Photo of the Day - November 24, 2020

---

Rockets stall in road trip at Rantoul

Surrounded by opposing players under the basket, Unity's Karson Ewerks looses control of the ball thanks to Rantoul's KeJuan Carodine behind him while going up for a put back in the paint during their Illini Prairie Conference road game earlier this year. The team's second leading scorer in the contest, Ewerks, a senior, finished the night contributing nine points in the 49-37 loss on January 21. Unity finished the 2019-20 season with a 1-8 conference record while Eagles' wrapped it up one step above with two wins, seven losses in the Illini Prairie Conference.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - November 12, 2020

---

SJO's Barnes leading scorer in conference win over Monticello

Taylor Barnes looks for a Spartan teammate to pass the ball during the St. Joseph-Ogden girls home basketball game against Monticello back on January 20. Making seven of her nine free throw attempts, Barnes, a senior, dropped an game-high 18 points on the Sages en route to a 47-39 conference win.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - September 27, 2020

---

Rupert heads above fellow seniors

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Braydon Rupert is hoisted by his father, Chuck, during the senior class introductions at SJO's final boys basketball home game of the season. At 6-foot-8, Rupert needed no help towering over his Spartan teammates during the 2019-20 season. The Spartans went on to defeat Illinois Valley Central 60-54 during their Illini Prairie Conference contest on February 14.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

---

Photo of the Day - September 20, 2020

---

Basketball seniors honored at SJO

With his mother, Angie, looking on and enjoying the moment, St. Joseph-Ogden senior Brayden Weaver hugs his father Blake during senior night introductions before the start of SJO's final home basketball game of the season earlier this year on February 14. Weeks later before the Coronavirus rose to the level of a national pandemic, Weaver, a three-sport athlete, decided to continue his athletic career by playing football at Illinois College. The Spartans went on to defeat their guests Illinois Valley Central, 60-54.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

---

Senior spotlights with Braydon Rupert, Ginny Bytnar & Ross Booker

Ross Booker

Clubs & Activities

Football (1 year)
Maroon Platoon, FFA

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Older brother

Hobbies:
@orking on the farm, landscaping, working outside, and working on motors.

Favorite SJO memories:
During his freshman year, he started FFA and it was fun for Ross to get to know everyone. Two years later sometime during his junior year, he started to consider playing football at SJO. He followed through his senior year thoroughly enjoying every minute of it. He also really enjoyed all of the FFA events he participated in during high school.

Favorite classes:
Into to Ag, Consumers Ed, Ag Mechanics, BSAA, and all of his FFA and Agriculture classes.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Olson, Mrs. Mathis, Mrs. Max, and Mrs. Schoudel at PVO and Mr. Shawn Skinner, Ms. Pensinger, Mrs. Katie Duitsman, Mr. Marshall Schacht, Mr. Robert Glazier, Mrs. Jennifer Brooks, and Mr. Don Beckett at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Parkland College, majoring auto mechanics with an emphasis in diesel mechanics.

Advice to future SJO students:
Do not take senior year for granted and to cherish every moment of high school because it is a fun and fast four years.

Ginny Bytnar

Clubs & Activities

Marching Band (4 years)
Spanish Club, Spanish Club Leader, We The People, Drama Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Hobbies:
Singing, reading, and hanging out with friends and family.

Favorite SJO memories:
Her favorite memory from high school is the Disney Showcase that she was a part of during her junior year. During her senior year, she really enjoyed the circle of memories band meeting for seniors this past fall.

Favorite classes:
Spanish, Physics, Economics, and all of her history classes.

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Dunn at St. Joseph Grade School, Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School, and Senor Zak Sutton and Mr. Kevin Simondsen at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
University of Illinois majoring in Electrical Engineering

Advice to future SJO students:
Use your time well and to ask for help because the staff and teachers are nice.

---

Braydon Rupert

Clubs & Activities

Basketball (4 years)
Maroon Platoon

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Three older sisters

Hobbies:
Watching movies, listening to music, and hanging out with friends and family.

Favorite SJO memories:
Playing basketball all four years. He enjoyed being a part of the basketball team, as it was a great family of players.

Favorite classes:
Intro to Ag with Mrs. Katie Duitsman and Algebra II with Mr. Kiel Duval.

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Duval, Mr. Kevin Simondsen, and Mrs. Stacey Kietzman

College:
Parkland College majoring in Construction Management

Advice to future SJO students:
Be prepared and to work hard.

---

---

---

Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Big Picture: Spartans topple Sabers, 8-0

Closing our Big Picture series featuring players from St. Joseph-Ogden's class of 2020 are six intense photos from the Spartans' road game against St. Thomas More back on April 24, 2019. On that windy day on the prairie, SJO blanked the host Sabers, 8-0.

Unlock this gallery page

Sponsor this page and we'll remove the watermark from all the images on this page for the athletes, coaches and parents to save and share their memories for generations to come. In addition to removing the watermark on each photo, with your sponsorship, The Sentinel will add ten additional images from this game on this Big Picture page. Ready to sponsor? Click here . . .

Senior spotlights with Aubrey Kern, Cody Johnston & Kristen Costa

Aubrey Kern

Clubs & Activities

Volleyball (1 year)
Student Council, Maroon Platoon

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Older brother

Hobbies:
Hanging out with family and friends

Favorite SJO memories:
Going to all of the home games and Homecoming and Prom week.

Favorite classes:
All of her English classes and Biology

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Risley and Mrs. Kinney at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Kiel Duval and Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Parkland College, Undecided major

Advice to future SJO students:
Have as much fun as you can and to not take anything for granted.

---

Cody Johnston

Clubs & Activities

Bass Fishing, Scholastic Bowl, We The People, Rube Goldberg Team, Marching Band, SADA

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Hobbies:
Fishing, riding motorcycles, and playing video games

Favorite SJO memories:
He earned first place in his We The People unit, and he also earned first place in percussion at one of his marching band competitions. Cody also enjoyed participating on the Rube Goldberg team.

Favorite classes:
Biology, Physics, U.S. History, Civics, and Calculus

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School and Mrs. Jeanna Kerner, Mr. Robert Glazier, Mr. Marshall Schacht, and Mrs. Lianne Rash at SJO

College:
Parkland College, majoring in Engineering

Technical training:
Electrical Union Apprenticeship

Advice to future SJO students:
Pursue extracurricular activities and to do your homework.

---

Kristen Costa

Clubs & Activities

Student Council-Class President, Student Council-Student Body President, AMP, Spanish Club, Maroon Platoon, NHS, Drama Club, We The People

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
One younger brother, one older brother, and one older sister

Hobbies:
Singing, donating her time for volunteer work, and hanging out with friends and family

Favorite SJO memories:
Her greatest memories involvement in Student Council. She was elected into the IASC (Illinois Association of Student Council), and she was the first ever SJO student elected to serve as Vice President of this organization. Kristen also really enjoyed planning out the Kickapoo District Convention for Student Council.

Favorite classes:
All of her Spanish classes and Biology

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Dassow and Mrs. Ford at St. Joseph Middle School and Senor Zak Sutton and Mr. Marshall Schacht at SJO.

College:
Illinois College, majoring Spanish education (K-12).

Advice to future SJO students:
Enjoy what you have when you have it, and do not take anything for granted.

---

---

---

Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Spartan Spotlight with senior Danie Kelso

Danie Kelso

Clubs & Activities

Track and Field (4 years)
Cross Country (1 year)
Bible Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
One older and one younger sister

Hobbies:
Reading and running

Favorite SJO memories:
She said her greatest memories at SJO centers around track and field. During her freshman year, her 4 X 400 M relay advanced to State, which was an unbelievable moment for her. During her junior year, her 4 X 200 M relay placed first at IHSA State Track & Field Finals, which was incredible, she added.

Favorite classes:
U.S. History and Anatomy and Physiology

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Stierwalt at St. Joseph Grade School, Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mrs. Stacey Kietzman and Mr. Marshall Schacht at SJO.

College:
Millikin University majoring in nursing

Collegiate Sport:
She will join the Big Blue NCAA Div. III track & field program this fall

Advice to future SJO students:
Do not take anything for granted.

---

Track & Field Career Bests

60 Meter Dash	8.71
100 Meter Dash	13.82
200 Meter Dash	29.45
400 Meter Dash	1:04.9
800 Meter Run	2:41.45
2 Mile	18:17.0
3 Mile	23:44.0
5k	27:00.0
4X200 Relay	1:47.35
4X400 Relay	4:32.12

---

Above: Kelso, with Spartan teammates Atleigh Hamilton, Hailey Birt and Maclayne Taylor pose for photos at the top of the Class 1A podium after winning the title race at the 2019 Illinois High School Association Track & Field State Finals on Saturday, May 18, in Charleston. The program finish the state meet in a two-way tie for third with St. Teresa.

Below: Kelso fires out of the blocks in her relay squad's 4x200 prelim at the 2019 state track meet. Along with fellow junior Hailey Birt, sophomore Atleigh Hamilton and senior Maclayne Taylor the Spartans dominated their heat with 1:45.07 finish to qualify for Saturday's finals. (Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

---

---

---

Text provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

SJO senior spotlights with Brady Lewis, Asjah Fonner & Tyler Jones

Brady Lewis

Clubs & Activities

Coffee Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
A younger brother

Favorite SJO memories:
He has been a part of the Coffee Club at SJO for the past two years and enjoyed making and delivering coffee to SJO staff members every Thursday morning. Each member of the staff was always happy to see Brady, with or without coffee in hand.

Favorite classes:
Classes with Mrs. Beth Beckett

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Manwaring, Mrs. White, Mrs. Bayles, and Mrs. Beckett.

Advice to future SJO students:
Always do your best.

---

Asjah Fonner

Clubs & Activities

Drama Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
A younger brother

Hobbies:
Creative writing and reading

Favorite SJO memories:
She enjoyed everything about Drama Club and will always remember being a part of the musicals during both her junior and senior years.

Favorite classes:
Journalism and all of her English classes

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School and Mrs. Alisyn Franzen at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Parkland College majoring in Secondary English Dducation. She plans to transfer to Eastern Illinois University after two year.

Advice to future SJO students:
Push yourself to finish your homework, and don’t give up on what makes you happy.

---

Tyler Jones

Clubs & Activities

Drama Club
Football (1 year)

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Four older and three younger brothers

Hobbies:
Running and playing video games

Favorite SJO memories:
His greatest memories at SJO include his experiences in Drama Club during his freshman and sophomore years, working in the SJO greenhouse during Horticulture class, and attending post prom as a junior.

Favorite class:
Horticulture

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Kirk at St. Joseph Grade School, Mrs. Ford at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mrs. Kelly Steffen and Mrs. Ashley Krisman at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Military Commitment:
He joined the Army National Guard and reports for Basic Training at Fort Benning on June 15.

College:
Parkland College majoring in Physical Therapy.

Advice to future SJO students:
Do not procrastinate.

---

---

Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Senior Spotlights on SJO's Paige DeMay, Nick Copeland & Isabelle Vliet

Paige DeMay

Clubs & Activities

Track and Field (3 years)
Soccer (1 year)
Maroon Platoon, Band, FFA

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Older brother

Hobbies:
Running, being around pets, and working at Red Lobster

Favorite SJO memories:
She really appreciates the tight knit community and the overall positive classroom setting at SJO. She has enjoyed all of the fun times with her friends.

Favorite classes:
Any class with Mrs. Kelly Steffen, Mr. Don Beckett, and Mr. Marshall Schacht.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. James at St. Joseph Grade School, Mrs. Stone at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mr. Beckett at SJO.

College:
Illinois State University, majoring in Veterinary Medicine

Advice to future SJO students:
Keep parents in the loop all four years of high school, learn time management skills, and to be involved in as many activities as possible.

---

Nick Copeland

Clubs & Activities

Maroon Platoon

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
A younger brother and younger sister

Hobbies:
Bowling and hanging out with his friends

Favorite SJO memories:
He enjoyed being in the Maroon Platoon, especially during all of the IHSA State games and rivalry games as well as all of the Homecoming dances each year at SJO.

Favorite classes:
Ag Construction with Mr. William Billman, American History with Mr. Marshall Schacht, and Chemistry with Mr. Kevin Simondsen.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Steele and Mrs. Stierwalt at St. Joseph Grade School; Mr. Risley, Mr. Steele, and Mrs. Becky Ford at St. Joseph Middle School; and Mr. Billman, Mr. Richard Vetter, Mr. Simondsen, Mr. Schacht, Mr. Jeff Kieffer, Mr. Kiel Duval, and Ms. Susan Pensinger at SJO.

College:
Parkland College, majoring in Construction Management. After Parkland, his plan includes a transfer to a four-year Architecture program.

Advice to future SJO students:
Do all of your homework and to enjoy high school while you can because it will be over before you know it.

---

Isabelle Vliet

Clubs & Activities

Student Council, SADA, Maroon Platoon, Maroon Platoon Leader, Spanish-Hacky Sack Club, Food Pantry Helper

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Four sisters: one older sister and three younger sisters.

Hobbies:
Hanging out with her sisters, hanging out with her friends, working on arts and crafts, and practicing photography.

Favorite SJO memories:
She enjoyed going to prom as a freshman, and she has really enjoyed being a part of the Maroon Platoon. As a big time Spartan fan, she enjoyed being a part of the IHSA State Volleyball Championship Game during her freshman year, the IHSA State Girls’ Basketball Third Place Game her junior year, and the IHSA Volleyball Super-Sectional Game at Palos Heights when the Spartans won in three sets.

Favorite classes:
All of her Spanish classes with Senor Zak Sutton; U.S. History, Economics, and Civics with Mr. Marshall Schacht; and art with Mr. Jake Beccue.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Camp at St. Joseph Grade School; Mrs. Becky Ford and Mrs. Jeffers at St. Joseph Middle School; and Mr. Schacht, Mr. Beccue, Senor Sutton, and Senora Nelson at SJO.

College:
Parkland College, majoring in Nursing. Inspired by her mother, she plans to attend a four-year university and eventually earn a Master’s Degree.

Advice to future SJO students:
Get involved in the Maroon Platoon and to go to Homecoming, prom, and post prom.

---

---

Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Under the spotlight with SJO seniors Tom Nichols, Jaiden Freeman & Payton Clements

Tom Nichols

Clubs & Activities

Cross Country, Chorus, Maroon Platoon

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Two older brothers and a younger sister

Hobbies:
Bike riding, bird watching, and playing video games

Favorite SJO memories:
His greatest memories at SJO revolve around cross country. He enjoyed being a part of the team and the overnight trips for some of the invitationals.

Favorite class:
Journalism

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Pinne at CBCA Middle School, Mr. Steele at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mr. Kiel Duval at SJO.

Career Plans:
Enlisting in the United States Navy

Advice to future SJO students:
Cherish your teenage years and high school memories.

Jaiden Freeman

Clubs & Activities

Drama Club, Art Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Two younger brothers and one younger sister

Hobbies:
Reading, drawing, listening to music, and playing video games.

Favorite SJO memories:
She enjoyed participating in the drama production as a freshman, and she will remember all of the fun moments in Art Club over the years

Favorite classes:
Art, math, Earth and Life Science, and Biology

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Dunker and Mrs. Becky Ford at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Don Beckett and Ms. Susan Pensinger at SJO.

College Plans:
Parkland College and then transfer to a four-year university, majoring in Architecture.

Advice to future SJO students:
Please trust me on this: do not procrastinate.

Payton Clements

Clubs & Activities

Bass Fishing (4 years)
Football (3 years)
FFA

Hometown:
Ogden

Hobbies:
Fishing and working on cars

Favorite SJO memories:
His greatest memories center around being a part of the SJO football team and the SJO bass fishing team. He also really enjoyed Homecoming his senior year.

Favorite classes:
While thankful for all the teachers he had, he enjoyed all of his Agriculture Classes.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Maxwell and Mrs. Howard at PVO and Mr. Robert Glazier, Mrs. Stacey Kietzman, Mr. William Billman, and Mrs. Duitsman at SJO.

College:
Eastern Illinois University, majoring Environmental Science

Military training:
Enlisting in the Army National Guard and begin basic training at Fort Jackson on June 1.

Advice to future SJO students:
Be open about going to social events like Homecoming and et cetera.

---

---

Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Senior Spotlight on Jarrett Stevenson

Clubs & Football (4 years) Baseball (1 year) Track and Field (1 year)

Hometown: St. Joseph Siblings: Three older sisters Hobbies: Going to church and practicing computer coding Favorite SJO memories: His greatest memories at SJO revolve around the football team. He enjoyed playing in the IHSA Football Playoffs the past two years. Towards the end of Jarrett’s junior year, he became the starting running back for the SJO football team, which was inspiring for Jarrett. The feeling of brotherhood was incredible for Jarrett, and he will always remember these great moments. Favorite classes: Spanish III with Mr. Zak Sutton and Trigonometry with Mrs. Lianne Rash Favorite teachers: His mom (K-8), Mr. Stephenson, Senor Sutton, and Mrs. Rash. College: College of DuPage, majoring in Culinary Arts Advice to future SJO students: Do not take anything for granted because high school goes by so quickly.

---

---

Text provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.