fred@mahometnews.com

Aliya Holloman didn’t get a chance to make a final impression on college coaches this spring.

The Heritage High School softball season was canceled – as were all spring sports throughout the state – by the COVID-19 virus.

Turns out the senior didn’t need any more games for coaches to view her as a coveted recruit.

A three-sport star for the Hawks – Holloman was a varsity starter each year she played in volleyball, basketball and softball – she had options to play each of the sports in college.

Universities in Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee made overtures as did ones in Illinois.

During the recruiting process, Holloman didn’t have a pre-determined favorite.

“I wanted to play at the next level,” she said.

One offer set itself apart from the others.

Most schools wanted her for basketball. Or softball. Or volleyball.

But, she would have to pick a particular sport.

Trinity International, located in the suburban Chicago community of Deerfield, provided more of what Holloman was seeking.

“I could do both sports (basketball and softball),” she said.

Last month, she signed a letter of intent to continue her studies and academic career at the university with approximately 2,500 students.

“I have a strong passion for both sports,” Holloman said.

Over the years, she has played on travel teams in all of her sports. She began traveling with softball – the sport she calls her favorite – for a 10-and-under program.

The COVID-19 pandemic put a premature end to Holloman’s prep career, but not her ability to work out or to play for other teams.

“I still practice on my own,” she said. “I do pitching practice. I go to the field to hit and I have a (batting) cage at home.”

Her attention to detail and willingness to work on her own time are among the traits that have most impressed Heritage softball coach Vicki Roberts.

“Her work ethic for a high school athlete goes hand-in-hand with her ability,” Roberts said. “I tell my athletes, ‘The only difference between a good player and an OK player is their practice time. Which are you?’

“Aliya is always working on her sport at home. They have an indoor batting cage along with workout equipment.

“Aliya will ask for help when her swing gets a little out of whack or when her pitching isn’t quite on. She is always striving to be a better version of herself.”

Holloman’s travel team, the Midland Magic, is competing in softball tournaments each weekend this month. In addition to pitching, Holloman plays shortstop.

She didn’t feel rusty or ill-prepared when the games resumed.

“Putting time in on your own was critical,” Holloman said. “I jumped right back into it.”

The recent travel games helped offset the frustrations that set in when all IHSA spring sports were halted.

“I was very disappointed not to have my senior year,” Holloman said.

Four summers ago, she set a goal to make varsity in each of her sports as a freshman.

“I knew I could if I practiced and put the time in,” Holloman said. “I wanted to achieve and do better.”

She not only matched her expectations, but excelled beyond her team. As a sophomore, Holloman was a special mention All-Area choice in softball.

As a senior, The News-Gazette selected her as an All-Area first-teamer in basketball. Holloman averaged 20.1 points per game as a senior, 18.1 as a junior and 17.9 as a sophomore. She ended her high school career by scoring more than 1,800 points.

“I improved in basketball a lot more than I thought I would,” Holloman said. “I corrected some mechanics that I thought needed correcting.”

Villa Grove/Heritage girls’ basketball coach Dan Sappenfield regarded Holloman one of the best he’s worked with in his tenure.

“Offensively, Aliya is as good as anyone I’ve had in 15 years,” Sappenfield said. “She’s a scorer at all three levels. Coaches (from colleges) like how she can finish.”

The 5-foot-8 Holloman’s development on the hardwood is reflected by her personal growth.

“Her maturity from her freshman to senior year was tremendous,” Sappenfield said. “She’s an amazing young lady and a good athlete.

“She is ready for the next level. Every school is looking for a scorer.”

Holloman didn’t focus on her perimeter prowess as her high school career progressed.

“She relied on the ‘three’ as a freshman,” Sappenfield said, “but after that, developed an ability to get to the basket. Her field goal percentage on threes went up every year.”

Sappenfield believes Holloman’s biggest transformation in his sport came in her overall performance.

“The best thing is she became a teammate,” Sappenfield said. “We asked, ‘What are you doing for someone else?’ and she developed the ability to share the ball.

“And, she came along better defensively. She always competed.”

Holloman never needed to make sacrifices on the offensive end.

“She finds ways to make it happen,” Sappenfield said. “She is very gifted with her hand-eye coordination.”

Roberts said modern technology is conducive for athletes to get recruited despite unusual circumstances like what occurred this spring with the coronavirus pandemic.

“Being placed in a college sport is much easier now than even a few years ago,” Roberts said. “Most coaches are online and you can communicate directly with them or their staff.

“It still takes a lot of hard work and determination.”

Holloman will take the same ambitions with her to Trinity International. She wants to contribute and make an immediate impact.

Roberts, for one, believes Holloman will continue to shine.

“Aliya will do very well at the collegiate level,” Roberts said. “Aliya’s strengths have gotten her to that next level. She is very driven, knows the sports, does well under pressure, is a risk taker – which I like – and a very talented athlete.”

There will still be challenges for Holloman, some of which are difficult to prepare for in advance.

“Going off to college is always hard because most athletes have never experienced living anywhere except at home,” Roberts said. “College life is not anything like living at home.

“As long as Aliya stays focused and grounded, I predict she will do great things for her new school.”

Holloman plans to major in neonatology.

The post Aliya Holloman to play basketball and softball at Trinity International first appeared on SJO Daily.

fred@mahometnews.com

The final installment in our series on all-decade athletic teams concludes today with the release of the elite spring-sport athletes.

Before we get to the particular sports, we will recognize two athletes. The designation is for Male and Female Athlete of the Decade.

In a sense, the winners picked themselves for their high level of involvement and achievement in sports during the school year.

Heritage/Villa Grove had eight boys and nine girls who earned all-decade recognition for at least two sports.

Two girls were chosen to all-decade teams for three sports: Micaela Childress and Aliya Holloman.

Holloman was selected as the Female Athlete of the Decade for her prowess in volleyball, basketball and softball.

Other girls who received notice on two all-decade teams were Gracyn Allen, Kyrsten Cox, Lindsey Nickelson, Cedar Richardson, Katie Rutledge, Stephanie Sanderson and Sage Soper.

Among boys, the choice as Male Athlete of the Decade was Austin Hubbart, an All-Area first-team selection as a senior in 2013 and also a standout sprinter in track.

Other boys recognized on two all-decade teams were Adam Crutchley, Max Daly, Kenny Guerrero, John Henderson, Gage Knoll, Chance Lemmon and Cole Mohr.

Before turning our attention to the spring-sport all-decade teams, two points should be remembered. The selections are based entirely on what the athlete did during high school. Subsequent college accolades were not taken into account.

Also, a great number of athletes from the school received All-Area first- or second-team honors during their time in high school and that recognition was the foundation for compiling the all-decade lists.

HERITAGE/VILLA GROVE BASEBALL

NAME                      POS. GRAD YR.

Codie Baker             INF 2018
Justin Bruce              P 2012
Ryan Cheatham        C 2021
Jon Essig                   P 2012
Cyrus Ferguson         P 2013
Dalton James          OF         2015
Cole Judy                INF 2010
Chance Lemmon     INF 2015
Kaleb Robertson   P           2016
Brandon Umbarger  OF 2013
Evan Wilson               P 2019

Player of the Decade – Kaleb Robertson, who was second in the area in batting as a senior with a .545 average. He was also second that spring with 47 runs batted in. He also averaged more than a strikeout per inning and compiled a 1.96 earned run average.

HERITAGE/VILLA GROVE SOFTBALL

NAME                    POS.     GRAD YR.

Gracyn Allen                INF 2019
Micaela Childress           UTL 2016
Alex Danner                    INF 2012
Aliya Holloman       INF       2020
Lindsey Nickelson          INF 2010
Miranda Pruitt                 INF 2014
Cedar Richardson          OF 2014
Katie Rutledge                OF       2011
Stephanie Sanderson    OF       2013
Hilary Smith                     P 2012
Dani Stigers                 INF 2012

Player of the Decade – Hilary Smith who posted 64 pitching victories and recorded 610 strikeouts. She had earned run averages of 0.94 as a senior, 1.99 as a junior and 1.78 as a sophomore.

HERITAGE/VILLA GROVE BOYS’ TRACK

NAME                           EVENTS GRAD YR.

Riley Bishop                  Sprints 2012
Chase Burwell              Weights 2020
Adam Crutchley          Distance 2012
Max Daly                        Jumps 2016
Kenny Guerrero             Jumps 2016
John Henderson          Weights 2014
Austin Hubbart              Sprints 2014
Gage Knoll                 Mid-Distance 2017
Alex Mitsdarfer      Mid-Distance 2011
Cole Mohr                     Sprints 2017
Ryan Pearce                Weights 2013
Tyler Pearce                 Weights 2011
Trevor Reberger           Sprints 2020

Athlete of the Decade – Ryan Pearce, who was a three-time Class 1A state-placer in both the shot put and discus, a two-time state champion in the discus and a one-time state winner in the shot put.

HERITAGE/VILLA GROVE GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD

NAME                      EVENTS     GRAD YR.

Maranda Benefield      Jumps   2015
Madison Burwell       Weights  2021
Nicole Cheatham        Weights 2018
Emmaline Cler             Jumps 2015
Krysten Cox                 Sprints 2017
Liberty Floyd                 Jumps 2020
Laura Henderson        Sprints    2010
Meike Herbrandt          Jumps 2021
Kilee Hoffman           Weights  2011
Mara LaPayne           Distance 2010
Abbie Marler             Sprints    2015
Amanda McCollom   Hurdles  2012
Sage Soper               Distance 2013

Athlete of the Decade – Meike Herbrandt, who was the program’s lone state-qualifier in the decade, advancing in the long jump as a sophomore.

The post Kroner’s Picks: VGH All-Decade Team (Spring), Holloman and Hubbart named Athletes of the Decade first appeared on SJO Daily.

Evan Wilson pitched a complete game for VG/H, allowing six hits and only one earned run.

Wilson struck out seven and walked two.

The Hawks were limited to three hits. Nick Coffin had a single and drove in one run. Mason Wyant also had a single and an RBI. Coffin, who stole two bases, and Carson Howard scored the team’s runs.

The other VG/H hit was a double by Ryan Cheatham.

VG/Heritage ends the season with a 17-11 record.

Softball

Schlarman Academy gained revenge for a five-run loss to Heritage last week with a 13-0 Class 1A regional semifinal triumph on Tuesday on its home field.

Malanie Smithenry had two doubles for Heritage and Jada Davis had two singles.

The Hawks end the season with a 9-16 record. Schlarman will play Salt Fork in Friday’s 4:30 p.m. regional championship game.

The post VGH softball/baseball seasons come to end in Regional play first appeared on SJO Daily.

Heritage softball continued its mid-season surge on Monday, topping Martinsville 3-1 in a game at Broadlands.

The Hawks are 7-12 overall, but have won six of their last 12 games.

Kenzie Davison hit a triple, Gracyn Allen had a double and Kyley Rothermel, Aliya Holloman and Bri Struck had singles.

On Tuesday, Heritage suffered a 9-4 loss at Arcola.

Wednesday’s game at Toledo Cumberland was postponed and rescheduled for May 8.

Heritage returns to action today with a doubleheader at Oblong.

Baseball

The Hawks (14-7) broke open a 2-1 game with an eight-run third inning on Monday, paving the way for a five-inning 15-1 triumph over visiting Martinsville.

Carson Howard allowed four hits and no earned runs in his three-inning stint. Howard struck out six and walked one.

Nathan Chewning pitched the final two innings, yielding one single.

Villa Grove/Heritage’s 10-hit attack was led by Ryan Cheatham, who was 3-for-3 and drove in four runs.

Teammates Keagan Patterson and Austin Grimm each contributed two hits. Grimm and Evan Wilson had two RBI apiece.

On Tuesday at Tuscola, VG/Heritage was limited to three hits – a double by Cheatham and singes by Patterson and Kane Davison – in a 10-2 loss to the Warriors.

Mason Wyant pitched five innings and took the loss, ending his personal three-game winning streak. Wyant walked three and struck out one.

Wednesday’s game at Toledo Cumberland was postponed and rescheduled for April 30.

The Hawks have won 10 of their last 12 games.

Villa Grove/Heritage returns to action today at Oblong.

The post Heritage softball continues mid-season surge, Baseball wins over Martinsville first appeared on SJO Daily.