The Sentinel

Sports Page | Four SJO wrestlers pin opponents at home dual

ST. JOSEPH - With an impressive number of spectators on hand, St. Joseph-Ogden's Quincy Jones, Devin Swisher, Landon Butts, and Emmitt Holt pinned opponents in St. Joseph-Ogden's 40-35 win over visiting Clifton Central last Tuesday. SJO also got a decisive victory from Holden Brazelton via a 15-1 major decision over Comets' Kayden Cody in the first of two dual contests.

In their second match of the evening, the Spartans were able to win just three bouts on the way to a 57-21 loss to Oakwood.

Emmitt Holt stuck Steven Uden in the third period. In a 9-2 decision, Holden Brazelton beat Jack Ajster after three periods. Khaden Hallowell pinned Brayden Norton in the 215-pound match.

Box Score

Final Score: St. Joseph-Ogden 40 - Clifton Central 35

106- HARRIS, NICK (SJO) over Forfeit, (Clifton Central) FORFEIT;
113- HOLT, EMMITT (SJO) over Williams, Beau (Central) Fall 0:47;
120- Hemp, Blake (Central) over WALSH, JACKSON (SJO) Decision 14-7;
126- Bailey, Everett (Central) over GETTY, CAMDEN (SJO) Tech Fall 16-0;
132- BUTTS, LANDEN (SJO) over Bailey, Garrison (Central) Fall 2:04;
138- BRAZELTON, HOLDEN (SJO) over Cody, Kayden (Central) Maj Dec 15-1;
144- Cox, Evan (Central) over VAUGHN, ALEX (SJO) Fall 0:54;
150- Panozzo, Giona (Central) over ALVAREZ, DAVIN (SJO) Fall 4:59;
157- Panozzo, Gianni (Central) over MOORE, JONATHON (SJO) Fall 2:55;
165- SWISHER, DEVAN (SJO) over Vinning, Noah (Central) Fall 0:23;
175- Alvarez, Izzy (Central) over SARNECKI, CARSON (SJO) Decision 10-4;
190- Plante, Kyle (Central) over SMITH, CORBIN (SJO) Fall 3:44;
215- O`Connor, Brody (Central) over HALLOWELL, KHADEN (SJO) Fall 0:45;
285- JONES, QUINCY (SJO) over Sandoval, Francisco (Central) Fall 0:47.

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Spartans continue early season steamroll with win #6

Toyota of Danville MVP Tanner Jacob goes up for a shot during the Spartans' title game against Oakwood. The senior scored 16 points in SJO's first conference win over Central Catholic Saturday afternoon on the road.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

BLOOMINGTON - Coming off a huge overtime win over Normal West on Tuesday, the St. Joseph-Ogden basketball team was back in Blo-No to face Illini Prairie rival Central Catholic on Saturday. Like their earlier visit to the other downstate twin city, the Spartans returned home victorious after defeating the Saints 63-54.

Despite a 41% shooting effort against Central Catholic's 95%, SJO proved the adage 'less is better' doesn't necessarily win basketball games.

Tanner Jacob led the Spartans with 16 points. Junior Tanner Siems also finished in double figures with 13 points. Guards Coy Taylor and Logan Smith rounded out the top four scorers with eight points each.

The foursome fired 43 of St. Joseph-Ogden's 54 shots at the rim, draining 18 of the 22 that resulted in points.

Senior Luke Landrus dominated the boards with nine rebounds and led the Spartans with three steals. Smith, also a senior, was credited with five rebounds and seven assists.

SJO heads back to Bloomington-Normal as the #3-seed in the Small School Division State Farm Classic. Jacob and the Spartans appear to be firing on all cylinders and looking like a good bet for a repeat of last year's championship run. With four contests to play before their tournament opener against Ead Dubuque two days after Christmas, the currently undefeated Spartans have a brutal four-game schedule ahead of them.

On Tuesday, the team goes head-to-head with Danville over in the 'Ville, who hopes to avenge last year's 66-53 loss behind Ty Pence's 35-point show-stopper. The Vikings have taken losses this season to Centennial, Peoria, Lincoln, and Belleville West. Their three wins have been over smaller size schools, including Mahomet-Seymour, Rantoul, and Ogden International.

The Main Gym should be packed to the rafters on Friday when St. Joseph-Ogden hosts Normal University. Like the Spartans, the Pioneers have already beat Central Catholic and Normal West and will have vengeance on their minds as well after last year's loss to SJO at the State Farm Classic.

With four days to recover, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin be in the house. Then, Friday, the St. Joseph-Ogden basketball team is back on a bus and heading to the den of the Beecher Bobcats, who are 8-0, 4-0 in the River Valley Conference.

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Sing your way to better health

Some research has shown that singing can boost immunity. Other research has found singing can help stave off moderate dementia. OSF doctor Alina Paul suggests it is possible to sing your way to better health.

Bernd Everding/Pixabay

by Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

CHAMPAIGN - Alina Paul, MD, has been singing for as long as she can remember. She added guitar while in boarding school in India.

Alina Paul, MD

Fast forward to 2023, and the family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare finds herself singing for patients who request it to brighten their day.

“It has changed the way I treat patients,” Dr. Paul says with conviction. “Singing and playing guitar is medicine. It’s medicine for the soul.”

Hearing those tunes is not just a temporary respite for the person in for a checkup. Dr. Paul says research has shown singing can have long-term health benefits.

The benefits

· Pain levels, physical and mental, can decrease. For people suffering from anxiety and depression, singing can increase the level of endorphins, the “feel-good hormone,” as Dr. Paul puts it. This brings them out of a dreary mood.

· Some research has shown that singing can boost immunity by increasing the level of the antibody immunoglobulin A. This antibody helps fight respiratory and other infections, Dr. Paul says.

· It helps your lungs perform better.

“We’re using our lungs to sing. We take deep breaths. Certain movements of the chest wall help with lung function,” says Dr. Paul.

· Other research has found singing can help stave off moderate dementia, Dr. Paul says.

“That’s amazing,” she says.

“We see a lot of patients with dementia. When you incorporate singing or even sing to them, their memory seems to improve. They’re happier,” Dr. Paul adds.

· Dr. Paul says singing can increase oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone.” This can help with social bonding and a sense of belonging.

· Singing can also improve public speaking skills, especially if you sing in front of others. Simply put, the more you use your voice, the more comfortable you are with it.

Keep your well-being in mind

Dr. Paul says there are some obvious, but important health matters to keep in mind if you pick up singing.

· If singing causes your lungs or throat to hurt, take a break. If minor symptoms persist, go to an urgent care. For things like difficulty breathing, chest pain or loss of consciousness, call 9-1-1.

· If you are sick, don’t sing – or do much else – around others. When we say words, our mouth spews microparticles that can carry diseases. And when you’re sick, you should be resting and recovering.

· Be kind to your neighbors, like in an apartment building. Don’t sing loudly at all hours.

How do I start?

Don’t feel like you have to run out and join a choir, Dr. Paul says. And don’t worry if your vocal skills aren’t Grammy worthy.

“Don’t take it as an exercise. Don’t do it because you have to. Do it because you want to do it,” Dr. Paul advises.

Try singing while in the car or shower. Do karaoke with friends. You don’t even need music. Try belting out your favorite song acapella while cleaning the house. Dr. Paul says closing your eyes can help focus the activity.

“Anybody can sing. Make a point to sing. It’s like meditation. It’s very beneficial,” Dr. Paul says.