fred@mahometnews.com

Jack Carey is one of those athletes who is at home on a football field, regardless of where he is positioned.

He might be a running back, a slot or a receiver on offense. On defense, he might be in the secondary or even an outside linebacker.

He is, Oakwood coach Al Craig said, someone who lives up to his name.

“He was our Jack of all trades,” Craig said.

Versatile athletes are valuable athletes. They are not locked into one position, but capable of playing many, which affords them multiple opportunities to be on the field.

As a senior at Oakwood, Carey averaged 8.2 yards per carry and scored touchdowns on six of his 51 attempts. He was the Comets’ No. 1 receiver, gaining 294 yards on receptions and turning four of his six catches into touchdowns.

Defensively, he tied for the team-lead in interceptions with five.

This from a person who started high school as a 5-foot-5, 100-pound freshman.

He is now 5-11, 165 and ready to embark on a collegiate career with the Rockford University football team.

“I grew a lot when I got into high school, which of course helped tremendously,” Carey said. “I got much stronger and much faster, which is what led to me being much better at football.”

Despite his success for Oakwood’s Class 2A playoff entry – an 8-3 team which advanced into the second round – Carey anticipated that the end of the high school season would also mark the end of his competitive career on the gridiron.

“I thought after my senior year, football would be over and it was just sad to think about never stepping on a field to play football again,” Carey said.

“I know it’s very hard to get into a college to play any sport and being from a small town, the idea just didn’t seem realistic.”

Until it did.

“I thought about competing in college when I started getting emails by the end of the season from schools saying they were interested,” Carey said. “Having this opportunity is a dream come true.”

Carey was motivated not only by coaches, but he also drew inspiration from other players, “whether they be on my team or the team I am playing against, mainly because even if it’s not possible, I want to be the best on the field.”

That attitude of determination is one Craig has seen since Carey has been on the scene at Oakwood.

“He was a hard worker,” Craig said. “Between his junior and senior seasons, he put on about 20 pounds of muscle and just lived in the weight room that off-season.”

Developing a strong work ethic was necessary for Carey’s survival in the sport in his early years when he found himself at a size disadvantage.

“Football was definitely a sport that had to grow on me because I wasn’t very physical when I was young, so I got tossed around a lot,” Carey said, “but eventually, I stepped up, the frustration passed and I got better. 

“When I started playing football (as an 8-year-old), I wasn’t very good or very physical, so it took some work, but through good coaching and motivation I started to learn the ropes and become much better.”

As he began to flourish in the sport, his enjoyment increased.

“Football is undoubtedly my favorite sport,” said Carey, who tried his hand at several other athletic endeavors, including baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, track and wrestling.

“Just everything about it drives me to be the best I can for my team. I feel like I’ve always been best at contact sports because of my physicality.”

Among the coaches who have been instrumental in Carey’s development were Bruce and Brett Harrison, Brady Leeman, Al Craig, Cameron Lee, “and a few others,” Carey said.

“I’ve been surrounded by some very good coaches in my time and they’ve helped me because without them I wouldn’t have the football IQ that I have now and I wouldn’t know certain techniques that I know now,” he added.

Craig sees Carey as someone who can continue to make an impact, even when he reaches college.

“Jack was a really heady player for us. He knew several positions on the field which made him very versatile,” Craig said.

“I see Jack filling that same role at Rockford. I could see him playing offense as a slot receiver or receiving back.

“I could also see him on defense as a defensive back. Rockford got a really good player that will be able to fill needs at the next level.”

Carey’s college decision, he said, came down to two finalists and two different paths.

“I was only really looking at Eastern Illinois University and Rockford,” he said. “At EIU, I would just be going to school and Rockford would be for both school and football.”

Though he had hoped to play football, his choice was made for other factors.

“When I visited, it just seemed like the school for me,” Carey said. “I don’t really know how to explain it other than it just felt right.”

He plans to enter a pre-med curriculum.

Carey didn’t find the recruiting experience to be difficult.

“The recruiting process was very easy actually and I wouldn’t say I didn’t like anything,” he said. “I just found it intimidating meeting some of the older football players because I thought it was going to be a cliche of having to meet their standards, but it wasn’t like that at all. They were easy-going, easy to talk to and just nice people.”

Carey said his family was instrumental, not only during the recruiting process, but also for instilling confidence throughout his career.

“My parents (Jon and Jo Carey) and my siblings (Dylan Kasey and Shauna Carey) were just so great through the whole process from when I was young to now,” Jack Carey said. “They’ve always stood behind me and it means so much.

“It’s great having them there because they pick you up when you fall down and feel like you can’t get back up. They motivate you because you want them to be proud, so you do everything you can to make them proud.”

The post Jack Carey to play football at Rockford University first appeared on SJO Daily.

The Comets advanced eight wrestlers to the Class 1A sectional this weekend at Stanford Olympia and finished a scant one-half point behind LeRoy/Tri-Valley in Saturday’s 11-school Class 1A regional at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Oakwood had regional champions at the two lowest weight classes with 106-pound freshman Reef Pacot and 113-pound junior Gage Reed.

Pacao is 37-4 for the season and pinned both of his regional opponents. Reed is 36-3 and collected one pin and one technical fall among his three postseason wins.

“You can’t have a better 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup to get the energy and momentum going,” Oakwood coach Mike Glosser said.

In the team chase, LeRoy/Tri-Valley totaled 165 ½ points. Oakwood ended with 165. Third-place Heyworth ended with 153 points.

In the final Illinois Best Weekly state rankings, Heyworth was 15th, LeRoy/Tri-Valley was 17th and Oakwood 18th.

“It was a roller-coaster, back and forth all day,” Glosser said.

The Comets held the lead until the final weight class. Oakwood had no finalists in the 285-pound division. LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s last competitor posted a pin in the championship bout, which accounted for enough points for the Panthers to claim team honors.

“We can’t let what happened as a team overshadow what we did as individuals,” Glosser said.

Oakwood had six of its wrestlers in the finals. For the tournament, 11 squad members not only posted wins but also secured bonus points with either pins, technical falls or major decisions.

The Comets won 23 matches overall at regional and 19 were by more than regular decisions.

Finishing as regional runners-up were Joe Lashuay (132 pounds), Connor Hutson (138 pounds), Josh Miller (195 pounds) and Caide Borden (220 pounds).

Hutson posted the fastest pin by anyone at the SJ-O site, ending a match in nine seconds. The junior also had a dominant 16-0 technical fall triumph.

Miller was seeded fourth in his weight class, but used two pins to advance into the championship bout. Lashuay and Borden each finished with one pin.

Two other Comets secured their berths at sectional by placing third: Tate Johnson (160 pounds) and Colby Smiley (182 pounds).

Johnson was seeded fifth but went 3-1 for the day, pinning three opponents. Smiley produced two first-period falls.

Glosser is emphasizing that this is a new week and all eight of his advancers have a shot to reach state.

“It’s anybody’s game and doesn’t matter whether you were first, second or third (at regionals),” he said.

In Glosser’s nine years as the Comets’ head coach, this year’s schedule was the most challenging. The team ended 22-8 in dual meets.

“If we wanted our kids to reach their maximum potential, we wanted them to be battle-tested,” Glosser said. “This was by far our toughest schedule and it prepares them.

“We’ve had tough matches all year and now when we have tough matches, it’s not a surprise. We’ve seen that already.

“It was nice to see them rise to the occasion.”

Oakwood had two fourth-place finishers at the regional and they will be alternants at their weight classes, available to compete if one of the top three is unable to perform at the sectional.

Ben Jessup (145 pounds) and Caleb Lashuay (152 pounds) were each 2-2 at the regional and collected one pin apiece.

Also contributing a pin at regionals was Case Kopacz (120 pounds), who finished off his opponent in 44 seconds.

The Oakwood seniors in the regional lineup were Caleb Lashuay, Jack Carey (170 pounds), Smiley and Borden.

The post Eight Comet wrestlers advance to Class 1A Sectional first appeared on SJO Daily.

The Comets (4-0) opened their season on Saturday at the Pirate Duals in Cumberland by winning all four of their meets.

Oakwood/Salt Fork dispatched Shelbyville 60-6, Quincy Notre Dame 52-15, Cumberland 61-15 and Effingham 68-12.

For the day, Oakwood wrestlers compiled a cumulative 47-9 record. Fifteen squad members registered wins.

Eight Comets were 4-0 for the day: Reef Pacot (106 pounds), Gage Reed (113pounds), Blake Barney (120 pounds), Joe Lashuay (132 pounds), Connor Hutson (145 pounds), Jack Carey (152 pounds), Colby Smiley (182 pounds) and Caide Borden (285 pounds).

Smiley posted four pins. Borden and Carey each collected three pins. Reed had two pins.

Ben Jessup (132 pounds) went 3-0 with two pins. At 160 pounds, Tate Johnson was 3-1 with one pin. Caleb Lashuay was 2-1 with one pin at 152 pounds.

Ending the day with 2-2 records for Oakwood/Salt Fork were Case Kopacz (126 pounds), Thomas Lay (195 pounds) and Josh Miller (220 pounds).

Jacob Paris (132 pounds) was 1-0 and Doug Myers (170 pounds) was 0-1.

Five O/SF freshmen earned their first varsity victories: Barney, Jessup, Kopacz, Lay and Pacot.

The Comets return to action on Tuesday at Salt Fork South against Clifton Central and St. Joseph-Ogden.

The post 15 Oakwood wrestlers pick up wins to lead Comets in Pirate Duals first appeared on SJO Daily.

Oakwood Football

Five players scored touchdowns on Friday as Oakwood celebrated homecoming with a 54-12 football victory over Hoopeston Area.

Jack Carey, Gaven Clouse and Blaine McCord all scored two TDs.

McCord rushed for a game-high 122 yards on 13 carries. Clouse rushed for 64 yards and also hauled in a 12-yard scoring pass from Rhett Harrison. Carey rushed for 59 yards on eight attempts.

Harrison completed 3 of 9 passes for 47 yards and scored the game’s first TD on a 1-yard keeper.

Josh Young scored the Comets’ other touchdown on a 20-yard pass from Harrison.

Joe Lashuay converted six extra-point place kicks.

The Comets forced five turnovers. Leading the defense were McCord (nine tackles) and Caide Borden (eight tackles).

Oakwood (3-1 wit three consecutive wins) returns to action on Friday against Iroquois West in Gilman.

Oakwood Golf

Oakwood (10-5) dropped a 169-202 decision to Danville on Thursday at Turtle Run.

Oakwood’s top scorers for the day were Logen Hoshauer, Reed Sperry, Travis Goodner and Kyle McFarland.

The Comets return to action today at Harrison Park against Bismarck-Henning/Rossvville-Alvin and Westville.

Oakwood Volleyball

Katelyn Young had six kills, Aaliyah Denius had five kills and Addie Wright added four on Thursday as Oakwood improved to 3-0 in Vermilion Valley Conference matches with a 25-25, 25-17 sweep at Georgetown-Ridge Farm.

Karsen Rupp had nine assists. Young added eight assists to go with two blocks.

The Comets (8-9 overall) return to action on Tuesday at home against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.

Oakwood Soccer

Brady Tevebaugh and Reef Pacot hit first-half goals to boost the Comet into a 2-0 lead on Thursday in a match where they beat Georgetown-Ridge Farm 3-1.

Tevebaugh’s goal was assisted by Carlie Thompson. Pacot was aided by Sam Howie.

The only scoring of the second half was a goal by Joe Lashuay, who was assisted by Tevebaugh.

Goalkeeper Chris Winkler had three assists.

O/SF (4-8-1) returns to action on Tuesday at Arthur/Lovington. The Comets are 2-2 in Vermilion Valley Conference matches.

The post Comets victorious in Homecoming game, Volleyball improves to 3-0 in conference, Soccer wins first appeared on SJO Daily.

Oakwood piled up 64 first-half points on Friday and blitzed Oblong/Palestine/Hutsonville 84-0 in a non-conference football road game.

The Comets (2-1) reached the end zone on an interception, a fumble recovery and return, a kickoff return as well as on passing and running plays.

Eight squad members were part of the scoring either via touchdowns or conversions.

Colby Smiley, who rushed for 92 yards, scored four TDs. One of his scores was after an interception. Smiley finished with 26 points, also adding one two-point conversion.

Gaven Clouse, who rushed for 74 yards, added three TDs. One of his was on a 90-yard kickoff return.

Jack Carey scored two TDs, one on a 78-yard pass from Rhett Harrison. Carey also converted an extra-point kick and had a pair of two-point conversions.

Blaine McCord, who rushed for a game-high 124 yards, added one TD as well as three two-point conversions.

Harrison, who completed 3 of 4 passes for 141 yards, had one two-point conversion.

Bryce Harrison rambled 38 yards to the end zone after recovering a fumble.

The team’s other points came on a two-point conversion by Josh Young and an extra-point kick by Caide Borden.

Oakwood returns to action on Friday at home against Hoopeston Area/Armstrong-Potomac (0-3).

Oakwood Volleyball

Katelyn Young was named to the all-tournament team after Oakwood placed 12th in Mahomet-Seymour’s Bulldog Invitational on Saturday.

The Comets (6-9 overall) were 1-4 in the tournament. In pool play, Oakwood lost to M-S 25-10, 25-12 and Williamsville 25-13, 25-2 before upending the Pleasant Plains JV team 25-20, 20-25, 15-13.

In the consolation semifinals, Rantoul handed Oakwood a 25-15, 25-15 setback before Springfield Southeast won the 11th-place match 25-19, 23-25, 15-13.

Young posted seven kills against Rantoul, six assists against Williamsville and five kills against M-S.

Aaliyah Denius had six kills against Rantoul. Karsen Rupp had six assists against Williamsville.

On Thursday, the Comets opened Vermilion Valley Conference action with a 25-17, 8-25, 25-21 victory at Chrisman.

Alyssa Romito had seven kills. Denius and Young each supplied six kills.

Denius and Maria Adams each served two aces. Young handed out 12 assists and Rupp had eight.

Oakwood returns to action on Tuesday at home against Westville.

Through 15 matches, Young has a team-high 92 kills, Rupp leads with 78 assists and Denius is tops with 18 blocks and 10 service aces.

Oakwood Soccer

For the second time this season, the Oakwood/Salt Fork squad battled St. Joseph-Ogden to a 0-0 tie through regulation.

However, Friday’s match in the Hoopeston Area Cornjerker Classic was settled on penalty kicks rather than with a draw and the Comets suffered a 3-2 loss on PKs.

It was one of two tournament matches the team lost on PKs. Oakwood/SF fought Iroquois West to a 1-1 draw, but fell in PKs, 1-0.

In the team’s other tourney match, eventual champion Monticello blanked the Comets 5-0. It was the sixth match this season where the Comets (3-7-1) were held scoreless.

On Thursday, in a non-tournament match at home, Hoopeston Area shut out Oakwood/Salt Fork 5-0.

O/SF returns to action on Tuesday at the Oakwood Grade School against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.

Oakwood Golf

For the sixth time this season, Logen Hoshauer posted the best score for Oakwood. On Thursday at Danville’s Harrison Park, he earned medalist honors by three strokes, with a 39.

Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin was the meet winner with a 175. Oakwood (202) was next, followed by Judah Christian (227).

The Comets return to action today at Danville  Country Club against Schlarman Academy and Judah Christian.

The post Big night for Oakwood Football, Young named to All-Tournament team, Hoshauer medals first appeared on SJO Daily.

fred@mahometnews.com

Oakwood lost its season-opening football game on Friday when Watseka scored a tie-breaking touchdown in the final two minutes at home to claim a 28-21 triumph.

Colby Smiley rushed for 239 yards on 29 carries for the Comets. He scored two touchdowns, each pulling Oakwood into a tie.

Quarterback Rhett Harrison completed 4 of 10 passes for 96 yards, including a 68-yard score to Jack Carey.

Caleb Lashuay kicked the extra-point conversion after each TD.

Defensively, the team leaders were Caide Borden (12 tackles) and Bryce Harrison (11 tackles).

Oakwood returns to action on Friday at home against Warrensburg-Latham (1-0).

Soccer

Colin Merritt and Brady Tevebaugh each scored two goals on Thursday as the Comets topped Unity 6-1.

Caleb Lashuay scored the first goal of the match, on an assist by Tevebaugh.

Sam Howie hit a goal that lifted the Comets into a 2-0 halftime lead. Grant Powell assisted Howie.

Other second-half goals were assisted by Caleb Lashuay and Joe Lashuay.

Overall, Oakwood had 14 shots on goal, while Unity had six. Comets’ goalkeeper Chris Winkler had five saves.

Oakwood (2-0-1) returns to action today at home (Oakwood Grade School) against Monticello.

Girls’ cross-country

Oakwood finished eighth in the 14-school Saber Corn Classic, on Saturday at St. Thomas More.

The Comets’ top placer was Grace Davis, who was 34th in a field of 96 competitors. Her 3-mile time was 21 minutes, 27.1 seconds.

Other team leaders were Mackenzie Russell (42nd in 22:40.2), Ally Morris (56th in 24:03.5), Katie Fritz (64th in 24:56.8) and Cassie Fugate (77th in 27:31.8).

Oakwood returns to action on Saturday at Chrisman’s Cowchip Classic.

Boys’ cross-country

The Comets had two runners who participated in the Saber Corn Classic, on Saturday at St. Thomas More.

Ethan Brewer was 103rd with a 3-mile time of 21 minutes, 47.0 seconds. Teammate Bryce Tucker was 110th in 24:11.1.

Oakwood, which didn’t have enough runners to be scored as a team, returns to action on Saturday at Chrisman’s Cowchip Classic.

Volleyball

Oakwood senior Katelyn Young was chosen for the Cissna Park Timberwolf All-tournament Team after helping the Comets to the title in the third-place pool.

In the season’s first week, Oakwood played seven matches, winning four.

On Saturday, the team dispatched Cissna Park (25-17, 25-23) and Fisher (25-11, 25-12).

Oakwood totaled 18 kills and 14 assists against Cissna Park, and 16 kills and 12 assists against Fisher.

On Thursday, in a non-tournament match, Rantoul topped the Comets 25-19, 25-8. The Comets were limited to nine kills.

On Wednesday, Oakwood rallied to beat Watseka 15-25, 25-23, 15-3. In that match, Young and Alyssa Romito combined for 39 kills. Young collected five blocks.

“The whole team brought the energy,” coach Lynn Anderson said.

Oakwood returns to action on Tuesday for its home-opener, against Heritage. The Comets’ lineup includes two seniors, one freshman and, Anderson said, “five with just one year (experience) under their belt.”

The post Oakwood Soccer tops Unity, football falls to Watseka, Young named to All-Tournament team first appeared on SJO Daily.