Randy Kindred

Dave Gannaway had aspirations of being a basketball player as a University High School freshman. He suited up for the freshman team, but there was a problem.

In the past year, she has been honored with two national awards for her work as a math and computer science teacher . On the softball field, she recently earned her 500th victory as West's head coach.

Hayden King, Jack Oakey, Rohan Darsi and Abhi Kumar have covered a lot of ground in four years together at Bloomington High School. Tennis requires that kind of physical investment, running from side to side and baseline to net.

Toliver will tell you it is a credit to the talented players and assistant coaches he has had. He'll also tell you the real reward runs deeper than triumphs and trophies.

The 14-year-old Hernandez is among a handful of females who train and compete at Kingdom City Boxing-Fitness in Normal. In a predominantly male sport, she has earned respect from the boys at the gym.

At 23, he might be the country's youngest director of operations in Division I basketball. And get this: He is in his second year of handling the full-time position at Southern Illinois.

What does it take to become “the voice” of a school and its athletic teams? For some, it means leaving their comfort zone, developing an alter ego.

In saying “I do,” they signed on as football wives. That has meant sacrifice and single parenting, navigating highs and lows of winning and losing, adjusting and readjusting family schedules, driving young children to and from activities, flying solo for their dinner time, bath time, bed time.

For its first 44 years, the Girls Intercity Basketball Tournament was a traveling show, bouncing from one high school to another throughout Bloomington-Normal.

The Pioneers are in the state semifinals for the first time. They take a 10-2 record into Saturday's 7 p.m. game against Mount Zion (9-3) at Hancock Stadium. A victory would earn them a spot in the Class 4A state championship game next week, also at Hancock.