September 30, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

5 questions with SJO football team captain Owen Birt

Why is being a team captain important to you?
Being a team captain is important to me because it is important to lead this team by example and know that guys will see you and want to work hard to make this program as great as it can be. It is important to be able to look back and see that we left the team as good as we can make it and see it prosper in the future.

How was this team able to win its final three games and clinch a playoff berth?
The last three games we played were great and I think that it comes down to the amount of energy that we came on to the field with which was unmatched to any other week during the season which was a result from the pre-game speech’s our coach had given us and really got us fired up right before the game and we came out and started with momentum.

When did you start playing football and why did you stick with it?
I started playing football my 5th-grade year in middle school because I had seen my classmates playing and I wanted to join them. When I started, I never played much but I loved it partly because it was really fun hitting people and not worrying about how rough we were being and also because I loved the game and it was fun to be a part of the team.

When you look back on this season 25 years from now, what are you going to remember most and why?
When I look back at the SJO football program in 25 years I will see a team with its formal glory that it has not seen for years. The thing I will remember is that we were the group that changed the trends and left these young guys who have lots of potential with a fighting chance to bring Football in St. Joe to a point where it once was.

How would you describe what it’s like running on to Dick Duval Field before a game?
Running onto the field on a Friday night right before a big game is like nothing else. There is no feeling as great as looking up into the stands and seeing the whole town cheering for our team. I do not think there is a better feeling in the world.

Banner
Related Posts

Jones named SJO student-athlete of the month

November 18, 2020

November 18, 2020

Helene Jones likes a challenge. Jones, the October St. Joseph-Ogden student-athlete of the month, enjoys math because it challenges her....

5 Question friday

August 26, 2022

August 26, 2022

Each Friday we will ask some SJO athletes five questions. Up first, junior football player Ethan McElroy. What made you...

Poe named male student-athlete of the month for August

September 20, 2019

September 20, 2019

Photo by Betty Lake Photography Eric Poe is a leader. St. Joseph-Ogden cross country head coach Jason Retz said Poe...

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....

Commitment pays off for Mattsey

December 10, 2019

December 10, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden Junior Brandon Mattsey is a leader. That is why his cross country coach Jason Retz, nominated him for...

Harper sparks SJO soccer to another win

September 25, 2024

September 25, 2024

The St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ soccer team has proven this season it can find the back of theopponent’s net. Frequently. The...

Ward, Cromwell help SJO softball end losing skid

April 24, 2019

April 24, 2019

Losing streaks are never easy to deal with. But thanks to Kaylee Ward and Ashtyn Cromwell, the four-game skid the...

Izard leads SJO boys’ basketball to Classic title

December 13, 2019

December 13, 2019

Defending its home court and winning its own tournament each season is always a main goal for the St. Joseph-Ogden...

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...

Glazier to be inducted into SJO Hall of Fame

September 18, 2026

September 18, 2026

Bob Glazier always had a passion for science. “Ever since I was in high school, I loved science,” Glazier said....

Burnett, Rose help SJO baseball post three wins

April 22, 2019

April 22, 2019

The past week featured a bit of everything for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School baseball team. Solid pitching. Timely hitting....

Martinie, Frick propel SJO girls’ basketball in two straight wins

January 23, 2023

January 23, 2023

More losses than wins have unfolded so far this season for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team.But the...

Get to know SJO Volleyball Player Mikyla Haley

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? I think the way our team is so close is what...

Parker looks to succeed at Purdue

June 27, 2019

June 27, 2019

Dalton Parker has seen his share of ups and downs during his baseball career. Parker, a 2016 graduate of St....

Brazelton, SJO wrestling off to solid start

December 14, 2023

December 14, 2023

A relatively young St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling team is faring well through the first two weeks of the season. The Spartans...

Comments
Leave a Reply