The Sentinel

Guest Commentary |
"I believe she will be much worse"

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

This may be the most frightening Halloween of all time. People across America are scared stiff as we are bombarded 24-hours a day with terrifying scenes splashed across television, our telephones and tablets. We can’t get away from the howls, screeches, growls, ghastly facial expressions and horned headed characters spewing menacing rhetoric. All of this has been brought to us by our Democratic and Republican parties.

The scariest part of Halloween is that there will be five more days of political campaigning and political advertisements. But wait, what happens if the election is so close and so tight that a winner is not able to be called next Tuesday night? What happens if the voting is so close that several of the states must recount and recount? We could be in for the longest Halloween in American history.

We are already scared to death. Democrats hate Trump and are terrified he might win. There is no limit on what is being said about him. Any woman who will come forth with a damaging comment about Trump will have the national spotlight. Anyone who can come up with a scenario that would make Trump the illegitimate son or grandson of Hitler will receive airtime on national television. Of course, Republicans will play Kamala’s bloopers, giggles and nonsensical answers time and again. By the way, whatever happened to the Obama slogan, “Whenever they go low, we go high?”

Just hope, and I mean hope and pray that whoever wins this election wins decisively so that when we go to bed either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning that we know for certain who has been elected President of the United States.

Most everyone knows I’ve already voted for Trump. This doesn’t make me hate you if you vote for Kamala Harris. I just think you are making a bad decision. There are probably other people who write for this very good news source who have a differing opinion. What makes a newspaper or news blog good is the ability to print both sides of a viewpoint. Most of us long for the old days when television anchors presented the news and all sides of the story.

Trump is strong on border security. It’s a no-brainer that our country is in trouble with so many millions illegally entering the country. We are losing our country. We are becoming a third world country right before our eyes.

Our military and Veterans were treated well under Trump. We need a strong military. We had achieved worldwide peace under Trump. What is going on between Ukraine and Russia and now North Korea is draining our country financially. The billions of dollars never seem to stop flowing out to Ukraine. The Middle East is now a powder keg that could ignite World War III.

I can’t see Kamala Harris commanding respect from any of the other world leaders in discussions to solve the conflicts. What would she do? Call Oprah, Taylor Swift, or Beyonce?

Trump has promised he will do away with seniors paying tax on their social security benefits. This would save 70 million seniors in this country. Trump’s policy on energy will be a boom to the United States. America drills oil and gas and burns both cleaner than any other nation. China, India and Russia are going to continue with oil and gas. We can do it much cleaner than them and financially save our country. We should also use our own wind, oil, gas and coal. A balanced approach will help our nation as well as our entire planet.

With Kamala we will get four more years of what we’ve had, maybe. She won’t be as good as Joe Biden. I believe she will be much, much worse. Will she be able to take the abortion issue away from the states? It is doubtful. For years, Congress wanted to put this in the hands of the states and it is unlikely it will ever be taken away.

On Wednesday, November 6th, we are still Americans. We need to act like it regardless of the election outcome. We must work for the good of this country and always work to help each other be the best Americans we can be.

On November 6th, let’s end Halloween and begin our season of Thanksgiving.

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

Tigers exit soccer postseason in a heartbreaking thriller

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

With Mahomet-Seymour defender Ethan Ramirez on his heals, Urbana's Nana Winner fires a shot on the Mahomet-Seymour goal. Winner missed the mark on the second half shot that could have extended the Tigers' season another week.

URBANA - In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs clinched their second consecutive regional title in a nail-biting penalty shootout against the Urbana Tigers. The game, played on a chilly day at Randy Blackman Field in Urbana on Friday, was a testament to the grit and tenacity of both teams, with neither able to break the deadlock in regulation time or the two 10-minute overtime periods.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Bulldogs' Travis Hoffman and Tigers' Matthew Bodony leap to win a header during second half action. Despite controlling the tempo and their aggressive attacks on the Mahomet-Seymour goal in the second half, Urbana could not catch a break getting the ball in the net.

Expectations were high for the Tigers after shutting out Danville 7-zip in Tuesday's semifinal match.

"I think we finally hit our stride at the right point of the season," Urbana head coach Mikki Kowalski said after the victory propelled the Tigers on a collision course with the Bulldogs. "We struggled to have shutouts. It is finally nice to get one in a game that means something."

Kowalski, urged the team to stay focused and continue applying the strategy they had practiced during their halftime huddle. "We keep moving the ball, chances are we will get clear opportunities," Kowalski said. "When you see their back line move, apply a little more pressure."

Urbana keeper Jevan Juday echoed his coach's sentiments, advising his teammates to focus on 1-2 touches when the Bulldogs pressed too hard for the ball.

"If we play one-two touch, it is going to benefit us," he said, pointing out that whenever the Tigers got the ball into Mahomet-Seymour's half of the field, the Tigers had the advantage of numbers pressing the ball forward. "Everything has to be 100%. Boom-boom-boom."

Urbana dominated ball possession for the majority of the second half, creating numerous opportunities and taking solid shots on goal. However, they found an insurmountable obstacle in Bulldog Keeper Hayden Litteken. The senior made 17 crucial saves during his 100 minutes on the field.

Left: Urbana's Isaac Quintas keeps the ball away from a Mahomet-Seymour challenger. Middle: Hayden Litteken makes a diving save for the Bulldogs before Tigers' Fortunel Nana could tap the ball to finish. Right: UHS' Hayden Barton takes possession of the ball in the second half. Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Urbana, 11-9-1 for the season, matched its opponents, kick for kick, in the shootout under the lights until the seventh, a miss that handed the IHSA championship plaque to Mahomet-Seymour (16-7-2). Bulldogs' Kade Smith, a freshman who didn't miss, slipped the ball into the Urbana goal for the win.

Mahomet-Seymour, no stranger to postseason drama, had previously won their regional semifinal match against Mt. Zion in overtime earlier in the week, handing the Braves a 3-2 loss via the decisive goal in the first overtime session.

With the victory, Mahomet-Seymour advances to the Warrensburg-Latham sectional, where they will face Glenwood High School on Wednesday at 4 pm. The winner of that match will take on the victor of the other sectional semifinal between Champaign Centennial (13-7-2) and Springfield High School (16-7), both of whom finished third in their respective athletic conferences.

Keywords: Mahomet-Seymour soccer, Urbana soccer, Regional title match, Penalty kick shootout, Illinois high school soccer, Hayden Litteken

Despite earlier milestones, Spartans soccer season ends with loss to Pioneers

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Exhausted and heartbroken, junior Zach Harper (standing) and senior Logan Mills take a moment to regain their composure after Spartans' season-ending loss to Normal U-High at the Monticello Sectional on Saturday.

MONTICELLO - St. Joseph-Ogden’s remarkable soccer season came to a close on Saturday as they fell 6-0 to Normal University High School in the sectional semifinal at Monticello’s soccer complex. The Spartans, who had been dominant throughout the season, were held scoreless for the first time all year in a tough matchup against the defending Class 1A state runner-up.

The loss marked only the Spartans' third defeat of the season, finishing with a 22-3-1 record. Despite the disappointment, SJO can look back on a historic campaign, having scored 172 goals this season, more than any other team in Illinois High School Association (IHSA) history, regardless of class. The Spartans also set a program record with 22 wins, showcasing the team’s growth and offensive prowess.

Coming into the sectional semifinal on the back of a five-game winning streak, where they outscored opponents 45-5, the Spartans had every reason to be confident. However, U-High’s precision and disciplined play proved too much to handle. The Pioneers, now 21-5-1, displayed their experience and senior leadership, especially in the first half, where they quickly established control of the match by scoring four goals.

U-High’s defense was equally impressive. Known for their tight formations and tactical discipline, the Pioneers managed to stifle SJO’s high-powered offense throughout the game. The Spartans, who had averaged nine goals per match in their previous five games, struggled to create meaningful chances. Normal’s defense consistently denied the Spartans any scoring opportunities, particularly during the first 28 minutes of the second half when SJO was desperately searching for a breakthrough.

The Spartans’ best opportunity came late in the match when Zach Harper broke free of U-High’s defensive line with just over five minutes left. Harper’s one-on-one chance against Pioneer goalkeeper Noah Grieshaber could have ended SJO’s scoring drought, but Grieshaber came up with a crucial stop, preserving the shutout and sealing the Pioneers’ victory.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Logan Mills tries to dribble the ball around Normal University's Bryce Nicolas-Penn (right) and Connor Evans during the first half.

Normal U-High’s balanced performance, marked by precise passing and organized teamwork, propelled them into the sectional final. They will face Fisher-GCMS (20-3-1) on Tuesday in what promises to be a highly competitive match.

For St. Joseph-Ogden, Saturday’s defeat brought an end to a memorable season. Led by seniors like Alexis Acosta Reyes, Carter Turner, and Logan Mills, the Spartans will be remembered for their record-breaking offensive achievements and their resilience throughout the year. In head coach Chris Stevens’ second term, the Spartans compiled an impressive 36-11-1 record over two seasons, cementing their status as one of the top programs in Class 1A.

As the Spartans reflect on a year filled with highlights, including three more wins than any previous team in program history, the foundation is in place for a successful campaign in 2025. With underclassmen like Harper and sophomore goalkeeper Jaxson Colvin set to return next season, the future remains bright for St. Joseph-Ogden soccer.

This year's team seniors included Alexis Acosta Reyes, Carson Sharp, Carter Turner, Davin Alvarez, Eli Birt, Logan Mills, Logan Patton, and Will Besson. Juniors on the squad included Branson Pearman, Rudra Chaudhary, Chris Coffey, Cooper Kietzman, Quinn Stahl, and Zach Harper. Jaxson Colvin, Nicholas Harris, Skyler Graham, Steven Newman, Tyler Hess, Waylon Jones, and Yadiel Acosta Reyes made up the sophomore class, with Hunter Cler as the only freshman on this year's varsity squad.

Stevens was assisted this season by Dan Ahart and Marcus Harris.

Keywords: St. Joseph-Ogden soccer sectional semifinal, SJO vs Normal U-High soccer playoff Illinois high school soccer Class 1A, Normal University High soccer win over SJO, IHSA soccer playoff results 2023, SJO soccer record-breaking season