Bret Beherns

Jul 18, 2024 | sports.yahoo.com | Bret Beherns

WCIA — Angie Coe knew she had to swim the race of her life to have any shot of making the Olympics. And she was willing to travel halfway around the world to try. “I only had one shot, one shot to swim a best time,” Coe said. So Coe packed her bags for Taiwan, with a meet on June 15 circled on the calendar and after traveling thousands of miles, she did exactly what she had planned. Angie clocked a new personal best 2:14:10 in the 200 IM. “It’s like a little dream come true you know?

Jul 17, 2024 | sports.yahoo.com | Bret Beherns

WCIA — Former Illinois wide receiver Isaiah Williams and offensive lineman Julian Pearl were selected in the United Football League Draft. Pearl was taken sixth overall by the Michigan Panthers. In his senior season with the Illini, the Danville native was an All-Big Ten honorable mention, starting all 12 games at left tackle. Williams was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions with the last pick in the 4th round.

Jul 17, 2024 | sports.yahoo.com | Bret Beherns

CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — Eastern Illinois football was picked second in the Big South/Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll released Wednesday. The Panthers received two first place votes with 53 points overall. Last year’s conference co-champion UT Martin topped the list with five first place votes and 61 points. 1. UT Martin (5) – 612. Eastern Illinois (2) – 533. Southeast Missouri (2) – 514. Tennessee State – 415. Gardner-Webb – 406. Charleston Southern – 277. Tennessee Tech – 248. Lindenwood – 189.

Jul 17, 2024 | sports.yahoo.com | Bret Beherns

URBANA (WCIA) — Only one previous tournament winner was on the course this week at the 93rd Illinois State Amateur Golf Tournament at Atkins Golf Club and he was playing the event for the last time. Bloomington native Mike Milligan won in 1974, just one of 138 events he has won in his 59 years playing golf. Four years ago, Milligan underwent chemotherapy after a cancer diagnosis that drove him to get back on the greens. Wednesday he played his 85th round of golf just this year, carding an 85.

Jul 17, 2024 | sports.yahoo.com | Bret Beherns

CHAMPAIGN (WCIA) — New Illinois cornerback Terrance Brooks had plenty of choices in the transfer portal after two years at Texas. Dozens of big time programs wanted the former four-star, Top 100 recruit to join their program but in the end, Brooks relied on some advice from dad in helping him made a decision. “My pops was like, ‘Yeah man, Illinois, you’ve got to check them out,'” Brooks said Wednesday in his first media availability at Illinois. “And I was like, ‘Man, Illinois?