St. Joseph-Ogden ties Monticello at conference wrestling meet, Wagner averts SJO loss

CHILLICOTHE - St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling showcased resilience and grit on January 18 during the Illini Prairie Conference at Illinois Valley Central High School, battling Monticello to a dramatic 40-40 tie.

After defeating Rantoul earlier in the tournament, the Spartans started strong against the Sages, jumping to a commanding 17-0 lead. Jackson Walsh set the tone with a dominant 17-0 tech fall over Aiden Komnick at 113 pounds, while Camden Getty followed with a lightning-fast 34-second pin against Monticello's Kellan Lamb at 120 pounds.

Monticello responded with a string of victories, including Nick Litchfield’s 18-2 tech fall at 126 pounds and a forfeit at 132 pounds. Despite SJO's Aiden Hundley and Landen Butts securing key wins at 138 and 144 pounds, Monticello mounted a comeback. Russ Brown’s 16-1 tech fall at 190 pounds tied the score at 34-all, and Hunter Romano’s second-period pin at 215 pounds gave the Sages their first lead of the match, 40-34.

The Spartans’ hopes rested on sophomore heavyweight Cam Wagner, who delivered under pressure. Wagner pinned Nate Darnell in just 55 seconds, tying the match at 40-40 and preserving SJO’s unbeaten record for the day.

With Monticello behind them, the Spartans faced two more challenges on Saturday: Unity, a 2023 IHSA Class 1A Elite 8 team, and host Illinois Valley Central.

Summary of Key Results
  • 106: Ben Wells (SJO) pinned River Young (Monticello), 1:32
  • 113: Jackson Walsh (SJO) tech fall over Aiden Komnick (Monticello), 17-0
  • 120: Camden Getty (SJO) pinned Kellan Lamb (Monticello), 0:34
  • 138: Aiden Hundley (SJO) pinned Daniel Moore (Monticello), 1:31
  • 144: Landen Butts (SJO) tech fall over Drake Weeks (Monticello), 16-0
  • 190: Russ Brown (Monticello) tech fall over Carter Liam (SJO), 16-1
  • 215: Hunter Romano (Monticello) pinned Nathan Phillips (SJO), 4:38
  • 285: Cam Wagner (SJO) pinned Nate Darnell (Monticello), 0:55


Box Score
106 - WELLS, BEN (SJO) over Young, River (Monticello), Fall 1:32; 113 - WALSH, JACKSON (SJO) over Komnick, Aiden (Monticello), Tech Fall 17-0; 120 - GETTY, CAMDEN (SJO) over Lamb, Kellan (Monticello), Fall 0:34; 126 - Litchfield, Nick (Monticello) over BIRT, ELI (SJO), Tech Fall 18-2; 132 - Osborne, Will (Monticello) over Forfeit, (SJO), FORFEIT; 138 - HUNDLEY, AIDEN (SJO) over Moore, Daniel (Monticello), Fall 1:31; 144 - BUTTS, LANDEN (SJO) over Weeks, Drake (Monticello), Tech Fall 16-0; 150 - Ducker, Isaiah (Monticello) over WARE, THOMAS (SJO), Fall 0:35; 157 - Shubert, Colton (Monticello) over DALY, NATHAN (SJO), Fall 1:08; 165 - MOORE, JONATHON (SJO) over Mikulich, Christian (Monticello), Fall 5:51; 175 - Sinkosky, Max (Monticello) over SWISHER, DEVAN (SJO), Fall 0:55; 190 - Brown, Russ (Monticello) over Carter, Liam (SJO), Tech Fall 16-1; 215 - Romano, Hunter (Monticello) over PHILLIPS, NATHAN (SJO), Fall 4:38; 285 - WAGNER, CAM (SJO) over Darnell, Nate (Monticello), Fall 0:55.



St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

SJO continues to dominate IPC foes at conference meet, defeats Rantoul 58-16

CHILLICOTHE - In a commanding display of prowess, the St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling program continued their winning streak at the Illini Prairie Conference wrestling meet, triumphing over the Rantoul Eagles with a resounding 58-16 victory on day 2 of competition.

After a stellar performance on the opening day against Prairie Central, Pontiac, and St. Thomas More, SJO entered the match against Rantoul with justifiable confidence. The Spartans wasted no time asserting their dominance, securing wins in nine of the 14 weight classes. Almost every contested match ended in a pin, serving notice of SJO's rise back to its former reputation as a formidable small school wrestling program with the return of the Gallo family as coaches.

Leading the charge for SJO were standout wrestlers who delivered exceptional performances throughout the tournament. Landen Butts maintained his undefeated streak, going 3-0 over the weekend with impressive victories including a decisive pin against Daemian Spisak of Prairie Central and a quick takedown of Cale Christenson from Pontiac. Eli Birt also showcased his prowess with a solid decision victory over Drake Clemons from Prairie Central.

Aiden Hundley added to SJO's tally with a commanding fall over Kooper Wiles from Pontiac, while Jackson Walsh displayed his dominance with a pin over Sophia Mussari from Pontiac, solidifying his 2-0 record for the weekend.

Taking a look at their overall performance, SJO has outscored their opponents by a notable margin, tallying an impressive 226-75 since the start of the conference tournament. With three matches to go, the Spartans positioned the team for a top-three finish at this year's tourney.

Looking ahead, the Spartans are gearing up for their upcoming matches. Tomorrow, SJO will host a Multi-Quad event featuring Decatur Unity Christian, Decatur MacArthur, Hoopeston, Cumberland, and St. Thomas More, starting at 8:30 AM. Next week, they will face off against Champaign Central High School in a dual meet on Wednesday at 6 PM, followed by a visit to GCMS on Thursday at 5:30 PM.

Box Score
106 - WELLS, BEN (SJO) over Forfeit, (Rantoul), FORFEIT; 113 - WALSH, JACKSON (SJO) over Hench, Emmett (Rantoul), Fall 1:20; 120 - GETTY, CAMDEN (SJO) over Forfeit, (Rantoul), FORFEIT; 126 - BIRT, ELI (SJO) over Taylor, Ryker (Rantoul), Tech Fall 22-6; 132 - Forfeit, (Rantoul) over Forfeit, (SJO), Double Forfeit; 138 - HUNDLEY, AIDEN (SJO) over Beach, Bryson (Rantoul), Fall 1:29; 144 - BUTTS, LANDEN (SJO) over Dunner, Nicholas (Rantoul), Fall 4:35; 150 - WARE, THOMAS (SJO) over Buck, Wyatt (Rantoul), Tech Fall 21-3; 157 - Almanza, Brandon (Rantoul) over MOORE, JONATHON (SJO), Fall 4:03; 165 - Williams, Darius (Rantoul) over VAUGHN, ALEX (SJO), Fall 7:14; 175 - SWISHER, DEVAN (SJO) over Mager, Alex (Rantoul), Fall 1:52; 190 - Schultz, Harley (Rantoul) over Carter, Liam (SJO), Maj Dec 14-6; 215 - PHILLIPS, NATHAN (SJO) over Nutter, Alexander (Rantoul), Fall 0:41; 285 - WAGNER, CAM (SJO) over Forfeit, (Rantoul), FORFEIT.



St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

SJO rolls past Prairie Central at IPC Meet, Walsh notches first period-pin in rout

CHILLICOTHE - Michael Jackson sang "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and the St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling took the song to heart, going undefeated during the first day of competition and the Illini Prairie Conference wrestling meet last week.

SJO grapplers delivered a commanding performance on Jan. 17, overwhelming the Prairie Central Hawks 54-12 at the two-day Illini Prairie Conference wrestling meet at Illinois Valley Central High School. The Spartans also claimed victories over Pontiac (48-35) and St. Thomas More (66-12).

Despite a few competitive bouts, including a 10-7 overtime decision at 138 pounds in favor of Prairie Central’s John Traub over Aiden Hundley, the Spartans’ depth and ability to secure bonus points proved decisive. Other key contributors included Eli Birt (126 pounds), who earned a 4-1 decision, and Devan Swisher (175 pounds), who posted a 10-3 decision.

Ben Wells (106 pounds) won the dual opener for the Spartans by pinning Prairie Central’s Andrew Patino in 1:37. Jackson Walsh (113 pounds) followed with another first-period pin, defeating Julius Smith in 1:33. Camden Getty (120 pounds) kept the momentum going, recording a fall over Prestin Gero in 2:08.

Landen Butts (144 pounds) added to the Spartans’ strong showing with a pin over Daemian Spisak in 4:20, while heavyweight Cam Wagner capped the dual with a forfeit victory. Wagner, a sophomore enjoying a standout debut season, is also a top-rated football player with Division I scholarship offers.

Day one conference meet standouts
Several Spartans delivered standout performances across all three matches on day one. Walsh (113 pounds) was a force on the mat, securing two first-period pins, including a 1:49 fall against Pontiac’s Sophia Mussari. Getty (120 pounds) also recorded two pins, showcasing the improvement he has made through the hard work he put in during the off-season.

Wagner (285 pounds) continued to impress with two falls, including a decisive 1:35 pin over Pontiac’s Hunter McCullough. Butts (144 pounds) added two pins to his tally, further highlighting the Spartans’ dominance in the middleweight classes.

Box Score
106 - WELLS, BEN (SJO) over Patino, Andrew (PC), Fall 1:37; 113 - WALSH, JACKSON (SJO) over Smith, Julius (PC), Fall 1:33; 120 - GETTY, CAMDEN (SJO) over Gero, Prestin (PC), Fall 2:08; 126 - BIRT, ELI (SJO) over Clemons, Drake (PC), Decision 4-1; 132 - Forfeit, (PC) over Forfeit, (SJO), Double Forfeit; 138 - Traub, John (PC) over HUNDLEY, AIDEN (SJO), Decision 10-7 (OT); 144 - BUTTS, LANDEN (SJO) over Spisak, Daemian (PC), Fall 4:20; 150 - WARE, THOMAS (SJO) over Forfeit, (PC), FORFEIT; 157 - Ziller, Ethan (PC) over MOORE, JONATHON (SJO), Decision 9-6; 165 - Martin, Jaxson (PC) over VAUGHN, ALEX (SJO), Fall 1:02; 175 - SWISHER, DEVAN (SJO) over Mowery, Elijah (PC), Decision 10-3; 190 - Carter, Liam (SJO) over Forfeit, (PC), FORFEIT; 215 - PHILLIPS, NATHAN (SJO) over Forfeit, (PC), FORFEIT; 285 - WAGNER, CAM (SJO) over Forfeit, (PC), FORFEIT.


St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

St. Joseph-Ogden secures hard-fought victory over Pontiac at IPC meet

CHILLICOTHE - The St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling team had an impressive run during the first day of the two-day Illini Prairie Conference wrestling meet on Jan. 17 at Illinois Valley Central High School, defeating the Pontiac Indians 48-35 in a closely contested dual.

The Spartans, who went 3-0 on day one, also secured commanding wins against Prairie Central (54-12) and St. Thomas More (66-12).

The meet began at 106 pounds, with Ben Wells earning a forfeit victory for the Spartans. At 113 pounds, Jackson Walsh notched the first of several key first-period pins for St. Joseph-Ogden, defeating Pontiac’s Sophia Mussari in 1:49. Cam Wagner, a standout sophomore heavyweight, capped the match with a first-period pin over Hunter McCullough in 1:35 to seal the victory. Wagner, who is enjoying a stellar debut season, is also a top-rated football player in Illinois with Division I scholarship offers from Nebraska, Illinois, Louisville, Miami of Ohio, and Iowa.

Other Spartans who delivered standout performances included Aiden Hundley (138 pounds), who pinned Kooper Wiles in 5:35, and Landen Butts (144 pounds), who recorded a fall over Cale Christenson in 5:60. Jonathan Moore (157 pounds) also added a pin, defeating Hunter Christenson in 3:02.

Pontiac kept the meet competitive with wins in several weight classes, including Noah Davis’ technical fall at 126 pounds and pins by Brayden Quas (150 pounds), Lucas Maier (165 pounds), Carlito Lattin (175 pounds), and Jackson Crawford (190 pounds). Despite their efforts, the Indians fell short as the Spartans’ depth and ability to secure bonus points proved decisive.

Box Score
106 - WELLS, BEN (SJO) over Forfeit, (Pontiac), FORFEIT; 113 - WALSH, JACKSON (SJO) over Mussari, Sophia (Pontiac), Fall 1:49; 120 - GETTY, CAMDEN (SJO) over Forfeit, (Pontiac), FORFEIT; 126 - Davis, Noah (Pontiac) over BIRT, ELI (SJO), Tech Fall 18-2; 132 - Hoegger, Alex (Pontiac) over Forfeit, (SJO), FORFEIT; 138 - HUNDLEY, AIDEN (SJO) over Wiles, Kooper (Pontiac), Fall 5:35; 144 - BUTTS, LANDEN (SJO) over Christenson, Cale (Pontiac), Fall 5:60; 150 - Quas, Brayden (Pontiac) over WARE, THOMAS (SJO), Fall 4:13; 157 - MOORE, JONATHON (SJO) over Christenson, Hunter (Pontiac), Fall 3:02; 165 - Maier, Lucas (Pontiac) over VAUGHN, ALEX (SJO), Fall 3:39; 175 - Lattin, Carlito (Pontiac) over SWISHER, DEVAN (SJO), Fall 8:28; 190 - Crawford, Jackson (Pontiac) over Carter, Liam (SJO), Fall 4:49; 215 - PHILLIPS, NATHAN (SJO) over Forfeit, (Pontiac), FORFEIT; 285 - WAGNER, CAM (SJO) over McCullough, Hunter (Pontiac), Fall 1:35.


St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

Spartans dominate on the mats at IPC conference wrestling meet

CHILLICOTHE - The St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans showcased their dominance during the first day of the two-day Illini Prairie Conference wrestling meet on Jan. 17 at Illinois Valley Central High School, going undefeated with a 3-0 record. The Spartans capped their performance with a commanding 66-12 victory over the St. Thomas More Sabers.

The Spartans also notched decisive wins against Prairie Central (54-12) and Pontiac (48-35) to complete their sweep of day one.

The meet began at 106 pounds, where St. Joseph-Ogden’s Ben Wells set the tone with a first-period pin over RJ Cinnamon of St. Thomas More in just 1:30. Wells’ performance was one of the few contested matches, as the Sabers forfeited 10 of the 14 weight classes.

St. Thomas More found success in two of the three matches wrestled. Philip Christhilf earned a pin at 157 pounds, defeating Jonathon Moore of St. Joseph-Ogden in 1:23. James Schmidt added another win for the Sabers at 215 pounds, pinning Nathan Phillips in 1:32.

The Spartans’ depth was evident throughout the meet, with wrestlers like Jackson Walsh (113 pounds), Camden Getty (120 pounds), and Devan Swisher (175 pounds) earning points through forfeits. Aiden Hundley (138 pounds), Landen Butts (144 pounds), and Thomas Ware (150 pounds) also were present to help dominant scoreline.

With the victory, St. Joseph-Ogden improved its season record and solidified its position as a top contender in the conference. The team’s strong showing highlights its potential as postseason tournaments approach.

Next on the Schedule
The Spartans will host a multi-quad meet this Saturday, facing Decatur Unity Christian, Decatur MacArthur, Hoopeston, Cumberland, and St. Thomas More. Matches begin at 8:30 a.m.

St. Joseph-Ogden then hits the road for dual meets at Champaign Central High School on Wednesday, Jan. 29, and at GCMS on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Box Score
106 - WELLS, BEN (SJO) over Cinnamon, RJ (STM), Fall 1:30; 113 - WALSH, JACKSON (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT; 120 - GETTY, CAMDEN (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT; 126 - BIRT, ELI (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT; 132 - Forfeit, (STM) over Forfeit, (SJO), Double Forfeit; 138 - HUNDLEY, AIDEN (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT; 144 - BUTTS, LANDEN (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT; 150 - WARE, THOMAS (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT; 157 - Christhilf, Philip (STM) over MOORE, JONATHON (SJO), Fall 1:23; 165 - VAUGHN, ALEX (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT; 175 - SWISHER, DEVAN (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT; 190 - Carter, Liam (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT; 215 - Schmidt, James (STM) over PHILLIPS, NATHAN (SJO), Fall 1:32; 285 - WAGNER, CAM (SJO) over Forfeit, (STM), FORFEIT.


St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

Jacob leads SJO in IVC rout

Payton Jacob and Katie Cramer teamed up to score 24 points, enough to have beat Illinois Valley Central on their own in the St. Joseph-Ogden girls first home game of 2020.

Jacob, a sophomore, led all scorers with a game-high 14-point performance. Cramer finished with 10 points.

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Ella Armstrong scoops up a loose ball against IVC
After a quick dive, Ella Armstrong scoops up the ball in SJO's home game against Illinois Valley Central. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

"We tried to make sure we stayed calm and not focus on their record," said Jacob about their Illini Prairie Conference foe. The Grey Ghost had only one win on the books heading into their bout against SJO. "If you just looked at their record it would have been easy to go out and assume we had the win."

Not wanting to take IVC lightly, the Spartans concentrated on their execution to dominate nearly every facet of the game.

"We made sure we were focus on our game and not on the way they were playing," said Jacob.

Taylor Wells came off the bench yet again this season for yet another solid output on both sides of the court. In addition to the sophomore's eight points, she battled under the rim snagging four defensive boards and a pair of offensive ones for a total of six.

Payton Vallee led the team in rebounds with 11 on the day.

Even with a 29-10 first half advantage fueled by Jacob's 11 points, the Spartans kept their foot on the gas adding another 18 points in the third quarter before coasting to the final buzzer.

Remarkably, IVC sent the Spartans to the free throw line just once in the 32-minute affair with Jacob capitalizing on both shots in the third-quarter.

"She's been really working on her shot and some other things," said head coach Kevin Taylor about Jacob. "Today, it paid off. It's nice to see was rewarded for the extra work she has been putting in."

In typical fashion this season, the rout was built on a balanced scoring effort. Abby Behrens and Ashlyn Lannert distributed five assists apiece allowing 10 different players to put points on the scoreboard.

"We're excited to get conference play going and wanted to start the right way," said Taylor after leading SJO to their 14th win of the season. "Overall it was a good effort by the girls to start conference."

Next up, Jaoob and Cramer face St. Thomas More at home on Monday. Varsity tip-off is slated for 7pm.

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Abby Behrens dribbles the ball against IVC
Abby Behrens dribbles the ball down the court with pressure from Illinois Valley Central's Lilly Madl. Behrens was held to just one field goal in the victory and was credited with five assists. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


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Anna Wentzloff
Anna Wentzloff makes a pass during second half action against the Grey Ghost. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


"I've been off kind of lately. It is kind of nice to be back in the rhythm of things."
~ Senior Katie Cramer



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Payton Jacob keeps the ball away from Grey Ghosts' Marley Williamson. Jacob scored 11 of her game-high 14 points in the first quarter. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


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Ella Armstrong goes up for a shot against IVC
Ella Armstrong takes a shot over IVC's Aynna Johnson. Armstrong, who finished with six points, was one of 10 SJO players that put points on the scoreboard on Saturday. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)



Box Score
Team 1 17 12 18 8 - 55
Illinois Valley Central 6 4 8 1 - 19


Scoring
St. Joseph-Ogden: Ashlyn Lannert 4, Payton Jacob 14, Taylor Wells 8, Atleigh Hamilton 2, Katie Cramer 10, Abby Behrens 2, Taylor Barnes 3, Payton Vallee 2, Ella Armstrong 6 and Anna Wentzloff 4.

Illinois Valley Central: Johnson 2, Williamson 5, Madl 1, Wolf 5 and Palmer 6.

Spartan softball notches first conference win

St. Joseph-Ogden's Zoey Witruk struck out nine batters in a complete game shutout performance over Illinois Valley Central in their first conference softball contest of the season. Scoring two runs at the top of the seventh inning, SJO defeated IVC, 4-0.

Spartans got two hits from junior Hannah Dukeman. Kaylee Ward was credited with 2 RBI to aid the Spartans to an undefeated 4-0 early season record.

IVC's Cassie Kirman had a pair of hits for the Ghosts.

Next up, the Spartans will face Bismarck-Henning at home on Wednesday, March 27.


Box Score
St. Joseph-Ogden . .   1 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 7 0
Illinois Valley Central   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0


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