Competitive cheerleading tryouts will be held October 28

Tryouts for the St. Joseph-Ogden competitive cheerleading team will be held on October 28 from 6 to 8pm at the high school. The Spartan cheer team is a coed team that cheers at all boys basketball games and will compete against other cheer squads from around the state hoping to win an Illinois High School Association state title.

SJO Cheerleaders
Cheerleaders help lead SJO fans in a cheer during a home game against Pleasant Plains in January. Spartan cheerleaders attended every game, home and on the road, to help keep team and fan morale high. Members selected for the competition squad also compete to qualify the state finals held in January. (Photo: PhotoNews Media Archives)


Head coach Jonathon Lackey says the he is looking for 12 to 16 students for the sideline team and seven to 12 for the competition team.

"As a coach I not only look for certain skills such as tumbling and stunting, I also look for someone who is driven," said Lackey. "I want cheerleaders who represent SJO in a positive manner, someone who will bring a great experience to games and events. Our top priority is to cheer games and support SJO athletics."

Lackey believes cheerleaders are important to the overall game experience and keep fans actively supporting players and the team throughout the season.

"It's our job to get the crowd involved to support the team. We bring a fun aspect to games," he said. "At games you need someone who is a leader to help get the crowd involved and excited, that's where we come in."

Keely McCorkle cheers during the Spartans' home game against Unity in January. Representing SJO in a positive manner is one of the roles cheerleaders have in addition to encouraging fans to show their support at games. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
The IHSA added a competitive cheerleading state series at the beginning of the 2005-06 academic year. St. Joseph-Ogden has qualified twice since then, once under the guidance of Nancy Olson in 2007 and last year under Lackey.

While training, performing and competing against elite teams from around the state, Lackey says cheerleaders serve a more significant role.

"I think it's also important to have a team that acts as ambassadors for the school in a positive manner," he explained. "That's where cheerleaders can succeed the most and become an important part of a game."

For more information contact Coach Lackey via email at lackeyj@sjo.k12.il.us. Follow this year's squad on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sjocheerleading/. Students interested in joining this year's squad can pick up tryout packets in the main office at the high school.

Spartan youth sports camps set for June and July

Ten high school coaches and their athletic programs will offer sports summer camps for area kids this summer. The camps are designed to be a fun learning environment for young athletes to learn fundamental skills and then demonstrate what they learned.

As the Sentinel receives more information from coaches and administrators we will update this page with the latest information made available to our site.

Here is a list of camps offered this summer starting May 29.

Football Youth Camp: June 10, 11, 12, 13 (9 AM-11:30 AM)
Players will learn how to play several different positions on offense and defense taught by the Spartan football program and head coach Shawn Skinner. Registration by June 1 is necessary to guarantee a camp shirt. Download Camp Flyer

Volleyball Youth Camp: June 10, 11, 12
Registration deadline is Friday, May 24. The camp will be lead by head coach Abby McDonald who led SJO to the Class 2A state title match in 2016 Download Camp Flyer

Cheerleading Youth Camp: July 18, 19, 20 in the Practice Gym (9 AM-12 PM)

Updated! Soccer Youth Camp: July 22, 23, 24, 25
Registration deadline is June 30th. All drills are all designed to practice new skills and perfect acquired ones in a fun, learning environment. Campers will receive a t-shirt and should bring a soccer ball and water to each camp session. SJO soccer camp flyer




Boys Basketball Youth Camp: May 29, 30, 31 (8 AM-1:30 PM)
Deadline for registration closed on May 3Download Camp Flyer

Girls Basketball Youth Camp: June 3, 4, 5 (9 AM-12 PM) (1:30-3:30)
Young athletes will receive individual instruction, play games and earn awards by the SJO coaching staff and counselors. T-shirts will be given to each camper. Download Camp Flyer

Dance Youth Camp: June 19, 20, 21 (9 AM-11:30 AM)

Wrestling Youth Camp: July 15, 16, 17 (9 AM-1:00 PM)
This camp will features three session where wrestlers will concentrate on learning sound technique from a well-qualified staff • Download camp flyer



Baseball Youth Camp: June 3, 4, 5 (8 AM-12:15 PM)

Softball Youth Camp: June 6, 7 (9 AM-1:30 PM)
Camp will furnish the balls and hitting equipment for girls to learn basic fundamentals. Campers should bring their glove and bat (if they have one) with their name on it.SJO Camp Flyer

* * * Updated 5/6/19 at 11am
Links to football and girls basketball summer camp flyers were added.

* * * Updated 5/9/19 at 11:59am
Link to softball summer camp added.

* * * Updated 5/20/19 at 5:04pm
Soccer camp info updated.


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