Huffman wins singles match, SJO outgunned by Tigers

Clare Huffman serves the ball in set two against Urbana's Eisla Madigan. The junior won her match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

The Tigers' experience paid off handing the young, month-old Spartan program an 8-1 loss. There were a couple of bright moments of inspired play by the St. Joseph-Ogden girls team on September 29.

After commanding 6-3 first set victory against Urbana's Eisla Madigan, Clare Huffman jumped out to a 5-0 lead and needed just one more game to end the clash at Blair Park with a second set bagel. Madigan fought back breaking Huffman's serve and holding her own for the first time in four games.

"I got really tired," said Huffman after sealing St. Joseph-Ogden's only singles win with the 6-2 win. The junior and first-year player with the school's new club team pertinaciously gutted out game eight of set two to collect the W. "We had a lot of deuce games."

In posting the win, Huffman figured out her future strategy for upcoming matches.

"I need to hit the ball further back," she said. "That's how you win points."

Senior Emily Fisher, also new to the sport, nearly pulled off an upset at #5 singles after pushing her opening set to first set tie-breaker 7-6 against Daniella Coleman. Despite her lack of experience, she played toe-to-toe in the second set falling, 6-4.

The team has two matches, both on the road, left in their inaugural season. On Friday, SJO travels to Watseka High School for a 4p engagement against Watseka. Five days later, the newly formed team will end their season against Schlarman at the Danville Tennis Center.

Match results:

Singles:
No. 1 - Sophia Solava, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Hope Rajlich, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-0 , 6-0
No. 2 - Sanjana Paul, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Abbey Dow, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-1 , 6-0
No. 3 - Devangana Rana, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Sophia Martlage, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-1 , 6-2
No. 4 - Clare Huffman, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL def. Eisla Madigan, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL, 6-3 , 6-2
No. 5 - Daniella Coleman, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Emily Fisher, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 7-6 , 6-4
No. 6 - Myra Stevens, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Emma Rydell, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-1 , 6-1

Doubles:
No. 1 - Sophia Solava, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL - Eisla Madigan, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Katie McDermott, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL - Allison Kearney, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-0 , 6-1

No. 2 - Devangana Rana, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL - Sanjana Paul, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Sophia Martlage, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL - Clare Huffman, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 3-4 (Retired)

No. 3 - Hannah Null, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL - Jacie Owens, URBANA HIGH SCHOOL def. Flannery McCorkel, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL - Grace Schmitz, ST JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL, 6-4 , 6-1

Spartan basketball schedule is out and players are ready

The first St. Joseph-Ogden basketball game of the season tips off next Thursday when the girls' team will square off in a rematch at home against Villa Grove on February 4. The Blue Devils, who were eliminated from the IHSA postseason by the Spartans a mere 51 weeks - give or take a few days - ago, will be seeking revenge for the 50-34 loss in 2020.

Payton Jacob drives to the paint during the St. Joseph-Ogden's girls last home game in 2020. The Lady Spartans debut in their first home game of year next Thursday against Villa Grove. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

The boys squad also opens at home next week. On Friday, the SJO boys squad will take the floor against Cissna Park in the main gym at the high school. The Spartans will have six more home games before closing out their season on the road at Monticello.

The Spartans' ultra shortened season for both the girls and boys will end on March 8 and 9 respectively with no postseason play as per the recently released IHSA schedule that is squeezing normally ten months of prep sports and activities into five. Both varsity and junior varsity squads on each side will play a 12-game schedule this season.

Despite the low number of contests, players are excited to finally be able to get out on the court and compete.

"I know my teammates are all just as excited as I am," said St. Joseph-Ogden junior Taylor Wells. "We have all been waiting for answers on whether or not our season would happen since November. My team and I are very excited to be back in the gym getting to work."

Ty Pence, whose skill set and work ethic on the hardwood is paying dividends as his stock rises as a top college prospect in Illinois, echoed Wells' enthusiasm.

"I was very excited when I heard the news," he said. "I’m glad that our seniors will have a chance to have their season and hopefully we can be the best we can be.

Below are this year's boys and girls junior varsity and varsity schedules.

St. Joseph-Ogden Junior Varsity Basketball Schedule

Boys

02/05/2021
Cissna Park High School
SJO Main Gym • 6:00 PM

02/09/2021
St. Thomas More High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

02/12/2021
Rantoul High School
Rantoul High School • 5:30 PM

02/16/2021
Bloomington Central Catholic High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

02/19/2021
Unity High School
Unity High School • 5:30 PM

02/23/2021
Pontiac High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

02/26/2021
Prairie Central High School
Prairie Central High School • 5:30 PM

03/02/2021
Illinois Valley Central High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

03/05/2021
Olympia High School
SJO Main Gym • 5:30 PM

03/06/2021
Teutopolis High School
SJO Main Gym • 1:00 PM

03/09/2021
Monticello High School
Monticello High School • 5:30 PM

Girls

02/04/21
Villa Grove High School
SJO Main Gym • 06:00 PM

02/08/21
St. Thomas More High School
St. Thomas More High School • 05:30 PM

02/11/21
Rantoul High School
SJO Main Gym • 05:30 PM

02/15/21
Bloomington Central Catholic High School
Bloomington Central Catholic • 05:30 PM

02/18/21
Unity High School
SJO Main Gym • 05:30 PM

02/22/21
Pontiac High School
Pontiac High School • 05:30 PM

02/25/21
Prairie Central High School
SJO Main Gym • 05:30 PM

02/27/21
Paris High School
Paris High School • 11:00 AM

03/01/21
Illinois Valley Central High School
Illinois Valley Central High School • 05:30 PM

03/04/21
Olympia High School
Olympia High School • 05:30 PM

03/06/21
Teutopolis High School
Teutopolis High School • 01:00 PM

03/08/21
Monticello High School
SJO Main Gym • 05:30 PM

St. Joseph-Ogden Varsity Basketball Schedule

Boys

02/05/21
Cissna Park High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:30 PM

02/09/21
St. Thomas More High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/12/21
Rantoul High School
Rantoul High School • 07:00 PM

02/16/21
Bloomington Central Catholic High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/19/21
Unity High School
Unity High School • 07:00 PM

02/23/21
Pontiac High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/26/21
Prairie Central High School
Prairie Central High School • 07:00 PM

03/02/21
Illinois Valley Central High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

03/05/21
Olympia High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

03/06/21
Teutopolis High School
SJO Main Gym • 02:30 PM

03/09/21
Monticello High School
Monticello High School • 07:00 PM

Girls

02/04/21
Villa Grove High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:30 PM

02/08/21
St. Thomas More High School
St. Thomas More High School • 07:00 PM

02/11/21
Rantoul High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/15/21
Bloomington Central Catholic High School
Bloomington Central Catholic • 07:00 PM

02/18/21
Unity High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/22/21
Pontiac High School
Pontiac High School • 07:00 PM

02/25/21
Prairie Central High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

02/27/21
Paris High School
Paris High School • 12:30 PM

03/01/21
Illinois Valley Central High School
Illinois Valley Central High School • 07:00 PM

03/04/21
Olympia High School
Olympia High School • 07:00 PM

03/06/21
Teutopolis High School
Teutopolis High School • 02:30 PM

03/08/21
Monticello High School
SJO Main Gym • 07:00 PM

Meet the Class of 2020 - Four fantastic SJO seniors

Ashley Abbott

Clubs & Activities FFA Art Club Landscape Design

Ashley Abbott lives in St. Joseph with her dad and stepmother. She has three brothers and one sister. Her hobbies include playing video games, attending Art Club, and gardening. Abbott currently misses her daily high school schedule, but she is making the most of her time at home. After high school, she plans to attend Parkland College. She plans to transfer to a four-year university to major in landscape design after finishing her program at Parkland. Her favorite classes at St. Joseph-Ogden High School include Horticulture, Biology, and Art. This school year, Abbott really enjoyed all aspects of FFA and enjoys learning about all aspects of agriculture. Her favorite teachers at SJO are Mrs. Jennifer Brooks, Mrs. Darcy Nekolny, Mrs. Jeanna Kerner, Mrs. Ashley Krisman, and Mr. Don Beckett.

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Kendall Ayers

Clubs & Activities Scholastic Bowl Drama Club Chorus

Kendall Ayers lives in Royal with his mom and has two older brothers. His hobbies include playing video games, singing, and working on computers, and he has a passion for geology. His greatest memories at SJO are simply the great day-to-day interactions he has had over the years in high school. Ayers said he will always remember going to All State Chorus at Olivet Nazarene University, which was a huge accomplishment for him that he certainly should be proud of. After high school, he plans to take a vacation out west and will attend Parkland College as a member the Parkland Pathways program. His goal is to eventually transfer to the University of Illinois where he will major in computer engineering. His advice for future SJO students is "to get their foot in the door and to make an impression." Ayers said his two favorite classes at St. Joseph-Ogden High School are Physical Education and Chorus. His favorite all-time teachers are Mrs. Max, who was his 5th/6th grade teacher at Prairieview-Ogden, as well as Mrs. Steffen, Mr. Kieffer, Mr. Don Beckett, and Mr. Hess at SJO.

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Kaylee Blackburn

Kaylee Blackburn lives in St. Joseph with her family, and has six siblings: three brothers and three sisters. Her hobbies include writing poetry and short stories and hanging out with friends and family. Blackburn has many great memories from her time at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Over the years, she enjoyed the overall atmosphere at all home football games with the Maroon Platoon. She is a big fan of Homecoming week and has really enjoyed participating in the Spartan Olympics. She really enjoyed post prom and will miss the opening show night for the spring musicals. After high school, Blackburn will attend Eastern Illinois University in Charleston to study early childhood education. Her advice for future SJO students is to "simply enjoy everything and to appreciate all of your teachers and friends." At SJO, her favorite classes over the years are American History, Advanced Civics, and Economics with Mr. Schacht; English with Mrs. Lindenmeyer; and Geometry with Mr. Duval. Blackburn, like other seniors, has several favorite teachers at the high school. Mr. Marshall Schacht, Mr. Jeff Kieffer, and Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer as well as Mr. Steele from St. Joseph Middle School top her list.

Clubs & Activities Cheer (4 years) Drama Club (4 years) SADA, Student Council We The People

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Joe Yeager

Joe Yeager's greatest memory at St. Joseph-Ogden High School was when he missed two of his toughest classes his sophomore year because of a gas leak. The whole school had to evacuate the building and he will never forget this moment. His favorite classes at SJO included art with Mr. Jake Beccue his sophomore year and construction with Mr. Bill Billman this year. Over the years, Yeager's favorite teachers have been Mrs. Maxwell at Prairieview-Ogden in 5th/6th grade and Mr. Don Beckett at SJO. His dream job is owning his own shop where he can do custom automotive work or work on performance race cars. After graduation from SJO he willl start working toward that goal by attending Parkland College studying in one of their automotive programs. One Yeager's many hobbies is tearing down and rebuilding car engines. He is a member of one of two teams that trains at Parkland College and competes in Hot Rodders for Tomorrow competitions held around the country. In February, his team qualified for the national competition at the Race and Performance Expo in Schaumburg. Clubs & Activities Art Club FFA Teams are made up of high school students who practice teamwork, critical thinking and initiative as well as team communication as they tear down and reassemble Chevy 350 engines without the use of power tools. Hot Rodders for Tomorrow's mission is to teach high school and junior high students around the country about mechanical engineering and to encourage teamwork. The organization also offers scholarships to college students and has awarded more than $15 million since 2008 to future technicians. Not only are the competitions a great learning experience, but participants also have the opportunity rub meet with possible future employers as well as with industry experts to learn the latest technological advances. To future SJO students, Yeager offers this advice: "Finish all homework and to get involved." He lives in Royal with his mother, father and sister, Mariel.

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Photos and text provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School

SJO Senior Spotlights with Dade Allinger, Karsyn Wetzel and Mallory Ames

Dade Allinger Clubs & Activities Boys’ Basketball (4 years) Youth Wrestling Spanish Club Chess Club

Dade Allinger moved to St. Joseph at the beginning of the school year with his family. He has four siblings, three brothers and one sister.

While he has only been a student at St. Joseph-Ogden High School for just one year, Allinger said he has made many great memories.

Trading his orange and blue Bulldog gear for Spartan maroon and Columbia blue, he wore #21 as a member of the boys' varsity basketball team this past winter.

He really enjoyed the electric environment of the Class 2A IHSA regional championship game hosted at St. Joseph-Ogden back in late February.

At the beginning of the season, he came off the bench to contribute five points in the Spartans' 74-39 win over Schlarman at the Toyota of Danville Classic in early December.

Allinger is thankful for the new friendships he cemented during the past nine months at SJO. Moving to the district from Mahomet, he appreciates how welcoming the community has been with him and meeting new people.

After graduation this spring, Allinger will start his college education at attend Parkland College in pursuit of degree in physical therapy. After finish up at Parkland, he plans to transfer to the University of Illinois to continue his studies.

His favorite classes in high school are Economics with Mr. Marshall Schacht and Business Management with Mr. Shawn Skinner.

And, when it comes to favorite teachers, he named Mr. Schacht and Mr. Eric Andracke, who was his woods teacher at Mahomet-Seymour High School, as his favorite instructors during his high school career.

His advice for future SJO students is to stay ahead on homework and to not be afraid to ask questions.

Allinger said his hobbies include spending time with friends and family.

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Karsyn Wetzel

Clubs & Activities Student Council (4 years) Drama Club (4 years) Chorus

After high school, Karsyn Wetzel plans to attend Eastern Illinois University and will major in middle school education with an English emphasis. One of her greatest memories at St. Joseph-Ogden High School was being a part of last year’s musical production, which she says is her absolute favorite experience. Wetzel said she has also enjoyed her role as a member of the executive board for the Student Council and will always remember Senior Night for the last home football game of the season. Her advice for future SJO students is to get involved, and to cherish time with friends because high school goes by way too fast. Wetzel's four favorite classes are U.S. History, Sociology, Advanced Civics, and English 101/102. Her favorite teachers throughout the years have been Mrs. Jeffers in 6th grade at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Marshall Schacht, Mr. Jeff Kieffer, and Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer in high school. Wetzel lives in St. Joseph with her mom and dad and two younger brothers. Her hobbies include hanging out with family and friends and working.

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Mallory Ames

Mallory Ames' advice to future St. Joseph-Ogden students is don't sweat the small stuff and to live every day like it is your last. In addition to her interest in photography and cleaning, she likes hanging out with family and friends. How she finds the time for all three is mystery for a student who was actively involved in two sports and five clubs, including Spanish Club, We The People and FFA, during her high school career. As a member of the SJO FFA chapter, Ames placed 9th in a major career development event at State. At a land use career development event this past September, she earned a fourth-place individual ribbon and helped SJO to a second place team finish. She and other students competing in the land use competition evaluate soil characteristics including texture, slope and drainage. They then make recommendations for land treatments based on the use, whether it be agricultural, residential or urban. Clubs & Activities FFA (4 years), NHS, Bible Club Spanish Club, We The People AMP Program, Volleyball (2 years) Girls’ Basketball (1 year) She is also the Section 17 reporter, which covers 14 east central Illinois chapters including Arcola, ALAH, Fisher, GCMS, Heritage, Mahomet-Seymour, Monticello, PBL, Rantoul, Joesph-Ogden, Tuscola, Villa Grove, Urbana, and Unity in addition to St. Joseph-Ogden. She will also never forget the FFA Convention during her junior year in Indianapolis. The experience with friends was a lot of fun she said. Fellow students will remember Ames for her routine practice of screaming hello to social science teacher Don Beckett on a daily basis. After graduation, Mallory will move nine miles to the west to continue her education in Agri-Business and Ag Communications at the University of Illinois. She also plans to minor in Spanish. As her senior year comes to a close, Ames' favorite classes have been AP English IV with Mr. Ryan Searby and American History with Mr. Beckett. Ames' favorite teachers over the years have been Mr. Steele and Mrs. Cler at St. Joseph Middle School and Mrs. Duitsman at SJO. She lives in St. Joseph with her mom, dad, and a younger brother.

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Photos and text provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School

Featuring the Class of 2020's Adamaris Fuentes, Ethan Hinrichs & Eliza Lewis

Adamaris Fuentes

Clubs & Activities

Spanish Club, Spanish Club Leader, Cheer (1 year), Drama Club, Maroon Platoon, Maroon Platoon Leader

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Hobbies:
Dancing, baking, and giving her time through volunteer work.

Favorite SJO memories:
Meeting new people, and she was thankful for all of the new opportunities each year at SJO.

Favorite classes:
Spanish with Senor Zak Sutton, PE with Mr. William Billman, and English with Ms. Susan Pensinger

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Risley and Mrs. Kinney at St. Joseph Middle School and Senor Sutton, Mr. Kevin Simondsen, and Mrs. Lianne Rash at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, Majoring in Pre-PA Biology.

Advice to future SJO students:
Do not take anything for granted.

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Graduating from college with an undergraduate or advance degree? Let us know. Read more ...

Ethan Hinrichs

Clubs & Activities

Marching Band (4 years)
Track and Field (1 year)
Soccer (2 years)
Scholastic Bowl, Rube Goldberg Team, We The People

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
He has seven siblings: one older sister, two younger brothers, and four younger sisters.

Hobbies:
Reading and working

Favorite SJO memories:
Marching Band trip to Washington D.C. when he was a freshman and going to Chicago as a part of the We The People team. Ethan has also enjoyed spending time with his teachers throughout the years at SJO.

Favorite classes:
Physics, AP Chemistry, and all of his classes with Mr. Marshall Schacht and Mr. Jeff Kieffer.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. McDonald at St. Joseph Grade School; Mrs. Mabry and Mr. Steele at St. Joseph Middle School; and Mr. Schacht, Mr. Jeff Kieffer, Mr. Robert Glazier, and Mr. Kevin Simondsen at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
He will attend the Parkland Pathways program and will transfer to the University of Illinois to major in aerospace engineering.

Summer Plans:
After high school, Ethan plans to work two jobs over the summer.

Advice to future SJO students:
Be social and to get out more.

Eliza Lewis

Clubs & Activities

Cheer (4 years)
We The People, Spanish Club, Spanish Club Leader, Bible Club Leader, SADA, NHS, Drama Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
One older sister and one younger brother.

Hobbies:
Working, Bible journaling, drawing, watching YouTube, and hanging out with friends.

Favorite SJO memories:
Eliza’s greatest memories at SJO centered around the wonderful memories she made with friends at lunch time.

Favorite classes:
Geometry with Mr. Kiel Duval, Sociology with Mr. Jeff Kieffer, AP English III with Mr. Ryan Searby, Horticulture with Mrs. Darcy Nekolny, and Economics with Mr. Marshall Schacht.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Mabry at St. Joseph Grade School; Mr. Risley and Mrs. Lubinski at St. Joseph Middle School; and Mr. Kieffer, Mr. Duval, Senor Zak Sutton, Ms. Kelly Steffen, and Mr. Don Beckett at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Judson University, majoring in Architecture and minor in Spanish and Christian Ministries. She will also be on the cheer team and the dance team.

Advice to future SJO students:
Enjoy your time in high school because high school is such a special time in your life.

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Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Tyler Luchinski and Savanna Franzen earn All-State Mention from IHSA

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Savanna Franzen runs around the track O'Brien Field at the IHSA Girls Track & Field State Finals in May 2024. The Spartan senior was named an All-State Academic by the IHSA on March 4.

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BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois High School Association announced the 26 members who were selected for the 2025 IHSA All-State Academic Team. Two area student athletes, one Charger and one Spartan, made this year's list released today.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Savanna Franzen and Centennial's Tyler Luchinski earned Honorable Mention recogition and will be recognized at a banquet held in Bloomington on April 13.

Each year, IHSA member schools can nominate one female student and one male student to be a part of this prestigious team. Nominees needed to possess a minimum 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale after their seventh semester, have participated in at least two IHSA sponsored sports or activities during each of the last two years of high school, and demonstrated outstanding citizenship.

"The IHSA All-State Academic Team truly represents the best that Illinois has to offer," IHSA Assistant Executive Director Stacy Lambert said in a press release. "When you look the credentials of these team members, you are not only going to see outstanding grades and incredible test scores, but participation in multiple sports and activities, as well as significant contributions to their school and community. The ability to not only balance but also simultaneously excel in all these endeavors is inspiring. We are proud to have these future leaders represent the IHSA and Illinois."

The nominations were evaluated by a committee up of IHSA principals, athletic directors, and activities directors. One male winner and one female winner from each of the seven IHSA Board of Directors Divisions were selected initially, while the final 12 spots on the team were then rounded out with at-large candidates from anywhere in the state.

A complete list of all award winners is below.

2024-25 All-State Academic Team

Reid Bodine
Williamsville High School

Joseph Bregenzer
Barrington High School

Cole Buchanan
Benton High School

Zoe Carter
University High School | Normal

Emily Cheng
Walter Payton | Chicago

Taylor Davidson
Stillman Valley High School

Hadley Ferrero
Crystal Lake Central

Payton Frey
Highland High School

Gracie Furlong
Galena High School

Hannah Gibson
Carlinville High School

Travis Hoffman
Mahomet-Seymour High School

Liam Kendrick
Lane Tech High School | Chicago

Krish Khanna
University High School | Chicago

Alyssa Koerkenmeier
Mater Dei Catholic | Breese

Elena Krause
Pontiac High School

Andrew Kurien
Rockford Christian High School

TJ Larson
Central Catholic High School | Bloomington

Gavin O’Connor
Brother Rice High School | Chicago

Liam O’Connor
Oak Park & River Forest High School

Ava Peterson
Manteno High School

Elena Rybak
Father McGivney | Glen Carbon

Kurtis Smith
Hononegah High School | Rockton

Ethan Stewart
Triad High School | Troy

Lucia “Lulu” Ton-That
Northside College Prep | Chicago

Ben Wuggazer
Lyons High School | LaGrange

Veronica Znajda
Prospect High School | Mt. Prospect

2024-25 All-State Academic Team Honorable Mention

Sydney Buchelt
Lisle Senior High School

Aubrey Campbell
Central Catholic High School | Bloomington

Seth Cooper
Ottawa Township High School

Benjamin Crane
New Trier High School | Winnetka

Ryan Thomas Detering
Salem High School

Ricky Eriksen
Marist High School | Chicago

Nora Ezike
Lyons High School | LaGrange

Syndey Fraley
Maine South High School | Park Ridge

Savanna Franzen
St. Joseph-Ogden

Paige Froess
Columbia High School

Rory Gaan
Fremd High School | Palatine

Elijah Genenbacher
Central High School | Camp Point

Mason Gilpin
Carlinville High School

Waylon Hall
Herrin High School

Jacob Hartwig
Heyworth High School

Annabelle Hiel
Washington Community High School

Julia Hosu
Yorkville High School

Abigail Johnes
Brussels High School

Jack Jokisch
Shelbyville High School

Devin Karda
Sycamore High School

Clayton Kessler
Auburn High School

Reese Kohnle
Boylan Catholic High School | Rockford

Joseph Kyes
Richmond-Burton High School

Josie Larson
Lakes High School | Lake Villa

Tyler Luchinski
Centennial High School | Champaign

Bruno Massel
York High School | Elmhurst

Nolan McClay
Knoxville High School

Elizabeth McConkie
Sycamore High School

Lauren Miller
Central High School | Camp Point

Lizeth Montes
St. Ignatius College Prep | Chicago

Eislee Moore
Carbondale High School

Kaleb Navarro
De La Salle Institute | Chicago

Sam Ottwell
Alton Senior High School

Derke Patton
Walter Payton College Prep | Chicago

Miraya Pessman
Fulton High School

Aubrey Phillips
El Paso-Gridley

Ryan Pieper
Lena-Winslow High School

Maya Rounds
Sesser-Valier High School

Austin Rowswell
Lincoln-Way West High School | New Lenox

Karson Shrum
Annawan High School

Paige Sierens
Annawan High School

Amelia Strebel
Jersey High School | Jerseyville

Max Strong
Riverside-Brookfield High School

Olivia Tran
Vernon Hills High School

Juliana Walker
University High School | Chicago

Cynthia Waller
Lane Tech High School | Chicago

Connor Watson
East Peoria High School

Reese Watson
Scared Heart-Griffin High School | Springfield

Michael Wilson
Greenville High School

Lily Woolery
Shelbyville High School

Stay informed! Don't miss our latest photos and article you need to read.

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Senior Spotlight with Emily Hardimon, Lucas Downing & Faith Dahman

Faith Dahman

Clubs & Activities

Cheer (4 years), Track & Field (2 years), NHS President, SADA President, AMP, Future Spartans Mentoring Program, Spanish Club Leader, Bible Club Leader, Maroon Platoon, SJO Handbook Committee, Drama Club, We The People

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Younger brother

Hobbies:
working at Sholem Pool, walking, and spending time with family and friends.

Favorite SJO memories:
She enjoyed mentoring in the Advisory Mentoring Program and being a part of the Future Spartans Mentoring Program. She also enjoyed her time as an SJO cheerleader, especially during the Homecoming games and at all of the Homecoming assemblies.

Favorite classes:
Advanced Civics with Mr. Marshall Schacht, Trigonometry with Mr. Kiel Duval, and U.S. History with Mr. Don Beckett.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Lubinski and Mrs. Ford at St. Joseph Middle School and Senor Zak Sutton and Mr. Schacht at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
University of Illinois, double major in Pre-Law and Political Science.

Advice to future SJO students:
Get involved in as many sports, activities, and clubs as you can.

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Lucas Downing

Clubs & Activities

Soccer (2 years)
FFA, Maroon Platoon, Drama Club

Hometown:
Royal

Siblings:
Older sister and two younger brothers

Hobbies:
Playing baseball, riding four-wheelers, and hanging out with friends.

Favorite SJO memories:
He thoroughly enjoyed FFA in high school, and he highly suggests joining FFA to all SJO students.

Favorite classes:
BSAA with Mrs. Duitsman and Mr. Pfundstein and Geometry with Mr. Kiel Duval.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Anderson at PVO and Mr. Duval and Mr. Don Beckett at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Northwest Lineman College in Florida

Advice to future SJO students:
Be excellent, stay on top of your homework, and do not fall behind.

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Graduating from college with an undergraduate or advance degree? Let us know. Read more ...

Faith Hardimon

Clubs & Activities

Spanish Club, SADA, Maroon Platoon, We The People

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Younger sister

Hobbies:
Playing tennis, playing sand volleyball, and painting.

Favorite SJO memories:
Over the years, she has enjoyed post prom and playing hacky sack before school. She has also been a big part of the Maroon Platoon. During her senior year, she was one of the many road warriors from the Maroon Platoon that traveled to Unity High School to cheer on the SJO varsity volleyball team to victory. It is a moment she will never forget.

Favorite classes:
Spanish with Senor Zak Sutton, and all of the classes she had with Mr. Marshall Schacht as a teacher.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. McDonald at St. Joseph Grade School, Mrs. Thompson at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mr. Schacht, Senor Sutton, and Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Illinois State University, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Spanish.

Advice to future SJO students:
Enjoy their senior year and to go to as many sporting events as possible.

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Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Recognized for his contributions and dedication, Kermit Esarey is inducted into the 2022 SJO Hall of Fame

ST. JOSEPH -- St. Joseph-Ogden High School will introduce four new inductees to the St. Joseph-Ogden Hall of Fame during the Spartan football team's Homecoming game against Nokomis. The distinquished group includes 1960 graduate Dee Evans, former three-sport athlete Brandi Carmien Burnett, veteran teacher Kermit Esarey, and The Gary Olson Family.

Below is a short biography and highlights about Kermit Esarey provided by the high school.

Kermit Esarey

Kermit was born and raised in southern Illinois. He graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1940.

He attended the University of Illinois, College of Agriculture, majoring in Agricultural Education. He was drafted into the Army after his junior year as a 2nd Lieutenant. He returned to the U of I after his release from the military and received his Bachelor’s degree.

He began his teaching career at Scotland High School where he taught for one year. He then taught at Cisne High School for four years. He moved to St. Joseph and started teaching at St. Joseph High School in 1952. He completed his Master’s degree that same year from the U of I and continued his teaching career at what is now St. Joseph-Ogden High School until his retirement in 1982. He was also the FFA advisor while teaching at SJO.

Kermit was married to his wife, LaDema for 73 years. She preceded him in death in 2017. They had one daughter, Gail, who lives in Arlington, Texas with her family. After Kermit’s retirement, he and LaDema moved to Texas to be closer to their family. While they resided in St. Joseph, Kermit and LaDema were active members of the St. Joseph Methodist Church. Kermit was also a member of the local Lion’s Club and the IAVAT.

Kermit was awarded the Honorary State FFA Degree in 1979 as well as an honorary membership in the Alpha Tau Alpha fraternity. Kermit supervised more than 20 student teachers during his career at SJO. He would often say that some of his greatest satisfactions in life were to visit with former students and encourage them to become successful in ag related fields.

In 2020, his daughter Gail established a scholarship at the U of I in his name to be awarded to a student majoring in the agricultural field. Kermit passed away in 2019 at the age of 97. Kermit was the oldest of four brothers. We are honored to have several members of his family here with us tonight to receive this award in his name.

Thank you to Kermit Esarey for your dedication to the SJO school! Congratulations once again to Kermit Esarey and his family for the induction into the St. Joseph-Ogden High School Hall of Fame.

Senior Spotlights with Ally Monk, Bradley Harrison and Payton Grimsley

Ally Monk

Clubs & Activities

Cross Country (4 years)
Track and Field (4 years)
Maroon Platoon, Student Council

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Two older sisters

Hobbies:
Traveling with family, running, and hanging out with family and friends.

Favorite SJO memories:
She has enjoyed being a part of the Maroon Platoon each year. She was also a big part of the Student Council IHSA State Competition, which was a positive experience.

Favorite classes:
Spanish classes with both Senor Zak Sutton and Senora Nelson.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Dunn at St. Joseph Grade School; Mrs. Huls and Mrs. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School; and Mrs. Chambers, Senora Nelson, and Senor Sutton

College:
University of Missouri majoring in Business Marketing

Advice to future SJO students:
Treat every moment like it’s your last.

Bradley Harrison

Clubs & Activities

Scholastic Bowl, FFA, We The People

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
One sister and a younger brother

Hobbies:
Playing bass guitar, playing video games, building computers, and kayaking on the Salt Fork River.

Favorite SJO memories:
He has many great memories during his lunch hour with friends.

Favorite classes:
Intro to Ag with Mrs. Duitsman and English 101/102 with Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. McDonald at St. Joseph Grade School, Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mrs. Duitsman and Mrs. Lindenmeyer at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Louisiana State University majoring in Civil Engineering

Advice to future SJO students:
Maintain good grades and to have self-motivation.

Payton Grimsley

Clubs & Activities

Golf (4 years)
Basketball (4 years)
Maroon Platoon, Maroon Platoon Leader, FCA, Future Spartans Mentoring Program

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
An older brother

Hobbies:
Working out, playing sports, and hanging out with family and friends.

Favorite SJO memories:
He really enjoyed playing in both IHSA regional and sectional golf competitions. He will definitely remember his involvement in the Maroon Platoon over the years, and Payton will always remember all of the home basketball games, especially the Class 2A Regional Championship game hosted by SJO this past February. Payton appreciated the electric environment of this game, and playing in this game was a special moment for him.

Favorite classes:
English 101/102 and Economics

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Dunn at St. Joseph Grade School; Mr. Miller, Mr. Risley, Mrs. Cler, and Mrs. Kinney at St. Joseph Middle School; and Mr. Kiel Duval, Mrs. Jeanna Kerner, Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer, Mr. Marshall Schacht, Mr. Ryan Searby, and Mr. Jeff Kieffer at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Illinois State University majoring in Business Management

Advice to future SJO students:
Don't overstress about high school in order to have success in the classroom and to get the most out of the four years of high school.

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Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Senior Spotlight with Jordan Kelly, Stephanie Trame & Luke Renfrew

Luke Renfrew Clubs & Activities Football (4 years), Boys’ Basketball (4 years), Maroon Platoon Hometown: St. Joseph Siblings: He has an older brother Hobbies: Hanging out with friends and family and working on cars. Favorite SJO memory: Luke enjoyed competing in the IHSA Football Playoffs three of his four years. He has really enjoyed sports in general because of the positive moments he has been a part of. Favorite classes: Agriculture with Mr. Billman and any class he has had with Mr. Duval. Favorite teachers: Mrs. Ford at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Duval, Mr. Billman, Mr. Skinner, Mrs. Kerner, and Senor Sutton at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Career: Will become a union apprentice electrician in January Advice to future SJO students: Enjoy high school because it goes by so fast.

Jordan Kelly Clubs & Activities Basketball (4 years), Soccer (3 years), Football (1 year), Maroon Platoon Hometown: St. Joseph Siblings: Two older brothers Hobbies: Hanging out with friends and family, and playing sports Favorite SJO memory: Playing Spartan basketball this past season and the bonds he has created at SJO with all of his teachers and students. Favorite classes: Math with Mr. Duval, all of his strength classes, and all of the English classes with Mrs. Lindenmeyer Favorite teachers: Throughout his years of schooling, Jordan’s favorite teachers are Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Duval at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. College: Parkland College, Construction Management Advice to future SJO students: Do not take anything for granted.

Stephanie Trame Clubs & Activities Volleyball (4 years), Maroon Platoon, NHS, Spanish Club, FCA, AMP, Student Council, We The People Hometown: St. Joseph Siblings: One sister Hobbies: Traveling and hanging out with family and friends. Favorite SJO memory: Qualifying to compete at the IHSA State Volleyball Tournament at Redbird Arena in the fall of 2019. She will never forget this great moment and nor when the whole SJO varsity volleyball team got stuck in the hotel elevator for about 15 seconds. Additionally, she will always remember going to the We The People State Competition in Chicago during her senior year. Favorite classes: English classes with both Mrs. Chambers and Mrs. Lindenmeyer and Civics with Mr. Schacht Favorite teachers: Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School and Mrs. Lindenmeyer, Mr. Schacht, and Mrs. Rein at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. College: Plans to attend Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. She has not decided on a major. Advice to future SJO students: Enjoy every day and to participate in everything you can.

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Photos and text provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School

Shining stars of SJO, senior spotlights with Samantha Gonzales, Jenna Schaefer & Erin Bridgewater

Samantha Gonzales

Clubs & Activities

Marching Band (4 years)

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Older sister

Hobbies:
Flute and being around animals

Favorite SJO memories:
A memory that she will never forget is when the SJO Marching Band finishing in 3rd place at the University of Illinois Marching Band Competition. In fact, her best high school memories all revolve around band.

Favorite classes:
Band and Chemistry

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Dassow and Mrs. Mabry at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Kevin Simondsen and Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Eastern Illinois University, double major in Music Performance and Criminology

Advice to future SJO students:
Participate in extracurricular events and to get your schoolwork done.

Jenna Schaefer

Clubs & Activities

Band (4 years)
Drama Club, Scholastic Bowl, Rube Goldberg Team, NHS, Spanish Club, We The People

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Younger sister

Hobbies:
Hiking, traveling, watching TV, and hanging out with family and friends.

Favorite SJO memories:
She has enjoyed everything about the SJO Marching Band. During her junior year, she enjoyed being a part of the musical and post-prom as well.

Favorite classes:
Spanish, Economics, Intro to Social Studies, PE, Algebra II, and Geography

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Kirk at St. Joseph Grade School; Mrs. Jeffers at St. Joseph Middle School; and Mr. Marshall Schacht, Mr. Jeff Kieffer, Senor Zak Sutton, Senora Nelson, and Mr. Kevin Simondsen at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
University of Illinois, majoring in Environmental Economics and Policy.

Advice to future SJO students:
Get involved, be a part of all of the offered activities, and be nice to all of your teachers.

Erin Bridgewater

Clubs & Activities

Band (4 years)
We The People, Drama Club, Art Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Hobbies:
Video games and learning Japanese

Favorite SJO memories:
Most center around her experience in the SJO Marching Band. During her senior year, the SJO Marching Band earned a 3rd place finish or higher in each of their six marching band competitions. This was a great achievement that she was a huge part of.

Favorite classes:
Band all four years of high school, Horticulture with Mrs. Duitsman, and all of her science classes.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Fitzsimmons at St. Joseph Grade School, Mrs. Jeffers at St. Joseph Middle School, and she has enjoyed classes with all of her teachers at SJO.

College:
Eastern Illinois University, majoring in Computer Information Technology.

Advice to future SJO students:
Take your classes seriously and to do all of your homework.

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Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

2020 St. Joseph-Ogden baseball season in question

Zach Martini reaches back to unload a pitch in the Spartans' home game against Centennial. SJO narrowly lost the non-conference game against the Big 12 foe on March 27 last year, 2-1. It remains to be seen if Martini and the Spartans will take the field this season due to the growing threat of the Coronavirus and governmental shutdown schools and group events across the country. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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With an impressive line-up of 11 talented seniors, the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team is stacked to win its eighth consecutive regional title this season and is a very strong challenger for one of four slots in the Class 2A state finals in June.

In the past four seasons under head coach Josh Haley, the Spartans have amassed an impressive 110 wins against 36 losses. SJO finished the 2019 season with a record of 27-9.

Unfortunately the St. Joseph-Ogden team and other baseball teams around the nation, the call to "play ball" may not be heard at least at the high school level this Spring due to the spread of the Coronavirus.

On Friday governor J.B. Pritzker closed all Illinois public and private schools for nearly a two-week period to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, the official name for the flu-like virus. As of today the number of confirmed cases in the state rose from 42 yesterday to 64 out of the mere 708 residents who have been tested so far. Another 200 cases are currently under investigation by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The earliest SJO will be able to practice or play at this point will be on April 6 and that is no guarantee. The pandemic strain threatening US citizens could extend the current postponement or cancel the season altogether if the IHSA follows suit and annonce the spring sport season over before it even started as the NCAA did last week.

In a statement on Thursday evening after canceling the winter season hours before the tipoff of the first boys semifinal basketball game for Class 1A on Friday, Executive Director Craig Anderson said no decision had been made on taking similar action.

"It is too early to make any decisions regarding IHSA spring state final tournaments," said Anderson. "We respect the NCAA’s decision to cancel its spring championships, but also recognize that the exposure and travel by our high school teams is not as expansive as collegiate teams. At this juncture, we recommend that all IHSA spring sport teams consult their local health departments, and follow their recommendations on if and how to proceed with practices and regular-season contests."

With no organized practice allowed by school districts until then, the likely first contest for SJO will be sometime around April 11. Optimistically, teams across Illinois can resume practice starting sometime between March 30 and April 6.

The Spartans have five litmus games on the schedule. Three of them may not be rescheduled unfortunately. Their doubleheader on March 19 with the opener against Oswego at 1p and then taking the field against Carbondale hours later would have been two solid early season tests for the SJO pitching corp.

The other game on the schedule to look forward was the away contest at Morton High School against Joliet Catholic on March 27. In their last meeting back in March of 2018, the Hilltoppers, who went on to become Class 3A sectional finalists, defeated the Spartans, 11-3.

If the season is allowed to continue, one of three games not to miss would be the Spartans' road game on the newly remodeled turf diamond at Unity on April 20. The other two can't miss 'em are home games. The first on April 4 against last year's Class 2A state champions Tuetopolis. The second, another non-conference matchup, is against Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley on April 28.

2020 St. Joseph-Ogden Baseball Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home Away	Time
16 March	Heritage High School	H	4:30
17 March	Armstrong-Potomac High School-@ Potomac	A	4:30
19 March	Oswego High School @ Edwardsville	A	1:00
19 March	Carbondale High School @ Edwardsville	A	4:45
24 March	Tuscola High School	H	4:30
25 March	Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin High School	H	4:30
26 March	Urbana High School	A	4:30
27 March	Joliet Catholic @ Morton High School	A	7:00
30 March	Salt Fork High School	H	4:30
1 April	Champaign Centennial High School	A	4:30
2 April	Westville High School	A	4:30
4 April	Teutopolis High School (DH)	H	10:00 AM
6 April	Mahomet-Seymour High School	A	5:00
7 April	St. Thomas More High School	H	4:30
8 April	Heritage High School @ Broadlands	A	4:30
11 April	Williamsville/Tremont High School @ Millikin (DH)	A	12:00
13 April	Rantoul High School	A	4:30
16 April	Bloomington Central Catholic High School	H	4:30
17 April	PBL High School	A	4:30
20 April	Unity High School	A	4:30
21 April	Oakwood High School	A	4:30
23 April	Pontiac High School	H	4:30
25 April	Illinois Valley Central High School (DH)	H	11:00 AM
27 April	Prairie Central High School	A	4:30
28 April	GCMS High School	H	4:30
30 April	Charleston High School	A	4:30
1 May	Maroa-Forsyth High School	A	4:30
4 May	Olympia High School	H	4:30
5 May	Fisher High School	A	4:30
7 May	Monticello High School	A	4:30
9 May	SJO Invite (DH)	H	9:30
11 May	Danville High School	H	4:30
14 May	Mattoon High School	H	4:30
16 May	Salt Fork High School @ Jamaica (DH)	A	11:00 AM
18 May	Tri-Valley High School	A	4:30
19-22 May	IHSA Regionals	A	TBA
23 May	IHSA Regional Championship	A	TBA

2020 JV Baseball Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home Away	Time
20 March	Normal West @ Edwardsville High School	A	10:00 AM
23 March	Mahomet-Seymour High School	H	4:30
25 March	Danville High School @ Tilton	A	4:30
28 March	Mahomet-Seymour High School (DH)	A	11:00 AM
31 March	Champaign Central High School	H	4:30
2 April	GCMS High School	H	4:30
4 April	Teutopolis High School (DH)	A	10:00 AM
6 April	Charleston High School-Baker Field	A	4:30
8 April	St. Thomas More High School	H	4:30
9 April	Heritage High School @ Broadlands	A	4:30
10 April	Maroa-Forsyth High School	A	4:30
11 April	PBL HS/Villa Grove HS @ PBL (DH-round robin)	A	10:00 AM/12:00 PM
13 April	Champaign Central High School	H	4:30
15 April	Champaign Centennial High School	H	4:30
16 April	Bloomington Central Catholic High School	A	4:30
17 April	LeRoy High School	H	4:30
18 April	Olympia High School (DH)	H	10:00 AM
20 April	Unity High School	H	4:30
21 April	Oakwood High School	H	4:30
22 April	Tri-Valley High School	A	4:30
23 April	Pontiac High School	A	4:30
25 April	Normal Community HS/IVC High School NCHS (DH-round robin)	A	10:00 AM/12:00 PM
27 April	Prairie Central High School	H	4:30
28 April	Rantoul High School	A	4:30
29 April	Oakwood High School	H	4:30
30 April	Charleston High School	H	4:30
4 May	Olympia High School	A	4:30
6 May	TBA	H	4:30
7 May	Monticello High School	H	4:30
8 May	Westville High School	A	4:30
14 May	Mattoon High School	A	4:30
15 May	Champaign Centennial High School	A	4:30
18 May	PBL High School	H	4:30

SJO recognizes the voice of Spartan sports, Keith Sjuts inducted into Hall of Fame

St. Joseph-Ogden school district superintendent Brian Brooks presents Spartan alumn Keith Sjuts with a Hall of Fame plaque during a halftime ceremony at Friday's home football game against Central Catholic. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Keith Sjuts was one of four individuals inducted into the St. Joseph-Ogden Athletic Hall of Fame at Friday's Homecoming game Bloomington Central Catholic. He joins Kelly Duitsman Hunt, Dick Duval, and Stan Harper among the Class of 2021 inductees.

A lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville, Sjuts was the voice of SJO football and basketball for more than 20 seasons. He wore the Spartan basketball uniform all four years of his prep career and earned first-team recognition for both all-conference and all-area teams his senior year at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Learn more about his athletic career and success after high school in his bio below.

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Biography

Keith Sjuts is a 1977 graduate of St. Joseph-Ogden High School. In high school, Keith played baseball for one year and ran track for one year. He played basketball all four years of his high school career. Keith was selected to the 1st Team All Area and 1st Team All Conference teams his senior year.

After high school, Keith became Branch Manager of Safety Clean, as well as a member of Corporate National Blitz Team for Safety Clean. He was a Co-Owner of TK Wendl’s. In 1994, he started working at Zep, Inc. and was the National Rookie of the Year. He was also the National Account Manager and Sales Trainer of Zep Inc. Besides work, he was able to have some fun and continue his athletic career by playing on the Regional Traveling Softball Team with his brother Mark and brother-in-law Wally.

Keith was the voice of the Spartans for over 20 years, serving as the announcer for both the football and boys basketball teams. One of his favorite memories was announcing the only state semi final football game hosted at SJO against Williamsville. He also always enjoyed the rivalry games between SJO and Unity.

Keith has been a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville where he has held several positions on the council, including President of the church council. Keith takes great pride in being a part of the St. Joseph-Ogden community his entire life.

He wants to thank his team of people who have surrounded him to help him earn this great accomplishment, especially his most valuable team member, Roger Koss.

Keith’s greatest joys are his son Ryan, daughter Rylee and granddaughter Charlie.

* Biography provided courtesy of St. Joseph-Ogden High School

Five games you won't want miss on the 2020 SJO Softball Schedule

Hopefully, in 21 days time, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls softball team will back on the field.

When the spring sports season finally returns, seniors Zoey Witruk, Hannah Dukeman, Lindsey Aden and IHSA record-holding slugger Bailey Dowling will be a all-star foundation in head coach Larry Sparks' third campaign at the Spartan helm.

Hannah Dukeman takes a swing at a Rantoul pitch during the Spartans home game in 2019. With the threat of Coronavirus infecting much of the US population, high school sports around the nation has been put on hold. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO finished the 2019 season with at 22-10 record logging three regular season shutouts in 2019 including a 4-0 win over Illinois Valley Central, besting Maroa-Forsyth 9-0 and booking a 17-0 victory over another conference rival, St. Thomas More.

As the #2 seed in last year's postseason run, the Spartans gobbled up bases in the quest for a trip to the 2019 state tournament blanking of Illini Prairie Conference foe Monticello 11-0. SJO beat the Sages earlier in regular season play, 13-1.

The Spartans then put the kabash on Maroa-Forsyth's season by way of 5-1 victory win for the regional title. Then came a heartbreaking loss and unexpected halt to their own season after a 4-2 sectional semifinal loss to Olympia.

This season's schedule is brutal, but should have the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team ready for a deep postseason run yet again if the IHSA reinstates the season.

The likelihood unfortunately looking more and more like a long shot after the CDC released a recommendation yesterday limiting mass gatherings for an eight week period. If the state's public health department follows that guideline, that could very well push the season's official start to May 15. With a mandatory 10-day practice period before the first game can be played, that puts the first possible pitch around the 25th of May, just 11 days before the first scheduled state semifinal game at Eastside Centre in East Peoria.

That said, if Illinois spring sports gets the go-ahead as currently planned, there are five regular season contests you don't want to miss. Each should test both players and coach staff.

It will be worth the road trip to Villa Grove, if it can be snuck in on April 7, and to Unity to watch SJO overcome the Rockets on their new turfed softball field.

You won't want to miss the April 16 home game against Bloomington Central Catholic and it would be sinful to skip out on watching what could be an intense rivalry showdown against Olympia at home on May 4.

2020 St. Joseph-Ogden Softball Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home Away	Time
16 March	Mahomet-Seymour High School	H	4:30
17 March	Normal West High School	A	4:30
21 March	TBA @ Casey Westfield (round robin)	A	TBA
23 March	GCMS High School	H	4:30
24 March	Westville High School	H	4:30
25 March	St. Thomas More High School	H	4:30
28 March	Illinois Valley Central High School	H	12:00
1 April	Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin High School	A	4:30
4 April	Rantoul Invite (DH)	A	TBA
6 April	Maroa-Forsyth High School	A	4:30
7 April	Villa Grove High School @ Richman Park	A	4:30
8 April	Heyworth High School	H	4:30
11 April	Tri-Valley High School	H	10:00
13 April	Rantoul High School	A	4:30
15 April	Bishop McNamara High School	H	4:30
16 April	Bloomington Central Catholic High School	H	4:30
17 April	Mattoon High School (DH)	A	4:30
18 April	Herscher High School	H	10:00 AM
20 April	Unity High School	A	4:30
21 April	Mattoon High School	A	4:30
22 April	Mt. Zion High School	A	5:00
23 April	Pontiac High School	H	4:30
25 April	Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School (DH)	H	10:00 AM
27 April	Prairie Central High School	A	4:30
4 May	Olympia High School	H	4:30
6 May	Fisher High School	H	4:30
7 May	Monticello High School	A	4:30
9 May	SJO Softball Triangular (DH)	H	10:00 AM/2:00 PM
11 May	Tuscola High School	A	4:30
12 May	Danville High School	H	4:30
14 May	Clinton High School	A	4:30
15-16 May	Galesburg Tourney (Alexis Fieldhouse: 3 games)	A	TBA
18 May	Charleston High School	A	4:30
19-22 May	IHSA Regionals	A	TBA
23 May	IHSA Regional Championship	A	TBA

2020 JV Softball Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home Away	Time
16 March	Mahomet-Seymour High School @ St. Joseph Community Park	H	4:30
17 March	Normal West High School	A	4:30
23 March	GCMS High School	H	6:00
24 March	Westville High School	H	6:00
26 March	Urbana High School	H	4:30
28 March	Illinois Valley Central High School	H	2:00
1 April	Champaign Centennial High School	H	4:30
6 April	Maroa-Forsyth High School	A	6:00
9 April	OPEN DATE	H	TBA
11 April	Tri-Valley High School	H	12:00
13 April	Rantoul High School	A	4:30
15 April	Bishop McNamara High School	A	5:00
16 April	Bloomington Central Catholic High School	H	6:00
18 April	Herscher High School (DH)	H	12:00
20 April	Unity High School	A	6:00
21 April	Mattoon High School	H	4:30
22 April	Mt. Zion High School	A	5:00
23 April	Pontiac High School	H	6:00
24 April	Champaign Central High School	A	4:30
27 April	Prairie Central High School	A	6:00
4 May	Olympia High School	H	6:00
5 May	Champaign Central High School @ St. Joseph Community Park	H	4:30
6 May	Fisher High School	H	6:00
7 May	Monticello High School	A	6:00
8 May	TBA @ St. Joseph Community Park	H	4:30
11 May	Tuscola High School	A	6:00
14 May	Clinton High School	A	6:00
18 May	Charleston High School	A	6:00