Podcasts about ihsa

Lisa Dent checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories including a new musical based on the works of rock group Heart, the IHSA expanding High School football playoffs by 50%, and Mary sounds her opinion on how schools invite students back from summer earlier and earlier each year.

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast focuses on slips, trips, and falls in Ontario's aggregate industry and features Ryan Smith, Health and Safety Consultant at IHSA.Ryan discusses why slips, trips, and falls remain one of the most common workplace injuries in the sector, highlighting key contributing factors such as poor housekeeping, unsafe surface conditions, complacency, inadequate risk assessments, weather conditions, and insufficient hazard reporting. He also discusses how fatigue, distractions, rushing, and routine work can increase the likelihood of incidents when workers fail to recognize or address hazards.Ryan emphasizes the importance of maintaining three-point contact when accessing equipment, using fall protection when required, and ensuring pedestrian walkways, tool storage areas, and equipment access points remain free of hazards. He also discusses the importance of proper safety footwear, regular inspections, worker involvement in hazard identification, and ongoing safety conversations to combat complacency.Preventing slips, trips, and falls is a shared responsibility, and even small hazards should never be ignored, as they can lead to serious injuries if left unaddressed. Free resourcesAggregates - Slips, trips, and fallsAggregates See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us Fan MailEmily Elek is one of the most respected and prolific figures in American pony hunter sport — a trainer, breeder, and program builder whose Stonewall Ponies in Ixonia, Wisconsin has become one of the largest and most recognized pony operations in the country. While attending the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she majored in zoology, she helped establish the school's equestrian team and competed in the open equitation divisions and the Cacchione Cup. That combination of academic rigor and hands-on equestrian leadership was a preview of the career she would build. While Elek was still in school, her mother purchased 38 acres that would become Stonewall Farm in Ixonia, Wisconsin — and what began as family land became the foundation of one of the Midwest's most significant equestrian programs. Today, Elek operates one of the largest pony leasing, sales, breeding and training operations in the country, taking a holistic view in developing ponies and riders for lifelong success. Her breeding program has produced generations of competitive hunter ponies, and her leasing model has long been recognized as one of the most thoughtful and accessible in the sport. Her stated goal — to produce top quality ponies while allowing kids to have the same opportunities she had — is evident in the reach and structure of Stonewall's program, which sends ponies to riders across the country and annually fields one of the largest strings at USEF Pony Finals. At Pony Finals, the Stonewall show team competes on average about 20 ponies in barn and has leased or sold annually up to 100 other competing ponies. Beyond the ring, Elek has emerged as a genuine voice in the governance and structure of pony sport. She has written and spoken publicly about the format and future of USEF Pony Finals, advocating for changes that prioritize partnership between pony and child rider — a perspective shaped by decades of watching young riders develop through the division she has dedicated her career to. As a horsewoman, she has said she is most proud of her older ponies that are still out there teaching kids how to ride — proof, in her view, of a strong foundation and good care when a horse or pony is happily working in their late teens and twenties. Emily Elek is, in every meaningful sense, one of the great stewards of the pony world — a professional whose program has launched countless junior careers and whose commitment to accessibility and quality in equal measure has made Stonewall Ponies a name that resonates from the Midwest circuit to the championship rings of Kentucky.Lily Bisson is a Maryland-based equestrian, horse farm owner, and nonprofit founder whose response to one of life's most difficult diagnoses became a gift to an entire community. An avid foxhunter with clubs in Maryland and an amateur eventer at local venues, Lily owns a horse farm in Clarksburg, Maryland — a life built entirely around horses and the tight-knit community that surrounds them. She was diagnosed at 40 with breast cancer during her first routine mammogram, a moment that would change the trajectory of her life in ways she could not have anticipated.When she joined a few online support groups for women with breast cancer, most didn't quite fit. "It was the women in my local horse community who truly understood," she said. That realization planted a seed. During her recovery from a double mastectomy, while she couldn't ride, Bisson launched Gallop For Life, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — channeling the energy she could not put into the saddle into something that would reach far beyond her own barn.Gallop For Life is a grassroots organization that sends equestrian-themed gift baskets to newly diagnosed women across the country, each basket handmade by Meredith Ingram, one of the group's survivors. While the support group is specific to breast cancer, the charity sends baskets to women diagnosed with any type of cancer. What began as one rider's determination not to face a devastating diagnosis alone has grown into a national network of horsewomen supporting each other through the hardest rides of their lives. Among the organization's future initiatives is establishing a financial aid process specifically targeted to help horse professionals who are self-employed — jockeys, farriers, and trainers — who need assistance during treatment.The reach of Gallop For Life has extended into the hunt field as well. In 2024, the "Chase for the Cure" brought together members of five different hunts, with all proceeds benefiting the charity — a testament to how deeply Bisson's mission has resonated across the equestrian community she has always called home. Gallop For Life's mission is to stand beside every equestrian woman battling cancer, providing the support and assistance they need to navigate through the challenging journey — because horsewomen, as Lily Bisson knows firsthand, are fiercely strong, independent, and far less likely to ask for help than they are to need it.Sally Batton is one of the most accomplished and innovative coaching minds in American collegiate equestrian sport — a hunter-jumper educator, author, clinician, and institution builder whose career spans four decades and touches every level of the sport from first grade through Division I athletics. She served as the head coach of the Dartmouth College Division I Varsity Equestrian Team for thirty years, coaching dozens of riders to regional, zone, and national titles — a tenure that established her as one of the most respected figures in the IHSA universe and one of the most effective developers of the complete equestrian athlete in the collegiate space. She is the past Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Steward, was presented with the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 in recognition of her contributions and leadership within the organization, and in 2020 was inducted into the inaugural class of the IHSA Hall of Fame — a distinction that places her among the founding pantheon of the organization's most celebrated contributors. Batton is a certified instructor with both the United States Hunter Jumper Association and the American Riding Instructor's Association, and in 2008 was named ARIA Instructor of the Year. She holds an Equestrian Studies degree from Lake Erie College and a master's degree in Communications from Fairleigh-Dickinson University. Her contributions extend well beyond the show ring and the coaching box. Batton is the Founder and President of the Athletic Equestrian League, an organization which offers horsemanship education and competition opportunities to riders from first grade through adult, and she hosts the Athletic Equestrian Riding in College Podcast. In 2023, her training tool invention, the Sally Batton Pommel Blocker, was launched by Correct Connect, the industry leader in rider training aids. As an author, she co-wrote The Athletic Equestrian and Equicize, both Horse & Rider Books publications written alongside co-writer Christina Keim — books that have found devoted audiences among coaches and competitive riders at every level for their practical, biomechanics-based approach to developing strength, suppleness, and position in the saddle. Today, Sally travels all over the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, teaching clinics to riders of all ages and levels — bringing a career's worth of insight and methodology to every corner of the country where someone wants to become a better rider.Raegan Comeaux is a Louisiana-based hunter-jumper trainer, USEF licensed official, USHJA credentialed coach, curriculum developer, and founder whose career represents one of the most comprehensive visions of equestrian education currently operating in the American hunter-jumper world. She has been showing in the hunter-jumper discipline since the age of 8, and her professional life has been built entirely around transforming that lifelong passion into structured, accessible, high-quality equestrian education for riders at every level. A graduate of Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Animal Sciences with a specialty in Equine Science and a minor in Business and English, Comeaux brought both academic rigor and practical expertise to the facility she built alongside her mother from the ground up. Starting wittheplaidhorse.comThank you so much for joining us today on the Plaidcast. This podcast is a labor of love, and every single episode exists because of this incredible community of riders, trainers, barn managers, parents, and horse lovers who show up in the barn, in the ring, and right here with us.At The Plaid Horse, our commitment goes far beyond the show ring. We believe deeply in the power of literacy and education and that every rider, at every level, deserves access to knowledge, stories, and ideas that make them a better horseperson and a better human being. Reading matters. Learning matters. And the stories we tell each other in this sport matter more than we sometimes realize.Whether you are a junior rider picking up your first copy of The Plaid Horse  Magazine, a professional trainer looking for inspiration, or someone who simply loves horses and everything this world stands for then this community is for you. You belong here.We build this together. Every article, every episode, every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, to feel less alone in the challenges of this sport, and to be reminded of why we fell in love with horses in the first place.Until next time, keep reading, keep learning, keep riding, and remember that the horse world is better when we build it together. I will see you at the ring!

This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast focuses on heavy equipment safety in Ontario's aggregate industry and features Ryan Smith, Health and Safety Consultant at IHSA.Ryan discusses the key hazards associated with working around heavy equipment, including blind spots, pedestrian interactions, unstable ground conditions, stockpiles, articulated equipment, and heavy equipment right-of-way. He highlights the importance of equipment-specific training, pre-shift inspections, preventative maintenance, and effective communication in preventing incidents.Ryan also explores how emerging technologies, such as proximity warning systems, fatigue detection tools, autonomous equipment, improved cab filtration, and automatic greasing systems, are helping improve worker safety.Ryan highlights broader industry challenges, including exposure to silica and diesel exhaust, slips, trips and falls, and labour shortages. He emphasizes that building a strong safety culture, providing comprehensive training, encouraging proactive hazard reporting, and continuously identifying ways to improve are essential to creating safer aggregate workplaces. Free resourcesAggregatesSilica Control ToolSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosts Eddie Carifio and JT Pedelty break down their 2026 Illinois high school football games to watch in the western and southern portions of northern IllinoisBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

It's schedule release day for the 2026 IHSA football season. Hosts Steve Soucie and Matt Rodewald break down the games to watch, how the new playoff expansion affects scheduling and much more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

The Drive kicks off the week with a championship celebration as St. Joseph-Ogden baseball head coach Josh Haley joins the show to discuss the Spartans' incredible run to the IHSA Class 2A State Championship, the key moments from the title game, and what the historic achievement means for the program and community. The guys also break down the New York Knicks winning their first NBA championship in decades, what it means for the league, and where the defeated San Antonio Spurs go from here. Plus, the latest Illinois Fighting Illini football and Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball headlines, recruiting updates, and a recap of Evan Stone's celebrity basketball appearance. Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Tristan Thomas joins the show to discuss St. Joseph-Ogden's run in IHSA baseball, the impact of quarterback commit Dane Eisenmenger on the future of Illinois football, and settles the score on whether he or Evan Stone would come out on top in the upcoming charity basketball showdown. Plus, we preview a weekend interleague matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins, as well as the Chicago Cubs taking on the San Francisco Giants. We wrap up the week with another edition of Friday Toasts, celebrating the people, teams, and moments that deserve a raise of the glass.

The New York Knicks are one win away from their first NBA title since 1973 after completing the largest comeback in NBA Finals history Wednesday night. New York erased a 29-point deficit and stunned the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. OG Anunoby delivered the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining, capping a historic rally that saw the Knicks outscore San Antonio 58-30 in the second half. Carson Gourdie  from WICS-TV & Fox-Illinois breaks down what Illini Football landing Tolono Unity quarterback Dane Eisenmenger means for the future of Bret Bielema's quarterback room, how recent commitments are shaping the Illini's recruiting momentum, and why Lincoln Williams could be a difference-maker for Illinois basketball. Plus, Carson has an update on St. Joe-Ogden baseball as the Spartans prepare for the IHSA Class 2A State Finals, looking to cap another remarkable postseason run with a state championship.

Glenn Kinley from WCIA 3 Sports joins the show to discuss the IHSA Track & Field State Championships and what Andrej Stojakovic's return means for Illinois basketball. How real is the hype? We also give our Cardinals vs. Cubs series predictions and our Friday Toasts to wrap up the week! Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook!

Tristan Thomas joins the show to discuss Andrej Stojakovic officially returning to Illinois, previews of the IHSA State Track Meet, and his latest showdown with Evan Stone in a Champaign-Urbana celebrity basketball game. Can the San Antonio Spurs force a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals? Plus, Evan somehow finds himself on the wrong side of the law!  Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook!      

fWotD Episode 3307: Menora v. Illinois High School Association Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 25 May 2026, is Menora v. Illinois High School Association.Menora v. Illinois High School Association, 683 F.2d 1030 (7th Cir. 1982), is a case heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit centered on two Jewish schools seeking to play in an interscholastic basketball tournament run by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The IHSA would not let the schools compete unless their students removed their religious head-coverings, called kippot (sg. kippah). The kippot violated a rule against players wearing headgear on the court, according to the IHSA, but the students refused to play without them. They, along with their parents and schools, sued the IHSA in 1981, arguing that their First Amendment right of freedom of religion had been violated. The IHSA responded that the safety concern was reasonable because a kippah could fall off during play, causing injury.The Supreme Court's ruling in Sherbert v. Verner (1963) sets out a two-part test of government restrictions on religious freedom, known as the Sherbert test. Under the test, the restriction has to be justified by a compelling interest that outweighs the loss of religious freedom, and it has to preserve religious freedom as much as possible. The District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued an injunction, allowing the students to play with kippot on while the case was ongoing. Months later, the district court issued its judgment in favor of the schools, citing the Sherbert test. Judge Milton Shadur found that the IHSA did not have a compelling interest because the IHSA could not provide any evidence that kippot had ever caused an injury.The Seventh Circuit vacated the district court's ruling, forgoing the Sherbert test in favor of the false conflict doctrine – under this approach, the court rigorously defines the interests of the two parties, and in doing so, may find that little to no conflict actually exists between them. The court reasoned that if the schools could design a head-covering that met the IHSA's safety concerns, which the court felt were reasonable, the conflict would be resolved. The dissent argued that the district court had correctly interpreted Sherbert and that the ruling should not have put the burden of resolving the conflict on the schools. A settlement was reached in June 1983, allowing kippot to be worn when secured with contour clips. Legal scholars criticized the Seventh Circuit's false conflict approach as unsupported by precedent, writing that if the Sherbert test were properly applied, the court would have put the burden on the IHSA to uphold safety without infringing on religious freedom, not the schools. American Jewish communities largely took it as a victory that the students were allowed to play with kippot on. The Supreme Court's later ruling in Employment Division v. Smith (1990) limited the reach of the Sherbert test, possibly making it inapplicable to cases like Menora.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:17 UTC on Monday, 25 May 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Menora v. Illinois High School Association on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Aria.

Joining the podcast are members of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) equestrian team, fresh off an impressive performance at the IHSA National Championships. Representing the program are Head Coach and Equestrian Director Ashley Henry, Assistant Coach Sammy Perlman, and several standout student-athletes who earned multiple national titles, top-10 finishes, and championship honors across team and individual competition. SCAD continues to showcase the depth, talent, and excellence that have made the program one of the nation's premier collegiate equestrian teams.

Mount Carmel four-star wide receiver Quentin Burrell, who caught 67 passes for 1,139 yards and 16 touchdowns while helping the Caravan win a fourth straight IHSA state championship during his junior season, announced his commitment to Michigan on Wednesday.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Send us Fan MailPiper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont with Chrissy Rohan, Alyx West, Hadley Rogerson-Leach and Dr. Jenny Wilkinson.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Chrissy Rohan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Vermont, where she has spent the past decade teaching equine management and training. She also serves as Faculty Advisor to the student-run cooperative horse barn, home to 22 horses just minutes from campus. A lifelong equestrian, Chrissy grew up riding on her family's farm in Charlotte, VT, competed in Pony Club and the Big Equitation, and rode on UVM's IHSA team. Chrissy is deeply involved in the equestrian community, serving for over 15 years with the Vermont Hunter Jumper Association and supporting advocacy efforts through the Vermont Equine Industry Advocacy Group. Guest: Alyx West is an Animal Science major with a minor in Equine Studies, expected to graduate in May 2027. She has been riding horses most of her life, and having horses as part of her college experience has been her favorite part of being at UVM. At the UVM Horse Barn, she serves as a teaching assistant for the Equus program taught by Professor Chrissy Rohan. Alongside a team of other teaching assistants, she teaches riding lessons, basic horsemanship, and horse care while also helping oversee UVM's leased Animal Science horses. After graduation, Alyx hopes to enter the veterinary field as an assistant or technician and continue working with horses in any way she can.Guest: Hadley Rogerson-Leach is a senior at the University of Vermont and a member of the UVM Horse Barn Cooperative. Her passion for horses began at age seven, when she read every horse book in her school library before receiving a riding lesson for her eighth birthday. She joined the UVM Horse Barn in 2024 as a teaching assistant for the university's Equus program. Hadley plans to pursue a career in the equine industry after graduating this spring with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences. Guest: Dr. Jenny Wilkinson grew up riding in Virginia and competed on the University of Virginia's Equestrian Team. She spent several summers working as a wrangler in Wyoming and now returns with students for hands-on learning experiences. After completing her veterinary degree at Cornell, she worked at Vermont Large Animal Clinic before joining the University of Vermont in 2008. She teaches a range of equine-focused courses and created the travel study program “The European Pony Tour,” taking students abroad to Ireland and France with plans to visit Scotland next. Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineTitle Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSponsor: Sentinel, Mojo Joint and Chewy Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person event!

Who are the winningest active head football coaches in the IHSA? As the 2026 season approaches, Friday Night Drive has listed the state's winningest active coaches.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Despite missing the IHSA playoffs in each of the last two seasons, St. Ignatius has brought home consecutive Prep Bowl titles. Connor Hites and Connor Wanzung, who each hold Division I offers, are ready to lead the Wolfpack back to the playoffs in 2026.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Football players from La Salle-Peru and Ottawa had the opportunity to gain recruiting exposure by participating in IHSA combines, which are new this spring.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

The IHSA has approved combine events around the state this spring to help provide high school players with a high interest in playing at the college level with better opportunities to show their abilities. Nine Princeton players attended the event at Moline on Thursday.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

State and federal updates from Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Commodities Kevin Semlow in his "Seven with Kevin" segment.Monthly visit with Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo. IHSA Friday Friday Friday segment features Fisher High School senior Jesse Arndt, who works as an IHSA official in basketball, baseball and softball. 

is the Head Riding Coach and Associate Professor of Physical Education at Washington and Lee University. With more than 30 years of experience in the equestrian industry, he has coached nationally competitive collegiate riders and programs at Albion College, Randolph College, and Cornell University. A Virginia native, Mitchell has also served as Director of Jumper Programs for the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association and remains active in collegiate equestrian leadership through the IHSA. In 2025, he received the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his longstanding contributions to the sport.

Friday Night Drive is highlighting some of the top returning players at each position for the 2026 IHSA football season. Here are 10 of the top returning linebackers to watch as the season approaches.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Podcast. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most beautiful places on earth. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with the people and organizations that make this one of the most unique areas of Texas. In this episode, host Tom Fox speaks with Sage Walter about the upcoming Jane Ragsdale Memorial Polo Celebration, which will be held at Camp Stewart in Hunt, Texas, on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The event honors longtime Schreiner Board member Jane Ragsdale, who was lost in the July 4 flood, and raises funds to build an endowment for Schreiner's equestrian team led by head coach Ashley Brune, whose riders compete through IHSA against larger universities and have recently attended a national qualifier. Sage outlines event logistics and programming, including sponsor/VIP tents, general admission options, halftime equestrian demonstrations, hat contest, divot stomping, polo basics, parking details, and “rain or shine” execution. VIP and sponsorships are sold out, with general admission still available, and attendees are advised on smart-casual polo attire. Highlights include: Meet the Equestrian Team Remembering Jane Ragsdale Tickets, Weather, and Attire Jane Ragsdale Memorial Polo Celebration  Other Hill Country Focused Podcasts Hill Country Authors Podcast Hill Country Artists Podcast Texas Hill Country Podcast Network Cover Art Nancy Huffman

"Seven with Kevin" featuring Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs and Commodities Kevin Semlow.  Jenny Vaughn from the Illinois Conservation Foundation highlights the "Run for the Trees: Happy Little 5K", a nationwide virtual event inspired by the PBS series "The Joy of Painting" featuring the late painter Bob Ross.IHSA Friday Friday Friday features retired IHSA administrator Dave Gannaway, who has been inducted into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame for his role in creating the IHSA state tournament series in bass fishing. Also, Dave Gannaway and the Illinois High School Glory Days website.  

Friday Night Drive is highlighting some of the top returning players at each position for the 2026 IHSA football season. Here are 10 of the top defensive linemen to watch as the 2026 season approaches.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Friday Night Drive is highlighting some of the top returning players at each position for the 2026 IHSA football season. Here are 10 of the top returning offensive linemen to watch as the season approaches.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Carrie grew up at United States Military Academy at West Point, where her father served as Officer in Charge of the Cadet Riding Team. That early connection led to a lifelong relationship with the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA). After a career in marketing and communications Carrie moved to Wellington, Florida and later founded EQ Media. Today, her firm manages IHSA's communications, marketing, and sponsor relations and also works with W. F. Young on brands including Absorbine.

Illinois Farm Bureau Executive Director of Governmental Affairs & Commodities Kevin Semlow with state and federal updates in his "Seven with Kevin" segment. Learning about the Illinois Farm Bureau A-LOT (Agricultural Leaders of Tomorrow) program.  IHSA Friday Friday Friday segment features Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation Executive Director Kirk Builta, who serves as a community host during the IHSA boys basketball state tournament in Champaign. This year he was paired with the Quincy Notre Dame basketball team.  

As the Midwest weather is throwing a tantrum in March, let's manifest how we want Mother Nature to act with some golf talk. Seneca junior Piper Stenzel (24:36.5) talks about golfing at state for her third consecutive year. Hall junior Luke Bryant (29:40) chats about the Hall team playing together at state for the first time in program history and hitting a hole-in-one at the biggest tournament of the year. Cam Pawlowski (39:37), an eighth grader at Holy Cross in Mendota, is ready to advance his game from the IESA State Tournament to high school golf.Chat It Up (the first 20 minutes of every episode): IHSA girls basketball postseason, What the Pod is with The Dan Patrick Show and Something to Wrestle With, and NFL offseason

Brian Teague of Chicago State of Mind Sports calls in with an update on which Illinois players are making the biggest impressions at the NFL Combine and what it means for their draft stock. Can Gabe Jacas work his way into the First Round? What is Luke Altmyer doing that has impressed coaches? And how bout JC Davis' improvement from the Senior Bowl? Brian also discusses the Chicago Bears potential move to Arlington Heights. Champaign Central head football coach Matt Leskis joined the show to discuss the latest IHSA football rule changes and how they could impact teams across the state. Plus, we covered the day's top Illini Headlines and what fans should be watching moving forward.

Tristan Thomas from WCIA breaks down Illinois vs UCLA Bruins men's basketball and shares the highlights from the IHSA Wrestling State Finals. He highlights key matchups, postseason implications, and what to watch as the Illini continue their Big Ten push. Kurtis then takes over Etched in Stone with his top picks and best bets. Plus, Cooper O'Kelly from The Champaign Room joins the show to fill in for Evan and discuss his biggest takeaways surrounding Illinois athletics.

Celebrate the 200th episode of the Riding in College Podcast with IHSA founder Bob Cacchione. Follow along as he shares how he started the association with just six schools and a dozen riders and how it expanded in the years since. The concept was simple but revolutionary: eliminate the need for riders to own horses and provide mounts at each competition in a catch-ride format. Honored as one of the 20th Century Most Influential Horsemen, Bob Cacchione is mentioned as a beacon of the industry by most of the podcast guests.   

WCIA 3's Tristan Thomas breaks down the matchup between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the USC Trojans, along with the biggest Illinois High School Association basketball headlines this week. He also discusses the new IHSA football rule changes and what they could mean for teams moving forward. Evan's out for today, so Kurtis takes a crack at Etched in Stone. Plus, we reveal the winner of the Oscars-themed Tuesday Draft..

The IHSA announced Friday that member schools voted to approve a proposal impacting the start date of the 2026 football season and the number of practices required per player to compete in the first contest.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

IHSA member schools voted in favor of expansion for the state football playoffs, adding 128 teams to the postseason this fall by a statewide vote of member schools in December by a tally of 377-252, But the schools who voted later found there was a little catch.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

IHSA member schools voted in favor of expansion for the state football playoffs, adding 128 teams to the postseason this fall by a statewide vote of member schools in December by a tally of 377-252, But the schools who voted later found there was a little catch.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

McColley's tenure with Albion Equestrian began in August 2024. For the last 12 years, McColley, together with her husband, Travis, has been serving as the coach for the McColley Equestrian Team.  The McColley Equestrian Team has achieved significant success at both IEA and YEDA competitions. They clinched the 2018 and 2020 YEDA National Champion Senior High Team titles, as well as claiming the 2019 YEDA Reserve National Championship Senior High Team. In addition to team successes, they have coached numerous YEDA individual National and Reserve National Championship riders in horsemanship and ranch riding. Additionally, the team's riders have secured IEA regional championships, high point championships, and national qualifiers. Many of their riders have gone on to compete in NCAA and IHSA collegiate riding. In 2020, the senior high team made history by achieving the highest score to date at the YEDA National Championship show, triumphing by over 10 points. McColley also operates McColley Quarter Horses with her husband at their home in Jonesville. There, she has helped riders and horses achieve significant success, including producing AQHA Level Three and Level Two World, Reserve and Bronze World champions, AQHA Congress and Reserve champions, AQHA Level One champions, PHBA World champions, and numerous year-end high point champions. Nichole holds a bachelor's degree in biology, as well as an Associate's degree in Equestrian Studies from the University of Findlay, where she competed on their equestrian team.

Send us a textWelcome to The Plaidchat- an extension of The Plaidcast where we expand upon conversations in our sport and discuss the most recent issue of The Plaid Horse Magazine. Piper speaks with Dr. Erin Trawick-Smith, DVM about her article in the February issue. Listen in and share with friends!Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Dr. Erin Trawick-Smith, DVM is the owner of Millington Equine- a two doctor ambulatory practice in East Haddam, Connecticut. She has a special interest in equine reproduction, young horse development, and body lameness. Erin caught the veterinary bug at a young age and spent most of her time at the stable until attending Barnard College in New York City, where she rode on the IHSA team. She assisted with cancer research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a year before starting vet school at Tufts University.Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineRead the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person event!

John and Roman reveal the annual GSV football awards for the 2025 season and give their thoughts on Illinois expanding the playoffs from 32-to-48 teams per class.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gateway-sports-venue-show--3605575/support.

Andy Villamazaro is a national writer for RIVALS and covers high school sports. He wrote about the new changes to the IHSA Football Playoffs system and how it affects area schools. He joins us to further explain the changes, the pros and cons, and how it affects recruiting. We also check the Illini Headlines, the Bears are down 2 big weapons against the Packers, and Kurtis is firing Curveballs.

Luke Altmyer met with the media and discussed his decision to play in the Music City Bowl. We react to Luke's comments and give you a check of today's Illini Headlines. The IHSA voted "YES" on Propsal 19, which will expand the post season from 256 to 384 teams. The news has been met with mixed reactions. We explain the changes and give our reactions. Plus, Evan and Kurtis go head-to-head with College Playoff Predictions! Who's winning the national championship?

Piper hosts Plaidcast in Person in front of a live audience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin with Andi Bill, Mara Bunderson, Kayla Kintzele and Emily Elek. Listen in and share with friends!Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Andi Bill is the head coach for the University of Wisconsin - Madison Equestrian Team and owns Sugar Creek Stables LLC teaching both hunt seat and dressage lessons. She started her equestrian career showing ponies then moving up to the 3'6” equitation. She attended Mount Holyoke College and competed on their IHSA team, serving as captain her junior and senior years. She won Nationals in the Alumni division. When she's not at the barn, she is a civil engineer focusing on traffic safety. She is the Director of the Wisconsin Local Technical Assistance Program and Associate Director of the Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory and Eastern Tribal Technical Assistance Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She is a passionate advocate for making research tangible to practitioners and to foster implementation and widespread adoption.  Guest: Mara Bunderson is a 2025 graduate of UW Madison and competed on the Wisconsin Equestrian Team for four years. She earned titles of IHSA Reserve National Champion in 2023 and National Champion in 2024 under her trainer and coach, Andi Bill. She's remained active in the equestrian world, working for Emily Elek as a groom at Pony Finals and riding/taking lessons at both Stonewall Farm and Sugar Creek Stables. Outside of horses, Mara is attending grad school at UW Madison as well as working full time at Wisconsin Athletics as an accountant. Guest: Kayla Kintzele competed on the University of Wisconsin - Madison Equestrian Team for four years and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering. She remains active in IHSA, having competed as an alumni and also helping organize the IHSA Zone 7 Championships the past two years. Outside of her day job as a project engineer, she trains with Andi Bill, competes as an adult amateur in the hunters with her horse, Levi, and also grooms for Emily Elek. Guest: Emily Elek is the owner of Stonewall Farm in Ixonia, Wisconsin where she operates one of the largest pony leasing, sales, breeding and training operations. Emily takes a holistic view in developing ponies and riders for lifelong success.Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineRead the Latest Issue of The Plaid Horse MagazineSponsors: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, Windstar Cruises, and Great American Insurance Group  Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person event!

Mike Mulligan and David Haugh were joined by Fenwick High School football coach Matthew Battaglia and Mount Carmel High School football coach Jordan Lynch to discuss their teams winning the Class 6A and Class 8A state titles, respectively.

John and Roman review the St. Louis area Missouri state semifinal games.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gateway-sports-venue-show--3605575/support.

Tristan Thomas from WCIA-3 previews the IHSA State Championship games! Maroa-Forsyth, Tolono-Unity, and Rochester are all playing on Friday.  Local celebrities voted in our Thanksgiving Side Dish draft, and one vote really hurt Kurtis' feelings. It's a familiar name... And who WON our draft? The results are crazy! Plus, our Thanksgiving Toasts!

We preview tonight's #8 Fighting Illini men's basketball game against #11 Alabama Crimson Tide at the United Center in Chicago! Who's in and who's out?  We'll talk with Tristan Thomas from WCIA-3 about tonight's game, plus 2 area schools are guaranteed to play for a State Championship. We'll preview Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond vs Maroa-Forsyth and Tolono-Unity vs St. Joe-Ogden. Kurtis throws some serious Curveballs at Evan and more on our Denzel Movie Draft.

Nichole shares the secrets behind Albion's incredible season—including their Regional Championship and 5th-place finish at IHSA Nationals—and breaks down the unique IHSA draw system, how Quarter Horses fit into the competition structure, and the vital lessons riders learn from schooling and showing these versatile horses. Then, Alyssa, a dedicated Quarter Horse enthusiast, gives us a captain's view on adjusting to IHSA, the rewarding challenges of leadership, and the specific qualities that make the American Quarter Horse perfectly suited for collegiate success. Tune in to learn how IHSA is building future horsemen and women, one draw horse at a time!Hosts: Ashley Winch and Cat GuentherGuest: Nichole McColley - Facebook Guest: Alyssa McPherson

Nichole shares the secrets behind Albion's incredible season—including their Regional Championship and 5th-place finish at IHSA Nationals—and breaks down the unique IHSA draw system, how Quarter Horses fit into the competition structure, and the vital lessons riders learn from schooling and showing these versatile horses. Then, Alyssa, a dedicated Quarter Horse enthusiast, gives us a captain's view on adjusting to IHSA, the rewarding challenges of leadership, and the specific qualities that make the American Quarter Horse perfectly suited for collegiate success. Tune in to learn how IHSA is building future horsemen and women, one draw horse at a time!Hosts: Ashley Winch and Cat GuentherGuest: Nichole McColley - Facebook Guest: Alyssa McPherson

Tristan Thomas from WCIA-3 joins us to talk about the IHSA Quarterfinals! It's another big weekend for area schools. We also get Tristan's take on Illinois' win over Texas Tech and find out that Evan stole Josh Whitman's chair last night! Kurtis throws some curveballs and we find out who won our Pro Wrestler Draft! Ohhh Hell Yeah! 

Tonya Johnston, Mental Skills Coach speaks with professional rider and trainer for Heritage Farm, Laena Romond. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Host: Tonya Johnston, Visit her Website, Facebook and buy her book Inside Your Ride Guest: Originally from Colchester, VT, Laena Romond grew up showing in equitation, junior hunters and junior jumpers under Fran, Joe and Annie Dotoli at Ox Ridge Hunt Club. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College—where she graduated cum laude in biochemistry— Laena also competed on the IHSA circuit. As a freshman, she won the prestigious USEF/Cacchione Cup. She joined the Heritage Farm team in 2007 and has played an integral role with her natural riding talent and training knowledge. Among her recent competitive highlights are being champion in the Green 3'6" and co-grand champion at the Washington International Horse Show as well as Green 3'6" champion at the National Horse Show.Subscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineTitle Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSponsors: Purina, Great American Insurance Group and Windstar Cruises Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!