Looking for a playoff spot, Spartans need a win tonight

Spartans' Jackson Ennis blocks while playing on the offensive line during St. Joseph-Ogden's home football game against Illinois Valley Central. SJO ran up the score, finishing the night with a 56-19 advantage on the scoreboard. Ennis and the Spartans (5-2) host the Rantoul Eagles hoping to secure their sixth win and a guaranteed spot in the 2023 IHSA football playoffs tonight at Dick Duval Field.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Photo Gallery | Spartans posts road win at Unity

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Hayden Lewis goes wild for the camera after his team's upset victory over the heavily favored Unity Rockets at Hicks Field.

Williams leads SJO over Fisher with 12 kills, Roesch collects seven aces

The St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team posted their 25th win ...

Shooting Stars | Area basketball athletes shined brightly last month

• Clifton Central 46 - Hoopeston Area 41

Preston VanDeVeer and Anthony Zamora finished with nine points each in Hoopeston Area's loss at home to the Comets. Kenddrick Sigerill led the Cornjerkers (2-3) on the boards with a season-high 11 rebounds finished with eight points. Hoopeston Area's Owen Root went 3-for-6 from the field putting eight points in the book.

Oakwood's Brody Taflinger shakes hands with St. Joseph-Ogden Athletic Director Justin Franzen after recieving his recognition plaque for the Toyota of Danville All-Tournament team on December 3. Taflinger's efforts lead the Comets to a runner-up finish after falling to the hosts Spartans 66-31 in the championship game on Saturday. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

• St. Joseph-Ogden 66 - Oakwood 31

Ty Pence drained 33 points in SJO's title game against Oakwood at the Toyota of Danville Classic on December 3. The senior D1 recruit scored 15 points in the first quarter to put the host Spartans on cruise control to this year's tournament title.

Junior Brody Taflinger led the Comets, who entered the fray with an impressive 8-0 record, with a 13-point effort in the team's first loss of the season.

• Teutopolis 56 - Unity 40

Before boasting a four-game win streak, the Rockets suffered their second consecutive loss at the hands of the Wooden Shoes on December 3. Despite nine players contributing with two or more points, Unity fell 56-40.

The Rockets led at the halfway point by five and trailed by one, 38-37, at the end of the third quarter. Jay Saunders, who led the team in the loss with nine points, hit the team's only field goal during a fourth-quarter offensive collapse. Dalton O'Neill sank one of two free throw attempts to round out the scoring in the frame to just three points. O'Neill, Unity's second-leading scorer, finished with seven points. Henry Thomas tallied five points in the third quarter.

Joey Niebrugge, a junior, led all scorers with in the contest with 18 points.

• St. Joseph-Ogden 68 - Watseka 28

Junior Logan Smith and senior Ty Pence combined effort produced 48 of SJO's 68 points in the team's romp over the Warriors at the Toyota of Danville Classic.

Pence, an 2023 Illinois State basketball recruit, drained 28 points while Smith rained down 20 more. Six other Spartans including Maddux Carter and Brock Trimble contributed to the victory.

• Rochester 56 - Unity 46

Andrew and Henry Thomas sank 11 points apiece in the Rockets' second game of the season. Without home court advantage, Unity (1-1) came out of the locker room cold after the halftime break, scoring just six points to Rochester's 17.

• St. Joseph-Ogden 44 - Danville 14

Addisyn Martinie dropped a game-high 16 point in the Spartans' first game during the month of December that snapped a three-game early season slide. Addison Seggebruch supplied 13 points in the non-conference victory.

SJO's improves to 2-4 heading into their next contest against Maroa-Forsyth at home.

• URBANA 39 - Charleston 34

Senior Gabrielle Mboyo-Meta led the Tigers girls' basketball effort with 16 points in the team's first win of the season. Junior Jasmine McCullough also delivered a double-digit finish with 13 points. Urbana (1-3) enjoyed a team effort with six points from McKenzie Sprague and two points apiece from Savannah Blanden and Elizabeth Lange.

Trojans' Ally Logsdon all scorers with 19 points, 15 of those delivered in the fourth quarter of the non-conference game on December 1.

Area soccer teams get season underway

Collin Thomey goes up for a header during SJO's road match

St. Joseph-Ogden's Collin Thomey tries to head the ball away from University High's Luca Zepeda-Flores during their non-conference soccer game on Thursday. The Spartans were limited to a first-half goal before the Illineks scored three unanswered goals on their home field for the win, 3-1. SJO is back in action on Monday at Schlarman Academy in Danville, while Uni-High will host twin-city rival Champaign Central on Tuesday.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Winning style; Urbana sweeps SJO in first home match of the season

Alisa Tangmunarunkit plays tennis match for Urbana High School

Urbana's Alisa Tangmunarunkit lines up a shot while playing on the #1 singles court against St. Joseph-Ogden's Abbey Dowell during the team's first home match yesterday. Tangmunarunkit won the protracted battle 6-2, 6-3. After a short rest, she returned to the court at #1 doubles match with partner Luna Morales. The pair defeated Spartans duo Katie McDermott and Lilly Rice, 6-1, 6-1. The Tigers won the non-conference match, 9-0.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Prep Sports Notebook: SJO soccer post shutout on the road, Unity VB drops tough one

Unity soccer team notches first win

Nolan Remole scored Unity's first goal of the season in the first half of the team's road opener at St. Teresa. The sophomore later added an assist to his stats to help the Rockets roll over the host Bulldogs, 7-1.

Junior Gabe Pound followed up with two goals in the half, one with the help of Remole and the second unassisted. He later put the final nail in the Bulldog coffin in the second period on an assist from another sophomore, Nolan Wishall.

Two other Rocket ballers found the net in the second half as well. Brendan Bachert booted in an unassisted goal, and Andrew Mowrer took advantage of a pass from Travis McCarter to give their team a commanding 6-1 lead.

Valencia-Chavez scored St. Teresa's only goal in the second half.

Tigers sweep SJO tennis

The Urbana girls tennis program picked up their first dual match victory of the season via a 9-0 shutout over fledgling St. Joseph-Ogden program late Tuesday afternoon.

The Tigers' top six players - Alisa Tangmunarunkit, Matika Pounginjai, Eisla Madigan, Luna Morales, Halie Thompson, and Lorelie Yau - won both their singles matches and respective double bouts against the Spartans.

On the top court at #1 singles, senior Abbey Dow was the only SJO player to win three games in a set. Despite her strong serving effort and offensive play, she fell 6-2, 6-3 to Urbana's Alisa Tangmunarunkit.

Greer leads SJO in Argenta-Oreana shutout

The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team improved to 1-0-1 on the season after a 3-0 blanking on the road at Argenta-Orena. After a scoreless first half, Jackson Greer put two balls between the posts to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.

Ryker Lockhart booked his second goal of his inaugural season with SJO thanks to a feed from Aiden Cromwell to close out the scoring effort for both teams. Cromwell was also credited with an assist on Greer's first goal and sophomore Logan Mills earned the assist on the second.

Hunter Ketchum made nine saves protecting the Spartan goal.

Rockets' volleyball squad drops non-con at LeRoy

The Unity volleyball team suffered a road loss at LeRoy in a gritty two-setter on Tuesday evening. The Panthers prevailed besting the Rockets 32-30, 25-23.

Attention area high school coaches

We need your help covering your team this fall to help keep fans, college recruiters, and area readers informed. Please send us your game or meet results for our Prep Sports Notebook and weekly stats leaders for our All-Area team selection after the conclusion of the season.

If you are a coach at Unity, Urbana Uni-High, Urbana High School or St. Joseph-Ogden, the best way to send us box scores, statistical leaders for each game, and other info via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com.

Do you have a player on the verge of breaking a school record, signing an LOI, or have a story idea? Don't hesitate to email us.

Prep Sports Notebook: SJO soccer, volleyball miss opening victories

SJO Volleyball falls 2-1 to Maroa-Forsyth

After dropping the first set 26-24 to the visiting Trojans from Maroa-Forysth, the host Spartans rallied back to take the second 26-24 in their home opener on Monday. Unfortunately, the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team couldn't blast their way past the Trojans dropping the third set, 25-17.

SJO (1-1) will regroup to host Georgetown-Ridge Farm on Wednesday in another early-season non-conference contest.

The Spartan JV team also tallied a 2-0 loss to Maroa-Forysth. Earlier, the SJO freshman squad earned a 2-0 victory in the opening contest.

They had opportunities, SJO soccer records tie

Aiden Cromwell dribbles the ball down the soccer field

SJO senior Aiden Cromwell dribbles the ball down the field in the second half of SJO's first home game of the season. See more photos from the game. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Despite their senior-heavy roster, the St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team was unable to convert a needed second goal to record a win over the visiting Oakwood. The Spartans (0-0-1) had three chances in the last 5 minutes of the home season opener but were unsuccessful in putting the ball between the posts.

SJO freshman Ryker Lockhart booted the team's first goal of the season on an assist from Spencer Wilson in the first half. Oakwood responded early in the second half with a goal of their own from Grant Powell. Teammate Reef Pacot was credited with the assist.

The Spartans play their next two matches on the road. Later this afternoon, the Lockhart and the Spartans take on the Bombers from Argenta-Oreana. Then 24 hours later, square off against another orange & blue team in Urbana taking on the Illineks of University High.

Unity varsity volleyball fall toe Blue Devils

Bismarck-Henning handed the Rockets' volleyball team a 2-1 loss at the Rocket Center. Both the JV squad and freshman Unity teams notched decisive 2-0 victories.

The UHS volleyball team will play at home again on Thursday at 6p against Mattoon.

Attention area high school coaches

Do you have a player on the verge of breaking a school record, signing an LOI, or have a story idea? Don't hesitate to email us.

Prep Sports Notebook: SJO soccer wins with buzzer beater

Spartan tennis earns first dual win

Head coach Kevin Martlage and the St. Joseph-Ogden girls tennis team pose for a photo after their dual match of the season on the road against Urbana on Tuesday. The two teams will square off again on August 31. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Urbana, IL - It was a hot time at Blair Park for the St. Joseph-Ogden and Urbana girls' tennis match on Tuesday. Despite a reported heat index of 106º, the two teams battled in the blazing heat with the upstart area program from SJO winning the dual match, 6-3.

Claire Huffman at #1, Abby Dow on the #2 singles court and Ashlyn Lannert on court 6 secured victories in their singles matches. Hope Rajlich and Kelsey Martlage paired up to win at #1 doubles. Meanwhile, Allison Kearney and Angie Chahine held off Urbana duo Eisla Madigan and Myra Stevens at #2 doubles. The Spartans also came out on top on the #3 doubles court with a victory by Katie McDermott and her partner Jacey Lewis.

The Tigers' won three single points with dominating performances from veteran Myra Stevens, Eisla Madigan and Alisa Tangmunarunkit.

Match results:

No. 1 - Claire Huffman, SJO def. Hannah Null, URBANA, 8-3
No. 2 - Abbey Dow, SJO def. Jacie Owens, URBANA, 8-6
No. 3 - Myra Stevens, URBANA def. Grace Schmitz, SJO, 8-1
No. 4 - Eisla Madigan, URBANA def. Ella Armstrong, SJO, 8-0
No. 4 - Alisa Tangmunarunkit, URBANA def. Abby Behrens, SJO, 8-3
No. 6 - Ashlyn Lannert, SJO def. Matika Pounginjai, URBANA, 8-1

No. 1 Doubles:
Hope Rajlich/Kelsey Martlage, SJO def. Hannah Null/Jacie Owens, URBANA, 8-6

No. 2 Doubles:
Allison Kearney/Angie Chahine, SJO def. Myra Stevens/Eisla Madigan, URBANA, 8-4

No. 3 Doubles:
Katie McDermott/Jacey Lewis- SJO def. Matika Pounginjai/Alisa Tangmunarunkit, URBANA, 8-6

Wilson lifts Spartans with buzzer beater

St. Joseph, IL - With the score locked at two-all in the second half, sophomore Spencer Wilson scored his second goal of the contest with .2 seconds left on the clock to give the St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team a 3-2 advantage for win #2 of the season.

While goalkeeper Hunter Ketchum kept the visiting Argenta-Oreana shots out of the goal during the first half, SJO teammate Jackson Greer scored the first goal of the game on an assist from Will Page.

In the final half of SJO's home game, Greer fed Wilson the ball for the first of four second-half goals. The Bombers' Rylan Lawson and Landon Lawson added one goal apiece to later tie the score before Wilson spared both teams from a shootout.

Ketchum tallied eight saves for the Spartans.

Next up for Ketchum and Co., SJO will host Urbana University High on Thursday at 4:30p.

Missed opportunities sink Rockets

Tolono, IL - Fielding an inexperienced contingent this fall, the Unity soccer team opened their season with a 4-2 loss to visiting St. Teresa on Tuesday.

Nolan Remole, with the assistance of senior Grace Brock, nailed the Rockets' first goal of the season in the second half. Freshman Teaguen Williams added the team's second score after the Bulldogs clawed their way to a 3-1 lead.

"We gave up a PK and also did not score on a PK. Those slight differences can make a huge difference in the box score," said head coach Unity Michel Stringer. "As far as in the moment I thought that they played well."

Sophomore Mason Davis had eight saves while guarding the net for Unity.

"Our offensive is young, and for those who scored this was their first high school game so it is understandable that it took them a half to shake off the nerves and find the net," added Stringer.

The Rockets' next three matches are all at home on their new turf field. Unity starts the three-game homestand with Argenta-Oreana at 10a on Saturday. Two days later on Monday, the program hosts Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond at 4:30p. Unity fans' last chance to catch the team at home until September 11 will be on Thursday, September 2 in a match against Meridian, also starting at 4:30p.

Friday Night Lights are back!

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Coby Miller waves to parents and fans at the SJO Kickoff last Friday. Miller and the Spartans will host Monticello to start their campaign for a 2021 football playoff berth. Prior to the opening kick, a service remembering head coach Dick Duval, who passed away Thursday evening after a long battle with cancer, will be held. Also, during halftime, this year's SJO Hall of Fame Class will also be recognized at Dick Duval Field. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - January 22, 2021

Spartans defeat Rockets at home

Chance Izard attempts to dribble around Jared Routh — St. Joseph-Ogden's Chance Izard attempts to dribble around Unity's Jared Routh during the Spartans' home game in 2019. Izard contributed ten points, seven in coming the second half, in SJO's 48-37 win over the Rockets in Illini Prairie Conference action on January 22. Routh finished the contest with seven points in the low scoring affair.

Photo of the Day - January 5, 2021

Dani Gooch and Kylie Holland — Rockets' Dani Gooch [left] and Spartans' Kylie Holland [right] battle for a loose ball during second half action of the SJO girl's basketball team's home game on November 27, 2007. St. Joseph-Ogden battled to a 54-47 finish over Unity to improved to 5-0 on the season. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - January 4, 2021

Zach Becker tries to dribble around Rockets' Tim Collins — St. Joseph-Ogden's Zach Becker tries to dribble around Unity's Tim Collins during the game at the Rocket Center in Tolono on December 9, 2007. Despite a massive number of turnovers, The Spartans won the struggled holding on to beat the Rockets, 61-57. (Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - December 21, 2020

Cat (Foreman) Hesterberg goes up for a shot — SJO's Cat Foreman takes a shot over Tuscola's Rachael Buckner in the second half of their non-conference game on January 5, 2008. Foreman, who was unstoppable that Saturday afternoon, drained a career-high 20 points. Despite her also game-high effort, the Warriors squeaked by St. Joseph-Ogden on the Spartans' home court to a 67-63 win. (Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)

Photo of the Day - October 12, 2020

Lucas Gones carries the ball for SJO — St. Joseph-Ogden's Lucas Gones races to the end zone on a long punt return on October 17, 2009. The senior was tripped up short of the TD but scored later in the home game on a pass from quarterback Blake Hoveln. The victory also clinched SJO's 19th consecutive playoff appearance with their 41-7 win Saturday afternoon.
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

St. Joseph-Ogden 2020 football schedule is set

Jarrett Stevenson carries the ball down the field for the Spartans against Prairie Central. SJO will face the Hawks at home on October 2 as one of four home games this season. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Things are shaping up for the return of prep sports to the newly named Glenn Fisher Athletic Complex this fall. This week, the Illinois High School Association has released schedules for the upcoming high school football season.

The Spartans kickoff the 2020 campaign with a road opener against last year's Class 2A state runner-up Nashville. The Hornets, who replaced St. Thomas More on the schedule, outscored postseason opponents 153-89 despite a 21 point loss to Newman Catholic last fall.

Earlier this year, the Sabers announced they would move to seven-man competition this season.

The trip to Nashville is the only non-Illini Prairie Conference matchup on the schedule. In 2021, Paxton-Buckley-Loda will return to the Spartans' schedule as a member of the IPC.

The program will play its first of it four home contests at Dick Duval Field on September 4 against Rantoul and will close out the regular seasons against Monticello.

SJO finished their 2019 campaign with a 5-5 record and first-round playoff 54-26 loss the Williamsburg. The Bullets, who crushed opponents from week one last August, finished the season undefeated with the Class 3A title.

2020 St. Joseph-Ogden
Football Schedule

Aug 28	7:00	Away	Nashville
Sep 4	7:00	Home	Rantoul
Sep 11	7:00	Away	Central Catholic
Sep 18	7:00	Home	Unity
Sep 25	7:00	Away	Pontiac
Oct 2	7:00	Home	Prairie Central
Oct 9	7:00	Away	Illinois Valley Central
Oct 16	7:00	Away	Olympia
Oct 23	7:00	Home	Monticello

Big Picture: McCarty strikes out 12, Spartans hammer Panthers in home game

Back on April 12 in 2019, the Spartans rolled to overwhelming 9-1 victory over visiting Paxton-Buckley-Loda in a non-conference meet up in the 'Joe'. The St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team collected six hits with juniors Drew Coursey and Jaden Miller pounding a couple RBIs apiece.

Despite giving up a fifth-inning home run by Keyn Humes, SJO hurler Keegan McCarty picked up the win striking out 12 batters in five innings.

Adam Frerichs, Sam Wesley, Kaden Jacobs, Nick Boggs also recorded hits against PBL.

Here are the editor's top picks from the 170 action photos from the game.

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Big Picture: SJO baseball picks up 10th win in six innings

The St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team scored ten runs in the first two innings of their league contest against Prairie Central last year on April 9. What made this game special was head coach Josh Haley picked up his 300th win of his coaching career with the six-inning, 13-3 victory.

It was also a special day for Nick Boggs tagged a two-run homer, the first in his career, over the fence in the 13-3 shellacking at the SJO Sports Complex. The senior, having a career day, plated seven SJO runs against the Hawks. Shortstop Crayton Burnett contributed another five RBI.

Then junior Joey Action pitched the first four innings and struck out four batters before retiring to book the win. Zach Martini closed the session striking out three Prairie Central hitters after an inning and some change.

Here's moments from the game last spring that should bring back memories for last year's players.

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Five games you won't want miss on the 2020 SJO Softball Schedule

Hopefully, in 21 days time, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls softball team will back on the field.

When the spring sports season finally returns, seniors Zoey Witruk, Hannah Dukeman, Lindsey Aden and IHSA record-holding slugger Bailey Dowling will be a all-star foundation in head coach Larry Sparks' third campaign at the Spartan helm.

Hannah Dukeman takes a swing at a Rantoul pitch during the Spartans home game in 2019. With the threat of Coronavirus infecting much of the US population, high school sports around the nation has been put on hold. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO finished the 2019 season with at 22-10 record logging three regular season shutouts in 2019 including a 4-0 win over Illinois Valley Central, besting Maroa-Forsyth 9-0 and booking a 17-0 victory over another conference rival, St. Thomas More.

As the #2 seed in last year's postseason run, the Spartans gobbled up bases in the quest for a trip to the 2019 state tournament blanking of Illini Prairie Conference foe Monticello 11-0. SJO beat the Sages earlier in regular season play, 13-1.

The Spartans then put the kabash on Maroa-Forsyth's season by way of 5-1 victory win for the regional title. Then came a heartbreaking loss and unexpected halt to their own season after a 4-2 sectional semifinal loss to Olympia.

This season's schedule is brutal, but should have the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team ready for a deep postseason run yet again if the IHSA reinstates the season.

The likelihood unfortunately looking more and more like a long shot after the CDC released a recommendation yesterday limiting mass gatherings for an eight week period. If the state's public health department follows that guideline, that could very well push the season's official start to May 15. With a mandatory 10-day practice period before the first game can be played, that puts the first possible pitch around the 25th of May, just 11 days before the first scheduled state semifinal game at Eastside Centre in East Peoria.

That said, if Illinois spring sports gets the go-ahead as currently planned, there are five regular season contests you don't want to miss. Each should test both players and coach staff.

It will be worth the road trip to Villa Grove, if it can be snuck in on April 7, and to Unity to watch SJO overcome the Rockets on their new turfed softball field.

You won't want to miss the April 16 home game against Bloomington Central Catholic and it would be sinful to skip out on watching what could be an intense rivalry showdown against Olympia at home on May 4.

2020 St. Joseph-Ogden Softball Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home Away	Time
16 March	Mahomet-Seymour High School	H	4:30
17 March	Normal West High School	A	4:30
21 March	TBA @ Casey Westfield (round robin)	A	TBA
23 March	GCMS High School	H	4:30
24 March	Westville High School	H	4:30
25 March	St. Thomas More High School	H	4:30
28 March	Illinois Valley Central High School	H	12:00
1 April	Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin High School	A	4:30
4 April	Rantoul Invite (DH)	A	TBA
6 April	Maroa-Forsyth High School	A	4:30
7 April	Villa Grove High School @ Richman Park	A	4:30
8 April	Heyworth High School	H	4:30
11 April	Tri-Valley High School	H	10:00
13 April	Rantoul High School	A	4:30
15 April	Bishop McNamara High School	H	4:30
16 April	Bloomington Central Catholic High School	H	4:30
17 April	Mattoon High School (DH)	A	4:30
18 April	Herscher High School	H	10:00 AM
20 April	Unity High School	A	4:30
21 April	Mattoon High School	A	4:30
22 April	Mt. Zion High School	A	5:00
23 April	Pontiac High School	H	4:30
25 April	Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond High School (DH)	H	10:00 AM
27 April	Prairie Central High School	A	4:30
4 May	Olympia High School	H	4:30
6 May	Fisher High School	H	4:30
7 May	Monticello High School	A	4:30
9 May	SJO Softball Triangular (DH)	H	10:00 AM/2:00 PM
11 May	Tuscola High School	A	4:30
12 May	Danville High School	H	4:30
14 May	Clinton High School	A	4:30
15-16 May	Galesburg Tourney (Alexis Fieldhouse: 3 games)	A	TBA
18 May	Charleston High School	A	4:30
19-22 May	IHSA Regionals	A	TBA
23 May	IHSA Regional Championship	A	TBA

2020 JV Softball Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home Away	Time
16 March	Mahomet-Seymour High School @ St. Joseph Community Park	H	4:30
17 March	Normal West High School	A	4:30
23 March	GCMS High School	H	6:00
24 March	Westville High School	H	6:00
26 March	Urbana High School	H	4:30
28 March	Illinois Valley Central High School	H	2:00
1 April	Champaign Centennial High School	H	4:30
6 April	Maroa-Forsyth High School	A	6:00
9 April	OPEN DATE	H	TBA
11 April	Tri-Valley High School	H	12:00
13 April	Rantoul High School	A	4:30
15 April	Bishop McNamara High School	A	5:00
16 April	Bloomington Central Catholic High School	H	6:00
18 April	Herscher High School (DH)	H	12:00
20 April	Unity High School	A	6:00
21 April	Mattoon High School	H	4:30
22 April	Mt. Zion High School	A	5:00
23 April	Pontiac High School	H	6:00
24 April	Champaign Central High School	A	4:30
27 April	Prairie Central High School	A	6:00
4 May	Olympia High School	H	6:00
5 May	Champaign Central High School @ St. Joseph Community Park	H	4:30
6 May	Fisher High School	H	6:00
7 May	Monticello High School	A	6:00
8 May	TBA @ St. Joseph Community Park	H	4:30
11 May	Tuscola High School	A	6:00
14 May	Clinton High School	A	6:00
18 May	Charleston High School	A	6:00

Wagner named Most-Valuable-Wrestler

Junior AJ Wagner was recognized as the program's most-valuable-wrestler at the Sports Awards Program held Tuesday night at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Wagner, who finished his junior season with a record of 42 wins and 10 losses, was a state finalist at 113-pounds. He also received the Iron Spartan Award as well as his varsity letter.

St. Joseph-Ogden's AJ Wagner is declared winning after a 5-1 decision over Mount Carmel's Cade Keepes at the IHSA state wrestling tournament on February 21, 2020. In addition to earning another varsity letter, Wagner earned the team's MVP award and the Iron Spartan Award. See more photos from his tournament appearance along with fellow Spartan Isaiah Immke here. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

A few of Wagner's notable victories this season included a win over Deer Creek-Mackinaw's Payton Murphy and pinning PORTA's Jake Lieb.

The Spartan wrestler also bested Carlinville state-qualifier Jake Schwartz, who finished his season at 39-6, twice during the season, once at ABE's Rumble and the PORTA Invite.

Sophomore Conrad Miller earned the Most-Improved-Wrestler award.

Seniors Trevon Carr and Brodie Sullivan, seniors and both members of this year's playoff football squad were award varsity wrestling letters. Juniors letter winners, in addition to Wagner, included Isaiah Immke, Max Shonkwiler.

Additionally, three other underclassmen earned varsity letters along with Miller. Sophomores Chase Chapman and Isaiah Moore as well as freshman Owen Birt received letters for their efforts during the winter sports season.

SJO 7-0 in conference play, Izard pounds 29 in Rantoul road game

While the girls' team survived a nearly awkward scare on their home court from a hungry Tuscola team in their regional opener, the St. Joseph-Ogden boys team picked up conference win number seven after defeating Rantoul on the road, 66-53.

The Spartans improve overall to 19-6 on Tuesday thanks largely to a huge scoring effort by Chance Izard.

The senior, who spend 30-1/2 minutes on the floor for SJO, dropped a magnificent 29 points behind a 52% shotmaking effort against the Eagles in the Illini Prairie matchup.

Ty Pence logged another double digit output, his fifth in SJO's last six games, to finish the evening with 14 points. Like Izard, he did not miss a shot from the free throw line. The frosh star made all four of his attempt.

Izard made all five of his shots and fellow senior Drew Coursey closed out the game with perfect free throw shooting going 2-for-2.

Under the rim, Conner Hodge and Jordan Kelly led the Spartans with five rebounds apiece.

The Eagles scoring effort was led by Kamryn Rome, who mustered 14 points as his team dropped to 2-4 in the conference and 5-19 with season coming to a quick conclusion in a few weeks.

Rantoul's Lorenz Lee added another eight points to his team's effort and Colin Wilkerson contributed another seven. Bryant Shaw led all rebounders with seven boards.

Spartans are back in action this Friday night at home to face Illinois Valley Central for senior night. It will be an oh-so-gooey, sweetheart of a deal for Izard and the other nine seniors on Valentine's Day with a win over the Grey Ghosts. The 'W' will all but guarantee outright ownership the 2020 conference title.

Tip-off for the varsity game at the high school is slated for 7pm.

Box Score

Scoring

St. Joseph-Ogden: Payton Cain 5, Drew Coursey 2, Payton Grimsley 7, Chance Izard 29, Jordan Kelly 9 and Ty Pence 14.

Rantoul: Kamryn Rome 14, Marcus Lee 3, Jamari Buford 2, Ke Jaun Caradine 6, Lorenz Lee 8, Bryant Shaw 6, Deonta Space 5, Colin Wilkerson 7 and Ethan Winston 2.

Ladies basketball team get conference win

After snagging an defensive rebound, Spartan Anna Wentzloff looks for an open teammate to pass the ball during the her team's first home game in 2020. The senior finished with four points in St. Joseph-Ogden's 55-19 drubbing over visting Illinois Valley Central today. St. Joseph-Ogden, who finished 5th at this year's State Farm Holiday Classic basketball tournament, moves forward with their 14-4 record to face St. Thomas More in Illini Prairie Conference action at home on Monday. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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