to officially name defensive coordinator Jared Grebner as its next head coach. Grebner, a 1997 graduate of Metamora High School, has been making contributions to the Redbird football program in multiple facets. It started as a player, when he was both a quarterback and safety. After a collegiate football career at McKendree University (Lebanon, IL), Grebner returing to Malone Field as an assistant coach, eventually becoming the defensive coordinator in 2010. When asked about what it means to hear his new official title, he says it's a fulfulling of a goal. "It's definitely a dream come true. I just feel very fortunate...

Morton poses with the Super-Sectional plaque following their 45-12 victory over Providence Catholic on Monday night in Kankakee. Friday marks the 5th time in 6 years the Lady Potters have made it to Redbird Arena. PHOTO / ALEX STAAB NORMAL - All is quiet inside the halls of Redbird Arena as it is prepared for the first semifinal in Class 3A between Chicago Simeon (32-3) and Lombard Montini (32-4). In about an hour and a half, the home of the Illinois State Redbird will surely be rocking. The Morton Lady Potters have run the table in this 2019-2020 season, entering today's State Semifinal with an unblemished (36-0) record. Their opponent, Springfield Lanphier (26-8), has never been to this stage before. Lanphier Head Coach Doug Collins, like Morton's Bob Becker, is in his 21st season. Collins sits at a (222-367) record entering the game. The Lions have won their last six consecutive games, with the last loss coming at the hands of Rochester, 46-45, back on February 10t...

The opening tip on Thursday afternoon in Macomb. PHOTO / ALEX STAAB Macomb, Ill. - What started as a good game for Macomb (4-10) against Williamsville (5-9) turned into a close, hard-fought battle, then that turned into late turnovers that would ultimately decide the game in a 64-58 win for the visiting Bullets. Both teams had the shots falling early, as the Bombers found the bottom of the net from three on three separate occasions, with two coming from senior Grace Stufflebeam. Macomb also found a way to spread the wealth early, totaling five players in the scoring column after the opening eight minutes. The Bullets' Maddie Roberts was able to get four points in the first, but she was far from done. It was actually Lexy Henrikson who'd lead the Bullet scoring after one, with five points. Macomb would eventually edge Williamsville in the first quarter, 14-11. When it came time for the seocnd quarter, the script started to flip, as Roberts began to control the game f...