College Notebook | Former SJO player knocks one out the park


Micah Downs finishes sixth at CCIW meet

College Notebook on the Sentinel Last February Micah Downs went 4-1 at the IHSA state wrestling meet at the State Farm Center to bring home a bronze medal for the Rockets. This February, a freshman wrestling at 184 pounds for Millikan University, Downs finished sixth at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin conference meet in Rock Island on Saturday.



Dowling hits first college homer

Well, that didn't take long.

Former St. Joseph-Ogden softball player Bailey Dowling cranked the first home run of her college career this weekend. A starting shortstop for the University of Alabama, the true freshman when yard for a two-run shot to put her team up 3-0 on Valentine's Day against Louisville (0-2). The Crimson Tide went on to win 4-0, which was the exact result of their three-day, four-game schedule this past weekend.

Here is the video of Dowling hitting the ball out of the park on Sunday.

After four contests Dowling has tallied 4 hits in ten appearances at the plate, scored three runs and delivered three RBI for one of the country's top softball programs.


Kaiser notches 6 kills for Parkland

Katie Kaiser contributed 4 blocks and 6 kills in match two of Parkland College's doubleheader against the JV squad from Lincoln College. Ella Godsell, a freshman with the Cobras, had 11 of the team's 49 team digs. The former Rocket volleyball players helped undefeated Parkland (7-0) sweep the visiting Lynx in both matches, 3-0.

Kaiser, a sophomore, and Godsell travel to Quincy, Ill., for an M-WAC match against John Wood CC on Wednesday, February 17, at 6:00 pm.


Former Spartans keep Parkland team undefeated

The Parkland women's basketball team improved to 6-0 on Sunday after rolling over John Wood Community College, 62-41.

Peyton Crowe scored 12 and Bree Trimble added another 11 points in the Cobra's home win. Crowe the team's top rebounder with nine boards. She was also credited with four assist and two steals.


Trimble lights out against Maryville

When he was in high school Brandon Trimble dropped 44 points in St. Joseph-Ogden's Class 2A semifinal against Breese Central. Now a junior at Lindenwood College in St. Louis, the sports management major scored 24 points and collected six rebounds in the Lions 83-69 win over Maryville College on Thursday.

After 15 games in his first season, he is averaging 11.5 points per game. Since the start of his college basketball career starting in 2019, Trimble had scored 20 or more points in eight games.


Baker 2nd at the Grand Valley Big Meet

Eastern Illinois University sprinter Riley Baker is just a half second off the qualifying for the NCAA Division II track & field national championships. The junior turned in a 48.99, good for a second place finish, in the 400-meter run to assist the EIU men's track team effort at the Grand Valley Big Meet on Saturday in Allendale, Michigan.

Baker and the Panthers host the Friday Night Special at the Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse this weekend.


Coursey posts strong start for Redbirds

Last Thursday, Andrea Coursey started her senior season with the Illinois State University softball team on fire. The St. Joseph-Ogden product padded her stats with a pair of hits in ISU's road game against North Florida. One of three hit by the opposing pitcher during the game, she was left on base on all three times in the 4-0 shutout and season opener.


Lincoln Land streak ends, Taylor leads team in assists

The Lincoln Land Loggers drop a heartbreaker to rival Illinois Central College 85-62 on Sunday. Sophomore Maclayne Taylor, who competed in volleyball, cross Country, track and basketball at St. Joseph-Ogden, lead the team with six assists and contributed seven points in the loss. The loss ends a 5-game win streak for the now 6-2 Loggers.


Know a Unity or St. Joseph-Ogden graduate playing at the collegiate level? Let us know their name, sport(s) and where they are playing. An email or a link to their social media account for interviews is a big help, too. Send The Sentinel a message to us at sports@oursentinel.com.


Parkland fall Dean's List includes students from all six communities

Despite the challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic at start of new academic year last fall, more than 40 area college students received recognition for their performance in the classroom and online while attending Parkland College.

Recipients named to the Dean's List must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 grade scale for the semester to receive this honor. Student enrolled in fewer than 12 hours can make the Dean’s List by achieving a 3.5 cumulative GPA for 12 or more hours during the current academic year.


Fall 2020 Dean's List

OGDEN

Zach David
Adam Frerichs
Caleb Johnson
Kenly Taylor

PHILO

Karson Ewerks
Marlena Finical
Kaitlyn Fink
Kia Freese
Ella Godsell
Peter Manrique
Tori Patton


ROYAL

Peyton Crowe


ST. JOSEPH

Jenna Albrecht
Danielle Almaraz
Emily Bigger
Abigail Burnett
Chloe Duckett
Avery Edwards
Emory Ericksen
Kameren Goodell
Erin Henkelman
Miranda Lindsey
Rebecca Long
Caroline Moore
Alivia Norem
Grant Siegmund
Tyler Slagley
Anna Wentzloff


SIDNEY

Tucker Catron
Amy Ellis
Ruskin Hovde
Zeth McCloud
Kaitlyn Pruetting
Katelin Roberts
Sydney Schurvinske
Elysabeth Short
Enoch Wells


TOLONO

Alexis Benskin
Vivian Brown
Abigail Charleston
Hannah Fridgen
Chelsie Helmick
Megan Henry
Cassidy Kamradt
Rachael King
Hallie Lutz
Peyton Miller
Jana Ping
Rakesh Sharma
Jillian Stadel
Erin Stevens
Chayton Townsend
Kristina Trame
Mikayla Wetherell

Did you graduate from college with an undergraduate or advance degree in December?
Tell us about it!


If you were on this semester's Dean's List and your name were omitted from our list above please know it was not intentional. University communications and public affair offices typically provide or make available lists of fall and spring graduates by zip code. Quite often students living off-campus supply their school address in the city they live while attending school as their contact address instead of their hometown address. If you supplied the institution with a different home address, and would like to have your name added to the list hometowns we cover above, email us your information to editor@oursentinel.com.

Moody leads women's Top Ten finishers at Illinois Marathon


Tera Moody rises to the top out of a field of 268 women long distance specialist at the Illinois Marathon with a remarkable finish. Here's a look at the top ten female finishers and their performances.

Illinois Marathon photo
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Hannah Aguirre, Alicia Hudelson, and Stephanie Runyon-Thomas emerge from the underpass on Logan Street in Champaign after running the first 14-1/2 miles of the Illinois Marathon.


CHAMPAIGN – Tera Moody of Bargersville, IN, led the way in the women’s race at today’s Illinois Marathon, crossing the finish line in 02:47:21. With an impressive pace of 06:23 per mile, Moody not only claimed the overall women’s title but also won the women’s 40-44 age group. Her dominant performance placed her 20th overall out of 894 runners, further establishing her as a top-tier marathoner.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Tera Moody focuses on the road ahead as she run down Washington Street in Urbana on her was to the 2025 Women's title.

The Illinois Marathon, known for its flat and fast course, offers a scenic route through Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy, with runners finishing inside the iconic Memorial Stadium. The marathon has grown in prominence since its debut in 2008, becoming a favorite for runners seeking a Boston qualifier or simply a fun, fast race.

The race began in the low 50s with a chilly northwest breeze, and scattered puddles from overnight rain lined parts of the course. However, after the first hour, the sun broke through the clouds, warming spectators and providing much-needed relief for runners.

Jessica Rockafellow from Palatine, IL, finished second in 02:50:11, maintaining an average pace of 06:29 per mile. Rockafellow claimed the top spot in the women’s 30-34 age group and placed 27th overall, showing her continued strength as one of the race’s top competitors.

Alicia Hudelson of Missoula, MT, secured third place in 02:58:48, with an average pace of 06:50 per mile. Hudelson, who also finished second in the women’s 40-44 age group, has continued to impress in marathons across the country.

Stephanie Runyon-Thomas of Carmel, IN, finished fourth in 03:00:01, with a pace of 06:52 per mile. Runyon-Thomas also took second in the women’s 30-34 age group and placed 51st overall, adding to her list of top finishes at marathons around the region.


Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

LEFT: Becky Nussbaum runs along Washington St. in Urbana, finishing the first four miles of her race. Nussbaum averaged a 6:56 minute per mile pace. MIDDLE: Terry Moody drafts Jessica Rockafellow while running a gentle incline on their way to the turn from Logan to Neil Street. RIGHT: Mahomet's Alexis Dorsey keeps a steady stride staying focused on her race. She finished 5th in the women's division and 19th overall.

Alexis Dorsey of Mahomet, IL, finished fifth in 03:00:38, taking first place in the women’s 25-29 age group. Dorsey won the Illinois Marathon in 2024, and today’s performance secured her 53rd overall, proving her continued dominance in the local running scene.

Becky Nussbaum of Lakeville, OH, claimed sixth place in 03:01:41, continuing her strong history at the Illinois Marathon. Nussbaum finished third in the women’s division last year and placed 34th overall in 2024, solidifying her reputation as a consistent marathoner.

The top ten was rounded out by Hannah Aguirre of Champaign, IL, in seventh place with 03:04:32, Andrea Taylor from Owensboro, KY, who finished eighth in 03:09:17, Dana Mehalek from Hendersonville, TN, who claimed ninth in 03:11:47, and Ella Chambers of Chicago, IL, in tenth with a time of 03:12:01.



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Area high school grads make the Parkland College fall Dean's List

This week, Parkland College announced the Dean's List for fall 2021. In order to make the list, students must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0-grading scale for the semester to receive recognition for their outstanding academic performance. Students enrolled in fewer than 12 hours can make the Dean’s List by achieving a 3.5 cumulative GPA for 12 or more hours during the current academic year.

The fall 2021 honorees from our area, which includes Ogden, Pesotum, Philo, Sadorus, St. Joseph, Tolono, and Urbana, are listed below by hometown.

OGDEN
Zach T David
Kenly R Taylor

PESOTUM
Hans G Goodmann
Olivia D Kieffer

PHILO
Abigail L Dodd
Karson J Ewerks
Ella G Godsell
Lindsey L Miller
Mercedes E Rentschler

SADORUS
Riley E Millsap
Eric D Phillips II
Katharine C Wells

ST. JOSEPH Austin C Anderson
Craig A Antonio
Emily A Bigger
Antoni L Blas
Ross D Booker
Jacob M Dwyer
Dakota N Franzen
Erin E Henkelman
Ethan P Lane
Aiden C Livesay
Nathan T Maier
Lexi L Ribbe
Rachel L Smith
Erica P Stevenson
Anna A Tranel
Dillon D Uken
Anna R Wentzloff
Logan M Wolfersberger
Lucas A Woods

SIDNEY
Taylor R Dooley

TOLONO
Tanner Block
Stephanie Corrales
Leah E Gateley
Kaitlynn M Gray
Shay F Haluzak
Chelsie A Helmick
Megan L Henry
Maggie R Hewing
Cassidy L Kamradt
Rachael P King
Kristen N Lareau
Korie J Novak
Connor D O'Donnell
Brayden Percival
Jana E Ping
Rakesh Sharma
Jillian R Stadel
Mikayla M Wetherell
Kimberly A Pruetting

URBANA

Emma M Aders
Chase W Alexander
Audrey N Babcock
Jacob W Barker
Emily L Bennet
Jeremy D Bobbitt
Alana G Brown
Jhone Brown
Miriam N Calderon
Vahagn Chiflikyan
Kathryn R Choate
Richard M Coulter
Emily R Crane
Jesse J Cunningham
Abigail M Dunham
Lashae R Dunn
Emma K Fleming
Laini M Flessner
Janna H Fouly
Josiah C Freedman
Logan A Freeman
Colin P Fried
Margaret J Hall
Brandon N Hamilton
Allene G Hari
Jackson F Henderson
Liang M Hernandez-Lima
Kelly E Hoene
Enrique G Horna Chavarria
Matthew R Horner
Jacob R Ingalsbe
Sarah R Isaf
Yixuan Jin
Karis I Johnson
Tyler J Jurczyk
Alex M Kwok
Ariana I Loor
Amy C Love
Benoit S Lukunku
John D Lyons
Sebastian W Marlow
Santiago Martinez
Max J McCracken
Kathleen L McCullough
Kyle T McKay
Jessica A Miller
Jackson Moffat
Matt A Moutvic
Thomas J Negromo-Osagie
Ghada A Odeh
Sara M Odeh
Rebecca M Owen
Moriah E Owens
Christina M Parks
Jil V Patel
Romin M Patel
Maleah N Perry
Joel V Petersson
Tom L Phetchareune
Rachelle H Pierro
Ashley L Pruemer
Malyda T Radanavong
Anthany Ravanh
Kayla C Regnier
Dain M Richie
Marvin A Rios
Brandi L Ropinski
Ilean L Rubio
Sophia E Solava
Joshua G Stebbins
Madeline R Supp
Jacob A Tatman
Jake B Van Anrooy
Curtis J Viselli
Elizabeth C Viselli
Isabelle M Vliet
Christopher M Walker
Tatiana A Wallace
Avery J Wright
Robin E Young
Allonna B Yutzy
Ovidiu A Zaharescu


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Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks