Prep Sports Notebook: SJO beats BCC in two, Rockets go the distance at Rantoul



Bleecher, Knudsen notch 12 kills at Rantoul

The Eagles of Rantoul proved no match for the visiting high-powered Unity volleyball team on Thursday. The Rockets added another mark in the win column after a 2-1 finish on the road in their final regular-season match of the season.

Both Emma Bleecher and Macie Knudsen tallied 12 kills apiece in the three-set affair. Bleecher also led the team with eight digs, Knudsen had five.

Unity won the first set 25-13 and was forced into a third after dropping the second set, 25-19. Back in system, the Rockets rolled to a 25-11 third set finish.

Maddie Reed was credited with 31 assists and contributed seven digs in the three-setter. Taylor Henry was the defensive leader with 13 digs.



Spartans overpower Central Catholic

St. Joseph-Ogden picked up a road win in their last regular-season dual match on Thursday. Addie Roesch notched seven kills and Kennedi Burnett chalked up six more in the 2-0 Spartan volleyball win over Central Catholic.

Roesch, a sophomore, had three digs and an ace. Burnett had nine of her own and served up five aces.

SJO won the first set of the conference match 25-18 and took the second one, 25-10.

Becca Steinbach dished out 20 assists while Rachel Divan led the team's defensive effort at the net with three blocks. Divan, also a sophomore, had four kills.


231 Unity Junior High students make first quarter Honor Roll


Earlier this week, Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll and high honor roll status during the first quarter. Congratulations to the students who earned the requisite grade point average to celebrate the honor.


6th Grade Honor Roll

Beckam Krystopher-Wayde Brown
Brayden Michael Burke
Sadie Jo Carpenter
Garrisan Martin Cler
Shamya Merari Davis
Andrew Patrick Donovan
Kinzey Nicole Duitsman
Nolan Myles Elliott
Zoe Margaret Fish
Shae Lin Fournier
Makayla James Goff
Nathaniel Howard Hammer
Brady Cullen Harris
Brooke Raelynn Henson
Kane William Knudsen
Tysen Mac McConaha
Clint Michael McCormick
Payten Renee Niles
Larissa Marie Parr
Clayton Wyatt Pruitt
Mia Lynn Reifsteck
Lillian Yvonne Ring
Caleb Arthur Saxon
Riley May Schendel
Sophia Grace Seidlitz
Caleb Joshua Siegwald
Lillie Jean Vanderpool
Austin James Wiersema
Adilynn Michelle Wilson
Reece Earl Winfrey
Cole Thomas Zorns


6th Grade High Honor Roll

Joseph William Willard Baird
Patrick Benjamin Baxley
Cooper Charles Beckett
Brilynn Creola Cain
Jackson Christopher Cheely
Skyler Andrew Chilton
Soren Lovell Davis
Dillon Michael Ellars
Kaylee Grace Estes
Carson David Fairbanks
Reagan Elizabeth Lisle Fisher
Mackinzee Brooke Gumm
Hallie Lynn Handal
Jordan Stephen Harmon
Roman James Hastings
Tessa Lynn Horn
Eve Oksana Isberg
Karleigh Grace Jamison
Lincoln Banner Johnson
Joseph Brooks Kamradt
Tatum Anne Kirby
Bryan Michael Kleiss
Nolan Mark Tempel Meharry
Dalton Robert Moose
Rhianna Olivia Ocasio
Kandace Lachelle Reed
Khison Able Reifsteck
Carter Charles Schmid
Bradley Scott Jr Smith
Kole David VanSickle
Gavin James Warren
John William White
Olivia Ann Williams
Olivia Ruth Witheft


7th Grade Honor Roll

Andrew David Berkey
Paige Nicole Bradley
Jackson Robert Dylan Briggs
Maddix Jacob David Briggs
Aelyas Brito
Aiden Jacob Sharples Brooks
Brody Ray Butler
Ronin Carman
Addison Tyler Davis
Austin Michael Drewes
Elizabeth Lynn Farney
Reese Bella Frye
Bailee Mae Gadeken
Ava Nicole Grace
Ava Fay Jones
Mackenzie Michelle Jones
Rush Matthew Little
Carson Wesley McCune
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Nicole Elizabeth Paeth
Evan Alexander Puckett
Max Warren Rossi
Gabrielle Marie Spanglo
Maggie Jean Weckle
Andrew Jackson III Weller
Ava McKenna Wolf Rice
Rylan Kade Wolf


7th Grade High Honor Roll

Dominic Russell Baxley
Grace Michele Bickers
Alex Martin Bromley
Clare Faustina Bryant
Cadence Marie Chandler
Berkley Jane Cloud
Caleb Benjamin Coy
Hudson Lee DeHart
Danika Ann Eisenmenger
Allison Renee Fenter
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Walker Dale Hall
Colton Ray Harmon
Dustin Rose Harris
Broderick Wayne Irwin
Avery Nicole Kamradt
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Cash Cohen McCann
Audrey Claire McDaniel
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Sadie Jane Polonus
Adam Lucas Reedy
Ethan Daniel Schaefer
Lane Edward Sexton
Allyson Lynn Shaw
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Evalyn Alexandra Skibbe
Madison Amanda Spohn
Piper Estelle Staley
Grace Lynne Tempel
Jacob Michael Ward
Leah Marianne Watson
Elizabeth Johnna Wayne
Grace Ann Wherley
Addison Danielle Wyatt
Kendal Lea Zerrusen


8th Grade Honor Roll

Athea Elizabeth Baird
Derilynn May Behm
Andrew Kenneth Bryan
Matthew Parker Chavira
Graydin Martin Cler
Kaylee Marie Cooke
Chloe Noelle Cousins
Taylor Renee Daly
Olivia Breann Egelston
Dane Robert Eisenmenger
Lilly Ann Griffin
Kenley Jo Harris
Brayden Jonathon Henry
Tyler Jason Henry
William Robert Hoggard
Matthew Eric Hollett
Tyler Reed Huntington
William Ryan Hutson
Miles Kennedy Johnson
Cameron Elise Kaiser
Connor John Kleiss
Anna Maeve Kuhns
Coleton James Langendorf
Johanna Ilene Langley
Isabelle Joy Levingston
Sade Jean Lybarger
Maxwell Cort McCabe
Travis Lane McCarter
Isaac Julian Neverman
Brody Michael Osterbur
Reagan Lynn Paceley
Olivia Grace Rawdin
Kyla Lanae Reed
Theda Marva Roether
Jillian Brooke Schlittler
Shelby Lynn Smith
Lauren Patricia Stratton
Maddix Douglas Sutherland
Ian John Taber
Olivia Danielle Tempel
Anna Vasey
Evan Eugene Vlahovich
Kadince Rilee Wells
Paula Louise Wilson
Austin Stephen Winters


8th Grade High Honor Roll

Anna Carolyn Amias
Aria Eve Battaglia
Mylie Lynn Castle
Cameryn Dayle Cobb
Eli Samson Crowe
Chason Robert Daly
Ella Jean Darnall
Annaliese Birtukan DeNeal
Crewe William Gene Eckstein
Callie Marie Ellars
Camden Michael Fairbanks
Tanner Elizabeth Gallivan
Margaret Rose Garcier
Collin William Graven
Isabel Grace Grob
Samantha Nicole Gumbel
Brooke Autumn Hartman
Joshua Todd Heath
Caden Maddox Hensch
Lucas Alexander Hood
Logan Phillip Jeurissen
Faith Lyn Lampe
Kallista Jean Lancaster
Mylie Emily Margaret Loftsgaard
Claire Lynn Meharry
Ethan Lee Mohr
Phoenix Sky Molina
Deakin Frederick Moore
Leah Jolynn Nickle
Mason Robert ONeill
Harry Matthew Polonus
Dallas Jordan Porter
Mackenzie Rose Pound
Ty Steven Rodems
Katie Marie Ruggieri
Vanna Lee Schriefer
Liana Grace Sheets
Hunter James Shike
Annalise Rose Shunk
Caden Alexander Stierwalt
Ginna Mae Stierwalt
Madelyn Rose Stierwalt
Emma Marie Swisher
Bailey Nicole Tompkins
Sophia Louise Jean Toney
Alexander Lane Wells
Desmond Mychel Winfrey
Claire Morgan Zorns

Photo Gallery: Unity football shuts out PBL for senior night win

Photo provided
Senior wide receiver and lineback Trustan Price poses for a photo with his parents during Unity's senior night celebration last Friday. Price and the Rockets take their 8-0 season record to Monticello to face the 7-1 Sages.



Photo provided
Senior Chance Ingleman plants a kiss on his mother during Unity's senior night recognition ceremony. The Rockets, riding a 12-game win streak over the past two seasons, honored 14 senior athletes before the start of the team's last regular season home game.



Photo provided
Unity wide receiver Dillon Rutledge makes a catch during their home game against Paxton-Buckley-Loda. The Rockets kept their unblemished intact defeating the Panthers at Hicks Field, 35-0. See more photos at Unity Rocket Football.



Blake Kimball avoids a Panther tackler

Photo provided
Rockets' quarterback Blake Kimball avoids a Panther tackler on Friday night. At 8-0, Unity faces 7-1 Monticello tonight in their final game of the season for the outright possession of the Illini Prairie Conference title. The Rockets football program, ranked 5th in Class 3A, has not lost a football game since a November 2019 loss to McNamara in the IHSA postseason quarterfinals.



Tyler Hensch provides a lead block

Photo provided
Tyler Hensch provides a lead block for running back Matt Brown.



Unity student fans tolerate the rain

Photo provided
Unity student fans tolerate the rain while cheering for their football team at Hicks Field. The Rockets, who have won the last two games via shutouts, have scored 344 points while allowing opponents to score just 90 this season.



Tyler Hensch and Austin Langendorf celebrate

Photo provided
Tyler Hensch and Austin Langendorf celebrate after the Rockets stopped a fourth-and-one Paxton-Buckley-Loda play on the 43-yard line. Failing to secure the upset victory over Unity, PBL needs to beat St. Joseph-Ogden, also with a 5-3 record, tonight to guarantee an automatic bid in the 2021 postseason.



the Unity Dance team performs their routine

Photo provided
In spite of the steady rain from above, the Unity Dance team performs their routine during halftime while the two football teams enjoy refuge in their respective locker rooms. At this point in the rain-soaked evening, Unity led 21-0 on the scoreboard. The Rockets would tack on another touchdown in each of the remaining two quarters for the 35-0 shutout.



Damian Knoll makes a catch in the end zone

Photo provided
With teammate Dillon Rutledge looking on, senior Damian Knoll makes a catch in the end zone during third quarter action for a Unity touchdown on fourth-and-goal play from the 8-yard line. See more game photos at Unity Rocket Football.



Singin' in the rain

St. Joseph-Ogden student fans
Die-hard, dedicated St. Joseph-Ogden student fans sing "Hey Baby" with the football team cheerleaders while enduring four quarters of a rain-soaked home football game last Friday. The Spartans secured their fifth consecutive win over the visiting Rantoul Eagles, 26-6. The team, who will play their final regular season game at Paxton-Buckley-Loda on tonight, needs the victory to guarantee themselves a spot in the 2021 playoffs. See more photos from SJO's last home game of the season here . . . .

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks





Food & Dining |
Recipe-of-the-week: 3 Layer Arkansas Possum Pie

The star of your next spread can be hidden away in the refrigerator for a surprise delight for your guests. It's topped with chocolate syrup and chopped pecans, and your loved ones just may vote it to be their favorite dish.

It's an Arkansas Possum Pie, made with three delicious layers and crunchy toppings for a show-stopping dessert.




Recent study suggests childhood trauma could haunt Illinois adults for life
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 75% of U.S. high school students said they have had at least one adverse childhood experience, or ACE.

Research has shown ACEs can alter a child's brain chemistry and produce a prolonged toxic stress response. Experiencing at least one ACE as a child is linked to having alcohol and substance use problems in adulthood, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.


Op-Ed |
Tipped wage system isn't working, removing taxes won't save it
Both major presidential candidates have called for eliminating taxes on tips. But that won’t help most restaurant workers.

What will? Replacing the subminimum wages that tipped workers make with one fair wage nationwide.

The federal minimum wage for most workers is just $7.25. But for workers who get tips, employers are allowed to pay them $2.13 an hour. If tips don’t raise your hourly pay to at least the ...
Health & Wellness |
Is it depression, ADHD or bipolar disorder?
Lavender Zarraga, APRN, a behavioral health provider at OSF HealthCare, says it’s not uncommon for her patients to ask for a medication that isn’t the right fit.

The culprit? She says symptoms of common mental health issues like depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder can overlap. So, it’s important to stay in contact with your provider to make ...

In case you missed it |
America is ready for cheer, brightness and hope
When I was a child, I thought Christmas would never come. The weeks dragged by while I wore out the toy sections of the Sears and Penny's catalogs hoping Santa might stop by. I always looked for Santa Claus and tried to stay awake on Christmas Eve just to catch a glimpse of the jolly big guy.