November 16, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Mabry, Stegall pace SJO boys’ cross-country to regional title; sectional meet up Saturday

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ cross-country team has shown the capability it could win a state title all season.

At the start of the postseason, the Spartans haven’t let up, either. SJO convincingly won the 14-team Class 1A Chrisman Regional last Saturday and will send its entire team to the starting line at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Hickory Point Golf Club in Forsyth as part of the St. Teresa Sectional.

Put together another dominant performance on Saturday, and the Spartans will have the same setup in place on Nov. 6 for the 1A state meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

Needless to say, SJO is peaking at the right time.

The Spartans compiled a team-best 33 points to cruise by runner-up Paxton-Buckley-Loda last Saturday as the Panthers finished with 79 points. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin (85), La Salette (107) and Uni High (116) rounded out the top five schools.

Senior Charlie Mabry posted the top time for SJO at Chrisman, placing fourth in 16 minutes, 33 seconds. Teammate and fellow senior Luke Stegall was right behind Mabry, placing fifth in 16:34. SJO senior Elijah Mock was the next runner to cross the finish line to give the Spartans three runners in the top six as Mock was sixth in 16:50.4.

Not to be outdone, SJO juniors Payton Wendell (16:56.6, eighth) and Ethan Blackburn (17:03, 10th) also ran well to give SJO a dominating victory.

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ cross-country team has shown the capability it could win a state title all season.

At the start of the postseason, the Spartans haven’t let up, either. SJO convincingly won the 14-team Class 1A Chrisman Regional last Saturday and will send its entire team to the starting line at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Hickory Point Golf Club in Forsyth as part of the St. Teresa Sectional.

Put together another dominant performance on Saturday, and the Spartans will have the same setup in place on Nov. 6 for the 1A state meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

Needless to say, SJO is peaking at the right time.

The Spartans compiled a team-best 33 points to cruise by runner-up Paxton-Buckley-Loda last Saturday as the Panthers finished with 79 points. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin (85), La Salette (107) and Uni High (116) rounded out the top five schools.

Senior Charlie Mabry posted the top time for SJO at Chrisman, placing fourth in 16 minutes, 33 seconds. Teammate and fellow senior Luke Stegall was right behind Mabry, placing fifth in 16:34. SJO senior Elijah Mock was the next runner to cross the finish line to give the Spartans three runners in the top six as Mock was sixth in 16:50.4.

Not to be outdone, SJO juniors Payton Wendell (16:56.6, eighth) and Ethan Blackburn (17:03, 10th) also ran well to give SJO a dominating victory.

Now, SJO turns its attention to Hickory Point and the course in Forsyth. If the Spartans secure a top-six team finish, the entire team will run at the state meet the first Saturday in November as the program chases its first state championship since 1993.

Banner
Related Posts

SJO softball vies for 11th straight regional title on Saturday

May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019

A year ago, the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team defeated Maroa-Forsyth to win a Class 2A sectional title. On...

Dukeman, Martlage help SJO softball get back to winning streak

April 29, 2019

April 29, 2019

Challenging road games await the St. Joseph-Ogden High School softball team at the start of this week. But the Spartans...

Frick, Brooks deliver, but SJO girls’ basketball loses twice

January 16, 2023

January 16, 2023

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team kept it close in its two Illini Prairie Conference games last week,...

Relays shine for SJO track and field

March 25, 2019

March 25, 2019

A St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ track and field relay team won a title at a prestigious indoor meet, the...

Get to know SJO Volleyball player Emma Ward

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? Our ability to work well together What is your favorite thing...

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...

SJO football schedule for 2019 set

July 1, 2019

July 1, 2019

Making the playoffs is always a goal for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team. Having qualified in 27 of...

Armstrong leads balanced offense in win against Pontiac

February 25, 2021

February 25, 2021

Recovering from a tough home loss with a road win is always a good sign.Especially with multiple road games on...

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...

5 Question Friday with SJO Football Head Coach Shawn Skinner

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

How has the team improved since the first game?I think the team has been as committed as you can as...

SJO girls’ basketball embarks upon IHSA postseason play

February 13, 2023

February 13, 2023

Throw the records out the window.Take it one game at a time.Survive and advance.Pick any well-used cliche, and it’s applicable...

SJO football adjusts its routine this summer, picks up formidable Week 1 opponent

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

Life the last few months for St. Joseph-Ogden High School football coach Shawn Skinner has been much like it has...

Mattsey, Poe highlight SJO boys’ cross-country’s recent success, while Plotner, Rajlich do the same for SJO girls’ cross-country

October 22, 2019

October 22, 2019

All the miles, all the training and all the preparation will come to a head this Saturday for the St....

Ingram, balanced run game and opportunistic defense lead SJO football to first win

September 23, 2021

September 23, 2021

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School football team needed a win. In a big way. The Spartans delivered one. In a...

‘I’m just glad to be playing my final year with my friends’

March 31, 2021

March 31, 2021

Looking forward.  The St. Joseph-Ogden football team is embracing the unique opportunity of playing football in March and April due...

Comments
Leave a Reply