Former Illini closer Joey Gerber named to Seattle Mariners’ 60-man roster
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
July 2, 2020
Prior to the announcement of Garrett Acton signing with the Athletics, Joey Gerber, another former Illini closer, was named to the Seattle Mariners’ 60-man roster on Monday. The Maple Grove, Minnesota, native ranks fourth on Illinois’s all-time saves list with 22 over three seasons. Gerber broke...
Illinois Athletics receives Stone Creek Golf Club from The Atkins Group
By Jonah Perez, Staff Writer
July 1, 2020
The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the athletic department was given the Stone Creek Golf Club from The Atkins Group. The Atkins Group is an Urbana-based real estate development firm. They donated it as part of their commitment to the University and their alig...
Garrett Acton heads to Bay Area
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
June 30, 2020
Illinois closer Garrett Acton is the latest Illini senior to move on to a professional career. Following the 2020 MLB draft, the Oakland Athletics offered Acton a free agent contract which he accepted two weeks ago. Acton’s time at Illinois was brief but impactful. Following his sophomore year,...
Merritt, Skeete prepare for new roles with Illini
By Claire O'Brien, Staff Writer
June 30, 2020
In her three years at the University of Illinois, women’s basketball head coach Nancy Fahey worked with the same assistants that were there when she first came to Champaign. Once this past season wrapped up, Fahey changed up the coaching staff for the first time in her tenure at Illinois. Fahey relieved form...
Hernandez sees progress in top players
By Carson Gourdie, Assistant Sports Editor
June 26, 2020
In just over two months, Illinois expects to run out of the tunnels to take on in-state foe Illinois State — albeit in front of a mere 12,000 spectators. Nonetheless, before Peters and company can start fall practice or take their first snap of the much awaited 2020 season, the Illini must hit the...
MLB finally gets 2020 plan in motion
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
June 25, 2020
As if the cancellation of sporting events due to a global pandemic wasn’t enough, MLB owners and the Player’s Association finally wrapped up months of negotiations that were both uncomfortable to watch and embarrassing for the game. For a sport that desperately needed a pick-me-up before the clock...
Collegiate golf may look at PGA Tour for guidance
By Jonah Perez, Staff Writer
June 20, 2020
Golf was one of the first sports to come back after the shutdown began to wrap up. The success of the new rules the PGA Tour installed is what will determine what the NCAA will do about college golf next season. The PGA Tour and its sub tours, like the Korn Ferry Tour, will provide constant testing...
Illini women’s tennis reflects on refreshing trips
By Wes Hollenberg, Staff Writer
June 19, 2020
As the 2017-2018 Illinois women’s tennis team approached an all-time high for the program, the players grew weary. By mid-March, Illinois had soared out to a 12-2 start, but it came at a cost due to their grueling schedule that included five top-25 teams, along with various tournaments, w...
Big Ten includes nine Illinois representatives in Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition
By Jackson Janes, Assistant Sports Editor
June 19, 2020
The Big Ten Conference announced the members of its Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition on Monday, including nine representatives from Illinois: senior running back Ra’Von Bonner (football), sophomore middle blocker Kennedy Collins (volleyball), sophomore forward Kennedi Myles (women’s basketball),...
Illini prepare for unprecedented season
By Carson Gourdie, Assistant Sports Editor
June 17, 2020
Coming off of its first bowl since 2014, the Illini expect to build off its foundation for a breakout season. With the twelfth most production coming back in the entire country, it appears Illinois has a chance to secure its first New Year’s Day bowl since 2008. But, like every other college footba...
Former Illini pitcher Ty Weber signs with San Francisco Giants as undrafted free agent
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
June 17, 2020
Former Illinois pitcher Ty Weber received a phone call from the San Francisco Giants on Sunday with a free agent contract offer. After months of wondering what the future would hold and whether or not he would be returning to Illinois for an extra season, Weber talked it over with his parents and, after...
Illinois High School Association Boys Basketball tournament returning to Champaign
By Carson Gourdie, Assistant Sports Editor
June 15, 2020
For the first time since 1995, Champaign will play host for the Illinois High School Association Boys Basketball March Madness tournament after Peoria hosted the event for the past quarter century. The tournament, which had been played annually until this season since 1919, will be played at the State...
