Athletic Department Highlights

The eclipse was not the only big news on April 8. At the Freeburg High School Track Meet, Emma Behrmann broke her school records in BOTH the Long Jump AND Triple Jump.

We asked Emma to share her thoughts about this accomplishment. Emma shared, "This track season has been going really well so far! One of my goals this year definitely was to try and break my previous long and triple jump records I broke as a freshman last year. Monday was one of those days where I was feeling really good mentally and physically, and the weather turned out to be nice. In the long jump, I was close to the record on my three jumps I took, but I wanted to get the record that day. On my fourth and final attempt, I decided to just go for it and hoped my jump would be far enough, which it was! I was super excited and so was my dad. I also learned I tied the meet record that day, which was awesome. After that, I had to do triple jump, which I almost didn't do that day so I could save my legs for other events. But I changed my mind and chose to do it since I did well in long jump. I'm glad I did it because on my first attempt, I broke my old record by almost a foot! I was in shock and full of adrenaline! My dad was super proud and excited for me! It was an amazing day, and I hope the rest of the season for our team goes well!"

The following Hornette basketball players recognized by the Southern Illinois Coaches Association.

Congratulations Coach Witte for being  named 2A Coach of the Year by the Southern Illinois Coaches Association!

In a tremendously fast-paced and exciting game on Thursday, 2/22/24, the Class 2A, No. 3 ranked Hornettes beat the Class 2A, No. 2 ranked Central Cougars with a score of 46 - 34.  In a game of speed and referee-deemed repeated jump balls, the Hornettes were in control the majority of the game leading at the end of each quarter: 7 - 5 (1st), 16 - 15 (2nd), and 27 - 25 (3rd).  The Hornette scorers were led by Makayla Gajewski who had 16 points and six rebounds. Other top scorers included Samantha Brinkmann with 11, Summer Brinkmann with nine, Emma Behrmann with eight points and six rebounds, and Avery Reeder with two points.  Nashville (31 - 3) plays Camp Point Central in the Super-Sectional on Monday, 2/26/24 at Vandalia High School. 

Mikayla Gajewski, who led the team in points, told the Southern Illinoisan, "I was just really excited to play tonight.  I came in here thinking that I'm in control and going to play as hard as I can for our seniors and the rest of us to get to state."

Head Coach Dempsey Witte recapped the game with the Southern Illinoisan, "We were able to hit some shots and spread the floor on them.  We're a tough matchup for a lot of people because teams have to play us man and that helps us because we're hard to guard."  In reference to a regular season match up, Witte share, "Last time we played them, we didn't have Summer.  Tonight, we were healthy and that made a difference. We also did a great job defensively. Breese Central is an unbelievable team. To hold them to 34 points... we'll take it."  When he was asked about the referees' calling of eight jump balls in only the first half, Witte related, "That's two good teams going after it.  It was a good high school basketball game. It was real physical and well played by both teams."

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Girls Class 2A Vandalia Super-Sectional Information

Monday,  February 26, 2024

 Nashville vs. Camp Point Central

7:00 p.m. 

Ticket Information

$9.00 ticket must be purchased through the GoFan link.  

NO tickets will be sold at the door.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Emma Behrmann told the Southern Illinoisan that our team "is so good at working together.  We like playing scrappy and running the floor."

Summer Brinkmann told the Southern Illinoisan, "This is really exciting for me. Our goal was to get this far, which we did, and now we want to go all the way and win a state championship. We had a lot of team effort here tonight and an attitude that was unbelievable."

In a battle to end all battles on the court, the Nashville Hornettes emerged victorious against the Mater Dei Lady Knights with a score of 70 - 62 after FOUR OVERTIMES.  The game originally scheduled for Friday, 2/16/24 but cancelled due to snow and ice was played on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., and both teams came ready to play and play and play and play.  The Hornettes struggled in the first half with 11 turnovers and trailing by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, but they never gave up.  They came to play, and play they did.  With this regional championship, the Class 2A No. 3 ranked Hornettes improve to 29-3 on the season and will face Massac County in the first game of sectionals held in Nashville's Assembly Hall.  The Carlyle Union Banner reports that Samantha Brinkmann had 22 points and seven rebounds, Summer Brinkmann had 20 points and six rebounds, Emma Behrmann had 16 points and nine rebounds, Avery Reeder had nine points and five rebounds, and Makayla Gajewski had three points.  To watch RiverRadio Sports Central's recap of the game, click this link. 

Hornet boys basketball against the rival Pinckneyville Panthers is always a highlight of the season, but this 2023 - 2024 year there wasn't much to unfortunately highlight for the Hornets in the match up on Friday, 2/9/24.  The Hornets fell to the Panthers with a score of 71 - 39.  The Hornets now 16 - 12 are now 16 - 12 for the season and 5 - 3 in the conference.  Head Coach Stote Reeder told the Southern Illinoisan, "I can't explain the third quarter.  Defensively, we were about as bad as we could have been and we didn't play great on the offensive end.  The game plan just fell apart."  Following this loss, the Hornets will regroup and will end their regular season with two home games.  

Sophomore Maddox Ritzel puts up a lay up.  

MAKE PLANS TO CHEER ON YOUR HORNETS 

Tuesday, 2/13/24 vs. DuQuoin

6:15 -- JV Start / 7:45 -- Varsity Start

SENIOR NIGHT -- Thursday, 2/15/24 vs. Sparta

6:15 -- JV Start / 7:45 -- Varsity Start

__________________________________________________________

The NCHS Cheerleaders are the ones who are on the sidelines cheering on the other athletic teams, but they are more than just everyone else's cheerleaders.  They are a strong athletic team that competes on the mat for their own recognition.  On Saturday, 1/27/24, the NCHS Cheerleaders completed in the Mt. Vernon sectional against 17 squads in their division.  The coaches shared, "We had to place in the top five in order to qualify for state, and we earned fifth place [allowing us] to qualify."  IHSA state is scheduled for Friday and Saturday  (2/2/24 - 2/3/24) in Bloomington at the Grossinger Arena.  The cheerleaders take the mat on Friday at 12:25 p.m. and compete against 24 other squads in the preliminary round of state. The top 10 squads move onto Saturday for finals.   The competition will be livestreamed on NFHS Network.

Senior Brooke Harris shared, "We are so incredibly proud and excited that we made it to IHSA State for cheer.  I feel like we were up against some of the most challenging teams in our state at our sectional at Mt. Vernon High School.  Even though I did not get to participate in the routine this year because of my injury, I still have tried my hardest to encourage the rest of the team and I am so proud of what they accomplished.  One thing I think we did differently that helped us make it to the top 5 was increasing our difficulty in some of our stunts, adding more tumbling into the routine, and practicing so hard. This hard work really paid off because we beat multiple teams that we have previously lost to and are very talented.  We were so worried about whether we would place in the top 5, so hearing our name be announced was definitely a highlight for my cheer career."

Senior Alissa Tyler shared,  "I am very excited to have the opportunity to go to IHSA State. I have been non stop thinking about it ever since we found out we made it. Our team has put in many hard working hours of practice. The long hours have definitely paid off. There have been many ups and downs, but this is by far the best one yet."

Senior Lucy Walters shared, "After getting the feel of ICCA, we wanted to be strong into Saturday’s competition at Mount Vernon. We worked hard for weeks, and it showed. Since Saturday was only our fourth time competing as a team, every emotion was felt as we anxiously waited to step onto the mat again. We were nervous, we were sweaty, but we were ready and, as our music started, the nervousness became excitement. The final time we yelled 'Hornets' in the routine, I turned around with tears running down my face embraced in a giant hug. Personally, I left the floor with pride in what my team just accomplished after knowing how much work we all have put into the routine. It is not easy to compete. It has been months in the making with our fair share of blood, sweat, and tears, but we did it and we all felt it. As we sat in the bleachers hand in hand waiting for awards to be announced, I hoped we would place. Even if we had not, that day had been the best experience of my high school career. However, 'Nashville' blared over the speakers and screams filled the gym. It has been some time since the Nashville has competed at IHSA and I am proud to say my team has just broken that streak."