This week in St. Joseph-Ogden athletics

Nolan Earley throws a strike
Nolan Earley throws a pitch in the Spartans' road game at Westville last week. Earley surrendered nine runs and one run over five innings with no walks as the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team improved to 22-2 on the season with the 10-3 victory on Wednesday.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks



St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

Sentinel Signature Announcements

St. Joseph-Ogden Athletic Schedule March 11-17

SJO's Carson Maroon
St. Joseph-Ogden's Carson Maroon heads to the finish line at the IHSA Boys' Track & Field State Final in May 2023. Last week, the senior set a new school record in the 1600 meter run, raising the bar to 4:22.30. Look for SJO's top distance specialist to make his way back to O'Brien Stadium for the state meet again.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks



Prep Sports Notebook: Unity softball wins 2, SJO baseball rebounds for a conference win


Unity's Joop and Jones earn All-Conference accolades
Unity's Taylor Joop and Logan Jones learned last week that they are All-Conference Scholar Athletes for the 2020-21 academic year by the Illini Prairie Conference. Both received recognition at luncheon held at Illinois State University on April 29.



Rockets' Taylor Joop puts the ball in play during her team's home game against Central Catholic. Joop, who plans to continue her academic and athletic career at Heartland College, scored the game-winning run in Unity's 5-4 win on Saturday. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


Knott sets new school record in the shot
St. Joseph-Ogden senior Hayden Knott raised the bar in the shot put setting a new school record with a throw of 17.14 meters on Saturday at the Rantoul Invite. The toss was also good enough to secure a first place finish in the event with throwers from Hersher, Danville and Pleasant Plains among the field of 17 competitors.

Knott also placed first in the discus throw beating his nearest competition by nearly 2 meters. His winning throw went 53.70 meters.



Miller, Altenbaumer pile on RBIs
Together, St. Joseph-Ogden's Coby Miller and Tyler Altenbaumer tallied nine RBIs, four and five respectively, in the Spartans' 17-9 win over Monticello on Saturday.

Miller was 3-for-3 and Andrew Beyers (3 RBI) added a 3-for-5 performance from the batter's box.

Zach Martinie picked up the win for the Spartans while Monticello's Cole Dasher suffered the loss after the conference pairing.

SJO improves to 10-1 on the season following their 3-run loss to Mahomet-Seymour at home on Friday.



Unity softball picks up second conference win
Unity Taylor Joop scored the winning, go-ahead run on a fly ball from Ruby Tarr in the bottom of the 6th innning in the Unity softball team's conference game against Central Catholic on Saturday.

Pitcher Taylor Henry had 3 hits and on RBI. Hailey Flesch secured one hit in four trips to the plate and delivered a pair of RBI.

Facing 29 batters, Henry gave up 9 hits and 4 runs after 104 pitches.



Good Graces win for the Rockets
Grace Frye earned a pitching win after seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking one in a 6-2 softball decision over Newton.

Meanwhile, Gracie Renfrow was 3-for-3 and pushed 2 runs across the plate for the Rockets. She collected a triple on a fly ball to center on her third pitch in the bottom of the 3rd inning allowing Erica Steinman to score and homered two innings later on a solo shot to right field.

The win keeps Unity season untarnished at 6-0. Frye and Renfrow host Villa Grove on Monday at 4pm and have a game 2 rematch against Central Catholic on the road on Tuesday.



Spartan track team win Invite title
The St. Joseph-Ogden boys track team tallied 178 points to win this year's Rantoul Invite title.

Monticello finished in second place with 162 points and host Rantoul collected 106 points for a third place finish. Unity finished 6th (77 points) in the 12-team field.

SJO's Brady Buss took second in the 200-meter dash, Brandon Mattsey clocked a 4:53.12 in the 1600-meter run for the meet title and Hayden Knott won both throwing event to lift the Spartans on Saturday.



Unity baseball team drops first loss
After a dominating 2-0 start, the Rockets' baseball team fell 7-4 on the road to Illinois Valley Central (7-1) on Saturday.

Damian Knoll took the loss after a two-inning appearance scattering 4 hits and 3 walks.

Knoll (1 RBI) along with Blake Kimball scored one run apiece. Tyler Hensch, 1-for-3 from the plate, also had one RBI and double.



3 Spartan homers crush Sages
Sandwiched between two home runs by Shayne Immke, St. Joseph-Ogden's Kaylee Ward went deep in the seventh inning for one of her own. Immke put the first of two homers out of the park in the 1st inning and repeated her effort with another in the fifth.

The hot bats, which helped SJO to improve to a 7-4 season, allowed the Spartans to easily win, 12-6.

Scoring in five of their seven innings, St. Joseph-Ogden tacked on a pair of runs in each of the last three innings of the game to pull away on the scoreboard.

Pitching duties were shared with Alyssa Acton, who earned the win after five innings, and Sophia Martlage closed out the game with 20 pitches in the last 2 innings.


Baker sets hurdles PR, SJO girls snag 9 first at home meet

The St. Joseph-Ogden girls track team took first place in nine events in a home dual meet against Eureka last Thursday.

Haleigh Maddock turned in a 31.10 in the 200m Dash. She was followed over the finish line by teammates Yamilka Casanova (32.32) and Jayci Hayes (32.48) to secure the top three spots on the podium.

SJO's Malorie Sarnecki won the 400m Dash with at time of 1:07:53. The performance was prep personal record for the junior middle distance runner.

In the hurdles, Kaytlyn Baker set a new PR finishing the 100m hurdles at 18.10. In her first meet of the Spring 2021 season against Clinton, the sophomore turned in 18.51 in the event.

Baker also placed second the 300m Hurdles following Ashlyn Lannert over the line at 54.47. Lannert, a junior, won the event with a time of 53.47, just a little under her personal best in the race at 51.53.

The Spartans enjoyed first place finishes in two of the four relay events at the meet.

The Womens 4x100m relay quartet of Atleigh Hamilton, Payton Carter, Raegan Crippen and Macy Reed-Thompson finished more than two second ahead of the Hornets contingent at 52.18 to take first.

The same four Spartans joined forces for another first place finish, this time in the 4x200m relay. The foursome's combined efforts yielded a time of 1:53.13.

Reed-Thompson also earned another gold medal worthy finish taking the top honor in the High Jump. The freshman tallied first place points after her best attempt at 1.49m.

Also earning field event points for SJO, Carter cleared 2.9 meters in the Women Pole Vault for another first place Spartan finish.

Finally, it comes as no surprise that the winner of the Women's Long Jump was 2x Class 1A state champion was Atleigh Hamilton.

The senior cleared 5.23 meters, or 17 feet and 1.91 inches, of sand in her home pit to win the pit. Her best mark in the event, set at the 2019 state championships, is 5.68m (18' 7.75").

The Spartans will host their third meet of the season in a quad event featuring Shelbyville, Judah Christian and St. Teresa tomorrow at the Glenn Fisher Athletic Complex starting at 4pm.

Photo of the day - February 5, 2021

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Rachel Ballard runs to a second place finish

Running on air

Pulling ahead of CICS/Longwood's Briyanna Desrosiers and Sesser-Valier's Chelsea Miller, St. Joseph-Ogden senior Rachel Ballard appears to have the ability to run through the air on her way to a second place finish in her heat of the Class 1A 100-meter dash at the IHSA State Track & Field Finals on May 17, 2012. Ballard qualified for Saturday's finals with a time of 12.62 and finished that race in fourth place with a time of 12.26.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - February 3, 2021

SJO's Gabe Lyons runs at the OVC meet in May

Lyons has a banner day, set new PR

St. Joseph-Ogden middle distance runner Gabe Lyons runs his leg of the 4x800-meter relay at the 2016 Okaw Valley Conference track & field meet. Lyons along with Austin Earp, Ross Smetzer and Justin Phillips won the event crossing the finish line at 8:36.8. The Spartans finished the meet in second place in the team standings on May 10. Later that day at the meet, Lyons set a new personal record in the 400-meter run at 52.25.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - January 28, 2021

SJO's Frankie Izard runs to 7th place at state

Izard clocks 12.64

St. Joseph-Ogden's Frankie Izard tries to stay ahead of Camp Point Central's Zakila Wiskirchen and Chicago Christian's Rylei Jackson (left) during the 100-Meter Dash championship race during the 2016 IHSA Girls State Track Finals in Charleston. Izard, whose career PR was 10.65, finished in 7th place at 12.64. She also competed in the 60-Meter Dash, 200-Meter Dash, 400-Meter Dash, Long Jump and the Triple Jump during her prep track & field career.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the day - January 24, 2021

Cord Shaffer throws the discus at a track meet in Tolono

Shaffer medals twice

St. Joseph-Ogden's Cord Shaffer heaves the discus at the Unity Track Invitational on Friday, April 20, 2007. Shaffer finished third in the event and first in the shot put at the Rockets' annual track & field meet.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - December 2, 2020

Suzanne Ford (left) starts the Spartans' run in the 4x800m relay with runners Elyse Christofanelli, from Petersburg PORTA, and Elgin's Ashley Lucas during Friday's preliminary competition at the 36th installment of the IHSA State Track and Field Meet in Charleston on May 16, 2008. SJO finished at 10:20.38, just missing the qualifying cutoff by four seconds for a spot in Saturday's finals. Now, a little more than 12 years later, Ford is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Pope Animal Hospital in Alton, Illinois. (Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - October 22, 2020


Alex Arteaga lands in the sand

Major Leap

St. Joseph-Ogden's Alex Arteaga lands in the sand pit during a long jump attempt at the 2012 Spartan Classic. The senior finished his career as a state qualifier in both long and triple jump events. He also all-state honors in the 300 intermediate hurdles and was a member of the 1,600 relay crew that finished third at the IHSA state meet that year. The Washington University recruit went out a career best of 41-9.75 in the triple jump and sailed 20-10.25 down the runway in the long jump at O'Brien Stadium.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - October 21, 2020


Debbie Prather and Megan Blair

Time and time again

Debbie Prather, Megan Blair and other timers have their fingers ready to go on their stopwatch buttons at the finish line during the 2012 Boys Spartan Classic. The group was waiting for the starters pistol to fire for next heat of the 110-yard high hurdles.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - October 15, 2020


Chelsea Blaase runs during 2012 state track meet

Blaase qualifies for title race at state

Chasing a solo runner in front of her, St. Joseph-Ogden distance specialist Chelsea Blaase extends her lead on the main pack during the Class 1A 1600-meter run at the IHSA Track & Field State Finals in Charleston in 2012. The senior finished the qualifying race with a time of 5:04.96 to finish second in her heat behind GCMS' Sydni Meunier. Two days later, both Blaase and Meunier ran slower times in the championship race on Saturday, but their position in the final standings remained the same at one-two. Blaase won the two-mile state title to lift the St. Joseph-Ogden girls track team to a third place finish in the team standings.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - October 14, 2020

Loren Brooks pole vaults at state track

Up & Over

St. Joseph-Ogden pole vaulter Loren Brooks starts over the bar on her way to clearing 8'6" during Thursday's prelims at the 2012 IHSA Track and Field State Finals. Brooks, a sophomore, failed on this attempt but later cleared the bar. She failed to make the qualifying height in order to advance to Saturday's finals.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Photo of the Day - September 23, 2020


SJO girls track senior night

Spartans celebrate track senior night

With her mother looking on, St. Joseph-Ogden senior Hannah Graham receives a congratulatory kiss from her father, Chris, during senior night recognition at the 2012 Lady Spartan Classic. Graham, a three-sport athlete, was a member of the state qualifying 4x200 and 4x400 squads that advanced to state weeks later. The SJO girls finished 16th in the team standings at the state finals Charleston.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Spartan Spotlight with senior Hannah Rajlich

2020 St. Joseph-Ogden High School grad Hannah Rajlich likes to cook. Either way, that's probably a good thing considering her chosen career path in studying the science of food.

Hannah Rajlich runs her leg of the 4x800 relay at the IHSA state track meet in 2018. The third-place finish helped SJO secure the Class 1A state title that year. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
This fall, the two-sport athlete in cross county and track athlete whose dream is one day becoming an Olympic team nutritionist, will move to College Station, Texas, where she will join the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at Texas A&M. She said she likes baking more than cooking.

"My favorite (thing to make) would have to be Oreo cheesecake," Rajlich admitted. "I learned to bake by myself, but my grandma was the one who got me into it when I was young."

She is not afraid to experiment in the kitchen and like the races she ran the last four seasons with the Spartans, she doesn't give up when things don't necessarily go right the first time.

"I actually don’t have many kitchen failures," she explained. "One time I did try to make a strawberry pie - when I was like 12? - without a recipe and it didn’t turn out too great."

There are three people she would enjoy having over for a home cooked meal and good conversation. Her top three choices for dinner guests include her grandmother, Taylor Swift, Olympic gold medalist Emma Coburn, who specializes in the steeplechase.

"With my Granny we would just catch up on life," Rajlich said. "With Taylor Swift we would talk about how she became so successful and with Emma Coburn I would ask her about her training and Olympic experience."

Besides baking and spending time in the kitchen, her hobbies include traveling, hanging out with friends and family, and, of course, running.

"My top three places to travel to are Jamaica, Prague, and Bora Bora," Rajlich said. "I’ve been to Jamaica a few times now, and it’s my favorite place to travel to, plus I have so many good memories with my family there!"

She has also been to Prague in the past, too. She can't wait to return there in the future. The capital city in Czech Republic city is known for its architecture and is home of the Trdelnik, a sweet treat like a cinnamon roll which is wrapped around a pole, grilled, and then topped with a walnut mix and sugar.

"That's where my Dad is from, and where my grandparents grew up," said the St. Joseph native, who has four siblings, two older brothers, one younger sister, and one younger brother.

The South Pacific paradise of Bora Bora is at the top of her list of places she has visit and you can't really blame her.

Rajlich said, "It has always been my "dream' vacation because of the beautiful beaches and the unique location."

When she was not competing or doing training runs, Rajlich was involved in with National Honor Society, on Student Council and in Spanish Club at SJO. She also was a member of AMP and in the Spartans' student cheering section, Maroon Platoon.

Her advice for future SJO students is to get involved and to soak in the whole high school experience because it goes by so fast.

Despite not having a senior track season due to the Covid-19 Pandemic this spring, Rajlich leaves SJO with seven IHSA state medals and a pair of All-State ones to boot. She played a major role in running program bringing home the five state trophies and two championship titles the running program secured during her tenure. Heading into her final season she had high hopes for the SJO running program this spring with her sight set on the Spartans winning one more state trophy before her scholastic running career ended.

"My most memorable medal would have to be my 2016 State Champion XC medal," she said reminiscing about her first prep IHSA state final. Rajlich represented the Spartans in both track and cross country all four years of high school. "I was our team’s fifth runner as a freshman and we won the meet far ahead (of) the second place (team)."

Rajlich runs a lap around Detweiller Park in her last cross country race of her high school career last November. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
There is a second medal in her possession, one that she earned her sophomore year during track season, that also carries a fone memory attached to it.

"My second would be my 2018 4x800 3rd place All-State medal, when I ran a PR as our third leg in the pouring rain, helping contribute to our team State Champion trophy."

Her relay squad, featuring junior Rylee Sjuts along with seniors Zea Maroon and Sam Mabry, finished third in that race with a time of 9:51.85. SJO won the Class 1A state title with 43 points besting second place finishers Farmington and St. Teresa, who took third place.

"I have had so many great teammates over the years," she said. "Coming in as a freshman, Keely Smith was someone I really looked up to, and helped me become a leader for our team.

"She did everything right, even when things got really tough for her. And, she is one of the nicest people I know!"

Looking way, way, way into the future, before she retires, Rajlich has a couple of goals she would like to accomplish.

"Before I retire, I would definitely like to work with athletes and maybe have my own practice or business."


Spartan Spotlight with senior Danie Kelso

Danie Kelso

Clubs & Activities
Track and Field (4 years)
Cross Country (1 year)
Bible Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
One older and one younger sister

Hobbies:
Reading and running

Favorite SJO memories:
She said her greatest memories at SJO centers around track and field. During her freshman year, her 4 X 400 M relay advanced to State, which was an unbelievable moment for her. During her junior year, her 4 X 200 M relay placed first at IHSA State Track & Field Finals, which was incredible, she added.

Favorite classes:
U.S. History and Anatomy and Physiology

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Stierwalt at St. Joseph Grade School, Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mrs. Stacey Kietzman and Mr. Marshall Schacht at SJO.

College:
Millikin University majoring in nursing

Collegiate Sport:
She will join the Big Blue NCAA Div. III track & field program this fall

Advice to future SJO students:
Do not take anything for granted.



Track & Field Career Bests

60 Meter Dash8.71
100 Meter Dash13.82
200 Meter Dash29.45
400 Meter Dash1:04.9
800 Meter Run2:41.45
2 Mile18:17.0
3 Mile23:44.0
5k27:00.0
4X200 Relay1:47.35
4X400 Relay4:32.12

Danie Kelso and SJO sprinters rise to the top of the podium in 2019

Above: Kelso, with Spartan teammates Atleigh Hamilton, Hailey Birt and Maclayne Taylor pose for photos at the top of the Class 1A podium after winning the title race at the 2019 Illinois High School Association Track & Field State Finals on Saturday, May 18, in Charleston. The program finish the state meet in a two-way tie for third with St. Teresa.

Below: Kelso fires out of the blocks in her relay squad's 4x200 prelim at the 2019 state track meet. Along with fellow junior Hailey Birt, sophomore Atleigh Hamilton and senior Maclayne Taylor the Spartans dominated their heat with 1:45.07 finish to qualify for Saturday's finals. (Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Danie Kelso fires out of the blocks at state track




Text provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.


Senior Spotlights with Anna Tranel, Konnor George & Nathan Maier

Anna Tranel

Clubs & Activities
Track and Field (4 years)
Maroon Platoon, Spanish Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Four siblings: one older brother, one younger sister, and two younger brothers.

Hobbies:
Running, writing with sidewalk chalk, and hanging out with friends

Favorite SJO memories:
She enjoyed going to all of the home football games and the powderpuff game before Homecoming during her senior year.

Favorite classes:
All of her math classes, U.S. History, Civics, and Advanced Biology.

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Risley and Mrs. Ford at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Marshall Schacht, Senor Zak Sutton, Ms. Kelly Steffen, and Mrs. Ashley Krisman at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Parkland College or Augustana University, majoring actuary science

Advice to future SJO students:
Make the most of high school and enjoy it because you never know when it will end.


Konnor George

Clubs & Activities
FFA

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Four siblings: one older sister, two younger sisters, and one younger brother.

Hobbies:
His hobbies revolve around music. He really enjoys playing the guitar.

Favorite SJO memory:
Homecoming during his freshman year

Favorite classes:
World History and Geography with Mr. Kieffer, and U.S. History and Civics with Mr. Beckett.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Steele at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Jeff Kieffer, Mr. Shawn Skinner, Mr. William Billman, and Mrs. Alisyn Franzen at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Career Plans:
Plans to join the U.S. Army and possibly have a career in a law enforcement.

Advice to future SJO students:
Do homework and to stay on task.


Graduating from college with an undergraduate or advance degree? Tell us!

Nathan Maier

Clubs & Activities
Basketball (3 years)
Football (1 year)

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Two older brothers

Hobbies:
Reading books, working on his computer, practicing photography, filming, and hanging out with family.

Favorite SJO memories:
His positive times being a part of the boys’ basketball team as a manager during his junior and senior years. Nathan felt motivated to be a part of the basketball family, and he will always remember these moments.

Favorite classes:
Trigonometry with Mr. Kiel Duval and Spanish with Senor Zak Sutton.

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Jeff Kieffer, Senor Zak Sutton, and Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer

College:
Parkland College, Business

Advice to future SJO students:
Always try to reach out if you need help because St. Joseph is such a welcoming community.




Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.


SJO senior spotlights with Josh Sexton, Isaac Walden & Jackson Wooten

Jackson Wooten

Clubs & Activities
Band (4 years), Scholastic Bowl, Rube Goldberg Team, We The People

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
One brother and one sister

Hobbies:
Hanging out with family and friends

Favorite SJO memories:
During his freshman year, he marched with the SJO band in the Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C. This is a moment he will never forget, including many other great memories he has had being involved with the SJO band. Also, Jackson enjoyed the Homecoming assembly during his junior year. He felt as if the whole school was connected during this assembly.

Favorite classes:
Band, and all of the classes he has he has taken with Mr. Marshall Schacht.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Pirtle at St. Joseph Grade School, Mr. Dassow and Mrs. Stone at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mr. Don Beckett, Mr. Jeff Kieffer, Mr. Marshall Schacht, Mr. Kiel Duval, and Mr. Robert Glazier at SJO.

College:
Plans to start at Parkland College and transfer to the U of I to major in Mechanical Engineering.

Advice to future SJO students:
Work hard, and to keep plugging away to be successful.

Josh Sexton

Clubs & Activities
Cross Country (4 years), Track & Field (2 years), Band, Chorus, Drama Club, Spanish Club, NHS

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
One younger sister

Hobbies:
Anything relate to theater.

Favorite SJO memories:
He has really enjoyed being a part of the SJO cross country team. This past winter, Josh was a part of the All State Musical at Illinois State University, which is an event he will never forget. Also, Josh really enjoyed attending the district band competition at Olivet Nazarene University. He will also remember everything that was theater-related at SJO as well. He is also very proud of signing up the SJO theater shows for the Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards.

Favorite classes:
Band and Civics

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Dassow and Mrs. Ford at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mr. Williams, Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer, and Mr. Marshall Schacht at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Illinois State University majoring in Music Education

Career Goal:
Earn a master’s degree and perform on Broadway.

Advice to future SJO students:
Do not underestimate yourself.

Isaac Walden

Clubs & Activities
Baseball (2 years), Maroon Platoon
Art Club

Hometown:
Ogden

Siblings:
Two older sisters

Hobbies:
Rollerblading, mini golf, and bowling.

Favorite SJO memories:
Going to the IHSA State volleyball games during his freshman year and senior year was fun. He also remembers a hilarious moment from his freshman year when, while practicing a "how to" speech, one of his classmates threw a paper airplane he was working on, which hit Mrs. Franzen in the face during English class. This was definitely an accident, but it was a quick, hilarious, spontaneous moment that he will never forget.

Favorite classes:
All of his history classes with Mr. Jeff Kieffer, Mr. Marshall Schacht, Mr. Don Beckett, and English with Mrs. Alisyn Franzen.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. Stewart, and Mrs. Max at PVO; and Mr. Kieffer, Mr. Shawn Skinner, and Mr. Schacht at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
University of Illinois at Springfield majoring criminology.

Advice to future SJO students:
Get all of your homework finished.



Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.


2020 Senior Spotlight on Eric Poe

Eric Poe runs to the finish line during the 2019 SJO 5K. Heading into his senior year at SJO back in July, he finished the race in 18 minutes and 11.5 seconds to finish third in the 14-18 year-old age division. Below, Poe runs to the finish line four months later at the IHSA Cross Country State Finals in Peoria. He finished the course at 100th overall with a time of 16:27.75 to help the Spartans to a 18th place team finish. (Photos: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)


"I don't regret the decision," Poe said about making the switch from football to cross country two years ago. Days later back in November, he and the boys' cross country team ran at the IHSA state meet in Peoria. "I'm very thankful for the coach I have and my teammates who have been helping me along. It is not an easy sport."


Career Running Marks
400 Meter Dash 56.25
800 Meter Run 2:07.32
1600 Meter Run 4:51.87
3200 Meter Run 11:10.78
2 Mile 11:36.0
3 Mile 16:21.0
5k 18:11.0
Eric Poe
Clubs & Activities
Track and Field (4 years)
Cross Country (2 years), Football (2 years)
Spanish Club, Spanish Club Leader, NHS, We The People, Advisory Mentoring Program

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
One older brother

Hobbies:
Hanging out with friends and family, running, and anything related to his extracurricular schedule.

Favorite SJO memories:
His greatest memories at SJO include all of his track and field and cross country athletic events throughout the years and when he qualified for IHSA State in cross country this past fall.

Favorite classes:
All of his history classes and specifically Economics, Civics, along with U.S. History with Mr. Schacht.

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School and Senor Zak Sutton and Mr. Marshall Schacht at St. Joseph-Ogden High School

College:
United States Naval Academy

Advice to future SJO students:
Work hard because high school is really not that bad.



Senior Spotlights with Ally Monk, Bradley Harrison and Payton Grimsley

Ally Monk

Clubs & Activities
Cross Country (4 years)
Track and Field (4 years)
Maroon Platoon, Student Council

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Two older sisters

Hobbies:
Traveling with family, running, and hanging out with family and friends.

Favorite SJO memories:
She has enjoyed being a part of the Maroon Platoon each year. She was also a big part of the Student Council IHSA State Competition, which was a positive experience.

Favorite classes:
Spanish classes with both Senor Zak Sutton and Senora Nelson.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Dunn at St. Joseph Grade School; Mrs. Huls and Mrs. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School; and Mrs. Chambers, Senora Nelson, and Senor Sutton

College:
University of Missouri majoring in Business Marketing

Advice to future SJO students:
Treat every moment like it’s your last.

Bradley Harrison

Clubs & Activities
Scholastic Bowl, FFA, We The People

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
One sister and a younger brother

Hobbies:
Playing bass guitar, playing video games, building computers, and kayaking on the Salt Fork River.

Favorite SJO memories:
He has many great memories during his lunch hour with friends.

Favorite classes:
Intro to Ag with Mrs. Duitsman and English 101/102 with Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. McDonald at St. Joseph Grade School, Mr. Risley at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mrs. Duitsman and Mrs. Lindenmeyer at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Louisiana State University majoring in Civil Engineering

Advice to future SJO students:
Maintain good grades and to have self-motivation.

Payton Grimsley

Clubs & Activities
Golf (4 years)
Basketball (4 years)
Maroon Platoon, Maroon Platoon Leader, FCA, Future Spartans Mentoring Program

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
An older brother

Hobbies:
Working out, playing sports, and hanging out with family and friends.

Favorite SJO memories:
He really enjoyed playing in both IHSA regional and sectional golf competitions. He will definitely remember his involvement in the Maroon Platoon over the years, and Payton will always remember all of the home basketball games, especially the Class 2A Regional Championship game hosted by SJO this past February. Payton appreciated the electric environment of this game, and playing in this game was a special moment for him.

Favorite classes:
English 101/102 and Economics

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Dunn at St. Joseph Grade School; Mr. Miller, Mr. Risley, Mrs. Cler, and Mrs. Kinney at St. Joseph Middle School; and Mr. Kiel Duval, Mrs. Jeanna Kerner, Mrs. Heather Lindenmeyer, Mr. Marshall Schacht, Mr. Ryan Searby, and Mr. Jeff Kieffer at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

College:
Illinois State University majoring in Business Management

Advice to future SJO students:
Don't overstress about high school in order to have success in the classroom and to get the most out of the four years of high school.



Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

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