Cross-Country: Jack Fisher lead SJO's sectional cross country effort
Special to The Sentinel
CHAMPAIGN --The St. Joseph-Ogden boys' cross country team destiny to compete at this year's Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Finals was confirmed at the sectional meet. Hosted by SJO on October 29 at Dodds Park in Champaign, the Spartans dashed to a fourth-place finish in what was arguably the toughest Class 1A Sectional in the state. SJO finished with 164 points behind Decatur St. Teresa, who finished with 77 points. While every cross-country athlete would like to make the state finals, it is highly-unlikely the current Spartan program will miss any in the forseeable future. Three juniors, two sophomores, one freshman, and one senior made up the SJO's top seven runners on the roster. "We have been running in competitive meets all season to get to this point," said Jason Retz, SJO's head coach. "It will be great for them to have the state experience." The team was led by sophomore Jack Fisher, who crossed 26th after he toured the three-mile course in 16 minutes, 29.38 seconds. Freshman Lance Retz finished immediately behind Fisher 28th in 16 minutes and 29.98 seconds. The other Spartan athletes that finished within a second of each other were sophomore Mason Guido (17:02.61) and senior Ethan Blackburn (17:02.88). They were 50th and 51st, respectively. Two juniors served as the third and fourth runners. Carson Maroon and Aden Armstrong took 37th and 41st, respectively. Maroon ran the three-mile course in 16:45.99, while Armstrong finished in 16:52.05. The Spartans have competed in every state final except for two in 2012 and 2018. There was no state championship in 2020. In the seven times they advanced as a team, they were in the top 10 six times. They earned a team trophy in 2015, taking third in the state. "We want to take advantage of every opportunity we are given," said Retz. "I want to see them show up and compete. We are excited to be here, but the athletes need to have a sense of urgency and purpose." The Tolono Unity boys finished 10th in the sectional, scoring 260 points. Like their arch-rivals at SJO, the had a very young lineup, with only one senior. Four freshmen ran in the varsity race. One sophomore and one junior were also in the lineup. Eli Crowe, one of the freshmen, took 25th in the SJO Class 1A Sectional. He finished the race at 16:28.91. The rest of the scoring top five were within a minute of each other. Camden Fairbanks took 44th in 16:53.75. On his heels was the lone senior on the team, Brendan Graven, who finished in 17:00.32, good for 47th place. Isaac Ruggieri (85th) and Alex Mowrer (91st) rounded out the top five. Ruggieri crossed the finish line at 17:39.59, while Mowrer finished at 17:52.0. Two freshmen served as the sixth and seventh runners. Carter Tiemann (93rd, 17:57.59) and Collin Graven (155th, 20:44.56), respectively.
A Quick Look | Wednesday November 16, 2022

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Taking your family pet on holiday? Book your accommodations early If you really want a stress-free holiday and enjoyable trip with your furkid, you should start by planning where you’re going to stay and book your accommodations ahead of time. Booking your pet-friendly hotel room well in advance has many advantages that definitely outweigh the lure of being spontaneous and/or procrastinating.
Seniors earn Honor Roll recognition at SJO
Nov 15, 2022 08:44 pm .::.
St. Joseph-Ogden juniors make first-quarter Honor Roll
Nov 15, 2022 08:35 pm .::.
St. Joseph-Ogden's Class of 2025 Honor Roll
Nov 15, 2022 08:25 pm .::.
100 SJO freshmen start prep academic career on the Honor Roll

Unity, SJO players recognized as All-Staters The names of four area players found a place on this year's Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Football Team.
Guest Commentary: Billions spent on the election while Americans continue to struggle

Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.
This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
7 big mistakes small businesses can't afford to make


Taking your family pet on holiday? Book your accommodations early

When traveling with your pet, there are typically unique preferences or requirements when it comes to room selection. Booking a room on the first floor is a common request from pet parents. Rooms on the first floor make pet potty breaks easier. Plus, pets with mobility issues prefer first floor accommodations. In addition, a room away from “busy” areas such as an elevator or stairway are favored by people traveling with their pets to avoid potential barking and stress. There are also some hotels that have an allotted number of specific rooms designated for people traveling with pets. Booking early helps to ensure you’ll get a room that will definitely welcome you and your four-legged traveler. And of course, booking early will help to ensure that you'll get a room with all the highly desired “human” features and amenities that you’d like. YOUR pets need to be welcome, right?
Lest we forget, not all hotels allow pets. And those that do allow furry guests have specific pet rules. This includes pet weight limits, number of pets allowed, types of pets, and pet fees – among other things. The reality is that it’s going to take a bit more effort to find a hotel that will welcome your 80 lb. dog and three cats than if you’re traveling with one 10 lb. chihuahua. Booking your hotel in advance will allow you the time to find a pet-friendly hotel that will accommodate your whole crew. It will also give you time to find the best options when it comes to pet fees. Get good deals
In general, saving on hotel room rates is one of the biggest reasons people make hotel reservations ahead of time. Booking early typically equates to getting a better rate. As the departure date gets closer, availability wanes as the demand for rooms increases. This means you will very likely have to pay more for your pet-friendly hotel room. This is commonly the case when travel plans are around holidays and weekends. In addition, starting your pet-friendly hotel search early affords you more time to “shop” for the best deals. Stress-free holiday for the win
You’re taking a trip for the holidays with your precious pet. It’s supposed to be an enjoyable, bonding, and stress-free experience. Anything to reduce stress is always recommended. Securing a hotel room is probably the most important thing you have to do when taking a trip with your pet (unless you’re flying). Why wouldn’t you take the time to ensure that you have the perfect pet-friendly place to stay when you arrive at your destination? Having that big question mark hanging over your head is unnecessary. Do yourself a favor and be sure to book your pet-friendly hotel early.
Seniors earn Honor Roll recognition at SJO

High Honor Roll
McGwire Atwood
Kaytlyn Baker
Olivia Baltzell
Cara Blanchard
Taylor Burch
Tyler Burch
Maddux Carter
Ariana Chambers
Madelynn Cook
Morgan Cramer
Aiden Cromwell
Zachary Dahman
Aleah Dial
Emily Elsbernd
Leah Finley
Joselyn Frerichs
Brent Golladay
Kennedy Greer
Kylie Greer
Andrew Guelfi
Mikyla Haley
Hayden Henkelman
Maya Hewkin
Taylor Hug
Shayne Immke
Emily Jeffries
Aliya Jones
Peyton Jones
Cameran Kelley
Jacob Kern
Aaron Lane
Katherine McDermott
Teagan Miller
Courtney Myren
Ava Northen
Allegra Pearman
Ty Pence
Jack Robertson
Emma Rydell
Kirsten Schaefer
Johanna Schmitz
Jack Setterdahl
Isabel Sexton
Paige Siegmund
Payton Vander Logt
Taylor Voorhees
Alayna Wagle
Emma Ward
Maggie Ward
Jackson Wetzel
Honor Roll
Ethan Blackburn
Payton Carter
Yamilka Casanova
Bryce Collins
Katie Earley
Grace Flessner
Jessica Gadbury
Joe Gherna
Jackson Greer
Connor Hale
Bryson Helfrich
Mary Hinrichs
Jonas Hutcherson
Jade Kelley
Hunter Ketchum
Austin Kofoot
Skyler Langley
Shane Logan
Haleigh Maddock
Aidan McCorkle
Kyle Meccoli
Blake Morgan
Jacob Newman
Madeline Osterbur
Katharine Short
Garrett Siems
Trinity Tapia
Olivia Terven
Mallory Wagner
Gracelyn Warns
AJ Wells
Payton Wendell
St. Joseph-Ogden juniors make first-quarter Honor Roll

High Honor Roll
Logan Allen
Aden Armstrong
Owen Baltzell
Samantha Beetz
Chloe Burkhalter
Payton Carter
Garrett Denhart
Rachel Divan
Sadie Ericksen
Joseph Frasca
Mia Frederick
Addison Frick
Grace Getty
Logan Haake
Chloe Harper
Rachel Harris
Brody Hausman
Annabelle Hueber
Tanner Jacob
Kya Jolley
Helene Jones
Tori Kibler
Lauren Lannert
Hayden Lewis
Quinn Lewis
Taylyn Lockhart
Carson Maroon
Addisyn Martinie
Shannon McMahon
Talan Miller
Isaiah Mock
Rowan Musselman
Caleb Ochs
Macy Reed-Thompson
Addison Roesch
Addison Ross
Daniel Santiago
Lucas Skelton
Logan Smith
Dylan Smoot
Drew Thurman
Emma Thurman
Braxton Waller
Elissia Ward
Colin Wayland
Corbin Wells
Hayden Williams
Honor Roll
Kaden Allinger
Mya Bott
Kyler Brown
Tyler Buss
Maya Chahine
Grace Goldenstein
James Harbourt
Jayci Hayes
Rylee Huson
Holden Jones
Luke Landrus
Grace Mabrey
Seth McBride
Ethan McElroy
Cole Pruitt
Addison Seggebruch
Aescton Slowikowski
Madison Stevens
Addisyn Swope
Brody Weaver
Justice Wertz
Nicholas Wetzel
Spencer Wilson
St. Joseph-Ogden's Class of 2025 Honor Roll

High Honor Roll
EJ Beckett
Audrey Benoit
Sul Bonny
Landon Brown
Preslee Christians
Madison Clampitt
Aerolyn Davenport
Lauren Dewese
Ella Dietiker
Luke Ditchfield
Jackson Ennis
Savanna Franzen
Kaiden Gaines
Tayton Gerdes
Olivia Getty
Richi Gomez
Mason Guido
Makennah Hamilton
Lauren Harris
Haley Hesterberg
Maebree Houston
Kendrick Johnson
Paige Johnson
Dylan Jones
Sara Kearney
Amilliya Kindle
Owen Knap
Aiden Krall
Madison Lankster
Logan Mills
Gabriel Mortlock
Grace Osterbur
Sonia Patel
Nathan Phillips
Haley Rudolph
Audrey Ruppel
Charles Schmitz
Tanner Siems
Kyler Swanson
Collin Thomey
Samantha Uden
Reese Wheatley
Charley Wright
Fiona Xiao
Honor Roll
Jared Altenbaumer
Davin Alvarez
Dillon Bear
William Besson
Eli Birt
Miles Birt
Chaz Bowlin
Holden Brazelton
Landen Butts
Hayden Coffey
Joshua Courter
Jack Fisher
Lyla Frerichs
Addison Funk
Madelyn George
Joe Griebat
Brodie Harms
Tinley Ideus
Jeffrey Kuchenbrod
Abigail Lacey
Logan Lackey
Lillian Lanter
Kristian Lindsey
Gabriel Mata
Brenden Maury
Chayse Palmer
Logan Patton
Hailie Reifsteck
Sydney Reitmeier
Corbin Smith
Thea Smith
Coy Taylor
Carter Turner
Jackson Walsh
Isabelle Wiese
Madison Wolken
Ava Worley
Zoe Wright
Merial Yeager
100 SJO freshmen start prep academic career on the Honor Roll

High Honor Roll
Trevor Ames
Kylie Barrowman
Lexie Barrowman
Kaitlyn Beyers
Emily Bird
Aiden Bonny
Addison Brooks
Sara Bytnar
Shelby Campbell
Jacob Carlson
William Carlson
Rudra Chaudhary
Adelyn Childers
Cade Crozier
Adreona Cruz
Caleb Dwyer
Callie Evans
William Franklin
Abigail Getty
Camden Getty
William Haley
Erica Hardimon
Zachary Harper
Claire Hartman
Bryson Houchens
Lydia Huckstadt
Adalyn Jannusch
Kaelyn Jolley
Sophia Kasper
Madilyn Kelley
Sami Kelso
Cooper Kietzman
Alexis Lackey
Ryker Lockhart
Mackenzie Loschen
Vance McComas
Michael McDaniel
Isabelle McGinnis
Kodey McKinney
Patrick McMahon
Ava Midkiff
Ashlyn Miller
Hannah Mock
Delaney Nekolny
Allison Ochs
Brennan Oleynichak
Kayla Osterbur
Colton Overstreet
Garrick Page
Branson Pearman
Kaleb Peoples
Asher Pruemer
Ainsley Rhoton
Lily Rice
Landon Roberts
Logan Rosenthal
Amber Ruppel
Ethan Sanders
Cameron Schlueter
Allison Schmitz
Gracyn Sjoken
Lucas Smith
Tao Smith
Karleigh Spain
Quinn Stahl
Sydney Steinbach
Hadley Sweet
Carlee Taylor
Luke Tranel
Hunter Van Meenen
Sophia Vliet
Ryan Watts
Emma Wells
Madeline Wells
Wyatt Wertz
Logan Xiao
Cyrus Zadeh
Honor Roll
Josiah Beals
Tim Blackburn-Kelley
Timera Blackburn-Kelley
Bella Brooks
Christopher Coffey
Nathan Daly
Katherine Ericksen
Jeffrey Gossett
Charles Hale
Coy Hayes
Bryanna Hood
Amelia Huckstadt
Nick Jackson
Emma McKinney
Grace Preston
Graham Ray
Lance Retz
Jaxson Reynolds
Trevor Sexton
Jacek Slowikowski
Landon Smith
Unity, SJO players recognized as All-Staters
Get in shape before hunting season, strokes and heart attacks can happen
“Many people look to hunting as a way to relax and commune with nature and if you’re healthy and in good physical shape, it can be a great way to get some outdoor exercise. However, for many hunters, the extra exertion, colder temperatures and even the excitement of the hunt can add up to a deadly combination,” said Gustavo E. Flores, M.D., a member of the American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care committee and chairman and chief instructor for Emergency & Critical Care Trainings, LLC, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “Unfortunately, every year some hunters experience heart attacks or strokes while in the woods, so it’s important to recognize symptoms and to be able to take quick action.”
According to Flores, developing an exercise regimen and getting a good health check-up prior to hunting season would be idea. However, many hunters may not think ahead to prepare physically for the exertion hunting can have on the body – especially the heart. The colder temperatures of hunting season can cause blood vessels to constrict. Tracking prey may mean lots of walking or running, often in hilly terrain. The excitement of seeing and connecting with a target can release hormones that can increase blood pressure to cause the heart rate to spike. Then the labor of dragging an animal through the woods can leave even the most fit hunter breathless.
“Heart attacks and strokes can happen even to people who seem in good physical shape,” Flores said. “Listen to your body, take breaks if needed and have a plan in case of emergencies. Never hunt alone if possible and if cell phone service isn’t available, use walkie-talkies to stay in touch with your hunting party. Recognizing the warnings signs and seeking immediate help are key.”
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. But most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body and call 911 if you experience:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes – or it may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath. This can occur with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs. Other possible signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
Use the letters in F.A.S.T to spot a stroke
- F = Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
- A = Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S = Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred?
- T = Time to call 911
- Other signs can include: numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; or a severe headache with no known cause
Getting a person to the hospital quickly during a heart attack or stroke is critical to ensure they get medication and treatment to save their life. If calling 9-1-1 isn’t an option in the woods, it can also help to know in advance where the closest hospital is to the hunting area.
Cardiac arrest differs from a heart attack because the heart suddenly stops beating, often without any warning. Signs of a cardiac arrest are:
- Sudden loss of responsiveness – The person doesn’t respond, even if you tap them hard on the shoulders or ask loudly if they're OK. The person doesn’t move, speak, blink or otherwise react.
- No normal breathing – The person isn’t breathing or is only gasping for air.
In the event of a cardiac arrest, seconds count. Call 9-1-1, begin CPR immediately and continue until professional emergency medical services arrive.
“Learning hands-only CPR is one of the best skills any hunter can have. The American Heart Association offers many local CPR classes, and even if you haven’t taken a formal class, you can still save a life. It’s two simple steps – call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest,” Flores said. “While hunting can be a very strenuous activity, taking a few precautions and being prepared can make a difference in the safety of the experience.”
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