By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

A new era is about to unfold for Effingham girls basketball.

Gone are nine players that accounted for 104 wins over a four-year stretch and included one Apollo Conference championship, plus two regional and two sectional titles and back-to-back seasons that ended just one win away from the state tournament.

Gone is virtually 100 percent of the team’s scoring, rebounding and even minutes played.

Gone is a special group of young ladies that not only won a lot of games and provided plenty of memories, but were also true teammates and friends throughout.

Gone are Carsyn Fearday, Abby Weis, Skyler Schafer, Natalie Carie, Miranda Fox, Madison Bushur, Kiyah Kuhlman, Jessie Herboth and Payton Koester.

“That was a great group. And having my daughter and her friends be a part of that made it very special,” said EHS coach Jeff Schafer. “Many of them spent quite a few nights at my house, beginning when they were little kids.

“I had to remind myself at times to just enjoy it and not make myself extra-crazy,” Schafer added. “As a coach, sometimes we forget to simply enjoy everything along the way.”

But as is always the case in high school, one group passing through simply opens opportunities for the next group moving in.

By Steve Raymond

News Report Staff

It’s not unusual for parents to travel a ways to see their son or daughter play a basketball game.

But 4,900 miles?

That’s exactly what Dave Wolfe did.

His oldest son, Grant, is preparing for his junior season at Illinois Wesleyan University and traveled with his teammates to play three exhibition games in Italy.

And Dave, along with his 11-year-old daughter Avery, was there to enjoy the 10-day trip.

“I was glad they came,” Grant said. “I got to spend a lot of time with them. They loved being there and getting to hang around with our team. I think Avery had pizza for every meal.”

The trip began Tuesday, Aug. 6, with the 10-hour flight that went from Chicago to Detroit to Rome; and Grant got home late last Thursday night. Since Illinois Wesleyan is an NCAA Division III school, the basketball team can take an international trip like this once every three years.