High School Sports
Gillespie High School softball off to a hot start
The Gillespie High School softball team is off to a hot start under the leadership of Michelle Smith.
In the first game of the season, Gillespie dominated the field snatching a shutout win over Ramsey, 16-0. In the opener, Emma Gipson proved to be a force to be reckoned with on the mound, as she rang up a total of 11 batters. The Ramsey Rams were only able to muster up one hit facing the powerhouse.
Sadie Sholtis was hot at the plate, going three for three with a solo homer to left field. She was just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
Bats were going all evening long for Gillespie, racking up 16 runs on 16 hits. Leadoff batter, Ava Parish, went 2-3, with 3 RBIs and one base on balls. Both Paxton Reid and Macie Wright went 3-3, knocking in a total of six runs between the two. Laci Schuckenbrock drove in three runs on a triple, while Lauren Bertagnolli and Delaney Taylor plated one RBI each.
In the second game of the season, Gipson pitched another stellar game, matching her previous performance with 11 Ks. She allowed only one hit and three walks through seven innings. This game was a nail-biter as the pitching for both the home and away teams was phenomenal. Pawnee’s starting pitcher, Haley Maretti, took the loss, but not before sitting down 13 Gillespie players with a strikeout.
Parish and Wright were alone in the hit column with one hit a piece. Wright drove in two runs. While not gaining a hit, Reid capitalized on an at-bat, driving in one run. The final score was 3-0, with Gillespie taking the win.
Gillespie stepped onto the field on March 14th to face Carrollton and was only able to get in two-thirds innings before the game was called. Starter, Emma Gipson, gave up two hits with no runs, striking out two. Bertagnolli and Sholtis each gained one hit a piece.
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In a decisive finish that underscored his rising dominance in Illinois Class 1A cross country, senior Chaz Oberkfell of Gillespie High School claimed the state title with a time of 14:31.10 at the IHSA State Cross Country Championships held at Detweiller Park on Saturday, November 8.
Finishing just behind Oberkfell, sophomore Evan Knobloch of Toulon (Stark County) crossed the line in 14:46.25, placing second. Rounding out the top five were senior Blake McLeese of Tuscola (14:46.45), senior Luca Bryja of Elgin (Harvest Christian Academy) with 14:48.38, and senior Elijah Teefey of Pleasant Plains at 14:49.02.
This victory marks Oberkfell’s second IHSA Class 1A state championship. He also won the state crown as a junior in 2024 with a time of 14:31.87. In his sophomore year, he finished 21st with a 15:21.43 season-best time.
Looking ahead, Oberkfell is set to compete in the New Balance NXR Midwest Regional Championships on Sunday, November 16, at the LaVerne Gibson Course in Indiana. The meet serves as a critical stepping stone toward the national championships, and Oberkfell will look to carry his state momentum into the regional stage.
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In a nail-biting showdown that will be remembered for years to come, the Gillespie Miners girls basketball team captured the South Central Conference title with a hard-fought 55-52 victory over the Pana Panthers on Thursday night, February 13. This marks Gillespie’s first conference championship since their back-to-back titles in 2001-02, when they shared the honors with Southwestern both finishing with a 9-1 conference record.
The game held at Pana High School was anything but straightforward. After a tumultuous 13-minute delay due to injuries and a technical foul controversy, the Miners rallied their spirits to secure the win. Amari Vickery led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, while Mia Brawner added 11, Maggie Heyen contributed 10, Delaney Taylor posted 5, Sadie Sholtis scored 4, and Lainey Edwards and Corrine Fellin each had 2 points.
From the opening tip, it was clear that Pana was not going to roll over easily. The Panthers held leads at the end of the first two quarters, 15-14 and 28-26, showcasing their tenacity. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Pana had edged ahead 44-42, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
However, the game took a chaotic turn in the fourth quarter when a collision between Vickery and teammate Sloane Brawner resulted in both players going down with injuries. Sloane was not able to return the game but Vickery did. The Miners also lost both Delaney Taylor and Sadie Sholtis to fouls and Gillespie was assessed a technical foul under controversial circumstances which tied the game at 49. But Heyen carried the weight through the fourth quarter recording 6 of her 10 points in the final quarter of play.
Despite the setbacks, the Miners displayed remarkable teamwork resilience under the leadership of Nikki and Matt Brawner. With the SCC championship secured and the regular season concluded with a 22-8 overall record and 9-0 conference record, the Miners now shift their focus to the upcoming regional which is being hosted in Gillespie.
Gillespie hosts Alton Marquette on Monday, Feb. 17 for the regional semi-finals after Alton Marquette knocked East-Alton Wood River, 36-29, to face the Miners. The winner advances to the regional championship that will be played on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gillespie versus the winner of Staunton/Roxana.
