Vermillion’s defense leads Oakwood to convincing win at Arcola

Oakwood opened the season with a 43-15 road win over Arcola, a sharp reversal from last year’s loss. Senior Caydence Vermillion led the way with 14 points, six steals and six rebounds. Emma Koontz contributed a double-double.

ARCOLA - Oakwood opened its girls basketball season with a dominant 43-15 road win over Arcola on Monday evening, a complete turnaround from last year’s 50-18 loss to the Riders. The Comets controlled both ends of the floor from the start, setting the tone defensively and never allowing Arcola to find rhythm in the half court.

The defensive pressure was anchored by senior Caydence Vermillion, whose active hands and anticipation disrupted Arcola’s ball movement throughout the night. Vermillion finished with six steals in 28 minutes and added a game-high 14 points. She also pulled down six rebounds, helping Oakwood outwork Arcola on the glass and limit second-chance scoring opportunities.

Oakwood’s rebounding edge was strengthened further by junior forward Emma Koontz, who controlled the paint with 11 rebounds while adding 10 points. She also contributed three blocks, cutting off drives and forcing Arcola to settle for tough shots. With Koontz anchoring the interior and Vermillion generating turnovers on the perimeter, the Comets held Arcola to nine points in the first half and just six in the second.

Offensively, Oakwood found a steady balance. Along with Vermillion and Koontz, Mady Nicoson chipped in six points to go with two rebounds and two assists, helping keep the ball moving and the offense organized. The Comets consistently converted turnovers into transition opportunities, which widened the margin early and kept the lead comfortable throughout the game.

The win gives Oakwood an encouraging start following last year’s 10-22 finish, offering signs that the roster’s defensive intensity and improved rebounding could play a larger role this season. The Comets return to action Saturday, Nov. 22, when they host Casey-Westfield, the same team that edged them 24-21 last year.

TAGS: Oakwood girls basketball season opener, Arcola vs Oakwood game recap, Illinois high school basketball defensive performance, Oakwood Comets basketball 2025, Casey-Westfield vs Oakwood preview

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Hess’ hat trick powers SJO past Oakwood in season opener

Spartans open 2025-26 with a big road win at Oakwood. Hess leads the charge with a hat trick.

OAKWOOD -St. Joseph-Ogden’s boys soccer team wasted no time showing its firepower, striking for seven goals in a 7-3 road win over Oakwood on Thursday to begin the 2025-26 season. The Spartans flipped the script from a year ago, when the Comets handed them a 5-1 defeat in the same matchup to open the season.

St. Joseph-Ogden soccer's Steven Newman in 2024

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Steven Newman returns to the Spartan lineup in 2025. The junior scored a goal in SJO's first game of the season, avenging last year's 5-1 loss to the Comets.

Senior forward Tyler Hess delivered a standout performance with three goals and an assist, sparking an offense that spread the scoring responsibilities across the lineup.

Four other Spartans added goals of their own. Steven Newman, Hunter Cler, Zach Harper, and Skyler Graham each found the net, while Harper and Graham also earned assists. Midfielder Lucas “Buddy” Stevens orchestrated the attack with three assists, setting up his teammates in key moments.

The win comes at the start of a grueling run, with SJO scheduled to play five matches in the first six days of the season. The Spartans visit Hoopeston Area on Friday before hosting Iroquois West on Saturday at Dick Duval Field.

SJO enters the season looking to build on last year’s strong campaign. After a slow start in 2024, the Spartans rattled off 18 wins and a tie before falling in the sectional semifinals to eventual Class 1A state champion Normal University. They finished with a 22-3-1 record, cementing themselves among the area’s top programs.

This fall’s lineup is anchored by returning seniors Quinn Stahl, Branson Pearman, and Harper, with fellow seniors Hadley Sweet, Michael McDaniel, and Rudra Chaudhory providing additional leadership and depth.

Upcoming SJO Matches

Fri, Aug. 29, 2025 – 4:30 p.m. at Hoopeston Area High School

Sat, Aug. 30, 2025 – 10:00 a.m. vs. Iroquois West High School at Dick Duval Field

TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden boys soccer 2025 season opener, Tyler Hess hat trick vs Oakwood soccer, IHSA Class 1A boys soccer sectional contenders, St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans upcoming soccer schedule, Illinois high school soccer early season matchups

State Wrestling |
Oakwood's Steven Unden advances to semifinal round at state wrestling

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Champaign - Oakwood-Salt Fork's Steven Uden wraps up Canton's Jaxsun Owens in their Class 1A 106-pound first-round match at the IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals on Thursday. Unden won the bout by pin at 4:53. He advanced to the quarterfinals to face Morrison's Cael Wright. The sophomore who improved to 42-5 later Wright to advance to the championship semifinal round. Here are three other photos from his first match on THursday.

Oakwood cheer team advances at state, Comets to compete for a state title on Saturday

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Oakwood's Rylan Wilson and the Oakwood cheerleading team perform during the preliminary round at the IHSA Competitive Cheerleading State Finals on Friday. The Comets advance to the championship round on Saturday for a shot at the small school state title. Earlier that morning Wilson was honored as an All-Stater in the sport.

BLOOMINGTON - Oakwood brought their A-game earlier today to qualify for the championship round at the Illinois High School Association's Competitive Cheer State Finals. They were one of two squads from their sectional that advanced to Saturday's title round at Grossinger Motors Arena.

Finishing in fifth place, the Comets earned an 89.44 from judges after their performance. Carterville slipped into the trophy round at #10, collecting an 88.06 to advance.

The Comets punched their ticket to state last week via a third-place finish at the Mascoutah Sectional behind DuQuoin, who finished first, and Harrisburg in second. Neither team advanced out of the preliminary round.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

A member of the Oakwood cheer squad shows her spirit during the squad's routine on Friday.

"Going into the championship round is an example of just how much hard work we put into this season, the unseen practice by the judges, and the dedication from every single athlete," said Rylan Wilson, the only male athlete on the 12-person squad. In his third year competing in the sport, Wilson was honored as an All-Stater by the Illinois High School Cheerleading Coaches Organization (IHSCCO) before the preliminary round started. "I just hope we give it 100% again. I don't mind what place we finish in. It's just all or nothing."

One of two team captains, Jeslyn Rhodes, is happy to be part of the first team from the program to make it into the trophy round at the state cheer meet.

"Honestly, it just means so much. It shows how much hard work we all put in," Rhodes said. "We proved how well we can work together."

She gave a shout-out to fans and appreciated their support during their preliminary routine. "Our school came out to support us, and I'm just glad it was worth their time."

Joseylinda Nunez, the team's other captain, was proud of her teammates and their work ethic throughout the season.

"They really did work hard," she said, describing the effort the team put into learning two new routines at the beginning of the season. They focused on their 'Three Cs' - Confidence, Consistency & Clean. "I feel like our strength is us coming together and our energy."

This year's team is composed of 12 students, including Jett Pierce, Jeslyn Rhodes, Joseylinda Nunez, Rylan Wilson, Ireland Harrison, Khloe Estock, Chloe Vinson, Harlow Woodard, Karleigh Nelson, Arianna Finley, Brynlie Wait, Leanne Snow, Jaelyn Estock, and Sophia Aquino. The Comets are coached by fourth-year head coach Matteson Lee.

Oakwood cheerleaders perform at state

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Members of the Oakwood competitive cheer team perform clean moves with confidence. Their attention to detail vaulted the program into its first foray in school history in day two competition at the annual IHSA state cheer competition.

The Oakwood cheer program has qualified for state seven times in the last decade. The Comets failed to make it out of the Mt. Vernon section last year, finishing behind St. Joseph-Ogden. The top five programs to advance last year were Breese Central and Mater Dei, Paris, New Berlin, and Robinson.

Now one of 10 teams, the Comets take the stage at noon to demonstrate their technical ability and competitive spirit while focused on bringing home the first state cheer trophy in school history.

Tickets for Saturday's finals competition are $12 at the door and can be purchased in advance online via TicketMaster or by phone at the City Box Office at (309) 434-2777.a

Schedule for Saturday

Small & Medium School Competition

10:00 a.m. - Doors of the arena open to public
10:55 a.m. - Welcome & National Anthem
11:00 a.m. - Small and Medium Team Finals
(Small and Medium team performances alternate)
12:45 p.m. - Small Team Awards
1:15 p.m. - Medium Team Awards

State Small School competitive cheer results

1 - Columbia 93.82
2 - Breese (Mater Dei) 90.84
3 - Wheaton (St. Francis) 90.6
4 - Richmond (R.-Burton) 90.3
5 - Fithian (Oakwood) 89.44
6 - Breese (Central) 88.92
7 - Lexington 88.7
8 - Poplar Grove (North Boone) 88.6
9 - Wilmington 88.36
10 - Carterville 88.06
11 - Somonauk 87.6
12 - Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) 86.86
13 - Johnsburg 86.6
14 - Pinckneyville 86.48
15 - Marengo 86.32
16 - Joliet (Catholic Academy) 86.06
17 - Greenville 85.98
18 - Harrisburg 85.5
19 - DuQuoin (H.S.) 85.44
20 - Glasford (Illini Bluffs) 83.56
21 - Elmhurst (Timothy Christian) 83.32
22 - Pontiac 82.8
23 - Elgin (St. Edward) 81.39
24 - Roxana 81.14
25 - Farmington 80.8

Cornjerkers rally past Comets, Trenton Montez scores 23 in VVC win

HOOPESTON - Trenton Montez scored 23 points to lead Hoopeston Area past visiting Oakwood in Vermilion Valley Conference action Tuesday. The Cornjerkers outscored the Comets 21-18 in the final quarter to secure a 59-57 victory.

Junior Brayden Walder and sophomore Nick Cardenas also reached double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Montez anchored the defensive effort with five rebounds and five steals.

The Comets (9-9) held a 30-24 lead at halftime and maintained their advantage through the third quarter, entering the fourth up 39-38.

After defeating Milford on Friday, Hoopeston Area improved to 11-4 overall and 3-0 in the VVC. The Cornjerkers will face Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley in a nonconference road game Saturday.

Hanner leads Oakwood with 11 points in loss to North Vermillion

BISMARCK - Gracie Hanner scored a team-high 12 points for Oakwood in the third-place game at the 2024 Blue Devil Classic Basketball Tournament. Her effort with 11 points from teammate Caydence Vermillion, fell short against North Vermillion, resulting in a 41-36 holiday tournament loss on Saturday, December 28.

The Comets (6-14) were within striking range at the end of the third quarter, 34-31, but could not sustain enough momentum to push past the Falcons in the final quarter.

North Vermillion was paced by Nora Thomann's game-high 13 points. The freshman starter, named to the All-Tournament team, also recorded 14 rebounds and two blocks. Juniors Kera Dunham and Cadence Dunham (5 rebounds, 7 assists) rounded out the team's top three scorers with nine and eight points, respectively. Kera Dunham was also named All-Tournament.

Oakwood received strong defensive efforts from seniors Rylee Wright and Bella Bradford. The duo grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists each.

The Comets look to correct their three-game losing streak on Thursday in a conference road game at Chrisman (2-12) and play their next home contest on January 16 against Georgetown-Ridge Farm (8-5).