Galesburg High School
Frosh/soph swimmers first, varsity sixth at Iron Invite
Galesburg won the frosh/soph division and placed sixth overall in varsity competition Jan. 10 at the Iron Invite, hosted by Normal Community High School.
The Silver Streaks captured the frosh/soph team championship with 366 points, finishing ahead of Normal Community and Bloomington Central Catholic. Galesburg won eight events at the frosh/soph level.
Freshman Mahmoud Shehata was a multiple-event winner, claiming firsts in the 50-yard freestyle (24.84 seconds) and 100 freestyle (55.07) while also swimming on the winning 400 freestyle relay. Sophomore Brayden McGuire delivered three victories, taking first in the 200 individual medley (2:06.09), 100 breaststroke (1:02.42) and anchoring the 400 relay.
Cole Furrow added a win in the 500 freestyle (5:15.09) and placed second in the 100 backstroke, while Brody McGuire captured the 100 butterfly (1:02.41). Galesburg opened the meet with a victory in 1-meter frosh/soph diving, where Timothy Tudengjiacuo scored 130.35.
Relay depth proved decisive for the Streaks. Galesburg won the 200-yard medley relay and closed the frosh/soph session with a victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay, clocking 3:38.12 behind Furrow, Shehata, Brayden McGuire and Samuel Puerta.
In varsity action, Galesburg earned points in every relay and multiple individual events, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay and solid swims from Brady Jackson, Nolan Good and Mohamed Shehata. The Silver Streaks totaled 169 points to finish sixth in the varsity standings.
Complete Iron Invite results for Galesburg
1-meter diving (frosh/soph)
• 1st — Timothy Tudengjiacuo (FR) — 130.35
1-meter diving (varsity)
• 4th — Cordae Sanchez (JR) — 281.55
200 medley relay (frosh/soph)
• 1st — GHS A — 1:48.53
200 medley relay (varsity)
• 8th — GHS A — 2:32.15
200 freestyle (frosh/soph)
• 3rd — Brody McGuire (FR) — 2:10.08
• 5th — Seth Hawkinson (FR) — 2:36.18
200 freestyle (varsity)
• 6th — Brady Jackson (SR) — 2:01.42
• 10th — Mohamed Shehata (SR) — 2:08.38
200 IM (frosh/soph)
• 1st — Brayden McGuire (SO) — 2:06.09
• 2nd — Samuel Puerta (FR) — 2:16.52
50 freestyle (frosh/soph)
• 1st — Mahmoud Shehata (FR) — 24.84
• 4th — Charles Anderton (SO) — 27.94
50 freestyle (varsity)
• 9th — Nolan Good (JR) — 25.08
• 14th — Silas Descalzo (SR) — 36.74
100 butterfly (frosh/soph)
• 1st — Brody McGuire (FR) — 1:02.41
100 butterfly (varsity)
• 7th — Nolan Good (JR) — 1:01.95
• 8th — Brady Jackson (SR) — 1:02.36
100 freestyle (frosh/soph)
• 1st — Mahmoud Shehata (FR) — 55.07
• 10th — Seth Hawkinson (FR) — 1:10.37
500 freestyle (frosh/soph)
• 1st — Cole Furrow (FR) — 5:15.09
500 freestyle (varsity)
• 12th — Silas Descalzo (SR) — 8:28.52
200 freestyle relay (frosh/soph)
• 2nd — GHS A — 1:50.82
200 freestyle relay (varsity)
• 5th — GHS A — 1:50.99
100 backstroke (frosh/soph)
• 2nd — Cole Furrow (FR) — 58.43
• 9th — Charles Anderton (SO) — 1:20.30
100 breaststroke (frosh/soph)
• 1st — Brayden McGuire (SO) — 1:02.42
• 2nd — Samuel Puerta (FR) — 1:09.35
100 breaststroke (varsity)
• 6th — Mohamed Shehata (SR) — 1:12.51
• 14th — Jake Leonard (JR) — 1:41.33
400 freestyle relay (frosh/soph)
• 1st — GHS A — 3:38.12
400 freestyle relay (varsity)
• 5th — GHS A — 3:45.86
Varsity team rankings
- Edwardsville 367
- Normal Community 354
- Normal West 335
- Bloomington Central Catholic 221
- Richwoods 190
- Galesburg 169
- Metamora Co-op 162
- United Township 84
- Rock Island 16
Frosh/soph team rankings
- Galesburg 366
- Normal Community 290
- Bloomington Central Catholic 256
- Richwoods 195
- Normal West 186
- Metamora Co-op 169
- Edwardsville 156
- United Township 93
Streaks edge Bettendorf in Illinois-Iowa Shootout
The Galesburg Silver Streaks held off a late charge to defeat the Bettendorf Bulldogs 45-43 Jan. 10 at the Illinois-Iowa Shootout in Augustana College’s Carver Center.
Galesburg led for most of the contest but had to regroup after Bettendorf briefly took the lead in the third quarter. The Silver Streaks responded with a late surge in the period and executed down the stretch to secure their 12th consecutive victory.
The Streaks took a 13-12 lead after one quarter and extended the margin to 23-17 at halftime after holding Bettendorf to five second-quarter points. The Bulldogs rallied in the third and eventually took their only lead at 30-29, but Galesburg closed the quarter on a 6-1 run to regain control and carry a 35-31 advantage into the fourth.
Bettendorf pulled within two points several times in the final quarter, including at 38-40 and 41-44, but Galesburg made timely baskets and free throws to preserve the win.
Ella Herchenroder led Galesburg with 12 points. Taylor Herchenroder and Jozalyn Kilgore scored eight points each, and Lily Furrow added seven.
Galesburg shot 16 of 37 from the field, including 6 of 14 from 3-point range, and went 7 of 10 at the free-throw line. The game drew an estimated crowd of more than 1,000 fans.
Galesburg improved to 18-1 on the season, while Bettendorf fell to 8-2. The Silver Streaks return home for a 7 p.m. Western Big 6 Conference matchup Jan. 15 against Alleman before traveling to Loyola Academy on Jan. 17.
Fouls, Moline defense stifle Galesburg boys
The Moline Maroons relied on pressure defense, late-game composure and fourth-quarter free throws to secure a 57-45 Western Big 6 Conference victory over the Galesburg Silver Streaks Jan. 9 at Wharton Field House.
Moline set the tone early, holding the Silver Streaks to two points over the first seven minutes and limiting the Streaks to 14 first-half points, and the Maroons carried a 23-14 lead into halftime despite their own offensive inconsistency.
Galesburg seized momentum coming out of the break. The Silver Streaks opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run, tying the game at 23-23. The teams exchanged baskets, but the Streaks’ shooting turned cold and by the end of the third quarter the Maroons were back on top 40-30.
The fourth quarter, however, was defined as much by officials’ whistles as by play. Officials assessed three technical fouls on the Galesburg bench as part of a night that featured 46 total fouls — 42 personal and four technical. Moline capitalized at the free-throw line, converting five of six technical free throws to extinguish any chance of a second Galesburg rally.
As a result of the technicals, Coach Taylor Thiel was ejected from the game and will not be allowed to coach in the next game. He will be replaced by assistant coach Joey Range.
Keigen Crummer led Galesburg with 11 points, while Jaxon Wyatt added 10. Rahkim McCellan scored eight points off the bench, and Eden Mayala finished with six points while leading the Silver Streaks in rebounds and blocks. Galesburg shot 17 of 40 from the field, including 4 of 12 from 3-point range, but was hindered by 21 turnovers.
The loss evened the Streaks’ season record at 8-8 and 1-4 in the conference. Moline (12-4, 5-0 Western Big 6) leads the conference. This was the Maroons’ ninth consecutive victory over Galesburg.
The Streaks return to John Thiel Gym for four consecutive home games. Sterling comes to town Jan. 13 and Geneseo is here Jan. 16. Both games start at 7 p.m. Galesburg hosts the MLK Tournament Jan. 17. The Streaks play Danville at 10:30 a.m. and Gary Comer College Prep at 7:30 p.m.
Knox College
Thunhurst, Miller shine in Knox indoor track opener
The Knox College men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams opened their seasons Jan. 10 at the St. Ambrose University Battle in the Hive in Davenport, Iowa, turning in several standout performances and adding multiple entries to the program record book.
The Knox women finished fourth with 45 points, highlighted by a pair of scoring efforts from Zoe Thunhurst. Thunhurst won the long jump with a best mark of 15 feet, ¾ inch (4.59 meters) and placed third in the shot put at 33-9 (10.29), a mark that ties for 10th best in program history.
First-year distance runner Elsie Conwell made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, winning the mile in 5:35.51. The time ranks fifth fastest in Knox women’s history.
Another first-year standout, Delylah Briscoe, posted a preliminary time of 8.38 seconds in the 60-meter dash, good for 10th all time at Knox. She went on to place fourth in the finals.
Lily Cuddy also scored for the Prairie Fire and earned a spot in the top 10 of the program record book, finishing sixth in the 60-meter hurdles in 11.85 seconds, the seventh-fastest time in school history. Stephanie Nelson added a second-place finish in the weight throw with a best toss of 40-8 (12.39).
On the men’s side, Knox placed fifth with 26 points and received a strong opening performance from Lance Miller. Coming off a successful cross country season, Miller won the mile in 4:19.23, just three seconds shy of the school record. He also finished second in the 800 meters in 1:58.99, less than a quarter-second off his personal best and nearly one second from the program mark.
Stevan Dzolic added another second-place finish for Knox in the weight throw, recording a best mark of 47 feet (14.32 meters), just inches short of his career best.
The Prairie Fire will be idle for the next two weeks before returning to competition at the Grinnell Invitational Jan. 24.
On the schedule
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026
• GHS swim/dive at United Township, 4:30 p.m.
• GHS boys wrestling vs. Rockridge, Morrison, 5:30 p.m.
• Knox men’s basketball at Cornell, 5:30 p.m.
• GHS boys basketball vs. Sterling, 7 p.m.
• Knox women’s basketball at Cornell, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026
• GHS bowling at Rock Island, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026
• GHS girls wrestling at ROWVA-Erie, Prophetstown, 5 p.m.
• Sandburg women’s basketball vs. Highland, 5:30 p.m.
• GHS boys wrestling at Alleman, 6 p.m.
• GHS girls basketball vs. Alleman, 7 p.m.
• Sandburg men’s basketball vs. Illinois Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16, 2026
• GHS boys basketball vs. Geneseo, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026
• GHS bowling at Rockford Invite, 9 a.m.
• GHS swim/dive at Burlington Grayhound Invite, 10 a.m.
• Knox track vs. St. Ambrose, 10 a.m.
• GHS boys basketball vs. Danville, MLK Trnmt., 10:30 a.m.
• GHS girls basketball at Loyola Academy, 1:30 p.m.
• Knox women’s basketball vs. Lake Forest, 3 p.m.
• Sandburg men’s basketball vs. Blackhawk Technical, 3 p.m.
• GHS boys basketball vs. Comer College Prep, MLK Trnmt., 7:30 p.m.