The Delavan Panthers varsity boys golf team punched its ticket to the next round of postseason play Tuesday, finishing second at the IHSA Class 1A Regional Tournament held at Shambolee Golf Course in Petersburg and securing a spot in next week’s sectional competition.

Leading the charge for Delavan was junior standout Grady Burrell, who continued his stellar season with a round of 71. Burrell’s score earned him second place individually in the tournament, just two strokes behind the regional champion.

Despite another impressive performance, Burrell kept the result in perspective.

“I’m happy with it,” he said.

More importantly, Burrell was focused on the team’s accomplishment.

“We’re moving on. That’s all that matters,” he added.

Delavan’s depth proved critical in earning the runner-up finish. Junior Trace Kight-Garlish turned in an 81, while senior Caden Rassi followed closely with an 82. Freshman Izayah Sipka delivered one of the most memorable performances of the day, carding an 85 in his first-ever regional tournament and recording his season-best score.

Sipka highlighted the seventh hole as his best of the day.

“I birdied it and I hit a putt from about 25-30 feet out,” he said.

Like every golfer, Sipka also battled adversity during the round. His toughest moment came on the 14th hole.

“I smoked a tree, and it went out of bounds. I had to take a drop,” he said.

Still, the freshman refused to let the setback derail his round.

“It happens,” Sipka said.

His resilience paid off as he finished with a personal season best on one of the biggest stages of the year.

Rounding out Delavan’s scoring were junior Drake Neuendorf with an 89 and junior Hudson Briggs with a 98.

The strong team effort ensured the Panthers would continue their postseason journey, a goal that has remained at the forefront of the team’s season.

The Panthers will compete in the IHSA Class 1A Sectional at Kellogg Golf Course in Peoria beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5, with hopes of extending their season even further.

The Delavan Panthers varsity volleyball team earned a hard-fought victory before running into a streaking Lewistown squad as they split a pair of matches this week and saw senior setter Addison Fisher reach a significant career milestone.

Delavan opened the week with an impressive three-set victory over North Fulton, defeating the Wildcats 25-22, 18-25, 25-13. The Panthers and Wildcats traded momentum throughout the contest, with neither team able to capture consecutive sets before Delavan took control of the decisive third set.

Kara Lowry led the Panthers’ attack with 13 kills, while Fisher orchestrated the offense with 31 assists. Fisher also contributed from the service line, sharing team-high honors in aces with Jaylyn Diekhoff as both players recorded three. The victory improved Delavan’s record to 9-11 and snapped North Fulton’s five-match home winning streak dating back to last season.

The Panthers returned to action the following night against Lewistown but were unable to carry over the momentum, falling to the Indians in straight sets, 25-21 and 25-18.

Despite the loss, Delavan remained competitive throughout the match, scoring at least 18 points in each set. Lowry and Diekhoff again paced the Panthers offensively with four kills apiece, while Tenley Burrell dished out nine assists.

One bright spot during the evening came before the match when Fisher was recognized by her teammates for reaching the 500-assist mark for her varsity career. The milestone was achieved during Delavan’s victory over North Fulton where the senior’s 31 assists pushed her over the career benchmark. Fisher’s accomplishment highlights her leadership and consistency as one of the key components of the Panthers’ offense throughout her high school career.

Following the split, Delavan stands at 9-12 on the season. The Panthers will look to return to the win column when they face Heyworth on Monday.

With postseason play approaching, Delavan continues to receive strong contributions from its veteran leaders. Lowry’s offensive production, Diekhoff’s all-around play, Burrell’s setting and Fisher’s milestone achievement provide encouraging signs as the Panthers enter the final stretch of the regular season.