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

SJO senior spotlights with Nolan Peacock, Zoey Witruk & Nick Bensyl

Nolan Peacock Clubs & Activities Track and Field (3 years), Drama Club (2 years), Spanish Club, We The People Hometown: St. Joseph Siblings: Two older brothers, two older sisters Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, playing guitar, and working. Favorite SJO memory: He is going to miss the home football games, post prom, and all of the fan bus trips to IHSA State over the years. He really enjoys when the whole school is involved. Favorite classes: Every Spanish class with Senor Sutton, U.S. History with Mr. Schacht, and Horticulture with Mrs. Nekolny Favorite teachers: Senora Nelson, Senor Sutton, Mr. Schacht, and Mr. Simondsen. College: University of Illinois to study media and cinema studies. Advice to future SJO students: Cherish every moment of high school because it goes by so fast. Special thanks: Nolan wants to thank the faculty and everyone at SJO for making high school such a great, positive experience for him.

Zoey Witruk Clubs & Activities Softball (4 years), Student Council, Spanish Club, Maroon Platoon, SADA, NHS, We The People Hometown: St. Joseph Siblings: One older sister, Tori. Hobbies: Reading, spending time with friends and family, and being a part of her travel softball team, the Peoria Sluggers. Favorite SJO memory: Some of the moments she really enjoy included going to volleyball and basketball games. As a fan, Zoey remembers the varsity volleyball match at STM in 2018, when the Spartans were down late but then rallied to win. She had a blast at the IHSA State Softball Tournament her freshman year. She also enjoys Favorite classes: Civics, English, and Chemistry Favorite teachers: Her favorite all-time teachers throughout all her schooling are Mrs. Stone and Mrs. Ford at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Simondsen and Mr. Schacht at SJO. College: University of Illinois, majoring in animal science. She plans to become a veterinarian. Advice to future SJO students: Do not take any moment for granted because high school goes by so fast.

Nick Bensyl Clubs & Activities Scholastic Bowl Hometown: Ogden Siblings: A younger sister Hobbies: Playing video games and playing different kinds of trivia games. Favorite SJO memory: His greatest memories at SJO involve Ms. Pensinger. Nick feels lucky to have had Ms. Pensinger as his substitute teacher for the semester during both his sophomore year and his senior year. Nick has also enjoyed taking college courses at SJO, especially computer networking. Favorite classes: World History with Mr. Kieffer and Consumer Education with Mr. Skinner Favorite teachers: Throughout the years, his favorite teachers have been Mrs. Max during 5th and 6th grade at PVO, and Mr. Kieffer, Mr. Skinner, and Mr. Beckett at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. College: Parkland College, majoring in computer science information technology Advice to future SJO students: Do all homework

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

Logger to Red Devil, Jordan Brooks joins Eureka College hoops program

Earlier this week, St. Joseph-Ogden alum Jordan Brooks joined the Eureka College basketball program after finishing his class work at Lincoln Land College.

He can't wait to put on the Red Devil uniform and be a part of a successful program with a potent offensive. Despite their season cut short when the NJCAA canceled the remainder of the 2019-2020 season, Eureka finished the campaign with a 16-9 record. Brooks' new team averaged 91.8 points per game with six of this year's contests ending with scored over 100 points.

Former SJO basketball star Jordan Brooks makes a pass during the Spartans 2018 sectional semifinal game against Monticello. The Spartans fell in a heartbreaking 47-39 thriller at Maroa-Forsyth High School. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

"I think my shooting, basketball IQ, and being a team-first guy will bring a lot to the table for our team next year," said Brooks, who is excited with the opportunity to continue his basketball career and has future plans to become a successful college coach. "Coach Wilde has built a great winning culture there and I can’t wait to be apart of it."

During his final season at Lincoln Land, Brooks started in all 31 games with a shooting average of 40% in and outside the arc. He averaged 10.5 points per game. He put drained 5 treys against John Wood on his way to a 19 point finish on February 26 and scored 18 against Illinois Wesleyan's JV squad nine days earlier.

"I learned a lot in my two years there," he said about his tenure with the Loggers, despite the team's 4-27 record this year. "I just learned how intense the college basketball world is. You never play against a bad player, it shows how deep talent is in basketball."

Being a student-athlete isn't easy. Brooks has learned as much off the hardwood as he as on it. He's learn to manage his time better as well as be an adult for the first time on his own.

"It was a good experience and I met a lot of good people."

The former Spartan basketball star will major in Sports Management at Eureka and after graduation hopes land a position as a graduate assistant basketball coach.