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SJO recognizes the voice of Spartan sports, Keith Sjuts inducted into Hall of Fame
St. Joseph-Ogden school district superintendent Brian Brooks presents Spartan alumn Keith Sjuts with a Hall of Fame plaque during a halftime ceremony at Friday's home football game against Central Catholic. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Keith Sjuts was one of four individuals inducted into the St. Joseph-Ogden Athletic Hall of Fame at Friday's Homecoming game Bloomington Central Catholic. He joins Kelly Duitsman Hunt, Dick Duval, and Stan Harper among the Class of 2021 inductees. A lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville, Sjuts was the voice of SJO football and basketball for more than 20 seasons. He wore the Spartan basketball uniform all four years of his prep career and earned first-team recognition for both all-conference and all-area teams his senior year at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Learn more about his athletic career and success after high school in his bio below.
Biography
Keith Sjuts is a 1977 graduate of St. Joseph-Ogden High School. In high school, Keith played baseball for one year and ran track for one year. He played basketball all four years of his high school career. Keith was selected to the 1st Team All Area and 1st Team All Conference teams his senior year. After high school, Keith became Branch Manager of Safety Clean, as well as a member of Corporate National Blitz Team for Safety Clean. He was a Co-Owner of TK Wendl’s. In 1994, he started working at Zep, Inc. and was the National Rookie of the Year. He was also the National Account Manager and Sales Trainer of Zep Inc. Besides work, he was able to have some fun and continue his athletic career by playing on the Regional Traveling Softball Team with his brother Mark and brother-in-law Wally. Keith was the voice of the Spartans for over 20 years, serving as the announcer for both the football and boys basketball teams. One of his favorite memories was announcing the only state semi final football game hosted at SJO against Williamsville. He also always enjoyed the rivalry games between SJO and Unity. Keith has been a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville where he has held several positions on the council, including President of the church council. Keith takes great pride in being a part of the St. Joseph-Ogden community his entire life. He wants to thank his team of people who have surrounded him to help him earn this great accomplishment, especially his most valuable team member, Roger Koss. Keith’s greatest joys are his son Ryan, daughter Rylee and granddaughter Charlie.* Biography provided courtesy of St. Joseph-Ogden High School
Photo Gallery | Rockets best Spartans in homecoming showdown
Unity senior Jonah Sullivan stands with his parents for photos during Friday Senior Night recognition at Hicks Field.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Rocket lineman Michael Jancola hugs his mother during the senior recognition festivities before the start of Unity's homecoming football game against St. Joseph-Ogden.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Keaton Nolan is wrapped up by Unity's Grant Albaugh and Austin Langendorf during first quarter action of their Illini Prairie Conference matchup on April 9. The Rockets defense held SJO scoreless the first half on its way to a 48-16 homecoming victory.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Unity's Logan Jones dives into the end zone to bump his team first half lead to 27-0 over the Spartans in the second quarter.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Enjoying a beautiful spring evening of high school football, Rocket student fans stand along the fence in the west end zone cheering their team on to victory.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
A member of the Rockets Dance Team performs with the troupe during halftime while the Unity football retired to the locker room at the intermission with a 28-0 lead over the visiting Spartans.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Chased down the field by Unity defensive back Logan Jones, St. Joseph-Ogden's Jackson Rydell celebrates the first touchdown of he game for the Spartans. SJO would score one more time and tack on a safety in the second half but it wasn't enough to overcome the four TD deficit earned earlier in the contest.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
With 6:41 to play in the third quarter, 6'4", 271-pound running back Lane Innes head for the end zone for a Unity touchdown in the third quarter. The score widen Unity's lead over SJO, 41-6.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Photo of the Day - December 3, 2020
Victory Dance
St. Joseph-Ogden dance team member Kirsten Dalton performs during halftime of the Spartans' football game against Iroquois West with the SJO Dance. The Spartans improved to 3-2 on the season after rolling to 34-14 homecoming victory over the visiting Raiders on September 26, 2008.
PhotoNews/Clark Brooks
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