Coal City Courant

Remarkable run ends for Coalers

Published by admin on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 3:48pm

The final score Saturday was not the ending the Coal City baseball team envisioned, but it could not diminish what was one of the finest seasons in program history.
After defeating rival Reed-Custer in the regional semifinals, the Coalers saw their postseason run come to a close with a 9-0 loss to Wilmington in the Seneca Regional championship game.
The defeat ended a stellar campaign that saw Coal City finish 27-8 overall, capture the Illinois Central Eight Conference championship, and provide a memorable farewell season for longtime head coach Greg Wills.

Coalers sweep home opener, dominate four-team meet

Published by admin on Tue, 04/14/2026 - 3:58pm

The Coal City track and field teams made a statement in their first outdoor home meet of the season Wednesday, sweeping both the boys and girls titles in a four-team meet against Dwight, Wilmington and Reed-Custer.
The Coaler boys piled up 115 points to outdistance Dwight (64), Wilmington (57) and Reed-Custer (28), while the girls followed with a commanding 91-point effort ahead of Dwight (58), Reed-Custer (53) and Wilmington (34).
Coal City’s boys were dominant in the sprints and hurdles.

Perfect Coalers claim state trophy

Published by admin on Tue, 03/03/2026 - 2:40pm

The final stretch of the wrestling championship told the story of Coal City’s season.
Tight early. Tested in the middle. Dominant when it mattered most. And when the last match was secured, the Coalers stood alone again.
Coal City claimed its second straight IHSA Class 1A Dual Team State Championship on Saturday, defeating Vandalia, 43-23, to finish a perfect 42-0 season and further cement its place among Illinois’ elite wrestling programs.
The championship dual began at 165 pounds, and Coal City wasted no time setting the tone.

Eight area wrestlers medal at state

Published by admin on Sun, 02/22/2026 - 11:01am
STATE FINALS RECAP
Eight local wrestlers brought home some serious hardware from the IHSA State Individual Tournament which concluded Saturday, led by a strong showing from Coal City and a title-match run from Wilmington.
 State Runners-Up
• Logan VanDuyne (Wilmington, 190) – fell in a 13-12 thriller in the finals
• Aidan Kenney (Coal City, 157) - lost by 4-0 decision to Dillon Hinton (Vandalia) 

Four area wrestlers advance to state championship matches

Published by admin on Sat, 02/21/2026 - 11:45am

Three wrestlers from Coal City and one from Wilmington will take the Grand March at 5:30 p.m. today before squaring off for the 1st place matches at 6 p.m. inside the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Coal City's Aiden Kenney (157), Brock Finch (175) and Cade Poyner (215) have a shot at claiming the state title in their weight classes after winning their first three matches. Also up for the title bout at 190 pounds if Wilmington's Logan Van Duyne.

Seven area wrestlers advance to Final Four

Published by admin on Thu, 02/19/2026 - 8:53pm

Seven of 18 local wrestlers have made it through the first day of the IHSA state wrestling tournament, advancing after two wins each.

Coal City has six wresters still in the hunt for a state title, advancing to Friday's semifinal round where a victory would give them a entry into the state champion match on Saturday night.

IHSA football proposal passes, practice to begin August 5

Published by admin on Fri, 02/13/2026 - 12:46pm

Following the conclusion of voting at midnight on February 12, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced on February 13 that member schools voted to approve a special by-law proposal impacting the start date of the 2026 football season and the number of practices required per player to compete in the first contest.

The proposal passed by a margin of 290 in favor, 245 opposed, and 67 with no opinion. Voting opened on January 29 and seventy-five percent (602) of the IHSA membership cast a ballot in the special election.

WHS cheer team qualifies for final round

Published by admin on Fri, 02/06/2026 - 2:47pm

The Wilmington competitive cheer team is the only one of three teams that will advance to the state finals on Saturday, finishing eighth in the preliminary round of the IHSA Class 1A State Cheerleading Competition at Grossinger Auto Arena in Bloomington.

Wilmington posted a score of 88.10, good enough to land inside the top 10 and earn one of the coveted advancing spots to Saturday's final round, where teams will compete for a possible state trophy. Only the top 10 teams from Friday's preliminaries advance.

Coal City rolls to ICE Conference title

Published by admin on Tue, 01/27/2026 - 3:28pm

The Coal City wrestling team captured the ICE Conference Tournament title Saturday at Coal City with championships in 10 weight classes and overwhelming depth throughout the lineup,
The Coalers finished with 276.5 points, easily outdistancing runner-up Braidwood (Reed-Custer) with 112.0. Herscher placed third with 94.0 points, followed by Lisle (82.5), Wilmington (50.0), Manteno (48.5), Peotone (46.0) and Streator (20.5).

Free Throw Contest open to area boys and girls

Published by admin on Tue, 01/20/2026 - 3:45pm

All boys and girls ages 9 through 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition of the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship.
The Wilmington Knights of Columbus #11149 will host the local contest on Saturday, Jan. 24. Registration will be 8:30 a.m. and competition will begin at 9 a.m. in the St. Rose Parish gymnasium, 626 S. Kankakee St., Wilmington.
All young people, not in another local contest, are invited to participate. Each will vy for the best of 15 consecutive free throws.