Sports

By Chris BowieBoonville Daily News The LSE Pirates and Lady Pirates wrestling team hosted their second quad of the season Thursday night at the Windsor… Login to continue reading Login…

After signing a national letter of intent with Georgia State University in Atlanta last week in front of family and friends, New Franklin senior pitcher Brynn Belstle didn’t shy away from thanking everybody from her teammates, coaches and family members for their support during her journey.As a three-year letterwinner for the Lady Bulldogs, Belstle not only earned MVP honors in the Central Activities Conference during her career at New Franklin, but she was also selected three-time all-conference, all-district and all-region and two-time all-state.

After finishing 25-4 overall and unbeaten in the Central Activities Conference last year at 10-0, the New Franklin Bulldogs basketball team will look a little different heading into the 2024-25 season under head coach Jim Schlotzhauer.Although the Bulldogs still have good numbers with 16 players suited out for the upcoming season, they lost all five starters to graduation while returning six letterwinners.Nonetheless, Schlotzhauer said the team will be putting a big emphasis on communication and teamwork this year.

The New Franklin Lady Bulldogs basketball team will start the 2024-25 season with a clean slate under second-year coach Parker Gross.After finishing 11-16 overall and 4-6 for sixth place in the Central Activities Conference last year, Gross said the motto for this year’s team “Own your effort” has been something the team has focused on as a group.“It reflects the notion that we want everyone on the team to be accountable for the things we can control every day; our effort and the attitude we bring,” Gross said.

Nothing has changed from last season to this season as for what the Pilot Grove Tigers basketball team wants to accomplish in 2024-25.With only one full-time and two part-time starters returning from last year along with nine returning letterwinners, Pilot Grove coach Dillon Yung said the Tigers have the same goals as last year in that they want to compete for a conference and district championship.The Tigers were so close to winning a district title last year but were a middle of the pack team in the CAC by finishing 5-5, which was good enough for fourth place.Nonetheless, after finishing 16-13 overall in 2023-24, Yung said the Tigers will have multiple new faces this season.

If there is one thing first-year coach Cole Meisenheimer looks for the Lady Tigers to do every game this season, it’s to show up ready to play their A game in 2024-25.After finishing two games below the .500 mark for the season last year at 13-15 overall and 5-5 in the Central Activities Conference, the good news is that Pilot Grove returns three starters and four letterwinners from the previous season under Meisenheimer.

The Prairie Home Panthers basketball team may have surprised themselves last year after finishing 23-7 overall under head coach Trever Huth.While falling in the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs against Green City 71-58, the dream season for the Panthers came crashing down in what was one of the best seasons in the history of the program.Now with four of the five starters returning this season for the Panthers, Huth said he is looking forward to getting this season started.