Sports

Tuesday was the first day colleges and universities can make direct payments to student-athletes. This stems from a settlement in a landmark case involving student compensation. Illinois State University Athletics Director Jeri Beggs called it the most dramatic change ever seen in college sports.

Bloomington High School played host for what's believed to be the first international soccer match between FIFA member clubs in the Twin Cities — Peoria City versus Atlas from Guadalajara, Mexico.

The 30th annual event, held at the Brown Ballroom at Illinois State University, is the largest annual fundraiser for the Central Illinois chapter of the Red Cross.

The Ironmen finished with a record 37 wins with just five defeats and the program's first third-place finish at state.

Brian Knutson of Bloomington was still processing it a few days later. Attending any Masters would have been a dream realized. Witnessing history from 15 to 20 yards away? Are you kidding?

Jen Kuhn is clearly still softball driven. But the Illinois Wesleyan student-athlete and U-High grad has a lot more to give than line drives and diving catches.

At the first-of-its-kind fundraiser game for the Humane Society of Central Illinois, adoptable dogs and more than 100 pet dogs came out to see the Bloomington Bison hockey team.

Illinois State University has formally introduced Jeri Beggs as its new athletics director. University president Aondover Tarhule says Beggs showed visionary leadership in her nearly two years in the interim role.

Jeri Beggs is now officially ISU's athletics director, after serving in that role on an interim basis since May 2023. Beggs was named to the position Wednesday following a national search that began in November 2024.

John Snyder, a former longtime basketball coach at Central Catholic High School, has died at age 93. The man known as “The Dean” during his 39-year tenure on the Saints' bench and more than 50 years at the school leaves a legacy of perseverance, master storytelling, commitment to all things Central Catholic and a huge, caring heart.