Braidwood Journal

McTague inducted into IWCOA Hall of Fame, just one of many accomplishments in wrestling

Published by admin on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 4:54pm

by Shawn long
Sports writer
Reed-Custer assistant wrestling coach Brian McTague was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame during the Illinois High School Association Boys Individual State Wrestling Finals on Saturday, Feb. 17.
McTague joined Coal City head wrestling coach Mark Masters and 10 other deserving candidates up on stage during the ceremony held right before the Grand March of wrestlers.

Warriors, Panthers, ‘Cats to start MS volleyball regionals

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:51pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Middle school volleyball teams are gearing up for regionals which get underway Saturday.
Wilmington and Reed-Custer Middle Schools will compete in the 3A Morris Saratoga Regional while Coal City will compete in the 4A level.
The Wildcats and Comets both start Saturday. The Wildcats will be head-to-head with the fifth seed, Forrest Prairie Central at 9 a.m.
Braidwood (#7) will have a tough match to start against the second-seed, Morris GS at 10 a.m.

Eggleston falls in Joliet wrestling Regional

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:48pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Reed-Custer matman Jeremy Eggleston rallied through the wrestlebacks during the Joliet West Regional on Sunday but came up short in a bid to advance to the sectional.
Eggleston (132) was the lone Comet to make it into the Joliet West Regional and even though he was bumped to wrestlebacks in a first round pin by top seed Keston Cohn, he made his way back to contention for third with two straight wins.

Comet season comes to an end in loss to El Paso-Gridley in regional

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:47pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Reed-Custer boys basketball team had their season come to an end in a tough, 68-44 loss to El Paso-Gridley during the Wilmington Regional semifinal game last week.
The Comets started fast as they jumped to a lead but the Titans caught up and stole a 28-19 lead going into the half.
From that point on, the Comets were unable to keep up as El Paso went on a couple big runs outscoring the Comets 19-13 in the third, and then finished them off with 21-12 run in the fourth.

Hart looks to anchor the Eagles’ line

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:46pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Reed-Custer offensive lineman Tyler Hart is going to take his blocking abilities to Benedictine University in Lisle, IL as he has signed a letter of intent to play football there.
For Hart it was an easy choice. It felt like home even though it was a little bigger than home.

Gamboa finishes outside top 10 at girls state

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:45pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
It wasn’t a packed house Friday during the first day of the IHSA girls wrestling tournament but there was still plenty of electricity in the air from cheering as the IHSA hosted its first-ever female wrestling final.
It was just as exciting as boys state held the Saturday before at the State Farm Center in Champaign, IL Still, Girls State had a vibe all its own at the Gossinger Auto Center in Bloomington, IL

Panthers crown one champion, advancing eight to sectional

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:43pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Reed-Custer Middle School wrestling team placed third in regionals while advancing eight to the sectional in Coal City on Saturday at 9 a.m.
The Panthers scored 169.5 team points to trail Coal City (507) and Channahon (237).
They had one champion as eighth grader Dominic Alaimo cruised past Crest Hill Richland’s Cooper Clausen at 167 to capture the title.
Alaimo will be waiting for the winner of Shelbyville Moulton’s Haydon Mudgette and Clinton’s Oliver Reed.

Gamboa is ready for first IHSA girls state wrestling

Published by admin on Tue, 02/22/2022 - 5:27pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Judith Gamboa will be the first female wrestler from Reed-Custer to compete in the first Illinois High School Association girls state wrestling tournament at Grossinger Motors Center in Bloomington on Friday and Saturday.
Gamboa, a sophomore, starts at the bottom of a full, 105-pound bracket after earning second place in the Andrew Sectional.
Reed-Custer coach Yale Davis is excited and confident for Judith Gamboa at state.

Marschner third best in state, vows to return as a champion

Published by admin on Tue, 02/22/2022 - 5:23pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Reed-Custer finished with a state medal winner on Saturday during the Illinois High School Association wrestling state finals.
Comet junior Kody Marschner placed third at 220 pounds while Ryan Tribble (138) and Landon Markle (145) wrestled hard but fell in wrestlebacks.
Marschner knocks off
top ranked Wood twice
Marschner, who came in ranked third at 220, pinned Fairfield’s Payton Allen at the 5:33 mark to advance to the quarterfinals against defending state champion Richmond Burton’s Brock Wood.

Even at 300 wins, basketball never gets old for Mark Porter

Published by admin on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 5:15pm

by shawn long Sports writer Reed-Custer basketball coach Mark Porter secured his 300th varsity victory in a 64-48 win over Wilmington last Friday night but he wouldn’t have known had someone not told him. For Porter it’s not about keeping count. Porter, who has been coaching for 38 years (25 years as a varsity coach) said the game just keeps getting better as he gets older. “Every year is a new year. Every year brings new challenges. You only get to coach the same kids maybe--most of the time it’s two years and sometimes it’s three. A couple kids it’s been four. It’s always changing.