Marcia Martinez, SJ-R Breaking News

Marcia Martinez

SJ-R Breaking News

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Past articles by Marcia:

Rochester grad Josh Cable completes 5K after serious burn injuries

Josh Cable spent 24 days last month in a hospital burn unit.The recent Rochester High School graduate participated Saturday in the Bob Goldman Memorial → Read More

Jr. Blues skate on as Springfield's longest-operating sports franchise

Many sports teams have come and gone in Springfield. Remember the baseball organizations — Class A Midwest League Sultans (two years), Triple A Redbirds (four years) and Frontier League Capitals (six years)? Long gone.Then there was the Illinois Express of the World Basketball League that played two years here. And don’t forget the Springfield Stallions indoor football team — folded after two… → Read More

UIS men and women's soccer ready for postseason

Sunday’s first-round Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament game between Quincy and University of Illinois Springfield isn’t your typical No. 1 seed vs. No. 8 seed matchup.The Prairie Stars are seeded eighth, but they had nationally ranked Quincy on the ropes last weekend. UIS took a 2-0 lead until Quincy cut the deficit in half less than a minute later. With time… → Read More

Glenwood's Rolfe captures three top-four medals at boys state track

CHARLESTON – Tony Rolfe was exhausted when he walked off the track after running the 100-meter dash at the Class 3A Boys State Track and Field Meet → Read More

Justin Allgaier to race for Xfinity championship

Justin Allgaier is very close to achieving his ultimate dream -- winning a NASCAR championship.The Riverton native is one of four drivers contending for → Read More

Woodstock Marian routs Williamsville in 1A state girls soccer semifinals

NAPERVILLE — It was a high-scoring affair, but not for the team with a prolific offense.Williamsville High School went into a Class 1A State Girls Soccer Tournament semifinal Friday night having scored 133 goals compared to its opponent, Woodstock Marian Central Catholic, which had 50. But Marian filled the net and won 6-1 at North Central College.“They were a lot better at passing,”… → Read More

Southeast takes 2A state track title in 4x100 relay

CHARLESTON — Southeast High School senior Jamari Drake had a Class 2A high jump state title from 2015, so she enjoyed sharing what it feels like to → Read More

Former Lanphier softball star Kocis still ranks at top in field

Whatever Amanda Kocis does, she does it well.She was a star in three sports before she graduated as valedictorian from Lanphier High School in 1998. She → Read More

Sports Hall of Fame inductee Donnie Beechler made his mark at Indy 500

Donnie Beechler had never watched a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway until he showed up at the mecca of auto racing as a driver.While the → Read More

Owner-trainer Mike Brink wins as breeder with Awfully Emotional

Mike Brink hit a rare trifecta at the Illinois State Fair harness racing meet Friday.The Springfield-based trainer was the breeder, owner and trainer of → Read More

UIS women's basketball coach gives up CPA career to realize coaching dream

By day, Mark Kost was a certified public accountant for a global professional services giant. Away from work, he was a coaching wannabe. The two worlds → Read More

Springfield High's Warren named CS8 boys track athlete of year

Springfield High School boys track coach Trae Cotner foresaw college coaches flooding Heath Warren’s telephone with calls.July 1 was the first day NCAA Division I coaches were permitted to contact recruits who will enter their senior year when school resumes. Cotner has already heard from several Division I coaches. Now it’s Warren’s chance.Warren garnered lots of attention as an SHS junior.… → Read More

Rochester routs Chicago Latin for Class 1A state girls soccer title

NAPERVILLE — Holding hands, Rochester High School’s four senior soccer players strolled to the podium and accepted the first-place Class 1A girls state trophy, then proudly hoisted it. The Rockets dominated the second half of a 6-1 win over Chicago Latin on a rainy, windy and cool Saturday at North Central College. The reward was the second state title in program history. “We couldn’t believe we… → Read More

Shutout sends Rochester to Class 1A state girls soccer final

NAPERVILLE — Rochester High School’s girls soccer team will have a shot at redemption Saturday.A 3-0 semifinal win over Champaign St. Thomas More at the Class 1A state tournament Friday put Rochester (24-3) in the title match for the second straight season.The Rockets play Chicago Latin (20-1-2) at North Central College at 5 p.m. The Romans beat Rock Island Alleman 2-0 in the second semifinal.… → Read More

Glenwood, Springfield High to play for girls soccer sectional title

TROY – Chatham Glenwood and Springfield High School are two wins from the Class 2A Girls State Soccer Tournament.However, the season will end for one team in the next game. The Titans and Senators will play each other in the championship game of the Troy Triad Sectional Friday at 6:30 p.m.The stage was set when Glenwood sophomore Maddie Klintworth scored the game-winning goal in the Titans’ 2-1… → Read More

Lincoln Land softball team earns third straight trip to nationals

Sophomore catcher Rachel Wisner was so focused on the Lincoln Land Community College softball team returning to the field following a weather delay Friday → Read More

UIS men's basketball team signs junior college transfer Harmon

The University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball program has added to its recruiting class with the signing of 6-foot-5 guard-forward Paxton Harmon.The Warsaw native signed a letter of intent Monday to play for the Prairie Stars.Harmon was the No. 3 scorer on the John Wood Community College team last season with 14.2 points per game as a sophomore. He ranked second with 5.7 rebounds per… → Read More

Tournament loss closes book on proud Benedictine baseball program

As Benedictine University at Springfield baseball players walked off the diamond for the last time Friday, each was met by coach Steve Torricelli.He embraced every player with a hug, then headed to the clubhouse at Robin Roberts Stadium. Friday’s 10-7 loss to Williams Baptist in the American Midwest Conference Tournament was the final game ever for the Bulldogs. Benedictine will disband all its… → Read More

UIS will not retain women's basketball coach Chad Oletzke

The University of Illinois Springfield will not retain women’s basketball coach Chad Oletzke for next season.Athletic director Kim Pate announced Friday that UIS is not renewing Oletzke’s contract.In three seasons, Oletzke guided UIS to a 19-59 overall record and 8-46 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Prairie Stars were 6-20 overall in the 2014-15 season. That’s one fewer win than… → Read More

Rochester advances to Class 3A state title game

NORMAL — Meagan McNicholas was in grade school when she skipped class to watch the Rochester High School girls basketball team play in state tournaments in 2007 and 2008.McNicholas, a junior guard, and senior guard Laryn Sapetti took a stroll down memory lane before they helped the fifth-ranked Rockets to a 71-60 victory over Chicago Bogan in a Class 3A state tournament semifinal Friday at… → Read More