The Sentinel

Real Talk:
Six questions with Taylor Wells

Spartan Taylor Wells go up for a shot against an Illinois Valley Central player in their home game in January.
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Last week, The Sentinel caught up with St. Joseph-Ogden sophomore Taylor Wells for a little one-on-one. No, not the kind on the hardwood where this reporter would be schooled like a kindergartner, but about student school, sports and life in the new, and hopefully temporary, Covid world. Observing social distancing guidelines, I asked six questions to the student-athlete via Twitter.

Sentinel: What was your reaction and those of your fellow students when you first learned that schools would be closed due to the COVID-19 virus?

Wells: I was sad that I would be missing out on playing softball, competing in my AAU travel basketball tournaments, and seeing my friends.

Sentinel: How is e-learning going? What really sucks about it?

Wells: It’s going okay. It’s not optimal. I would prefer to be in the classroom with my classmates.

Sentinel: What do you think teachers can do to make it better?

Wells: I think the teachers are doing the best they can for us. I’m sure it’s very stressful being thrown into a situation like this.

Sentinel: Besides shooting baskets at home, what else are you doing to pass the time?

Wells: I’ve walked a few trails at Homer Lake with my family and my dog, working out to stay in shape, and doing basketball drills.

Sentinel: When we are done sheltering in place, and hopefully soon, name three things you are going to do the first week.

Wells: I am definitely going to hangout with my friends, go to SJO softball practice, and go to Heart of Illinois basketball practice.

Sentinel: Looking into the future, what do you think will be the new normal as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Wells: I think people will wash their hands more often, and I think people will no longer take friends, family, and sports for granted.

SJO Senior Spotlights with Kolton Batty and Taylor Barnes

Clubs & Activities

Soccer (4 years)
Maroon Platoon

Batty was one of four seniors on this year's St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team. His dribbling and passing game was top shelf.

He said his most memorable season with the Spartan soccer program was when his JV soccer team went undefeated during his freshman year.

~ Advice to new students ~

Enjoy the small things and to live every moment like it is your last.

After high school, Kolton plans to attend Parkland College. He is going to major in aviation.

His favorite all-time teachers at SJO are Mr. Robert Glazier, who taught his freshman Physical Science class. Batty says it was his favorite class in high school. His other favorite instructor in high school is Mrs. Alisyn Franzen.

Kolton lives in St. Joseph with his mom, dad, and two brothers, Dylan and Titus. Batty's main hobby is hanging out with friends.

Taylor Barnes

Clubs & Activities

Girls’ Basketball (4 years)
Volleyball (3 years), Student Council
NHS, Spanish Club, Maroon Platoon

Like many of her classmates in the class of 2020, senior Taylor Barnes says her main hobby is hanging out with family and friends.

She lives near Ogden with her mother and father. She has two older siblings, a sister, Kelsie, and her brother, Nick.

Barnes' most memorable moment in high school was during the 2018-2019 girls’ basketball season. A little more than 14 months ago, she and a talented team of SJO athletes advanced to the IHSA Class 2A Girls’ Basketball State Tournament at Redbird Arena.

Then a junior, she played six minutes both games against Teutopolis and Hillsboro and was credit with a rebound in each. She finished the season with 52 points and 40 rebounds to help the Spartans to third-place state finish.

She said it was a great accomplishment that she will never forget.

The four-year basketball veteran was also a member of this season's sectional semifinal team that finished with 20 wins against 11 loses. She drained a game-high 18 points against Monticello back in January in a game where head coach Kevin Taylor said his senior "put it all together" playing exceptionally well on both ends of the court.

After high school Barnes will pursue a four-year degree at Illinois State University. There, she plans to major in exercise science.

Her advice for future SJO students is to "participate in everything and enjoy every day."

Her favorite teachers through the years are Mrs. Jeanna Kerner at St. Joseph-Ogden and Mrs. Howard at PVO. She said her favorite class at during high school was Geometry her freshman year with Mr. Kiel Duval.

Text provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Photos by Clark Brooks