Latest news with #IllinoisState
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
English Teacher & Backyard Flowers: A Washington shot putter's record-breaking journey
WASHINGTON, Illinois (WMBD) – Joe Atkins may be one of the quietest athletes at a track meet, but his results are certainly loud enough. The Panther senior broke the Mid-Illini conference meet record with a throw of 62 feet, 3 inches. Even though he's ranked second in all of Illinois, he won't be satisfied until he's at the top of the podium. It's a little shaky. I'm not feeling too great about it, but I'm doing my best. I mean, I'm sort of going for gold. [The #1-ranked guy] right now is about a good close to a meter ahead of me. Joe Atkins In middle school, Joe started as a sprinter. His move to shot put came from maybe the last source you would expect. 'My eighth grade English teacher transferred me from sprinting with all my friends, to shot…She said I was a little bigger,' Atkins said. He may not be completing The Odyssey, but Joe's journey did begin right at home. There's nothing too fancy… I got a little extra practice. I do like not the full technique, but I do like some standing throws in my backyard… Try not to hit my mom's flowers. Joe Atkins When asked if he ever hit the flowers, Atkins laughed and said 'I mean if she ever asks, no.' As he focuses for the state meet and a future career at Illinois State, Joe likes the solitude of the ring. 'I'm more of a individual guy, and I just like the fact that, you know, if something happens, it's all it's all on me. And I can make whatever adjustments I need to do by myself,' Atkins said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ISU's Ryan Pedon gets contract extended
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Illinois State likes the direction of the men's basketball program. So Ryan Pedon is being rewarded. Pedon has signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season, ISU announced Thursday. In three seasons, Pedon's team have gone from 11 wins to 15 to 22. The 22 wins from the 2024-25 season was the program's most since the 2016-17 season, and the program's first winning season since 2018-19. 'I am grateful for this opportunity to continue leading the Redbird Men's Basketball program into the future,' said Pedon in a statement. 'I would like to thank Dr. Jeri Beggs, President Tarhule, and our Board of Trustees for their support and confidence in what we are building together.' Last season the Redbirds posted a 22-14 overall record, a seven-win improvement from the previous season and won a postseason tournament championship, the College Basketball Invitational. The team's end-of-season NET ranking was 121, the highest in program history since the NET rankings were introduced in 2018-19. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa baseball comeback falls short in midweek clash vs. Illinois State
Iowa baseball comeback falls short in midweek clash vs. Illinois State After a weekend series sweep of Indiana (23-21, 12-12 Big Ten), Iowa baseball (31-13, 20-4) sees its non-conference woes continue as the Hawkeyes could not mount a late comeback vs. Illinois State (21-21, 10-8 Missouri Valley) in a 6-5 midweek loss from Duane Banks Field on Tuesday evening. Daniel Wright started on the hill, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one. Iowa used seven other pitchers, including Tyler Guerin, who was dinged with the loss. Despite the losing effort, the pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts (Justin Hackett led Iowa with five punchouts) while giving up five free bases. "It was a really strange game in a sense that they had the six runs in the fourth inning," said head coach Rick Heller. "Other than that, I thought we pitched lights out tonight against a really good offense." Iowa got on the board first in the second inning when Blake Guerin hit an RBI SAC fly to score Miles Risley. Unfortunately, the Redbirds took the lead by plating six runs in the fourth, highlighted by a grand slam. The Hawkeyes were quiet at the plate until they scored four in the eighth inning to cut their deficit to one. The four-run outburst started when Andy Nelson hit an RBI single and then scored on a wild pitch. Kellen Strohmeyer capped the inning when he brought Iowa within one run bysmacking a pinch-hit two-run homer over the right field wall. Despite holding Illinois State scoreless in the top of the ninth, Iowa could not scrape across the tying run in the bottom half of the frame. "We just weren't barreling balls up," said Heller. "There were a couple guys in the middle that were. Reese Moore was seeing the ball well, and we had a couple line drives that were caught. But for the most part, it was just weak contact." The Hawkeyes collected 10 hits and batted .303 overall, while the Redbirds totaled seven hits with a .219 batting average. Iowa will now travel to Seattle. Wash., for a three-game series vs. Washington (25-21, 15-8) from May 2-4. Game one of the series will start at 9:02 p.m. CT and be broadcast on Big Ten Plus (subscription required). Fans can also follow along through the Hawkeyes Radio Network alongside play-by-play voice John Leo and color analyst John Evans. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews.
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin football reportedly in contact with productive FCS transfer wide receiver
Wisconsin football reportedly in contact with productive FCS transfer wide receiver Wisconsin is one of several Power Four programs in contact with Illinois State transfer wide receiver Xavier Loyd, according to 247Sports' Allen Trieu. Trieu writes specifically that 'Loyd has heard from Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Louisville and others' since entering the portal. The Football Championship Subdivision standout wide receiver announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday after one year at Illinois State. He finished that season second on the team in receiving, closing with 66 catches, 912 yards and six touchdowns. Loyd began his college career as a walk-on at Kansas State in the class of 2021. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2021 before appearing in 10 combined games from 2022-23, catching just one pass for 16 yards. He is in the portal with a final year of eligibility remaining. Wisconsin is in pursuit of wide receiver depth after veteran Quincy Burroughs and high-profile winter transfer addition Mark Hamper each entered the portal. The team appears set in the starting lineup with Vinny Anthony, Ohio State transfer Jayden Ballard and Trech Kekahuna, with Joseph Griffin Jr., Chris Brooks Jr. and Tyrell Henry as primary backups. Loyd would likely fill the depth role vacated by Hamper, a fellow productive FCS transfer. Wisconsin has lost several offensive pieces over the last week, either to the transfer portal or to a season-ending injury. The team is now in the portal to find replacements at those positions. Loyd is one pursuit to watch, joining top-ranked left tackle Joe Cotton. For more on Wisconsin's incoming and outgoing transfer movement, here is our 2025 spring portal window tracker. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
12-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football should target this recent transfer portal entry
Iowa football should target this recent transfer portal entry It is no secret that the secondary is a position of need for the Iowa Hawkeyes. After transfer portal departures, graduates, and NFL draft declarations, the Hawkeyes are looking to replenish a group that has been extremely talented and sound for the last decade. One recent transfer portal entry coming from the FCS ranks should catch their attention and is a name that the Hawkeyes, along with defensive coordinator Phil Parker, would be wise to go after. Illinois State defensive back Mark Cannon Jr. has entered the transfer portal and is on the market after a strong career in two seasons with the Redbirds. Mark Cannon Jr. has appeared in 24 games for Illinois State over the last two years, registering 123 total tackles, which shows his willingness to help in the run game, a very important piece to Phil Parker's defense. He also has six career interceptions and 19 pass breakups. A product of Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois, Mark Cannon Jr. was lightly recruited. Per 247Sports, he was offered by Eastern Michigan, Indiana State, and North Dakota. The Hawkeyes currently have a secondary that features Xavier Nwankpa, TJ Hall, Koen Entringer, Zach Lutmer, and Deshuan Lee as those with experience. Other defensive backs include Jaylen Watson, Teegan Davis, Kahlil Tate, Rashad Godfrey Jr., Watts McBride, Kael Kolarik, CJ Bell Jr., and O'Lontae Dean. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald
