Discipline has paid off for Oakwood’s Grace Davis.

After missing out on participating in track and field her senior year, Davis signed with Danville Area Community College’s cross country program at the end of May.

Davis capped off her senior year on the Oakwood/Salt Fork cross country team as captain, leading runners to a Vermilion Valley Conference championship, and qualifying for IHSA Sectionals after finishing 40th at the Class 1A regional in Tuscola.

The long-distance runner, who began in track and field as just a way to stay in shape during the spring, said she now lives for the competitive aspect of running.

By the time Davis was a sophomore she lengthened the distance she completed out, filling in for 800-meter relays whenever her coach needed her to. 

“As I became a Junior I decided to run the 1600 as well as the 800 and I realized how much I loved the longer distance races,” Davis said.

With a positive attitude leading the way, Davis learned to trust the training process.

“My coaches (Juice and Coach Ryan) have definitely shaped me into the athlete I am today. They have shown me how to work hard and gain the reward from the hard work. They have both pushed me to become a better athlete each year I have had them as a coach,” she said. 

“My dad, Troy, has also been very influential when it comes to me becoming the athlete I am today. My dad has always preached about what it takes to be a good athlete and teammate, without his motivation I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today.”

Coming into her senior season, Davis had her sights set on helping her teammates reach their full potential while working towards her own PR’s.

“My highlights of my career have just been each time I PR’d,” she said. “I feel like that is the best feeling you can have as a runner. I will look back fondly at the great memories I had running relays with my teammates and also the races I have won within my track career.

“Being an athlete has taught me self-discipline. If you don’t put in the work you won’t succeed. The grind never stops when you’re an athlete.”

The post Oakwood’s Grace Davis commits to Danville Area Community College first appeared on SJO Daily.

Oakwood’s football team became playoff-eligible on Friday as it raced past Georgetown-Ridge Farm 34-20 in its homecoming game at Fithian.

Oakwood is 5-1 overall and faces the other 5-1 team from the Vermilion Valley Conference on Friday when it plays host to Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin. Neither team has lost this fall in VVC games.

Gaven Clouse led the Comets with two touchdowns and 169 rushing yards on 16 attempts. He scored two touchdowns and added one two-point conversion.

Quarterback Rhett Harrison connected on 7 of 8 passes for 113 yards. He tossed two TD passes and ran for one TD.

Elijah Harden hauled in two scoring strikes from Harrison, covering 5 and 19 yards respectively. The 5-yard reception accounted for the only points of the first period.

Harden is the ninth different Comet to score a touchdown this season.

Joe Lashuay converted two extra-point kicks.

Defensively, the Oakwood leaders were Blaine McCord with 11 tackles and Caide Borden with 10 stops.

“We played pretty well against a good Georgetown team,” Oakwood coach Al Craig said. “It’s always a really physical game every time you play those guys, so it is good to get a win.

“We are starting to play well offensively and we are starting to get healthy for the stretch run of the season.”

Oakwood Girls’ cross-country

Grace Davis placed ninth for Oakwood/Salt Fork in Saturday’s Oakwood Invitational at Kickapoo State Park.

Her 3-mile time was 21 minutes, 39 seconds.

The team champion was St. Thomas More. Oakwood/SF did not have enough runners to be scored as a team.

The other Comet finishers were Allie Morris (12th in 23:11) and Cassie Fugate (19th in 25:33).

Oakwood/Salt Fork returns to action on Tuesday at Kickapoo against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.

Oakwood Boys’ cross-country

Ethan Brewer was the top Oakwood/Salt Fork finisher in Saturday’s Oakwood Invitational at Kickapoo State Farm.

Brewer covered the 3-mile course in 20 minutes, 43 seconds and ended in 41st place.

Teammate Bryce Tucker was 63rd in 24:01.

The Comets return to action on Tuesday at Kickapoo against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.

Oakwood Volleyball

Milford dealt the Comets their first Vermilion Valley Conference setback on Thursday, handling the visiting Comets 25-18, 25-16.

Oakwood is 6-1 in VVC matches and 12-10 overall.

Oakwood returns to action tonight at home against Judah Christian.

Oakwood Boys’ Golf

Logen Hoshauer tied for sixth and Reed Sperry finished 10th on Thursday to earn all-league honors in the annual Vermilion Valley Conference Golf Tournament at Harrison Park.

Hoshauer fired an 89. Sperry carded a 94. Both are juniors.

In the team race, the Comets combined for a 405 and placed fourth. The meet champion was Schlarman Academy (357).

Travis Goodner, Kyle McFarland and Seth Halls were the team’s other competitors at the VVC meet.

Oakwood returns to action today in a 15-school Class 1A regional it will host at Harrison Park.

Oakwood Girls’ Golf

Senior Joie Sollers fired a 106 on Thursday, placing third individually and winning all-conference honors in the Vermilion Valley Conference meet at Harrison Park.

Milford took team honors in the tournament.

Oakwood returns to action on Thursday in a 16-school Class 1A regional hosted by St. Thomas More, which will be held at Lincolnshire Fields Country Club.

Oakwood Soccer

Reef Pacot’s second-half goal cut into Oakwood/Salt Fork’s deficit on Saturday, but visiting Judah Christian added four more goals thereafter to produce a 6-1 non-conference win.

Pacot’s goal was assisted by Brady Tevebaugh.

Aaron Dean recorded 11 saves.

Oakwood was shut out on Thursday at Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin, 7-0, in a Vermilion Valley Conference game.

The Comets (5-12-1) return to action today at St. Thomas More, in Champaign.

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With medalist Logen Hoshauer setting the pace, the Oakwood Comets claimed team honors on Monday in a five-school golf meet at Ironhorse Golf Course, in Tuscola.

Hoshauer fired a 38.

Hoshauer, Reed Sperry, Travis Goodner and Kyle McFarland teamed up for a composite total of 189 for the Comets.

Runner-up Shelbyville finished at 197. Other team scores were: Tuscola (202), Tri-County (204) and Decatur St. Teresa (207).

On Tuesday, Hoshauer was again the team’s medalist (48) in a dual meet against Salt Fork at Harrison Park.

Salt Fork earned the team win, 172-218.

The Comets return to action today against Danville at Turtle Run.

Oakwood Volleyball

The Comets (7-9) stayed unbeaten in Vermilion Valley Conference action thanks to a two-set sweep over visiting Westville on Tuesday, 25-17, 25-18.

Oakwood is 2-0 in league matches and returns to action tonight at Georgetown-Ridge Farm.

Oakwood Soccer

Brady Tevebaugh scored his team’s lone goal on Tuesday as the Comets suffered a 7-1 Vermilion Valley Conference loss at home to Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.

Tevebaugh has a team-high nine goals.

The assist was courtesy of Colin Merritt, who leads the Comets with five helpers.

Goalkeeper Chris Winkler had eight saves.

Oakwood is 3-8-1 overall and 1-2 in VVC action. The team returns to action tonight at Georgetown-Ridge Farm.

Oakwood Girls’ cross-country

The Comets ended eighth in Saturday’s 13-school Paxton-Buckley-Loda Invitational.

Grace Davis led the Comets, finishing in 27th place with a 3-mile time of 22 minutes, 20 seconds.

Mackenzie Russell was the next Oakwood runner, taking 31st in 22:30. Ally Morris placed 47th in 24:23, Cassie Fugate was 51st in 24:42 and Katie Fritz was 78th in 29:57.

Meet champion Unity had a team score of 21 points. Oakwood’s tally was 197.

The Comets return to action today in the Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin Invitational.

Oakwood Boys’ cross-country

Two Comets participated in Saturday’s Paxton-Buckley-Loda Invitational.

Ethan Brewer was the team-leader, finishing the 3-mile course in 20 minutes, 49 seconds. Teammate Bryce Tucker was timed in 24:56.

Oakwood is back in action today at the Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin Invitational.

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