The Sentinel

Despite earlier milestones, Spartans soccer season ends with loss to Pioneers

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Exhausted and heartbroken, junior Zach Harper (standing) and senior Logan Mills take a moment to regain their composure after Spartans' season-ending loss to Normal U-High at the Monticello Sectional on Saturday.

MONTICELLO - St. Joseph-Ogden’s remarkable soccer season came to a close on Saturday as they fell 6-0 to Normal University High School in the sectional semifinal at Monticello’s soccer complex. The Spartans, who had been dominant throughout the season, were held scoreless for the first time all year in a tough matchup against the defending Class 1A state runner-up.

The loss marked only the Spartans' third defeat of the season, finishing with a 22-3-1 record. Despite the disappointment, SJO can look back on a historic campaign, having scored 172 goals this season, more than any other team in Illinois High School Association (IHSA) history, regardless of class. The Spartans also set a program record with 22 wins, showcasing the team’s growth and offensive prowess.

Coming into the sectional semifinal on the back of a five-game winning streak, where they outscored opponents 45-5, the Spartans had every reason to be confident. However, U-High’s precision and disciplined play proved too much to handle. The Pioneers, now 21-5-1, displayed their experience and senior leadership, especially in the first half, where they quickly established control of the match by scoring four goals.

U-High’s defense was equally impressive. Known for their tight formations and tactical discipline, the Pioneers managed to stifle SJO’s high-powered offense throughout the game. The Spartans, who had averaged nine goals per match in their previous five games, struggled to create meaningful chances. Normal’s defense consistently denied the Spartans any scoring opportunities, particularly during the first 28 minutes of the second half when SJO was desperately searching for a breakthrough.

The Spartans’ best opportunity came late in the match when Zach Harper broke free of U-High’s defensive line with just over five minutes left. Harper’s one-on-one chance against Pioneer goalkeeper Noah Grieshaber could have ended SJO’s scoring drought, but Grieshaber came up with a crucial stop, preserving the shutout and sealing the Pioneers’ victory.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Logan Mills tries to dribble the ball around Normal University's Bryce Nicolas-Penn (right) and Connor Evans during the first half.

Normal U-High’s balanced performance, marked by precise passing and organized teamwork, propelled them into the sectional final. They will face Fisher-GCMS (20-3-1) on Tuesday in what promises to be a highly competitive match.

For St. Joseph-Ogden, Saturday’s defeat brought an end to a memorable season. Led by seniors like Alexis Acosta Reyes, Carter Turner, and Logan Mills, the Spartans will be remembered for their record-breaking offensive achievements and their resilience throughout the year. In head coach Chris Stevens’ second term, the Spartans compiled an impressive 36-11-1 record over two seasons, cementing their status as one of the top programs in Class 1A.

As the Spartans reflect on a year filled with highlights, including three more wins than any previous team in program history, the foundation is in place for a successful campaign in 2025. With underclassmen like Harper and sophomore goalkeeper Jaxson Colvin set to return next season, the future remains bright for St. Joseph-Ogden soccer.

This year's team seniors included Alexis Acosta Reyes, Carson Sharp, Carter Turner, Davin Alvarez, Eli Birt, Logan Mills, Logan Patton, and Will Besson. Juniors on the squad included Branson Pearman, Rudra Chaudhary, Chris Coffey, Cooper Kietzman, Quinn Stahl, and Zach Harper. Jaxson Colvin, Nicholas Harris, Skyler Graham, Steven Newman, Tyler Hess, Waylon Jones, and Yadiel Acosta Reyes made up the sophomore class, with Hunter Cler as the only freshman on this year's varsity squad.

Stevens was assisted this season by Dan Ahart and Marcus Harris.

Keywords: St. Joseph-Ogden soccer sectional semifinal, SJO vs Normal U-High soccer playoff Illinois high school soccer Class 1A, Normal University High soccer win over SJO, IHSA soccer playoff results 2023, SJO soccer record-breaking season

It’s time to talk about rural mental health challenges

In farming, you often have to work even when you're not feeling well. There are no options to call off or get substitutes when you need time off. The strong work ethic passed down from fathers to sons (and daughters in many cases) is admirable, but it can lead to medical issues if not managed properly.

Photo: Melissa Mayes/PEXELS

by Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

ALTON - While living in Greene County, Illinois, in the 1980s and 1990s, Lea Anne Varble took a gut punch each time she heard about a suicide in her community. Eight to 10 in total in 15 years, she says.

“It just took me aback,” she says.

What the tragedies had in common: the person faced mental health challenges common to a rural setting.

Lea Anne Varble

Varble, a clinical psychotherapist at OSF HealthCare, knew she had to do something about it. So not only did she devote higher education time to studying the problem, but she’s also now getting the word out about the resources available.

The issues

Varble says stress and isolation are often experienced by people living in a rural setting, such as a farmer. There’s also a desire to be self-sufficient – a trope associated with farmers and other rural residents for decades.

“People living rurally often are independent. So, when stress comes, they want to handle it on their own,” Varble says.

Varble also knows the issues – stress, anxiety and even depression – of planting and harvest season.

“Hours and hours,” in the field, she says. “You’re expected to keep working even if you don’t feel well. Even if the stress is getting to you. You have to get up and do it again. Or at least that’s what your father before you did and his father before him.”

The work ethic can be admirable, but it can lead to medical issues if left unchecked.

And, the heads of some rural households are caring for two generations: their kids and their parents. School, chronic illnesses and advanced care planning are just more things to add to the to-do list. Varble adds that older adults in a rural setting are more likely to see themselves as a burden and choose to end their life.

Treatment

Varble says getting better starts simply with noticing the problem and talking about it with a trusted adult, like a friend, family member, faith leader or a medical professional.

The good news is that mental health professionals have made strides in this area, such as telemedicine and mobile health services. And society is more willing to talk about mental health. Farming magazines have articles on mental health, for example.

Other ways to help that Varble has picked up over the years:

Get to know your neighbors and local organizations, like churches and businesses. Then, lean on them for help when the stress gets to be too much.
Look into resources offered by state or federal agencies. In Illinois, where Varble works, the Family Farm Resource Initiative operates a 24/7 hotline and email.
“Individuals can receive support from trained professionals who understand the unique challenges faced by those in the agricultural sector,” the initiative website states. “The helpline offers specialized assistance, including mental health resources and agriculture-related support, ensuring that farm families have access to the help they need.”
Health care professionals should encourage people with rural backgrounds to become therapists.

“It’s someone from their community who understands what’s going on,” Varble says.