Colin Likas

Jul 16, 2023 | big10central.com | Colin Likas

Jul. 16—In-state alumni to watch➜ Kennedy Bauer, Watseka. Since graduating as a Warrior in 2019, Bauer not only has become Lincoln Land volleyball's all-time kills leader but also found a spot with Western Illinois volleyball, producing 83 kills last fall. ➜ Trey Bazzell, Prairie Central. His first season with Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball was derailed by a broken foot, but the 2021 Hawks graduate recovered and averaged 6.0 points per game as a sophomore. ➜ Asher Bradd, Monticello.

Jul 16, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Colin Likas

To subscribe, click here. Want to purchase today's print edition? Here's a map of single-copy locations. Sign up for our daily newsletter hereCHAMPAIGN — “Can’t beat the original” is a phrase that’s turned into a frequent hashtag for the Champaign Central High School athletics Twitter account. When discussing the 2022-23 school year, The News-Gazette has determined that statement to be a fact.

Jul 15, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Colin Likas

In 2005, we asked former News-Gazette sports writer Fred Kroner to come up with a formula to fairly evaluate all of our area schools against one another, regardless of the number of sports they offered. Preps coordinator Colin Likas and Sports Editor Matt Daniels adjusted the system in a few ways last year, in an effort to bring increased fairness to all local schools. Conference champions remain out of the picture because not all area schools belong to conferences.

Jul 15, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Colin Likas

We caught up with Ella Boyer late in her senior year at Tuscola High School — which included a News-Gazette All-Area Player of the Year accolade in girls’ basketball, plus an All-Area first-team plaudit in softball — to recognize her as our 2022-23 Female Athlete of the Year. She, her father Dale, her mother Amy and her younger sister Ava chatted with our Colin Likas and Joey Wright to discuss Ella’s honor and road to this moment:What does it mean to be named 2022-23 Female Athlete of the Year?

Jul 15, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Colin Likas

YEAR ATHLETE SCHOOL 2023 Garrett Taylor Salt Fork 2022 Blake Kimball Unity 2021 Nate Allen Champaign Central 2020 Drew Reifsteck BHRA 2019 Bryce Barnes GCMS 2018 Dalton Hoel Tuscola 2017 Jake Beesley Champaign Central 2016 Jon Davis Oakwood 2015 Joe Kenney Mahomet-Seymour 2014 Josh Wallick Fisher 2013 Cameron Mammen Urbana 2012 Steve Schroeder Monticello 2011 Pat Yoakum Tuscola 2010 Cale Huisinga Monticello 2009 Andrew Brewer Mahomet-Seymour 2008 Lukas Graves St. Joseph-Ogden 2007 Jason...