Columnists

Ryan Schekel likely didn't know where Spring Valley, Ill. was on the map four years ago. That all changed when Hall High School's Mike Miroux decided to attend Mount Mercy University and run for Scheckel's Mustangs cross country and track teams.

Allen Layton went in for hernia surgery after Thanksgiving and came out facing Stage 2 lymphoma.

What does some Bureau County ice fishermen do when they can’t find any ice to fish on in Bureau County? This is the problem that Carl Lund, Scott Hilmes and Brett Kloepping faced this winter. How did they handle it? They decided to drive north to find some ice.

Jake Reeverts tried out for the sophomore basketball team this season at Princeton High School. He was unable to perform, however, due to misaligned patella tendons in both of his knees. So he did the next best thing — join the Tiger coaching staff.

I first wrote about A.J. Egan a few years ago when he was bowling 300 games in 9-pin no tap (9s count as strikes). Now he's doing it for real.

Welcome to February. The weather continues to amaze us, but as long as I don't have to shovel more snow I'll take it. Coach Randy Swinford and I can remember the U of I parking lot at the state wrestling finals where they used big endloaders to clear the lot so fans could park. So, I'm not sure it is over yet.

Luke Dobrich grew up around the game of basketball with his dad's (Tom) Little Giants basketball teams at DePue High School and shooting baskets every chance he had. He became a Little Giants star himself, earning a Division I scholarship to Niagara University and a post-career job on the Niagara coaching staff.