Father McGivney wins state semifinal baseball game over Pawnee in four innings

Omar Avalos celebrates his first-inning triple with a yell, standing on third — Father McGivney's Omar Avalos celebrates on third base after hitting a line drive to right field. The sophomore collected the team's first RBI, tying the score at 1-all. The Griffins went on to defeat the Indians in four innings 16-1, advancing to the Class 1A title game against Marquette High School. Avalos finished the game 3-for-4 with one run and 2 RBI.

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Left: Freshman Gavin Greer lays down a bunt to third base in the first inning. He scored the team's only run on a Coy Clarke hit to center field later in the frame. Middle: Kannon Kamp is welcomed to home plate after his grand slam shot over the right field wall with Evan Koontz, Ty Etcheson, and Reilly Sutberry. The four-run homer put the Griffins up 5-1 on the scoreboard. Right: Pawnee pitcher Riley McElroy, who took the loss for Pawnee, unloads a pitch in the bottom of the third inning. The senior gave up seven hits in semifinal loss.

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Tagged: High School Sports, Baseball, State Baseball, Pawnee Baseball, State Baseball Qualifiers, Father McGivney Baseball

Maroons test their speed in relay prelims at state

Champaign Central Londyn Grant fires out the blocks at state track meet — **CHARLESTON** - Champaign Central's Londyn Grant fires out of the blocks to start the Maroons' shot at securing a spot in the 4x400m relay in Saturday's IHSA Girls Track & Field State Finals. Grant, running with teammates Sarah Donahoe, Milka Bwandundu, and Julia Bilsbury, finished the prelims in 33 place out of 40 teams on Friday with a time of 4:07.05. While the four runners did not advance this year, the good news is three of the four runners will return next spring to likely qualify for another trip back to state.

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Tagged: Central Maroons, Central Athletics, Sports, IHSA state meat, State-qualifier, State Track, Central runs at state track meet, 4x400m relay

EPG leads the small school division in 4x400 relay prelims at IHSA state meet

EPG's Jaida Reed takes the baton from Teagan Tibbs — **CHARLESTON** - El Paso-Gridley sophomore Jaida Reed takes the baton from Teagan Tibbs, a freshman, while running in the second heat of the 4x400m relay prelims at Thursday's IHSA Girls Track & Field State Finals. The Titans turned in the top time of the day at 4:05.62 ahead of Pleasant Plains (4:05.89) and Lena-Winslow (4:06.02) with the third best time in Class 1A. The anticipation for an exciting title will be high with these three teams in contention for the top three spots on the podium on Saturday.

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Tagged: IHSA track & field, state track, IHSA girls state track meet 2025, 2025 state qualifier, High School Sports, State track qualifier, El Paso-Gridley sports, Girls Sports, EPG Titans

State Basketball |
Peoria Notre Dame 32 minutes away from a repeat state title, Mt. Carmel sets sights on finishing 3rd

NORMAL - Peoria Notre Dame continued its dominance on the biggest stage, rolling past Mt. Carmel 61-35 in the Class 2A state semifinal at the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals on Thursday at CEFCU Arena on the campus of Illinois State University.

The Irish, defending Class 2A champions, extended their winning streak to 15 games and remain undefeated in back-to-back state finals appearances. They advance to face the winner of the other semifinal between Phillips and Nashville in Saturday's championship game.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Peoria Notre Dame's Lexi Baer drives to the paint backdoor during the second half. The junior led all scorers with 18 points to help the Irish advance to Saturday's Class 2A title game.

Lexi Baer led the charge with 18 points and nine rebounds, powering Notre Dame's offense in key moments. Emy Wardle added 15 points, connecting on three of her four attempts from beyond the arc, while Julia Mingus chipped in 10 points to round out the team's top scorers.

Up by just three points at halftime, the Irish found another gear in the third quarter. Baer scored six points in the frame, while Alli Stickelmaier and Cora Heinz each contributed four points to help Notre Dame stretch its lead to 15. That surge put the game out of reach and sent the Irish back to the title game with a chance to repeat as state champions.

For Mt. Carmel, Maycee Randall delivered a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Madison Stevens added eight points and seven boards. The Aces were making their first-ever appearance in the Final Four after a convincing 61-42 victory over Kankakee McNamara at the Unity Supersectional.

Despite keeping pace through the first half, Mt. Carmel struggled to contain Notre Dame's offensive pressure after the break. The Irish's ability to spread the scoring across multiple players and tenacious defense left little room for a comeback.

The Aces are back on Doug Collins Court Friday evening, hoping to take home the division's third place trophy at 6:30 PM on Friday.

Molina recovers after first match loss, Unity junior still in the hunt for top 3 finish

**BLOOMINGTON** - Unity's Phoenix Molina pulls Lockport's Rebekah Ramirez arm while looking for a takedown in their 235-pound match at the IHSA Girls' Individual Wrestling State Finals at Grossinger Motors Arena on Friday. Molina advanced to the division's consolation quarterfinal after pinning Ramirez in the first period at 1:04. She will face DeKalb's Aarianna Bloyd tomorrow for spot in the semifinals.

SJO Dance Team finishes the season 16th in the state

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

The SJO Dance Team pose for a photo while waiting for Friday's performance results at Grossinger Motors Arena during the IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals.

BLOOMINGTON - Going to state is a big deal. Competing against the top 30 teams in the state, the St. Joseph-Ogden dance team finished 16th out of 81 high school dance programs at this year's IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals.

"It was just like the best experience in the world," said senior Olivia Getty before the 12 finalists were announced at Friday's preliminary round at Grossinger Motors Arena. "Regardless of how we finish, I feel really proud of how we danced today. I feel like we did well."

The best part about competing at state for Reese Wheatley, one of two seniors on the squad, was spending the day with her team, giving advice throughout the day, and being there for them.

"It just means so much to be here," she said. "It just shows how hard our whole team worked throughout the entire season."

Getty, the other senior, said making it to state was the result of the Spartans' dedication and work ethic during the season. "It shows all of the hard work it took to get here."

Wheatley said Alyssa Hudson, the team's new head coach, is one of the best coaches she has worked with.

"She loves us so much and has spent so much time with us. She shows that at every single practice."

Getty added, "She pushed us so hard. She saw our potential from day one and did not let us give up on ourselves. She pushed us the whole season."

SJO missed the cut for the finals by four places. Finishing ahead of the SJO Dance Team with a score of 80.88 were Glenbard South (13th, 82.90), Civic Memorial (14th, 82.64), and Elmwood (15th, 81.24).

The 2025 State Championship went to Providence Catholic, who bested the competition with a score of 93.56. Earning a score of 92.34 and finishing in the top three for the third consecutive year since the pandemic, Morris took home another second-place trophy. The reigning J'ettes from Jacksonville, who had hoped to achieve a three-peat, finished third with a score of 91.12 in this season's title run.

Getty's advice to next year's dance team is to work hard.

"Work so hard," she advised. "Every moment pays off. Just put in the time and the effort. It will pay off."

St. Joseph-Ogden Dance Team at IHSA State

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

The SJO Dance Team performs their modern dance routine in the preliminary round at Grossinger Motors Arena during the IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals.

Wheatley's message to her fellow teammates was, "Remember that you are not alone. Everyone is going through something, so show up every day and do your very best. Keep yourselves and each other proud."

The Spartan Dance Team roster also included Adelyn Childers, Abigail Getty, Gracyn Sjoken, Abigail Bello, Alivia Learned, Hadley McDonald, Lilly Sollars, Ava Gallo, and Lilyah Jones. Hudson was assisted by former dance team member Kaitlyn Hess.

State Cross Country |
Mahomet-Seymour, Centennial compete at IHSA cross country state finals

PEORIA - In a showcase of endurance and determination, 15 local athletes competed in the Illinois High School Association's Class 2A Girls' Cross Country State Finals at Detweiller Park on Saturday. Among 243 runners, representatives from Mahomet-Seymour and Centennial made their way around the three-mile course on the heels and hip-to-hip with the top harriers from all corners of Illinois. Also with them was Marley Yau, representing Urbana in the season finale.

Centennial and Mahomet-Seymour battle through competitive field

The Bulldogs finished the season ranked 20th overall in the team standings at this year's meet, while the Chargers finished 29th. For both teams, reaching the state finals was a significant accomplishment after advancing from the sectional meet at Olney Central College on November 2, where Mahomet-Seymour was fourth, and Centennial clinched the sixth and final qualifying spot.

The Chargers' top runners hurried along the course at competitive paces. Sophomore Farah Scott led the Chargers with an 18:42.28 finish, placing 65th. Sophomore Brenna Hooper followed, clocking in at 19:52.89 and finishing 160th.

Junior Molly Pate trailed close behind in 162nd with a time of 19:53.85. Senior Kaylee Sweikar rounded out notable performances, finishing in 188th at 20:08.38. Lauren Kleber rounded out the top five scoring runners in 234th place at 21:27.94.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were led by junior Emily Anand, who posted the best time for Mahomet-Seymour, finishing in 18:12.46 to secure 45th place. Freshman Cecily Smith ended her race in 79th place, clocking in at 18:51.97.

Sophomore Taylor Mills notched 104th place with a time of 19:07.02. Kennedy Ashby was not far behind, crossing over at 19:59.86. Seniors Chloe Bundren and Morgan Waisath rounded out the team's state run, finishing 185th and 240th, respectively, with Finley Smith wedged between them, coming in 212th at 20:40.89.

Urbana’s Yau returns to state

Sophomore Marley Yau finished the season strong for Urbana with a second trip to state. The lone Tiger to qualify from Urbana, Yau finished 136th with a time of 19:28.17, capping her journey after a strong sectional performance where she set a personal record at 19:18.7, ten seconds under her best time from the 2023 state meet.

Top Contenders and Final Standings

In a field of fierce competition, St. Ignatius College Prep emerged victorious with a team score of 76, securing first place. DePaul College Prep took second with 177 points, followed by Glenwood in third with 217 points. These teams demonstrated exceptional depth, with St. Ignatius' Annika Swan finishing second individually and contributing to her team's victory.

The top three individual finishers established a remarkable standard for Illinois high school cross country. Sundara Weber from Sandwich High School won the race with an impressive time of 16:11.27. Following her was Swan from St. Ignatius, who finished with a time of 16:27.80. Zoe Carter from Normal University secured third place, crossing the finish line at 16:49.50.

KEYWORDS: State cross country, IHSA girls state finals, Mahomet-Seymour cross country, Centennial cross country, Urbana state cross country qualifiers

Photo Gallery |
Area runners give all at state cross country meet

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Savanna Franzen runs in the Class 1A Cross Country State Finals on Saturday. Franzen, a freshman, finished in 6th place over all at 17:51.72 to help the Spartans to a fourth-place finish in the girls Class 1A division.

Unity's Malia Fairbanks runs her second lap around Detweiler Park during the Class 1A Cross Country State Finals on Saturday. The veteran senior harrier was the fifth runner from the Rockets to cross the finish line at 19:04.82 to secure the team title with 126 points. The victory secured Unity's sixth consecutive cross country state trophy in over the past six seasons.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

University High School junior Kate Ahmari heads to the finish line on her way to a second-place Class 1A finish on Saturday. The Illineks finished in ninth-place with at team score of 320 behind #7 IC Catholic (246pts) and Wheaton Academy in 8th place with 289 points. Ahmari crossed the finished line at 17:29.24.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO's Ava Knap runs the last thirty yards to the finish line in her 3-mile race at Detweiller Park. The Spartans' top finisher clocked in 17:48.51 in fifth-place.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Incoming Storm

Salt Fork runner finishes in top 25

Oakwood-Salt Fork runner Macie Russell heads to the finish line in the Class 1A race. The sophomore earned All-State status after coming in 16th place. A student at Salt Fork High School, she ran the 3-mile course in 18 minutes and 21.94 seconds.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Urbana University's Stefania Dzhaman runs to the finish line behind Eureka's Meika Bender in the Class 1A Cross Country State Finals on Saturday. Dzhaman, a senior, finished her run at 19:42.85.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Pulling away from her nearest competitor, Unity's Harper Hancock closes in on the finish line. The Rockets have won the state title two other times since the 2015 season (2015, 2017). The program was runner up in 2016 and finished in third-place in 2018 and 2019 in Class 1A. Hancock, a senior, finished in 30th place with her time at 18:39.30. Follow link to view more photos of Unity cross country runners on Saturday.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

With a few more strides to go to finish his race, St. Joseph-Ogden's Luke Stegall leans forward in preparation to cross the finish line during the boys' Class 1A race. Stegall, a senior, finished the last cross country race of his prep career at 15:52.49. The Spartans finished in sixth-place in the boys team standings.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Pushing himself the last eight yards of his race, Urbana University's Henry Laufenberg runs to a 15:58.37, placing 46th place overall.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Champaign Central's Maaike Niekerk runs in the Class 2A girls' race. The senior clocked in at 19:05.30 in 86th place on Saturday.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Urbana's Celia Barbieri and Northside's Allison Feeney runs in the Class 2A Cross Country State Finals on Saturday. The solo runner representing the Tigers at state finished 111th overall at 19:19.22.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

With about 10 yards left in their race, Urbana's Brian Allison and Julio Angrave along with Champaign Central's Nick Bonn continue their final kick to the finish line during the Class 2A race.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Urbana's Hudson Coady and Champaign Central's Enrique Bueschlein run through a shaded area of the Detweiller Park course on their second lap in the Class 2A race. Coady finished 220th oveall at 17:28.15, while Bueshlein crossed over 13 seconds later for a time of 17:41.80 in 227th place.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Urbana's Sam Lambert closes in on the finish line in the Class 2A race. The senior harrier for the Tigers finished just one place away from making All-State status in 26th place at 15:25.63. Earlier in the season, Lambert won the Big12 Conference title for UHS. See more photos of Urbana's cross country athletes here.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks