Athletic Department Highlights

The NCHS cheerleading squad qualified for the Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association state championships. Nashville placed fourth out of 12 teams in the small varsity division and scored above a 75.00 during the ICCA Qualifier at Pinckneyville on Sunday, December 10, 2023, to qualify. ICCA state is January 6 - 7, 2024, at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield.  The team competed on Saturday as well against eight teams and also qualified for state that day.  Their versatility and adaptability as a squad was definitely tested this weekend as they had to change their routine just 48 hours before Saturday's competition due to an unfortunate injury Coach Evans shared.  But the NCHS cheerleaders didn't let that challenge stop them.  Congratulations on your ICCA State bid.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS VERY DESERVING RECOGNITION, GENTLEMEN.

The IHSA Class 1A State Cross Country Experience on Saturday, November 4, was a wonderfully rewarding and motivating experience for NCHS runners Adi Wilson and Evan Eberhart.  Coach Olson reflected: "Adi and Evan are both such strong, dedicated runners.  They put in so many hours of work throughout this entire season, preparing for Saturday, and they were both so excited and READY to run!"  She continued: "One thought that kept reverberating through my mind was how well Southern Illinois teams ran at State this year.  In both the boys and the girls races, So IL teams made a BIG impact!  And Evan and Adi were running against those runners at EVERY race!  The weather was perfect, the kids were so great, and the experience was fantastic!  Both Evan and Adi are already planning what they need to work on to not only get back to State next year, but to improve on their running and their times!"  Coach Olson shared her thoughts about running in general as well: "I absolutely love to see the joy of running, and there's no better place to find it than at the State competition at Detweiler.  While other students and even other athletes think of three miles as an incredible distance to run, these athletes simply get it done and make it look easy in the process.  It's difficult to explain what running is like to a person who doesn't run or a person who doesn't run distance--running is relief, running is joy, running is pounding out one's frustrations, running is working all of the problems out before coming into contact with others, running is LIFE!  Some days you have good runs; some days you have bad runs, but ANY day you *get* to run is truly a blessing and should never be taken for granted!  When I was in high school, someone told me I should run, and I actually laughed in that person's face.  If I could time-travel, I'd go tell Little Olson to get out there and do it!  There is absolutely nothing that compares to a new PR that you've been working toward for days or weeks!  They talk about runner's high--that's a real thing.  Our bodies LOVE to move and be active!   There are many sports that one will have to give up some day.  You don't see many fifty-year olds and sixty-year olds out there tackling people in football or spiking volleyballs over the net, but you DO see plenty of people running into their old age.  Running is a sport you can enter in your youth and continue throughout your entire life!  I wish more people would try running!  It's simply the GREATEST!"  Sounds like Coach Olson is recruiting, NCHS athletes.  If you haven't considered running before, talk to her.  Cross Country is a fabulous sport that benefits and challenges an individual mentally and physically and promotes a tremendous team camaraderie. 

Adi shared, "My state experience was one to remember. I think I can speak for all of us when I say me, Aubrey, Silas, and Evan had a blast this weekend. Between our bus ride, Mrs. Olson, and just hanging out, I think we all came out with abs from laughing so hard. The running itself was a great experience and overall just fun. It makes racing a lot easier when there is not so much pressure on you. I will say it was a little overwhelming with the large amount of runners and fans. Overall, I loved my state experience and wouldn't change anything about it. I am very grateful for this season and the opportunities that came with it, and hope to make it back next year!" 

A Cross Country State experience wouldn't be the same without a night of carb loading at Avanti's Italian Restaurant.  Pictured from left to right: Silas Hill, Adi Wilson, Aubrey Fernandez, and Evan Eberhart

Evan shared, "I would like to say that it was an extremely fun time that Silas, Adi, Aubrey, and I all got to experience.  State is a completely different animal because the start is so much faster than any other race all year and people are constantly interchanging places, so it is always important to stay focused on what you are trying to achieve in YOUR race. It was awesome to finish off my Junior season with a PR, but definitely makes me hungry to push as far to the top as possible to finish off my high school cross country career strong."

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The real purpose of running isn't to win a race, it's to test the limits of the human HEART."

~ Bill Bowerman, US Olympic Team Head Coach

Saturday, October 28 was not a beautiful weather morning for a run, but that didn't stop the Hornet Cross Country boys and girls teams from giving it their all at the IHSA Sectional Meet in Benton.  Coach Olson reported that the boys team placed 17th with a score of 456. The top finisher for the Hornets was Evan Eberhart who finished 16th overall with a time of 16:10.  Other top Hornet runners were Silas Hill (65), Noah Szopinski (122), Zeke Kinder (148), Marcus Bartolotta (160), and Jacob McBride (161). The girls team placed 12th with a score of 350.  The top finisher for the Hornettes was Adi Wilson who finished 25th overall with a time of 19:49.  Other top Hornette runners were Aubrey Fernandez (68), Jessie Malone (71), Josie Lupachini (120), and Alissa Tyler (121). Coach Olson shared, "I am so proud of each and every runner! They ran through a literal downpour today and DIDN’T let it stop them!!"  Adi and Evan will complete in Class 1A Cross Country State on Saturday, November 4, at Detweiller Park in Peoria with the top Class 1A cross country runners from throughout the state.  Adi will run at 9:00 a.m., and Evan will run at 10:00 a.m.

Evan Eberhart qualified for ISHA State as an individual.  Evan shared, "I am extremely excited to go run at Detweiller Park for the first time in my running career, and I'm even more excited to be able to bring Silas along with me.  He has been super helpful and the most supportive teammate over the last few seasons as he's been my main training partner.  I also would like to say that it has been a challenging and difficult stretch, but the miles over the last year have greatly benefited this season." 

"Never underestimate the heart of a champion."

~ Doc Rivers

Adi Wilson qualified for IHSA State as an individual.  Adi shared, "My sectional experience was way different than any other race I have run.  I didn't know what to expect, as it started raining minutes before the gun was fired.  For me, it was my best race of the season, as I PRed by 30 seconds with a new best time of 19:49!  On the other hand, running the race was not the most enjoyable.  Some people would think that running in the rain sounds fun. But, when you are running as hard as you can while hardly being able to breathe, see, and staying on your own two feet, it is not fun. I want to celebrate not only my teammate and I for making it to state, but all of the runners who are going to state, and those who participated in our sectional run."

Selfies with Coach Olson

On their SENIOR NIGHT on Friday, October 20, the Varsity Football Hornets defeated the Shelbyville Tigers 54 - 20 and gave the seniors much to cheer about.  It was the Hornets' game from the start, and they never let up.  With this resounding win, the Hornets moved to 6 - 3 on the season and secured a home playoff game against the Pana Panthers on Saturday, October 28 at 1:00 p.m.

senior Blaine Emrick

Senior cheerleaders Kristina Gossman, Alissa Tyler, Brayden Hunter, Brooke Harris, and Lucy Walters

Senior football players: row 1, Devin Schill, Breckin Baum, and Sylas Ridgeway; row 2: Michael Connor, Dakota Bannert, Noah Miller, Mason Szopinski, Harrison Zgonina, JT Malawy, John Blumhorst, and Blaine Emrick

On Saturday, 8/26/23, Hornet runners participated in the Mascoutah Invitational.  Coach Jenny Olson shared that the boys placed 12th with a score of 311. The top finisher was Evan Eberhart who finished 35th overall with a time of 18:02.  Other top Hornet runners were Silas Hill (42), Noah Szopinski (106), Marcus Bartolotta (138), and Jacob McBride (140).  The girls did not have a team score. The top finisher for the Hornettes was Adi Wilson who finished 18th overall with a time of 21:43.  Other top Hornette runners were Aubrey Fernandez (61), Jessica Malone (86), and Josie Lupachini (132).

Coach Olson encourages anyone interested in running and being part of a team to see her about Cross Country.  It's not too late to join the team.

junior Evan Eberhart

sophomore Adeline Wilson

sophomore Jessi Malone