Photo Gallery | Lightweights lift SJO in home win over Clinton

ST. JOSEPH - The St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling squad won seven out of the nine lightest weight classes on the way to a 56-36 win last night over Clinton. Here are photos from last night's action-packed meet against the Maroons.

Spartan's Hunter Ketchum rolls Clinton's Aric Oliver to his back in their 182-pound match on Thursday in the Main Gym at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Ketchum, competing in second season, picked up his first varsity win with pin at 2:55.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Fans cheer after St. Joseph-Ogden 182-pounder Hunter Ketchum's win over Clinton's Aric Oliver. Ketchum's victory put the first six point on SJO's side of the scoreboard.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

SJO's Peyton Sarver tries to drive Kael Morlock face down into the mat during their 195-pound match. Sarver battled valiantly for nearly six minutes before suffering a loss by pin with 8 seconds left on the clock. Fall 5:52

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Peyton Sarver overpowers Clinton's Kael Morlock during second period action in their 195-pound match. Sarver is one for four seniors on this year's Spartan wrestling team.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Wrestling at 285-pounds, SJO wrestler Quincy Jones looks for a shot in on Clinton's Dawson Thayer. Thayer went on to beat the Spartan in the first period by pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Clinton's Dawson Thayer wrestles Spartans' Quincy Jones.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Jackson Walsh shoots in for a takedown on Clinton's Jeremiah Ortiz during the 106-pound match. Walsh prevailed with pin at 4:47. Earlier in the triangle meet on Thursday, Walsh suffered defeat by El Paso-Gridley's Nolan Whitman by way of a first period pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

With the crowd cheering behind him, 106-pound wrestler Jackson Walsh from SJO celebrates his win over Clinton's Jeremiah Ortiz. Walsh, a sophomore

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

St. Joseph-Ogden's Emmitt Holt dumps Clinton's Gabe Walker to the mat during their 120-pound bout. Holt, the only junior this year's squad, ran up the match score up to a 20-3 tech fall and tallied his second win of the day. Earlier in SJO's first match of the evening, Holt defeated El Paso-Gridley's Caleb Graham with a second period pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Spartans' Holden Brazelton somersaults out of a takedown attempt by Clinton's Cayden Poole in their 132-pound match. Brazelton, who finished 6th at last year's state finals as a 120-pound freshman, destroyed Poole by major decision, 11-2.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

SJO's Holden Brazelton tries force Clinton's Cayden Poole out of a neck bridge in their 132-pound match. Brazelton, who finished 6th at last year's state finals as a 120-pound freshman, destroyed Poole by major decision, 11-2.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Student fans and members of the St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling team cheer for Holden Brazelton at the end of the second period during his match against Clinton's Cayden Poole.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Holden Brazelton scores a takedown in his 132-pound match against Clinton's Cayden Poole.

Media/Clark Brooks

---

Representing SJO in the 138-pound weight class against Clinton, Landen Butts was all business in his match against Maroons' Sable Taylor. Butts crafted a 16-0 techinical fall to win the bout. Earlier in the evening, the sophomore lost to El Paso-Gridley's Tyler Roth by pin. Tech Fall 16-0

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

After earning back points, Spartans' Coy Hayes looks for an attack on Clinton's Russel Stamp. Hayes won the 152-pound match in the second period by pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

SJO wrestler Maddie Wells tries score points on Clinton's Ariana Humes during their 120-pound match. Wells, a freshman, earned six points for the Spartans after pinning Humes at 2:48.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Maddie Wells is declared winner after pinning Clinton sophomore Ariana Humes.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

St. Joseph-Ogden wrestler nearly pins a Clinton grappler during the 120-pound exhibition match.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Spartans of the Week: Bigger and Ketchum

Week 4
Lady Spartan of the Week:
Emily Bigger

Emily Bigger booked 38 assists in the Spartans' last two volleyball victories. Thanks to her precision passing ability and quickness, SJO boasts an impressive 14-3 record heading into tonight's homecoming game against Illini Prairie Conference rival St. Thomas More.

Honorable Mentions: Jenna Albrecht (volleyball), Katelyn Berry (volleyball), Kennedi Burnett (volleyball), Hanna Eastin (cross country), Ally Monk (cross country), Jillian Plotner (cross country) and Stephanie Trame (volleyball).

Week 4 Spartan of the Week: Hunter Ketchum

The freshman goal tender has logged 483 minutes of playing time in his rookie season with the Spartans. With 57 saves so far at the keeper position, he is becoming more fearless by the week. From the start of the season until the Monticello match at the Cornjerker Classic, Ketchum was averaging 6.3 saves per game. Look for Ketchum to be one of the area's best in the box over the next three seasons with the St. Joseph-Ogden soccer program.

Honorable Mentions: Crayton Burnett (football), Braden Clampitt (cross country), Zach Martinie (football), Brandon Mattsey (cross country), Eric Poe (cross country), Jarrett Stevenson (football), Brayden Wearver and Sam Wesley (football).

Previous Spartans of the Week

Week 1: Jarrett Stevenson / Katelyn Berry
Week 2: Emily Elsbernd / Jaden Weaver
Week 2: Drew Coursey / Hannah Rajlich

* * * * *
Attention high school coaches: Help us recognize our area prep athletes each week. Please send game scores and stats to us for freshman and junior varsity as well as varsity games. Send game, race and match results and weekly stats to sports@oursentinel.com.

Photo Gallery: Spartan soccer season ended at regional semifinal

Senior Jared Emmert dibbles the ball early in the first half in the last game of his prep career. Emmert and the Spartans fell 7-0 to the Monticello Sages in their regional semifinal game. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Collin Thomey, Charles Schmitz and Brennan Haake form a line of defense for the St. Joseph-Ogden as Monticello's Will Trimble pushes the ball toward the sideline. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Spartans' Jackson Greer and Sages' Biniam Lienhart collide while going up for a header. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Logan Mills dribbles the ball in the first half. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Monticello's Ben Williamson steals the ball from the control of SJO's Collin Thomey. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Brennan Haake pushes the ball across the field during the first half. Soon after, the Sages went on a two-goal scoring spree before the break. Monticello followed up with five more goals in the second half to win, 7-0. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Will Childers shields the ball while Monticello's Biniam Lienhart flies past him during first half action on Wednesday. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Keeper Hunter Ketchum lunges unsuccessfully at a ball heading toward SJO's goal by Dylan Ginalick. Ginalick's ball found net for the first score of the game. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

St. Joseph-Ogden's Jackson Greer and Monticello's Trevor Fox collide while going up for header. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

SJO keeper Hunter Ketchum deflects a shot on his goal as Monticello midfielder Cohen Neighbors and striker Malachi Manuel move in to finish their attack in the second half. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

With teammate Brennan Haake trailing, SJO's Carter Turner tries to pass the ball down the field to Owen Baltzell. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Spartan Owen Baltzell pursues Sages' Tucker Williamson and Cohen Neighbors as they dribble the ball down the field in the second half. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Looking for photos of a specific player from either team? Email us at photos@oursentinel.com with the athlete's name and jersey number for details.

Prep Sports Notebook: Bachert scores for Rockets, SJO soccer notches another victory

---

Saunders makes 10 saves for Rockets

Unity Keeper Cole Saunders had 10 saves during his team's home match on Saturday against Abington/Avon. Teammate Brendan Bachert scored the team's only goal in the Rockets' 3-1 loss.

Unity plays at home again on Tuesday hosting St. Joseph-Ogden at 4:30p.

---

Christie Clinic Shootout schedule released today

The St. Joseph-Ogden athletic department released the schedule for the next Christie Clinic Shootout on Saturday, January 7, 2023. Fourteen varsity teams will square off in the main gym starting at 11:00 am. The final game of the day, a matchup between Peoria Notre Dame and the Kays of Kankakee, will tipoff at 8:00 pm.

The Shootout will feature three Illini Prairie Conference programs, with Monticello, Unity, and SJO hitting the hardwood one right after the other starting at 3:30p.

2023 Schedule

11:00 AM - Beecher vs. BHRA
12:30 PM - Addison Trail vs. Champaign Centennial
2:00 PM - Mt. Zion vs. Bloomington
3:30 PM - Newton vs. Monticello
5:00 PM - Normal U-High vs. Unity
6:30 PM - Nashville vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM - Peoria Notre Dame vs. Kankakee

Junior varsity action for all 14 teams will start at 9 am, on Saturday in the high school's practice gym.

---

Spartans post shutout on Senior Day

The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team scored two first-half goals and got a third from sophomore Alex Acosta in the second half.

Senior Jackson Greer delivered the first goal of the game courtesy of an assist from Collin Thomey for the Spartans. Thomey added another goal on the scoreboard via a feed from Aiden Cromwell to give SJO a 2-0 lead at the half.

Hunter Ketchum needed to make only six saves, while backup keeper Carter Mabry came in to make a pair of saves of his own in the program's 7th win of the season.

The Spartans honored the accomplishments and contributions of 12 senior players. This senior class includes Olivia Baltzell, Will Childers, Aiden Cromwell, Zach Dahman, Emily Elsbernd, Jackson Greer, Hunter Ketchum, Aaron Lane, Carter Mabry, Teagan Miller, Garrett Siems, and Will Page.

---

Attention area high school coaches

If you are a coach at Unity, Urbana Uni-High, Urbana High School or St. Joseph-Ogden, send us your box scores, statistical leaders for each game, and other info via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com.

---

Plotner finishes first in dual against Sages, soccer takes another hit

Sports Book: September 17

SJO takes 9 of the top spots

In a dual meet with Monticello, the boys cross country team placed in nine of top 10 spots on Tuesday. Brandon Mattsey finished the 3-mile course in second place just under minute behind the Sages' number one runner, Josh Baysore.

Chasing Mattsey to the finish line were eight other St. Joseph-Ogden runners starting with Eric Poe, who was third with a time of 19:01, and Lukas Hutcherson, who rounded out the top four places in the non-team scored event crossing the finish line at 19:04. The trio were followed by Luke Stegall (5th, 19:07), Logan Wolfersberger (6th, 19:09), Braden Clampitt (7th,19:11), Elijah Mock (8th, 19:30), Ethan Blackburn (9th, 20:37) and Charlie Mabry in 10th place at 20:51.

Hunter Ketchum bravely makes a save as he slides in front of the Spartans' goal in their home conference match against Monticello on Tuesday. Despite frosh keeper's best effort, SJO dropped a second consecutive match to the Sages, 5-0. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Soccer suffers another loss

The Spartan soccer fell 5-0 in league play to visiting Monticello for their first Illini Prairie Conference loss of the season.

Plotner leads SJO contingent

Jillian Plotner turned in a 21:15 to win the girls race in their dual meet against Monticello at Kickapoo. She finished 12th overall in a combined boys/girls race. Hannah Rajlich crossed the finish line in the silver medal position five seconds later at 21:20 and Ava Knap took third with a time of 21:27. The fourth female runner to finish, Ashlyn Lannert (21:53) came in 16th overall. Ally Monk was 5th in her division and 19th overall at 22:07.

Volleyball team declaw Panthers

Middle blocker Lacey Kaiser had nine kills. The Spartans collected and additional seven from Kennedi Burnett and the same number from Katelyn Berry to help SJO improved to 12-3. Read The Sentinel game story . . .

Ketchum and Birt pick up wins for SJO at road match

St. Joseph-Ogden won five matches during their dual meet against host El Paso-Gridley on January 20. The wins were not enought to carry the Spartans to victory who dropped the match, 48-28.

Emmit Holt picked up the team's only forfeit win at 113-pounds.

Holden Brazelton (120 lbs), juniors Hunter Ketchum (183 lbs), and Owen Birt at195 lbs, along with frosh Quincy Jones (220 lbs), recorded the Spartans' other victories.

Brazelton, a freshman, won his match by major decision, 15-3. His other three teammates all won by pinning their opponents.

The Spartans will celebrate senior night with a triangle engagement verses Hoopeston Area starting at 5:30pm and Westville at around 6:15pm on Thursday, January 27.

Results

Final Score: El Paso-Gridley 48 - St. Joseph-Odgen 28

113 Holt, Emmitt (SJO) over Forfeit (EPG) Forfeit 6-0
120 Brazelton, Holden (SJO) over Gibson (EPG) Maj Dec 15-3 10-0
126 Roth (EPG) over Butts, Landen (SJO) Fall 1:15 10-6
132 Greene (EPG) over Forfeit, (SJO) Forfeit 10-12
138 Melick (EPG) over Denhart, Garrett (SJO) Fall 1:48 10-18
145 Gentes (EPG) over Falls, Matt (SJO) Fall 0:36 10-24
152 Jeffereys (EPG) over Forfeit, (SJO) Forfeit 10-30
160 Whitman (EPG) over Forfeit, (SJO) Forfeit 10-36
170 Langland (EPG) over Forfeit, (SJO)
182 Ketchum, Hunter (SJO) over Shaffer (EPG) Fall 1:21 16-42
195 Birt, Owen (SJO) over Duffy (EPG) Fall 2:38 22-42
220 Jones, Quincy (SJO) over Blackmore (EPG) Fall 4:30 28-42
285 Evans (EPG) over Cotter, Austin (SJO) Fall 0:46 28-48

Prep Sports Notebook: SJO soccer wins with buzzer beater

---

Spartan tennis earns first dual win

Head coach Kevin Martlage and the St. Joseph-Ogden girls tennis team pose for a photo after their dual match of the season on the road against Urbana on Tuesday. The two teams will square off again on August 31. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

---

Urbana, IL - It was a hot time at Blair Park for the St. Joseph-Ogden and Urbana girls' tennis match on Tuesday. Despite a reported heat index of 106º, the two teams battled in the blazing heat with the upstart area program from SJO winning the dual match, 6-3.

Claire Huffman at #1, Abby Dow on the #2 singles court and Ashlyn Lannert on court 6 secured victories in their singles matches. Hope Rajlich and Kelsey Martlage paired up to win at #1 doubles. Meanwhile, Allison Kearney and Angie Chahine held off Urbana duo Eisla Madigan and Myra Stevens at #2 doubles. The Spartans also came out on top on the #3 doubles court with a victory by Katie McDermott and her partner Jacey Lewis.

The Tigers' won three single points with dominating performances from veteran Myra Stevens, Eisla Madigan and Alisa Tangmunarunkit.

Match results:

No. 1 - Claire Huffman, SJO def. Hannah Null, URBANA, 8-3
No. 2 - Abbey Dow, SJO def. Jacie Owens, URBANA, 8-6
No. 3 - Myra Stevens, URBANA def. Grace Schmitz, SJO, 8-1
No. 4 - Eisla Madigan, URBANA def. Ella Armstrong, SJO, 8-0
No. 4 - Alisa Tangmunarunkit, URBANA def. Abby Behrens, SJO, 8-3
No. 6 - Ashlyn Lannert, SJO def. Matika Pounginjai, URBANA, 8-1

No. 1 Doubles:
Hope Rajlich/Kelsey Martlage, SJO def. Hannah Null/Jacie Owens, URBANA, 8-6

No. 2 Doubles:
Allison Kearney/Angie Chahine, SJO def. Myra Stevens/Eisla Madigan, URBANA, 8-4

No. 3 Doubles:
Katie McDermott/Jacey Lewis- SJO def. Matika Pounginjai/Alisa Tangmunarunkit, URBANA, 8-6

---

Wilson lifts Spartans with buzzer beater

St. Joseph, IL - With the score locked at two-all in the second half, sophomore Spencer Wilson scored his second goal of the contest with .2 seconds left on the clock to give the St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team a 3-2 advantage for win #2 of the season.

While goalkeeper Hunter Ketchum kept the visiting Argenta-Oreana shots out of the goal during the first half, SJO teammate Jackson Greer scored the first goal of the game on an assist from Will Page.

In the final half of SJO's home game, Greer fed Wilson the ball for the first of four second-half goals. The Bombers' Rylan Lawson and Landon Lawson added one goal apiece to later tie the score before Wilson spared both teams from a shootout.

Ketchum tallied eight saves for the Spartans.

Next up for Ketchum and Co., SJO will host Urbana University High on Thursday at 4:30p.

---

Missed opportunities sink Rockets

Tolono, IL - Fielding an inexperienced contingent this fall, the Unity soccer team opened their season with a 4-2 loss to visiting St. Teresa on Tuesday.

Nolan Remole, with the assistance of senior Grace Brock, nailed the Rockets' first goal of the season in the second half. Freshman Teaguen Williams added the team's second score after the Bulldogs clawed their way to a 3-1 lead.

"We gave up a PK and also did not score on a PK. Those slight differences can make a huge difference in the box score," said head coach Unity Michel Stringer. "As far as in the moment I thought that they played well."

Sophomore Mason Davis had eight saves while guarding the net for Unity.

"Our offensive is young, and for those who scored this was their first high school game so it is understandable that it took them a half to shake off the nerves and find the net," added Stringer.

The Rockets' next three matches are all at home on their new turf field. Unity starts the three-game homestand with Argenta-Oreana at 10a on Saturday. Two days later on Monday, the program hosts Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond at 4:30p. Unity fans' last chance to catch the team at home until September 11 will be on Thursday, September 2 in a match against Meridian, also starting at 4:30p.

---

SJO wrestling team nearly wins half their matches at dual meet

BISMARCK -- The St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling squad notched seven individual wins in their road match at Bismarck-Henning on Tuesday. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for the Spartans to shoot past the Blue Devils on their way to a 47-38 final score.

Emmit Holt earned four points for SJO after he racked up a 14-0 major decision over Bismarck-Henning's Landon Toellner in the 113-pound weight class.

Lexi Wirth was on the mat twice for the Spartans at 120-pounds. She was pinned on the boys' side of the card in 53-seconds by Grahm Abbed in 53 seconds. In her second match of the evening, Wirth stuck Gianna Ingargiola after five minutes and 18 seconds. The victory closed the team-score deficit and put SJO behind by two points at 12-10.

Holden Brazelton (126-lbs), Garrett Denhart (138-lbs), and Matt Falls (145-lbs), also won their Tuesday night matches, contributing 15 points toward the final team score.

Spartans' Hunter Ketchum (182-lbs) recorded a 33-second fall on freshman Tyson Smith, and Owen Birt won his 195-pound bout after pinning Blue Devils' Gavin Golden in the second period.

Box Score -

106 Pattison (BH) over Forfeit, (SJO) Forfeit
113 Holt, Emmitt (SJO) over Toellner (BH) Maj Dec 14-0
120 Abbed (BH) over Wirth, Lexi (SJO) Fall 0:43
120 Wirth, Lexi (SJO) over Ingargiols (BH) Fall 5:18
126 Brazelton, Holden (SJO) over Golden, A (BH) Tech Fall 20-3
132 Parish (BH) over Butts, Landen (SJO) Fall 2:00
138 Denhart, Garrett (SJO) over Carpenter (BH) Fall 2:27
145 Falls, Matt (SJO) over Gudauskus (BH) Maj Dec 12-3
152 Stevenson (BH) over Forfeit, (SJO)
160 Walton (BH) over Forfeit, (SJO) Forfeit
170 Godwin (BH) over Forfeit, (SJO) Forfeit
182 Ketchum, Hunter (SJO) over Smith (BH) Fall 0:33
195 Birt, Owen (SJO) over Golden, G (BH) Fall 1:16
220 Gnaden (BH) over Jones, Quincy (SJO) Fall 3:56
285 Wilson (BH) over Cotter, Austin (SJO)

Prep Sports Notebook: Area cross-country squads shine at Cow Chip

---

Four second-half scores gives SJO weekend soccer victory

Spartan Hunter Ketchum scored SJO's final goal of the game to seal a 4-1 win over Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin Saturday morning. Ketchum, the team's starting keeper also recorded seven saves.

Aiden Cromwell padded his stats with two assists, feeding the ball to Jackson Greer and Jacek Slowikowski in the final half. Riker Lockhart also put the ball between the post for St. Joseph-Ogden (4-1-1).

The Blue Devils scored first on a successful penalty kick from Bryson Lithgow in the first half with no response from SJO. In the second period, Greer tied the game for SJO's with the team's first score, followed by Ryker's go-ahead boot.

The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team returns to their home pitch on Thursday to face the Olympia Spartans.

---

Unity girls cross-country team win Cow Chip title

All seven runners from Unity High School finished the annual Cow Chip Classic course in the top 20 on Saturday. The dominating team effort led to 64 points and this year's race title for the Rockets.

Junior Erica Woodard led the field of Unity runners finishing with a time of 19:14.1 and 5th place overall. Sophomore Emily Decker was the next to cross the finish line ten seconds later at 19:24.4. Olivia Shike rounded out the top three in 18th place overall at 19:42.2.

Teammates Mackenzie Pound, Camryn Reedy, Josie Cler, and Ashlyn Denney each finished the course in under 21 minutes and 45 seconds.

---

Franzen leads Spartan harriers

Sananna Franzen finished third in Flight 1 at the Cow Chip Classic on Saturday. The St. Joseph-Ogden's top runner circumvented the course at the annual race in Chrisman in 18 minutes and 41.5 seconds. The Spartans, who finished 5th in the team standings, saw strong, early season effort from Chloe Burkhalter (20:48.5), Sophia Kapser (23:28.1), senior Kaytlyn Baker (23:28.4), Hannah Mock (23:53.1), and #7 runner Sydney Steinbach who finished at 24:49.9.

---

University High XC girls take 4th

The Illinek running squad tallied 122 points earning a fourth-place finish ahead of St. Joseph-Ogden at the Cow Chip Classic. Senior Kate Ahmari finished the course with the second best time of day in the girls' division at 18:31.4.

In addition to Ahmari, six runners contributed to Uni-High's top-four finish. Finishers included: Kara Mathias (20:38.1), Edie Hoganson (21:14.6), Shriya Nagaraj (22:55.7), Ella Ylagan (24:24.4), Clara Wood (24:31.0), and Bonnie Weaver (24:53.9).

---

Richardson the real deal

Garrett Richardson's number was called 29 times during Unity's road game at Dick Duval Field on Friday. His five-TD, 239-yard performance against St. Joseph-Ogden was a stellar debut that will be hard to top for the rest of the season and his next two years of prep eligibility. The sophomore running back scored on runs of 40, 4, 60, 18, and 6 yards in the Week 2 game.

Unity's only other ball carrier, quarterback Cale Rawdin, added insult to injury with 151 rushing yards, which includes an 83-yard touchdown run virtually untouched. Rawdin and the Rockets improved to 1-1 on the season after running the score up 50-7 on the Spartans.

---

Sentinel area teams finish in the top 5

Cross-country runners from St. Joseph-Ogden, Unity, and University High were among the 26 teams competing at the Cow Chip Classic on Saturday. The Spartans, who missed winning this year's title by just seven points, finished in second place with 112 points. The Monticello Sages took this year's team title with 106 points.

SJO's Lance Retz was of three runners who ran a sub-17-minute race. He finished second overall with a time of 16:48.1 behind Bryson Grant from Iroquois West, who finished with an impressive time of 16:03.6.

The Unity contingent was led by senior Brenden Graven and his time of 17:43.0. The seven-runner squad accumulated 214 points to finish fourth in the team standings.

Meanwhile, the young squad from University High finished in fifth place, two points ahead of Heritage High School. Sophomore Ross Kimme sped around the grassy course to finish with a time of 17:56.2.

Saturday's finishers include: Lance Retz (St. Joseph-Ogden) 16:48.1, Jack Fisher (St. Joseph-Ogden) 17:21.2, Ethan Blackburn (St. Joseph-Ogden) 17:28.4, Brenden Graven (Unity) 17:43.0, Aden Armstrong (St. Joseph-Ogden) 17:44.3, Ross Kimme (Uni-High) 17:56.2, Camden Fairbanks (Unity) 18:12.0, Holden Jones (St. Joseph-Ogden) 18:32.0, Eli Crowe (Unity) 18:40.1, Joe Griebat (St. Joseph-Ogden) 18:47.2, Felix Lee (Uni-High) 18:48.4, Kelby Svendsen (Uni-High) 18:54.5, Carter Tiemann (Unity) 18:54.8, Mason Guido (St. Joseph-Ogden) 18:58.4, Isaac Ruggieri (Unity) 18:59.2, Walter Kraetz (Uni-High) 19:10.0, Bruce Tang (Uni-High) 19:13.0, Luke Fahnestock (Uni-High) 19:17.3, Matthew Ulozas (Uni-High) 19:28.3, Collin Graven (Unity) 19:39.0, and Alex Mowrer (Unity) 20:14.4.

---

SJO volleyball wins tournament title

The St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team won four matches and lost one at the Mattoon Invitational volleyball tournament on Saturday. The Spartans' solo loss was courtesy of the host Green Wave in a thrilling three-setter that ended 17-25, 25-18, 14-15. In the final match of the day, the two teams squared off again in the tournament's championship match, but this time the Spartans prevailed, 2-1.

Taylor Hug was credited 107 assists across 13 sets. She also scraped up 29 digs and served five aces. Fellow seniors Emma Ward and Shayne Immke had six aces apiece, with Immke leading the team in kills (44). Addie Roesch, who led the team with 38 digs for the day, hammered 40 kills of her own for the Spartans.

Peyton Williams contributed 21 kills and 33 digs to the cause, while Mikyla Haley's 34 digs also helped the Spartan defensive effort.

SJO defeated Pana, 25-19, 25-21; Mt. Vernon 25-9, 25-11, Taylorville 25-20, 15-25, 15-14; and Mattoon 25-10, 20-25, 15-12.

---

SJO football falls to Unity at home

After the convincing debut in their season-opener on the road at Monticello, the St. Joseph-Ogden (1-1) football team took one on the chin with a 50-7 loss to the Unity Rockets (1-1).

The Spartans netted just 18 rushing yards on offense. Alex Funk and Tyler Burch had 7 yards apiece, Coy Taylor picked up 5, and quarterback Logan Smith finished the game with 2 yards.

SJO's passing attack faired much better against the Rockets, with Taylor's five catches for 38 yards and Ty Pence's 18-yard total. Pence's spectacular 10-yard catch in the east end zone and Joe Frasca's PAT summed up the team's point production.

Today, the Spartans prepare for their next contest on Friday at Prairie Central. The Hawks (2-0) are at the top of the Illini Prairie Conference after defeating Unity a week earlier, 34-12, and thrashing Pontiac last Friday, 55-13.

---

Photo Gallery: Spartans hand STM first conference loss

Left: Will Childers heads the ball toward waiting Spartan teammates. Right: Spencer Wilson inserts himself between two St. Thomas More players to get control of the ball during first half play. Wilson later scored the only goal the game to give the Spartan program this first victory over the Sabers in more than five seasons.

---

Photos from PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Left: Owen Baltzell boots the ball down the field during last half of the first half against the Sabers. Right: Brennan Haake, a senior who will be honored at SJO's home match on Saturday, plays defense in the first half.

---

Left: SJO defensive specialist Jared Emmert follows an STM player across the field. Emmert, a senior and four-year veteran on the team, will be honored at Saturday's Senior Day. Right: Spartan Garrett Siems passes the ball during first half action against the Sabers.

---

Left: Spartans' Collin Thomey heads the ball away from a pair of Sabers' players. Right: Will Childers cuts off St. Thomas More player's path down the field toward SJO's goal.

---

Left: Goalkeeper Hunter Ketchum keeps a watchful eye on the action to his left. Ketchum made six saves to give the Spartans the shutout. Right: A STM player pushes the ball to the middle of box hoping to take a shot on the SJO goal in the second half.

---

Oh, YEAH!

Junior Carter Mabry lets out an celebratory yell as he walks back to the bench after the game. Mabry and the Spartan program will honor two seniors on Saturday before the opening kick against Georgetown-Ridge Farm.

---

Looking for photos of a specific player from either team? Email us at photos@oursentinel.com with the athlete's name and jersey number for details.

Photo Gallery | SJO wrestling falls at first home meet of the season

Hunter Ketchum wraps up Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin's Cooper Carpenter during their 220-pound exhibition match on Tuesday. Ketchum, a four-year starter at goalie for the SJO soccer program, pinned Carpenter one minute and 19 seconds into their bout. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

SJO's Landen Butts fights for wrist control while going head-to-head with BHRA's Ayden Golden. Golden won the match by pin at 3:32. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Spartan Coy Hayes ties up BHRA's Donavan Guduskas trying to get back points. Hayes eventually would win the match by fall at 3:05. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

SJO's Devan Swisher looks to his coaching corner while wrestling Blue Devils' Marcus Schreiner. Swisher went the distance by lost by way of a 7-4 decision. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

SJO's Devan Swisher looks for a shot in on Blue Devils' Marcus Schreiner during their 160-pound match. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Carson Sarnecki tries to escape from BHRA's Christian Walton during their 170-pound. Sarnecki was pinned at 5:32 in the first home meet of the season. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin's Nathaniel Gnaden takes down SJO's Owen Birt during their 220-pound match. Gnaden narrowly won the match on points besting Birt, 10-6. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

Owen Birt looks for an opportunity to shoot in on BHRA's Nathaniel Gnaden during second period action. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

SJO's Brandon Goodwin does his best to keep BHRA's Grahm Abbed from scoring during their 126-pound bout. Goodwin was later pinned by Abbed at 2:32. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

After collecting a few points, Spartans' Lexi Wirth focuses on getting control of Mike Rodgers during their 138-pound exhibition match. Despite a hard-fought effort Wirth was pinned at 2:53. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---

St. Joseph-Ogden 220-pounder Quincy Jones pins Blue Devils' Cooper Carpenter. Jones secured the exhibition win in just 36 seconds. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

---