The Sentinel

Quick 6 with Uni's Aryan Sachdev

URBANA - Undefeated yet this season, Aryan Sachdev won his fifth match last Wednesday after defeating Urbana High School's Xander Ashley at #1 singles. The two-time state qualifier and senior at Urbana University won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.

Photo:Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Finishing his junior year with a 13-5 record in singles and 8-1 in doubles, he is looking good for a third trip to state and a deeper run into the championship bracket.

At the 2023 IHSA state tournament, Sachdev lost his first-round match to Olney senior Evan Uhl, 6-0, 6-1. Working his way back through the consolation draw, he made quick work of Belvidere North senior Jack Dickerson, 6-1, 6-0. Later, he dropped his second-round consolation match 6-2, 6-4 to Morton's Carter Kendall.

During his state appearance his sophomore year, Sachdev finished 2-2, losing to Alleman's Nicholas Patrick and later Sterling's Brecken Peterson in an 8-game pro set. As a sophomore, he showed resilience in his two wins, the first over Rockford Christian's Chatham Mcilroy, and edging out a 9-7 victory over Highland's Tyler Kutz.

Sachdev started playing tennis when he was eight with his dad, a huge tennis fan. As he chilled with teammates after his match at Blair Park, we thought it would be a great time to hit Urbana's top prep tennis player with six questions.
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SENTINEL: What is your dream job?

SACHDEV: Dermatologist.
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SENTINEL: What is your favorite pre-game meal or snack?

SACHDEV: Dave's Hot Chicken.
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SENTINEL: Three people you would like to have dinner with?

SACHDEV: Roger Federer, Barack Obama, and Prince.
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SENTINEL: Your favorite actor or actress?

SACHDEV: Leonardo DiCaprio.
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SENTINEL: Which movie describes your life so far?

SACHDEV: Diary of a Whimpy Kid.
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SENTINEL: What is your favorite Taylor Swift song?

SACHDEV: Shake It Off
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5 Questions with Ruby Tarr

Photo:Sentinel/Clark Brooks

TOLONO - After nine games this season, Unity's Ruby Tarr has scored 11 times and batted in 13 runs to assist in leading her softball team to a 6-2-1 early-season record.

The Sentinel caught up with her after the Rockets' home game against Oakwood last month where she scored once, collected two stolen bases, and singled in her two trips to the plate.

We asked a few questions to get to know the senior infielder better.
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SENTINEL: What is your dream job?

TARR: A speech pathologist at a school.
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SENTINEL: What is your favorite pre-game meal or snack?

TARR: Goldfish (crackers).
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SENTINEL: Who is your favorite actor or actress?

TARR: Reese Witherspoon.
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SENTINEL: Which movie describes your life so far?

TARR: Oh my, a movie ... Benchwarmers.
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SENTINEL: What is your favorite Taylor Swift song?

TARR: You Belong With Me.
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Allergic rhinitis is a year round concern, especially for children

by Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

DANVILLE - When the temperature starts to warm up, so does the concern for allergies. But one condition – allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever – isn’t confined to March, April and May.

Edward Jenner/PEXELS

“It’s the most common pediatric medical condition that exists,” says Luis Garcia, MD, a pediatrician at OSF HealthCare. That adds up to 40% of children, he says.

Dr. Garcia says allergic rhinitis describes chronic swelling of the tissue inside your nose due to an allergic reaction. It’s commonly triggered by inhaling irritants like dust, pollen and bacteria through the nose. Sneezing, itchiness and a blocked or runny nose often follow.

Dr. Garcia says risk factors include a family history of allergies, being a first-born child, being male, being born in the spring or summer and a heavy exposure to antibiotics in the first year of life.

The first line of treatment for allergic rhinitis is prevention, Dr. Garcia says. How does a person avoid the irritants that cause the condition? We can’t all move to climates that suit our health, he jokingly points out. So other options include:

Close doors and windows in your home.

Use an air purifier to remove dust from the air.

Avoid touching your face.

Keep your home clean, especially if you have pets.

Watch the weather forecast. If you know a dry, dusty day is coming, stay indoors.

Keep a journal of when your allergies are at their worst. You may be able to pick up on patterns and avoid triggers.

Dr. Garcia says a provider can usually see how severe your case is by examining you. But a blood sample or a skin prick test may be needed to determine your triggers. Treatments a doctor may recommend include:

Flushing your nose with salt water

Medication including antihistamines

In more severe cases, a specialist like an ear, nose and throat doctor may try immunotherapy.

“Immunotherapy sort of helps your body switch on and switch off the immune responses,” Dr. Garcia explains. “You could get it in shots or take the substance under the tongue.”

Photo: sweetlouise/Pixabay

When left untreated, allergic rhinitis can cause infections, polyps and sleep issues. Problems tend to compound, Dr. Garcia says. For example, when we have a stuffy nose, we can’t breathe well. Then we can’t sleep well. Then we suffer at school or work, increasing stress and the risk for anxiety and depression.

In other words: “We function as a whole. We always try to separate ourselves into different organs, and that’s simply not true. When one part of us is not working well, there is always something else affected,” Dr. Garcia says.