New bill proposed to eliminate Native American imagery and names in Illinois schools K-12

URBANA - Redskins, Indians, and Raiders might become school nicknames of the past. State Representative Maurice West (D-Rockford) submitted House Bill 5617 in February, which requires elementary and secondary schools to alter mascots, logos, or names with Native American tribes or feature Native American culture. The bill also requires Native American history taught in all Illinois elementary and high schools.

Area schools like Judah Christian, University-High, Tuscola, and Mt. Zion, would need to adopt a new logo, buy new uniforms, and retire the sale of banned gear. Schools will also be required to remove Native American imagery and logos during the next renovation or update of athletics facilities, according to the bill.

Some of the other Illinois high schools that would be affected include: Pittsfield (Saukees), Lake Forest (Scouts), Thornwood (Thunderbirds), Stockton (Blackhawks), West Aurora (Blackhawks), Bremen (Braves), Annawan (Braves), Deer Creek Mackinaw (Chiefs), Cahokia (Comanches), Morrisonville (Mohawks), Sullivan (Redskins), Casey-Westfield (Warriors), Crete-Monee (Warriors), Granite City (Warriors), Warren (Warriors), Watseka (Indians), Winnebago (Indians), Maine West (Warriors), Chicago Westinghouse (Warriors), Waubonsie Valley (Warriors), Altamont (Indians), Brimfield (Indians), Chicago Calumet (Indians), DuQuoin (Indians), Carlyle (Indians), Dakota (Indians), Lewistown (Indians), Johnston City (Indians), Pawnee (Indians), Pecatonica (Indians), Payson-Seymour (Indians), Meredosia (Indians), Minooka (Indians), Mascoutah (Indians), Marengo (Indians), Momence (Indians), Neoga (Indians), Pontiac (Indians), Sandwich (Indians), Hononegah (Indians), and Wayne City (Indians).

It is not the first time Illinois lawmakers have broached the issue. In Feb 2020, West filed HB4783, a similar bill, which died in the House in 2021. In addition to leading the effort to remove racist school mascots from Illinois schools, he was also the lead sponsor of legislation last year requiring Illinois schools to teach Native American history.

West filed the bill in February, and it was assigned to the Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools committee. Five additional representatives, including Laura Faver Dias, Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, Michelle Mussman, Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez, and Anne Stava-Murray, have added their names to co-sponsor the proposed law.

If signed by the Governor, schools would have to change their mascot and nicknames by Sept. 1, 2027. The bill would also prohibit schools from selling items with banned mascots and remove banned logos from school property. At this time the bill is still in committee.

Nokomis superintendent Scott Doerr told WirePoints, "If at this time we had to make a change, especially in a short amount of time that this bill might go into effect, we're talking about maybe $100,000 for signage change, uniforms and gym floors and all the mats and things that we have."

In April of last year, the state of New York passed a law that bans the use of Native American-themed logos and mascots unless they are approved by a recognized Native American tribe. Schools that fail to obtain permission from a tribe to use such logos or imagery must change their branding by August 2024.

In Washington state, schools have been required to get permission from the nearest federally recognized tribe to use a Native American mascot since 2021. Districts that refused jeopardized receiving state funds.

Some Illinois students and school districts have already taken a proactive approach. Change is difficult and there has been pushback.

In 2019, students at Hononegah High School started a petition to change their nickname from the Indians and Lady Indians. A counter-petition was quickly started and collected more 13,000 names to keep the imagery and name. It has been four years since the initiative started, and the school's mascot tradition continues.

Minooka underwent a similar challenge to change their name from the Indians in 2020 as well. Like Honnegah, the bid failed.

There have been some successful transitions. Over a decade ago back in 2012, Aptakisic Junior High School in Buffalo Grove changed its mascot from the Indians to the Eagles.

In 2022, the Morris school board approved a measure to drop the name "Redskins" by August of 2025. Their IHSA directory page no longer list a nickname.

Area runners finished in the top spots at the Mountain Goat race

OAKWOOD - One hundred and thirty-nine runners took part in this year's KRR Mountain Goat trail race last Saturday. The 37th installment of the race featured three separate events. Runners could choose to run a 15K (3 loops), 10K (2 loops), or 5K (1 loop) race.

Daniel Chen runs down Washington Ave in Urbana during the 2023 Illinois Half Marathon. Chen finished in 39th place overall at the Mountain Goat 15K race on Saturday, completing the course at 1:40:48.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Justin Jones of St. Joseph won the 15K run, finishing his three laps in 54 minutes and 21 seconds. The win comes on the heels of a third-place overall finish at Siberian Express held in January Kennukuk State Park.

The Mountain Goat is one of 24 races in the East Central Illinois annual race circuit. The next race in the series is the Clinton Trails Ultra on March 30. Organizers will host two events this year for long-distance runners, a 30-miler, which starts at 7 am, and a 10-miler starts at 8 am.

Our list of area finishers is below.

Men 5K ~

1. Rowan Denmark-Collins (Homer) 0:17:54; 2. Isaias Diaz (Hoopeston) 0:19:19; 4. Jace Jones (Saint Joseph) 0:25:41; 6. Greg Denman (Danville) 0:27:41; 7. Walter Smith (Gifford) 0:29:08; 9. Marshall Quick (Rantoul) 0:29:42; 13. Jason Colwell (Champaign) 0:31:47; 16. Zachary Ruhter (Sidney) 0:33:17; 19. Nick Farmer (Champaign) 0:35:35; 23. Jeremy Ruhter (Sidney) 0:37:11; 26. Stephen Johnson (Sadorus) 0:39:25; 27. Richard Roth (Champaign) 0:39:43; 28. Brian Barto (Philo) 0:39:48; 29. Thiago Lopes (Champaign) 0:40:19; 32. Sean O’Callaghan (Oakwood) 0:42:47; 36. Steven Wayne (Champaign) 0:48:09; and 39. Jason Asaad (Catlin) 0:50:30.

Women 5K ~

8. Samantha Smith (Gifford) 0:29:17; 10. Stacy Wells (Tilton) 0:29:50; 15. Deanna Hines (Danville) 0:32:56; 17. Amy Carley (Danville) 0:33:23; 18. Lorri Howes (Bement) 0:34:54; 22. Abilene Ruhter (Sidney) 0:36:54; 24. Amber Plotner (Fairmount) 0:37:47; 25. Sarah Colwell (Champaign) 0:38:11; 30. Kathy Wicks (Homer) 0:41:02; 38. Sue Wantland (Catlin) 0:50:26; and 40. Ramona Rollins (Danville) 1:00:14.

Mens 10K ~

2. Aaron Miller (Champaign) 0:49:28; 4. Tim Shelton (Danville) 0:53:30; 5. Cody Marsh (Catlin) 0:55:22; 10. Robert Ogden (Sidney) 0:58:59; 12. Jay Hoeflinger (Urbana) 1:01:43; 14. Nathan Parsons (Savoy) 1:04:56; 26. Teresa Cronk (Danville) 1:27:51; and 27. Shane Rowe (Danville) 1:27:52.

Womens 10K ~

6. Paula Tankersley (St. Joseph) 0:56:54; 11. Mara Thacker (Urbana) 1:00:26; 15. Jennifer Russell (Mahomet) 1:05:41; 17. Liz Paunicka (Champaign) 1:07:00; 18. Karen Roth (Danville) 1:07:53; 19. MinJee Lee (Savoy) 1:08:19; 21. Kate Fair (Champaign) 1:12:06; and 24. Nancy Boose (Georgetown) 1:19:14.

Mens 15K ~

1. Justin Jones (St. Joseph) 0:54:21; 2. Charles Fogelman (Champaign) 1:02:23; 3. Luke Morrison (Urbana) 1:03:13; 4. Michael Burk (Champaign) 1:06:17; 5. Justin Seno (Champaign) 1:07:53; 7. Ryan Anderson (St. Joseph) 1:11:39; 8. Timothy Merrell (Bismarck) 1:12:24; 9. Michael Tankersley (St. Joseph) 1:12:36; 10. Paul O’Neil (Urbana) 1:16:23; 12. Richard Mann (Urbana) 1:18:26; 15. Scott Olthoff (Savoy) 1:19:34; 16. Mark Dixon (Urbana) 1:20:05; 20. Patrick Carley (Danville) 1:23:04; 25. Brad Giffel (Urbana) 1:29:51; 28. Jim Fair III (Champaign) 1:31:29; 29. Thomas Corda (Anderson) 1:31:58; 31. Nikita Borisov (Urbana) 1:33:14; 33. Joe Grosso (Fisher) 1:34:39; 35. Brock Gale (Danville) 1:38:09; 36. Devin Rittenhouse (Champaign) 1:39:03; 38. Christopher Korose (Urbana) 1:40:05; 39. Daniel Chen (Champaign) 1:40:48; 46. Steve Darling (Oakwood) 1:43:30; 49. Joe Barnes (Mahomet) 1:46:13; and 51. Jarrod Scheunemann (Champaign) 1:46:28.

Womens 15K ~

17. Jennifer White (Danville) 1:20:22; 19. Nicole Olson (St. Joseph) 1:22:33; 22. Brooke DiBello (Sidney) 1:28:37; 23. Brittany Cain (Danville) 1:28:50; 26. Nicole Lake Olmo (Savoy) 1:30:40; 27. Whitney Patel (Savoy) 1:30:40; 30. Megan Parsons (Savoy) 1:32:46; 34. Sarah Lipps (Champaign) 1:37:41; 37. Brenda Straka (Urbana) 1:39:35; 40. Alison Ball (Champaign) 1:41:24; 44. Lynne Hoveln (Sidney) 1:43:21; 45. Tina Holley (Danville) 1:43:30; 48. Amy Bailey (St. Joseph) 1:46:05; 50. Jessie Scheunemann (Champaign) 1:46:27; 52. Giang Lam (Champaign) 1:49:57; 53. Laura Owen (Sadorus) 1:55:06; 54. Leslie Hammersmith (Sadorus) 1:55:07; 55. Rebecca Reck (Urbana) 1:57:39; 56. Adrianne Thompson (Danville) 1:57:49; 57. Debra Studniarz (Champaign) 1:58:05; 58. Haley Speciale (Champaign) 1:58:55; 59. Alyssa Guzman (Champaign) 1:59:01; 60. Nancy McCarty (Champaign) 1:59:35; 61. Ellen Vore (Urbana) 2:00:02; 64. Caroline Tonozzi (Savoy) 2:01:24; and 65. Nikki Campbell (St. Joseph) 2:06:36.

Storm's Macie Russell to further running career at EIU

Salt Fork's Macie Russell run the second lap around Detweiller Park in Peoria during the 2024 IHSA State Cross Country Meet. The senior signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her running career with Eastern Illinois University.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

CATLIN - Salt Fork senior Macie Russell, a five-sport athlete during her time at Salt Fork High School, inked her commitment to run track at Eastern Illinois University on Sunday. The three-time state qualifier in the 800-meter run chose EIU over Heartland Community College, Indiana State, and Olivet Nazarene.

Macie Russell runs a lap at O'Brien Stadium during the 2023 state track meet. She finished 27th overall as a junior in the Class 1A division.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Russell, who owns five Vermilion County championship titles in track and cross country and six conference titles in the two other sports, looks to qualify a fourth time in her specialty for the IHSA Girls' State Track & Field finals in May.

During her junior year track season, she qualified for state in the 800-meter run and the mile. Russell missed the cut for a spot in the championship race at O'Brien Stadium by a mere two and a half seconds last May, turning in a 2:25.94. She also ran the qualifier for the 1600-meter run, finishing 27th in the prelims at 5:39.82.

At the state cross-country meet last November at Detweiler Park, Russell crossed the finish line 47th out of a field of 247 runners with a time of 18:49.51.

Russell is the daughter of Brian and Becky and has two siblings, Mackenzie and Morgan.

Making space:
Freestanding units are a popular choice for people who want more room

NAPSI - If you are like many homeowners seeking to enhance your property and support your lifestyle interests, adding a freestanding hobby shop, home office, vehicle storage building, or recreational facility can be a great idea.

Photo: NAPSI

Building a freestanding unit on your property versus renting a retail location might be advantageous for a small business owner or an avid hobbyist. While renting commercial space offers more immediate flexibility and lower initial investment, generally it is better for small businesses with limited access to capital or needing a shorter rental commitment. On the other hand, owning a freestanding building might be a much better option.

Owning a freestanding structure does comes with challenges, including higher upfront costs, responsibilities for maintenance and repairs, and potential zoning or permitting issues if used for a business operation. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your current and projected financial position and long-term goals. The first step is to talk with a financial advisor, an insurance carrier, and your attorney to make an informed decision.

There are several advantages to having your own building on property you already own.

A freestanding building can provide you with increased equity over time. As the property value appreciates, it will increase the overall value of your land with the improvement. Since you own the property, you have control over how and when it is used. No more worrying about negotiating new leases, rent increases, security deposits, or restrictions imposed by landlords. From a profit/loss perspective, this can be crucial for long-term business planning.

While the initial investment for building a structure might be higher, in the long run, you may save money when comparing the aggregate rent paid over a three-, five-, or ten-year period. Plus, once the building paid off, your business becomes more profitable almost overnight with no mortgage or rental expenses.

Another advantage is you can customize your space just the way you want it. Constructing your own building allows you complete control over its aesthetics, creating a unique and distinctive space. Building on your property provides flexibility in terms of size and functionality. You can design the space to meet your specific business needs.

While in the planning stages, one should also allow for future expansion or modifications if you can not afford to build your dream space right off the bat.

Don't need space for your side gig or business, but need space to pursue your passion? What can be better than having an MMA or CrossFit gym just a few feet from your backdoor? Need a space to restore and maintain vintage vehicles? How about a space for your band to rehearse? A freestanding building is just the ticket.

For hobby enthusiasts, freestanding building projects range from a small garage to an elaborate workshop to support a wide range of interests, such as woodworking, classic car restoration, various collections, or simply for storage of equipment and tools, said Andy Brown, Morton Buildings suburban product line manager. Also popular are man caves and she sheds, which offer a place to get away to relax and unwind, enjoy hobbies, and spend time with friends.

"Our customers have used their Morton buildings for such diverse interests as an art studio, a family game room, a space for music and instruments, doing meditation and yoga, brewing beer and exercising," Brown noted. "Some couples split the space in their hobby building so they each have separate areas for their own interests."

Many owners of boats, RVs, and other recreational vehicles, such as motorcycles and ATVs, he added, want an attractive, well-designed storage facility to protect and enhance the enjoyment of those assets. Many of these vehicle storage facilities also have amenities such as an office, kitchenette, lounge, bathroom, and space for hobbies.

"Homeowners want a building that will not only support their hobby and recreational needs but is also stylish and can be customized to complement the existing structures on the property with design features such as brick and stone, cupolas and porches," he said.

7 reasons to get started with your fitness program

Movement is medicine. Active movement is the best way to prevent and improve chronic disease says Dr. Jaynie Bjornaraa.

Photo: Kampus Production/PEXELS

NAPSI - Because physical activity and healthy aging go hand in hand, getting started with a fitness program included in your health plan can do more than help you maintain your health as you age.

"Movement truly is medicine," says Dr. Jaynie Bjornaraa, physical therapist, fitness professional, adjunct professor, and senior vice president of rehabilitation services and digital fitness solutions at American Specialty Health (ASH).

Dr. Bjornaraa oversees the Silver&Fit® Healthy Aging and Exercise program for ASH, ensuring that its members get evidence-based recommendations when starting their fitness routines. She helped develop the program's onboarding feature, which sets members on individual fitness journeys based on their needs. Fitness levels, exercise goals, and personal preferences all factor into a tailored 14-day workout plan.

"Research has shown that active movement is the best way to prevent and improve chronic disease. And the great thing about exercise is that it benefits your cognitive health 'memory and mood' as much as it affects your physical well-being," according to Dr. Bjornaraa.

She offers this short list of other benefits a thoughtful fitness program can provide:

1. Improved Health Being physically active can reduce your risk of disease, strengthen your bones and muscles, help you manage weight, and boost your mental well-being.

2. Preventive Care Physical fitness can help prevent certain high-risk scenarios such as serious injury from falls, which is the leading cause of accidental death in older adults.

3. Social Interaction Some programs offer links to connect with clubs and free group fitness classes online for various types and levels of workouts.

4. Health Rewards Incentives for tracking your activity though a fitness program can earn various awards as well help you work with your medical provider to better manage any chronic disease.

5. Personal Coaching Connecting with a health coach during regularly scheduled sessions through a fitness-focused plan can help you achieve a variety of wellness goals.

6. Cost Savings Fitness-focused plans often include low-cost access to fitness centers and exercise videos for a wider variety of workout choices.

7. Quality of Life A thoughtfully designed program will help members develop a workout plan, which can help you stay mobile and maintain their independence.

The benefits of a regular exercise program shows up almost immediately, especially if you stay committed to the lifestyle change.

Photo: Mikhail Nilov/PEXELS

Even for individuals who don't currently engage in fitness activities, Dr. Bjornaraa says it's never too late to start.

"You can be 80 years old," she said. "Whenever you decide to start an exercise routine, you'll notice the health improvements quickly add up. However, starting slow and staying consistent is the key to building fitness levels and a good program can help you steadily reach your goals."

It's important that your health plan supports your long-term health and fitness. If you're considering adding fitness to your routine, be sure to work with doctors before starting any new exercise regimen.

Finally, once you've started a fitness plan, make the most of it. Stay committed to a lifestyle of fitness. Regular attendance in exercise classes and engaging in your wellness will go a long way to help you maintain and improve your health.

SJO volleyball head coach inducted into Hall of Fame

Normal - St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball head coach Abby McDonald was honored this past Saturday during the year's IHSA Volleyball State Finals with her induction into the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Having won more than 400 matches during her coaching career, St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Abby McDonald has become a member of the IVCA Hall of Fame. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Under her leadership, the SJO volleyball program collects 20-win seasons like Halloween candy. Earlier this season McDonald earned her 400th career coach win. A mere 1,432 days earlier, the Spartans celebrated her 300th coaching victory in 2019.

McDonald, a second-grade teacher by trade, took over the head coaching position at St. Joseph-Ogden High School in 2008. Since then, the Spartans have won nine IHSA regional titles, two sectional, and two supersectional titles. In 2016, finished as runner-up in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament and she led the program back again in 2019, when the finish third in the state.

The veteran coach has amassed 417 wins against just 95 losses and looks to continue to build on her coaching legacy.

McDonald knows volleyball.

She graduated from Hoopeston Area High School in 2001. She was a three-sport athlete earning ten varsity levels. After a two-year stint at Danville Community College where she was team captain, All-Conference, and the team's MVP, she also ranked in the top 10 in the nation for assists per game. After two years, McDonald transfered to University of Illinois-Springfield where she quickly found herself back in her leadership role as a team captain and starter for the Prairie Stars.

Nick Godsell and Jordyn Catterson lead area runners over the finish line

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Aniket Ravan, from Urbana, IL, runs through along Washington Street at the 2023 Christie Clinic Illinois Half Marathon. He finished 43 out of 154 runners in his age group with a time of 1:40:24. Ravan was one of 217 Sentinel area runners to finish the 13.1 mile course through Urbana. Find more of our photos race here.

URBANA - It was a perfect day to run the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon on Saturday. The weather was just what Urbana's Will Gravelle and former Unity Rocket long distance runner Nick Godsell needed to finish in the top 20 of this year's half marathon event.

Without breaking his stride, Nick Godsell grabs a quick drink as he passes a hydration station on East Washington in Urbana. Photo: PhotoNewsMedia/Clark Brooks

Godsell finished 12th overall and finished in the same spot in the men's division. His time of one hour and 15.02 minutes was good for a third place out of 141 men between the ages of 25-29. Gravelle crossed the finish line eight runners later at 1:16:40 in 20th place overall and fifth in the same age group.

The Sentinel area's top female finisher Jordyn Catterson, from Urbana, clocked in at 1:29:34. She finished 104th overall and came in third in the women's 25-29 age group.

Catterson, with Godsell and Gravelle were members of the 217 area runners from the 2-1-7, who laced-up and finished the 13.1 mile course out of 2,178 competitors.

Saturday's overall champion title was Johnny Crain, from Lansing, MI, who finished the course in one hour and 5.05 minutes. Ten seconds behind Crain, Charleston's Jaime Marcos crossed over at 1:05:15 in second place. Devin Allbaugh, from Bettendorf, IA, finished third at 1:06:07.

28-year-old Jane Bareikis won the women's title with a time of 1:16:13. The Crestwood, IL, runner finished 18th overall.

Coming in second place, Pasca Myers averaged six-minute splits to finish her race at 1:18:37. Elizabeth Flatley, from Chicago, took third, stopping her race clock at 1:19:17.

Area 2023 Illinois Half Marathon Finishers

(Place - Name (City) Finish Time)

12 - Nick Godsell (Philo) 1:15:02
20 - Will Gravelle (Urbana) 1:16:40
25 - Armando Torres (Urbana) 1:18:17
33 - Leyang Zhang (Urbana) 1:19:10
43 - Justice Carter (Urbana) 1:20:18
45 - Tom Gelsthorpe (Urbana) 1:20:28
46 - Norb Nieves (Urbana) 1:20:37
47 - Justin Jones (St. Joseph) 1:20:57
52 - Spencer Nelson (Urbana) 1:22:14
57 - Arash Firouzbakht (Urbana) 1:23:12
72 - Ben Williams (Urbana) 1:25:16
79 - Yongjae Lee (Urbana) 1:26:01
89 - RAMSES ARMENDARIZ (Urbana) 1:28:28
91 - Keith Campbell (Urbana) 1:28:32
98 - Andrew Dou (Urbana) 1:28:55
100 - Tristan Taylor (Urbana) 1:29:13
104 - Jordyn Catterson (Urbana) 1:29:34
108 - Park Mitchell (urbana) 1:30:04
114 - Alexander Gomez (Urbana) 1:30:37
134 - Veronika Adamczyk (Urbana) 1:32:27
143 - Rebecca Frederick (Urbana) 1:32:58
150 - Antoni Okinczyc (Urbana) 1:33:43
155 - Jonathan Tomkin (Urbana) 1:34:05
163 - Duncan Nall (Urbana) 1:34:54
169 - Maddy Feehan (Urbana) 1:35:43
171 - Nick Paulson (Urbana) 1:36:07
181 - Yipu Wang (Urbana) 1:36:30
189 - Eric Woodard (Philo) 1:37:10
188 - Seth Carper (Urbana) 1:37:10
190 - Alex Lipka (Urbana) 1:37:11
197 - Cram Soss (Urbana) 1:37:25
211 - Chenghao Zhang (Urbana) 1:38:14
229 - Kieran Loehr (Urbana) 1:38:55
240 - Solomon Michalak (Urbana) 1:39:29
248 - Luke Morrison (Urbana) 1:39:39
255 - Aniket Ravan (Urbana) 1:40:24
281 - Matthew Mabry (St. Joseph) 1:42:04
295 - Aaron Pearlman (Urbana) 1:42:44
296 - Jared Chenoweth (Urbana) 1:43:00
313 - Michael Tankersley (St. Joseph) 1:43:31
327 - Timothy Tan (Urbana) 1:44:05
342 - Zois Gerasimos Tasoulas (Urbana) 1:44:23
346 - Dane Grounds (Urbana) 1:44:34
350 - John Lundstrom (Urbana) 1:44:45
354 - Rob Kowalski (Urbana) 1:45:03
372 - Minjoo Larry Lee (URBANA) 1:45:57
380 - Ben Kaap (Urbana) 1:46:22
392 - Haley Bickelhaupt (Urbana) 1:47:07
400 - Javier Gomez (Urbana) 1:47:31
401 - Lexie Kesler (St. Joseph) 1:47:37
404 - Corey Richier (Urbana) 1:47:39
417 - Daniel Mueller (URBANA) 1:48:06
418 - Brenda Huang (Urbana) 1:48:10
428 - Philip Amortila (Urbana) 1:48:40
452 - Hannah Gibes (Urbana) 1:49:36
459 - Jon Ek (Urbana) 1:49:54
465 - Paul O'Neil (Urbana) 1:50:03
477 - Erik McDuffie (Urbana) 1:50:21
483 - Lauren Brunk (Urbana) 1:50:40
497 - Maggie Hettel (Urbana) 1:50:54
500 - Akhil Marayikkottu (Urbana) 1:51:04
509 - Mika J (Urbana) 1:51:17
526 - Claire Meyer (Urbana) 1:51:38
537 - Ricky Spindler (Urbana) 1:51:49
545 - Toyofumi Yamauchi (Urbana) 1:51:55
549 - MICHAEL SAVAGE (Sidney) 1:52:00
565 - John Floyd (Urbana) 1:52:43
576 - Bethany Blakely (Urbana) 1:53:12
583 - Dongjing Wen (Urbana) 1:53:29
620 - Ryan Harlan Anderson (St. Joseph) 1:54:32
630 - Geoff Ower (Urbana) 1:54:42
634 - Sydney Lazarus (Urbana) 1:54:52
637 - Jessica Snyder (Urbana) 1:54:59
647 - Chinmay Soman (Urbana) 1:55:10
679 - Lawrence Angrave (Urbana) 1:56:03
686 - Eric Metcalf (Urbana) 1:56:15
697 - BICHENG WANG (Urbana) 1:56:32
702 - Brock Immke (St. Joseph) 1:56:45
716 - Molly Paquette (Urbana) 1:57:10
736 - Scott Tess (Urbana) 1:57:48
761 - Samuel Schoenberg (Urbana) 1:58:27
774 - Joanne Woodard (Philo) 1:58:44
776 - Cole Wall (Urbana) 1:58:50
785 - Mark Shoviak (St. Joseph) 1:59:07
791 - Kaden Rawson (Urbana) 1:59:15
862 - David Justice (Urbana) 2:01:40
869 - Alex Green (Urbana) 2:02:10
887 - Melissa Alves (Urbana) 2:02:52
898 - Gregory Jahiel (Urbana) 2:03:14
917 - Josie Suter (Urbana) 2:03:52
918 - Immanuel Stern (Urbana) 2:03:56
937 - Amber Cluver (St. Joseph) 2:04:29
949 - Javier J Garcia Mainieri (Urbana) 2:04:57
956 - Ganesh Ananthakrishnan (Urbana) 2:05:15
969 - Nicole Ream-Sotomayor (Urbana) 2:05:45
997 - Leo Marquez (Urbana) 2:06:35
1009 - Nicole Haglund (Urbana) 2:06:58
1024 - Matthew Rivas-Koehl (Urbana) 2:07:17
1025 - Noah Larsen (Urbana) 2:07:18
1026 - Dane Rivas-Koehl (Urbana) 2:07:19
1028 - Ashley Gilbert (Urbana) 2:07:23
1045 - Darrin Moore (Urbana) 2:07:49
1046 - Sanjay Patel (Urbana) 2:07:50
1061 - Kiley Reed Black (Urbana) 2:08:14
1066 - Christopher Berger (Philo) 2:08:25
1088 - Gabby Wszalek (Urbana) 2:09:25
1090 - Athol Kemball (Urbana) 2:09:27
1121 - Hugh Bowman (Urbana) 2:10:17
1119 - Olga Makarova (Urbana) 2:10:17
1125 - Jean Lin (Urbana) 2:10:20
1134 - Srijan Shukla (Urbana) 2:10:37
1140 - Amy Bailey (St. Joseph) 2:10:43
1152 - Benjamin Hayek (Urbana) 2:10:54
1179 - Baylee Prestin (Urbana) 2:11:43
1185 - Rachel Duerden (Urbana) 2:11:53
1187 - Michael Lard (Urbana) 2:11:55
1190 - Spencer Radina (Urbana) 2:11:58
1202 - Randy Owen (Urbana) 2:12:18
1204 - Mallory Jarot (Urbana) 2:12:19
1205 - Alexander Klec (Urbana) 2:12:24
1206 - Mara Thacker (Urbana) 2:12:24
1225 - Jacob Dilger (Urbana) 2:12:59
1228 - Mia Renna (Urbana) 2:13:02
1244 - Michelle Salfelder (Urbana) 2:13:23
1246 - Jeff Rohde (Royal) 2:13:24
1247 - Elizabeth Chominski (Urbana) 2:13:28
1249 - Brenda Straka (Urbana) 2:13:33
1288 - Joshua Yuan (Urbana) 2:14:49
1289 - Yingying Han (Urbana) 2:14:49
1318 - Eli Bennett (Urbana) 2:16:04
1321 - Hannah Dignan (St. Joseph) 2:16:15
1345 - Seth Herrmann (Urbana) 2:17:07
1358 - Rebecca Mills (Urbana) 2:17:34
1377 - Summer Park (Urbana) 2:18:14
1383 - Kaustubh Panse (Urbana) 2:18:27
1394 - Erin Minor (Urbana) 2:19:00
1408 - Nishant Rodrigues (Urbana) 2:19:20
1413 - Patrick Grenda (Urbana) 2:19:33
1425 - Jay Hoeflinger (Urbana) 2:19:55
1439 - Yolanda Islas (Urbana) 2:20:29
1440 - Matthew Herriott (Philo) 2:20:33
1441 - Christopher Korose (urbana) 2:20:35
1455 - Nancy Roth (St. Joseph) 2:21:01
1493 - David Gallardo (Urbana) 2:22:45
1496 - Margaret Vaessen (Urbana) 2:22:53
1499 - Theresa Heater (Urbana) 2:22:54
1501 - Fia Svendsen (Urbana) 2:22:57
1506 - Shraddha Shirguppe (Urbana) 2:23:12
1518 - Tim Borbely (Urbana) 2:23:33
1520 - Xiongjie Dai (Urbana) 2:23:41
1521 - Anne Sickles (Urbana) 2:23:42
1554 - Scott Hendren (St. Joseph) 2:25:25
1577 - Amanda Rodriguez (Urbana) 2:26:22
1580 - DEAN ROSE (Urbana) 2:26:33
1591 - Fernando Rigal (Urbana) 2:26:50
1592 - Brad Giffel (URBANA) 2:26:51
1599 - Tawn Espinoza (St. Joseph) 2:27:11
1606 - Annie Adams (Urbana) 2:27:19
1632 - Mickey Harbin (Urbana) 2:28:22
1639 - Taojun Wang (Urbana) 2:28:36
1656 - Jessica Wong (Urbana) 2:29:21
1660 - Bonnie Sankey (Urbana) 2:29:28
1682 - Steve OConnell (Urbana) 2:30:04
1686 - Bonnie McElwee (Urbana) 2:30:22
1687 - Tracy Kleparski (Tolono) 2:30:23
1704 - Ryan Medina (Urbana) 2:31:28
1717 - Mitzy Maldonado (Urbana) 2:32:14
1720 - Katie Callahan (Urbana) 2:32:20
1740 - Leslie Hammersmith (Sadorus) 2:33:27
1741 - Stephen Johnson (Sadorus) 2:33:27
1750 - Conlan Pierce (Urbana) 2:34:12
1767 - Adriana Ochoa (Urbana) 2:35:12
1772 - Natalie Hart (Urbana) 2:35:24
1776 - Kelsy A Clark (St. Joseph) 2:35:30
1788 - Cale Reeves (Urbana) 2:36:23
1789 - Michaela Barker (Urbana) 2:36:24
1801 - Rebecca Reck (Urbana) 2:37:36
1814 - Brenda Hixson (Urbana) 2:39:14
1829 - Rucha Kulkarni (Urbana) 2:40:15
1834 - Phyllis Baker (Urbana) 2:40:33
1891 - Annalisa Fama (Urbana) 2:45:06
1892 - Karen Mayfield-Jones (Urbana) 2:45:10
1907 - joshua ragle (St. Joseph) 2:46:20
1910 - Anwesa Choudhuri (Urbana) 2:46:39
1917 - Leslie Landreth (St. Joseph) 2:47:45
1925 - Kathy Vance (Urbana) 2:48:18
1932 - Gerardo Serrano Rangel (Urbana) 2:48:46
1939 - Stephanie McDaniel (Urbana) 2:49:18
1943 - Irene Macedo (Urbana) 2:49:40
1947 - Erin Bedolla (Urbana) 2:49:58
1969 - Terry Hill (St. Joseph) 2:51:25
1977 - Kelly Boeger (Urbana) 2:52:36
1978 - David Perkins-Pride (Urbana) 2:52:36
1984 - Mike Yuchuan Shen (Urbana) 2:53:39
1985 - Sophie McClain (Urbana) 2:53:47
1995 - Tuan Lai (Urbana) 2:54:49
2034 - Thomas Trzupek (Urbana) 2:59:58
2039 - Xuguang Wang (Urbana) 3:00:19
2043 - Erin Smith (St. Joseph) 3:01:11
2052 - Lisa Curtiss (Urbana) 3:02:04
2065 - Amanda Taylor (Urbana) 3:05:03
2069 - Lindsey Block (Tolono) 3:05:47
2070 - Evan Ripperger (Urbana) 3:06:34
2071 - Elizabeth Knipp (Urbana) 3:06:35
2073 - Sebastian Rodriguez (Urbana) 3:06:45
2089 - Ruth Floyd (Urbana) 3:12:44
2108 - Megan Bunfill (Urbana) 3:23:12
2122 - Ronna Benoit (Urbana) 3:25:35
2123 - Maria Wilson (St. Joseph) 3:25:45
2126 - Terri Burdick (Urbana) 3:26:29
2128 - sandeep murthy (Urbana) 3:27:07
2129 - Larissa Metz (Urbana) 3:27:20
2158 - LYNN WILEY (Urbana) 3:42:05
2159 - Jennifer Greene (Urbana) 3:42:05
2162 - Patrick Weiler (Urbana) 3:52:17
2168 - Pat Webb (Urbana) 3:54:57
2169 - Percy Focazio-Moran (Urbana) 3:55:20

Ankle sprains are not the same as strains, here's how they are different

Photo: PhotoNews Media

StatePoint Media -- As fall sports heat up for kids, so do 5Ks, marathons and golf tournaments for adults, leading to ankle sprains for athletes of all ages.

"Both serious athletes and weekend warriors often underestimate how serious a sprain can be, and they rush back into action without taking time to rehabilitate the injury properly," says Michael J. Cornelison, DPM, FACFAS, foot and ankle surgeon and president of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). "While no one enjoys being sidelined from the physical activities they love, quickly diagnosing and treating an ankle injury expedites the healing process. It also reduces the chances of long-term, chronic ankle pain."

To help people manage this painful injury properly, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons is sharing some important insights and facts:

What is an ankle sprain? An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more ligaments, usually on the outside of the ankle. The severity depends on whether the ligament is stretched, partially torn or completely torn, as well as on the number of ligaments involved. Ankle sprains are not the same as strains, which affect muscles rather than ligaments.

What are the causes of ankle sprains? Sprained ankles often result from a fall, a sudden twist or a blow that forces the ankle joint out of its normal position. Sometimes ankle sprains occur because of congenital conditions or previous injuries.

"I always recommend that those who’ve suffered sprains and injuries in the past get their ankles checked for chronic instability as they start new fitness routines," says Dr. Cornelison.

Do ankle sprains require a doctor’s visit? Those with ankle injuries should see a foot and ankle surgeon any time there is bruising or the inability to bear weight on that foot. Receiving a correct diagnosis is essential as different injuries require different treatment. An examination can determine if there is a fracture — which involves a crack or break in the bones that form the ankle joint. It can also differentiate between a high ankle sprain and a lateral ankle sprain.

Can an athlete play through the pain? Whether training for a 5K or quarterbacking for a high school team, getting back in the game is often a patient’s top concern, and athletes may experience pressure from teammates and coaches to play through pain. But rehabilitation of a sprained ankle needs to begin right away. If rehabilitation is delayed, the injury may be less likely to heal properly, and may lead to chronic ankle instability, which is not only painful, but can increase the risk of additional ankle sprains down the line.

How are ankle sprains treated? Most ankle injuries require no surgical intervention, according to Dr. Cornelison, who stresses that foot and ankle surgeons will always choose the most conservative treatment for the best long-term outcomes. In addition to rest, ice, compression and elevation, (also known as RICE) doctors may also recommend physical therapy to promote healing and range of motion, as well as NSAIDs to reduce pain and inflammation. In more severe cases, or in cases where the injury was initially neglected, surgery may be required to repair the damaged ligaments. The foot and ankle surgeon will select the procedure best suited to the type and severity of the injury.

For more ankle sprain information and to find a foot and ankle surgeon near you, visit FootHealthFacts.org, the patient education website for the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Prep Sports Notebook: SJO soccer post shutout on the road, Unity VB drops tough one

Unity soccer team notches first win

Nolan Remole scored Unity's first goal of the season in the first half of the team's road opener at St. Teresa. The sophomore later added an assist to his stats to help the Rockets roll over the host Bulldogs, 7-1.

Junior Gabe Pound followed up with two goals in the half, one with the help of Remole and the second unassisted. He later put the final nail in the Bulldog coffin in the second period on an assist from another sophomore, Nolan Wishall.

Two other Rocket ballers found the net in the second half as well. Brendan Bachert booted in an unassisted goal, and Andrew Mowrer took advantage of a pass from Travis McCarter to give their team a commanding 6-1 lead.

Valencia-Chavez scored St. Teresa's only goal in the second half.

Tigers sweep SJO tennis

The Urbana girls tennis program picked up their first dual match victory of the season via a 9-0 shutout over fledgling St. Joseph-Ogden program late Tuesday afternoon.

The Tigers' top six players - Alisa Tangmunarunkit, Matika Pounginjai, Eisla Madigan, Luna Morales, Halie Thompson, and Lorelie Yau - won both their singles matches and respective double bouts against the Spartans.

On the top court at #1 singles, senior Abbey Dow was the only SJO player to win three games in a set. Despite her strong serving effort and offensive play, she fell 6-2, 6-3 to Urbana's Alisa Tangmunarunkit.

Greer leads SJO in Argenta-Oreana shutout

The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team improved to 1-0-1 on the season after a 3-0 blanking on the road at Argenta-Orena. After a scoreless first half, Jackson Greer put two balls between the posts to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.

Ryker Lockhart booked his second goal of his inaugural season with SJO thanks to a feed from Aiden Cromwell to close out the scoring effort for both teams. Cromwell was also credited with an assist on Greer's first goal and sophomore Logan Mills earned the assist on the second.

Hunter Ketchum made nine saves protecting the Spartan goal.

Rockets' volleyball squad drops non-con at LeRoy

The Unity volleyball team suffered a road loss at LeRoy in a gritty two-setter on Tuesday evening. The Panthers prevailed besting the Rockets 32-30, 25-23.

Attention area high school coaches

We need your help covering your team this fall to help keep fans, college recruiters, and area readers informed. 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 conclusion of the season.

If you are a coach at Unity, Urbana Uni-High, Urbana High School or St. Joseph-Ogden, the best way to send us box scores, statistical leaders for each game, and other info 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.

Tonight's games online:
SJO vs Pontiac, Urbana boys take on Central

Tonight's Live NFHS Broadcasts

January 14, 2022

URBANA HIGH SCHOOL

Boys Sophomore Basketball vs Central | 6:00 PM
Boys Varsity Basketball vs Central | 7:30 PM

ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN HIGH SCHOOL

Boys Varsity Wrestling vs Unity | 4:25 PM
Boys Junior Varsity Basketball vs Pontiac | 5:30 PM
Boys Varsity Basketball vs Pontiac | 7:00 PM

Click here to watch these games live or on demand tonight

** Just so you know: The Sentinel is reader-supported. When you make a purchase via a link on our site, we might earn an affiliate commission that we will use bring you more area news and sports coverage.

Dick Duval inducted into SJO Hall of Fame

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

A well-deserved honor, Duval built a football dynasty that saw five IHSA football state championship games, six semi-finals playoff games, and the IHSA football quarter-finals 16 times. In addition to coaching and teaching math, Duval was also served as athletic director before his retirement.

Biography

Dick Duval attended Herscher High School. In high school, Dick was a member of National Honor Society. He was a three-sport athlete in basketball, baseball, and football. He was the Captain of both the baseball team and football team. He was also President of the Letterman Club.

Coach Duval graduated from Illinois State University in 1978 where he majored in Mathematics, with a minor in Physical Education. After college, he taught for three years at Herscher Grade School and coached grade school basketball and high school football. He then taught for seven years in the Kankakee School District, where he coached three sports at the high school level: football, basketball, and baseball. During this time, he was also the defensive backs coach at Olivet Nazarene University.

In 1988, Coach Duval took a position at St. Joseph-Ogden High School as a math teacher and was both the head football and baseball coach. Coach Duval coached baseball at SJO for 16 years, winning more than 200 games during a time when schools played a lot fewer regular season games. At SJO, Coach Duval was the head football coach for 28 years from 1988-2015 and in that time, never had a losing season. In 1989, his second year as head football coach, he took the Spartans to his first state championship game.

Dick Duval and players talk to the media after the Spartans' 2013 state title game against Stillman Valley. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Before his career was over, SJO went to the playoffs 25 consecutive years, and made it to the IHSA football state championship game five times, the IHSA football semi-finals six times, and the IHSA football quarter-finals 16 times. His final record was 251 wins and 75 losses. During his career at SJO, Coach Duval earned a position as an assistant coach in the 1990 and 1998 Illinois football All-Star games. He was awarded the Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Week on October 9th, 2000. On April 5th, 2008, Coach Duval was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame where he was recognized for his ability to inspire his athletes to the highest in discipline and spirit.

Sara Ulbrich Greenstein, a member of the SJO Hall of Fame class of 2014 recently cited Dick Duval as one of her five influences that helped her become a CEO of a multi-billion dollar company.

After retiring from teaching and coaching, Dick Duval was the main scorekeeper for the SJO boys basketball team. He also was scorekeeper and announcer for many of the basketball tournaments hosted by SJO.

Surrounded by family members Lynda Duval holds a plaque with a photo of her late husband Dick who was inducted into the St. Joseph-Ogden Hall of Fame. Standing with Lynda are her daughter Bobbi and husband Cory Busboom and son, Kiel and his wife Katie, and three grandchildren. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

On August 20, 2021, the SJO football field was dedicated to Coach Duval and is now the Dick Duval Field.

Coach Duval fought a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer, but passed away on August 26, 2021.

Dick is survived by his wife, Lynda, daughters Bobbi and Toni, son Kiel, their spouses and his four grandchildren.

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

Coaches and fans, send us your team scores and stats

The 2021 fall athletic season is here and we want to make sure all Sentinel area high school coaches know where to send box scores and other sports information this year. The Sentinel needs your game scores and stat leaders after each game to keep fans, college recruiters and area readers well-informed on the four area prep athletic programs we are covering this season.

The Sentinel is looking forward to the days, hopefully soon, when we will have enough business advertising with us to help expand our coverage to more teams at each school as well as outstanding individual athletes and their accomplishments. Until then, we'll do what we can with the limited resources at our disposal.

New this season, by request, The Sentinel will begin covering high school sports at both Urbana University and Urbana High School in addition to St. Joseph-Ogden and Unity athletics. If you don't see it on The Sentinel, it is probably because no one took the time to tell us about it. We are relying on coaches, managers, ADs, parents and even players emailing or calling us to let us know the stories, final scores and interesting cool stuff we are missing. We would also like to let our readers know about schedule changes and cancellations, too.

If the team you would like us to cover has a team website, Facebook page or Twitter feed, do us a favor and email the link to us. If your team is posting scores, stats, and achievements it will give us a place to check. Send us a link so we can bookmark it.

Tag us on Twitter with @Sentinel_News or hashtag us with #SentinelSports or tag us on Facebook with @OurSentinelNews.

Let us know who is getting what honors from All-League and All-Conference, who is going to sign their NLI, and so on. The best way to send 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, got a story idea or hot news tip? Don't hesitate to send an email to either address.

The Sentinel looks forward to covering your 2021-2022 season.

Basketball player of the week

February 28 - March 6, 2021

Sentinel basketball player of the week February 28-March 6, 2021

~ Boys ~

Ty Pence

St. Joseph-Ogden

SJO may have went 1-3 during the week as a team, but Pence's point production was pure gold. The sophomore averaged 29.75 points per game after collecting 39 game-high against BCC and chilled with 24 points in the Spartans' 81-58 win over Olympia.

Honorable Mention:
Andrew Beyers, SJO
Blake Kimball, Unity
Nate Drennan, Unity

~ Girls ~

Chloee Reed

Unity

Reed put up 23 points for the Rockets in their 57-20 win over Illini Prairie foe Rantoul. Despite the non-conference loss to a good Warrior squad, she led Unity once again on the following Saturday with a team-high 10 points against Tuscola.

Honorable Mention:
Ella Armstrong, SJO
Payton Jones, SJO
Katy Moore, Unity

Photo Gallery | SJO soccer drops 3-0 decision at St. Thomas More

Midfielder Carter Mabry boots the ball down the field in St. Joseph-Ogden's road soccer game at St. Thomas More on a windy Friday on March 19. Despite playing a disciplined game against the Sabers forcing them to earn every goal, the Spartans fell 3-0 in the conference battle.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO's Jackson Greer settles the ball in the second half. Like the majority of the players on this year's squad, Greers passing and ball control skills have notably improved going into this year's pandemic delayed season.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks