February 14, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Plotner’s dedication to cross country pays off

Jillian Plotner works hard every day to be the best she possibly can be.

St. Joseph-Ogden Cross Country Head coach Jason and Assistant Coach Terri Rein cited Plotner’s dedication to the sport when they nominated Plotner for student-athlete of the month.

“She is very encouraging and displays a positive attitude,” Retz said. “She works hard every day.”

Plotner has had a stellar cross country season thus far.

At the Doc Acklin Memorial Invite she placed third with a time of 18:35.2. At the Cow Chip Classic, Plotner finished sixth in the first flight with a time of 20:07.69. At the Richard Spring Invitational at Detweiller Park Plotner placed 101st in 19:15, which was the best time of all the SJO girls. Plotner also had the best time for the SJO girls at the Spartan Classic, running 18:29:34 and placed seventh overall.

Plotner said being nominated for student-athlete of the month was a honor.

“I am honored that my handwork and dedication are getting attention,” she said.

Plotner said her favorite part of being a student-athlete at SJO is interacting with coaches, staff and other students.

“I love communicating with both faculty and students,” she said.

Plotner said the most challenging part of being a student-athlete is getting her homework done on weekdays.

Plotner, who plans on studying forensic anthropology in college, said her current favorite class is consumer education because it teaches things that are applicable to real life.

“Lots of life learning lessons,” Plotner said.

Banner
Related Posts

Wells, defense shine as balanced SJO girls’ basketball team wins regional title

February 22, 2022

February 22, 2022

The high school girls’ basketball season has taken St. Joseph-Ogden High School all across the state of Illinois. With plenty...

Rajlich, Mattsey thrive for SJO cross-country in Peoria

September 17, 2019

September 17, 2019

Thank you to Carrie Mattsey photography for the photo! The St. Joseph-Ogden High School team got its first look at...

SJO softball remains unbeaten

March 28, 2019

March 28, 2019

A strong offensive showing by the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team and baseball teams led to wins earlier this...

A numbers game: Interest in golf, girls’ tennis at SJO increase, but both aren’t
board-approved sports

September 9, 2022

September 9, 2022

 St. Joseph-Ogden High School doesn’t want to be mediocre. To Athletic Director Justin Franzen that means making sure student athletes...

Armstrong, Lannert key three-game win streak for SJO girls’ basketball

December 6, 2021

December 6, 2021

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team ventured away from its home gymnasium for the first time last week....

SJO wrestling wraps up successful season

March 5, 2024

March 5, 2024

Holden Brazelton led a trio of St. Joseph-Ogden wrestlers who competed at the IHSA Class 1Astate finals last week at...

‘This team loves to compete’ SJO girls’ track and field continuing to train from home during pandemic as they wait for season to start

March 30, 2020

March 30, 2020

Fresh off tying for third place in Class 1A a season ago, needless to say the St. Joseph-Ogden High School...

SJO boys’ track and field looks to build upon past success

April 2, 2019

April 2, 2019

Jason Retz is no stranger to success when it comes to St.Joseph-Ogden High School athletics. The sixth-year coach of the...

Mabry clocks top time for SJO boys’ cross-country during Spartan Classic victory

October 1, 2021

October 1, 2021

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ cross-country team has already run on a variety of courses during the first month...

SJO baseball adapting to strange times this spring: ‘The most difficult part is not seeing the players’

April 17, 2020

April 17, 2020

Ever since Josh Haley took control of the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball team, success has followed. So have solid...

Get to know SJO volleyball player Grace Goldenstein

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? our communication What is your favorite thing about volleyball and the...

Spartans ready to ‘respond better’ in playoff opener at Williamsville

October 28, 2019

October 28, 2019

Jaden Miller is glad he gets another opportunity to play football. Ditto for Blake Dable. And the other St. Joseph-Ogden...

SJO girls’ basketball wins tournament title in Fisher

December 2, 2019

December 2, 2019

The St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ basketball team already has a tournament championship to its name this season, but the Spartans are...

SJO Board to discuss basketball at November meeting

November 4, 2020

November 4, 2020

Basketball isn’t a sure thing at St. Joseph-Ogden High School this winter. The district will have to decide whether to...

Armstrong, Cramer help lead SJO girls’ basketball in two wins

February 1, 2020

February 1, 2020

Postseason play is right around the corner for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team. And the Spartans continue...

Comments
Leave a Reply