The Sentinel

Tyler Luchinski and Savanna Franzen earn All-State Mention from IHSA

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Savanna Franzen runs around the track O'Brien Field at the IHSA Girls Track & Field State Finals in May 2024. The Spartan senior was named an All-State Academic by the IHSA on March 4.

BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois High School Association announced the 26 members who were selected for the 2025 IHSA All-State Academic Team. Two area student athletes, one Charger and one Spartan, made this year's list released today.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Savanna Franzen and Centennial's Tyler Luchinski earned Honorable Mention recogition and will be recognized at a banquet held in Bloomington on April 13.

Each year, IHSA member schools can nominate one female student and one male student to be a part of this prestigious team. Nominees needed to possess a minimum 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale after their seventh semester, have participated in at least two IHSA sponsored sports or activities during each of the last two years of high school, and demonstrated outstanding citizenship.

"The IHSA All-State Academic Team truly represents the best that Illinois has to offer," IHSA Assistant Executive Director Stacy Lambert said in a press release. "When you look the credentials of these team members, you are not only going to see outstanding grades and incredible test scores, but participation in multiple sports and activities, as well as significant contributions to their school and community. The ability to not only balance but also simultaneously excel in all these endeavors is inspiring. We are proud to have these future leaders represent the IHSA and Illinois."

The nominations were evaluated by a committee up of IHSA principals, athletic directors, and activities directors. One male winner and one female winner from each of the seven IHSA Board of Directors Divisions were selected initially, while the final 12 spots on the team were then rounded out with at-large candidates from anywhere in the state.

A complete list of all award winners is below.

2024-25 All-State Academic Team

Reid Bodine
Williamsville High School

Joseph Bregenzer
Barrington High School

Cole Buchanan
Benton High School

Zoe Carter
University High School | Normal

Emily Cheng
Walter Payton | Chicago

Taylor Davidson
Stillman Valley High School

Hadley Ferrero
Crystal Lake Central

Payton Frey
Highland High School

Gracie Furlong
Galena High School

Hannah Gibson
Carlinville High School

Travis Hoffman
Mahomet-Seymour High School

Liam Kendrick
Lane Tech High School | Chicago

Krish Khanna
University High School | Chicago

Alyssa Koerkenmeier
Mater Dei Catholic | Breese

Elena Krause
Pontiac High School

Andrew Kurien
Rockford Christian High School

TJ Larson
Central Catholic High School | Bloomington

Gavin O’Connor
Brother Rice High School | Chicago

Liam O’Connor
Oak Park & River Forest High School

Ava Peterson
Manteno High School

Elena Rybak
Father McGivney | Glen Carbon

Kurtis Smith
Hononegah High School | Rockton

Ethan Stewart
Triad High School | Troy

Lucia “Lulu” Ton-That
Northside College Prep | Chicago

Ben Wuggazer
Lyons High School | LaGrange

Veronica Znajda
Prospect High School | Mt. Prospect

2024-25 All-State Academic Team Honorable Mention

Sydney Buchelt
Lisle Senior High School

Aubrey Campbell
Central Catholic High School | Bloomington

Seth Cooper
Ottawa Township High School

Benjamin Crane
New Trier High School | Winnetka

Ryan Thomas Detering
Salem High School

Ricky Eriksen
Marist High School | Chicago

Nora Ezike
Lyons High School | LaGrange

Syndey Fraley
Maine South High School | Park Ridge

Savanna Franzen
St. Joseph-Ogden

Paige Froess
Columbia High School

Rory Gaan
Fremd High School | Palatine

Elijah Genenbacher
Central High School | Camp Point

Mason Gilpin
Carlinville High School

Waylon Hall
Herrin High School

Jacob Hartwig
Heyworth High School

Annabelle Hiel
Washington Community High School

Julia Hosu
Yorkville High School

Abigail Johnes
Brussels High School

Jack Jokisch
Shelbyville High School

Devin Karda
Sycamore High School

Clayton Kessler
Auburn High School

Reese Kohnle
Boylan Catholic High School | Rockford

Joseph Kyes
Richmond-Burton High School

Josie Larson
Lakes High School | Lake Villa

Tyler Luchinski
Centennial High School | Champaign

Bruno Massel
York High School | Elmhurst

Nolan McClay
Knoxville High School

Elizabeth McConkie
Sycamore High School

Lauren Miller
Central High School | Camp Point

Lizeth Montes
St. Ignatius College Prep | Chicago

Eislee Moore
Carbondale High School

Kaleb Navarro
De La Salle Institute | Chicago

Sam Ottwell
Alton Senior High School

Derke Patton
Walter Payton College Prep | Chicago

Miraya Pessman
Fulton High School

Aubrey Phillips
El Paso-Gridley

Ryan Pieper
Lena-Winslow High School

Maya Rounds
Sesser-Valier High School

Austin Rowswell
Lincoln-Way West High School | New Lenox

Karson Shrum
Annawan High School

Paige Sierens
Annawan High School

Amelia Strebel
Jersey High School | Jerseyville

Max Strong
Riverside-Brookfield High School

Olivia Tran
Vernon Hills High School

Juliana Walker
University High School | Chicago

Cynthia Waller
Lane Tech High School | Chicago

Connor Watson
East Peoria High School

Reese Watson
Scared Heart-Griffin High School | Springfield

Michael Wilson
Greenville High School

Lily Woolery
Shelbyville High School

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Guest Commentary
Is the Ukraine Deal, really a deal?

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

America has given Ukraine a lot of money. Does anyone really know how much?

President Trump recently said $350 billion while other sources say we have spent less than $200 billion. A billion dollars is a billion dollars. Hundreds of billions of dollars mean Americans across our country are being taxed hard earned dollars to send to another country for the purpose of financially underwriting their war.

The Beatles sang, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” but apparently you can buy some fake friends for a while. When the money ceases then the love and friendship you bought speedily goes away.

If we don’t write big checks to countries like Ukraine then they get mad really quick and for some reason, we become the bad guys. What happens when we totally run out of money? Our national debt is $36 trillion dollars. Who will rescue us when we go bankrupt and there is no Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid? No one will come to save us.

Approximately 58,220 Americans were killed in the Vietnam war. This number includes battle and non-battle related deaths. The Vietnam war cost around $111 billion in 1968 dollars, equivalent to approximately $800 billion in today’s dollars. The war lasted about 15 years. What does our country have to show for $800 billion and almost 60,000 lives? A lot of graves and a lot of Veterans with PTSD.

The war in Afghanistan cost America approximately $2,313 trillion dollars from 2001 to 2022. This includes money we spent in Afghanistan and Pakistan but does not account for the cost of lifetime care for veterans. Some estimates suggest the total cost could be higher ranging from $4 to $6 trillion when including long-term medical care and disability compensation. Plus, we spent over $68 million on a second runway at Bagram airfield in 2006 making it the best and strongest runway in that part of the world.

In the 1960s, we built the Kandahar International Airport which cost us over $15 million dollars. Who are the people using these airports today? A lot of Americans have suffered to pay big taxes bills while our government plays Santa Claus.

It’s a great idea to ask Ukraine to pay back the billions we have given to them. The idea of America having access to their land and vast resource of minerals sounds appealing.

Financially, it sounds like it would be worth mega billions and would supply us with badly needed resources. However, how many roads and bridges will we have to build?

How big will our military presence have to become to protect American citizens who will go to work the land? A military presence in Afghanistan could only mean the possibility of altercations with Russia’s army which would escalate into America becoming head and shoulders into a full scale war with Russia.

Putin can’t be trusted as far as you can throw the car sitting in your driveway. A growing presence in Ukraine by America will eventually mean fighting to protect our interests in that country. Such a land deal with Ukraine sounds like a good deal but has the potential of becoming a very bad deal.

Unfortunately, after last week’s oval office disaster between Zelenskyy, President Trump and Vice-President Vance there may never be a deal.

If Russia eventually topples Ukraine, Putin won’t be making any deals, paying anyone anything back and we may be buying our bread from him.

About the author ~

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. 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.

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