The College Report: Doehring to return for another season
Most athletes would not have to ponder long if asked if they would return to their beloved sport for even one more game.
Vandalia grad Brock Doehring, an Illinois College football player, would be among those who did not have to ponder long. The answer was a resounding yes.
Doehring has enough credits to graduate, but because he has an unused redshirt year, which he received in 2008 after missing the season with an elbow injury, he decided to take advantage of it.
Academically, Doehring will earn a chemistry minor to go along with his already-earned biology major.
"My father (Kirk Doehring) and I discussed the possibility of returning," Doehring said. "The conference during the 2010 season was wide open. I am hopeful it will be again this year. We have some unfinished business. We were in the driver's seat after week eight. To be that close and lose the conference title really stings."
One of the other reasons Doehring might be returning is the desire to be named to the Midwest Conference all-league squad once again. Doehring, who earned all-conference status after the 2009 season, was not named to the all-conference team this year.
"My arm felt great during the season," he said. "That is a credit to the surgeon. He did a tremendous job."
Doehring, who started at tight end for the IC Blueboys, finished with 71 receiving yards on eight catches. Two of his catches were touchdown snares. He spent most of the time as a blocking tight end. IC finished 5-5 overall and 5-4 in the MWC. They lost their final two games of the year.
"We are elated he has decided to return and take advantage of his redshirt year," said IC coach Garrett Campbell. "He is an all-conference performer, and he should have been again this year. He is big, strong and physical. We are fortunate to have a tight end like Brock in our type of offense."
Laura Hobbie, a Vandalia grad, scored a team-high 15 points for Greenville College in the GC Panthers' 78-70 win against Blackburn College. Hobbie, who also had six rebounds, hit 4-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. She struck three times from beyond the arc. In the first five games, Hobbie has 51 points and 15 rebounds, respective averages of 10.2 and 3.0 per game. Hobbie also has 10 steals and seven assists. She is one of three GC Panthers averaging in double figures. Hobbie, who has led the team in scoring on two occasions, has helped it start 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Greenville College's Ann Githinji has played in three games and has scored three points, pulled down three rebounds and doled out two assists. The former South Central player has scored her points on one 3-pointer.
Former South Central basketball player Isaac Grapperhaus, an Illinois College sophomore, scored four points in IC's first Midwest Conference win of the year, a 74-62 triumph over Beloit College. Grapperhaus also had two assists in his 16 minutes of play. In IC's other conference game thus far, a 100-79 loss to Lawrence University, Grapperhaus played 18 minutes. He had four points and two rebounds. IC is 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the MWC.
St. Elmo grad Colton Booher, a Trevecca Nazarene University junior, is redshirting this year. Booher, who played two years for Olney Central College, is slated to return for the 2011-12 season.
As of press time, there were no further updates on Eric Hobbie. The Vandalia grad and McKendree University senior has not played since November 10. It is believed he will not return until McKendree starts the American Midwest Conference schedule in January.
With the revelation that Doehring will be exercising his redshirt year and playing football for one more year, that cuts our seniors that will be featured in two weeks to two athletes. Featured in the senior article will be Iowa State University runner Rachel Bell, a Vandalia grad, and Rockford College volleyball player Maribel Guerrero, a St. Elmo grad.
If anyone wants to add a name to my growing list, please e-mail me ([email protected]). There are only two rules for an athlete to be included in this column. The athlete has to be a graduate of one of Fayette County’s high schools or be a resident of one of the towns normally covered by The Leader-Union. They also need to be involved in intercollegiate athletics.
If you want to add a name, please send me not only the name, but the former high school or town if that is needed, the college/university they are attending and, of course, the sport they are playing. Please put “Vandalia Leader-Union” in the subject line of the e-mail.
