Better late than never and living day to day in March Madness mode, this is Duerrisms for the Week of February 22nd. Apologies for the time between updates but as you are probably well aware, I have been here, there and everywhere of the last two weeks and this is the first moment I have had to pen this column. This week will be mis-mash of Musings, old and new as well as some Fearless Regional Predictions for the Week ahead. I hope to write you a full column soon but the hours are fleeting around here my friends.
As always, my sincere thanks to our sponsor, GAMEMASTERS, for making this fun little column a reality. Please show your appreciation for their support of your children with your business whenever you have the chance. They are your one stop shop for all your athletic needs.
With your indulgence, plenty of long overdue folks to thank for helping us stage another unbelievably successful basketball event at the KHQA/SUBWAY/Superfan Shootout. First and foremost, my continued gratitude to Jim and Carmel Fitch and the entire SUBWAY and TGI FRIDAYs crews for their commitment to this showcase. I am not sure they realize the good they have done for basketball and basketball players in the 90 mile radius that is our viewership by creating this event; but I can tell you first hand you have positively impacted more kids then you will ever know. It is a testament to this tournament that we have so many teams and players who are just begging to get in. And that is a direct reflection on the Fitches for making this a class event. And on Bill Connell and his incredible staff at QND as well. The man hours they pour into this thing as hosts and ambassadors of their school and program is ridiculous. If Bill Connell puts his name on something, the man will work himself to the bone to make sure it is done right. And unfailing, it is. I can also say, without fail, that having Dennis Schickedanz and SUPERFAN involved is a godsend. Dennis does all the heavy lifting with this thing. He makes these matchups work. Whether it is acting on of our crazy suggestions (what about the Edwardsville girls Dennis? Me two days later: Really, you actually got them?) or finding qualitly foes when those ideas go nowhere, Dennis is the man. His people are great. He does a thankless job coordinating referees, booking lodging for visiting guests, deciding MVP winners. The works. And I would be remiss if I did not thank the entire KHQA Staff for doing 40 hours worth of grunt work to add all the special touches that make this such a unique venue for basketball. Our poor sales staff logged more gym hours than I did. So a huge thanks to every last one of them for making the rest of us look good. Thanks as well to all our friends in the media for promoting this event and these kids. To all the coaches and players for using the stage to the fullest of their ability. And to all the fans who come back year after year. Walking into that gym for the QND/Edwardsville girls game and drinking in that atmosphere ranks as one of the best moments in my now 17 year tenure at KHQA. And I thank each and every one of you for that. But especially Eric Orne for making girls high school basketball in this town something most cynics never thought it could be: main event worthy and entertainment without peer.
One slight business note this week: there will be no VATTEROTT Live Chat on Friday Night of this week. We are little short staffed. It will return on February 17th. In the meantime, you are invited to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for breaking local sports news or semi-witty observations. We approve all friendship requests and follows.
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2012 KHQA STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY CELL TECH
For the seventh year now, KHQA is once again profiling the best and brightest young people in Tri State Athletics every Wednesday Night at 6:00pm in our Student Athlete of the Week Feature. It's a look beyond the highlights into the mindset and determination that make these folks successful in all that we do and reminder to all of you just how much good there is out there to be celebrated in this generation. And at year's end, we will once again award scholarships to the top boys and girls scholar athletes in our area.
If you know of a deserving senior who sports a minimum 3.5 GPA, please contact your high school athletic director and have them fill out a form on that student's behalf. Or help expedite the process yourself by printing a nomination form from our website (which can be found on the Student Athlete of the Week Page) and turning it in to your local athletic director so that they can submit it to us. Our next nominating session is Mid-March, at which point we will pick or last 12 more honorees from the pool of seniors. The window of opportunity to nominate a deserving applicant is closing fast. We don't want to miss anyone in the process and sincerely hope you will help us out in that spirit.
2011-2012 Honorees
Week One: LEXI FRESE, Quincy High Volleyball
Week Two: SYDNEY HAWLEY, Pittsfield Golf/Basketball
Week Three: COLTON BOCK, Monroe City Football
Week Four: MICHAEL BARTELS, Keokuk Football/Wrestling
Week Five: CATHERINE RICHARDS, Payson Seymour Volleyball
Week Six: JANSEN JOEHL, Concord Triopia Football
Week Seven: MELISSA WOOD, Mark Twain Softball
Week Eight: WILL MEFFORD, South Shelby Football/Baseball
Week Nine: PAIGE BROKAW, Pittsfield Volleyball
Week Ten: JAMES SCHWIETER, Macon Football
Week Eleven: ABBIE FOSTER, Quincy High Volleyball/Soccer
Week Twelve: TORI KUHN, QND Basketball/Softball
Week Thirteen: JONAH COGGESHALL, Central Wrestling/Football
Week Fourteen: SCOTT KROEGER, Elsberry Basketball/Football/Baseball/Golf
Week Fifteen: AARON EDWARDS, Payson Seymour Basketball
Week Sixteen: ALAN SIECK, Quincy High Soccer
Week Seventeen: REID FULKERSON, Macomb Basketball/Baseball/Football
Past Scholarship Winners
2011: JACOB CONLEY, Central High (U.S. Military Academy at West Point)
DAKOTA FLESNER, Payson Seymour (Kishwaugee Community College)
2010: MICHAEL LAFFERTY, Illini West (Monmouth College)
TAYLOR BAXTER, Palmyra (Illinois State)
2009: MATT PATTERSON, South Shelby (Truman State)
CHLOE BARNES, Quincy High (Ball State University)
2009: LUKE GUTHRIE, Quincy High (University of Illinois)
2007: KATELYN BASTERT, Illini West (Duke University)
2006: MIKAL BENECOMO, Clopton (Southeast Missouri State)
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DUERR'S FEARLESS REGIONAL PREDICTIONS
Class 2A Beardstown Predicted Regional Champion: Illini West
Toughest grouping to pick since the Big Four are all so well balanced/well acquainted with one another. Macomb is the scariest, least predictable team in this mix, especially after last week's potentially momentum changing win over Orion. By the same token, the Bombers have been so wildly inconsistent on offense (this team has topped 40% FG shooting in just three games since Christmas) that its hard to project Brock Bainter's crew putting together enough firepower to win the requisite two games in the gauntlet. Quincy Notre Dame is oh-fer against the Top Four seeds in this complex and has been a team given to its own maddening fits of offensive inconsistency. I am not sure at this point even Scott Douglas knows where his offense is coming from on a given night as even Alex Fitch has had his struggles scoring the basketball of late. Granted, QND is the best defensive team in this bracket, in theory, and that alone could get the Raiders right in time to avenge their earlier losses. But my confidence in that scenario isn't overly high. I toyed very seriously with taking West Hancock here for the win, especially since Paxton Harmon is at the height of his powers and Reno Pinkston is historically superb in these type two-win/underdog scenarios. But I lost my nerve when Jeremy Ferguson went down with an injury of unknown severity against Rushville/Industry on Tuesday night, shortening what is already the shortest bench in this mix. By process of elimination, that leaves the most consistent team in this mix as the most viable option. I am no dummy. You give me Evan McGaughy, Brody Gronewald, Nick Driskell and the least flawed resume in this mix and I am going to bet the favorite every time. Nothing here would surprise me, but the least surprising most probable scenario here sees Illini West beating Macomb with superior guard play and the QND/West Hancock winner by sheer frontcourt attrition.
Class 2A North Greene Regional Champion: Pittsfield
It's March Madness time and if last year taught the fine folks here at KHQA anything, it's never again to write off Dalton Hoover and Brad Tomhave during the Postseason. Granted, the Saukees are just the three seed. Established that Jeff Abell and the Cougars have held some weird defensive sway over Pittsfield the last two years. And I will concede that Pittsfield has looked downright out of sorts at times during the regular season. I am just not buying that anyone in this complex is going to get the better of the Saukees under these playoff conditions. Quietly, the pieces in this equation not named Dalton Hoover have elevated their play over the last six weeks. Meanwhile, West Central has struggled to recapture the luster it had in December. I see this complex as the intersection of two talented teams moving in slightly different directions. In that case, I will take the team that appears to be hotter right now in Pittsfield. West Central has the pieces to go on a long run, especially if Jordan Boehs heats up from the perimeter. But I can't see West Central providing enough down low against Hoover to counterbalance that offense. We will see. That established if anyone else wins this thing, other then Pittsfield or West Central.
Class 1A Liberty Regional Champion: Liberty
I have zero confidence in this pick. No offense, Eagles, but I came up with justifiable reasons to list Routt, G-P, and Payson here as well and I had zero confidence in those picks either. I just have no idea what version of these teams is going to show up on a given night. Payson Seymour and Griggsville Perry have looked both phenomenal and pedestrian this season. And at times: both, often within one 72 hour span. Of the four teams in this mix, I actually projected the Tornadoes this preseason to be the best squad in March. I think Todd Bradshaw has every element here you need to win this thing and go deep into the 1A Bracket. Size, speed, perimeter shooting. And this is a team that beat Payson Seymour on the road, no small affair. If these guys do win this thing, I am going to be kicking myself for not sticking with my gut and believing in my own evaluation. The Indians have as high a ceiling as anyone in this mix, but has anything this squad has done in the last three weeks inspired much confidence? At Max-Q, the Indians are the hardest guard in the pool. But we have not seen a lot of Payson's "good fastball" during February and that scares me greatly. Routt? Love the Rockets size and chutzpah on the front line. And if Gale Thorman is allowed to dictate tempo, Routt has a chance to overwhelm and overpower here. My problem here is that I have seen guard oriented teams have their way with the Rocket backcourt and it would be remiss of me not to point out that Payson Seymour and Liberty have exception guards with exception athleticism. So that leaves me with Liberty as my place of greatest comfort. Well coached team on its home floor with the best player in this mix right now in Jared Shover. Sounds pretty enticing no? I take it back. I actually feel more comfortable with this pick by the second...at least until Wednesday rolls around.
Class 1A Brown County Regional Champion: Central
Who in this grouping inspires the most confidence right now? Brown County is historically great on its home floor. Unity has the most favorable path to hoist this crown. And Southeastern, well, has nothing to lose and everything to gain. I am sorry, but I am not betting against Todd Plattner. I love the ferocity with which Unity defends. I love the firepower Volk and Sheppy bring to the table. But in a vacuum, if every team in this complex plays its best basketball, Central's ceiling, style, and approach make it the most difficult "out" here. You've got two potentially incendiary scorers in Alex Walter and Douglas Weese. You've got a team that has shown inklings that after a season drifting around that it might be finally ready to put everything together. And you have a team that has shown it has the right template to undo the favorite here. If you can beat West Central at the height of its powers, then you clearly have the composure to weather Unity's physicality and the ability to focus your defense at very specific targets (read Matthew Duesterhaus) and make the Mustangs uncomfortable at the Offensive End. Bottom line, I think Central is a matchup problem for Unity, especially now that the Panthers seem to be a more solid team then they were back on January 20th. What I don't know here, the leap of faith, is how the Panthers matchup with Brown County. I am assuming that Todd Plattner will have something worked up for Justin Volk. I am also assuming that CSE continues to get important contributions across the board apart from Weese and Walter. But that is a lot to assume. If Brown County beats Central, then I think Unity wins the regional, just from a matchups standpoint. But if my logic holds and Central finds a way to wrangle its way best the Hornets at the Nest, I really think the Panthers a primed to win this thing.
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RANDOM MUSINGS
They may be out of scholarship money for this year but the Quincy University Hawks appear to be the top player for Illini West Big Man Evan McGaughey. Could well be a situation where Evan comes into QU in his first year on a tuition exchange (his father works at Culver Stockton) rather then Scholarship money QU doesn't have for this season. The plan would be for Evan to redshirt his freshman season, then receive a scholarship in 2013-2014 when the Hawks have money open up again. Evan told KHQA a few weeks ago that the prospect of QU "looked really strong." From an attendance standpoint, hard not to like the idea of Dalton Hoover, Drake Vermillion, and Evan McGaughey playing significant frontcourt minutes for the Hawks for the next 4-5 years.
One time Quincy University recruiting target Tanner Williams of Orion is going the Prep School route. According to our friend Daniel Makarewicz of the Dispatch/Argus, Williams has pledged to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire.
The Quincy Herald Whig reports that Mizzou was the first Division One School to offer Quincy Notre Dame All Stater Jordan Frericks a Division One Scholarship. The Tigers won't be the last. DePaul coach Doug Bruno was in Beardstown last week for the Class 2A Sectional to watch the Lady Raider Junior in person and according to Eric Orne "came away very impressed." DePaul was an NCAA Womens Elite Eight Finisher last season.
I am not at liberty to say just who or where yet, since it was told to me "off the record" but expect as many as three of the more visible and pedigreed high school basketball programs in our area to be in the market for new head coaches in the near future. At least one each on the boys and girls side of the ledger. As soon as those things shake out through appropriate channels, I will let you know.
The courting of Jacksonville Tight End Dalton Keene has begun in earnest. Was told reliably that Dalton was on campus in Iowa City for a visit with the Hawkeyes in the first weekend of February. Indiana, Northwestern, and Illinois have also all shown early interest.
2011 KHQA Football Player of the Year Chris Jackson will land at Truman State, the fourth high profile local Greg Nesbitt has snared this off-season. The Macomb Tailback had a bumpy, sometimes frustrating ride through the recruiting process largely because he doesn't possess the kind of stop watch breaking 40 speed that colleges cover. In fact, some of the schools that looked at the Bomber All Stater toyed with converting him to Safety. Truman State, however, opted to take the flyer on Jackson, who rushed for nearly 2100 total yards this season and who now holds seemingly every rushing record in Bomber history as a Running Back. Might have something to do with Andy Ball being on staff in Kirksville and trusting Kelly Sears judgement. Anyone who saw Jackson run this season knows the kid is a gamer and it would surprise me not if the kid develops into a huge star for Bulldogs in the very near future.
Interestingly, Kelly Sears tells KHQA that Wisconsin has requested video on Bomber Juniors Brett Taylor and Nick Severs. That doesn't mean the Badgers are going to recruit those kids going forward, but it does mean that they are starting to ping radar. Taylor has apparently been a workout fiend this off-season, getting into the gym every morning at 6am and shredding down to 220 pounds to increase his mobility at Linebacker.
Quincy High Kicker Brandon White confirmed to KHQA that he will be walking on at Illinois State this season, making the Tri States the "cradle of kicking" as far as Division One College Recruiters are concerned. The lineup of Mat Sims, Nathan Knuffman, Patrick Smith, and now White is a pretty impressive testament to the level of "specialists" coming out of our area the last few years.
Congratulations to Highland All Conference Defensive End Tyler Olson, who signed his National Letter of Intent with Culver Stockton a few weeks back. The local flavor for the Wildcats might not end there. I am told that Clark County Quarterback Seth Williams is seriously weighing C-SC as his potential landing spot.
Monmouth Football Coach Steve Bell has been quieter than usual in the local recruiting landscape. That may change quickly. I am told that the Fighting Scots are fighting hard to land Jacksonville Journal Courier Player of the Year Austin Gooding from among a large contingent of local pursuers.
I am told that Quincy High's Zanger Twins are still in play, looking at both Illinois College and St Ambrose.
Hannibal Defensive Lineman Paul Davis and Defensive Back Grant Taylor will both sign with Central Methodist this week, continuing the strong local pipe line into Fayette from our area.
Kudos to Keokuk product Julian Feikert, who won his first varsity NCAA Wrestling Match last weekend in helping Oklahoma State upset nationally ranked Missouri. Feikert, a 2010 Keokuk grad and now a Redshirt Freshman, defeated Missouri's Nicholas Huckle 10-4 to help off the 13th ranked Tigers.
The Tri States may have been shutout at the very top of the Podium in all three states this week, but based on what we saw from a stellar class of Underclassmen this year, I would not be surprised if the region produces as many as a half dozen High School Wrestling Champions next year. Promising Heavyweights Jacob Borgmeyer (Hannibal) and Alex Goss (Keokuk) may have generated the most noise this year going into the postseason but it is an amazing crop of wrestlers from 138 and under who may lead the charge for gold with Jack Lucie, Chandler Fohey, Colby Collings, Antonio Quintana, Gage Stephens and hopefully a fully healthy Brady Sloup at Quincy High spearheading that charge. The future looks incredibly bright.
Kudos to Hannibal's delightful Kay Gieseke, who added to Hannibal's growing reputation as a swimming power this week with a 4th Place individual State finish in the 100 Free Style (posting a new school record time of 52.5 in the process) and a 9th Place Finish in the 50 Free to boot. Teammate Tessa Bieniek also cracked the Top 10 in the State in the 50 Free, finishing just behind Kay in 10th place.
Courtesy of Fab Freshman Anthony Blome (who we featured on KHQA earlier this Winter) and Matt Abercrombie, Macomb will have a presence in the IHSA Boys State Swim Meet this weekend in Evanston. Blome will be the Sectional Champion in the 100m Backstroke after setting both a new school and pool record in the Normal Community Sectional of 52.93. Abercrombie finished 3rd in the 500m Freestyle to book his ticket to State. Congrats Gentlemen.
If you missed it, Palmyra Softball Coach Joe Brandenburg (as first reported by KHQA) announced he was retiring last week. Brandenburg finishes his tenure as a two time state champion with 102 wins and just 10 losses in his four seasons in the Panther dugout. Now that door has been flung out through basketball for Brian Wosman to coach again, one wonders if the man who helped start this dynastic diamond run my be induced back to dugout. Wosman has a lot on his plate with his other duties as Athletic Director/Transportation Director, but has done a really nice job returning P-Town Girls Basketball to the top of the CCC Heap.
The Inaugural Mike Smith Basketball Camp is set for June 13-16th this year in Vandalia as the current European Pro Basketball player, East Tennessee State star, and two-time KHQA Player of the Year returns to his alma mater to give back to the game of basketball. The Camp is open to both Boys and Girls from 3rd to 12th Grade for just 25 dollars per person. You can get all the pertinent sign up information by calling (573) 594-6683 to give your kids are really unique chance to work with one of the greatest prep players in MSHSAA history.
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