NORMAL – For two of Normal’s three high schools, the Volleyball season is off to a strong start with University High School and Normal Community West High School coming out strong while Normal Community High School has struggled in their opening contests.

As of Tuesday, Normal Community West is a perfect 3-0 having yet to take on any Big 12 Conference foes, and NCHS is 3-2 and also has yet to take on any conference opponents. U-High is 7-1 including a 1-0 record in Central State Eight Conference action.

Normal West Hasn’t Lost Yet: Head Coach Kelsey Drendel’s team schedule doesn’t have the Lady Wildcats facing any Big 12 Conference opponents until they travel to Danville Sept. 12 to face the Lady Vikings. From looking at the outcomes of games played thus far, the Wildcats could prove to be challenging for their opponents should they maintain this level of play. And where they play doesn’t appear to matter because the first three teams they played so far have been in road games. In their first games of the season against Morton Aug. 24, Normal West swept the Lady Potters winning two-out-of-three games, 25-22 and 25-17 to land where they find themselves currently.

With those wins under their belt, the Lady Wildcats marched on against Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin, taming the Cyclones in two games, 25-15 and 25-22. From there, the Lady Wildcats traveled to Moline and appeared to change the colors of their opponent’s jerseys from Maroon to a frustrated red by sweeping Moline in two games, 25-10 and 25-11.

Both the months of August and September will be half over before Drendel’s troops will play their first games at home Thursday, Sept. 21 when Big 12 foe Champaign Central comes to town. But until then, the Wildcats will have played non-conference games at Metamora, Dunlap, and Lyons High School in the Chicago suburb of LaGrange before beginning play against Big 12 opponents starting with a Sept. 12 road game at 7p.m. at Danville.

Normal Community Looks To Stay Above .500: Starting the season to play suburban schools in an effort to toughen her troops for teams Normal Community High School Lady Ironmen could face later in the season appears to have been more challenging than potentially considered.

Having played teams from suburban schools like Plainfield East 25-12 and 26-24. They also beat Riverside-Brookfield 25-17 and 27-25, and Hinsdale Central 25-16 and 25-22 for wins and Plainfield North and Bolingbrook resulting in losses, Head Coach Christine Konopasek’s team finds itself at 3-2 on the early season with non-conference teams Moline and Bolingbrook yet to play before facing Big 12 Conference teams. Conference challengers will begin Sept. 14 hosting Peoria Manual. Facing the Rams was followed by three Big 12 matches at home against Peoria High Sept. 19, Danville Sept. 21, and Bloomington Central Catholic Sept. 23.

University High Starting Season At 7-1: Normal Community West High School may be undefeated but University High School, a Central State Eight team, isn’t far behind in terms of staying in front of either their league teams or their opponents. The Pioneers have only faced one team from their league so far, beating Chatham Glenwood Aug. 22 in three games 25-22, 15-25, and 25-16. The only team to get past Head Coach Mike Bolhuis’ squad thus far has been Oak Park-River Forest at an Aug. 26 tournament in Oak Park.

Otherwise, the Pioneers have registered shutout wins over opponents from high schools from Bloomington, Hononegah, St. Charles North, and Wheaton-Warrenville South – all at tourneys at neutral sites. At home, the Pioneers are 1-0 and away from home, they are 2-0. They have two upcoming home games – Aug. 31 hosting CSE foe Rochester at 7p.m. and Sept. 5 hosting Decatur MacArthur at 7p.m.

Bolhuis appears to want to see how his team will do against familiar teams, too, as the Pioneers are scheduled to play to teams in a tournament in Paducah, Ky. on Sept. 8. Their first contest will be against McCracken County High School, also holding a 7-1 record, and also face Strasburg, Ill.-based Stewardson-Strasburg High School from Shelby County.

NORMAL – Normal Community High School’s football team began the 2023 season by sending a non-conference opponent home defeated beginning Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin’s season with a loss Friday night after beating the Cyclones 54-14 before a packed crowd to open the season at Dick Tharp Field Friday. The contest was interrupted by lightning in the area causing a halt to play at one point.

After receiving the opening kickoff, SHG (0-1) couldn’t get out of their own half of the field and had to punt but the kick was not very successful giving NCHS a chance to start their opening drive from Springfield’s own 15 yard line. Two plays later, Ironmen senior running back Tommy Davis’ 6 yard touchdown put the season’s first points on the scoreboard for his team followed by an extra point from sophomore kicker Will Castro for a 7-0 lead at 9:35 in the first quarter.

After the ensuing kickoff, Springfield SHG senior quarterback Levi Hanauer took charge and ate up yardage for an 11 play run ending with his scoring from 2 yards out followed by a successful extra point from junior kicker Tom Davis to tie the game 7-7 at 4:17 in the opening quarter.

After the ensuing SHG kickoff, NCHS (1-0) began their next drive from their own 40 yard line and five plays later, a 27 yard pass from junior quarterback Kyle Beaty to junior wide receiver Mar’quan Gary put the Ironmen in front again, 14-7, after Castro’s next extra point with roughly two minutes left in the opening quarter.

NCHS upped their advantage to 20-7 thanks to a 17 yard screen pass from Beaty to junior running back turned receiver Calen Taylor, who ran for a touchdown. But Springfield SHG defenders blocked Castro’s extra point.

NCHS demonstrated defensive prowess courtesy of an interception turned 30 yard touchdown thanks to senior cornerback Aiden Boundy followed by Castro’s next extra point increasing the Ironmen’s advantage to 27-7. The Cyclones’ next possession was brief lasting seven plays ending in a 60 yard interception by NCHS from senior outside linebacker Brady Augstin leading to an Ironmen score. Castro followed with an extra point allowing the Ironmen to go into halftime with a 34-7 lead.

Davis would be featured on a 69-yard scoring run early in the third quarter followed by another Castro extra point increasing the Ironmen lead, 40-7. SHG’s next possession ended in a turnover after their quarterback, Hanauer, was sacked on a fourth down play by NCHS defenders at the Cyclones’ 48 yard line. Four plays later, NCHS scored again on a 9 yard run by junior Mar’quan Gary increasing NCHS’ lead, 47-7, after Castro’s next extra point.

As a result of NCHS holding a 40-point advantage over Springfield SHG after Gary’s touchdown, game officials employed IHSA’s “Mercy Rule,” using a continuously running clock, stopping it only for timeouts taken by a team or because of an injury.

SHG senior running back Christian Pollard outpaced NCHS defenders for an 86 yard touchdown run followed by a successful extra point by sophomore kicker Andrew Hofner reducing the Ironmen lead to 47-14.

Taylor closed out the Ironmen’s night with a 53 yard touchdown run followed by Castro’s extra point leading to the eventual final score.

NORMAL – Where businesses which distribute cannabis can be located within Normal became the key issue during Monday’s regularly scheduled Normal Town Council session in Council Chambers in Normal City Hall. Council members unanimously voted Monday for amending Normal’s zoning code allowing for increased space between businesses which sell cannabis and other sorts of businesses which don’t.

But Council members also voted 5-2 in favor of the Town limiting the number of dispensaries to four. Council Members Kathleen Lorenz and Scott Preston voted in favor of the measure but Mayor Chris Koos and Council Members Kevin McCarthy, Chemberly Harris, Andy Byars, and Karyn Smith voted against it, causing the measure to fail.

As a result of the vote, the Town now requires there be a distance of 1,500 feet between cannabis-related businesses and such businesses must maintain a distance from churches and schools of 200 feet.

Council members did unanimously vote 7-0 that there must be a separation of 1,500 feet between all cannabis facilities. The Town would require such businesses to leave space available for opening of additional dispensaries. Doing so, according to the report submitted to Council members by Town Planner Mercy Davison, would be in line with one of the goals from the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. That goal is to be supportive of “economic vitality” for the Town as well as small businesses in the Town.

Council Hears Public Arts Group Being Formed: Prior to the regularly-scheduled Council session, Town Cultural Arts Director Beth Whisman addressed Council members to make them aware of a new group being formed with a focus on public art-related activities and events. She explained Normal would be joining other Illinois cities like Decatur and Urbana which have initiated similar programs and specifically concerning sculpture. In Urbana, she showed in a handout, there is the Wandell Sculpture Garden at Meadowbrook Park.

In addition to Whisman, Council members heard from Doug Johnson, executive director of McLean County Arts Center, told Council members the investment in the group “is really an investment in the community which benefits the community in the long run,” because, as he explained, “it pays dividends over the long run, it attracts businesses to our community, and has a big economic impact.”

Such programs like the ones the Center creates, Johnson said, “brings in an audience, it attracts an audience for public art, and it announces Bloomington-Normal as being a creative community.”

Whisman said the Town is has been conducting research with similar communities about ideas for programs Normal itself can put on. In addition, Whisman said, the Town has been working on public input survey which should be ready to debut in either May or June. In addition, to prepare to begin work on a mural for the overpass, the Town submitted a grant application to National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). She said the Town should hear something concerning that in November.

She added her office has assembled a group of citizens to form a public arts working group. That group would include residents, local artists, art patrons, and leaders of non-profit organizations. She also explained, in replying to a question from Council Member Smith, artists’ submissions for the mural would be “conceptual and digital.”

Whisman explained there will be two pilot projects in the works to try to get citizen feedback. The first would be a sculpture garden at One Normal Plaza, and the second pilot project would be a mural located where Uptown connects to the Uptown Underpass.

Regarding the sculpture garden, Whisman said her department is preparing to budget $150,000 in fiscal year 2024 for between 8-10 sculptures for the space

Concerning the survey, Whisman said the Town wanted to know what residents “not only thought of public art but what they wanted to see, what they were interested in,” she explained. In addition, Whisman to Council members the Town has written its first Federal grant to NEA in an attempt to receive Federal dollars for projects. She explained seeking sculptors for this project would be a public process which would include finding out the extent of artists’ experience creating art which would be seen by the public.

The group formed to determine which pieces of art will be selected will also determine which pieces of art the Town will either lease, purchase, or have commissioned.

Regarding murals for the overpass, Whisman said her office is seeking a budget of $205,000 but will seek grant funding totaling $100,000 to assist the process. Whisman said the funding sought would cover various costs which include Town Staff’s time, artist’s time and materials, stipend for local apprentices, money for education and outreach, and three submissions of original designs from finalists.

She said the Town should hear about a decision concerning NEA grant money being received in November. Those funds, if approved, should arrive sometime next summer.

When Whisman’s presentation was completed, Koos responded, “You’ve done quite a bit of work here,” to which Whisman replied, “We want to get it right.”

In public comments, Sarah Smelser, professor of Art at Illinois State University, told Council members, “I would like to thank you for the funding for art that’s in place and allows us to dream.” She said she enjoys showing prospective University students that Normal is “a creative arts community.”

Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included:

• Approval of minutes of a public hearing of Aug. 7, 2023.

• Approval of minutes of the regular Council meeting of Aug. 7, 2023.

• Report to Receive and File Town of Normal Expenditures for Payment as of Aug. 16, 2023.

• A resolution to accept a proposal from George Gilner, Inc. for replacement of floor drains at the water distribution building at 700 E. Pine St. at a total cost of $61,822 and approve an associated budget adjustment.

• A resolution authorizing an engineering services agreement with Farnsworth Group, Inc. in the amount of $129,803 for supplemental design services for W. College Ave. from Rivian Motorway to White Oak Rd.

• A resolution approving a settlement agreement concerning temporary parking lots at 612 Kingsley St. and 603 Dale St.

NORMAL – There may only be alumni from either Illinois State University or Illinois Wesleyan University who can recall attending men’s or women’s basketball games when the two local colleges squared off against one another. Those alumni would have been attending either college in the 1960s and 1970s, and in the early 70s, the two institutions gave up playing one another to take on other rivals, both in and out of their own conferences.

But on Sunday, Oct. 29, IWU Fightin’ Titans will again march into Redbirds’ territory on Sunday, Oct. 29 to play a women’s game starting at 1 p.m., followed by the men’s contest 30 minutes after the first game’s conclusion to resurrect the rivalry. Doors to CEFCU Arena will open for these events will open at 12 noon. Tickets for both contests will go on sale Oct. 2, costing $20 and provide admission to both games. ISU and IWU students will be admitted for free with a student ID. Parking information will be available closer to the date of competition.

But the two games will do more than determine which of the two colleges’ teams are entitled to bragging rights throughout the Twin Cities. That’s because proceeds from the two games will be divided between the Western Avenue Community Center, and a mental health collaboration between the schools. Western Avenue Community Center, opened in 1926, is a social service organization and community center, working with people of all ages and reaching out into the neighborhood. Today, the Center serves more than 2,000 families per year in the community.

At a press conference in the media room of CEFCU Arena, coaches of the two schools’ men’s and women’s teams shared their enthusiasm for the upcoming event.

ISU Women’s Head Basketball Coach Kristen Gillespie told a dozen media members the day of the event will be “a great day for our community. Two great Universities, such storied histories, and what I love is they are two Universities that really value women’s athletics.” She said the history of each institution regarding women’s athletics “speaks for itself.

Gillespie added to go up against a coach who has won a National Championship, “it’s something you don’t get to do every day.” Gillespie’s team won their last National Championship in 2012. IWU’s Men’s team last won a National Division III basketball title in 1997.

“We’re just very excited,” said IWU Women’s Head Basketball Coach Mia Smith to begin comments to the media. “I know my team is incredibly excited about this,” she said. She added she and her team “were very fortunate that Illinois State and Coach Gillespie is affording us to be able to play in CEFCU Arena and to be able to play in front of the community, and to bring basketball into the limelight, and to play for such an incredible cause.”

The notion of resuming an ISU-IWU rivalry “is just something that has been thought about for a while,” Gillespie said. She said when she first got the job at ISU seven years ago, she was asked by superiors about the possibility of renewing the rivalry.

“I’m ecstatic,” Gillespie said, then turned to Smith, and said, “Coach, thanks for agreeing to this.”

Calling the game between the Redbirds and Titans “long overdue,” ISU Head Basketball Coach Ryan Pedon told media members he “was really excited to reunite these two institutions.”

Pedon said a thought which has been running through his mind is the respect he has for Rose. “I have great admiration for him and respect and I know the kind of program he has led for a long time. He added the same can be said for Smith’s time in coaching at IWU.

“We’re very excited for the opportunity and appreciate Coach Pedon providing this,” IWU Head Coach Ron Rose said, nodding toward Pedon as he thanked him. Playing ISU would come under the heading of “unique opportunities” for his players, Rose explained, adding such games, “expand their experience, and this certainly will be one of them, to do this in front of the community, to bring both programs together, with part of the proceeds going to Western Ave. Western Ave. is a tremendous program in our community.”

Rose said his Titans players are always eager to play Division I teams, to play on a bigger court, and have done so. Bradley, University of Illinois, and Among the Titans’ previous Division I opponents

Rose added a top concern on the minds of college athletes across the NCAA is mental health, and having some of the proceeds go toward that factored into making arrangements to schedule this game.

“We’re really excited for the opportunity,” Rose said. “It should be a really fun day in Bloomington-Normal.”

Rose added the game “is an opportunity to unite our community. He said he doesn’t look at the impending contests any other way. He said the two games will give the Titans a chance to compete “against a really good program” as well as raise money for important programs in the community.

Pedon added he has heard from ISU fans about games the Redbirds and Titans used to play. “They talk about it like it’s something they are missing,” he said explaining how some ISU fans have felt about not having IWU on their schedule. “That matters to me. I want our program to be part of the fabric of our community. I love this community and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t play this game right now.”

Pedon, admitting he was a Division III athlete himself, said Rose beat him to suggesting it to his counterpart, adding the notion of playing their counterpart has been in the back of their minds for some time.

BLOOMINGTON – In the past few years, explained Illinois Wesleyan University Head Football Coach Norm Eash, he has been coaching teams with rosters filled with young players. But now after having had some experience, Eash explained, he now is coaching a veteran team ready to show opponents including fellow Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin teams his team is ready for the challenges ahead.

Preparing to enter his 37th season patrolling the Titans’ sidelines this year, Eash said 21 of his players are returning all of whom he said have been starters at one time for IWU. “That’s a pretty good nucleus to work with,” Eash said. IWU will have nine players on each side of the ball who were starters last year who will return for starting positions this year, Eash explained.

There were younger players on the field for IWU last season, Eash said, which gave advantages to our opponents “way too much.” “We just have to mature this year, and that’s what we have been talking to our team about,” Eash said.

Junior quarterback Jay Lemanager, a Clifton High School alum, in Iroquois County, split time with fellow quarterback Ryan Saxe last season, but this year, Eash said, it will be Lemanager fully in control of the Titans offense this season.

IWU is slated to finish fourth in CCIW this year, where they had in 2022, tied in that slot with Carroll College. Both teams 6-4 overall with matching 5-4 league records when the season ended. But Eash said preseason polls tend to mirror how a team does the previous season. About last season, Eash said, “We wanted to flip our season. We finished 6-4. We felt like we should have been 7-3. But that was good enough for fourth in our league.”

Eash called CCIW “the best league in the country,” backing that statement by mentioning North Central College has won NCAA Division III championship for the last two years. In preseason standings, fourth seeded IWU needs to overtake third seed Washington University, second seed Wheaton College, and reigning champ North Central to be on top by season’s end.”

But IWU’s opening contest Saturday, Sept. 9 will feature Eash coaching against a former assistant, Jeff McMartin, who is now head coach at Central College. McMartin served under Eash as defensive line coach for two seasons, in 1992 and 1993. Of McMartin Eash said, “He’s a great head coach and a great person, and runs a really, really highly respected program. So, it’s going to be a fun game.” The following week, on Sept. 16, IWU launches into CCIW play hosting Wheaton College at Tucci Stadium at 1p.m.

“Our two first games are going to establish our season, let us find out what our team identity is right away,” Eash said.

Ian Whitaker: The transition from high school football player to college football player can often be an education in itself: You become responsible for stepping up your game performance, the classes you take become more challenging than they may have been in high school, and now you have a playbook related to the team which you are expected to look over to know your assignment in games and know what your teammates will be doing on the field, as well.

Incoming freshman defensive back Ian Whitaker is getting his first taste of that environment now having graduated from Bloomington Central Catholic High School. The 6 foot tall 180 pound defensive back is the only local player on the team this season. Whitaker said going from high school into college “is definitely a big transition because there’s a lot of new things to learn, which he said for him includes “a totally new defense – that’s definitely the biggest thing.”

With more players on the college roster, Whitaker said, “it’s definitely harder to solidify a spot” for being able to play.” Making sure you get noticed by Coach Norm Eash and his assistants so that he stands out “is a grind” for all the players who want to see playing time this season, he explained.

Eash described Whitaker as “a good athlete who’s got a lot to learn, and we’re excited he’s come to Wesleyan.”

Whitaker, son of Quinn and Staci Whitaker, said he wants to major in Marketing, most likely toward the profession of “sales, probably,” he explained. He said he thinks he would be a natural for that sort of employment because “I can talk people into things.”

Circle Your Calendars: IWU Homecoming is slated for the weekend of Oct. 6-8, with Missouri-based Washington University coming to town to face the Titans…..IWU’s last home game of the season is Saturday, Nov. 11 against Elmhurst College starting with a 1p.m. kickoff.