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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Mahomet-Seymour senior wide receiver Trey Peters is out the rest of the season because of a torn ACL, but the Bulldogs’ standout picked up an offer from Illinois on Thursday afternoon
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Got a question for Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman? Stop by the Esquire from 5-6 p.m. today for “Monday Night SportsTalk.” If you can’t make it out to visit with Whitman, plus The News-Gazette sports writers and host Scott Beatty, tune in on WDWS 1400-AM and 93.9-FM.
➜ 2. Congratulations to Trey Peters. The Mahomet-Seymour senior wide receiver committed to play football at Illinois late Sunday afternoon. “I am grateful for the opportunity,” Peters wrote on social media.
➜ 3. The Illinois women’s basketball team added to its Class of 2025 haul with a verbal commitment on Saturday from four-star recruit Cearah Parchment. The 6-foot-2 native of Canada is ranked 39th in her class, according to ESPN. More, C-5.
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema during the Illinois and Purdue game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Saturday, October 11, 2024
Numbers game
8
of the 23 wins Bret Bielema has accomplished in his Illinois coaching tenure have happened in October, with Saturday’s enjoyable/frustrating/exhilarating/puzzling/nerve-wracking 50-49 overtime win against Purdue the latest example. That’s the most of any month, with September (seven), November (five) and August (three) the next most productive months of the Bielema era so far at Illinois.
The Parkland volleyball team is 24-1 this season and ranked second in the country in NJCAA Division II.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Michigan at Illinois football. Have to think the CBS executives exhaled with delight after the Illini outlasted Purdue before this Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. kickoff from Champaign that will feature the CBS crew of Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell on the TV call.
➜ 2. Monticello at Unity boys’ soccer. It’s time for the postseason, with these two Illini Prairie Conference teams slated to meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Tolono for a Class 1A regional quarterfinal match.
➜ 3. Parkland at Danville Area Community College volleyball. The two local programs have first serve at 6 p.m. Wednesday, with proceeds going to benefit Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
Salt Fork volleyball coach Emily Franklin
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Salt Fork volleyball coach Emily Franklin, whose Storm host Watseka on Tuesday night and start the Vermilion County Tournament this upcoming Saturday at Danville Area Community College:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Green Bay Packers.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Vince Lombardi, Becky Hammon and Kelly Sheffield.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … interrupting.