All three levels, freshmen, JV and Varsity win against Lady Warriors
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Monday October 2 was the “Annual Pink-Out Night” volleyball game at Chester High School. The Lady Jackets hosted the Steeleville Lady Warriors beginning at 5:00 P.M. with the freshmen girls, followed by the JV match at 6:00 P.M. and the night cap Varsity feature at 7:30 P.M.
The Chester and Steeleville girls played hard for all three exciting matches throughout the night, but the real feature and meaning of the evening was all of the activities created to raise money to help fight cancer.
Head Coach Collen Runge said, “We hosted the Lady Warriors in our annual “Pink-Out” fundraiser volleyball game. We were able to take the win on all three levels, but that wasn’t the importance of the event. We were able to come together and raise $1,400.00 for the cause!”
“This year’s proceeds went to Sandra’s Comfort in Rockwood, Illinois. That organization aides cancer patients with expenses not covered by their insurance such as medication, food, transportation and lab work. Funds were raised by having a bake sale, T-shirt sales, a silent auction, and a 50/50 raffle.”
Prior to the stat of the varsity match, the Chester Volleyball players held a brief ceremony in which they honored local cancer patients and remembered those recently departed. During that ceremony, each player presented those in attendance with a rose and asked each honoree to join together on the court for a photo with both Chester and Steeleville players.
Loved ones honored and remembered included Judy Kempfer, Ruthie Lutman, Patsie Hopkins, Dawn Turner, Janet Baldwin, Larry Baldwin, Pat Knowles, Deb Uchtman, Tracy Mott, and Linda Hoffman.
Later in the evening the winner of the 50/50 raffle was announced. The 2023 “Pink-Out” Volleyball 50/50 winner was Makenzie Brake who won $212.50.
Silent Auction winners were also announced and numerous volleyball fans were seen thoroughly enjoying all of the tasty baked good that were sold at the Annual “Pink-Out” Bake Sale. Finally, fans wearing the 2023 bright pink T-shirts that were sold by the volleyball players were highly visible throughout Colbert Gymnasium.
The Lady Jacket Freshman Team won their match in two sets, 21-18 and 21-14. Both sets were competitive and exciting and the freshmen from both schools demonstrated their potential for becoming key players in years to come!
Lady Jacket freshmen included Morgan Throop, Ava Bert, Brooke Howie, Hailey Yankey, Peyton Parker, Rylee Shemonic, and Taylor Throop. The freshmen are coached by Alysa Keith and Reese Chandler.
Steeleville freshmen included Maddie Tretter, Kamryn Patterson, Daisy Jeffers, Bailey Cole, Aubrey Armstrong, Caitlyn Appel, Emma Batson, Shelby Malone, Bella Gimber, and Lily Hepp.
The Junior Varsity match was also a two-set victory. Set 1 was all Chester as the JV Lady cruised to a 25-9 win. Set 2 was neck-and-neck throughout the set with the Lady Warriors threatening to take the win right up until the final serves. The Lady Jackets pulled it out, however, for a nice, exciting, 25-22 victory in the end.
JV Lady Jackets included Olivia Earl, Camryn Wolff, Erin Liefer, Jessica Stumpe, Lexi Mott, Lillian Diskey, Morgan Throop, Aleah Eggemeyer, Aubrey Colvis, Avery Hasemeyer, and Joella Eggemeyer. The JV Jackets are coached by Alyssa Keith and Reese Chandler.
Lady JV Warriors included Kamryn Patterson, Madi Yates, Gabi Hood, Bailey Cole, Lexi Smith, Caitlyn Appel, Emma Batson, Rylan Reiss, Bella Gimber, Lily Hepp, Hannah Runyon, and Sadie Conway.
The varsity matchup was action-packed throughout both sets. Set 1 featured four ties and three lead changes. Chester led by as many as four points, but each time the Jackets seemed to have control of the set, the Lady Warriors would fight back and get within 1,2,or 3, points.
In the closing serves, Steeleville got within 2 points, 22-20, but Chester’s Mabry Wingerter served the final points to give Chester the 25-23 win.
Early in the first set, all action was stopped by stadium announcer Steve Colonel who announced that CHS senior Mabry Wingerter had just reached her 1000th career assist in IHSA Volleyball. Coach Runge presented Mabry with a poster to commemorate the occasion.
Coach Collen Runge said, “Mabry Wingerter locked-in her 1000th Varsity assist in Set 1. At the start of the match, Mabry had accumulated 995 assists. She was able to secure the last five within the first set of the match. We are so proud of Mabry and her accomplishment!”
Set 2 got off to a fantastic start with Mabry Wingerter serving the Jackets to a 6-0 early lead. The Warriors then began edging their way back into a competitive mode closing the gap to three points several times and as close as two points once, and one point once, as the set neared the conclusion of game.
After getting within one point, 13-12, the Jackets started inching their way ahead of Steeleville once again when Steeleville Coach, Loni Smith called timeout with CHS ahead by five points, 17-12.
Following the time out, Chester never really looked back and continued to creep ahead until they hit an 8-point lead, 22-14. The Jackets then edged Steeleville by nine points, 24-15, before Steeleville made one last effort to get within six points, 24-18. Mabry Wingerter then came to serve the final blow. Chester won the set and the match, 25-18.
Varsity YellowJackets included Alexis Eggemeyer, Ellen McCormick, Grace Welborn, Jasemine Merideth, Jordan Buskohl, Liberty McCormick, Mabry Wingerter, Elaina Lutman, Camryn Wolff, Maggie Caby, and Joella Eggemeyer. The Lady Jackets are coached by Head Coach Collen Runge. She is assisted by Alyssa Keith and Reese Chandler.
Steeleville Varsity players included Shaylee Ayers, Aubrianna Bockhorn, Madi Yates, Gabi Hood, Lexi Smith, Elly Buch, Hannah Middendorf, Olivia Raby, Lauren Wedemeyer, Rylan Reiss, Hannah Runyon, and Sadie Conway. The Lady Warriors are coached by Lesley Wente, Head Coach; Jodi Rieckenberg, Assistant Coach; and Volunteer Assistant Coaches, Jenny Wedemeyer and Alaina Fiene.
The Jackets will finish Week 7 at Okawville Thursday October 5 when the Chester will attempt to sweep the season competitions against the Lady Rockets. Chester swept the Rockets on September 26 at home when all three Chester levels were successful against Okawville.
Early in the first set of the Varsity game at the 2023 “Pink Out” Volleyball Night, Chester’s Mabry Wingerter, a senior, hit the 1000th assist of her high school career. She had 995 assists coming into the match and met the 1000th assist early in the Varsity Match against the Lady Warriors of Steeleville. Shown here, Head Coach, Collen Runge presents Wingerter with a poster commemorating the landmark. The event was held Monday October 2 at Chester’ High School’s Colbert Gymnasium. Jim Beers Photo
Memorial Hospital of Chester had an information table at the 2023 CHS Volleyball “Pink Out: game Monday October 2 when Chester hosted Steeleville. Memorial staff were on hand to pass out numerous specialty advertising items and information materials pertaining to cancer. Jim Beers Photo
Volleyball parents manned the T-shirt table at the 2023 CHS “Pink Out” fundraiser. Chester hosted Steeleville in volleyball and the Lady Jacket Volleyball Team had several fundraising efforts to raise money to help support Sandra’s Comfort in Rockwood. This organization helps to aide cancer patients with costs not covered by ordinary insurance plans. Pictured here are Volleyball parent Samantha Yankey, her daughter Gwen, and to the far right is Volleyball parent Tammy Liefer. Jim Beers Photo
Lady Jacket Volleyball players sell 50/50 tickets at the 2023 CHS Annual Volleyball “Pink-Out” game Monday October 2nd. The money raised was donated to Sandra’s Comfort in Rockwood Illinois. This organization aides cancer patients with expenses not often covered by their insurance. The prize for the night was $212.50 won by Makenzie Brake. Jim Beers Photo
Volleyball parents, Adrianne Caby and Carrie Lutman, sell delicious baked goods Monday October 2nd at the 2023 Volleyball “Pink Out”. The Lady Jackets hosted Steeleville for the event and the team held various fundraising activities to raise money for the “Sandra’s Comfort” organization. The organization, based in Rockwood, Illinois, provides aide to cancer patients for expenses not often covered by insurance. For the night, the Chester Lady Jackets raised $1,400.00 to help cancer patients. Jim Beers Photo
Christa Howie and Kristy Bert man the Silent Auction tables at the 2023 Volleyball “Pink-Out” Monday October 2nd. The event was held to raise money to aide cancer patients. The profits for the event were donated to the “Sandra’s Comfort” organization. This group helps cancer patients with expenses that are not covered by insurance. Jim Beers Photo
Prior to the 2023 “Pink Out” Volleyball game at Chester High School both teams, Chester and Steeleville, posed for a photo togetjher along with honored and remembered cancer survivors and patients. The evening raised $1,400 for cancer patients via “Sandra’s Comfort” an organization dedicated to aiding cancer patients with bills not covered by insurance. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School senior volleyball player, Mabry Wingerter (3) soars for a huge hit in the second set of the CHS vs Steeleville volleyball game Monday October 2nd. Wingerter helped her team win in two sets with her assists, hitting and serving throughout the game. Jim Beers Photo