November 22, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Orcutt named Student Athlete of the Month

St. Joseph-Ogden senior Joel Orcutt isn’t just a standout basketball player.
He is also an artist.


“I enjoy doing art a lot,” he said. “I take pride in my work.”


Orcutt, who was named SJO’s male Student Athlete of the Month for January, had 18 points against Prairie Central on Jan. 25 and 12 points against Monticello on Tuesday night, and was nominated by SJO boys’ basketball coach Kiel Duval for the honor.


Duval said Orcutt has been the most consistent player for the Spartans for the past month.


“He’s getting better every day,” Duval said.


Orcutt was honored to be nominated.


“It feels good knowing that my hard work and performance is being noticed,” he said.


Orcutt said balancing athletics and academics is a tough concept, but one he thrives at.


“The most difficult part is keeping up with grades and still performing well,” Orcutt said. “And being an athlete almost year-round.”


Orcutt, who is going to attend St. Ambrose University to play football and plans on majoring in either biology or business, said he loves playing sports at SJO.


“The best part is the bonds that you create between you and your teammates,” he said. “Also, just playing the sports that I love at the school that I love is awesome.”

Banner
Related Posts

Jacob, Smith help SJO boys’ basketball stay unbeaten

December 15, 2023

December 15, 2023

It doesn’t seem to matter the team. Or the location. All the St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball team is doing through...

SJO girls’ basketball wins long-awaited season opener

February 8, 2021

February 8, 2021

The last time St. Joseph-Ogden hosted a girls’ basketball game before Thursday night, it had a good ending for the...

Izard, SJO boys’ basketball rolls in postseason opener

February 26, 2020

February 26, 2020

It wasn’t even close. The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ basketball team picked the perfect time for its most lopsided...

SJO competitive cheer team has successful season

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

What an accomplished 2024-2025 season the SJO competitive cheer team has had. Starting in May 2024 this group of athletes...

Armstrong, Spartans start off Arteaga Era with unbeaten opening week

November 23, 2021

November 23, 2021

What a way to start the season. And the Drew Arteaga Era. The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team...

Way to go, SJO: Spartans’ girls’ basketball heading to state!

February 19, 2019

February 19, 2019

In a season full of signature wins, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team delivered another one on Monday...

Hard work key to Gaskin’s success

April 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden senior track athlete Lane Gaskin is a hard worker. Boys track coach Jason Retz said Gaskin is willing...

Get to know SJO volleyball player Josey Frerichs

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? We are all friends on and off the court which really...

Student-Athlete of the Month Rylee Sjuts

September 3, 2019

September 3, 2019

Every month in season coaches at St. Joseph-Ogden High School nominate athletes to be the student-athlete of the month. A...

Walsh giving back: Former SJO quarterback now an assistant with the Spartans

November 2, 2019

November 2, 2019

Dalton Walsh has grown up around St. Joseph-Ogden High School football. Quite literally. “I remember being a kid and always...

Weaver, SJO football is a way of life

August 30, 2019

August 30, 2019

With the 2019 St. Joseph-Ogden football season ready to kickoff on Friday evening, we are beginning a new feature called...

SJO girls’ track and field wins Spartan Classic, prep for postseason

May 8, 2019

May 8, 2019

Winning meets on their own track has become a consistent theme for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ track and...

SJO soccer to have new home in 2023, while issues arise about current field maintenance

July 14, 2022

July 14, 2022

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team is set to have a new home field for the 2023 season. SJO...

With Illini Prairie title in rearview, Duval and Spartans turn attention to the postseason

February 21, 2024

February 21, 2024

Playing against the likes of Bloomington Central Catholic, Chillicothe IVC, Monticello, Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Pontiac, Prairie Central, Rantoul, St. Thomas More and...

5 Question Friday with senior Jackson Greer

September 2, 2022

September 2, 2022

Every Friday we are asking an SJO junior or senior athlete five questions. This week we talked to Jackson Greer....

Comments
Leave a Reply