Tyler Luchinski and Savanna Franzen earn All-State Mention from IHSA

SJO Savannah Franzen
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Savanna Franzen runs around the track O'Brien Field at the IHSA Girls Track & Field State Finals in May 2024. The Spartan senior was named an All-State Academic by the IHSA on March 4.

BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois High School Association announced the 26 members who were selected for the 2025 IHSA All-State Academic Team. Two area student athletes, one Charger and one Spartan, made this year's list released today.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Savanna Franzen and Centennial's Tyler Luchinski earned Honorable Mention recogition and will be recognized at a banquet held in Bloomington on April 13.

Each year, IHSA member schools can nominate one female student and one male student to be a part of this prestigious team. Nominees needed to possess a minimum 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale after their seventh semester, have participated in at least two IHSA sponsored sports or activities during each of the last two years of high school, and demonstrated outstanding citizenship.

"The IHSA All-State Academic Team truly represents the best that Illinois has to offer," IHSA Assistant Executive Director Stacy Lambert said in a press release. "When you look the credentials of these team members, you are not only going to see outstanding grades and incredible test scores, but participation in multiple sports and activities, as well as significant contributions to their school and community. The ability to not only balance but also simultaneously excel in all these endeavors is inspiring. We are proud to have these future leaders represent the IHSA and Illinois."

The nominations were evaluated by a committee up of IHSA principals, athletic directors, and activities directors. One male winner and one female winner from each of the seven IHSA Board of Directors Divisions were selected initially, while the final 12 spots on the team were then rounded out with at-large candidates from anywhere in the state.

A complete list of all award winners is below.

2024-25 All-State Academic Team
  • Reid Bodine
    Williamsville High School
  • Joseph Bregenzer
    Barrington High School
  • Cole Buchanan
    Benton High School
  • Zoe Carter
    University High School | Normal
  • Emily Cheng
    Walter Payton | Chicago
  • Taylor Davidson
    Stillman Valley High School
  • Hadley Ferrero
    Crystal Lake Central
  • Payton Frey
    Highland High School
  • Gracie Furlong
    Galena High School
  • Hannah Gibson
    Carlinville High School
  • Travis Hoffman
    Mahomet-Seymour High School
  • Liam Kendrick
    Lane Tech High School | Chicago
  • Krish Khanna
    University High School | Chicago
  • Alyssa Koerkenmeier
    Mater Dei Catholic | Breese
  • Elena Krause
    Pontiac High School
  • Andrew Kurien
    Rockford Christian High School
  • TJ Larson
    Central Catholic High School | Bloomington
  • Gavin O’Connor
    Brother Rice High School | Chicago
  • Liam O’Connor
    Oak Park & River Forest High School
  • Ava Peterson
    Manteno High School
  • Elena Rybak
    Father McGivney | Glen Carbon
  • Kurtis Smith
    Hononegah High School | Rockton
  • Ethan Stewart
    Triad High School | Troy
  • Lucia “Lulu” Ton-That
    Northside College Prep | Chicago
  • Ben Wuggazer
    Lyons High School | LaGrange
  • Veronica Znajda
    Prospect High School | Mt. Prospect

    • 2024-25 All-State Academic Team Honorable Mention
  • Sydney Buchelt
    Lisle Senior High School
  • Aubrey Campbell
    Central Catholic High School | Bloomington
  • Seth Cooper
    Ottawa Township High School
  • Benjamin Crane
    New Trier High School | Winnetka
  • Ryan Thomas Detering
    Salem High School
  • Ricky Eriksen
    Marist High School | Chicago
  • Nora Ezike
    Lyons High School | LaGrange
  • Syndey Fraley
    Maine South High School | Park Ridge
  • Savanna Franzen
    St. Joseph-Ogden
  • Paige Froess
    Columbia High School
  • Rory Gaan
    Fremd High School | Palatine
  • Elijah Genenbacher
    Central High School | Camp Point
  • Mason Gilpin
    Carlinville High School
  • Waylon Hall
    Herrin High School
  • Jacob Hartwig
    Heyworth High School
  • Annabelle Hiel
    Washington Community High School
  • Julia Hosu
    Yorkville High School
  • Abigail Johnes
    Brussels High School
  • Jack Jokisch
    Shelbyville High School
  • Devin Karda
    Sycamore High School
  • Clayton Kessler
    Auburn High School
  • Reese Kohnle
    Boylan Catholic High School | Rockford
  • Joseph Kyes
    Richmond-Burton High School
  • Josie Larson
    Lakes High School | Lake Villa
  • Tyler Luchinski
    Centennial High School | Champaign
  • Bruno Massel
    York High School | Elmhurst
  • Nolan McClay
    Knoxville High School
  • Elizabeth McConkie
    Sycamore High School
  • Lauren Miller
    Central High School | Camp Point
  • Lizeth Montes
    St. Ignatius College Prep | Chicago
  • Eislee Moore
    Carbondale High School
  • Kaleb Navarro
    De La Salle Institute | Chicago
  • Sam Ottwell
    Alton Senior High School
  • Derke Patton
    Walter Payton College Prep | Chicago
  • Miraya Pessman
    Fulton High School
  • Aubrey Phillips
    El Paso-Gridley
  • Ryan Pieper
    Lena-Winslow High School
  • Maya Rounds
    Sesser-Valier High School
  • Austin Rowswell
    Lincoln-Way West High School | New Lenox
  • Karson Shrum
    Annawan High School
  • Paige Sierens
    Annawan High School
  • Amelia Strebel
    Jersey High School | Jerseyville
  • Max Strong
    Riverside-Brookfield High School
  • Olivia Tran
    Vernon Hills High School
  • Juliana Walker
    University High School | Chicago
  • Cynthia Waller
    Lane Tech High School | Chicago
  • Connor Watson
    East Peoria High School
  • Reese Watson
    Scared Heart-Griffin High School | Springfield
  • Michael Wilson
    Greenville High School
  • Lily Woolery
    Shelbyville High School


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    St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball wins regional title on Halloween

    In high school volleyball it is pretty hard to beat a good team twice in a row.

    The trick for St. Joseph-Ogden was to win the Oakwood regional title on Thursday and do it again against Monticello, who they played a week earlier in the last match of the Illini Prairie Conference regular season. The Spartans got the treat they were looking for and the first of a few more to come in the postseason after clipping the Sages in two sets, 25-17, 25-14.

    SJO setter Emily Bigger
    Setter Emily Bigger passes the ball during St. Joseph-Ogden's first set against Monticello at the Oakwood Regional on Thursday. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
    The hard work the team has put in showed throughout the season showed in SJO's seemingly stress free, effortless play. One of things that senior Lacey Kaiser says the team had to do reach their currently level of play was talk more.

    "Our communication has improved since the beginning," she said. "It was hard for a lot us because not many of us are super outgoing."

    Kaiser led the team with three aces from the service line. She padded her stats with three kills and a trio of digs against the Sages.

    "I believe in my teammates," she said. "If we get down, I know we can pull through and get back to win."

    The Spartans were up 19-9 in the first set, but didn't close it out right away. Monticello dug in their heals and won eight of the next 13 points before SJO shut the door.

    "I think we have definitely improved on capitalizing on certain points, and pushing whenever we should," said fellow senior Rylee Stahl. "We've worked a lot on siding out on the next point and not giving teams consecutive points in a row."

    The Sages took a 4-1 lead in the second set before the Spartans reestablished control of the momentum going up 7-5 behind the pile driving swings of Katelyn Berry, Payton Vallee and sophomore Kennedi Burnett.

    Berry finished the contest with a team-high nine kills and five digs. Vallee, a junior and outside hitter, contributed four kills and Burnett, who played strong defensively, had four kills and 10 digs.

    Thursday's victory would not have been possible if it wasn't for the passing accuracy of Emily Bigger who took credit for 23 assists. She also scored a rare kill and contributed seven of the team's 45 digs.

    "I think this win means a lot, but we are not super, super, super excited about it because it is just regionals," said Stahl, who like the rest of team, has her sights set on the king size of postseason candy, a state trophy. "We have a lot more to accomplish this season."

    While teammate Lacey Kaiser (on the left) looks on while teammate Emily Bigger holds the team's new regional plaque for Payton Vallee to kiss. After beating Monticello 2-0, the Spartans advance in the IHSA volleyball postseason to face Seneca on Monday. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

    The Spartans advance to Monday's sectional semifinal against Seneca at Watseka.

    The Lady Irish defeated Manteno in both sets 25-22 to win the Peotone Regional. On Tuesday, they dropped the first set of their semifinal to Manteno 20-25 and came back to take the last two, 25-21, 25-21. The two teams are scheduled to start at 6pm.

    It will be back to work analyzing the Lady Irish for SJO, but in the mean time, Kaiser and the Spartans will savor the new regional hardware.

    "It feels awesome," Kaiser said. "We knew we wanted to get this."


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    Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks