ALAH has sports seasons to remember; especially in football and baseball

By Mike Monahan
ARTHUR – It was quite a sports year for Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond in 2025-26 and now that it is the first time the dead period (no activity from June 29-Sunday) it is time to take a look back at the high school sports for the Knights. The dead period used to be in early August.Student-athletes walked the ALAH halls for the final time as the building is being demolished (minus the newer gym) after over 100 years of use. Highlighting the sports year were the football and baseball teams, who tied the furthest advancement in the state playoffs.

Football
The Knights, coached by Ryan Jefferson, reached the Class 2A playoff semifinals before falling to Maroa-Forsyth 28-6. ALAH went through an undefeated regular season, winning the Lincoln Prairie conference by going 9-0. The team tied the 2004 Arthur Lovington (co-op) team that also went 12-1 under Dale Schuring in Class 1A.
It was the fifth straight year the Knights have made the playoffs, all under Jefferson.
The season began with a 43-13 win over Sangamon Valley/Tri-City (co-op) followed by a 49-0 game over Tri-County. After a 35-20 win over Cumberland, the Knights downed Argenta-Oreana 35-6; Sullivan 14-7; Arcola (who was in a co-op with Cerro Gordo/Bement), 48- 6 and Nokomis 43-20. The playoffs started after a forfeit win over CGB and a 49-26 triumph over Villa Grove. Marshall was the first playoff victim, 27-14 followed by Cumberland 34-16 and Westville 42-35 in a wild game.
Earning first team all-LPC honors were offensive lineman Kamden Morfey, linebacker Easton Frederick (unanimous), Elijah Van Scyoc and defensive back Marcus Otto.
The Knights averaged 32.8 points per game, while allowing 14.7.

Golf
The Arcola/ALAH Knight-Riders finished 20-4 overall, while the girls were 9-2.
Olivia Gisinger and Megan Miller advanced to the sectional, while Canton Wesch (who ended up in 16th place in the Class 1A state meet at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington) and Kody Burdick moved into the sectional on the boys side. Wesch finished with rounds of 81 and 73 to finish with a 10-over-par 154.
The boys have won seven straight LPC titles as they had a 327, beating second place Argenta-Oreana by 25 shots. Earning all-conference honors were Wesch (individual medalist with a 74), Binder (83) and Logan Schrock (also an 83). For the girls, who placed second, Gisinger earned all-LPC honors.

Soccer
The co-ed soccer team, coached by Christian Gomez, went 7-8-2 with only one senior (Ismael Corona) on the roster of 19.
Cross Country
On the girls side Ruby Burton, a recent graduate, placed third in the LPC meet with a time of 19:37.2. Her best time was 18:44.6, which was in the regional.
In boys cross country Beau Green placed 37 the the state meet at Peoria’s Detweiller Park with a time of 15:24.48, which was the best time of the year.
In the LPC meet at Lake Land College Green earned all-conference honors with a time of 15:55.3, good for fourth place overall. Recent graduate Tristan Keagle was also in the conference meet.
The teams are coached by Austin Romine.

Volleyball
The Knights, coached by Emily Crossman, went 27-10 overall and won the LPC, going 10-0.
Earning first team all-conference honors were Bella Romine, Summer Melton and Karaline Vanasdoll. It was the first time the Knights had won the regular season title since 2022. The Knights won their second regional title in the last four years by beating Casey-Westfield 27-25, 25-20. ALAH’s season ended with a 25-22, 21-25, 26-24 loss to Heyworth in the Class 1A sectional semifinal.

Girl’s basketball
The girls, coached by Hannah Morfey, finished 14-16 overall and 6-4 in the LPC, good for sixth place. The Knights lost their first seven games before beating Heritage 48-41. They were 1-9 when they beat Decatur Eisenhower 40-37 followed by Chrisman 42-22. After three straight losses the Knights beat Arcola twice, 33-22 and 28-24. After a loss to Tri-County, ALAH started a seven game winning streak by beating Blue Ridge/Deland-Weldon (co-op) 46-9; Okaw Valley 42-26; Argenta-Oreana 29-21; Blue Ridge/DeLand-Weldon co-op) 53-24; Unity Christian 42-25; Central A&M 66-42 and Villa Grove 63-14. Losses to Marshall and Tri-County were next before beating Okaw Valley 49-25 and being eliminated in a 41-40 contest against Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg.
Sophie Monts was a unanimous all-LPC pick.

Boys’ basketball
The boys coached by Kenny Parks, went 6-24 overall and 2-8 in the LPC. Wins were over Watseka (53-38), Okaw Valley (62-56), Blue Ridge (58-26), Heritage (67-60), Villa Grove (45-34) and Villa Grove (73-45). The final game played in the old gym was against Heritage and the Knights lost in a thriller 68-63 in overtime. ALAH was eliminated by Cumberland 77-37.
Will Hilligoss made the second team all-conference.

Baseball
Coach David McGrath did something that had not been done since he played for Arthur-Lovington co-op in 2005 and that is win a regional. In 2005 it was in Class A under the two-class system. This year it was in Class 1A in the four class system. ALAH beat Neoga 19-7 in a game called after six innings due to the 10-run rule.
It was the Knight fourth straight winning season, which ties with the team from 2002-2005 and it was the first 20 plus winning season since 2005 when the Knights went 30-6 under Rick Allen.
ALAH went 21-10 overall and 9-1 in the LPC, good for second place.
The Knights started the season with a 6-1 win over future LPC member, Fisher, followed by a 7-6 win over Altamont. After two losses ALAH had three straight wins over Arthur Christian (15-3), Central A&M (13-2) and Neoga (13-4). After a non-conference loss to Warrensburg-Latham the Knights beat Tri-County 10-0 and then lost to Mt. Pulaski. Three straight wins over Blue Ridge (16-2), LeRoy (11-1) and Cumberland (7-6 in eight innings) was followed by a loss. After a 9-1 win over Villa Grove the Knights lost their only conference game, 6-2, to Okaw Valley. An eight winning streak followed that. After two losses, the Knights beat Neoga again, this time 10-4. The regular season ended with a 6-1 loss to Tolono Unity followed by the post season run over Central A&M (13-3).
Earning first team honors were Marcus Otto, John Williams and Will Hilligoss.

Softball
Whitney Wynkoop coached the Knights to an 11-17 overall and 5-4 mark in the LPC, good for fifth place.
The Knights wins were against Shelbyville (7-5), Georgetown-Ridge Farm (21-2), Arcola (24-5), Decatur MacArthur (19-1), Blue Ridge (12-2), Paris (9-7), Tri-County (18-6), Heritage (16-10), Neoga (15-4), Okaw Valley (16-1), Martinsville (14-4), and ALAH was eliminated by WSS 8-1. The Knights were 4-12 before finishing 7-5.
Earning all-LPC honors was Monts, a unanimous choice.

Boys’ track
The boys, coached by Mitch Wilson, won the LPC title beating Sullivan by 15.5 points. Among the top five individuals were Frederick (100, 200, 400); Daylon Doggett (200, long jump, triple jump); Cruz Hale (400); Green (800, 1,600, 3,200); Jase Kingery (110, 300 hurdles); Brennan Hudson (110 hurdles); Trey Strode (300 hurdles, high jump long jump);Van Scyoc (shot put); Donovan Vanausdoll (discus); Cooper Shoemaker (high jump); Keagle (triple jump).
All four relays finished in the top two at least. The 4×100 was Payton Warrior, Hale, Frederick and Doggett, while the 4×200 was Justin Schrock, Shoemaker, Corona and Keagle, while the 4×400 was Warrior, Corona, Keagle and Hale. The 4×800 was comprised of Colton Snyder, Cody Drake, David Briseno and Keagle.

Girls’ track
The girls, coached by Jefferson, won their third straight LPC title beating Sullivan by eight points.
Among the top five in the conference meet were Bella Romine (200, 400, long jump); Burton (800, 1,600); Sophia Johnson (800); Embrey Reardon (3,200); Emalee Reel (100 and 300 hurdles); Alex Clark (shot put and discus); Rylie Ward (discus); Norma Mendoza (high jump); Melton (triple jump; Leighton Poulos (triple jump). In relay events the 4×100 team of Grace Romine, Poulos, Skyler Graham and Melton were among the top five along with the 4×200 team of Grace Romine, Keely Simpson, Macelyn Boddy and Melton, while the 4×400 team of Mendoza, Johnsoon, Vanda and Burton along with the 4×800 team of Gwendolyn Herring, Vanda, Johnson and Burton all finished in the top five.