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Top 25 Sports Stories this Year on RiverBender.com

25. O'Fallon Girls Volleyball Team Edges Edwardsville In Three Sets In Showcase Of Area Talent
	September 4 2024 2:38 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 9,649 EDWARDSVILLE - The Edwardsville High School girls volleyball team lost in its season opener on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, to O’Fallon 25-19, 19-25, 11-25 in a competitive match played at Liberty......

24. Kahoks Dispatch Shorthanded East Side In Fight For SWC Lead
	February 2 2024 10:28 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 9,659 COLLINSVILLE – Friday night’s contest between the hosting Collinsville Kahoks and East St. Louis Flyers had a lot riding on it. Collinsville came into the game 6-2 in the Southwestern......

23. Alton High Grad Bryan Hudson's Stellar Relief Performance Earns Him First MLB Victory
	April 22 2024 12:07 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 9,693 ST. LOUIS - Reliever Bryan Hudson, an Alton High School grad, notched his first Major League Baseball win on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Busch Stadium. Hudson, 26, was a 2015 Alton High graduate. H......

22. First-Ever State Tournament Third-Place Game A "Celebration" For Edwardsville Baseball
	June 8 2024 8:25 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 9,819 JOLIET, Ill. - It was an unfamiliar situation for the Edwardsville Tigers baseball program Saturday afternoon. It was a fondly-remembered destination at Duly Health and Care Field in Downtown......

21. Five Local Wrestlers Secure Top Six Finish at IHSA State Tournament
	February 16 2024 2:30 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 9,820 CHAMPAIGN-URBANA - Five Riverbender.com area wrestlers won their first round and quarterfinal matches, guaranteeing them no worse that a sixth-place finish, while other wrestlers split their first two......

20. Alton River Dragons Launch Search for New GM After Martz Exit
	August 1 2024 10:43 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 9,830 ALTON - The Alton River Dragons completed their fourth season in the Prospect League on Wednesday. The team will now begin a search for a new general manager following the departure of Dallas Martz,......

19. Emotions Run High As Lady Redbirds Beat O'Fallon In Sectional Semifinal, Avenging Last Season's Loss
	February 20 2024 9:33 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 9,885 BELLEVILLE – The Lady Redbirds were willing to do anything to make sure history didn’t repeat itself. “We were devastated last year,” an emotional Deserea Howard said regarding......

18. Adult Beginner to Champion: Taylor Unger's Inspiring Skate Story
	April 1 2024 2:26 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,002 TROY - Troy’s Taylor Unger is a story that would inspire any skater - young or old. The 31-year-old skating star didn’t begin her quest on ice until she was age 27. Over the course of thos......

17. Local Gymnast Talia Omotola Shines, Takes Home State Gold
	April 17 2024 11:54 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,039 EDWARDSVILLE - Talia Omotola, an eighth-grader at Lincoln Middle School in Edwardsville, is attracting significant attention in the gymnastic ranks. She recently competed in the State Gymnastics Championship......

16. Dierre Hill Stars As Belleville Althoff Catholic Rolls Past Redbirds
	September 1 2024 8:29 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,054 ALTON - A spate of storms postponed Friday night’s high school football season opener between the Alton Redbirds and the Belleville Althoff Catholic Crusaders. But sunny skies and cooler temperatures......

15. Landon Harris Wins Individual Race, CM Puts Six Of Seven Runners In Top Ten To Take Team Title In Boys CM Twilight Meet
	September 1 2024 10:01 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,115 BETHALTO - Landon Harris of Granite City was the individual winner, while Civic Memorial's boys team put six of its seven runners in the top ten in going on to the team championship of the CM......

14. Edwardsville Football Coach Confident After Scrimmage With Triad
	August 26 2024 2:25 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,214 EDWARDSVILLE - The football teams of Triad and Edwardsville High Schools squared off in a modified controlled scrimmage in Week Zero of the new IHSA football season Friday night at Tiger Stadium,......

13. EAWR World Proud Of Jayden Ulrich's Quest To Be The Best At The University Of Louisville
	April 16 2024 11:54 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,225 LOUISVILLE, KY. - East Alton-Wood River head boys and girls track and field coach Russ Colona on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, reported that the Oilers' legendary shot put and discus thrower Jayden Ulrich......

12. Alton Snaps Nine-Game Losing Streak To Edwardsville – Elliot’s Late Game Heroics Sees Redbirds Win In OT
	January 11 2024 9:58 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,336 ALTON – February 21, 2020. The last time Alton had beaten Edwardsville in a boys basketball game. A nine-game streak snapped Thursday night at Alton High School. After being down by 11 points......

11. Veteran Coach Has Wealth Of Experience As He Takes Over Granite City Football Program
	August 18 2024 10:14 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,434 GRANITE CITY - Longtime coach Steve Roustio is the new head football coach at Granite City High School, and is looking to revive the Warriors after the team suffered through a nightmare 0-9 season.......

10. Former Edwardsville Baseball Stars Eye MLB Draft Breakthrough
	July 15 2024 5:04 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,474 EDWARDSVILLE - Former Edwardsville baseball players, Jack Cooper, Drake Westcott, Hayden Moore, and Blake Burris are under consideration by Major League Baseball teams for selection in next week’s......

9. "Positive Visualization Is A Key" - EHS Grad Kate Martin Plays Key To Iowa's Move To Final Four
	April 2 2024 11:51 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,616 IOWA CITY, Iowa - Edwardsville High School grad Kate Martin has made quite a name for herself in the legendary University of Iowa women’s team annals over her illustrious career. She gets another......

8. Alec Marchetto Strikes Out Seven, Leads Tigers to 5-0 Victory Over Panthers
	May 13 2024 11:54 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,623 EDWARDSVILLE - Senior Alec Marchetto, making his first start of the season, allowed on two hits, while striking out seven, and Lucas Huebner drove in three runs as Edwardsville shut out Jersey 5-0......

7. Jackson Musch Is Swimmer For Sunset Hills Boys Team, Always Looks To Improve, Uses Swimming As Aid In Other Sports
	July 7 2024 8:07 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,633 EDWARDSVILLE - Jackson Musch is one of the key 13-14 age group swimmers for the boys team at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsvile, and he, along with many of his teammates, enjoyed success at th......

6. Brunaugh Has Big Day, Passing For Three Touchdowns, Running For Three More As Jersey Takes 55-47 Opening Day Win Over Roxana
	September 1 2024 9:44 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 10,811 JERSEYVILLE - Jersey quarterback Jaxon Brunaugh had a big day, passing for three touchdowns and running in three more as the Panthers won a wild 55-45 opening day football game over Roxana Saturda......

5. Three-Peat Upended - Tigers Fall To Providence Catholic In State Semifinals
	June 7 2024 10:38 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 11,044 JOLIET, Ill. - “Everything doesn’t always work out perfect,” Edwardsville baseball head coach Tim Funkhouser said after a 2-1 loss to Providence Catholic in the state semifinals......

4. Darin Kimble, Ex-NHL Player, Is New SIUE Ice Hockey Club Head Coach
	June 20 2024 4:32 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 11,104 EDWARDSVILLE - The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Club Ice Hockey team is thrilled to announce the appointment of Darin Kimble as their new head ice hockey coach. Kimble brings a wealth of......

3. Eagles Win Nick Smith's Debut As Head Coach, Defeat Marquette
	August 31 2024 6:31 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 11,116 BETHALTO - Civic Memorial scored on either side of the halftime break, and it proved to be a big difference as the Eagles went on to take a season-opening 43-2 win over Marquette Catholic Friday......

2. Kate Martin Officially Lands Spot On Las Vegas Aces Roster, Set To Make Her WNBA Debut Tuesday Against Los Angeles Sparks
	May 14 2024 8:21 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 11,147 LAS VEGAS - It's official - Edwardsville native Kate Martin has made the roster of the Women's National Basketball Association defending champions Las Vegas Aces, and is set to make her debut on......

1. High School Football Week 1 Scoreboard
	August 30 2024 10:37 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 11,238 ALTON - Many high school football teams around the area had no choice but to postpone their games until Saturday, August 31 due to lengthy lightning/rain delays. Notable games that were moved to Saturda......

0. Marquette Golf Dominates Gateway Metro Conference Triangular Nine-Hole Match
	September 5 2024 7:33 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 11,733 ALTON – The Marquette Explorers boys golf team hosted Althoff Catholic and Christ Our Rock Lutheran in a nine-hole triangular match at The Woodlands Golf Course Wednesday afternoon. The Blue......

-1. St. Louis City SC Makes Handful Of Off-Season Moves - Ready For An Improved 2024
	January 1 2024 4:07 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 11,769 ST. LOUIS - It’s been over two months since St. Louis City SC was eliminated from the MLS Playoffs at the hands of their geographical rivals Sporting Kansas City. During those MLS Playoffs,......

-2. Max Waltenberger's Solo Homer Secures Edwardsville's Tight 1-0 Victory
	March 16 2024 9:18 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 11,769 EDWARDSVILLE - In the completion of a suspended game from Thursday night, Max Waltenberger hit a third-inning solo homer for what turned out to be the only run of the game as Edwardsville took a 1-0......

-3. Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, Play It Again Sports Boys Soccer Roundup: Copeland Posts Hat Trick, Gonzalez Has Brace In Explorers Win, McGivney Tops Triad
	September 4 2024 10:58 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 11,827 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 BOYS SOCCER ROUNDUP MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 7, WATERLOO GIBAULT CATHOLIC 0: Quinn Copeland came up with a hat trick and Maicol Gonzalez scored a brace (two goals), and Cameron......

-4. Hernandez-Mendoza’s Shootout Goal Gives Kahoks Important Boys SWC Soccer Win At Edwardsville 2-1
	September 4 2024 11:36 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 12,126 EDWARDSVILLE – Rodrigo Hernandez-Mendoza scored in a penalty kick shootout to give Collinsville an 8-7 win in the shootout, allowing the Kahoks to escape with a 2-1 win over Edwardsville in the......

-5. Historic Win: Alton Defeats Normal Community For Program's First Sectional Title
	February 22 2024 11:06 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 12,272 NORMAL, Ill. – “It feels good making history,” Alton’s Jarius Powers said Thursday night. She’s no stranger to making history, and the Lady Redbirds aren’t very......

-6. Highland Girls Tournament To Showcase Some Of State's Best Including Three Defending State Champs
	January 11 2024 10:16 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 12,448 HIGHLAND - The annual mid-season Highland girls basketball tournament always brings the best out of the teams that participate. That's because the teams that participate are some of the best in the......

-7. Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, Play It Again Sports Roundup: Althoff Beats McGivney In Girls Volleyball, Plus Other Soccer Scores
	September 5 2024 12:14 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 13,320 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 SPORTS ROUNDUP BOYS SOCCER In boys soccer matches played on Wednesday, Piasa Southwestern defeated East Alton-Wood River 5-4, Breese Mater Dei Catholic won at Centralia......

-8. Vivian Scores Sixth Goal Of The Season After 32 Minutes, Edwardsville Holds Off Vastly Improved Alton 1-0
	September 6 2024 10:12 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 13,692 EDWARDSVILLE - Henry Vivian scored his team-leading sixth goal of the young season, taking a brilliant pass from Madj Hamad to score, as it turned out, the only goal of the game as Edwardsville......

-9. Dallas Martz Named General Manager at Ballparks National
	September 5 2024 9:52 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 17,409 LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — Dallas Martz has announced his acceptance of the position of General Manager at Ballparks National, marking a significant milestone in his career. Martz, who has served......

-10. Alton's Sam Ottwell Takes Lead In SWC Boys, Tigers' Johnson Leads Girls Tourney
	September 4 2024 4:54 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 18,230 BOYS GOLF SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT - FIRST ROUND AT STONEWOLF GOLF CLUB, FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS OTTWELL SHOOTS 65, TAKES INDIVIDUAL LEAD, TIGERS LEAD TEAM STANDINGS AFTER FIRST ROUND......

-11. Absher, Elite Force Athletes - Elliott-Barnes, Borkowski, Johnson, Advance To New Balance Nationals
	March 8 2024 2:12 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 18,784 ALTON - Ebony Absher, of Elite Force Athletics in Alton, which trains track and field athletes, has some under her direction who have qualified for a large national competition - the New Balance Nationals......

-12. Calhoun Warriors Girls Volleyball Team Dominates Home Opener Against Routt
	September 6 2024 5:08 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 19,402 CALHOUN – In a thrilling home opener on Wednesday, the Calhoun Warriors girls' volleyball team delivered a commanding performance against Routt, winning both the junior varsity and varsity matches.......

-13. Granite City High School to Host 51st Annual Robinson/Lang Cross Country Invitational
	September 5 2024 3:02 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 20,897 GRANITE CITY — Granite City High School will host the 51st Annual Granite City Robinson/Lang Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Wilson Park in Granite City. The event,......

-14. Jerseyville St. Francis/Holy Ghost Golf Team Wins IESA Sectionals
	September 5 2024 7:32 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 24,372 JERSEYVILLE – The St. Francis/Holy Ghost junior high golf team headed north to Lincoln to take part in the IESA Sectional tournament at Lincoln Elks Golf Course. Led by Adam Robinson’s......

-15. Alton Boys Soccer Team Shows Vast Improvement Under Coach Nasello, Big Games Coming Ahead
	September 6 2024 10:29 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 25,079 EDWARDSVILLE - The last time a boys soccer team at Alton High School finished above break-even was 2017, when the Redbirds went 10-9-2. Before that, in 2014, Alton finished at 11-7-3. However,......

-16. Viva Kate Martin! Former EHS Basketball Star Drafted 18th By WNBA Champs Las Vegas Aces
	April 16 2024 10:47 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 31,443 BROOKLYN, N.Y. - When it comes to Kate Martin, there are three words to describe where she'll be going to play professionally at: Vegas, baby, Vegas. Martin, a 2018 graduate of Edwardsville High School,......

-17. Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, Play It Again Sports Roundup: Birds Trip Explorers In Girls Volleyball, Maroons Fall In Football To Ft. Zumwalt West
	September 6 2024 4:20 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 34,565 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS ROUNDUP GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PIASA SOUTHWESTERN 25-25, MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 23-19: Southwestern took a straight-set win over visiting Marquette......

-18. Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, Play It Again Sports Boys Soccer Roundup: Belleville West Tops Collinsville, Triad Defeats Granite City
	September 6 2024 10:48 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 36,846 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 BOYS SOCCER ROUNDUP BELLEVILLE WEST 3, COLLINSVILLE 1: Sam Gebhart had a brace (two goals), while Braden Missey scored from the spot to guide Belleville West to a boys socce......

-19. Tigers Have Home Opener, Redbirds, Shells, Warriors Seek Redemption, More Home Openers Set For Week Two Football Schedule
	September 6 2024 4:31 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 57,969 EDWARDSVILLE - The week two football schedule has Alton, Roxana, and Granite City, among other schools, seeking redemption for week one losses, while Edwardsville, coming off a thrilling win in wee......

-20. Big Second Quarter Powers Visiting Clinton To Win Over Marquette Explorers
	September 7 2024 7:16 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 86,506 ALTON - Looking to bounce off a week one loss at local rival Civic Memorial, the Explorers of Marquette Catholic hosted the Clinton Maroons in high school football action on Friday evening. Clear......

-21. Dramatic Defensive Plays Propel Eagles to 21-8 Win
	September 6 2024 10:02 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 95,985 BETHALTO — In a game dominated by defense, the Civic Memorial Eagles triumphed over the East Alton-Wood River Oilers with a 21-8 victory on Friday night in Bethalto. The game began with......

-22. Fourth Quarter Safety, Special Teams Plays Make Difference, Lawrence Central Takes 22-21 Win Over Tigers
	September 7 2024 7:21 AM \| 0 comments \| reads 110,749 EDWARDSVILLE - A blocked punt that went out of the end zone resulted in a safety with approximately five minutes left in regulation, and Hunter Lading missed a 26-yard field goal with 2:11 left,......

-23. Calhoun Stuns Defending State Champs With Last-Second Touchdown
	September 6 2024 11:47 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 202,641 HARDIN – It was the rematch. The date circled on the calendar for every Calhoun football player, coach, and fan. The defending IHSA Class 1A state champs Camp Point Central visited Hardin Frida......

-24. High School Play It Again Sports Week 2 Football Scoreboard
	September 6 2024 10:09 PM \| 0 comments \| reads 247,987 Non-Conference Althoff Catholic 61, St. Teresa 0 Quincy, 42, Alton 13 Nokomis 49, Argenta-Oreana 0 Belleville East 28, Pekin 21 Breese Central 49, Mater Dei 13 Calhoun 14, Camp Point......

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