Metro East Sports Podcast

This episode begins with Belleville East Softball Coach Natalie Peters, who has been at the helm of the program for 21 years. As a BE alumnus, Coach Peters discusses her transition from player to coach along with her illustrious career at Florida State University. Next up, Coach Ben Scamihorn led the Roxana Boys XC program to 22nd at the 1A state meet earning the MESPY for Team of the Year. Scamih...

Billy Woods has been covering local sports at the Edwardsville Intelligencer for nearly half a decade; however, he has accepted a similar position in Laredo, Texas. So, before he leaves in just a few days, Dave sat down with Billy to discuss his new position, his time in Edwardsville, his long-term professional goals, advice for writers, his best memories, and what he'll miss about the area. Woods...

The last episode of 2024 begins with Navy XC and Track runner Justin Mumford. The Wesclin HS graduate is back to talk about life at Annapolis. Mumford details his daily activities, his big plans for his career and beyond, and he expresses his pride about being a student at the Naval Academy. Next up, we talk O'Fallon THS Softball with Head Coach Jamie Corbier and Assistant Coach Ally DeFossett. Th...

This show begins with the MESPY winner for Female Swimmer of the Year, Alyssa Albertyn of O'Fallon THS. Albertyn, who medaled in two events at state this year, describes her life-long love of swimming, her season, and her lofty goals for her future. She is joined in the studio by her coach, Karin King. King describes coaching Ablertyn and what she has meant to the program. Next up, we are joined b...

This episode features two of the area's top young coaches: Dylan Dudley of Alton High School Boys Basketball and Cortney Walker of Mater Dei Girls Volleyball. Coach Dudley kicks off the show to talk about the Redbirds' hot 8-1 start, becoming a first-time dad, creating the "everyday dudes" culture, and working with "adaptive PE" and how that experience has changed his life. Dave insists that Coach...

This episode features 3 amazing coaches and 2 outstanding high school athletes. First up, Coach Christian Rhoten is in the studio to accept the MESPY for Girls Swim Team of the Year. Coach Rhoten describes "the best season in the history of the program," which included a 13th place finish at state tying a program high, multiple records broken, and team-high number of medals won at state. Rhoten is...

This episode begins with the MESPY Winners for 3A XC Runners of the Year, Ellie Bush and Zach Thoman of O'Fallon THS. The pair are joined by their respective coaches, Jon Burnett and Neil James, who discuss coaching them along with a few "secrets to their success." Bush and Thoman describe their successful seasons including the "fast" state meet. Next up, Caleb Wright, a junior at Freeburg HS, has...

This episode features a prep hoops preview along with MESPY winners for 3A XC Teams of the Year and 1A Girls Tennis Singles and Team of the Year. The show kicks off with Hall of Fame basketball pundit Steve Porter, who brings a half a century of basketball knowledge to the mic. Porter and Dave discuss the big and small schools to watch out for this season for the boys and girls along with the stor...

Three great coaches from three outstanding teams are featured in this podcast, along with two terrific athletes. This episode kicks off with SIUe Cougar Women's Basketball Coach, Sam Smith, who talks about her squad as they are in the early stages of this, her fourth, season. Coach Sam likes the culture of the program, and she talks about her team's upcoming schedule, and why everyone needs to get...

This episode features 3 very unique individuals: Belleville East, Athletic Director Joe Nesbit, XC photographer and enthusiast, Mike Baxter, and legendary Belleville West retired volleyball coach Charlie Rodman. Joe Nesbit kicks off the show to talk about his first year as the Athletic Director at BE. The former BE volleyball coach talks about the challenges and the many different hats he has to w...

This episode begins with golf! Mason Lewis of Edwardsville HS is the MESPY winner for 3A Golfer of the Year. The SMU commit discusses growing up in a golf family, his season, and his top-20 finish at state. Next up, O'Fallon Girls Golf Coach Chris Eddy to discuss leading the area's most consistent girls program, which finished 6th at state last weekend. Eddy talks about what made this team unique...

This episode focuses on two local girls high school programs: Belleville East Flag Football and Mascoutah Basketball. The show begins with Coach Doug Zerjal, who began the girls flag football program at BE. Zerjal, who is currently the Boys Defensive Coordinator, could not suppress his desire to help start football for the girls at East, and he knew who he wanted to help lead his program, Annyca W...

This show focuses on the local hockey and cross country seasons. First, Edwardsville High School Hockey Head Coach Jason Walker is in the studio to preview the upcoming high school season, which kicks off this Friday in the Hockey Fights Cancer Series against Oakville. Walker discusses playing in the Plummer Family Ice Arena and how the level of hockey has improved over the last few years. Joining...

This show features 10 BIG GUESTS! Beginning with Kahok Head Football Coach Colton Rhodes, who brings with him WR Amari Rodgers-Parrott and C Kaken Hearn. Coach Rhodes talks about the team's 3-3 start, and discusses his team's upcoming game with Marion. Rodgers-Parrott talks about his favorite play, and Hearn describes being a leader for the Purple footballers. Next up, we sit down with one of the...

This show features three amazing coaches. Rich Crouthers and his organization, Without Limits, Team Galaxy, provide opportunities for nearly 500 individuals with special needs to play 15 sports! As the founder of the organization, Crouthers details the history of the group, which has gone from a modest group of about 5 athletes to one of the largest groups of its kind in the state! Next up, Cody M...

This episode has WIDE variety of greatness! Beginning with Alton High School Girls Tennis Coach Jesse Macias, who is joined by two of his senior leaders, Lily Schuler and Lauren Massey, the coach talks about the "big win" over Belleville East, the Robert Logan Memorial Tennis Invite, and his hopes for the remainder of the season. Massey talks about playing doubles with her sister, and Sc...

This show kicks off with NEW presenting sponsor Debbie Njai of Little Caesar's Pizza! Njai talks about her journey as a young, female entrepreneur, and her effort in founding "Black People Who Hike," which is creating opportunities world-wide. She also discusses the importance of "giving back," and she talks about opportunities for people looking for a job and coaches who w...

This show kicks off with Chicago tennis coach Brian Ostrander, who recently brought his team to the Heather Bradshaw Invitational hosted by Edwardsville High School. Ostrander give his perspective on the metro east, and shares his person tennis story, which has included 31 years as a high school tennis coach in Illinois. He leaves with sage advice on what he loves about the game and the experience...

This show features two outstanding individuals in the Metro East : Mascoutah HS Athletic Director Scott Battas and Alton High School golfer/bowler Sam Ottwell. Battas begins the show bringing the energy from his town and school. He explains what makes Mascoutah "different," and he shares his vision for the school and the community as "a place that people want to live." Battas a...

This show kicks off with junior cyclist Emily Hagedorn, a senior at Edwardsville High School, who recently won her age group at the Edwardsville Criterium. Hagedorn talks about how she got into the sport, and her love for riding bikes including "cycle cross." She also describes riding with cyclists of all ages and trap shooting--her other sport. Next up, John Hough of the Gateway Sports...

In this Legends Edition of the podcast, Dave sits down with "the Jackie Robinson of Edwardsville," Herman Shaw. The show begins with Shaw speaking about his busy schedule as the founder and director of the Lincoln School Alumni Foundation, which supports students in the Edwardsville School District, and he highlights the great work done by his foundation. Then, he goes back and gives ins...

This show features the stars of the recently completed Edwardsville Futures Men's Pro Circuit Tennis Tournament. The show begins with singles champion, Gavin Young, the top player at the University of Michigan, who is entering his last season with the Wolverines. Young talks about winning his first-every pro tournament, and how playing in the Big 10 has prepared him for success as a pro. The 6...

Brian Mulhall is back to talk about the Edwardsville Rotary Criterium Festival, which will take place on Saturday August 17 in downtown Edwardsville, and which will include food and beverages, entertainment, and, of course, bike races for everyone. The event, which raises money for the Edwardsville Rotary, was begun in 2010, and is part of the Illinois Cup series. Mulhall talks about the work invo...

This episode begins with the MESPY winner for 3A Track Team of the Year, Coach Chad Lakatos and his son Clayton, who played a major role in the Tigers' state championship. Coach Lakatos shares insight on his program's dominance, which has included three state championships, and he discusses what made this year's success "special." Clayton talks about learning running techniqu...

This is a Mississippi Valley Conference Special featuring MESPY winning athletes from Triad boys tennis, Highland HS girls basketball, and Jersey Community HS girls basketball. The show kicks off with the MESPY winners for 1A Boys Tennis Doubles Team of the Year, Joe Cass and Ethan Stewart of Triad HS. The boys talk about making history for Triad by reaching the semifinals of the state tournament...