Latest news with #IlliniBluffs
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
IB senior Lexi Brinkman enjoys the rough, vital role of playing catcher
GLASFORD, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — She always wanted to play softball. But Lexi Brinkman didn't have too much say in what position she was going to play. 'I started catching when I was ten. My mom was the coach, she said 'you're going to catch.' Ever since then, I've always enjoyed it,' Brinkman said. Yes, the Illini Bluffs senior actually enjoys playing catcher. It's the position that requires all the equipment, the position where you get dirty, the position where you take foul balls off your body. But also the position that puts you in every play. 'I feel like it keeps me more engaged in the game. You're in every single play,' Brinkman said. 'I feel like it keeps me in the game. I call pitches. It helps me know the batters. I'm behind the plate, I can see the batters better. I can see what they are doing with their hands, where they are in the (batter's) box.' Brinkman has been the Illini Bluffs starting catcher since her first year of high school softball. 'It's a special athlete that wants to be a catch,' said IB softball coach Lindsey Lox. 'And her freshman year, she stepped up when we had an injury and she has been catching us ever since. She has that leadership. A great catcher, a great leader.' Brinkman has signed to play college softball at Illinois State. She and her IB teammates begin the postseason next week. Her goal is to keep her team relaxed as it begins its quest to make it to the state finals for a sixth straight season. 'I like making sure everyone is calm,' said Brinkman. 'They make sure they know if they make a mistake or an error, we can pick them up. I try my best to lead like that and help everyone else.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Late to the game, Illini Bluffs triple jumper Tori Brown now one of the state's best
GLASFORD, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Senior Tori Brown is flying high. One of the top triple jumpers in the state in class 1A is really in a groove. 'I feel like I understand it logistically now. I am able to jump and realize what I did versus when I had no idea what I just did,' the Illini Bluffs senior said. 'I missed a good chunk of my sophomore year because I broke my foot. this year has been better than any other year. The jumps I get upset about now, I would have been rejoicing last year.' Late in her freshman year, Brown decided to give the triple jump a shot. Although she had no experience with it. 'At a fun practice, my coach said 'we need someone to go try triple jump,'' said Brown. 'I thought I'd try it.' That practice was late in the season. There were only two meets left before sectionals. 'Triple jump is a complicated event. So, I said, 'are you sure?' She said, 'Yeah, I think I want to try it.' She jumped 32 feet her first night,' said Illini Bluffs girls track coach Jim Robertson. 'And I said, 'yeah, you're a triple jumper.'' Her injury-plagued sophomore year followed that shortened freshman season. So Brown really only has been a triple jumper for two full seasons. Yet she's one of the top contenders for a medal at this month's state meet. Her jump of 37.125 set a Roger Washburn Invitational girls record at Eureka last week. Brown finished a program-best fourth place at state last year. 'This year I feel like I'm still learning things as I jump because the more (frequently) I jump, the more I learn,' said Brown. 'No matter what happens, I'm just happy to get (state). I want to make my school proud. Hopefully do something no one has ever done before.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'One of the best feelings in the world' Hear from all 6 Central Illinois state title wrestlers
CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (WMBD) – Saturday night was a successful one for Central Illinois wrestlers; from the IHSA tournament in Champaign. Four of them hailed just from Washington High school in 2A. The others were from Illini Bluffs and Tremont in 1A. Here is what each of them said about winning their respective state championship. Washington wrestling wins 4 gold medals in Champaign, Illini Bluffs & Tremont also win titles Peyton is a Washington senior and won at 144 pounds. Each of his first three years, he lost in his state title match, all by decision, by just a combined five points. When he squeaked out a 1-0 victory, Peyton let out all of his emotion. It's indescribable. The last three years came up just short and this year finally being able to get it done is a dream come true. God, I'm going to cry again…I don't know, man. It's hard to explain. It's one of the best feelings in the world. 100% Peyton Cox Josh finished off a dominant season at 215 pounds. His final record for the year stands at 53-3. He won in a 5-0 shutout decision, a journey he worked on for the last 365 days 'Just consistently stayed in the room. Like I said, we practice year round, so that's a big thing. Just consistently getting better and improving yourself. Whether that be just like stay a little room after, you know, whatever that might be.' Josh Hoffer Noah may have had the most dramatic win, a 2-0 decision in triple overtime at 120 pounds. After earning his title, he ran across the mat and threw himself at head coach Nick Miller. Early in the season, Noah was projected to be one of the best wrestlers in his weight class and didn't want to miss his chance. 'There was a time at the beginning of the season where 'Exposure or Flow Wrestling' put me at number one, and I was like, 'This is a possibility.' And I was like, 'I don't want to leave any regrets. And if they project me to win, I'm going to go earn it.'' Noah Woods Finally wrapping up the night was junior Wyatt Medlin. He won his second consecutive state title, and in dominating fashion as well. Medlin secured a 20-5 tech fall win in the 2A 157lb division. He's most proud of the history him and his teammates accomplished. Washington has four in the finals and has come out with four champs. It's definitely a… surreal feeling. You know, I can't remember the last time we had four champs. This is definitely a legacy that I'm leaving in Washington. I'm super excited to be a part of it. Wyatt Medlin Securing a perfect season on Saturday was Illini Bluffs senior Jackson Carroll, winning in 1A at 150 pounds. It was his second consecutive state championship win. Jackson went 54-0 his senior year, with a winning streak of more than 70 consecutive matches dating back to his junior campaign. He ends his career as the Tigers all-time wins leader. You know, even if I'm on paper, not the best kid, you know, fake it till you make it. I'm going to walk right in. Even if I'm not the best, I'm sure I can act like it. I'm going to be cocky. I'm going to be, you know, the annoying guy to look at. That's fine. I'll take that on. I like to be fun to watch and I like winning. If you want to win, that's the mentality you got to go out with. You got to know you're the best. Jackson Carroll Tremont's Bowden Delaney won in 1A as well, coming in first in the 165 division. His victory came way of a 7-4 decision. The difference was an early takedown in the first period, which Bowden said made the match more manageable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Area wrestlers heading to state, a quarterback among the first-time qualifiers
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — He may be best known as East Peoria's starting quarterback. But this week Dalton Oakman is headed to state in a different sport. 'I am really excited. I have a lot to prove with wrestling and football,' Oakman said. 'It's my first time (to state). But I'm ready to go wrestle hard and do my thing.' Oakman (38-10) finished third at the Washington sectional on Saturday to earn his first trip to the state finals. He sees a lot of lineman, running backs and linebackers who double as wrestlers but not a whole lot of quarterbacks. 'It helps with my hips, throwing, how far I throw,' said Oakman of the pairing between his wrestling and quarterback duties. 'And feeling pressure. All of that.' Washington's Wyatt Medlin heads to state as a defending champ. He handled the spotlight well last year and won his first state title. 'I think there's a slight advantage in that but there's also a disadvantage to that. Everyone wants to give you their best, everyone wants to dethrone the state champion,' Medlin said after winning the 2A sectional at Washington last week. He's one of the favorites at 157 pounds, carrying a 44-3 record to state. 'I keep a chip on my shoulder and I'm proud of it. It's a business trip,' Medlin said of the trip to Champaign. 'I'm thinking about it constantly. I'm in English class, tapping my pencil, thinking about being in the State Farm Center. It's something that is super-special. There's nothing like it.' Illini Bluffs senior Jackson Carroll is 49-0 at 157 pounds as he heads to state, where he won a title last year. 'After winning it last year, it's just another event,' Carroll said after winning the 1A sectional at Clinton last week. 'Just another event to go get better, impress some coaches, get some good scholarships. That's it.' Notre Dame's Ian Akers (45-3) was runner-up at state last year and hoping to finish one step higher on the podium this year. 'It's pretty exciting. It's my fourth trip to Champaign for the state tournament,' said Akers, who won the Peoria regional at 126 last week. 'Obviously, I've set some pretty high goals. I'm ready to chase the and get after it.' State prelims start Thursday, the finals are Saturday night at State Farm Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
