Niepagen leads Saints into Class 2A championship match at state volleyball

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

NORMAL - Bloomington Central Catholic outside hitter Kampbell Niepagen yells instructions to a teammate during set two of her team's match against Timothy Christian at the IHSA Volleyball State Finals on Friday. Niepagen led all hitters with 13 kills, 2 aces, and a block in the Saints' 25-21, 25-16 win. BCC advanced to Saturday's title game against the winner of the second semifinal between Breese Central and El Paso-Gridley at around 1:15 PM. Below: Saints' Aubrey Campbell receives a serve from the Trojans. The 5'-8" senior was the target of 12 serves and contributed three digs in the victory.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

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KEYWORDS: Illini Prairie Conference, IHSA State Volleyball, State Championship, Central Catholic, BCC Volleyball

Area wrestlers earn All-Conference recognition

St. Thomas More's Brody Cuppernell tries to avoid a takedown attempt by Unity's Hunter Eastin during the IHSA 190-pound championship match at State Farm Center on Saturday. Eastin prevailed to win the Class 1A title with 5-2 decision over Cuppernell. Both wrestlers made the cut for this year's Illini Prairie all-conference first team. See more championship match photos here ...

Photo: PhotoNews Media

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URBANA - Eleven wrestlers from Unity and eight from St. Joseph-Ogden were selected by coaches and named to the Illini Prairie 2023-2024 all-conference teams.

Later today, the Rockets wrestle against the Shells of Roxana for a spot in tomorrow's semifinal round at Grossinger Motors Arena. The season also continues for Unity's Phoenix Molina, who is competing in the girls' IHSA wrestling championship, also at the arena.

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2023-2024
Illini Prairie Conference
All-Conference Wrestling

* Unanimous choice

First Team:

Zeke Young, Monticello (Freshmen, 106)
Hunter Romano, Monticello (Junior, 175/190)
Aidan Scholwin, Pontiac (Senior, 106)*
Ayden Mackey, Prairie Central (Senior, 144)
Emmitt Holt, SJO (Senior, 113)*
Holden Brazelton, SJO (Junior, 132)*
Coy Hayes, SJO (Sophomore, 150)
August Christhilf, STM (Senior, 175)*
Robbie Vavrik, STM (Senior, 285)*
Brody Cuppernell, STM (Senior, 190/215)*
Hunter Shike, Unity (Sophomore, 126)*
Taylor Finley, Unity (Freshmen, 132)
Kaden Inman, Unity (Junior, 144)
Abram Davidson, Unity (Sophomore, 157)
Ryan Rink, Unity (Junior, 165)*
Thayden Root, Unity (Senior, 175)
Hunter Eastin, Unity (Junior, 190)*

Second Team:

Owen Moser, IVC (Sophomore, 165)
AJ Toliver, IVC (Freshmen, 150)
Gavin Ridings, Monticello (Senior, 157)
Wyatt Vaughan, Monticello (Senior, 175/190)
Brandon Peters, Monticello (Senior, 285)
John Traub, Prairie Central (Junior, 132)
Darius Williams, Rantoul (Junior, 150)
Jackson Walsh, SJO (Sophomore, 113)
Landen Butts, SJO (Junior, 138)
Devan Swisher, SJO (Sophomore, 165)
Maddie Wells, SJO (Sophomore, 126)
James Schmidt, STM (Junior, 215)
Philip Christhilf, STM (Junior, 157)
Keegan Germano, Unity (Freshmen, 138)
Josh Heath, Unity (Sophomore, 150)

Honorable Mention:

Marrissa Miller, Monticello (Senior, 113)
Luke Andruczyk, Monticello (Freshmen, 120)
Will Osborne, Monticello (Freshmen, 126)
Russ Brown, Monticello (Junior, 165)
Hunter Melvin, Pontiac (Senior, 215)
Drayden Ramsey, Pontiac (Sophomore, 126)
Noah Davis, Pontiac (Freshmen, 120)
Drew Owen, Rantoul (Junior, 215/285)
Quincy Jones, SJO (Junior, 215)
Travis McCarter, Unity (Sophomore, 113)
Hudson DeHart, Unity (Freshmen, 215)

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Prep Sports Notebook: Rocket softball team wins, SJO baseball records first shutout

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Spartans notch conference win

Adam Price prepares to scoop a throw to first out of the dirt on a play in the top of the sixth inning in St. Joseph-Ogden's home baseball game against St. Thomas More. Price delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to score teammate Taylor Voorhees in the bottom of the third inning. SJO prevailed 9-0 to win the Illini Prairie Conference game.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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The St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team improved to 6-1 on the season after a seven-run inning in the bottom of the 4th to cruise past St. Thomas More, 9-0.

Luke Landrus and Taylor Voorhees scattered 2 hits apiece while senior Andrew Beyers tallied 2 RBI. Voorhees and Beyers crossed the plate twice for SJO.

Caleb Ochs earned the win on the mound for the Spartans.

Next up, St. Joseph-Ogden plays two conference games next week. On Monday, SJO hosts Bloomington Central Catholic and travels to Rantoul to take on the Eagles on Thursday.

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Unity softball blanks A-O

Ruby Tarr notched pounded out four hits and scored three runs to lead the Unity softball team to a 15-0 win over Argenta-Oreana on Friday. Hailey Flesch also scored three times for the Rockets.

Flesch and Madeline Reed collected a home run apiece on Bomber pitcher Michelle Hollon.

Rockets' Ashlyn Miller included six strikeouts among the 43 pitches she hurled in the four-inning shutout.

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Attention high school coaches

We need your help covering your team this spring to help keep fans, college recruiters, and area readers informed. If you are coaching a spring sport at Unity, Uni-High, Urbana High School, or St. Joseph-Ogden, please send us your game or meet results for our Prep Sports Notebook and weekly stats leaders for our All-Area team selection after the season.

The best way to send us box scores and other info is via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com.

Do you have a player on the verge of breaking a school record, signing an LOI, or have a story idea? Don't hesitate to email us.

Prep Sports Notebook: Rockets pick up two basketball wins, SJO celebrates all-conference players

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Kimball averages 10pts a quarter

Senior Blake Kimball scored 31 points in the first three quarters of Unity's game at Arcola on Monday. Kimball's strong performance, along with Will Cowan's 12 points in the last three periods, the boys' basketball team won the away game, 69-41.

Jacob Maxwell hauled in 10 boards for the Rockets and Cale Rawdin snagged another seven for the cause.

Despite a scoreless first quarter against the Rockets, Arcola saw a balanced scoring effort with points from eight players. Beau Edwards led the Purple Riders' offense with 10 points.

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SJO girls fall short on the road

Peyton Jones goes up for a shot in SJO's Turkey Tournament game against Centennial. The junior sunk five three-pointers at Mahomet-Seymour on Monday. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Peyton Jones had a huge night against Mahomet-Seymour hitting five treys and finishing with a team-high 19 points. Unfortunately, it was enough as the Spartans fell to the host Bulldogs, 58-46.

Payton Jacob and Ashlyn Lannert came alive in the fourth quarter to finish the night with eight points apiece.

The Bulldogs' Cayla Koerner led all scorers with 26 points. The 5-5 senior buried four three-pointers and was 6-for-8 from the free throw line against SJO.

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Rockets pick up road win at Urbana

Erika Steinman and Lauren Miller scored eight points each in Unity's road game at Urbana. Raegen Stringer and Katey Moore chipped in another six apiece in the Rockets' 43-22 non-conference win.

Taylor Henry led the squad with a team-high 12 rebounds and a pair of assists. The Rockets also saw good rebounding numbers from Hailey Flesch (6), and Miller (5), also credited with four steals.

Stringer distributed six assists and harassed the Tigers taking the ball away with three steals.

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Mboyo-Meta leads all scorers

Urbana's Gabrielle Mboyo-Meta scored a game-high 10 points against visiting Unity. Five other players contributed to the Tigers' 43-22 loss at home to the Rockets. Zineria Edwards was the second-leading scorer on her team with five points on Monday.

Urbana travels to Peoria on Thursday to face the Lions in their den and then host Peoria Manual on Saturday in Oscar Adams Gym at 2:30pm.

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Wrestling results wanted

High school and youth wrestling coaches send us your meet results to editor@oursentinel.com.

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Other area basketball scores

Uni-High girls defeated Arthur-Okaw Christian, 41-21.

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St. Joseph-Ogden football players earn all-conference recognition

Joe Frasca boots and extra point during SJO's home game against Rantoul. The sophomore earned all-conference honorable mention for his efforts during the 2021 season.

Last week, St. Joseph-Ogden football player Tyler Burch earned First Team recognition from the Illini Prairie Conference. The junior defensive back was the only Spartan named to the top team.

Seven other SJO football players also receive recognition this season.

Conrad Miller (Lineman), Keaton Nolan (Running Back), and Griffin Roesch (Wide Receiver) were named on Second Team offense.

Lineman Owen Birt, linebacker Coby Miller and Ethan Vanliew at defensive back made the cut for Second Team defense.

Sophomore Joe Frasca, who handled kicking duties for SJO, earn honorable mention.

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Correction: When this story was originally published it said Tyler Burch was a senior. The story was changed to reflect his actual status as a junior at St. Joseph-Ogden.

Photo-of-the-Day: December 6, 2021

Miller Time

Conrad Miller fires off the line of scrimmage while playing on the defensive side of the ball in St. Joseph-Ogden's road game at Paxton-Buckley-Loda on October 22. The Spartans lost their final game of the season 28-0 to the Panthers and finished the regular season with a 5-4 record. Last week, Miller, who played linebacker this season, was honored with a spot on the 2021 2nd Team All-Conference in the Illini Prairie Conference. See more photos from that game here.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

IPC names volleyball First Team

Payton Vallee lines up a kill during St. Joseph-Ogden's Class 2A third place game against Rockford Lutheran. Vallee and six other Sentinel area volleyball players earned all-conference recognition for their efforts during the shortened 2020-21 season. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Last week, the best volleyball players this season in the Illini Prairie Conference were announced late last week. Kennedi Burnett and Payton Vallee from St. Joseph-Ogden High School join Unity's Emma Bleecher were awarded First Team All-Conference honors by the Illini Prairie Conference last week.

Rockets' Emma Flesman and the Spartans' Hannah Fox were two of ten players who earned Second Team honors from the conference coaches.

Three-sport athlete Taylor Henry and teammate Macie Knudsen, both from Unity, received Honorable Mentions.

Below is a complete list of this season's honorees.

2020-21 IPC All-Conference Volleyball Team

First Team

Kenna Wollard, Illinois Valley Central
Kaitlin Dean, Olympia
Caroline Kerr, Saint Thomas More
Renni Fultz, Monticello
Kennedi Burnett, Saint Joseph-Ogden
Payton Vallee, Saint Joseph-Ogden
Colleen Hege, Saint Thomas More
Emma Bleecher, Unity

Second Team

Mairen Mannon, Illinois Valley Central
Amaya Webb, Illinois Valley Central
Allie Carr, Monticello
Brooke Fox, Pontiac
Jenni Slagel, Prairie Central
Bella Shields, Rantoul
Hannah Fox, Saint Joseph-Ogden
Mallory Monahan, Saint Thomas More
Maci Walters, Saint Thomas More
Emma Felsman, Unity

Honorable Mention

Abby Cox, Central Catholic
Steph Hebel, Central Catholic
Mia Brady, Pontiac
Addison Masching, Pontiac
Natalie Graf, Prairie Central
Briley Hoffman, Prairie Central
Ashlee Freeman, Rantoul
Taylor Henry, Unity
Macie Knudsen, Unity

3 earn all-conference girls basketball honors

SJO's Taylor Wells shoots a jumper against IVC in 2020. A year later, after doing her best to stay competitive during the pandemic, she reaps the fruits of her effort by making All-IPC First Team in 2021.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Three area players garnered all-conference basketball recognition last week from the Illini Prairie Conference last week.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Taylor Wells was named to the conference's First Team list. Known for her strong defensive play, the junior finished the last three games of the pandemic shortened season averaging eight points per game.

Joining Wells on the the list was teammate Ella Armstrong, also a junior. Armstrong led St. Joseph-Ogden's offense averaging 10 ppg in her last three outings this season.

A well-deserved nod also went to Unity's lone senior Chloee Reed. Reed, who was a strong contributor for Rockets, scored 23 points in her team's 57-20 rout against Rantoul.

Below is the complete list of players who made an impression on coaches throughout the conference.

FIRST TEAM

Katie Steinman, SR
CENTRAL CATHOLIC
(unanimous selection)

Abbey Davis, SR
CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Taylor Nowaskie, JR
OLYMPIA

Chloe Sisco, SO
PRAIRIE CENTRAL

Taylor Wells, JR
ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN

Addie Masching, SR
PONTIAC

SECOND TEAM

Kennedy Ramshaw, SO
SAINT THOMAS MORE

Ella Armstrong, JR
ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN

Madison Kinkade, SR
PRAIRIE CENTRAL

Renni Fultz, JR
MONTICELLO

Abbi Bode, SR
OLYMPIA

Abby Cox, SR
CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Honorable
Mention:

Ella Larson, SR
CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Marley Williamson, JR
ILLINOIS VALLEY CENTRAL

Tristina Einhouse, SR
PONTIAC

Kianna Berlatsky, SR
RANTOUL

Chloee Reed, SR
UNITY

Seven Spartans make all-conference football list

Seven St. Joseph-Ogden football players garnered special recognition from the Illini Prairie conference football coaches this fall. The group, five Spartan seniors and two juniors, received well-deserved all-conference notoriety for their performance during the 2019 season.

Blake Dable (right) blocks a Williamsville lineman during SJO's first-round Class 3A playoff game back on November 2. Dable, a senior, was named all-Illini Prairie offensive lineman for his efforts this fall. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Seniors Brayden Weaver (Linebacker), Payton Cain (Defensive Back) and Blake Dable (Offensive Line) each received first-team accolades.

Attempting to become a three-sport athlete in his final year as a Spartan, Drew Coursey, who never played a down of varsity football until last August, received second-team recognition at the linebacker position.

Three players received Honorable Mentions. Crayton Burnett, who also started at quarterback, received noticed for his kick ability at punter with an HM. Senior Jaden Miller was given a nod as a defensive lineman while Brady Buss, who will be back next fall, earned a salute at the wide receiver position.

The Spartans finished the 2019 season with a record of five wins and five loses. Earning a second consecutive Class 3A playoff bid, SJO dropped their first-round postseason game to the Williamsville Bullets, who rolled through the bracket to take home this year's championship trophy.

Batty makes First-Team all-conference soccer team

Last week, Kolton Batty was one of three St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team members awarded Illini Prairie all-conference honors. The senior was the Spartans' only First-Team recipient.

Batty, the team's top defensive specialist who appeared in 25 games for SJO this season, scored one goal during several brief forays on the Spartan offense. He scored the only goal in his team's 6-1 loss to Iroquois West at the Cornjerker Classic. He took a total of 13 shots this season.

Also earning all-conference honors were goal keeper Hunter Ketchum (second-team) and Zac Seeley (honorable mention).

Ketchum spent 1,541 minutes defending St. Joseph-Ogden's goal. Only a freshman, he inherited keeper duties from Mason Behrens and finished the season with 145 saves at an average of 6.3 per game.

Seeley, a three-year varsity veteran, scored 11 goals this season and 21 total during his four seasons with SJO. The senior notched a hattrick in the Spartans' 5-1 win over Schlarman in September and recorded 3,066 minutes on the pitch during his career.