HOF Insights- 5 Tips for Players to Make Your Season Successful

(Originally published in August of 2025)
 

This Week’s Question: As athletes head into their sports seasons, what are 5 tips you would give to athletes to help them make their season successful and their experience a positive one?

1987 Illinois Boys Basketball Class A State Tourney

State Champions- Venice

2nd- Okawville

3rd- Chrisman

4th- Beardstown

Coaches’ Corner- Getting Ready For First Game

I was very fortunate to start out teaching in a very good and very organized Social Studies Dept at Galesburg HS in the 1970’s. One of the main subjects I was teaching was U.S. History. We had 7 teachers teaching U.S. History. Every unit, we would combine all the classes for presentations with readings, lectures, and presentations. As a result, we were all expected to test the same day, then move onto the next unit. The test date was set, so you had to organize your individual class to get your lessons in before that date. You had to be organized because the test date was not going to be moved. 

Basketball is the same way. Each coach is assigned the first test date- your first game. It cannot be moved because you are not ready. You have to be organized to figure out what you must get in. You cannot complain that i don’t have time- you have to figure out. And you don’t want two days before the first game or the night before the first game realize that you have not gotten 3-4 things in that you should have gotten in. 

Streaks Culture- Five Pillars of Culture

We believe these five characteristics must be the heart of our team culture. The five characteristics allow us to be stronger together as a team, and produce a family atmosphere.

#1- Humility

Humility allows us to understand we have room to grow and improve in our lives.

Humility allows us to understand we can’t do it alone, we need other people.

#2- Passion

We can impact other people not just by what we do, but how we do it. We can be an energy giver with our love, our energy, and our work ethic. Nothing great can be achieved without enthusiasm.

#3- Unity

Basketball and life are team sports, together we always achieve more. We are tougher together.

#4- Servanthood

The best teams in life, help each teammate become better versions of themselves. Servanthood is our ability and willingness to help our teammates.

#5 Thankfulness

Gratitude must be a constant drumbeat. Don’t forget to express your appreciation. And, appreciate and learn from each circumstance, both success and failure.

These five pillars of culture were taken from Dick Bennett, successful high school and college coach.

1965 Galesburg HS Reflector

 

Here is link to other GHS Reflectors & Galesburg History…

Galesburg Past & Present

Here is the rest of the ‘65 Reflector….

HOF Insights: Focusing on Culture at Beginning of Season

(Originally published in October of 2025)

This Week’s Question- For decades, we may not have used the word culture but we had in mind how our teams would look, how they would practice, and how they would play. When you met with your teams either when you started practice or before you started practice- were there any specific things you made clear about your expectations? I believe the first week of practice is so important for setting the tone. To an outsider, were there some little things or big things that you did in practice that were designed to help establish your culture. 

History of WB6 Schools in the IHSA Football Playoffs

 

History of IHSA Football Playoffs

1974- 5 Classes of 16 Teams- 80 Total Teams

1980- 6 Classes of 16 Teams- 96 Total Teams

1985- 6 Classes of 32 Teams- 192 Total Teams

2000- 8 Classes of 32 Teams- 256 Total Teams

2026- 8 Classes of 48 Teams- 384 Total Teams **

** In each class 16 teams receive a Bye and 32 teams play in what is called the “Opening Round.” Teams who win in the “Opening Round” advance to play the Bye teams in the “First Round.”

Bob Reade

2026 Seeds and Records

Receive Bye- Start in First Round

4A- #4- Sterling (7-2)

Start in Opening Round- Win Advances to First Round

4A- #9- Geneseo (6-3)

5A- #18- Galesburg (4-5)

6A- #9- Quincy (6-3)

6A- #16- UTHS (5-4)

7A- #18- Moline (6-3)

1986 Illinois Girls Basketball Class AA State Tourney

 State Champions- Peoria Manual

Streaks Alumni Profile- Drake Sykes 2013 (plus Sonny GHS 2045)

 

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Drake Sykes from the Galesburg HS’s Class of 2013.

Drake was active as a student and athlete at Galesburg HS. He had an absolutely awesome career at Knox College as a student and as an athlete. He was selected to the Knox College Athletic HOF for his achievements. 

He is now the Knox College baseball coach. It will be exciting to see where he takes the Prairie Fire. 

Massey Quiz #68- Athletes in Politics and Government

  

 

 

I have fifteen pictures of athletes who went into politics and government positions. Identify who these people are. 

The answers are at the end of the quiz. Keep track of your score and read exactly what your score indicates. If you would like- share your score on the Facebook or Massey Blog under the comments. 

1986 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

 

State Champs- Teutopolis

HOF Insights- Getting Your Team Ready for the First Game

 

In the “HOF Insights”, I ask a group of successful, veteran coaches to share their thoughts on a variety of topics. Each week, I ask a different question. The questions can be focused on helping coaches, parents or athletes to have a more successful athletic experience.  

Today the coaches were asked to describe their plan for approaching practices before their first games. Usually teams have about two weeks to practice and then play a game. How did these great coaches approach practice in preparation for the first game?

Streaks History in the IHSA Football Playoffs

It has been an exciting football season for the Streaks. Galesburg has been explosive offensively and has earned a IHSA Playoff spot. This will be the Streaks 10th trip to the IHSA Playoffs. 

Some Illinois sports have had a State Series for over 100 years. The first IHSA football series was in 1974. Initially there were just 5 classes of 16 teams. This year there will be 8 classes of 48 teams each. Here is how the playoffs have changed over the years. 

1974- 5 Classes- 16 Teams Per Class- 80 Total Teams

1980- 6 Classes- 16 Teams Per Class- 96 Total Teams

1985- 6 Classes- 32 Teams Per Class- 192 Total Teams

2000- 8 Classes- 32 Teams Per Class- 256 Total Teams

2026- 8 Classes- 48 Teams Per Class- 384 Total Teams

This year, the top 16 teams in each class will receive a bye, and the other 32 teams will play. The winners will advance to what the IHSA is calling the “First Round.” 

Here is a look back at Galesburg’s previous State Appearances…

Proactive vs Reactive Problem Solving in Coaching

(This was first published in November of 2025)

Sometimes in coaching it seems like there are a million things to do at the beginning of each season- assign uniforms and numbers, get opponents schedules, set up scouting schedule, arrange picture day, get senior banners, set up scorebooks, organize fundraiser, order shooting shirts. It goes on and on. All of this is on top of actually running practices and dealing with day to day issues. 

As coaches, just when we feel that we have everything covered, something unexpected comes up. This can especially be true with our players and their buying into our team culture. There is nothing worse in coaching than feeling you have gotten blind sided by a player problem. 

1986 Illinois Boys Basketball Class A State Tourney

State Champions- Teutopolis

2nd- Ohio

3rd- Hoopeston- East Lynn

4th- West Frankfort