Brayden Weaver is an advocate of second chances.

If he didn’t believe in the concept, then his collegiate future would look drastically different.

A senior at St. Joseph-Ogden High School, Weaver started playing football as a 6-year-old.

“It was very difficult for me, and for lack of a better word, I hated it,” Weaver said. “I actually quit my first season of football about a week in.”

About three years later, Weaver decided to give the sport another chance. As he grew up, the sport grew on him.

“It was very far from immediate success as I did not enjoy the sweat and effort that was required from me the first time I put on a football helmet,” Weaver said. “In the years that followed, I remember falling in love with the game.

“There is just something about football that is different than the rest, the camaraderie and experience that is gained on a football field is unrivaled.”

He became so passionate about it, that when he wasn’t playing football, he would watch it.

“I would record old games and Sports Center football specials and watch them on a loop for hours every single day,” Weaver said. “It was clear to me then that I wanted to get back to football, and I strived to make myself as successful as I have been fortunate enough to be.”

Even so, he wasn’t looking at football as his path to a collegiate sports career.

“At first, I thought baseball was really my ticket to being successful and that was what I wanted to do,” Weaver said “I did not think the physical toll of football was something that I wanted for an extra four or so years of my life.

“However, as seasons and practices got more and more enjoyable for me, it became clear that that was what I wanted to do. I had fallen in love with football and decided that I could not see myself ever going through college without playing football year ‘round.”

His desire remained strong throughout his senior season with the Spartans, but a new issue came into play.

In October, Weaver suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8.

“Directly after the injury, the first time I went to the doctor, they thought that I had torn my ACL, ruptured my MCL, and also torn my meniscus,” Weaver said. “This would have set me back nearly a year and probably would have significantly altered my decision to play in college.”

The good news was that the injury wasn’t as severe as had originally been feared.

Weaver underwent surgery to repair a damaged medial collateral ligament (MCL)  and the recovery time was estimated to be around four months.

It was full speed ahead with his dreams and, ultimately, his rehab.

“It was clear to me that I still wanted to play football,” Weaver said. “For the doctors, it was never in doubt that I would eventually get to come back to football if I chose.

“At that point, it was up to me, and that choice was an easy one. With the injury and difficulty in trying to pursue a college football career, it is a blessing to get to play at the next level.”

He developed a short-term goal along with the long-range plan of being ready for football in August. As one of the seniors on the SJ-O basketball team, Weaver wanted to salvage something of his final season on the hardwood, if even it just meant putting on the uniform.

“I have worked harder to get into the basketball uniform this season than anything I ever have in my life,” Weaver said. “The 6:30 a.m. therapy sessions three times a week and strengthening exercises at home allowed me to come back sooner than I expected.”

Weaver’s return came on Senior Night. It was one of three games he was able to play in for the 23-win Spartans.

“It was completely amazing to get the opportunity to see the court on Senior Night, and score a basket in the first round of regionals,” Weaver said. “I love all three teams that I am a part of in high school, and their support and aid in this at times very difficult process allowed me to get to step on the basketball court for the final time with my good friends.”

Weaver recently signed a letter of intent to play football at Illinois College, in Jacksonville.

“The recruiting process was much more of a grind than I ever thought,” Weaver said. “The big names on TV certainly make it seem as though it is an easy process.”

For those who aren’t regarded as five- or four-star national recruits, however, getting exposure with the college coaches is a major hurdle to overcome.

Weaver looked at it as a do-it-yourself project.

“I spent hours upon hours making highlight tapes and sending them to colleges all over the state and some out of state in order to catch their eye,” he said. “I enjoyed the process however, as it is very cool and I appreciate the fact that schools were interested in using me in football.”

Weaver narrowed his final choices to Illinois College, Illinois Wesleyan University, in Bloomington, and Millikin University, in Decatur, before settling on Illinois College, where he figures to be in the mix as a running back candidate.

“Whenever I would go on a visit to this campus, I instantly felt as though I could see myself living there,” Weaver said. “Every professor I spoke with seemed as though they really cared about my education.

“From a football standpoint, the Illinois College football program showed me a lot of interest and the program seems to be on the up.

“I am excited to continue to grow with them the next four years. The coaching staff all seem very knowledgeable of the game and devoted to the team.”

Throughout his years at SJ-O, Weaver has witnessed tremendous personal growth and development.

“I think that the competition level that I was fortunate enough to face was a big factor in my improvement,” Weaver said. “Starting since my sophomore year in a conference like the Illini Prairie was something that caused much improvement, and lots of soreness on Saturday mornings.

“However, my desire to succeed is something I take tremendous pride in, and I think that not missing any 6 a.m. workouts for any trivial things, and doubling up on workouts somedays is the biggest thing that has allowed me to achieve success in the sport.

“Around my junior year it started to become clear to me that football was something I wanted to pursue in college.”

Prior to his injury as a senior, Weaver averaged 5.4 yards per carry for the Spartans and scored touchdowns on four of his 49 carries. He was a News-Gazette All-Area first-team selection as a linebacker.

Weaver plans to major in education and sees himself eventually as a secondary education history teacher.

“I also plan on staying with the game of football and becoming hopefully a head coach of a high school football team,” he added.

He had no shortage of role models as he negotiated the path from the youth leagues to high school and, now beyond.

“My dad (Blake) was always my inspiration when it comes to sports,” Brayden Weaver said. “He played basketball for one year, as well as football and baseball for all four years at Blackburn College.

“When I was younger, he was like a superhero to me and I always strived to be as good as he was. He, along with my mom (Angie), who is the most supportive person in my life, come to every game, and I use their caring and devotion to my football life as motivation to succeed.”

Weaver’s work ethic was instrumental in his pursuit of a football career past high school.

“Every season I have gotten more and more in shape and it is very important to me to continue to work hard,” he said. “Every season becomes harder and harder especially in football, as the other teams get faster and stronger.

“It is not something that I have been completely blessed with natural ability, and I take pride in the effort I put in. “

He is appreciative of the opportunities afforded those who participate in athletics at SJ-O.

“SJ-O has been my home, and my goal to succeed at for my entire life,” Brayden Weaver said. “It is a great pleasure to get to represent the Spartans on the football field for another four years, even if it is in another uniform.

“Without my teammates, coaches throughout the years, and perhaps most importantly my brother (Brody) and parents, I would not be close to where I am today.”

He won’t take his roster spot with the Illinois College Blueboys for granted.

“I think I found a fit that is perfect for me and it is impossible to put into words how excited I am to start with my college football career,” Weaver said. “I am very humbled and I realize how lucky I am to get this opportunity, and I plan on taking advantage of it each and every day.”

The post Brayden Weaver finds perfect fit at Illinois College first appeared on SJO Daily.

St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball took a double-digit lead in the first quarter of Wednesday’s Class 2A regional semifinal game in their gym and then had to hang on in the final period to collect a victory.

SJ-O opened up a 17-4 first-quarter lead and never lost the lead again despite Villa Grove/Heritage pulling within a 42-36 margin in the game’s last seven minutes.

The Spartans ended the game on a 14-4 run to capture a 56-40 triumph.

SJ-O (23-8) will take on state-ranked Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin (31-0) in Friday’s 7 p.m. regional championship game.

Freshman Ty Pence led the Spartans to the postseason win with 19 points and seven rebounds.

Jordan Kelly chipped in with 12 points. Payton Cain and Payton Grimsley each ended with eight points.

Other top rebounders for SJ-O were Grimsley with six and Kelly with five. Izard contributed four assists and two steals.

On Tuesday, the Spartans scored 20 of the 22 first-quarter points – after opening the game on a 9-0 run – and overpowered Westville 70-22 in a Class 2A regional tournament quarterfinal game in St. Joseph.

Chance Izard tallied a game-high 17 points for SJ-O and for the season has made a team-best 80 three-pointers.

Lukas Hutcherson hit a season-high 10 points and became the seventh squad member to post a double-digit scoring performance this season.

Three other Spartans finished with nine points apiece:  Dade Allinger, Cain and Pence.

Senior Brayden Weaver, who was injured in football and only returned to action in basketball on Senior Night, scored his first two points of the season.

Conner Hodge cleared a team-high seven rebounds. Cain and Drew Coursey handled six boards apiece.

Coursey added two assists as did Kelly.

Friday’s winner will earn a berth in the Pontiac Sectional and will face either Pontiac or Coal City at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

The post St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ basketball to face Bismark-Henning in Regional Championship first appeared on SJO Daily.

BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com

Getting injured is something that every athlete thinks about, but the majority go through their entire careers without suffering from one.

Unfortunately, for Brayden Weaver, the injury he suffered on Senior Night when St. Joseph-Ogden’s football team faced Olympia, will put him on the sidelines for the 2019-20 basketball season.

“From the loud pop I heard in my leg when I went down on Senior Night, I knew that my career on the hardwood was likely done,” Weaver said. “It has been a process, but I realize that everything happens for a reason.”

While Weaver hopes to at least be able to dress for the end of his senior year, he knows that the injury is not something that will dampen the impact he can have on his Spartan team.

“I will not allow my torn MCL to hinder my relationship with the team and the effect I can bring,” he said. “I want to go from a leader on the court to a leader off, and bring whatever it is my team may need at any given time. I am thankful that I will still be allowed to attend practices and sit on the bench during games, doing what I can to help the team.”

For as long as Weaver can remember, the closeness of this Spartan squad has been what has carried them through.

“This senior class has a brotherhood that I believe will last far beyond the years of high school,” he said. “The joy and moments that we have experienced together are things that cannot be understated or taken away.

“This also helps us in the court and on the field in other sports, as well. It is the bond and brotherhood that has been established that makes me proud to take the court with these guys every day.”

The work ethic behind the 10-member senior class is something that has led to success. The group went to the IESA State Finals in seventh- and eighth-grade, and were part of the 2016 Spartan squad that won the IHSA State Championship.

Weaver said it is the willingness of the Spartans to put team before self that makes them successful in life.

But, he said, it’s not tournament wins and state runs that define the success.

“Truly the part that I will think back on the most when it comes to basketball is the bus rides, taking the court together, and going through each practice with the joy and brotherhood that this group of guys has,” he said. “It is this relationship that is the highlight of this team.

“We can go as far as we want as long as we continue to play for each other each night. The sky is the limit for this group, and I am sad that I won’t be on the court, but I am glad to still be able to experience the ride that we will go on.”

It’s a ride that was better than Weaver could have imagined.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve waited for the opportunity to wear a Spartans’ jersey on both the court and the field,” he said. “Coming up through high school, the experience was far and above what I could’ve ever imagined.

“I am so proud to have worn and to continue to wear Spartans across my chest.”

The post Weaver’s injury sidelines him for season, still an asset to Spartan basketball team first appeared on SJO Daily.

Dade Allinger 6’2″ 2020
Andrew Beyers 5’11” 2022
Payton Cain 6’0″ 2020
Drew Coursey 6’0″ 2020
Payton Grimsley 5’9″ 2020
Conner Hodge 6’3″ 2020
Lukas Hutcherson 5’9″ 2021
Evan Ingram 5’10” 2022
Chance Izard 5’10” 2020
Jordan Kelly 5’9″ 2020
Ty Pence 6’4″ 2023
Luke Renfrew 6’0″ 2020
Braydon Rupert 6’8″ 2020
Jackson Rydell 6’3″ 2021
Brayden Weaver 5’8″ 2020

The post 2019-2020 St. Joseph Ogden Boys Basketball Roster first appeared on SJO Daily.

The Spartans had two players eclipse the 100-yard mark in rushing on Friday and continued their unbeaten start to the season with an 18-7 conquest of visiting Bloomington Central Catholic.

One highlight for SJ-O was the play of the defense, which head coach Shawn Skinner said was “outstanding.”

He continued: “I thought our DBs were solid all night. Drew Coursey was a factor at outside linebacker getting pressure on their quarterback and setting an edge to stop their outside runs.”

The SJ-O defense limited the Saints to 48 yards rushing on 22 attempts.

Keaton Nolan ran for a game-high 107 yards and Brayden Weaver gained 104 to lead SJ-O, which registered 339 yards of total offense.

Weaver’s first-quarter touchdown accounted for the only scoring until Nolan reached the end zone in the final 90 seconds of the first half.

Crayon Burnett, who completed 6 of 16 passes for 131 yards, added the final TD in the fourth quarter.

Brady Buss caught two passes from Burnett and turned them into gains of 83 yards. Other teammates with receptions were Ty Pence (two), Payton Cain (one) and Coby Miller (one).

“The offense took some strides in throwing the ball,” Skinner said, “but we left some plays on the field.

“Obviously, when you get two backs who run for over 100 yards, it’s a credit to your offensive line and the ability to get those backs free.”

The Spartans (3-0) return to action on Friday at Unity (2-1).

“We need to keep getting better,” Skinner said. “It’s really that simple.

“If we continue to play with effort and come to practice focused, and continue to play better, that’s all we can ask as coaches.”

SJ-O Boys’ cross-country

Brandon Mattsey placed 56th for SJ-O on Saturday in the 505-runner Class 2A division of the First to Finish race at Detweiler Park in Peoria.

Mattsey’s 3-mile time was 16 minutes, 30.2 seconds.

SJ-O had a team score of 702 and ended in 24th place. There was a total of 59 full teams. Meet champion Kaneland had a score of 71 points.

Other leaders for the Spartans were Eric Poe (120th in 17:05.5), Elijah Mock (146th in 17:22), Luke Stegall (182nd in 17:34.3), Charlie Mabry (220th in 17:54.1), Logan Wolfersberger (293rd in 18:27.5), Lukas Hutcherson (298th in 18:28.6), Braden Clampitt (327th in 18:43.8) and Ethan Blackburn (353rd in 18:59.9).

In a separate open race, SJ-O’s Tad Pettit was 363th in 19:56.5.

SJ-O returns to action on Tuesday against Monticello at Kickapoo State Park.

SJ-O Girls’ cross-country

SJ-O placed ninth in the 47-school First to Finish Class 2A race on Saturday at Detweiler Park, in Peoria.

The first five Spartans placed among the top 100 in a field of 412 competitors.

Hannah Rajlich was the team-leader, completing the 3-mile course in 19 minutes, 48.5 seconds. She was 45th.

Teammates following her were Ava Knap (59th in 20:00.9), Ashlyn Lannert (80th in 20:18.6), Ally Monk (83rd in 20:20.9) and Kailyn Ingram (97th in 20:32.2).

SJ-O compiled a team score of 364 points. Meet champion Vernon Hills had a score of 87.

Other Spartan times were Hope Rajlich (141st in 21:21.4), Hanna Eastin (149th in 21:29.6), Addie Allen (160th in 21:37.6), Kendra Riddle (170th in 21:43.6) and Malorie Sarnecki (220th in 22:17.5).

There was a separate girls’ 3-mile open race for runners who did not participate in any other race.

A total of 817 runners finished the open race.

SJ-O’s leaders were Sidney Davis (404th in 24:47.8), Kaytlyn Baker (477th in 25:45.2), Taryn Sexton (490th in 25:53.4), Mary Hinrichs (634th in 28:07.4), Izzy Sexton (691st in 28:35.0), Teagan Miller (707th in 29:09.2) and Lili Wentzloff (804th in 35:45.3).

Of the 52 full teams that competed in the open race, SJ-O was 41st with 1,232 points.

The Spartans will return to action Tuesday against Monticello at Kickapoo State Park.

SJ-O Soccer

In a match which was officially scoreless, the SJ-O soccer squad earned a victory on Friday over Oakwood/Salt Fork in the Hoopeston Area Cornjerker Classic.

The teams were tied 0-0 after regulation before the Spartans prevailed on penalty kicks 3-2.

When the schools played to open the season, that match also ended in a 0-0 deadlock.

SJ-O (2-7-1) lost its other two matches in the tournament, falling to eventual third-place finisher Iroquois West 6-1 and to eventual champion Monticello 5-0.

The Spartans return to action at home on Tuesday against Monticello, which is 8-0-1 for the season.

SJ-O Volleyball

All-tournament pick Kennedi Burnett paced SJ-O to four two-set sweeps before the Spartans lost in Saturday’s championship match of the Bulldog Invitational to the host Mahomet-Seymour squad.

The Spartans (10-3) opened with pool play victories over the St. Teresa JV team 25-10, 25-5, Springfield Southeast 25-10, 25-6 and Peotone 25-11, 25-12.

In the semifinals, SJ-O upended Manteno 25-15, 25-18.

In the finals, against an M-S team the Spartans had beaten earlier in the season, the Bulldogs prevailed 25-9, 25-22.

For the five tournament matches, Burnett swatted 31 kills and contributed 35 digs. Emily Bigger had 99 assists as well as 28 digs and seven service aces.

Other Spartan leaders were Katelyn Berry with 30 kills and 33 digs, Rylee Stahl with 28 digs and Payton Vallee with 18 kills.

SJ-O returns to action tonight at home against Hoopeston Area.

The post SJ-O football remains unbeaten, Soccer places third at Cornjerker Classic, Volleyball second at Bulldog Invite first appeared on SJO Daily.

Spartan football bounced back from a first-quarter deficit on Friday in its football home-opener and rallied to defeat St. Thomas More, 36-8.

The visiting Sabers led, 8-0, after one quarter, but SJ-O built a 16-8 lead at halftime.

SJ-O needed to make some in-game adjustments.

“We had prepared for the spread offense and they came out in a version of single wing run-oriented offense,” SJ-O coach Shawn Skinner said. “After the first series, our defense just locked them down.

“Defense did a fantastic job of adjusting to the STM offense.”

Jarrett Stevenson sparked the SJ-O comeback. He rushed for a game-high 173 yards on 20 carries and scored four touchdowns.

His TDs were on runs of 4, 17, 10 and 5 yards. Stevenson also ran in the two-point extra-point conversion three times, totaling 30 points in the opener.

Keaton Nolan added 41 yards rushing, helping SJ-O to a total of 263 yards on the ground.

Brayden Weaver scored the other SJ-O touchdown on a 34-yard run.

“Kids played well,” Skinner said. “Offensive line did a nice job of opening up holes for our backs to run through.”

Quarterback Crayton Burnett completed 4 of 7 passes for 29 yards. Brady Buss caught two of the completions.

“Burnett’s numbers weren’t great, partly because our line needs to pass block a lot better, but he did a great job of running the offense,” Skinner said. “His decision-making was really impressive.”

The Spartans return to action on Friday at Rantoul (0-1).

Soccer

SJ-O doubled its season’s total for goals scored, but was edged by Danville, 3-2, on Saturday.

On Thursday, SJ-O dropped a 7-1 decision to Urbana Uni High. Zac Seeley scored the team’s goal.

Goalie Mason Behrens had seven saves.

The Spartans (0-3-1) return to action today at home against Schlarman Academy.

Volleyball

SJ-O (3-1) bounced back from a season-opening loss to end the week with three victories in a four-day span.

The Spartans went on the road Saturday and secured a two-set sweep over Mahomet-Seymour, 25-16, 25-12. SJ-O amassed 26 kills and had just six hitting errors.

Team leaders were Kennedi Burnett (nine kills), Katelyn Berry (six kills) and Stephanie Trame (four kills). Emily Bigger posted 21 assists and five digs. Lacey Kaiser also totaled five digs.

The Spartans handled Bismarck-Henning on Thursday, 25-15, 25-13. Bigger had 22 assists and nine digs. Berry had nine kills. Kaiser had seven digs and six kills. Burnett accumulated nine digs and Rylee Stahl ended with seven digs.

In Wednesday’s 25-8, 25-2 conquest of Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Bigger put up 18 assists, Burnett collected five kills and five digs. Berry chipped in with four kills and three service aces.

SJ-O returns to action on Tuesday at home against Cissna Park.

The post Spartan football tops STM, Volleyball bounces back, soccer drops two first appeared on SJO Daily.

By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

St. Joseph, Ill. – St. Joseph-Ogden High School football captains went through a type of on-the-job training this summer.

As has been the Spartans’ custom for nearly a decade, long-time assistant coach Marshall Schacht coordinates a series of summer team-bonding and team-building activities.

From within the group of SJ-O students interested in playing football, four teams are picked, each with two captains.

The squad member selections are handled with a professional touch.

“Captains have a roster of players who have expressed that they plan to participate in football in the fall,” SJ-O head coach Shawn Skinner said. “Each team has a table and we simulate the ‘draft’ as a mock-up of what the NFL does.

“It’s a great way to introduce the summer workouts, and by having every player assigned to a team, there is a level of accountability to your captains that drafted you and your ‘summer’ teammates.”

Players earn points throughout the summer for attendance at all of the team activities such as weight room, seven-on-seven and Friday morning conditioning. Players also earn a point for gaining weight on their maximum lifts in the bench press, squat, deadlift and power cleans.

“It’s a chance to help broaden the strength and conditioning of the players,” Skinner said, “while at the same time putting them into a competitive situation and stressful situation. We can observe how individual players handle the various situations they are placed in.

“First and foremost, it is an opportunity where the players must lead themselves and work together and support the various members of their teams.”

Though many of the competitions are individual in nature, they also serve to promote the ‘summer’ team as well as the entire football program.

“We all benefit from the involvement as football is truly the most TEAM sport there is,” Skinner said. “Every player realizes they have a value, as the more present they are, the more points they generate for themselves and their summer team. Ultimately, we all get better from the summer competitions.”

One unique aspect is that multi-sport athletes are not penalized by participating in other summer activities.

“Multiple-sport athletes get points for attending camps of other sports that may require them to miss days from our activities,” Skinner said. “For example, basketball players missing a day because they are at a shootout with the SJ-O basketball team still can receive points for their football team by competing elsewhere.

“We WANT and NEED our players to participate in other sports, so we believe it’s important to acknowledge when they participate in those activities.”

Crayton Burnett, Blake Dable and Brayden Weaver are three athletes who will serve as football captains in 2019. They were the top choices in voting done by the team.

The SJ-O coaching staff will select a fourth captain on a weekly basis.

Skinner likes the idea of adding a rotating captain.

“This is a way to acknowledge and reward players throughout the season,” he said. “It could be a player who never misses practices, but may not get as much playing time for a variety of reasons.

“Multiple factors will go into the selection process. Our captains are first and foremost the representatives of our team, school and community. We expect them to be one of the lines of communication between the team and coaches.”

Dable, who didn’t miss any summer workouts, found the off-season activities advantageous in helping to establish leadership qualities.

“We have a draft where we pick our teammates who we believe will give us the best chance to win the summer,” Dable said. “Throughout the summer, we do various challenges every Wednesday that helps whoever wins, to win the summer in total points.

“During these challenges, it is the captains’ job to decide who is best for certain events. The captains have to control their team and show why they were chosen as captains for that summer. During the summer we accomplish three months of basic team bonding where we learn how to connect with each other in the best way possible, which really shows during the season. It also shows everyone who is really committed to the team.”

The Wednesday competitions start at 6 a.m. and last about 90 minutes.

The events range from tire flips to relay races to rope tug of wars to weighted-sled push and pulls to a weighted medicine ball toss to a variety of weightlifting drills.

There is more than pride at stake for the series of summer contests.

“The winning team gets to eat first at our Friday morning team breakfasts,” Skinner said. “We believe this is a valuable part of our off-season program and the players really embrace the opportunities to come together and work.

“It wouldn’t be possible without the time and organization that Coach Schacht puts into the program every summer.”

An additional challenge this summer was participation at an obstacle course that SJ-O graduate Jim Risley has put together at his rural Mahomet home.

Weaver, a repeat football captain, saw tremendous growth and progress throughout the summer.

“Every day in the weight room this summer I would stay well after my own workout was finished to try and help those who were not finished yet with their workout,” Weaver said. “It was important to me that everyone was working out and not simply there to be there.

“This summer has been the best team summer I’ve ever been a part of. The chemistry that this group has, especially the senior class, I think will prove to have a major effect on the outcome of games in the fall. And with all the younger kids falling in and helping the team in their own way, I think the team really has come together well.”

Burnett is the lone junior among the SJ-O trio of captains. He, too, saw positive strides made during the summer.

“We had team competitions on Wednesday mornings and those brought out my leadership qualities a lot by pushing people to be their best and be hard working and leading by example,” Burnett said. “A lot was accomplished this summer.

“We have worked really hard at our seven-on-sevens and in the weight room. There were many leaps forward on maxes.”

Weaver said previous captains were good role models.

“As a freshman and sophomore, everyone looks up to the juniors and seniors and emulates a lot of what they do,” Weaver said. “St. Joseph has a very rich history in every sport, not just football, and taking on the title of captain brings a lot of weight and significance to your name.

“I have learned that when you take the field with ‘Spartans’ on your chest, you have to take the field with the years of experience and success that have proceeded you. As a repeat captain, it is truly an awesome feeling because growing up I always imagined myself calling the coin toss and walking out onto the field first.

“Not a lot of people get to say that they represent a team in this way and I’ve had the privilege of doing it for two years now and I cannot wait to continue to try and bring success to the program with the rest of my team.”

Dable said he will follow the lead set by former team captains.

“I have experienced many different types of leadership,” Dable said. “I have learned that the most successful people in that position have been the ones who constantly motivated their teammates to be better and were always trying to set an ideal expectation for the team.”

Burnett expects the captaincy duties will extend beyond the playing field.

“Some of the roles that I see myself taking would be making sure everything is done the right way on the field, but also making sure everyone is getting in the weight room and doing their schoolwork,” Burnett said. “I have learned a lot from the past captains and listening to them lead and watching them carry themselves, has taught me well.

“It will help me be a vocal leader and a better role model to the younger players in the organization.”

Dable, a two-way lineman, also believes that eyes are on the captains beyond when the games are being played.

“Being a leader also makes me a better person overall because I know that I need to be a good person in order to set an example for the team” Dable said. “As one of the captains, there are many roles and responsibilities that you have to be involved with.

“Some of the most important roles are being someone who your teammates can look up to and being a responsible role model for not only the team, but for the whole community.”

Football is a passion for the Spartan captains.

“Ever since my fourth-grade year when I first started playing football, I’ve not been able to wait for fall to come around and bring another season,” Weaver said. “It is hard to believe that this is the last year I will wear the colors of SJ-O.”

A linebacker, Weaver hopes to play the game beyond high school, but for now is focusing on the nine-game regular-season, which will start at 7 p.m. on Aug. 30 at home against St. Thomas More.

SJ-O is coming off a 5-5 season.

“Team success as of the past few years has not been where we want it,” Weaver said. “And now as a senior captain, the first goal for me is to fight and try and win as many games as we can for the final season I get to play alongside all of my brothers that I’ve gotten the opportunity to play alongside since I was 9.”

In their self-evaluations, the three SJ-O football captains see traits in themselves that will be helpful in their upcoming roles.

“I would describe myself as someone who is very focused,” Dable said. “I would say that I am also someone who is very understanding and easy to talk to. I think one of my best qualities that helped me grow into a leader is not being selfish and always putting the team in front of myself.”

Added Weaver: “I really always go out of my way to be nice to people and see the world through the eyes of others. It is much easier to be nice than it is to be otherwise.

“I really pride myself in my grades and it is very important to me that I can balance my social and sporting life with my academics. I think naturally if you try and help people as much as I do, you tend to mold yourself into a leader position.

“I love being the one that the team looks up to and comes to with any issues or anything that they have because I really love being one of the cogs in the team. I try to help as many people as possible and set an example for the future and current Spartans.”

Burnett, the quarterback, describes himself as someone who “always tries to stay positive and push people to do their best. I would also say that I am hardworking and lead by example. That has helped me become a leader on the football team.

“Being a captain for the football team comes with a lot of responsibility. I am ready to take on the responsibilities of being one of the captains.”

The newly elected captains appreciate the vote of confidence from their peers.

“This year it is very humbling to have received the honor considering this season my teammates and I voted on who they believed should represent the team,” Weaver said. “The trust that my teammates instilled in me and my fellow captains is a big uplift and is very cool.”

Burnet expressed similar feelings.

“It means a lot to me to have my teammates respect me and vote for me to be one of the captains on the football team,” he said.

SJ-O will play five of its first eight games at home this year. In two of their road trips, the Spartans won’t leave Champaign County, traveling to Rantoul and to Unity, in Tolono.

The post Burnett, Dable and Weaver named 2019 SJ-O Football Captains first appeared on SJO Daily.

Dwight Colvin scored three first-half touchdowns as St. Joseph-Ogden overpowered visiting Unity 38-14 Friday night in an Illini Prairie Conference game.

Colvin rushed for a game-high 191 yards on 22 carries.

SJ-O is 4-0 for the season. Unity is 0-4.

Colvin scored the game’s first three TDs on runs of 2, 5 and 3 yards.

The Spartans led, 25-0, at halftime.

Also scoring TDs for SJ-O were Brayden Weaver, Jack Cook (on a pass from Keanen Swanson) and Sam Wesley (on an interception return).

Aiden Coon added two conversion kicks.

Weaver completed 7 of 14 passes for 37 yards. Cook had 19 receiving yards. Joel Orcutt hauled in two receptions.

Wesley was one of three Spartans with interceptions. Teammates who also picked off passes were Cook and Swanson.

Weaver led the defensive effort with 14 tackles, 10 of which were solos. Kaden Jacobs had nine stops, and one sack.

Head coach Shawn Skinner lauded the play of his defensive brigade.

“Our defense played a huge roll in our victory,” he said. “Up until the third quarter, Unity did not cross our 40-yard line.

“That’s a testimony to the job Coach (Bob) Glazier (31st-year assistant) and the entire defense did.”

SJ-O forced the Rockets into four turnovers.

Besides the interceptions, special teams player Jarrett Stevenson recovered a fumble.

“Brayden Weaver and Kaden Jacobs continued their great play in the middle of that defense and Jack Cook and Keanen Swanson both played very well at the cornerback spots,” Skinner said.

SJ-O plays another 4-0 opponent, Pontiac, at 7 p.m. on Friday in a road game.

“Pontiac will be a true test,” Skinner said. “A hostile environment, as we like to call it, and a long bus trip.

“Two similar teams. We want to establish the run, control thde line of scrimmage and time of possession.”

In some ways, the teams are mirror images.

“They are 4-0 for many of the same reasons we are,” Skinner added. “Solid special teams and really try not to beat themselves.

“They are physical, and tackle as well as any team we see in the conference.”

Oakwood 48, Hoopeston Area/Schlarman Academy/Armstrong-Potomac 21

Colby Smiley, Nick Grubb and Cody Hansbraugh combined for 542 rushing yards as the Comets posted their first football victory of the season in a Friday game played at Hoopeston.

Smiley gained 214 yards while Grubb’s 193-yard effort raised his season rushing total to a team-best 673 yards.

Oakwood returns to action on Friday at home against Iroquois West (0-4).

Soccer

Dawson Rogers broke the Oakwood/Salt Fork record for goals in a match, with six, as the Comets shut out Georgetown-Ridge Farm 7-0 on Thursday.

He had all four first-half goals as the Comets built a 4-0 lead.

Also scoring for Oakwood was Caleb Lashuay. He also had an assist.

Joe Lashuay had two assists while teammates Sam Howie and Ayden Hanson each had one.

Goalkeeper Chris Winkler had five saves.

Volleyball

Oakwood (11-6) won its third consecutive match, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18, over Georgetown-Ridge Farm on Thursday. Oakwood’s McKenzie Doan had 10 kills and nine assists.

Golf

Teammates Ryan Hicks (41) and Logan Hoshauer (43) swept the top two spots as Oakwood topped Danville, 191-214 in a Thursday dual meet at Turtle Run, in Danville.

The post St. Joe handles Unity, Oakwood wins, Rogers breaks single-game goal record first appeared on SJO Daily.