Kurt Pegler

Peoria

Sports Director at WMBD-TV (Peoria, IL)

Sports Director at WYZZ-TV (Peoria, IL)

Sports Director, WMBD-TV in Peoria, IL. Views and posts are my own. With some inspiration.

Articles

State Tournament preview: Eureka, Lexington, LeRoy, Notre Dame seek titles

2 days ago | centralillinoisproud.com | Kurt Pegler

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Four area high schools could be celebrating state championships this weekend. Eureka and Lexington are heading to the state baseball finals in Champaign. Leroy is headed to Peoria for state softball and Notre Dame to Naperville for the girls soccer state tournament. Eureka is at the state baseball tournament for the first time since 2013 when it finished fourth.
Prep sports recap for June 4, 2025

2 days ago | yahoo.com | Kurt Pegler

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Senior Carter Prina allowed one run on four hits as Washington defeated Joliet Catholic in the semifinals of the class 3A Metamora Sectional on Wednesday. Prina doubled home a run in as Washington took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed. The run allowed was unearned and Prina added four strikeouts in a clutch postseason performance. The Panthers advance to play Morris in Saturday’s sectional championship at 10:30 a.m. at Metamora.
Prep sports recap for June 4, 2025

2 days ago | centralillinoisproud.com | Kurt Pegler

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Senior Carter Prina allowed one run on four hits as Washington defeated Joliet Catholic in the semifinals of the class 3A Metamora Sectional on Wednesday. Prina doubled home a run in as Washington took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed. The run allowed was unearned and Prina added four strikeouts in a clutch postseason performance. The Panthers advance to play Morris in Saturday’s sectional championship at 10:30 a.m. at Metamora.
Metamora, Pontiac set for sectional rematch

2 days ago | centralillinoisproud.com | Kurt Pegler

EAST PEORIA, ILL. (WMBD/WYZZ) — This year’s class 3A sectional softball championship will look a lot like last year’s game. It’s Pontiac and Metamora meeting for the sectional title again. Pontiac is making third appearance in four years in the game while Metamora is playing for a sectional title for the fourth straight year. “To be here every year is like a dream for some teams,” said Pontiac head coach Nicole Hayner.
PND girls soccer getting a little state mojo from goalkeeper’s jersey

3 days ago | centralillinoisproud.com | Kurt Pegler

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Notre Dame is headed to the girls state soccer finals for the 12th time in school history. But the Irish are still searching for their first state championship. Riley Bare is channeling some state mojo. The junior has been wearing the jerseys of her older brother Dillon all season. It started when she didn’t like how the women’s jerseys felt on her. “She told me she didn’t really love the fit of them,” said her father Mike Bare, an assistant coach for the team.
PND girls soccer getting a little state mojo from goalkeeper’s jersey

3 days ago | yahoo.com | Kurt Pegler

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Notre Dame is headed to the girls state soccer finals for the 12th time in school history. But the Irish are still searching for their first state championship. Rylie Bare is channeling some state mojo. The junior has been wearing the jerseys of her older brother Dillon all season. It started when she didn’t like how the women’s jerseys felt on her. “She told me she didn’t really love the fit of them,” said her father Mike Bare, an assistant coach for the team.
Prep sports recap for June 2, 2025

4 days ago | centralillinoisproud.com | Kurt Pegler

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Lexington and Eureka are heading to the state baseball finals for the first time in a while. Lexington scored five times in the first inning and beat Salt Fork, 5-3, in the class 1A super-sectional at Illinois Wesleyan University on Monday. The Minutemen (19-11) are heading to state for the first time since winning the 1990 state title. Eureka’s Cohen Alstat pitched a shutout as Eureka beat Wilmington, 4-0, to win the class 2A super-sectional at Geneseo.
Prep sports recap for June 2, 2025

4 days ago | yahoo.com | Kurt Pegler

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Lexington and Eureka are heading to the state baseball finals for the first time in a while. Lexington scored five times in the first inning and beat Salt Fork, 5-3, in the class 1A super-sectional at Illinois Wesleyan University on Monday. The Minutemen (19-11) are heading to state for the first time since winning the 1990 state title. Eureka’s Cohen Alstat pitched a shutout as Eureka beat Wilmington, 4-0, to win the class 2A super-sectional at Geneseo.
Slugger Gabby Drake making mark at Dunlap

4 days ago | centralillinoisproud.com | Kurt Pegler

DUNLAP, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Dunlap junior Gabby Drake is a versatile softball player. She’s plays mainly at catcher but also has the skills to play third base. However, she really loves to grab the bat and hit. “Hitting has always been my thing. It’s because me and my dad have a special bond with hitting,” said Drake. Gabby’ father David Drake is an assistant coach with Dunlap’s baseball team and one of the most respected hitting coaches in central Illinois. That means hitting runs in the family.
Prep sports recap for May 31, 2025

6 days ago | centralillinoisproud.com | Kurt Pegler

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — He’s had his eye on the state record for a couple of years and now Isaiah Whitaker owns it. Whitaker jumped a state record 17-feet, 6.5 inches to win his third consecutive class 1A boys state pole vault title on Saturday at the Illinois High School Association state meet at Eastern Illinois University. Champaign St. Thomas More’s Riley Hogan finished second with his jump of 15-feet, five inches. The Central Catholic junior cleared 17-2 in an April meet at Metamora.