The Sentinel

Tigers exit soccer postseason in a heartbreaking thriller

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

With Mahomet-Seymour defender Ethan Ramirez on his heals, Urbana's Nana Winner fires a shot on the Mahomet-Seymour goal. Winner missed the mark on the second half shot that could have extended the Tigers' season another week.

URBANA - In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the Mahomet-Seymour Bulldogs clinched their second consecutive regional title in a nail-biting penalty shootout against the Urbana Tigers. The game, played on a chilly day at Randy Blackman Field in Urbana on Friday, was a testament to the grit and tenacity of both teams, with neither able to break the deadlock in regulation time or the two 10-minute overtime periods.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Bulldogs' Travis Hoffman and Tigers' Matthew Bodony leap to win a header during second half action. Despite controlling the tempo and their aggressive attacks on the Mahomet-Seymour goal in the second half, Urbana could not catch a break getting the ball in the net.

Expectations were high for the Tigers after shutting out Danville 7-zip in Tuesday's semifinal match.

"I think we finally hit our stride at the right point of the season," Urbana head coach Mikki Kowalski said after the victory propelled the Tigers on a collision course with the Bulldogs. "We struggled to have shutouts. It is finally nice to get one in a game that means something."

Kowalski, urged the team to stay focused and continue applying the strategy they had practiced during their halftime huddle. "We keep moving the ball, chances are we will get clear opportunities," Kowalski said. "When you see their back line move, apply a little more pressure."

Urbana keeper Jevan Juday echoed his coach's sentiments, advising his teammates to focus on 1-2 touches when the Bulldogs pressed too hard for the ball.

"If we play one-two touch, it is going to benefit us," he said, pointing out that whenever the Tigers got the ball into Mahomet-Seymour's half of the field, the Tigers had the advantage of numbers pressing the ball forward. "Everything has to be 100%. Boom-boom-boom."

Urbana dominated ball possession for the majority of the second half, creating numerous opportunities and taking solid shots on goal. However, they found an insurmountable obstacle in Bulldog Keeper Hayden Litteken. The senior made 17 crucial saves during his 100 minutes on the field.

Left: Urbana's Isaac Quintas keeps the ball away from a Mahomet-Seymour challenger. Middle: Hayden Litteken makes a diving save for the Bulldogs before Tigers' Fortunel Nana could tap the ball to finish. Right: UHS' Hayden Barton takes possession of the ball in the second half. Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Urbana, 11-9-1 for the season, matched its opponents, kick for kick, in the shootout under the lights until the seventh, a miss that handed the IHSA championship plaque to Mahomet-Seymour (16-7-2). Bulldogs' Kade Smith, a freshman who didn't miss, slipped the ball into the Urbana goal for the win.

Mahomet-Seymour, no stranger to postseason drama, had previously won their regional semifinal match against Mt. Zion in overtime earlier in the week, handing the Braves a 3-2 loss via the decisive goal in the first overtime session.

With the victory, Mahomet-Seymour advances to the Warrensburg-Latham sectional, where they will face Glenwood High School on Wednesday at 4 pm. The winner of that match will take on the victor of the other sectional semifinal between Champaign Centennial (13-7-2) and Springfield High School (16-7), both of whom finished third in their respective athletic conferences.

Keywords: Mahomet-Seymour soccer, Urbana soccer, Regional title match, Penalty kick shootout, Illinois high school soccer, Hayden Litteken

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.