Farewell to, and a Look Back From, ‘Neath the Elms
by Blake Baxter
You may have heard: After 5 1/2 years, I am moving on from Eureka College to join the City of Peoria as Communications Specialist next week.
Simply put, Eureka College has been a major part of my life. I basically grew up on the campus, going to games and special events with my dad from the mid-90s to the late 2000s. I became a student in 2009, played soccer and was active in my fraternity for four years before graduating with a degree in communication in 2013.
After spending several years of chasing stories and working in the newspaper industry in Iowa and Nebraska, I returned to my alma mater in 2019 to become Media Relations Coordinator(/Sports Information Director), a role I filled until 2023 when I was named Sports Information and Gameday Operations Coordinator.
It’s bittersweet to leave the place where I have built so many rewarding relationships and had so many good memories over the years. It’s also particularly strange to be leaving the world of athletics and sports media after a decade in the field.
I have a feeling, however, that my passion and fondness for what’s come before will stay with me as I transition to the next phase of my life.
Before I move on to the next chapter, I wanted to take a look back at some of my favorite (and/or most memorable stories) that I’ve done at Eureka. They are linked below, and I had a lot of fun revisiting them and maybe I’ll add to this list at a later date.
As always, I have a million people to thank for all of the love and support that they have generously extended to me over the years.
To my family and friends, co-workers, student-athletes, student workers and other supportive members of the EC campus community, thanks so much for reading and following along.
2019
Samantha Sarnes Realizing ‘Big-Game Potential’ for Red Devils
Rarely Flashy, Alex Wiegand ‘a Substance Guy’ for EC
Eureka Endures, Outlasts Greenville on Record-breaking Night, 161–153
Eureka Takes Down Webster, Clinches First SLIAC Championship in Program History, 70–69
Energetic and Matured, Sean Green Taking Advantage of Last Year at EC
Humming to History: Red Devils Overwhelm Spalding, Seize Second NCAA Tournament Berth
In 2019, Accomplished Red Devils Aiming to Sustain Success, Level Up
Eureka Nets Pair of Penalty Kicks, Edges Emmaus in OT, 2–1
2020
Cross Country Returning to Eureka College Athletics
Eureka College Storms Past Greenville on Senior Day, 137–129
Red Devils Close Westminster Series with 5–2 Win
Eureka Sweeps on Last Day in Myrtle Beach (Before Pandemic)
Jaylynn Stewart Named EC Women’s Basketball Coach
Eureka College Admissions Efforts Persist Despite COVID-19 Disruption
Eureka College Student Engagement Efforts Continue From Afar During Pandemic
Eureka College’s Transition to Online Instruction Maintained a Personal Touch
Spring Senior Spotlight: Morgan Ledbetter
Spring Senior Spotlight: Sydney Shubert
2021
Growing the Arts in 2021 … and Beyond
EC Nearly Completes Comeback in 70–68 Overtime Loss to Greenville
Red Devils Rally to Comeback Victory Over Cornell, 71–70
Eureka Edges Iowa Wesleyan in Five-Set Thriller for First Win
With Uniquely Eureka Promise, Kerri Berri Found a College That Rightfully Believed in Her
There’s No One Like Olivia Falls
Martin LeCesne, Corbin Heiken Bear Torch of Eureka’s Offensive Line Tradition
Late Bloomer: Former Red Devil Kyler Stork Thriving in Portugal
Eureka College Partners with StraightUp Solar, Showcases First-Ever Solar Project
2022
Red Devils Complete Epic Comeback at Fontbonne, 80–75
Ryan Woodside Named Eureka Men’s Soccer Head Coach
Resilient Red Devils Rally Past Principia in Overtime, 84–81
Garard’s Gem: Red Devils Nearly No-Hit Knox, 7–1
Eureka Tops Spalding for First Time Since 2014, 2–1
Eureka College to Launch Men’s, Women’s Wrestling Programs in 2022–23
Still Hungry: Former Red Devil Star Le’Anthony Reasnover Proving Himself Overseas
Red Devils Take Down Blackburn, 3–2
Eureka Comes from Behind, Tops Fontbonne, 3–2
Eureka Women Place Second, Men Fifth, at SLIAC Championships
EC Cross Country Leveled Up During Historic 2022 Season
2023
Red Devils Prevail in Overtime Against Fontbonne, 84–75
Eureka Knocks Off SLIAC Leader Principia in Overtime, 78–72
Red Devils Win Three Races, Make History at SLIAC Indoor Championships
Mike Dunne’s Walk-Off Blast Clinches Senior Day Sweep for Red Devils
Red Devils Blank Fontbonne, Make Program History, 6–0
Sam Durley Named Full-Time Offensive Coordinator at Eureka College
Red Devils Hold Off Rockford in Thrilling Finish, 35–28
Red Devils Stop St. Norbert, Improve to 4–0 with 21–17 Win
Red Devils Make Program History with 2–1 Win Over Webster
After 47 Years, Legendary Eureka Baseball Coach Jerry Rashid Retires
2024
Red Devils Rally Late, Take Down Illinois College in Walk-Off Fashion, 8–7
Walk-Off Winners: Red Devils Deliver Late Again, Sweep Blackburn