July 14, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Cook surpasses 1,000 career points

Before the St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball teams plays Monday night for a shot to reach the state tournament, facing Chicago Christian at 7:30 p.m. in the Class 2A Pontiac Super-Sectional, here’s a roundup of other SJO winter sports:

In boys’ basketball
The regular season ended on Friday night for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ basketball team with a close 58-55 loss at home to Bloomington Central Catholic.


The setback meant the Spartans (19-9, 8-1 Illini Prairie Conference) finished second in the league standings behind BCC.

Jack Cook surpassed 1,000 career points in the game as the senior forward led SJO with a game-high 25 points. Chance Izard and Joel Orcutt each added 12 points in a close game throughout. BCC led 19-16 at the end of the first quarter and the game was tied at 29 heading into halftime before SJO trailed 47-42 entering the fourth quarter.


Keanen Swanson (four points) and Payton Cain (two points) rounded out the scoring for the Spartans.


SJO gets back in action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in a Class 2A Heritage Regional semifinal game. The Spartans, the top seed in the regional, will face either No. 7 Tuscola or No. 10 Georgetown-Ridge Farm. Those two teams are set to play at 6 p.m. on Monday in a regional quarterfinal game.

In wrestling
Two St. Joseph-Ogden High School wrestlers finished their seasons on the biggest stage possible.


Sophomore AJ Wagner compiled a 1-2 record at 106 pounds during the Class 1A state meet at State Farm Center in Champaign, while senior Jake Wendling went 0-2 at 120 pounds.


Wagner started off his stay at state with a 7-0 loss against Billy Tay from Ridgeview/Lexington, the eventual third-place finisher in their weight class.
Wagner responded with a 5-4 win against Alex Armira of Chicago Hope in his first wrestleback match, but saw his season come to a close with an 8-3 loss against Jaxson Roberts of Herscher. Wagner finished the season with a 44-9 record.


Wendling started his state meet with an 18-2 technical fall loss to Gabe Spencer from Heyworth. No shame, though, since Spencer capped off an undefeated 49-0 season with a state title. Wendling then went into the wrestlebacks, where he suffered a close 11-8 loss to Bobby Mann from Reed-Custer to end his season and SJO career.


Wendling, who injured his knee early in the season and wasn’t sure if he would even have the chance to wrestle in the postseason, finished the season with an 11-5 record that included a regional title.

Banner
Related Posts

SJO graduate Crowe thriving at Parkland as Cobras vie for national championship

April 23, 2021

April 23, 2021

Peyton Crowe knows a thing or two about championships. Crowe was a part of the 2018-19 St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball...

Price is right: SJO baseball off to solid start

April 12, 2023

April 12, 2023

The spring weather is starting to get nicer outside. And the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball team is starting to...

Immke, Acton get SJO softball back on winning note

April 18, 2023

April 18, 2023

Some high-scoring offensive outbursts. Some tough, disappointing losses to handle. The first month of the season has featured both of...

Spartans advance in sectional

June 10, 2021

June 10, 2021

—-ST. JOSEPH—-
There is an adage in baseball that a good offense wins games, but good defense wins championships. It does...

SJO football back in the playoffs, meets Williamsville in first round

October 26, 2019

October 26, 2019

The last time St. Joseph-Ogden High School football met Williamsville in a playoff game, the Spartans ended up playing for...

Vallee, Lannert help SJO girls’ basketball increase win streak to four games

December 12, 2019

December 12, 2019

Winning close games has become a theme so far this season for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team....

Postseason play begins for St. Joseph Middle School baseball, softball teams

September 22, 2020

September 22, 2020

Whether the St. Joseph Middle School would have baseball and softball teams this school year was uncertain. All because of...

SJO baseball ups win streak to 13 games and Haley nets 400th career victory

April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023

The path to 20 wins each season can take high school baseball teams on a different path. Maybe the majority...

Spartans fall to T-Town

February 23, 2019

February 23, 2019

NORMAL— All basketball teams have an off-night shooting occasionally. It’s just too bad that the St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans picked the...

Seeley’s hat trick leads SJO soccer to first win

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

Prolific goal scoring highlighted both of St. Joseph-Ogden High School’s soccer matches last week. One went in favor of the...

Taylor reflects on SJO coaching tenure

August 16, 2021

August 16, 2021

Kevin Taylor realized he needed to make a change. But stepping aside from coaching the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’...

Postseason quest begins for SJO baseball after strong finish to regular season

May 15, 2019

May 15, 2019

The regular season ended on a positive note for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball team. Now, the Spartans hope...

Kaiser’s positivity a plus on court

October 4, 2019

October 4, 2019

Lacey Kaiser is a positive presence on the volleyball court. So much so, that her coach Abby McDonald nominated her...

Public Statement from Dan Vogelsang

December 23, 2019

December 23, 2019

It was with a heavy heart that I submitted my resignation to the Saint Joseph-Ogden High School Board of Education...

Armstrong sparks SJO girls’ basketball, Spartans stay unbeaten with win against rival Rockets

February 19, 2021

February 19, 2021

A good outside shooter can open up a basketball team’s offense.In more ways than one. Add a second presence from...

Comments
Leave a Reply