Sports - The McKendree Review

Powerlifting Dominates at Collegiate Cup

22Jan

By The McKendree ReviewNo Comments

Sports

Powerlifting Dominates at Collegiate Cup

McKendree Powerlifting Dominates Collegiate Cup with First and Second Place Finishes By: Elizabeth Collins Dec. 5, 2025 MIDLAND, NE--McKendree University’s powerlifting team made a statement at the USA Collegiate Cup, with the men’s team earning first place overall beating multiple teams including the defending National champion and the women’s equipped team securing second. Four male athletes won their individual weight classes, while five female athletes won their individual weight classes. Pictures below--Men's and Women’s McKendree Powerlifting Team Photo Credit: Bradly Bechel The meet was held November 24 and showcased McKendree’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in collegiate powerlifting. Head Coach Bradly Bechel praised his athletes not only for their p...

24Nov

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Sports

The Best in the NFL: The Chicago Bears

Story and Photography By Megan and Hayden Melone Since the departure of the St. Louis Rams the most prominent NFL team to St. Louis and to McKendree are the Chicago Bears. But I don't know that much about football, or the Bears, so I asked the biggest Bears fan I know- my brother, Hayden. The Bears were established in 1919 and their home stadium, Soldier Field, is located on the south side of Chicago. I interviewed Hayden on the Bears' 2025 season: How long have you been a Bears fan?  MELONE: Like six or seven years. Do you have a favorite bears team out of the entire history of the franchise?MELONE: The 1985 Bears were the best, that was the year they won the Superbowl. Hayden at Soldier Field How has the 2025 season been?MELONE: Ups and downs, for sure. Some good...

27Oct

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Sports

McK Football’s Rainy Homecoming Win

McKendree Football secured a win against the Lincoln University Blue Tigers on Saturday 10/25 with a final score of 54-48. It was a rainy day for McKendree’s 197th Homecoming. The campus was busy with a craft fair, bouncy houses, and food trucks. Football fans braved the rainy first half and were well rewarded with the high-scoring win. The game also featured performances from the dance team and the Spirit of McKendree band. Sportswriter Nevaeh Papp interviewed the football head coach, Jason Rejfek, on his coaching experience and the Bearcats 2025 season: How long have you been coaching for McKendree University? REJFEK: I have been coaching here for the last 7 seasons. I started as a Wide Receivers Coach in 2018, flipped over to the defensive backs in 2019 and then was the...

Into the Unknown: A Look into Student Athlete Life

8Oct

By Delaney JudkinsNo Comments

Sports, Uncategorized

Into the Unknown: A Look into Student Athlete Life

Written By Delaney JudkinsPhotography By McKendree Athletics In sports, growth often comes from stepping outside of your comfort zones. Whether it’s trying a new position, testing a new skill, or joining a different team, taking risks can feel intimidating. Athletes sometimes hold back because of fear – fear of failure, fear of judgment or simply fear of the unknown. But risks are what push us to improve, build confidence, and discover abilities we didn’t know we had. By challenging ourselves, we not only learn what we are capable of, but also gain valuable experiences that shape us both as athletes and as people. Trying something new in sports can also create opportunities that weren’t there before. An athlete who experiments on a different sport or role may uncover hidden tale...

26Feb

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Sports

Bearcats Beat Ohio State

By Megan Melone, Writer Photography By McKendree Athletics Sports Reporting By McKendree Athletics 2/20- The McKendree men’s volleyball team, ranked No. 17 beat the titan Ohio State, No. 15, in a 3-1 victory. The win is celebratory as McKendree has not gotten a win against OSU since 2022. Nate Flayter showed out for his team during the match with 47 assists. Flayter was awarded the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association’s Offensive Player of the Week on Monday of this week, a deserved and huge honor for Flayter and McKendree. The Bearcats carried the momentum from their Thursday win against OSU into their Saturday match against Ball State, securing a win against the team ranked No. 8 in the league. The Bearcats 2025 team is not to be underestimated as they secure two ...

4Nov

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Profiles, Sports

Senior Spotlight: Kiley Hasenfratz

Written by Megan Melone Photography by McKendree Athletics and Kiley Hasenfratz Kiley Hasenfratz is a senior exercise science major from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Kiley is a forward on the McKendree women’s hockey team. I interviewed Kiley to find out more about her time at McKendree: What is your major? HASENFRATZ: I’m an exercise science major. I got really interested in the body one year, after getting hurt a bunch while playing hockey. So, I initially taught myself how to take care of myself after a game and recover properly, and that just made me really interested in the body, and I thought like you know what? This would be a really good profession to take over and help other people when they can't. Kiley Hasenfratz Why did you decide to study abroad? HASENFRATZ:...

Hockey and Golf Start Season, Football and Soccer Win

17Sep

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Sports

Hockey and Golf Start Season, Football and Soccer Win

Written by Megan Melone Photography and Scores from McKendree Athletics It was another busy week for McKendree Athletics as teams brought home victories and more Bearcats began their seasons. Men's Hockey The McKendree men’s hockey team opened their 2024-25 season at Maryville University. Goalkeeper Dyllan Dallaire greatly supported the team, blocking 42 of 46 shots by Maryville. Still, McKendree lost the match with a score of 4-0. The team played again on the 13th against the University of Illinois and saw a loss of 3-7. But the Bearcats will return on the ice on September 20th against Missouri State University in Springfield. Goalkeeper Dyllan Dallaire blocked 42 of Maryville's shots. Women's Golf Women's golf opened their season this past week. The McKendree wo...

Recap of McKendree Athletics’ Opening Matches

9Sep

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Sports

Recap of McKendree Athletics’ Opening Matches

By Megan Melone Photography by McKendree Athletics Scores retrieved from McKendree Athletics It was a busy weekend for McKendree Athletics as several teams began their 2024 season! Women's Soccer Women’s soccer opened their season with a win against the University of Alabama Huntsville at Charger Park with a goal by Lena Higgins, a senior forward for McKendree. Maicy Mueller, a junior goalkeeper, made several saves throughout the game defending McKendree’s goal, aiding the win and making for a great debut, as it was her very first collegiate match. The final score was 1-0, adding another notch to McKendree’s winning history against Alabama Huntsville: 3-0-0. The women’s soccer team also won again against Montevallo University with a final score of 3-2. Lena Higgins sco...

3May

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Profiles, Sports

Senior Spotlight: Isabella Barbaglia

By Megan Melone, Writer Photography via Bella Barbaglia Isabella Barbaglia is a senior history major. She is the president of the McKendree History Club, plays on the McKendree women’s golf team, and is a member of both, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Alpha Theta honor societies. I interviewed Bella about her time here at McKendree and her after-school plans: Where are you from? BARBAGLIA: I am from St. Louis, Florissant Area, which is like North St. Louis. Why did you decide to come to McKendree? BARBAGLIA: I went to Rockhurst in Kansas City, and after my freshman year I decided I didn’t like it. I wanted somewhere closer to home and I was looking at small schools. When I visited McKendree, I loved the campus and had the opportunity to play golf, so I decided to com...

20Mar

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Profiles, Sports

Senior Spotlight: Martina Hicks

By Megan Melone, Writer Photography from McKendree Athletics Martina Hicks is a senior biopsychology major with a minor in biology. Martina is the 2022-23 Academic All-GLVC and a recipient of the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award, as well as the secretary for SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee). I interviewed Martina about her time at McKendree and her plans for the future: Where are you from? HICKS: I am from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho originally. But the last four years I’ve lived in Hamilton, Montana. Why did you decide to come to McKendree? HICKS: My senior year was COVID. I originally was on the brink of playing golf in college. In Idaho, golf is a spring sport, so I didn’t get a spring season, and that made me push towards looking at schools. McKendree...