Unity Jr. High 2nd Quarter High Honor Roll announced

Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved high honor roll status during the second quarter of the 2024-25 academic year. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point to qualify for recognition during this period.

6th Grade High Honor Roll

Wyatt James Aughney
William Terrance Bieser
Jace Boyett
Rachel Elaine Sharples Brooks
Connor John Chesnut
Madisen Diane Coy
Claire Bronte Davis
Wyatt Michael Deakin
Dominic Dees
Finley Douglas
Reid William Edwards
Ashlyn Elizabeth Estes
Shirley Arianna Garcier
Liam Thomas Grussing
Aneela Joy Hagerman
Aubrey Lou Hartman
Ezekiel Makai Hastings
Asher Jett
Pyper Rayne Jones
Zaylee Elaine Kohlenberg
Avalee Susan Little
Landon Robert Little
Lucas James Michels
Brielle Raine Molina
Logan Alexander Nasser
Peyton Elizabeth Neighbors
Charlotte Rose Ocasio
Autumn Polaczek
Josephine Jane Pulleyblank
Olivia Ann Ruggieri
Zachary David Ruhter
Mallory Mya Schmid
Jayceon Simmons
Brody Lee Skibbe
Blake Robert Stierwalt
Giselle Ann Thomas
Jase William Kenneth Wierman
Conor William Zumbahlen

7th Grade High Honor Roll

Ashlyn Nicole Alt
Maylie Rose Bates
Nora Kristina Blanchard
Bradley Roger Bruhn
Brailey Marie Cain
Viola Ayame Carman
Lydia Grace Crowe
Kylee Paulette Cunningham
Elizabeth Irene Davidson
Bronson Edwin Davis
Savannah Jo Drewes
Quentin Xavier Dykeman
Beau Richard Eisenmenger
Alarik Byrum Ellison
Cooper Alexander Fairbanks
Nadia Grace Fairbanks
Hayden Marie Gabbard
Libbey Marlene Ethel Griffin
Natalie May Gumbel-Paeth
Jessica Marie Hamilton
Harper Quinn Harris
Dylan Paul Holladay
Mason James Holladay
Aaron Joseph Hood
Finnegan Samuel Bowie Isberg
Gabriel Heinrich Jahnel
Allie Rose Kamradt
Molly Kathryn Lydia Kleiss
John Isaac "Isaac" Leaman
Azaria Christianne Lisanby
Adelyn Jolene Maxwell
Finn Alexander Merkle
Ashley Ann Mumm
Nicole Nava Palomares
Caylynn Josie Parker
Raelyn Marie Prosser
Jordan William Pruitt
Avery Elizabeth Remole
Camdon Levi Schmid
Layla Marie Scott
Drake Alan Siuts
William Ross Wetherell
Levi Nelson White
Phoebe Ashlynn Witheft
Alexis LeAnn Wolken
Brendan Kurtis Zerrusen

8th Grade High Honor Roll

Kenny Wayne Adcock
Lilly Annabelle Bailes
Brooklyn Blair Bates
Ty Craig Benedict
Ethan Earl Bent
Elizabeth Joanne Berkey
Katherine Elaine Berkey
Konnor Lewis Bletscher
Sylvia Lola Cahill
Kale Boden Cowan
Trevor Daniel Coy
McKenzie Lynn Deakin
Emma Nicole Denney
Giulietta DiBello
Steven Gambill
Jaxson Edward Glad
Hayden Bradley Grussing
Aubrie Paige Gumm
Kynedy Ashlynn Hoel
Alivia Krall
Jauniyah Rosemarie Lisanby
Adeline Marie Marinelli
Tatum Faith Meharry
Emma Grace Mohr
Holden William ONeill
Marley Rae Parks
Carolina Maria Pagaduan Popovics
Luc Sandor Marcelo Popovics
Makaylin Pugh
Maya Alexis Rawdin
Skylar Grace Savona
Sophia Isabella Schuckman
Connor Allen Schwartz-Rouse
Jaylan Serczyk
Austin David Shafer
Vivian Rosalie Shunk
Hayden Dale Smith
Abigail Elise Spomer
Dylan Robert Stierwalt
Jack Christopher Terven
Nicholas James Thomas
Hayley Olivia Thompson
Cassandra Pearl Thweatt
Charles Reider Watson
Lucas Neal Williams
Ethan Matthew Wishall
Ashton Jace Wolf
Adam Scott Wolken

Looking for a family fun activity? Urbana's PostMark set for Saturday fits the bill

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URBANA - 40 North and the Urbana Arts and Culture Program will host the year’s first PostMark Urbana event this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Elm City Roastery, located at 208 W. Main St. in Urbana.

PostMark Urbana is a family-friendly event series that highlights the fun things to do in Urbana through interactive activities, art, and food. PostMark - short for "post market" - is a monthly program designed to promote downtown Urbana as a cultural and shopping destination.

This weekend’s theme focuses on recycled and repurposed art and activities. The Elm City Roastery will serve as the hub for attendees to explore journal-making and vision board design, with materials sourced from Lincoln Square’s IDEA Store. More than 50 pieces of recycled art created by Urbana School District 116 students will also be on display at various participating locations.

40 North will have a table offering PostMark maps and hosting a puzzle exchange. Visitors are encouraged to bring old puzzles and swap them for new ones to enjoy during the winter months.

Other featured events include a free mindfulness session with crystal singing bowls led by instructor Vivianne Velazquez at Gallery Art Bar. The Gilbert Gallery will showcase new works from local artists, and The Enchantment Alley will display a collection of beautifully crafted junk journals.

Additionally, the event will feature a raffle for a $50 gift card. Raffle entries can be submitted at participating PostMark businesses.

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Despite team-wide scoring effort, too many turnovers sink Rockets in home loss to visiting Pioneers

TOLONO - For nearly three quarters, Unity’s varsity basketball squad kept the pedal to the metal, building a 29-21 halftime lead over visiting Normal University High School (10-6). Eight players contributed to the Rockets’ advantage, with Brady Parr, Dane Eisenmenger, Colton Langendorf, and Tre Hoggard combining for 21 of the team’s 29 points. However, Unity (8-6) couldn’t sustain its first-half intensity and ultimately fell, 56-45.

Crewe Eckstein takes a shot during Unity's home game against Normal University. Going 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, the junior finished the night with six points. Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Langendorf led Unity with 11 points, while Parr finished with nine. Crewe Eckstein contributed six points, and Mason O’Neill, Hoggard, and Eisenmenger chipped in five points each at the Rocket Center.

Plagued by turnovers and nursing a two-to-six-point lead through the third quarter, Unity allowed U-High to capitalize on nearly every possession change. The Pioneers took a 37-36 lead with eight seconds left in the frame after scoring four unanswered baskets.

U-High’s A.J. Holden opened the fourth quarter with a basket, putting his team ahead 39-36. Unity answered with a bucket from Langendorf, his final points of the game, to pull within 39-38. Eckstein hit a crucial shot for the Rockets after the Pioneers’ Owen Kirby scored, keeping it close at 42-40.

Taking advantage of Unity’s uncharacteristic defensive and shooting slump, the Pioneers shifted into high gear, going on a 10-point run. Stretching their slim two-point lead to 12, U-High maintained control late to secure the road win.

U-High's Cameron Johnson tries to dribble around Unity's Crewe Eckstein. Johnson finished the night with a game-high 22 points against the Rockets. Click here to see more photos from this game.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

A silver lining for the Rockets was their perfect performance at the free-throw line. Langendorf, Eckstein, and Parr combined to go 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.

The Pioneers’ Cameron Johnson led all scorers with 22 points, including 14 in the second half. Kirby also reached double digits with 11 points, while sophomore Devin Fitzgerald added eight in the nonconference victory.

Hoping to reset later this week, Unity travels to Maroa-Forsyth on Friday for another nonconference game. The Rockets will return to action at 6 p.m. Saturday against Fieldcrest at St. Joseph-Ogden’s Christie Clinic Shootout.

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