The start of the 2026-27 fall sports season has produced some positive results for St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Here is a quick rundown on what’s happening with the Spartans’ boys’ soccer, volleyball, boys’ golf, girls’ tennis and cross-country programs through the first week of their respective seasons:
In boys’ soccer
Hess, Stevens key early success
The Spartans have won their first two matches of the season. Against quality opponents, no less.
SJO defeated Oakwood/Salt Fork 2-1 on Monday night under the lights at Dick Duval Field in St. Joseph.
The Spartans trailed 1-0 before senior Tyler Hess scored SJO’s first goal of the season to knot the match at 1. The score remained that way until late in the second half when Hess found the back of the net again, thanks to an assist from Lucas Stevens, to put the Spartans in front 2-1. The SJO defense held strong the rest of the way to give the Spartans their first victory of the season.
On Wednesday, SJO hit the road to play Uni High at the University of Illinois Campus Rec Fields in Urbana. The Spartans came home with another close win, with SJO again prevailing 2-1. The match on Wednesday against Uni High was a rematch of a 2025 Class 1A regional championship match between the two programs that saw SJO win 4-0 last fall.
Senior Yadi Acosta and Stevens both delivered the offense on Wednesday, with Acosta scoring a goal and providing an assist. Stevens chipped in with the other goal. Junior Hunter Cler earned the win in net, making six saves for the Spartans. SJO (2-0) now turns its attention to a home nonconference match against Iroquois West that begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Dick Duval Field.
In volleyball
Williams, Kearney deliver for Spartans
After two straight losing seasons, the Spartans are off to a superb beginning in 2026. Especially in close matches.
SJO has registered two wins in its first two matches, with both victories coming in three sets.
On Monday night, the Spartans began their season with a 25-19, 22-25, 25-10 victory against nonconference foe Maroa-Forsyth at home. A balanced offensive approach sparked the Spartans, with senior Emerson Williams delivering a team-high seven kills. Fellow senior Hadley McDonald contributed six kills, while juniors Megan Kearney and Lyla Patton each added five kills.
Junior Vivian Smith (four kills) and junior Raegan Wheatley (three kills) also chipped in offensively.
Senior Alivia Learned handed out 13 assists and Kearney distributed 10 assists. McDonald had a team-high 12 digs, Williams made 11 digs and Ava Alexander and Kearney each compiled seven digs. Strong serving also benefitted the Spartans as Alexander, Kearney and Smith each delivered two aces.
SJO was back at it again on Tuesday night, earning a 23-25, 25-19, 25-23 nonconference win at Champaign Central.
Kearney shined with a double-double of 15 assists and 10 digs, while Smith and Patton supplied six kills apiece. Alexander (11 digs), McDonald (10 digs) and Learned (10 assists) also joined in on the fun.
SJO (2-0) will look to keep its unbeaten start intact when it hosts Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin at 7 p.m. on Thursday in a nonconference match.
In boys’ golf
Loschen leads Spartans
SJO opened the season in mid-August with two tournaments. The Spartans shot a 65 at the 16-team Oakwood Scramble on Aug. 13 at Harrison Park Golf Course in Danville. That total had the Spartans tied with Arcola/Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond for 10th. St. Thomas More won the event with a 59, followed by a 60 from Salt Fork and Villa Grove. Bismarck- Henning/Rossville-Alvin, Iroquois West, Urbana and Westville all shot a 63, while Armstrong-Potomac had a 64.
The Spartans then finished 12th at the Tiger Kick-Off Classic on Aug. 17 at the University of Illinois Golf Course in Savoy before dual matches have filled up the schedule recently.
On Aug. 18, Rantoul/Paxton-Buckley-Loda defeated the Spartans after the Eagles compiled a 173 compared to 186 by SJO at Brookhill Golf Course in Rantoul.
Seniors Garrett Loschen and Finn Miller both shot a 45 to pace SJO, while senior Tripp Palmer added a 47 and freshman Noah Resdendiz carded a 49 to round out the team score.
A day later on Aug. 19, SJO picked up its first win of the season by defeating Oakwood 189-224 at Harrison Park. Loschen earned medalist honors with a 41, while Palmer contributed a 46.
Junior George Hale added a 50 and Miller came through with a 52.
The Spartans improved to 2-1 on the season with a 181-183 victory against Danville at Willow Pond Golf Course in Rantoul on Aug. 20.
Loschen led the way for SJO with a low round of 38 to win medalist honors. Freshman Calvin Clem had the next lowest score for the Spartans with a 46, while Palmer (48) and Miller (49) also chipped in.
The Spartans had almost a week off before their next match, which happened on Wednesday in a four-team match at Danville Country Club. SJO shot 183, with Salt Fork narrowly earning the win with a 181. Armstrong-Potomac (194) and Schlarman (219) also competed.
Loschen shot a 43 to pace the Spartans, with junior Conlan Gill not far behind with a 44. Clem (46) and Miller (50) also contributed.
The Spartans return to Willow Pond at 4 p.m. on Thursday to face Armstrong-Potomac, Fisher and Hoopeston Area.
In girls’ tennis
Warns, Farber have strong openers
The Spartans started their season with a 5-1 win against St. Teresa on Aug. 20 at Fairview Park before competing in the 14-team Charger Invite last Saturday that took place in Champaign, Urbana and Mahomet. The Spartans tied for 11th at the event.
In the win against St. Teresa, senior Shelby Warns won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 1 singles, while senior Madison Farber won 6-3, 7-5 at No. 2 singles. Junior Avarie Dietiker earned a 6-1, 4-6, 10-3 victory at No.3 singles and senior Audrie Helfrich came through with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles.
SJO also picked up a point when senior Sophie Schmitz and junior Kelley Ray won 8-5 at No. 2 doubles. The Spartans return to the courts at 9 a.m. on Saturday with a match at Paris.
In cross-country
Both the Spartans’ boys’ and girls’ programs will travel to Paris on Saturday to begin their season at the Doc Acklin Memorial Invite. The race begins at 9 a.m. and is set to feature 21 teams.
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