ChimpersCage

  The Normal Community Lady Ironmen basketball team took home the hardware last night for the State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournaments girls bracket after defeating the Saints of Bloomington Central Catholic.  The Lady Iron defeated the Normal West Lady Wildcats, University High School Lady Pioneers and the Bloomington Lady Purple Raiders on previous days play leaving them in sole possession of 1st place. In other action on the late part of the bracket November 29th, 2024 were the Central Catholic Saints challenging the Normal Community Ironmen on the boys bracket.  Earlier play pitted the University High Pioneers against the Normal Community West Wildcats on both the girls and boys brackets.   Play continues on Saturday November 30th. Be sure to heck out all the photos and videos from the Intercity games that  Alan Look Photography  covered.

 Be sure to check out the photos from the State Farm Intercity Basketball Tournament from Alan Look Photography !  Here's a sample from the Wednesday night games between UHigh Pioneers and Normal Ironmen.  

 Saints thrown overboard by Vikings in 1st round play of the IHSA 2024 Class 2A football playoffs. In the 1st round of IHSA 2024 Class 2A football playoffs, the Saints of Bloomington Central Catholic were sent to Downs to play the Vikings of Tri Valley. The event got off to a somewhat boring start but by the end of the first half, the Vikings were blanking the Saints 14-0. Action picked up in the 3rd quarter with long runs by both the Saints and the Vikings. In the end, the Vikings pushed the Saints overboard by a score of 42-28. The Saints move to the Sweet 16. Please visit our website to view and purchase game photos! https://alanlookphotography.zenfoliosite.com/2024-2025-high-school-sports/2024-2025-tri-valley-vikings?ct=2

I'm a little late with this post so by now all friends of Ironman football know that the Normal Community High School Ironmen football team beat the Peoria High School Lions in the last game of the season to take sole possession of the Big 12 Conference championship title. The NCHS athletics team finishes the regular season 8-1 , the Lions fell to 7-2. The NCHS Ironmen will continue post season play the weekend of November 1st against West Chicago on Dick Tharp field at Normal Community High School in Normal Illinois. #Ironsharpensiron #AlanLookPhotography Our website is now on Zenfolio! https://alanlookphotography.zenfoliosite.com/2024-2025-high-school-sports/2024-2025-normal-community-ironmen?ct=2 Kicker William Castro kicks the point after.  Castro is also playing this weekend on the NCHS soccer team in the post season series.

On September 15th, 2012 Jimmy Garoppolo visited Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University as the starting quarterback for the Eastern Illinois Panthers.  Who knew that 8 years later he would become one of 2 starting quarterbacks in the NFL's SuperBowl.  Jimmy of course is the 2nd starting Quarterback from Eastern to do well.  Ten Years before, another named Tony Romo completed his senior year at Eastern.  Tony went on to an NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. Freelance photographer Alan Look was fortunate to have captured both players in action.  The image of Tony Romo was taken at Eastern during the Homecoming game in 2002 against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels.  The image has been used by national media and in several books.  The images of Jimmy Garoppolo were both used by Upper Deck as trading cards for his rookie season.

Illinois State University Redbird Women's Volleyball hosted a 4 team volleyball this past weekend.  Participating visiting teams were #7 ranked Marquette Golden Eagles, #7 ranked University or Illinois Fighting Illini and the Knights from the University of Central Florida.  Events kicked off on Friday evening with the Knights and Golden Eagles followed by ISU v the Illini.  Both those matches went 4 sets with Golden Eagles defeating the Knights and ISU upsetting the Illini! On Saturday UCF took on the Illini in a morning match.  The Illini fell once again moving their record in the tournament to 0-2 and setting UCF's record to 1-1.  The evening matchups included a 5:30 match between UCF and Illinois State and the nightcap was Marquette and the Illini.  Both matches went 5 sets, both thrillers with ISU taking the win over UCF and the Illini besting Marquette. Sunday afternoon, the final match between Marquette and Illinois State was nothing short of epic...

The local football season kicked off today with the Illinois State Redbird Red-White scrimmage.  A healthy combination of fans and students attended the event and the preliminary activities which included the annual student promo photo on the field in Hancock Stadium with the Big Red Marching Machine, cheerleaders, flag corp, and Redline Dancers forming ISU all wearing red shirts. High School football will follow in 13 days with the first Friday Lights games. Get out this fall, support your local teams and see some of the great talent that passes through our communities! Red-White game gallery