With summer workouts turning into the fall sports season, students and fans were eager to watch the first athletic events of the 2024–2025 season. Fall sports started the season well.  Both boys and girls golf teed off, while girls’ tennis served their way to state. Football and volleyball welcomed new coaches, and finally cross country closed out the fall season at state as a team. Many of the teams had a competitive season and some got to compete at the state level.
Boys golf started the fall sports season. Sophomore golfer Carver Hall got the opportunity to compete at sectionals. “Getting to experience the atmosphere of a high-stakes tournament like that was cool. It got me ready for next year and hopefully allowed me to make it to state,” said Hall.  Carver was a standout golfer this season. He went to sectionals and placed in the top 60 out of over 100 golfers. Braxton Dann (11) and Harper Shoemaker (11) both placed top ten at the River-to-River Conference match, while Dann earned second place. The seniors on this year’s team were Braxton Wade, Matthew Semon, and Vince Champion. They were coached by Chris Roberts and JP Champion.
The Varsity Tigers Football team ended the season with one win and eight losses. They were led by seniors Kyrese Lukens, Chris Nelson, Lex Garner, Talan Nemeth, Logan Dirden, Rajion Price, Will Nicks, and Nate Campbell. This year, the team welcomed a mostly new coaching staff. Coaches were as follows: Barry Hubbard, Trenton Johnson, Randy Lattuada, Trent Bennett, Shawn Milani, Justin “Froggy” Johnson, Ryan Holland, Gary Dickerson, and Lindell Hatley.
This season, the girl’s tennis team (coached by Matt Snell and Assistant Coach Madi Pribble) had a very good showing, including Reese Elliott (12) qualifying for state as an individual. Brooklyn Brandon (9) and Gigi George (11) took first place in number three doubles at the Marion Double Invite. The team got their first overall win against Salem with a six-to-three win. At the Herrin Invite, the team finished third overall. Ryleigh Pitman, Reese Elliot, Branson Hill (12), Brooklyn Brandon, Gigi George, and Madison Monchino (10) were all awarded medals. Reese Elliott placed second in her sectional, which qualified her for state. The tennis team’s senior members were Ryleigh Pitman, Stephanie Gorcowski, Meredith Russell, Keirsten Killman, Reese Elliott, and Branson Hill.
Both boys’ and girls’ cross country ran their way to state. While all of the girls on the cross-country team made an impact this season, runner Ellary Blakey (12) made her senior season memorable, placing top ten in the Pinckneyville meet and medaling at the Peoria Invite, where she set a personal record of 18 minutes and 36 seconds for the course. She placed second at the Harrisburg meet, fourth at Conference, and third at Regionals. Blakey has also earned All-Conference and All-Regional. The boy’s cross country team (coached by James Elliott, Dusty Mallow, and Brad Blakey) placed first at the Carbondale, Harrisburg, and Herrin Invitationals. They also placed second at the Olney Invitational. The boys’ team then headed to sectionals, where they placed seventh. This qualified them for state as a team in Class 2A — the first time this has happened in school history. Runners Waylon Hall (12), Noah Coleman (12), Braden Davis (11), Mason King (11), Maddox Burks (11), Sam Jolliff (11), and Nolen Frost (10) have all played key roles in this team’s success. Seniors are Ellary Blakey, Elijah Kleber, Waylon Hall, and Noah Coleman.
The fishing team had a short, but impactful, fall season, coached by Matt McManaway and Kevin Bires. Emmarie Bires (12) and Hudson McCord (11) started the fall fishing season with a first-place finish and Big Bass award in the Tri-Co Open on Kinkaid. They also claimed a second-place finish at Lake of Egypt. The fishing team will pick back up in the spring with more tournaments. The seniors on the team are Emmarie Bires, Morgan Restivo, and Hudson Craig.
Volleyball finished their season with 16 wins and 18 losses. The team went four-to-four in conference. Saylor Ray (12), Skylar Yates (12), and Shaniya Johnson (10) all made the SIRR All-Conference team. They also welcomed a new coaching staff this year, Head Coach Jessica Whitehead, JV Coach Melaina Lane, and Freshman Coach Sydney Stuck. Seniors on the team were Matti Walker, Kendal Yates, Skylar Yates, Sophie Schramm, and Saylor Ray.
The girl’s golf team had a strong season this year, coached by Missy Webb, Greg Holthaus, and Regan Johnson, with seniors Emily Hosman and Ella Holthaus.
Now that the leaves are changing and our fall sports have come to an end, we get to look forward to the next season of Herrin’s athletic program. Most winter sports have already held tryouts and are ready to start competing. Winter season sends into basketball games, bowling matches, wrestling, dance, flag, and cheer competitions.