The Sentinel: Competitive Sports

Setting the bar higher, this year's SJO competitive cheer season sets the foundation for future success

St. Joseph-Ogden Competitive Cheer Team — Members of the St. Joseph-Ogden competitive cheerleading team pose for a group photo after competiting at the Mascoutah section in January.

ST. JOSEPH - Precision, teamwork, and dedication defined the St. Joseph-Ogden High School cheerleading squad’s 2024-25 season as the team made an impact in sideline spirit and competition.

"This year’s team received numerous compliments at regular-season games and competitions from coaches and squads alike as they showcased their abilities," said four-year head coach Emily Spisok. "I’m very proud of the team’s progress this year and their coachability. I look forward to building on this year’s success."

Under Spisok and assistant Savannah Woods, the Spartans began training in May 2024 for their 10-month season. Balancing regular practices with performances at football games in the fall and basketball contests in winter, the team also added two home soccer games to its schedule while refining its routine for the competitive cheer season.

The St. Joseph-Ogden varsity cheer competition season ran from Dec. 7, 2024, to Feb. 1, 2025, culminating at the IHSA sectionals. The squad's hard work paid off early as SJO placed third in its first competition against a field of 21 teams, earning a spot at the Illinois Cheerleading Coaches Association (ICCA) State Championships.

In one of the state's toughest sectionals, the Spartans delivered a strong performance. SJO finished 11th in the small school division behind St. Thomas More and South Fork at the Mascoutah sectional, where the top three teams finished sixth or higher at the state finals in Bloomington a week later.

"The biggest challenge was illnesses and injuries. The team really pushed through and worked hard on all necessary changes to improve the routine each week," Spisok said, reflecting on the Spartans' season.

Led by seniors Addison Funk, Samantha Uden, Ava Worley, and Charley Wright, St. Joseph-Ogden's roster also featured returning sophomores Iris Davis, Leah Gaines, Faith Jackson, Peighton Reim, and Ava Smoot. Freshmen Aubrey Matheny, Abby Reynolds, Alysson Robinson, Samantha Ryan, Addison Walsh, and Sorena Welsh brought new energy to the program.

C-U's Spin Doctors head to state tennis tournament on Saturday

BLOOMINGTON - After dominating the Champaign-Urbana 3.5 league, going 8-1 in the regular season, the Spin Doctors advanced to the USTA District Tournament on Sunday at Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington. Captained by Kai Wang of Champaign, the district title drought for a CU postseason team ended with a 3-2 victory by Spin Doctors over Solty's from Quincy, 3-2.

The Spin Doctors won on the #1 singles court, where Arjun Shah defeated Rick Crider, 6-1, 6-3. The team also picked up wins on two doubles courts to advance to the next round of competition. Shah, who starts graduate school this fall at Stanford University, is unbeaten in 3.5-level play this summer.

Geoffrey Lin lines up a shot during his regular season match with partner Francesco Botticella against Smokin' Aces. Lin and postseason partner D. Comte dropped both sets in a close district match against Bryan Fasano and Roberto Hernandez, 6-4, 7-6.

Paul Cheung and Ben Lee also notched a win for the CU contingent at #2 doubles, defeating Sammy Shumake and partner Martin McCarthy, 6-2, 6-3. Cheung, a doubles specialist, is 6-1 this summer. Meanwhile, Lee boasts an undefeated doubles record at 4-0.

"It's super exciting to be a part of this team and be able to represent CU at state this year after missing out for such a long time," said team member Hans Dee. Playing at #3 doubles with Wang, they easily won their match over Douglas Mallett and Travis Friye, 6-2, 6-1. "We celebrated by going to a great Chinese buffet in Bloomington after the win.

The last time a Champaign men's 3.5-level tennis team won a district title was in 2007. The Quincy team won six out of the previous seven district championships. Before 2016, the district title was won by a Bloomington or Peoria team.

The Spin Doctors advance to the state Championships to face the 19-man roster of Heritage Rustagi, who finished their regular season in a three-way 7-2 tie with Centennial Anderson and 7 River Trails Ciuca. The team match is scheduled at the Heritage Tennis Club in Arlington Heights.

So far this season, the team's only blemish this summer came on June 5 via a 3-2 loss to Smokin' Aces (2-7).

Members of the Spin Doctors are Kai Wang (Captain), Jack Wang, Arjun Shah, Aditya Gopalan, Ben Lee, Paul Cheung, D Comte, Francesco Botticella, Stephen Paul, Christopher Sisson, Geoffrey Lin, Hans Dee, Charles Sikora, Carl Guo, Jun Huang, and Doyeon Kim.

Area teams also advancing to state championships in other divisions include:

Teri Scaggs 4.0M Adult 18&O
Renee Brown 3.5W Adult 18&O
Leslie Hartman 3.0W Adult 18&O
Sangwon Park 3.0M Adult 18&O
Spin Doctors Kai Wang 3.5M Adult 18&O

Feel the Rush!

Champaign-Urbana Labor Day Tournament registration deadline next Tuesday

Nick LeVanti, from Champaign, hits a volley during his mixed-doubles match on August 17 at Atkins Tennis Center. Teamed with Claire Kaye (not pictured), the pair were partners during a summer league match. At the beginning of September dozens of competitive tennis players from the area will square off for a shot at taking home the Champaign Park District Labor Day Tournament title.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN - The Champaign Park District will host its annual Labor Day Tennis Tournament on September 3-4 at Lindsey Courts in Champaign. It's not the US Open in Flushing Meadows, but dozens of top amateur players will hit the hardcourt in CU's version of a tennis major for a shot at a 2023 title.

The deadline for entry into this year's tournament is at 5 pm, Tuesday, August 29. Players can register online at https://champaignparks.com/programs/tennis/. This year's entry fee is just $28 for singles and $22 for each player entering the doubles divisions.

The draw for all divisions will be emailed to all participants on September 1. For more information, contact the tournament director and Park District head tennis professional Yuri Sohn at (217) 819-3993 or by email at yuri.sohn@champaignparks.org.

Adult Divisions are:

Singles:
Beginner/Intermediate Singles Open (2.0-2.5)
Men’s Open Singles
Women’s Open Singles
Men’s 35 and over Singles
Women’s 35 and over Singles
Men’s 45 and over Singles
Men’s 55 and over Singles
Men’s 65 and over Singles
Men’s 70 and over Singles

Doubles:
Men’s Open Doubles
Women’s Open Doubles
Men’s 35 and over Doubles
Women’s 35 and over Doubles
Mixed Open Doubles

Junior Divisions:

Boys 12 and under Singles
Girls 12 and under Singles
Boys 14 and under Singles
Girls 14 and under Singles
Boys 16 and under Singles
Girls 16 and under Singles

Get off to a healthy start and keep your golf season injury-free

Quincy's Cooper Larson hits his opening shot off the tenth tee during second-round action at the Class 3A IHSA State Golf Finals at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington, IL, on October 14, 2016. Now that Spring is making its way into the Midwest, it is that time of year when golfers begin their annual pilgrimage to area links for exercise, socializing, and competitive play. (Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)

by Paul Arco
OSF Healthcare

ROCKFORD - With warmer temperatures starting appear more frequently in central Illinois, it means with the arrival of Spring another golf season is upon us. And that has many golf enthusiasts racing off to area courses.

Before tossing the clubs in the trunk, however, the first priority is getting your body ready for the long season. Hopefully, you’ve maintained some level of fitness during the winter. But if you spent the past few months watching Netflix from the couch, experts have some important advice in order to keep your body injury free, especially to start the season.

“I would just start a stretching routine," says Matthew Davidson, a physical therapist with OSF HealthCare. "Start there, work on flexibility a little bit, range of motion, try and do what you can to counteract that stiffness that you seem to get over the winter months. Cardiovascular exercises are really good because they can not only build up that system, but improve blood flow and help with weight loss for those who might have gained a few pounds over the winter."

For the most part, golf is a relatively safe sport, but injuries can happen, especially as a result of not using proper form or technique. Most golf-related injuries involve the lower back, shoulders, wrists, and elbows. Walking nine or 18 holes can be challenging, especially if you’ve been mostly sedentary for the past several months. Even carrying a golf bag can cause back and shoulder pain. That’s why it’s important to start making changes immediately. Flexibility is the key. It will promote mobility, which helps joints throughout the entire body.

"First of all, depending on your fitness level you might want to start with nine holes before 18," says Davidson. "You might want to go to the range and walk between the range and the putting green. As far as a walking routine, start with five or 10 minutes. Walk your dog around the block and increase the distance and ramp it up from there."

Before starting any round, give yourself at least 10-15 minutes to properly stretch your back, hamstrings, abdominals, arms and shoulders to stay flexible. And make sure to get plenty of practice swings in before you head over to the first tee.

Jenna Dombroski sinks an easy putt during the Champaign Central Class AA golf sectional. The Centennial High School junior finished in second place qualifying for the girls' state golf tournament. She finished the par 76 course in Savoy, IL, with an 80 back on October 8, 2007. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

"One of the main things we do is sit," says Davidson. "We sit at our desk, we sit and watch TV, and we sit to relax. Golf is all about maintaining really good posture. Get to the golf course early, try a few swings, and go to the putting green. If you have time, go to the driving range and start with the smaller irons and work your way up to the driver and not just on the first hole with the first swing."

And remember to swing properly. The keys of a good swing include good posture, a stable lower back, and a slow relaxed swing. Most injuries that happen on the course are a result of poor form and an incorrect swing. An early-season injury, especially during cooler temperatures, can really set back a golfer for a period of time.

"Muscle strains, if they’re simple, can take anywhere from a few days or if they’re severe a month or longer, it just depends on the person," says Davidson. "My advice is to use pain as your guide. If you’re feeling something isn’t right don’t try and go out there and be a hero. Rest up, ice, use heat, whatever you need to do to manage it. And if it doesn’t improve, certainly go see your physician."

For more information on preparing for the golf season, click here.