St. Joseph-Ogden Girls Claim Victory at Chrisman Cow Chip XC Invite

Grace Bressner and Abby Bello shine as St. Joseph-Ogden wins the Cow Chip XC Invite.


CHRISMAN - A year after finishing outside the top six at the Chrisman Cow Chip XC Invite, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ cross country team returned with a vengeance, claiming the team title in front of bright skies and temperatures that made running three miles ideal.

The Cow Chip, a race first conceived in 1981 by Roger Beals, is known for its flighted competition and open-pasture course, dotted with the occasional pasture pie, adding a quirky twist to the classic cross country challenge. On Saturday, Mother Nature provided near-perfect conditions for east-central Illinois runners with sunny skies and a comfortable 74 degrees.

For St. Joseph-Ogden, the difference this year was clear. Sophomores Grace Bressner and Abby Bello emerged as stars, showing the results of a summer of dedicated training. For Bressner, Bello, and their teammates, the hard work over the summer paid off in measurable improvements and team success.

Bressner, who last year finished the race in 20:23.9, cut her time down to 18:57.45, placing sixth overall. Bello, improving more than a minute and a half from her previous 22:16 finish, crossed in 20:02.52 to claim seventh place. Their performances set the tone for the team, complemented by Taylor Vaughn (21:16.28), Allie Bott (21:16.71), and Tessa Walker (21:30.05), leading St. Joseph-Ogden to a winning team score of 85.

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Last year, Unity won the girls title thanks to seniors Emily Decker and Ashlyn Denney, who have since graduated. This season, the Rockets’ top performers were senior Mackenzie Pound and juniors Grace Wherley and Galina Fairbanks. Pound blazed a trail early and finished fifth overall in 18:51.43. Wherley and Fairbanks also made their mark, crossing in 21:55.46 and 21:58.25 respectively, helping Unity secure third place as a team with 108 points.

Urbana University High showcased depth and consistency, placing second as a team with 98 points. Clara Knutson led the way with a 20:04.10 finish, followed by Cadence Scheunemann in 20:38.27. Janny Knutson added an 8th-place finish in 20:47.41, solidifying Urbana’s position near the top.

The top five individual finishers reflected the competitive field across the area: Isabella Keller of St. Anthony dominated with a 16:24.89 finish, followed by teammate Aubrey Denning (17:38.28). Marshall High’s Madeleine Fox (18:42.85) and Molly Farrell (18:49.97) earned third and fourth, respectively, before Pound’s fifth-place effort.


Top Ten Individual Finishers — Chrisman Cow Chip XC Invite

  1. Isabella Keller, St. Anthony — 16:24.89
  2. Aubrey Denning, St. Anthony — 17:38.28
  3. Madeleine Fox, Marshall — 18:42.85
  4. Molly Farrell, Marshall — 18:49.97
  5. Mackenzie Pound, Unity High School — 18:51.43
  6. Grace Bressner, St. Joseph-Ogden — 18:57.45
  7. Abby Bello, St. Joseph-Ogden — 20:02.52
  8. Taylor Mabry, Monticello — 19:06.14
  9. Macie Owen, Monticello — 19:30.80
  10. Grace Thompson, Marshall — 19:48.97

Team Results (Top Four)

  1. St. Joseph-Ogden — 85
  2. Urbana University High — 98
  3. Unity — 108
  4. Monticello — 115

St. Joseph-Ogden Finishers

  1. Grace Bressner — 18:57.45
  2. Abby Bello — 20:02.52
  3. Taylor Vaughn — 21:16.28
  4. Allie Bott — 21:16.71
  5. Tessa Walker — 21:30.05
  6. Charlene Barbee — 22:02.85
  7. Sydney Steinbach — 23:14.68

Unity Finishers

  1. Mackenzie Pound — 18:51.43
  2. Brooklyn Mumm — 21:05.50
  3. Mia Reifsteck — 21:52.65
  4. Grace Wherley — 21:55.46
  5. Galina Fairbanks — 21:58.25
  6. Carolina Popovics — 22:11.82
  7. Giulietta Dibello — 25:04.00

Urbana University High Finishers

  1. Clara Knutson — 20:04.10
  2. Cadence Scheunemann — 20:38.27
  3. Janny Knutson — 20:47.41
  4. Shriya Nagarag — 21:32.65
  5. Sophia MacDonald — 21:55.05
  6. Ella Ylagan — 22:22.56
  7. Julia Smith — 24:50.12
St Joseph-Ogden cross country, Chrisman Cow Chip XC Invite, Illinois girls cross country, high school sports results, east-central Illinois running
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Spartans top Illineks for first time in program history

Historic win: SJO Spartans beat University High 5-3, led by Hess, Harper, and Stevens.
Zach Harper tries to steal the ball from Aldo Zepeda
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Zach Harper challenges Uni-High's Aldo Zepeda for possession during first half action at Dick Duval Field. Harper delivered a goal and three assists in the Spartans first-ever win over the Illineks.


ST. JOSEPH - On Wednesday, the St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans soccer team achieved a milestone that had eluded them for years, defeating Urbana University High for the first time in 13 meetings.

The Illineks, known for their disciplined play and elite ball handling, fell to SJO thanks to second-half goals from Lucas “Buddy” Stevens and Zach Harper. The 5-3 victory marks a program-first for St. Joseph-Ogden, now 3-0 on the young season.

Tyler Hess sparked the offensive surge with two first-half goals on passes from Harper, tying the game at 2-all late in the half. Harper then broke the deadlock with a goal at 1:54, finding the east goal at Dick Duval Field to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead heading into halftime.

Lucas Stevens heads the ball in for a SJO goal
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

University High's Muhammad Iftikhar attempts to block the ball as goes off the head of St. Joseph-Ogden's Lucas Stevens. Steven, who lined up an assist earlier, scored the Spartans' fifth goal on the second-half play.

The second half saw Hess complete his hat trick on a header from a Stevens cross at 37:10, extending the lead to 4-2. University High's Robert Tu responded at 25:54 with a well-placed shot in the box, trimming the deficit to 4-3 with his third goal, but a resilient Spartan defense, anchored by goalie Quinn Stahl, held firm to prevent any further scoring.

With just 17:13 remaining, Stevens sealed the historic win with a header from a Harper assist, finalizing the score at 5-3.

Statistically, SJO was led by Harper with one goal and three assists, Hess with three goals and one assist, and Stevens contributing a goal and an assist. Stahl recorded eight saves to secure the victory.

"They are always a good team," head coach Chris Stevens said about the Illinek. "Whether they lose 20 players or 15, it doesn't matter. They always have a good team."

Stevens said he is excited to watch this year's squad come together.

"We have a good team this year, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do," he said. "I'm looking forward to having the guys who played all year back out there."

Last year, the SJO soccer team started the season with one win and two losses, including a loss to Uni High. The Spartans then went on an 18-game win streak before falling in the IHSA sectional semifinal. Now 3-0, the program and its core players are positioned for another successful season.

Stevens said this year's team strength lies in its ability to communicate and stay dedicated.

"Some of these kids have played together for more than eight years," he said. "I have 27 kids who show up for every practice."

Looking ahead, undefeated St. Joseph-Ogden faces a challenging stretch with three matches in four days: hosting Mt. Pulaski/Hartsburg-Emden on Sept. 2, traveling to Schlarman on Sept. 3, and ending the run at Decatur Eisenhower.

University High, now 1-1, also begins a three-game week starting on the road against Champaign Central on Sept. 2, followed by home matches against Monticello on Sept. 4 and Fisher/Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley on Sept. 6.

While the loss stun and stung the Illineks, for them it was a step forward in their quest for another regional or even sectional title.

"Obviously, Robert Tu scoring three goals was amazing. He was working hard the entire game," said Uni head coach Joe Krehbiel. "I think we didn't match their physicality, especially in the first half."

After losing 15 seniors, the Illinek are a relatively young team. While the squad certainly has its strengths, Krehbiel said the team needs time to mature. Despite the loss and with only three senior to handle the leadership roles, he believes his program is still competitive among the top Class 1A teams in the area.

"Overall, we are less experienced than we were this time last year," he said. "Our midfield is pretty strong. We were able to move the ball around pretty well and create chances for Robert."

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St. Joseph-Ogden soccer first win over Urbana University High, Tyler Hess hat trick high school soccer, Illinois high school soccer upsets 2025, SJO Spartans soccer results September 2025, High school soccer program milestone victory
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State-Bound: Local tennis players ready for IHSA Finals this weekend

St. Thomas More’s Hunter Madigan wins sectional title; leads local field to IHSA state tennis finals.
St. Thomas More tennis star Hunter Madigan
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Thomas More's Hunter Madigan plays in last year's park district Labor Day tournament. The junior won last weekend' sectional title and heads to the IHSA state tournament this weekend to face the best players in Illinois.

CHAMPAIGN - Three singles players and three area doubles teams are set to represent the Champaign-Urbana area at the IHSA Boys Tennis State Finals, which begin Thursday across the Chicago suburbs.

St. Thomas More junior Hunter Madigan headlines the local contingent after capturing the Class 1A sectional singles title last weekend at Centennial High School. Madigan cruised through the bracket, dropping just two games in three straight-set victories. He opened with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Luke Abadeer of Cornerstone Christian Academy, then handled Urbana University's Swapnil Kumar 6-2, 6-0 in the semifinals.

In the championship match, Madigan faced University High’s Jameson LaFave in a highly anticipated battle between two of the area’s top four singles players. Madigan prevailed 6-3, 6-1 to claim the sectional crown.

"My opponent played very well," LaFave said recounting the championship match. "Hunter Madigan hit some great shots, stayed consistent, and ran me out of the match."

Despite the loss, LaFave showed maturity beyond his years after the loss.

"It was a good fight in the opening set. He was just the better player that day. It was a tough loss," he said. "You got to learn from them and move on to state."

LaFave, a freshman in his first varsity season, still secured a state berth along with three U-High teammates. Senior Robert Gao and junior Kyle Fan qualified for the doubles draw, while Kumar advanced with a third-place singles finish.

Madigan will open state play against Dunlap's Harmin Patel. LaFave, seeded No. 15 in the 1A bracket, draws Brother Rice freshman Nathan Miller. Kumar faces Andrew Mumford of Marmion Academy in the first round, while Gao and Fan will take on Wauconda's Sean Lenhart and Marshawn Gallego.

Chargers' doubles team joins area players at state

Centennial seniors Tyler Luchinski and Ryder Perry also punched their ticket to state, placing second in doubles at their home sectional. They begin the tournament against Althoff Catholic seniors Joe Hamilton and Braden Gasawski.

Three Maroons ready to battle for a podium spot

Central senior Abel Vines enters the tournament with momentum and a sparkling 29-1 record. Vines dominated the Springfield sectional without dropping a game in eight sets and opens his state run against Oswego East's Pranav Kannan.

Rounding the list of high school players heading to state are Central’s doubles team of Daniel Canivez and Sohum Gurrapu, who also secured a spot at state after winning the sectional title. They’ll face Minooka's Eli Chavez and Evan Lundeen, who finished third at the Lincoln-Way East sectional.

Tagged: IHSA Boys Tennis State Finals 2025, Champaign-Urbana high school tennis, Hunter Madigan tennis St. Thomas More, Abel Vines Central High tennis, Illinois high school tennis tournament, U-High Jameson LaFave state tennis
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Today's prep basketball live streams

Raegen Stringer playing basketball Unity's Raegen Stringer goes up for a shot between Urbana's Aziyiaha Davis and Mia Schroeder during their non-conference game last December. The Unity girls' basketball team open their season tonight at the Bunny Tip-Off against Iroquois West (0-1).

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Today's area basketball team live streams

Oakwood's Jaydah Arrowsmith tries to dribble the ball around St. Joseph-Ogden's Timera Blackburn-Kelley during last season's road game at SJO. After the final buzzer, the Comets fell 53-23 to the Spartans in the non-conference contest. While Arrowsmith, a senior during this game, has moved on, Oakwood opens their 2024-25 campaign today without her leadership, hosting the Purpler Riders of Arcola.

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Unity, SJO, and Uni-High boys advance to IHSA State Cross Country State Finals

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Jack Fisher runs in the main pack at the 2023 IHSA Cross Country State Finals. Fisher and the Spartans earned another trip to state after placing second at Saturday's sectional meet in Mattoon.
MATTOON - Notre Dame de La Salette captured the team title at the Illinois High School Association Class 1A Sectional Cross Country Meet on Saturday at Lake Land College, finishing with 97 points to secure the top spot. St. Joseph-Ogden and Urbana University placed second and third, respectively, each tallying 152 points, with Unity rounding out the top four teams at 194 points. Cumberland and Gillespie also qualified for the Class 1A state finals, finishing fifth and sixth.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Jack Fisher led the way among area runners, finishing sixth with a time of 15:42.6. The senior recorded his best time of the season last month at the Patriot XC Invite, clocking in at 15:31.7. Urbana University’s Ross Kimme and Kai Schwartz also delivered strong performances, placing 13th and 22nd respectively. Kimme crossed the finish line at 15:59.6, while Schwartz posted a time of 16:21.6, both contributing to Urbana University’s third-place finish and a ticket to state.

Unity’s top finishers included Camden Fairbanks and Eli Crowe, placing 16th and 21st. Fairbanks, a junior, completed the course in 16:03.0, just shy of his season-best of 15:33.1 set at the Illini Prairie Conference meet. Crowe, also a junior, recorded a time of 16:20.9 after setting a personal record of 15:19.7 at the Spartan Classic earlier this season. Their consistent efforts helped Unity secure the fourth-place position and continue their season at the state championship.

The meet’s top three individual runners turned exceptional performances. Gillespie’s Chaz Oberkfell earned first place with an impressive 15:11.8, leading from the start. Evan Cook of St. Teresa secured second, clocking 15:20.6, while Will Fuson from Cerro Gordo-Bement took third at 15:22.0. These athletes set the tone for a competitive field and will enter the state meet with momentum.

Additional area runners making notable appearances included Collin Graven, Ryan Akers, and Alex Mowrer from Unity, finishing 55th, 59th, and 74th, respectively. Urbana University’s Bruce Tang placed 37th with a time of 16:43.5, further bolstering the Illineks' third-place finish.

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Keywords: IHSA Class 1A Cross Country, Lake Land College, St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans, Urbana University Illineks, Unity Rockets, Illinois high school sports
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Uni-High girls finish fourth at Tuscola cross country regional

TUSCOLA - The Urbana University girls cross country team placed fourth at the regional race held at Wimple Park in Tuscola on Saturday.

Despite the crisp fall weather, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, the Illineks' top three runners set personal bests in the three-mile race.

Freshman Clara Knutson led the way for Urbana University, finishing 12th overall in 19:33.73, breaking her previous best of 19:54.8. Cadence Scheunemann, a sophomore, also set a new personal record, placing 17th in 20:01.33, improving upon her previous best of 20:31.2. Junior Ella Ylagan rounded out the top three for the Illineks, finishing 18th overall with a time of 20:05.78, surpassing her previous best of 20:10.7.

Urbana University's other two scoring runners were Shriya Nagaraj (32nd, 21:12.66) and Julia Smith (41st, 22:16.49).

Unity won the team title with a score of 40, followed by St. Joseph-Ogden (70), Paxton-Buckley-Loda (94), and Urbana University (106). The top seven teams advance to next Saturday's sectional race at Cumberland High School, including runners from Oakwood, St.Thomas More, and Tuscola.

Top 20 Finishers

1. Kate Foltz, Tuscola (16:02.82)
2. Emily Decker, Unity (17:11.44)
3. Mackenzie Pound, Unity (17:51.90)
4. Savanna Franzen, St. Joseph-Ogden (18:11.90)
5. Ellie Emberson, Fisher (18:20.76)
6. Grace Bressner, St. Joseph-Ogden (18:29.91)
7. Callie Richardson, Oakwood (18:37.25)
8. Tessa Walker, St. Joseph-Ogden (19:09.89)
9. Audrey McCoy, Paxton-Buckley-Loda (19:16.19)
10. Josie Cler, Unity (19:21.96)
11. Kyla Franckey, Paxton-Buckley-Loda (19:31.36)
12. Clara Knutson, Urbana University (19:33.73)
13. Ashlyn Denney, Unity (19:49.92)
14. Maddison DeOrnellas, Paxton-Buckley-Loda (19:50.27)
15. Camryn Reedy, Unity (19:50.54)
16. Leah Phipps, Chrisman (19:58.32)
17. Cadence Scheunemann, Urbana University (20:01.33)
18. Ella Ylagan, Urbana University (20:05.78)
19. Abigail Bello, St. Joseph-Ogden (20:19.70)
20. Molly Baxley, Unity (20:20.06)

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Keywords: Urbana University girls cross country, Regional cross country race, Personal bests, Top 20 runners, Unity High School, St. Joseph-Ogden
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Keller dominates at Spartan Classic, Unity girls win team title

Isabella Keller

St. Anthony's Isabella Keller runs to the finish line and her first state cross country title in the Class 1A race in 2023. Keller, who currently holds the top time in the state across all three classes, won the Spartan Classic on September 28. The sophomore is favored to earn a second state title in November.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
ST. JOSEPH - St. Anthony sophomore sensation Isabella Keller continued her dominant cross country season, winning the Spartan Classic on Sept. 28 with a time of 15:59.6, just shy of her personal record from last year's meet. Keller's performance, highlighted by a nearly 30-second lead over the rest of the field, secured her top standing in Class 1A this season.

Keller, known for her dominance in Class 1A, not only secured her victory but also solidified her status as the top runner in Illinois across all three IHSA classes. She has won every varsity 3-mile race she has entered during her high school career, including last year's Class 1A state championship at Detweiller Park. Her impressive string of victories positions her as the favorite for a repeat state title in November. Her closest competitor, Tuscola's junior Kate Foltz, finished second with a time of 16:28.3, followed by Unity senior Emily Decker in third at 16:55.1.

The race, held under overcast skies with temperatures in the high 60s, saw 148 girls from 20 teams competing. The three-mile course began on Main Street and wound through the streets of St. Joseph, offering ideal conditions for fast times.

Unity's girls team capitalized on their depth, placing three runners in the top 15 and securing the overall team title with 55 points. Decker led the Rockets with her third-place finish, followed by junior Mackenzie Pound (10th, 18:18.3) and senior Ashlyn Denney (11th, 18:19.4). Unity's consistency helped them outpace Shelbyville, which placed second with 91 points, and Monticello, which came in third with 171 points.

St. Joseph-Ogden's senior Savanna Franzen was the top finisher for the host team, placing eighth with a time of 17:54.00, while Uni-High’s top runner, junior Shriya Nagaraj, placed 28th with a time of 19:31.79.

Finishing at 17:36.87, Mackenzie Pound helped the Rockets win last year's team title at the state meet in 2023. Now a junior, she was crucial in Unity winning the Spartan Classic team title at the end of September. Coincidentally, she finished 10th in both races.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Urbana U-High finished fifth in the team standings with a score of 192 points, demonstrating their depth with several strong individual performances.

The team was led by Shriya Nagaraj, who finished 28th overall with a time of 19:31.79, showcasing her potential among the top competitors in the state. Other notable finishes for U-High included Clara Knutson in 33rd place (19:54.71) and Ella Ylagan in 41st (20:17.59). Their efforts contributed significantly to the team's overall performance, as they fought against strong competition from schools like Unity.

U-High’s depth was evident at the early season race, as they had multiple runners who consistently challenged for top placements, indicating a promising future for the program. The team's ability to compete at a high level in such a competitive environment bodes well for the remainder of the season.

In addition to Keller and Decker, several elite Class 1A runners competed at the Spartan Classic, with notable finishes from Kate Foltz of Tuscola, who placed second (16:28.31), and Molly Farrell of Marshall, who finished fourth (16:57.03).

### Top 10 Team Scores
1. Unity - 55
2. Shelbyville - 91
3. Monticello - 171
4. Seeger - 191
5. Uni-High - 192
6. St. Anthony - 192
7. Paxton-Buckley-Loda - 199
8. St. Joseph-Ogden - 210
9. Clinton - 236
10. Tri-Valley - 281

### Top 15 Individual Finishers
1. Isabella Keller, 10, St. Anthony – 15:59.6
2. Kate Foltz, 11, Tuscola – 16:28.3
3. Emily Decker, 12, Unity – 16:55.1
4. Molly Farrell, 11, Marshall – 16:57.0
5. Tessa Bowers, 11, Shelbyville – 17:03.8
6. Aubrey Denning, 10, St. Anthony – 17:03.9
7. Klaire Eighner, 11, Maroa-Forsyth – 17:51.5
8. Savanna Franzen, 12, St. Joseph-Ogden – 17:54.0
9. Adelin Bruce, 11, Tri-Valley – 18:13.4
10. Mackenzie Pound, 11, Unity – 18:18.3
11. Ashlyn Denney, 12, Unity – 18:19.4
12. Lily Woolery, 12, Shelbyville – 18:23.0
13. Ellie Emberson, 9, Fisher – 18:32.3
14. Madeleine Fox, 10, Marshall – 18:34.1
15. Aubrey Peterson, 9, Clinton – 18:40.0

St. Joe-Ogden Athletics

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