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School Sports

  • Ambuehl, Strobel headed to state for the Vandals

    Senior Ryan Ambuehl and sophomore Ben Strobel will represent Vandalia at next week's Illinois High School Association state track meet.

    Ambuehl qualified for the meet in the 110-meter hurdles and the 400-meter dash, while Strobel made it in the 3,200-meter run.

    Running at the Lawrenceville Sectional on Friday, Ambuehl won the 110-meter hurdles in 15.47 seconds, and took second in the 400-meter dash, with a time of 51.84 seconds.

    Strobel took third in the 3,200, but beat the automatic state qualifying time with a school-record time of 9:59.07.

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  • Meyer takes fourth in the state in pole vault

    EAST PEORIA - Vandalia eighth-grader Emma Meyer placed fourth in the pole vault state finals on Saturday, clearing a school record 9 feet, 9 inches.

    Vaulting at the Illinois Elementary School Association state finals at the EastSide Centre, Meyer was one of four vaulters to make it to 9-9, but she was unable to get over 10 feet.

    But with a school record and a top-five finish, Meyer said she was still pleased with her day.

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  • Ruffner places 11th at state in high jump

    Vandalia senior Sierah Ruffner ended her high school athletic career with an 11th-place finish in the high jump at the Illinois High School Association state finals.

    Ruffner cleared 5 feet, 2 inches - as she had in the prelims - but was unable to get over 5-3.

    More information about Ruffner's trip to state will be available in the May 25 edition of The Leader-Union.

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  • Gordon repeats as state champion

    EAST PEORIA - Vandalia eighth-grader Curtis Gordon has repeated as state champion, clearing 12 feet, 9 inches in the pole vault.

    Gordon battled an athlete from Parkside all the way to the final height, with Gordon clearing 12-9 on his third attempt.

    Prior to the pole vault, Gordon placed fifth in the 110-meter hurdles.

    The Illinois Elementary School Association state finals are held at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria.

    Much more information on Gordon's day will be available in the May 25 edition of The Leader-Union.

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  • Three area teams make regional championship games

    Three teams from the area have made regional championship games.

    SOFTBALL

    On Friday, (2) Mulberry Grove will battle (1) Altamont at St. Elmo at 4:30 p.m.

    On Saturday, (2) Ramsey will battle (1) Nokomis at Ramsey at 11 a.m.

    BASEBALL

    On Saturday, (2) South Central will battle (1) Altamont at Lions Field in Kinmundy at 11 a.m.

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  • Ruffner makes state high jump finals

    CHARLESTON - In her third trip to the state track meet, Sierah Ruffner qualified for the finals of the high jump.

    The Vandalia senior cleared 5 feet, 2 inches with ease to automatically qualify for Saturday's state finals in the event, something she was unable to do in her freshman and junior years.

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  • Vandals take second in final track meet

    The Vandals placed second out of four teams in a home meet last Thursday, posting three first-place finishes in the last regular meet of the season.

    Junior Colton Woolsey won the shot put with a personal-best throw of 40 feet, 11 inches, sophomore Ben Strobel won the 3,200-meter run in 10:02.3 and senior Wade Cowger won the 1,600-meter run in 4:58.3.

    Strobel’s time was just 1½ seconds away from setting a school record, and is under the automatic state-qualifying time.

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  • Vandals nearly victorious on senior day

    VANDALIA – On a day to honor the team’s five seniors, the Vandals competed to the last at-bat, falling just a few inches short of a chance at victory.

    Senior Isaac Francis shot a line drive that was caught by Southwestern’s ranging shortstop to end the game and give the Birds a 3-2 South Central Conference victory.

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  • Lady Aces knock off Ramsey for EIC title

    MULBERRY GROVE – For senior Becca Oldham, the last game on her home field was one she will never forget.

    Oldham blasted a pair of two-run home runs and pitched a two-hitter on Saturday to lead the Lady Aces to the championship of the Egyptian-Illini Conference Tournament with an 11-0 win against Ramsey.

    Oldham rifled a line drive just over the right-field fence in the first inning, and hit a no-doubter to right-center to end the game by the mercy rule with two outs in the sixth inning.

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  • Lady Aces to get rematch with Altamont after beating South Central in regional semifinals

    ST. ELMO – Mulberry Grove got the rematch it wanted.

    And South Central got a positive end to its season despite a loss.

    The Lady Cougars battled hard throughout Tuesday’s regional quarterfinal game against Mulberry Grove, but the Lady Aces proved a bit stronger in a 4-1 victory.

    The win sets up a rematch with Altamont in Friday’s regional championship game, and this time, Mulberry Grove hopes to be on the winning side.

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