Kaitlyn Copley

Kaitlyn Copley

  • Joined: August 2, 2023
  • Articles: 2294

Beardstown School Board holds special disciplinary meeting 

Beardstown Jr/Sr High School

Board President Jimmy Hymes called a special  meeting to order with two board members absent, Jared Soer and Joe Englebrecht. 

   The board went into closed session for the purpose of employee discipline. Once out of closed session, Board Member Amy Sommers proposed not the dismissal of John Duffie, Custodian of Beardstown School District, but a suspension of 45 days, unpaid, and with special conditions upon his return to work. The board vote was unanimous. The special meeting was adjourned.

Lady Trojans looking to rebound

Triopia-Virginia Girls Basketball Team pictured from left to right, Back row: Ta'Shia Allen, Lilly Pate, Gabby Myers, Addison Rohn, Anna Isringhausen, Raye Greenstreet. Front row: Maggie Parlier, Eve Crawford, Lucie Dion, Mylee Tracy, Ava Petefish, Emma Davis.

Last year’s Triopia-Meredosia-Virginia Lady Trojan varsity basketball team was a very young team with a first-year coach that struggled to a 5-22 finish (1-7 in the WIVC) in an injury plagued season.  

In year two of Kelley Wessler’s regime, the Lady Trojans look to be much improved.  Although coach Wessl

High expectations for Lady Bluejays

PORTA/A-C Girls Basketball Team pictured from left to right, Back row: Jayce Privia, Karlie Hoke, Carson Arthalony, Cassie Cox, Reese Cookson. Front row: Allison Vogel, Aubrey Vogel, Marley Roberts, Kelci Flack.

Entering his tenth and final year, retiring PORTA-AC Central head basketball coach Eric Kesler (overall record of 165-71) is hoping to go out on a high note and he has the weapons at his disposal to do so.  

Lady Tigers want to change gears

Beardstown Girls Basketball team pictured from left to right, Back row: Bella Palmer, Latita Kanda, Delma Salazr, Andrea Flynn, Dafne Mariscal, Monse Montoya. Front row: Gracy Hamlin, Christagie Zambele, Camila Salazar, Brandy Mendoza, Kylynn Maltby, Ashley Gil.

Normally only having one returning starter and having to replace an inside player who averaged double figures in points and rebounds and two solid guards would not lead to high hopes for an upcoming season.  

The Beardstown Lady Tiger basketball team and head coach Jimmy Maltby find themselves in just that situation, but a dazzling array of newcomers and young talent has the eighth-year head mentor bursting with excitement about this year’s prospects. Last year’s team went 9-22

BHS Tiger Boys Basketball are senior laden

Beardstown Basketball Team pictured from left to right, Back row: Gavin Epping, Deyvi Javier Mena, Chris Tchaklizo, Exauce Mulumba, Rylan Alhorn, Tannar Riddell, Christy Domitien, Isaiah Thomas. Front Row: Ethan Heller, Zach DeSollar, Elizah Thomas, Isaac Brockschmidt, Jordy Kanda, Parker McCoy.

In a rarity in today’s small high school basketball arena, the Beardstown Tigers boast eight seniors on their roster, seven of whom return from last year.  All are athletic and should contribute this year.  

Coach Eric Anderson, entering his ninth-year as top cat for the Tigers, does have to replace three starters from last year’s 14-18 team.  Gone are second leading scorer Owen Quigley (14ppg), defen

BHS Winter Cheer Team

BHS Winter Cheer Team: Pictured from left to right, Back row: Autumn Bowman, Marielos Vega, Maddie Morales, Vanessa Sanchez, Stella Petersen, Athziri Gomez. Front row: Vanessa Nunez, Yanley Orriolas, Addi McClenning, Hailey Beller, Cali Cadwell.

Pictured from left to right, Back row: Autumn Bowman, Marielos Vega, Maddie Morales, Vanessa Sanchez, Stella Petersen, Athziri Gomez. Front row: Vanessa Nunez, Yanley Orriolas, Addi McClenning, Hailey Beller, Cali Cadwell.

Youngsters will be key for Trojans

Triopia-Virginia Boys Basketball team pictured from left to right, Back row: Braden Reid, Jack Parlier, Evan Bell, K. J. Beck, Austin Strubbe, Andrew Hobrock, Barrett Whitehead. Front row: Grant Fricke, Jacob Cook, Caleb Carpenter, Gameli White, Jaxon Dion, David Richards, Bronc Bogner.

Although seniors K.J. Beck, Austin Strubbe and Evan Bell will be key contributors, the 2023-2024 edition of the Triopia-Meredosia-Virginia varsity boys basketball team is counting heavily on a talented collection of juniors and sophomores.

New era begins for Bluejays

Porta Bluejays

With last year’s head mentor, Colin Arthalony, deciding to ride out on the coattails of his departing senior son (and who can blame him) and all stater Gavin, the PORTA-AC Central boys’ basketball will enter a new era.  Steven Price, a 2017 Buffalo Tri-City graduate, will take over as head coach, comfortable in the fact that a winning environment is already in place at PORTA-AC, stating “if you have a culture, you can do some great things and I’m lucky I don’t really have to reinvent the culture,” Price said. “I just hope to add to it.”

PORTA/A-C Central Wrestling 2023-2024 Preview

PORTA/A-C Wrestling Roster for 2023-2024 (Not in picture order): Freshman: Kasey Thompson, Elliott Gilreath, Josh Carr, Alexia Glover, Jayden Minor, Ashton Clark. Sophomore: Zach Bryant, Hunter King, Cory Hurst, Logan Baker, Justin Zimmermann, Russell Mattson, Hunter Morris, John McWhorter, Jamarion Thomas, Kyler Cannon, Austin Melton, Andrew Fulcher, William Cook, Owen Gilbert. Junior: Austin Burgett, Liam McCorkle, CJ Welbourne, Mike Minor, Dane Jiannoni, Aiden Kincade, Chad Nimmo, Rayne Ratliff. Senior: Cash Welbourne, Brayden Barner, Athony Hull, TylerMiller, Jacob Vogel, Cael Cotner, Logan Peterson, Issac Gunnian , Cam McCoy, Gaitlin Servis, VanceWitheral.

The PORTA-AC Central Wrestling team will have the unenviable task of replacing last year’s State Runner Up Bryar Lane as well as state qualifier Isaac Espenchied from last year’s 28-10 team.  However, head coach Jeff Hill has not amassed a 767-188 record over 32 years of coaching by happenstance.

BHS Grapplers eager to hit the mat

Beardstown Wrestling Team pictured from left to right, Front row: Adan Munoz, Gunner Looker, Joshua Severino, Carter Davis, Diego Lopez, Gavin Hopkins, Aksil Avila, Alex Armenta, Andrea Esquivel, Daisy Gil. Back Row: Caleb Hobrock, Shadrach Mafhina, Chunk Dailey, Ryder Hamlin, Maddox Medrano, Bradley Locklear, Luis De la Cruz, Alejandro Rivera.

The Beardstown High School Wrestling team has a lot to replace from last year’s team but there is no better way to do it than to strap on a singlet and some head gear and hit the mat.  Coach Joe Kolb, entering his seventh year as head coach and eight overall in Beardstown has a deep and eager group of athletes working hard to improve.  Last year’s team went 19-15 and four key wrestlers who combined for 125 individual wins will need to be replaced.  Replacing state fourth place winner Owen O’Hara, Blake Davis, Bryan Gil, and Jonny Marquez, will be hard to do, but trying will be the exciting part.