With autumn officially arriving on the calendar and the school year well under way, athletic directors from across Knox Valley gave the Mount Vernon News some insight on sports that aren’t always on the radar of the community. These are the hidden gems that community support should not overlook.
Justin Sanford, athletic director for Mount Vernon High School, said that the boys volleyball team was a sport that students were gravitating to, and the program was quite successful.
“We have boys volleyball in the spring that is starting to generate some excitement,” Sanford said. “We are two years removed from the state Final Four. They have been some real road warriors, traveling to Cleveland, Dayton and to Cincinnati to play.” Sanford said the team would benefit from hosting games at home in a new facility for 2022.
After missing the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mount Vernon boys volleyball team will be looking to build upon last year’s losing record with a young squad that has gained more experience, Sanford said.
Rich Porter, athletic director of Centerburg High School, said that boys and girls golf teams were on the verge of being champions of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.
“Currently, our boys and girls golf teams are on the verge of winning KMAC titles,” he said. “This will be our third straight conference title for our boys team. For the girls team, this is the first year that the KMAC has recognized girls golf. With that, this will also be the girls' first conference title in school history.”
Robert Miller, athletic director for Danville Local Schools, said the school's track and field program continues to grow.
"The hidden gem here at Danville is track and field," Miller said. "Our numbers are continuing to grow. Last year, we had more than 60 students participate in track and field between grades 7-12."
Adam Brown, athletic director and assistant principal for Fredericktown Local Schools, said cross country tends to draw great student-athlete participation, and the boys and girls teams are having “solid years” this season.
“We have always had good numbers in cross country,” he said. “We are anticipating a large number of students playing softball this upcoming season. I'm not sure it's a surprise anymore, but we routinely have around 50 athletes in cross country every year.”
