Piatt's OT: Champaign Central volleyball to celebrate program icons
Mar. 29—Well, it'll be a new-look for the Centennial boys' basketball program next season. Long-time coach Tim Lavin and his 404 wins with the Chargers, not to mention a Class 3A state championship, is retiring.
The same deal applies for the Champaign Central girls' basketball team with coach Pancho Moore resigning and Centennial girls' basketball coach Tamara Butler also stepping aside, too, since their seasons ended in mid-February.
Tuscola girls' basketball will have a new coach on the sidelines, too, but the Warriors already have a new person in place to replace the recently retired Tim Kohlbecker. Michael Rosenbaum, an assistant under Kohlbecker for the last five seasons, was hired at Monday night's school board meeting to succeed Kohlbecker and try to fill the shoes of a man who won 407 games and 11 regional titles in 20 seasons.
Reporting results
With the spring sports season in its third full week and more in store during the next two months, we encourage area high school coaches to submit results from their team's respective games and events.
The daily prep highlights our staff compiles — just look to the right on this page for an example — are culled from information area coaches send in. We ask coaches to send any relevant stats, highlights and other necessary information by email to no later than 9 p.m. each day their team plays, whether it's a home event, away event or neutral-site event.
We'd love to highlight as many area athletes as we can in the remaining few months of the school year, and we need your help to do so.
A look ahead
Maroon volleyball honoring program icons
In the late 1970s, Theresa Cochrane, Cathay Stukel, Jill Kalthenthaler and Jody Clasey were the stars. In the early '80s, it was Nancy Shaw, Jenny Miller and Paula Jones Hall's turn. Over the next couple decades, Brittney Greenwood and Julie Leman shined. Five years ago, Rylee Hinton led the way. And most recently, Kitty and Meg Rossow took the torch.
If you're a Champaign Central volleyball fan, you'll be more than familiar with these names. They're synonymous with success. Each of these women are either in the Maroons' hall of fame or have been the school's Female Athlete of the Year.
Next fall, the Central volleyball team will start a new project to celebrate the history of the program. Players will split into 11 groups, each representing the year of former Maroon legends, and compete throughout the season with different challenges.
This is a way for the Maroons to honor alumni who made a positive contribution on the program, and they're hoping, in turn, it will make a positive impact for the program's future.
LET'S HAVE FUNdamental basketball tournament
Demetrius Wade, local basketball development specialist and founder of LET'S HAVE FUNdamental LLC based in Danville, is hosting his organization's third-annual three-on-three youth basketball tournament April 13-14 at the Roselawn Fitness Center.
Entree fees are $15 for 6-9-year-olds, $20 for 10-13-year-olds and $25 for 14-17-year-olds. A three-point contest and free-throw contest will also be held, which cost another $5 to enter. Along with the double-elimination tournament, the event will feature a concession stand, raffle, games, music and more.
All interested boys and girls ages 6-17 are encouraged to participate. Contact Wade at 773-986-9747 with any questions.
Shoutouts
Cam Bork
Iroquois West softball
Blasted two home runs and drove in five RBI in the Raiders' 7-6 win against Blue Ridge on March 20.
Caydence Vermillion
Oakwood softball
Hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to help the Comets beat Fisher 6-5 on March 20.
Peace Bumba, Brody
Cuppernell and Ben Horn
St. Thomas More football
All signed their letters of intent to continue their football careers in college last Thursday. Bumba signed with Indiana State, and Cuppernell and Horn both signed with Aurora.
Jerrius Atkinson
Schlarman baseball
Pitched a five-inning no-hitter with 14 strikeouts in the Hilltoppers' 12-2 win against Bloomington Cornerstone last Thursday. He also stole five bases in the game.
Addy Sherrick
Rantoul softball
The upcoming N-G Female Athlete of the Week pitched a five-inning no-hitter with seven strikeouts in the Eagles' 11-0 win against Blue Ridge last Friday. She also went 3 for 3 at the plate with four RBI.
Koyie Williams
Monticello baseball
Notched a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to help the Sages beat Westville 2-1 last Friday.
Olivia Terry and Champaign Central archery
Terry won an individual state archery title, and the Maroons captured the team championship last Saturday.
Nolan Earley
St. Joseph-Ogden baseball
Launched two home runs and drove in four RBI in the Spartans' 15-0 win against Salt Fork this past Monday.
Soogyeom Park
Champaign Central baseball
Pitched the 46th no-hitter in school history to lead the Maroons to a 9-0 win against Hoopeston Area this past Monday. He struck out 12 batters on the mound and picked up two hits at the plate, too, during his memorable performance.
Kaylyn Hayes
Armstrong-Potomac softball
Ended her four-hit performance on Tuesday with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the Trojans beat Blue Ridge 9-8. She tallied a triple, two doubles and three RBI in the game.
