Massey Quiz #62- Official & Unofficial Holidays

   

 

 

I am giving you 15 dates. Your job is to tell me what official or unofficial holiday is on this date. 

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. 

HOF Insights- The Real Value of High School Sports

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.  

It seems like more and more parents feel that the only purpose of high school sports is to get a college scholarship. This leads some parents and players to feel that they need to specialize and just focus on one sport- get personal trainers and spend thousands of dollars on travel teams. 

As coaches, we want our athletes to always strive to be the best they can be, but we also want them to enjoy their high school athletic experience. 

What advice would you give parents and athletes to maximize their potential and to take advantage of their high school athletic experience?

1980 Illinois Boys Basketball Class AA State Tourney

State Champion- Chicago Manley

2nd- Effingham

3rd- Aurora West

4th- Lincoln

Aidan Nelson- Tearing Up the Links for the Streaks

Aidan Nelson is off to a great start this Fall for the Silver Streaks golf team. First year Streaks golf coach, Alan Sullivan describes Aidan’s game as, “…well rounded and he makes few mistakes. He has a plan of attack for each hole that he executes.”

Aidan’s results at this point are as follows… 

36- Even Par at Bunker Links vs.Rock Island- First Place

72- Even Par at Gibson Woods vs Monmouth-Roseville & Alleman- First Place

72- 1 Over at Bunker Links vs Knoxville & ROWVA-Williamsfield- First Place

78- 7 Over Par at Deer Run in Geneseo Invitational- Tied 4th 

38- 2 Over Par at Bunker Links vs UTHS- 2nd Place

Aidan’s strength is his short game- chipping and putting. He seldom three putts a green. 

Coach Sullivan sees Aidan being motivated by a good season last year that ended disappointingly. According to Coach Sullivan, “He is using that disappointment as a motivation for this season.” 

Not only is Aidan off to a great start, but he is filling the role of a leader on the golf team. He helps younger players out with their game and their course strategies. 

It always interesting to talk to great athletes and understand their approach to their sport. I had the opportunity to ask Aidan to share his thoughts on his season to this point, and his hopes for the remainder of the season. 

1980 Illinois Girls Basketball Class A State Tourney

State Champions- Benton

2nd in State- Sidell

3rd in State- Lemont

4th in State- Carlinville

Streaks Alumni Profile- Steve Shaver 1977

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Steve Shaver from the Galesburg HS Class of 1977.

Streaks Senior Profiles & Sports Schedules (9-7-26)

  

Galesburg High School’s Fall Sports are off and competing. We have this week’s home schedules, Streaks Senior Profiles, and the complete athletic schedules.

This Week in Galesburg History- (Sept 7, 2026)

 

“This Week in Galesburg History” 

Lombard College freshmen coming to school. 

Drive in services. 

Circus coming to town. 

Belscot having a sale.

Streaks lose but coach says they’re winning.

Chief Illiniwek- yes or no?

Best Ball Tourney

This is a look back at the history of Galesburg (and the world). What was going on 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago, 30 years ago, 20 years ago, and 10 years ago this week? 

“This Week in Galesburg History” appears on Mondays on the WGIL website and the Massey Basketball Blog.

1980 Illinois Boys Basketball Class A State Tourney

State Champs- Luther South

2nd- Peoria Bergan

3rd- Okawville

4th- Madison

Minnie & Nellie’s Great Western Adventure

Minnie & Nellie

This post is just a way of storing a great trip that we took to the Dakotas in August/September of 2026. 

Minnie and Nellie took Amy and I along for the ride!!

Massey for Commissioner- My 10 Point Plan to Save the WNBA

I am UPSET!!! I am not happy with the direction of the WNBA. I have decided to throw my hat in the ring to become the new commissioner of the WNBA. 

In sports, they say you never want to take a job following a legend. That is part of what makes this job so attractive, I am certainly not following a legend. My 10 point plan can save the WNBA from itself. 

HOF Insights- Take Your Eyes Off the Ball

In “Hall of Fame Insights”, I ask veteran coaches a question about strategy, coaching, motivation, or other things. Today’s question…

In most sports, we tell our athletes to keep their eye on the ball. In golf, you need to keep your head down and look at the ball. In baseball, the hitter needs to look the ball into the catchers glove. In football and basketball, you catch the ball with your eyes. 

For coaches, to understand the game, they need to be aware of what is happening away from the ball. Football coaches are the best at seeing the game away from the ball because they have always organized their staff so some coaches are focused on line play, some on the back, and so forth. 

I have two questions for coaches today…

1) To better understand the game, what were things you tried to watch away from the ball?

2) To better understand the game, what were stats that you leaned on or you wish you had leaned on?  

HOF Insights: Thom Sigel- The Value and Joy of HS Sports

On Massey Basketball Blog, there is a regular series during the school year entitled, “Hall of Fame Insights.” This is the first of the 2026-7 school year with HOF basketball coach, Thom Sigel. Thom has the distinction of having won the Illinois Boys Basketball State Championship twice, once at Rock Falls and later at Rock Island. He is in IBCA HOF. 

Coach Sigel started out as a coach at Galesburg HS before moving to Rock Falls. He finished his career at Rock Island HS. 

Thom and I had a conversation, and agreed that there seems to be a trend in high school sports where more and more athletes are made to feel that the only purpose of high school sports is to get a college scholarship. Adults who put this pressure on high school athletes can take some of the joy out of playing high school sports. 

Thom had a daughter and two sons who played college sports. Haley played volleyball at Lindwood, Colton played golf and basketball at Carthage, and Trey played basketball at UW-Platteville. 

Although all three played college sports, that was not their focus while in high school. Their focus in high school was to enjoy their high school experience and to become the best high school player they could be.

I asked Coach Sigel to share how his kids navigated high school sports and turned the experience into such a positive experience. Here is what Thom had to say…

1979 Illinois Boys Basketball Class AA State Tourney

State Champions- Maine South

Streaks Alumni Profile- Ken Johnson 1969

Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Ken Johnson from the Galesburg HS’s Class of 1969. 

Ken took advantage of experiences as a Galesburg High student and then as a Knox College student to get a jump start on a career in journalism. Not only did he use school experiences, but he started working part-time at the Register-Mail when he was a student. 

His career has taken him all of over the United States, and it has given him the opportunity to interview famous people in the world of politics, sports, and entertainment. 

When I drive around Galesburg, I see the yard signs from Knox College that say, “Stay Near to Go Far.” In the future when I see one of those signs, I know I will think of Ken Johnson.