Memory Monday: Spartans face Central on the road

Fifteen years ago today, the Spartans traveled to Champaign to face the Maroons in a non-conference game on a beautiful spring afternoon. It the PhotoNews' first season covering SJO baseball for the now defunct Ogden Leader. The Leader may be gone, but the PhotoNews is still covering as many games as possible making high-quality photographs and capturing memories of the Spartan baseball program for athletes and fans to enjoy just like this decades later.

While we remember the names and most of the faces, we couldn't find the results or box scores for this game in our files. If you remember the final score let us know via Twitter.

See more photos from this game in the PhotoNews Media archives: SJO vs Champaign Central.

Jason Johnson (Class of 2005) unwinds during a pitch against the Maroons. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

After getting on base, senior Chad Dilley,a two-sport athlete, rounds second base early on in the game against Central. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Cody Mast takes a swing at a Maroon pitch. Mast also played football for the Spartans his senior year. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Center fielder Nick Sibbing makes a long throw to the cutoff man at second base. Like all three players above, Sibbing also played football for the Spartans. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Witruk pitches 11 innings, picks 2 wins for Cobras

While her kid sister was in the circle leading the Spartan softball team to a win over Tri-Valley on Saturday, St. Joseph-Ogden alumna Tori Witruk pitched 11 innings, allowing just five earned runs and striking out six, to help Parkland College softball program sweep Spoon River College on the road.

Nose to the grindstone, Witruk (7-1), who possesses a 2.71 ERA on the season after 14 appearances, help the Cobra's prevail 3-2 in game one and stop the bleeding in a the 13-10 nightcap. After picking up the wins for both contests, her seven victories are now a team-best so far this season.

In game one, the former Spartan allowed just two runs while escaping trouble in multiple innings to pick up win number six.

Morgan Parrish started game two for Parkland and hurled the first three innings of the conference slugfest. With the Cobras feeling the heat, Witruk stepped in to close out the game's final four innings, which included pitching a scoreless seventh frame.

Undefeated, top-rated SJO softball team finish the week, 4-0

In the first seven days of April and just nine games into the 2019 season, the legacy built by former St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Randy Wolken absolutely shows no sign of fading any time soon. Under first-year head coach Larry Sparks, the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team undoubtedly are once again sporting one of the largest bullseyes in Class 2A on their backs.

Zoey Witruk winds up for a pitch against Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley. The junior picked up three pitching wins in SJO's last four games. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

The 9-0 Spartans are chewing up opponents with the intensity of Category 4 storm. In their wake this week alone, SJO has tallied nine home runs and outscored their opponents 36-5 in four games.

Only three other teams in their division can boast a 9-game or better win streak this season.

Tuscola, on a collision course with the Spartans in less than a month on May 6, is also undefeated with 12 wins this season. The Warriors, placed in the southern quad by the IHSA, will be playing through the Johnson City super-sectional for their shot at a state appearance along with 9-0 Edwards County.

The Beecher Bobcats, who will be playing for the Joliet College super-sectional title, is also undefeated at 10-0.

The Spartans will play in the Olympia sectional with teams from Argenta-Oreana, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin, Oakwood, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Maroa-Forsyth, Monticello, Unity, Warrensburg-Latham, and Westville.

Here's a brief recap of this past week's action:

Dowling plasters two homer runs
Alabama commit and USA junior national team member Baily Dowling wasn't joking around on April Fool's Day. The senior started the four-game week off with two home runs for SJO. Meanwhile, junior Hannah Dukeman sent a ball yard herself in the 9-0 shutout on Monday.

Adding another win to her record this season, Zoey Witruk gave up one hit and fanned 13 in the six-inning affair.

Box Score
St. Joseph-Ogden 1 0 2 0 5 1 - 9 - -
Maroa-Forysth __ 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 - -

Witruk records 13 K's on Villa Grove
Junior Zoey Witruk struck out 13 Blue Devil batters for SJO in their 7-2 win over Villa Grove on Tuesday, April 2.

St. Joseph-Ogden seniors Savannah Smith, Katie Poulter and Bailey Dowling logged two hits apiece. Freshman Kennedy Hudson also had pair of hits to help extend the team's undefeated streak to seven games.

Box Score
St. Joseph-Ogden 1 1 2 0 3 0 - 2 - -
Villa Grove _____ 1 0 0 0 0 1 - 2 - -

SJO scores 11, in one inning
Hosting Lincoln High School on April 3, St. Joseph-Ogden needed just five innings to blast the Railsplitters, 17-2. The Spartans tallied 18 hits in the non-conference victory.

SJO pounded a stunning four home runs with bombs from Hannah Dukeman, Kaylee Ward, Katie Poulter and Lauren Trankina.

Dukeman, who delivered four RBI, and Poulter tallied three hits apiece.

Ashtyn Cromwell threw a complete game for the win.

Box Score
St. Joseph-Ogden 1 1 11 5 - - - 17 - -
Lincoln ______ 0 0 1 1 - - - 2 - -

Spartans score three runs on Tri-Valley
In a complete game from Zoey Witruk the Spartans knocked off the Vikings, 3-1. Witruk, who gave up four hits, struck out 14 batters in the road victory. Katie Poulter put the ball out of the park for the ninth Spartan home run for the week. Catcher Hannah Dukeman notched two hits on Saturday.

Box Score
St. Joseph-Ogden 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 3 - -
Tri-Valley ____ 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 - -

Light runs out against the Bullets

For the second time in seven days, SJO posted a second tie this season to their record. Knotted at 2-all in the eighth inning in Saturday's Clinton Varsity Baseball Invitational game against Williamsville, the game was called after it was determined conditions were dark to continue.

After rolling to an 11-1 win over Tremont earlier in the day, the Spartans' marathon against the Bullets started an hour later than originally schedule.

Crayton Burnett put away six batters and allowed five hits for the no-decision.

Last week on April Fool's Day, St. Joseph-Ogden slugged it out for eight innings, deadlocked with two runs apiece with Mahomet-Seymour when the non-conference game was called due to darkness.

The Spartans will host the Rantoul on Monday at 4:30p in a regular season Illini Prairie Conference contest. After two days of practice they will head on the road to face Bloomington Central Catholic for another IPC matchup. They close out the week at home against Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Friday.

Box Score:
SJO ______ 010 000 10 2-3-3
Williamsville 100 100 00 2-6-1

Spartans crush the Turks in road win

On the warmest day so far this spring, Keegan McCarty helped the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team earn their eight win of the season at the Clinton Varsity Baseball Invitational. The junior hurler, who gave up six hits, struck out three in the 11-1 victory on Saturday.

SJO's Adam Frerichs waits for a pitch

Adam Frerichs waits for a pitch in SJO's home game against Westville last week. The Spartans will alternate in home-away-home game schedule this week as they prepare for a deep postseason run later this spring. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Blake Primmer led the Spartans' offensive effort with 3 RBI and catcher Adam Frerichs pounded away a pair of hits in the first of two games at the Invite.

SJO has two home and one away contest on tap over the next seven days. Opening the week, Primmer & Co. will host the Rantoul Eagles on Monday at 4:30p in a regular season conference game. Then it's a road trip to Bloomington on Thursday for an Illini Prairie Conference battle against the Saints of Central Catholic.

The Spartans close out the week at the SJO sports complex with a visit from Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Friday.

Box Score:
SJO ___ 200 102 6 11-6-1
Tremont 000 100 0 1-7-2

From the editor: The conference game canceled on April 4 with St. Thomas More has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 24. First pitch is slated for 4:30p.

Throwback Thursday: SJO shuts out Lions

The Sentinel, courtesy of PhotoNews Media, has more than 250,000 images from more than a decade and half of sport coverage at St. Joseph-Ogden High School at our fingertips. As space and time allows, we will publish great action photos, memorable moments and treasured images from the massive collection of images of Spartan athletes online and in your weekly paper.

This week's Throwback Thursday treat is from SJO's home football playoff game against Marshall back on November 5, 2005. The Spartans, who defeated the Lions on their home turf (or what little there was that day) a year earlier, posted a 41-0 shutout advancing to face the Unity Rockets on the road the following Saturday.

If you like what you see here, visit archive galley with more than 80 photos from the IHSA postseason game here: St. Joseph-Ogden versus Marshall. As always, you can search for specific players and additional games 24/7 using the search tool at the top of each gallery page.

Billy Gallo celebrates a first quarter TD

Spartan quarterback Billy Gallo celebrates a TD in the first quarter after scoring the first of his two touchdowns against the Lions. St. Joseph-Ogden beat visiting Marshall for a second straight year in the playoffs with a 41-0 victory Saturday afternoon. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Ryan Barnes, one the team's most explosive players in school history, runs the ball 68 yards on a kick off return back for a touchdown against the Marshall. Unfortunately the TD was nullified due to a holding call on a SJO blocker. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Isaiah Olson hand off the ball in the fourth-quarter.

Quarterback Isaiah Olson pivots to hand off the ball during fourth-quarter action for the Spartans. A year and some 14 days later, Olson would go on to set an IHSA state football title game record in Class 3A for the most individual passing yards that still stands as of today. In that game, the senior threw for 276 yards and completed 20 of his 29 yard pass attempts including three touchdowns. His performance also put him in a three-way tie for the most passing TDs in a 3A title game. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Elizabeth Ward, a member of the SJO Dance Team, performs during halftime show during the Week 2 playoff game. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Burris and Hallowell break up a pass play against Marshall

Spartans' Brodyee Hallowell, who went to become a state-qualifier in wrestling, and Decoda Burris [3] break up a pass play to Lions' Kyle Johnson [11]. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO lineman Jesse Grice smiles after SJO's victory on Saturday

Lineman Jesse Grice is all smiles while leaving the field after the Spartans hammered visiting Marshall and head into a quarterfinal showdown against longtime rival Unity. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Can't wait until next week for more photos from the archives? Search for your favorite athlete by name, sport or date of the event in the PhotoNews Media online photo archives.

Emmert, Mabry earn academic honors at EIU

Abigail Emmett and Samantha Mabry were two of more than 700 undergraduate students named to Eastern Illinois University’s Fall 2018 Deans' List.

Emmert, a music education major with a focus on teaching and 2016 graduate from St. Joseph-Ogden High School, served as a student ambassador for the EIU music department, held the role as principal chair flute of Concert Band and performs with several bands as a student-musician.

A drum major the SJO Marching Band, she also earned the same title and responsibilities with the Panther Marching Band. In May of last year she was awarded the Errett & Mazie Warner Presidential Award and the Helen J. Krehbiel Music Scholarship.

Mabry, who was a four-year veteran cross country and track athlete in high school, is an English major at EIU.

She finished her prep career as a member of last spring's state championship track team. The 2018 SJO alum is continuing her athletic career with the Panthers. A red-shirt freshman in cross country this past fall, she is listed as a middle distance specialist on the university's track & field roster.

The Deans’ List at EIU recognizes undergraduates with a declared major whose academic performance has been excellent. Eastern Illinois University students who achieve a GPA of 3.80 to 4.00 (on a 4.00 scale) while completing a minimum of 12 graded semester hours, excluding credit/no credit grades, are honored each semester.

Five SJO alumni earn Dean's List honors at ISU

Five St. Joseph-Ogden graduates earned academic recognition for their efforts at Illinois State University in the fall of 2018.

ISU students must complete at least 12 or more semester hours to be eligible for recognition. The Dean's List for individual colleges, which include the Colleges of Applied Science and Technology, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Fine Arts, and Mennonite College of Nursing, will recognize those students whose grade point average places them among the top ten percent of those students majoring within the College based on their semester GPA. Students whose major does not place them in one of the six colleges that offer degrees and whose semester grade point average is within the top ten percent of the University are identified on a separate list at the institution.

Courses completed after the official end of the semester and courses taken with a Credit/No Credit option are not tabulated in the final GPA.

Area honorees include:

Ogden: Katie Kurtz

St. Joseph: Brandon Burnett, Makenzie Pence, Hanna Richter and Nathan Schuele.

Note: Area students who have chosen to restrict access to directory and/or address information will not appear on the list below.

Spartans defeat Westville in non-conference game

Keegan McCarty, Adam Frerichs and Drew Coursey delivered a pair of RBI each to lead the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team in a 9-4 victory over Westville on Thursday, March 29. The win improves the Spartans' record to a modest 6 wins with 4 losses.

Replaced by Caleb Johnson, frosh hurler Joe Acton faced seven batters before being retired after two innings. Johnson battled ferociously during his tenure on the hill, however a sloppy defensive effort from the guys behind him allowed the Tigers to quickly tally three runs in the top of fourth frame.

Drew Coursey throws a pitch against Westville.

Drew Coursey throws a pitch in the top of the seventh inning in SJO's home game against Westville. The Spartans unleash a 4-run rally in the bottom of the fifth inning to win, 9-4. Coursey struck out two of the 11 batters he faced to earn the win on the mound. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

"I thought we were pretty sloppy today," Spartan head coach Josh Haley said focusing on the errors in that inning. "We didn't run the bases very good and was over-swinging at the plate. As far as what we need to do to get better we didn't do very well today."

SJO answered Westville's rally meekly with a go-ahead run in the bottom the frame to break the 4-all tie.

Haley then dialed Drew Coursey's number to climb the hill.

Bringing the heat with laser intensity on every pitch, Coursey effectively shut down Westville's offensive momentum for a scoreless fifth inning.

The junior struck out two of the ll batters he faced on his way to earn the win.

Following Coursey's lead, the Spartans refocused their efforts posting a four-run rally in the bottom of the inning to sealed the victory.

"We had three pitchers that did a nice job throwing strikes," Haley said. "At the end of the day, they took care of business in the win column."

McCarty, who led the Spartans with 3 hits, was all business for the Spartans. He scored twice and junior Sam Wesley added three runs of own on a pair of hits.

The Tigers were led by junior Cyrus Doughtery, who hit a solo home run and finished the game with two hits. Dalton Rolinitis was credited with two hits, one a home run and three RBI.

"With our schedule there are no days off," Haley added. "You gotta take care of business in the small areas and that's where I thought we were a little sloppy."

Even after a less than stellar day, Haley's confidence in the SJO pitching corps and this season legion of talented players is unflappable.

"We have four arms that can give us a chance to win every time they are out there. We just have to try and continue to get better."

Box Score
Westville 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 7 1
SJO . . . . 3 0 1 1 4 0 X 9 8 1

Spartan dynamic duo blast BHRA

Lighting fast swings thundered in St. Joseph earlier today producing a magnificent storm of Spartan home runs against Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin. SJO batters homered seven times in the 18-8 five inning affair.

Kennedy Hudson takes a swing at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley pitch in the Spartans' home season opener. Nine days later, the freshman slugger pounds a home run in SJO's home game against Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

The junior dynamic duo of Hannah Dukeman and Bailey Dowling hit two home runs apiece in the slaughter. Dukeman enjoyed a five RBI day, four courtesy of her base clearing grand slam.

Both were one away from joining 63 other players in the IHSA all-time records who have hit three or more home runs in a single softball game.

Home run hitting today was not limited to just the junior class. Freshman Kennedy Hudson as well as sophomore Kaylee Ward made sure the underclassmen were representing in the slugfest with one home run each. Meanwhile Savannah Smith stepped up to pummel a long ball for the senior class.

Raegan Crippen had four hits as the Spartans notch their fifth win to continue their undefeated season.

SJO is scheduled to play their next home game on March 8 against Illini Prairie Central foe Rantoul after a five-plus game road campaign against Maroa-Forsyth, Tri-Valley, Lincoln, Villa Grove and a run for the tournament title at the annual Rantoul Invitational.

Ashtyn Cromwell earned the four-inning win for the Spartans adding four strikeouts to her season total.

Box Score
Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin 0 5 0 3 0 - - 8 - -
St. Joseph-Ogden . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 10 1 2 - - 18 - -

Spartan softball notches first conference win

St. Joseph-Ogden's Zoey Witruk struck out nine batters in a complete game shutout performance over Illinois Valley Central in their first conference softball contest of the season. Scoring two runs at the top of the seventh inning, SJO defeated IVC, 4-0.

Spartans got two hits from junior Hannah Dukeman. Kaylee Ward was credited with 2 RBI to aid the Spartans to an undefeated 4-0 early season record.

IVC's Cassie Kirman had a pair of hits for the Ghosts.

Next up, the Spartans will face Bismarck-Henning at home on Wednesday, March 27.

Box Score
St. Joseph-Ogden . . 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 7 0
Illinois Valley Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

Photos Today: Spartans fall in state basketball semifinal

Hannah Dukeman comes out to the floor during team introductions before the start of St. Joseph-Ogden's Class 2A state semifinal game against Teutopolis on Friday. The Spartans, in their first-ever final four appearance advanced to the third-place contest on Saturday after falling 50-31 to the Wooden Shoes. Dukeman, who finished the game with 5 points and 5 rebounds in loss, and her teammates kept Teutopolis on the heals most of the first half before too many missed shots from the field put the game out of reach. (Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)

Maclayne Taylor takes a shot during first half action against the Wooden Shoes. In her 28 minutes on the floor the senior scored just 3 points and picked up 3 rebounds. See more photos from this game here: St. Joseph-Ogden vs Teutopolis state semifinal basketball game. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

St. Joseph-Ogden's Payton Vallee tries to establish position under the basket for a rebound with Teutopolis' Claire Bushur. Vallee hauled in one offensive rebound and three on the defensive side of the court. She contributed 3 points to the final score and had one steal in the semifinal loss on Friday. (Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)

Hoping to motivate his team to victory, senior Cole Zaccarelli cheers loudly for his SJO basketball team. (Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)

Peyton Crowe dribbles her way to the paint

St. Joseph-Ogden's Peyton Crowe dribbles down the baseline past Teutopolis' Olivia Niemerg. Crowe, who was named to IBCA's All-State Second Team and will play for the Parkland Cobras in the upcoming season, led the Spartans in scoring with 10 points and nine rebounds. (Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)

St. Joseph-Ogden's Payton Jacob goes up for a shot, her only attempt in her four minutes on the floor, during second half action against Teutopolis. The ball failed to find the hoop in game were SJO made just 17% of their shots in the second half from the field. See more photos from this game here: St. Joseph-Ogden vs Teutopolis state semifinal basketball game. (Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks)

Spartans bring home hardware

Ella Armstrong dribbles the ball against Hillsboro.

Ella Armstrong attacks the paint during the waning minutes of SJO's third place game against Hillsboro at the IHSA State Basketball Finals on Saturday. Fueled by a 28-point performance from senior teammate Bree Trimble, the Spartans will bring home the program's first state trophy after defeating the Hiltoppers, 68-53. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Second Time Almost A Charm

SJO's Payton Vallee challenges Teutopolis' Lexie Niebrugge for the ball.

Payton Vallee challenges Teutopolis' Lexie Niebrugge for the ball in the second half of their Class 2A state semifinal game on Friday evening. Despite an outstanding first half against the Wooden Shoes, the Spartans fell 50-31 and advanced to the division's third place game. SJO will face Hillsboro in Redbird Arena at 5:30pm on Saturday. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Transitions: Mervin Aden, 86, passes on

Mervin G. Aden, 86, of Savoy, passed away at 10:28 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2019, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Visitation services will be held tomorrow from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church at St. John Lutheran Church in Royal, with the Rev. Emil Blobaum officiating. Mervin will be laid to rest following the visitation at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Royal.

Mervin was born on August 19, 1932, in St. Joseph, the son of Heye and Margaret (Roelfs) Aden.

He served his country from 1952-1954 in the U.S. Army and did a tour in the Korea. A graduate of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois, Mervin continued his education to earn a Master Degree from Bradley University.

He married Sonna Lou Wills in 1955. She preceded him in death in 1983.

After 34 years of loyal service he retired from Catepillar in Peoria in 1997.

He was a member of Toastmasters, the Illinois Farm Bureau and First English Lutheran Church in Peoria and also attended St. John Lutheran Church in Champaign. In addition living in Savoy, Mervin made Chillicothe, Ogden and Royal his home during his lifetime.

Mervin was active in farming all of his life and earned a pilot's license. In addition to flying, he enjoyed traveling, golf and read in his spare time.

He is survived by his children, Julie (Adrian Stone) Aden of Sunrise, Florida, and Kevin (Jennifer) Aden of Houston, Texas; three grandchildren, Heather (Chris) Lebow, Abigail (Stan) Henaman and Katie Aden; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Berniece Aden of Champaign; brothers, Ray (Loretta) Aden of St. Joseph and Herb (Nancy) Aden of Newman; and his companion, Ruth Ann Buckles of Champaign.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Jan Ellen Aden; and sister, Irene Osterbur.

Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Cemetery Fund and the Paralyzed Disabled Veterans.

Photos Today: Spartans pick up 20th win

SJO head coach Kevin Taylor was able to put every player on his varsity squad on the floor Monday night in his team's home conference game against Rantoul.

"It helps when someone get hot early like Peyton Crowe," he said. "Then we can spread the floor out."

The St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team picked up their 20th win of the season behind Crowe's 20-point game-high performance. Seven other SJO player also contributed offensively and everyone had a hand in smothering the Eagles shots in the 63-24 victory.

Here's seven photos from Monday's milestone win for the Spartans. Follow this link to see more photos from the game in the SJO vs Rantoul gallery.

Ella Armstrong goes up for a shot against Rantoul

St. Joseph-Ogden's Ella Armstrong goes up for a shot in front of Rantoul's Myejoi Williams during in the second half. The Spartans defeated the visiting Eagles to pick up their 20th win of the season with a 63-24 win on Monday. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO's Maclayne Taylor dribbles the ball away from Rantoul's Emma Mihaly

Maclayne Taylor dribbles the ball away from Rantoul's Emma Mihaly during first half action of their home game on Monday. Taylor finished the game with 7 points. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Spartan Ashlyn Lannert dribbles the ball down the court in their home game against Rantoul. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Keeping the ball away from Rantoul's Litzy Hernandez, St. Joseph-Ogden's Angela Palmer looks for an open teammate to pass the ball during second half action. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Maclayne Taylor guards Rantoul's Jada Mosley during their Illini Prairie Conference game. Taylor finished with 7 points on the night. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Payton Jacob wrestles the ball away from a Rantoul player

Spartan Payton Jacob wrestles the ball away from Rantoul's Myejoi Williams. Jacob came off the bench to finish the night with 8 points for SJO. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

St. Joseph-Ogden's Hannah Dukeman makes a pass in their home game against Rantoul. The junior contributed 9 points in the SJO victory. (PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Click here to search for more photos 24/7 that are in the PhotoNews Media online archives. Follow this link to discover more photos from this game or order any photo from this page: SJO Girls vs Rantoul.

Walden named to WIU Dean's List

Nick Walden, wearing #57, and members of the St. Joseph-Ogden football team run out to the field before the start of their state championship football game against Stillman Valley on November 29, 2013. Running along with Walden are Spartans Jacob Bowman, Logan DeWeese and Wesley Kibler. SJO battled to an heartbreaking 43-41 overtime finish at Huskie Stadium to finish runner-up in Class 3A. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

St. Joseph-Ogden alumni Nick Walden was one of 1,361 undergraduate students named to Western Illinois University's 2018 Fall Dean's List last week.

His junior year at SJO, Walden was a member of the state final football team in 2013 that narrowly lost to the Stillman Valley Cardinals. His team finished the season with 11 wins and 3 losses.

Undergraduate students at WIU must earn at least a 3.6 grade point average while taking a minimum of 12 hours of classes. Classes taken on a pass-fail basis, for student teaching hours and internships are not counted towards the GPA calculation.

Walden, a senior, is one of 1,153 student from Illinois and seven from Champaign County to earn the Dean's academic recognition.

Dance has a date at state

This week, the SJO Dance Team will undoubtedly be working harder than they have all season - happily, without a doubt - in preparation for their 10:33 performance at the IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals on Friday. The squad will compete against 29 other teams that advanced to the state semifinals from their respective sectionals on Saturday.

However, the squad was just a snowball's throw away from not having the opportunity to even compete against the other top small school dance teams from around the state.

SJO Dance Team performs during a home game

Members of the SJO Dance Team perform during a home game earlier this month. The Spartans head to state after finishing 5th at last weekend's IHSA sectional in Mascoutah. See more SJO dancers in action. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

With a major winter event predicted to roll through central Illinois that would make highway travel precarious and possibly dangerous, the Dance Team was notified on Friday that they would not be traveling to the Illinois High School Association's Mascoutah sectional on the following day. SJO, like many other area schools using the same weather forecast as a guide, canceled all of their planned activities anticipating nasty conditions.

"The predicted weather forecast was not looking favorable for our area, on top of the fact that we had a 3 hour drive to our sectional," head coach Emily Williams explained. A SJO dance alumna herself, she has been the team's head coach for the past nine years. "Our administration made a decision that it would not be a safe trip for our dancers and their families. They also called off all other SJO activities for the weekend."

Williams said she and school administrators met with the disappointed athletes and parents on Friday afternoon explaining the decision. She pointed out that administrators from five other area schools also canceled their travel plans to the sectional competition.

However, on Saturday morning the expected 6-to-8 inch of snowfall failed to materialize. Williams and several parents contacted St. Joseph-Ogden superintendent Brian Brooks to see if they could make the trip.

"(Mr. Brooks) checked every radar possible and went out and drove several roads around Saint Joe," Williams said. "The decision was made by our administration that we could go as long as we could get a hold of IHSA and make sure it was okay with them."

Athletic director Justin Franzen was then able to square things away with the IHSA to make sure the squad could still compete. Soon after the dance team and loyal fans were on the road headed toward southern Illinois.

The team competed against 12 schools for one of the top six spots to punch their ticket to state finals at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington. The Spartans' performance was fifth best of the day.

With a final score of 85.13, SJO finished by behind the sectional champions Villa Grove (88.67), Civic Memorial (87.60), Unity (86.57) and St. Anthony (85.67). Clinton filled the last state-finalist slot with a score of 85.10.

This will be the third to trip to state for the program since the IHSA began hosting them in 2013. The Spartans made it to state in both 2014 and 2016.

Williams hopes to see plenty of St. Joseph-Ogden family and friends filling seats in the arena and cheering for her girls. A fan bus is being organized by the school. She expects details to be available on the school website by Wednesday.

A SJO dance team member performs during the Spartans' home game against Villa Grove-Heritage earlier this month. The group hopes to see lots of fans at Grossinger Motors Arena cheering them on. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

"Our dancers would love to see as many people in maroon, white, and Columbia Blue on Friday as possible," Williams said. "We have a great group of girls who are much more like a family than a team. They have worked very hard and are elated to have earned the chance to compete in the IHSA State prelims on Friday."

For now until Friday, the SJO Dance Team will be working to perfect their routine and fixed deficiencies noted by last weekend's panel of judges.

We will be practicing everyday and will break down our hip hop routine, piece by piece," Williams said. "We will go over our scoresheets from Saturday’s sectional and see what the judges said we can improve on."

Members expected to compete at Friday's state semifinal include Erin Beyers, Kalli Ingram, Haley Griebat, Rachel Gherna, Kaitlyn Hess, Ava Mills, Sara Milioli, Samantha Naylor, Isabelle Brooks, Kylie Duckett, Tessa Smith, Bella Getty, Ella Besson and Alessa Anzelmo.

Game day gyros nachos

Using Greek gyros meat offers a unique, spicy tasting version of this popular bar appetizer and gameday snack. According to Wikipedia, Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya is credited with creating the dish in about 1943.

Gyros, originally made from lamb in Greece, is a delicious mixture of ground beef and lamb or lamb and chicken. The meat is high in calories and fat, and may not be idea if you're dieting. But, probably the three beers you have with this dish won't either.

A pan of takes about 15 minutes to make. Here's what you need to put together this awesome platter.

Ingredients

1 bag of Tortilla Chips
8 oz. of Cheese
1/2 to 1-lb Gyros Meat
2 Jalapenos Peppers
1 Large Tomato
1/2 Onion
1 Green Pepper
1/2 cup of Shredded Spinach
1 teaspoon of Olive Oil
Pinch of Black Pepper
Pinch of Salt

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 300º.

2. Spread tortilla chips on a cookie sheet or in a baking pan. Line sheet or pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up later.

3. Chop/shred spinach in a small bowl, stir in olive oil and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Set aside for later.

4. Chop tomato, jalapenos, green pepper and onion. Mix all three vegetables into a single bowl.

5. Shred gyros meat and place a layer on top of the tortilla chips.

6. Next, add a generous layer of shredded cheese over the meat and chips.

7. Spread vegetables from the bowl on top of the pile.

8. Then, sprinkle a light layer of cheese over the vegetables.

9. Finally, sprinkle clumps of spinach evenly spaced around the pan or in the center of the pile of chips and veggies.

10. Put the pan in the oven and bake at 300º for 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese has melted.

11. Remove from oven and serve with sour cream or salsa.

Expert tip

1. You can get Kronos Authentic Gyros slices in a 2-pound box at Sam's Club. There are two bags in each box. One bag makes two to three trays. Use a sharp knife to shred meat.

2. Add black or green olives; black beans or re-fried; or Pico de Gallo for a tasty alternative.

Do you have a favorite recipe you would like to share with our readers? Contact our editor at editor@oursentinel.com.

#TBT: 14 years ago SJO baseball pounds Sages

The Sentinel, courtesy of PhotoNews Media, has more than 250,000 images from more than a decade and half of sport coverage at St. Joseph-Ogden High School at our fingertips. Each week, as space and time allows, we will publish great action photos, memorable moments and treasured images from the massive collection of images of Spartan athletes online and in your weekly paper.

SJO has had some pretty awesome baseball teams as of late. This week's Throwback Thursday, or #TBT, feature is from the Spartans' home baseball game against Monticello back on April 26, 2005. A few of these faces are still on the sidelines today as coaches, teachers and mentors.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Nick Bialeschki makes a throw to first in their home game against Monticello. The Spartans hammered their way to 10-1 victory after seven innings over the Sages. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Ben Gorman lays down a bunt in their home game against Monticello. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Spartan Mark Gones takes a big jump off second base. See more photos from the game here: SJO host Monticello. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Nick Sibbing takes big swing a Monticello pitch while batting for the Spartans. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Zac Isaksen rounds the bases after a home run.

Zac Isaksen slaps head coach Brad hand after rounding third base after crushing the ball for a SJO home run. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

Mason Blacker runs to first base after putting the ball in play. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

SJO's Ben Gorman throws at pitch against Monticello.

Ben Gorman brings the heat unloading a pitch on at a waiting Monticello batter. See more photos from the game here: SJO host Monticello. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)