Category Archives: Local Sports

Cardinals announce Wild Card game roster

Cardinals announce Wild Card game roster

By WJBC Staff ST LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals have announced their 26-player active roster for Wednesday night’s National League Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Dodgers that is set for 7:10 p.m. The Cardinals will be playing in their second one-game N.L. Wild Card game, last doing so in 2012 when they…MORE

Bloomington drops final home game 40-20 against Champaign Centennial

Bloomington drops final home game 40-20 against Champaign Centennial

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Early turnovers hurt the Bloomington Purple Raiders (3-3) as they fell in Week 6 to Champaign Centennial (3-3) 40-20. A few fumbles from Bloomington quarterback Marcus Griffin gave the Chargers good field position and Centennial running back Brandon Harvey scored three touchdowns in the first half, giving the Chargers a…MORE

Bloomington hosts Champaign Centennial in Week 6

Bloomington hosts Champaign Centennial in Week 6

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Week 6 of the high school football season kicks Friday night and our main game on WJBC features a Big 12 Conference matchup between Bloomington and Champaign Centennial (2-3). Both teams are trying to make a push for the postseason and this is the last home game for Bloomington (3-2).…MORE

Cardinals last homestand of the regular season

Cardinals last homestand of the regular season

By St. Louis Cardinals Communications ST LOUIS – The Cardinals return to Busch Stadium riding a franchise-record 16-game winning streak and can clinch a postseason berth for the third straight year with a single victory.  The last homestand of the regular season features three games against the Milwaukee Brewers (Sept. 28-30) and concludes with a three-game…MORE

Week 5 high school football: U-High falls to Glenwood 42-7

Week 5 high school football: U-High falls to Glenwood 42-7

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – After one quarter there was no score at Hancock Stadium, but the Glenwood Titans (4-1) would score four times in the second quarter and go on to beat U-High (2-3) 42-7. “I just don’t think we handled adversity well tonight,” said Pioneers head coach Brody Walworth. “When we didn’t score…MORE

Week 5 high school football

Week 5 high school football

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Week 5 of high school football this week and our main game Friday night on WJBC is U-High against Chatham Glenwood. The Pioneers are 2-2 on the season, which includes a forfeit win, but U-High got its first victory on the turf last week at Springfield Southeast. It was also…MORE

Normal West with a late touchdown to beat Bloomington

Normal West with a late touchdown to beat Bloomington

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – A 43-yard touchdown pass from Kolton Lindsey to Matthew Marsaglia with under 30 seconds gave Normal West the victory over Bloomington 14-10. The Wildcats (3-1) led into the fourth quarter before the Purple Raiders (2-2) took the lead 10-7 with a minute to play on a touchdown run from Marcus…MORE

Bloomington heads to Normal West in Week 4 of high school football

Bloomington heads to Normal West in Week 4 of high school football

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Week 4 of high school football on WJBC features an Intercity matchup as Normal West hosts Bloomington. The Wildcats (2-1) are coming off a road win in Week 4 over Champaign Centennial. Head coach Nathan Fincham hopes his team can get off to a quick start against the Purple Raiders.…MORE

Last second victory for Central Catholic over PBL to remain unbeaten

Last second victory for Central Catholic over PBL to remain unbeaten

  By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Central Catholic battled back and scored in the final seconds to beat Paxton-Buckley Loda 13-12. The Saints (3-0) had to drive late with under a 1:30. They moved the ball down the field and the final two plays were a hook and ladder and halfback option. “It’s a play…MORE

Central Catholic battles PBL in Week 3 of high school football

Central Catholic battles PBL in Week 3 of high school football

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Week 3 of high school football and our main game Friday night on WJBC is Central Catholic (2-0) hosting Paxton-Buckley-Loda (2-0). The Saints have gotten off to a quick start and head coach Kevin Braucht says the team is playing with a lot of confidence. “I think our guys understand that…MORE

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…