Kroner’s Picks: St. Joseph-Ogden All-Decade Team (Spring), Blaase and Kibler named Athletes of the Decade
By FRED KRONER
The final installment in our series on all-decade athletic teams (fall, winter) concludes today with the release of the elite spring-sport athletes.
Before we get to the particular sports, we will recognize two athletes. The designation is for Male and Female Athlete of the Decade.
In a sense, the winners picked themselves for their high level of involvement and achievement in sports during the school year.
St. Joseph-Ogden had nine boys and four girls who were chosen for all-decade teams in two sports.
The Female Athlete of the Decade is Chelsea Blaase, who was a two-sport state champion. She won titles in both cross-country and in track and field, in the 3,200-meter race.
Other SJ-O girls who were all-decade in two sports were Hanna Atwood, Hannah Dukeman and Josey Fruhling.
The Male Athlete of the Decade is Wesley Kibler, a state champion in wrestling and an All-Area first-team selection in football.
Other SJ-O boys who were all-decade choices in two sports were Andy Bensyl, Ty Brown, Jack Cook, Zeke Elkins, Austin Hedrick, Griffin Meeker, Jake Pence and Justin Phillips.
Before turning our attention to the spring-sport all-decade teams, two points should be remembered. The selections are based entirely on what the athlete did during high school. Subsequent college accolades were not taken into account.
Also, a great number of athletes from the school received All-Area first- or second-team honors during their time in high school and that recognition was the foundation for compiling the all-decade lists.
ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN BASEBALL
NAME POS. GRAD YR.
Cole Berry P 2015
Ty Brown OF 2016
Austin Cain P 2018
Colton Carr P 2016
Mason Coon OF 2017
Chase Gadau C 2015
Colton Hale P 2017
Hunter Hart P 2014
Blake Hoveln INF 2012
Brock Immke P 2014
Dalton Parker P 2016
Player of the Decade – Dalton Parker, who had an earned run average of 0.25 as a senior, 0.31 as a junior and 0.45 as a sophomore. He had a streak of 46 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings as a junior. He was the winning pitcher in eight games as a senior, 10 as a junior and four as a sophomore and totaled 289 strikeouts during those three seasons.
ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN SOFTBALL
NAME POS. GRAD YR.
Hannah Bowen INF 2011
Stephanie Canfield OF 2012
Andrea Coursey SS 2017
Bailey Dowling SS 2020
Hannah Dukeman C 2020
Elizabeth Everingham P 2012
Mickaela Fleming C 2013
Emmy Graver INF 2018
Abby Immke INF 2012
Kenzie Pence OF 2018
Mady Poulter INF 2015
Player of the Decade – Bailey Dowling, who has had batting averages of .650 as a freshman, .657 as a sophomore and .674 as a junior. She hasn’t hit less than 21 home runs in any high school season and owns the all-time IHSA state record with 65 career home runs. She has driven in 181 career runs.
ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD
NAME EVENTS GRAD YR.
Alex Arteaga Hurdles 2012
Riley Baker Hurdles 2018
Chas Cox Mid-Distance 2012
Zeke Elkins Mid-Distance 2012
Sam Gilly Weights 2012
Thomas Jean PV 2011
Cole Johnson Sprints 2013
Matt Knipfer PV 2016
Gabe Lyons Mid-Distance 2016
Ethan Mizer PV 2016
Cole Nachowicz Hurdles 2016
Justin Phillips Distance 2017
Eric Rydell HJ 2013
Landon Vowels Mid-Distance 2012
Athlete of the Decade – Zeke Elkins, who won three individual medals at state and a total of seven medals overall, including participation on relays.
ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD
NAME EVENTS GRAD YR.
Hanna Atwood PV 2016
Rachel Ballard Sprints 2012
Hailey Birt Sprints 2020
Chelsea Blaase Distance 2012
Parker Francisco Hurdles 2017
Kristen Hamer Sprints 2015
Atleigh Hamilton Jumps 2021
Frankie Izard Sprints 2018
Danie Kelso Sprints 2020
Zea Maroon Hurdles 2018
Abbey Mizer Sprints 2018
Aleesia Reeves Sprints 2017
Rylee Sjuts Sprints 2019
Maclayne Taylor Sprints 2019
Athlete of the Decade – Atleigh Hamilton, who won two Class 1A long jump state titles and was also a member of two relay units which captured state title. She was the school’s only two-time individual state titlist for the decade.
