CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women's golf team is set to open its 2022-23 season this week, traveling to Hanahan, S.C., for the Cougar Classic. The two-day tournament is hosted by the College of Charleston on Monday and Tuesday, September 12-13.

THE SETTING The Cougar Classic will be held at Yeamans Hall Club. The course was designed by Seth Raynor and officially opened in 1924. The course will be set up for a par 71 and will play 6,269 yards long.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT There will be 18 teams competing in the 54-hole tournament with 36 holes of continuous play on Monday (Sept. 12), followed by the final 18 on Tuesday (Sept. 13). Monday has a shotgun start of 8:30 a.m. CT, whereas Tuesday features an 8:45 a.m. CT shotgun start.

THE FIELD Along with the Illini, the 18-team field for the Cougar Classic will include Central Florida, Charleston, Clemson, East Carolina, No. 6 Florida State, Furman, No. 19 Georgia, No. 25 Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Michigan State, Ole Miss, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Penn State, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

FIGHTING ILLINI LINEUP No. 1: Crystal Wang No. 2: Lexanne Halama No. 3: Isabel Sy No. 4: Alise Knudson No. 5: Mattie Frick

ILLINI AT THE COUGAR CLASSIC This will be the first time in program history that the Illinois women's golf program has competed in the Cougar Classic.

LIVE SCORING Live scoring for the Cougar Classic will be available on Golfstat.com. A Recap and results will be posted on FightingIllini.com following each day of play.

UP NEXT The Illini will next head to Norman, Okla., for the Schooner Fall Classic at the Belmar Golf Club on September 24-26.

When talking about high school football teams with high-quality offenses in the Lowcountry, the Hanahan Hawks have to be in the conversation.

“I’m not going to tell you we’re going to win every game but there is an expectation for these kids to compete from whistle to whistle each week,” said Hanahan coach Art Craig, who enters the 2022 season with a 241-64 record. “A lot of these kids are two- and three-year starters. They know the expectation level. We’ve also gotten some players who have stepped up as leaders.”

The Hawks return a solid corps of starters, including most of an offense that figures to be explosive. Hanahan averaged more than 34 points per game in 2021 en route to an 8-3 finish and appearance in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs. The victory total was three more than the year before.

Hanahan opens the regular season Aug. 19 at home against Georgetown.

Sophomore quarterback Jaden Cummings, who plays more like an upperclassman, is back to take the snaps. He can fit passes in some tight spots and has weapons to work with. He’s made tremendous strides since last year.

Junior Kevon Rivera, who has slimmed down and gotten better catching passes out of the backfield, is one of the best running backs in the area. Senior Cooper Smith is also back at running back and junior Kayden Gaddist will get some totes.

“As far as our skill guys, this group collectively is as good as we’ve seen from top to bottom,” Craig said. “Everybody knows they want to stop Kevon. He’s got almost 2,000 yards rushing his first two years but we have the ability to throw it 18 to 20 times a game if you try to load up the box on us. We’re not going to be one-dimensional.”

Receivers Ashton Drayton, a junior, and senior Braydon Joseph are back on the outside along with senior Mason Brady, who started as a sophomore but missed last year with an injury. More returners are tight ends Kwame Parker, a senior, and junior Hunter Strader.

Up front, junior Jonathan Tumbri, senior Solomon Towne and junior Rhett Bagwell are returning players. Senior Ian Ordonez and sophomore Antwain Mitchell figure into the plan for the trenches, too.

On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Hanahan has made significant physical gains and ramped up its football IQ just through experience.

Senior defensive back Malik Horry, also a receiver, and inside linebacker Kayden Gaddist are the top two tacklers returning. The Hawks allowed 17 points per game in 2021.

“Unless I’m wrong, I think defense is where you’re going to see a lot of our improvement,” Craig said. “We’re much better on the back end than we’ve been and we’ve got a lot of guys we can rotate in.”

Towne, Parker, Ordonez, senior Kendrick Cannon and sophomore Kalani Roberts are set to rotate on the Hawks’ three-man front. On the second level, Rivera, Gaddist, Strader, Smith and senior Jack Willis are inside. Drayton, junior Hayden Ortega and junior Jay Meadows are outside.

Guys roaming the secondary are senior Nathaniel Parson, Horry, senior Prince Shepard, sophomore Drew Goldsmith, senior Tyjere Moton and sophomore Javantre Shephard.

“We feel like the back end is significantly improved from last year,” Craig said. “If we hold up up front, we feel like our defense will be better, but you have to see it on game day. It always looks good on the practice field.”

On special teams, Cummings will handle punting duties while senior Eric Johnson is set to place kick.

Realignment has put Beaufort and Philip Simmons in Region 8-AAA for the next two years. Beaufort played for the Class AAAA title last season and Philip Simmons advanced to the third round of the Class AA playoffs.

After Georgetown, the Hawks host Berkeley to close out August. In September, they go to Lucy Beckham and Timberland before hosting Porter-Gaud and heading to Woodland. October games are at North Charleston, home against Battery Creek and Philip Simmons and at Beaufort to close the regular season.

“If everything comes together and they continue to get better, I think they can go as far as they want to go,” Craig said. “We’ve shown we can compete in the region and first-and second-round games. The question is can we get to those third- and fourth-round games and compete with the Dillons and the Camdens and people like that. The good thing is our region will prepare us for that. If you get through Philip Simmons and Beaufort, you’ve got a good chance of making some noise.”

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCIV) — Hanahan wants to expand.

The city of Hanahan has developed a master plan to revitalize its town center and bring more businesses to the area.

Kristen O'Neill is a part owner of Theory Collective in Hanahan. The hair salon opened about a year ago.

"Our team is growing. It's great. We offer more services and see more clients," said O'Neill.

O’Neill said she is happy the city is working to bring in more businesses. She thinks more storefronts could mean more traffic at the salon.

"I think it would be great, I mean, especially on Yeamans Hall Road, there is not a whole lot. There's gas stations. It would be great to get a bite to eat up the road," said O'Neill.

She thinks it would be great to work with new businesses.

"We love partnering with local businesses. We have done it in the past and we will do it in the future. However we can support local businesses, we will," said O'Neill.

Mayor Christie Rainwater says there are things that are missing from the city.

"The truth is, we are missing quality businesses, restaurants, boutiques. That’s something people want to see come in. They don’t want to have to go to North Charleston or a neighboring city to go to the doctor," said Mayor Rainwater.

She wants to know what residents see for the future of the town center.

The plan is something they can use to present to those who are interested in coming to the area.

"It really gives us resources that we need to present to people who would like to bring their development or business to Hanahan, and say this is where it may fit best," said the mayor.

The city wants to continue hearing from residents. They have a survey on their website at cityofhanahan.com.

"If you have a dream inside of you and you want to bring it to the downtown of Hanahan, we would love to work with you to do that," said Rainwater.

One Hanahan resident is doing all he can to save his Palmetto tree after receiving a notice from Dominion Energy that it’s been scheduled to be cut down.

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) - One Hanahan resident is doing all he can to save his Palmetto tree after receiving a notice from Dominion Energy that it’s been scheduled to be cut down.

Jay Mullis says after returning home recently he found his tree marked with an “X” and a note in his driveway from Dominion stating the condition of his tree warrants action by the company.

The Mullis family has lived in this home since December of 2019, and they say the palmetto is the most important piece of their front lawn.

Mullis contacted a Dominion representative and shared his concern about the sudden notice that the tree was a threat and was looking to find a mutually beneficial compromise.

Dominion Energy said the tree has made contact with their energized distribution conductors and has been identified as hazardous.

After being told there wasn’t anything the company could do to save the tree, Mullis took it into his own hands. He has since trimmed it in hopes that it will no longer pose a threat momentarily and can give him time to move the tree on his own dime.

Dominion Energy spokesman Paul Fischer warned that customers should never hire a private contractor to work near power lines or attempt to do the work themselves.

“Untrained individuals should not attempt to trim trees near overhead lines for risk of serious or fatal injury,” he said. “Only qualified utility line clearance professionals or contractors who meet OSHA qualifications are legally permitted to work within 10 feet of power lines, or work on a tree that has branches within 10 feet of power lines.”

“I think it’s important that we start working together on these issues, it’s a piece of me that we cut and the tree I think will be fine and hope that they just let me move it back 10 feet,” Mullis says.

To purchase a new tree would cost thousands and Mullis says it would take years to grow to the size of his current one. He says all he’s looking for is a chance to work with Dominion to save his tree.

Dominion says customers with concerns regarding trees on or near their property should call (800) 251-7234.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Four Lowcountry high school baseball teams punched their tickets to division championship games in the Hanahan Invitational Tournament on Wednesday.

In the Steadman Division Championship game, James Island will face Ashley Ridge. That game is set for 5 p.m. on Thursday at Hanahan High School.

In the Hatfield Division Championship game, Summerville will face Wando. That matchup is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, also at Hanahan High School.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13TH, 2022 Scores:

STEADMAN DIVISION

SITE: HANAHAN HIGH SCHOOL

GAME 37: 5:00 OCEAN LAKES, VA 1 VS. PROVIDENCE, NC 3

GAME 38: 7:30 HANAHAN, SC 2 VS. HICKORY GROVE, NC 1

SITE:

JAMES ISLAND CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

GAME 39: 5:00 LUCY BECKHAM, SC 17 VS. OLYMPIC, NC 7

GAME 40: 7:30 OCEANSIDE COLLEGIATE, SC 0 VS. JAMES ISLAND, SC 10 – SEMIFINAL

SITE:

GOOSE CREEK HIGH SCHOOL (SEDGEFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL)

GAME 42: 5:00 STRATFORD, SC 12 VS. PINEWOOD PREP, SC 13

GAME 43: 7:30 GOOSE CREEK, SC 4 VS. TIMBERLAND, SC 1

SITE:

ASHLEY RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

GAME 44: 5:00 WOODLAND, SC 2 VS. REAGAN, NC 14

GAME 45: 7:30 ASHLEY RIDGE, SC 10 VS. ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE, DC 6 – SEMIFINAL

HATFIELD DIVISION

SITE:

SUMMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL (GREGG MIDDLE SCHOOL)

GAME 46: 5:00 HICKORY, VA 0 VS. ARDREY KELL, NC 10

GAME 47: 7:30 CATAWBA RIDGE, SC 2 VS SUMMERVILLE, SC 9 – SEMIFINAL

SITE:

WEST ASHLEY HIGH SCHOOL

GAME 48: 5:00 FORT DORCHESTER, SC 7 VS. HILTON HEAD, SC 2

GAME 49: 7:30 WEST ASHLEY, SC 6 VS. NANSEMOND RIVER, VA 7 9 INNINGS

SITE:

BISHOP ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL

GAME 50: 5:00 BEAUFORT, SC 4 VS. RANDLEMAN, NC 7

GAME 51: 7:30 BISHOP ENGLAND, SC 6 VS. MAMARONECK, NY 3

SITE:

WANDO HIGH SCHOOL

GAME 52: 5:00 PHILIP SIMMONS, SC 5 VS. BAMBERG EHRHARDT, SC 4

GAME 53: 7:30 WANDO, SC 12 VS. ST. EDWARDS, OH 10 – SEMIFINAL

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.