The Comets opened the season on Tuesday with a 58-35 triumph over Judah Christian in Champaign.

The Comets led 20-4 after one quarter and expanded their lead into a final 23-point margin.

Katelyn Young scored a game-high 26 points and was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Teammate Karsen Rupp had 11 points and the lone Oakwood three-pointer.

Aubrey Wells added eight points, Aaliyah Denius had six points, Ashlynn Pinnick had five and Addie Wright ended with two points.

Oakwood (1-0) will host its own McDonald’s Comet Classic and faces a first-round game at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday against Blue Ridge (1-0), which won its season-opener on Monday 76-1 over Decatur Christian.

The post Young and Rupp lead Oakwood Girls’ Basketball to win over Judah Christian first appeared on SJO Daily.

Oakwood High School’s volleyball program always has a guaranteed captain, though the person’s name is not known until some of the positions are secure.

“My setters are usually the captains,” veteran coach Lynn Anderson said.

Besides that, Anderson looks to leadership from her seniors.

“It is important that the leaders I designate are on the same page with me and by the time they are seniors, they usually are,” Anderson said.

The Comets’ leaders this season will be sophomore setter Karsen Rupp and senior hitters Alyssa Romito and Katelyn Young.

“Being a captain means that you have to be a role model and set a good example for your teammates,” Rupp said. “One of my responsibilities is to be available to help my teammates if they have any questions. I hope I can encourage people to do their best.”

Romito can draw upon the examples set by the team’s veterans from previous years.

“I see my role as being someone everyone can look up to and ask questions if they don’t understand,” she said. “I plan on being the energizer of the team. I want to make this year fun for everyone.

“I have learned that older people on the team need to help maintain a hard-working environment during practice and help the team become better as a whole.”

Rupp said she will do whatever it takes.

“I am a fun person who is not afraid to dance or act silly to make others happy,” said Rupp, who has had good role models.

“My previous captains had great attitudes and helped our team succeed. They were great teammates and played hard and had fun.”

Young said the team leaders won’t necessarily have the same roles each day.

“Be the person my team can count on when times get tough,” Young said, “and be someone who knows where everyone should be and be able to give advice and encourage people at the same time. Also, someone who steps up when the team is struggling.

“Sometimes you have to be the cheerleader and sometimes you have to be the bad guy. You need to find a balance between the two that works best for the team as well as each individual.

Anderson said her two seniors both have a passion for competition.

“Katelyn walks the talk,” Anderson said. “She is just so naturally talented. So, being a senior and being a great athlete, sets a super example for the rest of the team.  She encourages and is positive in her criticism for the youngens.

“Alyssa has developed into a great leader also.  She loves the game, has fun playing and also encourages and directs.  They both are right on any directions given and help set up any drills or rotations. They play hard.”

Off-season workouts enabled the Comets to develop their camaraderie.

“This summer helped me to grow relationships with the younger girls and work with them in the weight room,” Romito said. “This allowed me to encourage the girls at all times and make sure they were putting the work in because hard work pays off.

“This summer as a team we became stronger and developed close relationships with each other.”

Participating in a summer league at Danville Area Community College enhanced the transition for Rupp.

“We saw what we had to work on,” Rupp said. “We had weightlifting and open gyms this summer. 

“All of that work helped us to play together as a team.”

Young is a multi-sport standout who has a fondness for volleyball.

“I love the intensity and environment of the game,” Young said. “I love the bond that you create between your teammates that you don’t get in everyday life.”

Romito has made adjustments as she has grown with the program.

“Off of the court I tend to be very quiet and reserved,” she said. “However, on the court I have learned to be very outgoing and make people excited.

“I have grown into a leader a lot over the summer by just having the added responsibility of being the oldest and having a very young team.”

Personality-wise, Young said she is similar to Romito.

“I consider myself a reserved person and more of a leader by example,” Young said. “This year, I will need to become more vocal and step outside of my comfort zone.”

Anderson said Rupp will benefit from having Romito and Young as teammates.

“She will be one to call the toss as a setter and hopefully the leadership of the other two will rub off,” Anderson said.

Rupp said she is fixed on seeing improvement as the season continues.

“Of course, our goal is to win games,” Rupp said. “I would love to see us continue as County and conference champs again this year.  Ultimately, I want us to continue to improve as a team and be better than we were at the beginning of the season.

“We are a fairly young team, but we have been working hard and will definitely surprise a few people.”

Rupp’s playing time will increase this year.

“Our main setter graduated last year, and I had to step it up,” she said. “It has been a lot of work, and I still have a lot of work to do, but I am up for that challenge. My experience last year has helped me to grow.”

Romito welcomes the arrival of volleyball season.

“Volleyball is a time for me to just have fun and let loose,” Romito said. “I love the aspect of how everyone bonds together and works as a team.

“I am very excited to play volleyball this year and I can’t wait to see what the year will bring us.”

Young said it’s not a stretch to say it’s a treat playing on a team coached by Anderson, who is often referred to by her longstanding nickname.

“I get another year of Juice’s banana bread,” Young said.

The post Oakwood Volleyball team gains strength with positive leaders first appeared on SJO Daily.

Captain is now a term that is applied to Logen Hoshauer and Reed Sperry.

The Oakwood High School golfers – both of whom are juniors – won’t take the role lightly.

“Being a captain is an honor,” Sperry said.

“It means that my coach sees potential in me and the ability to lead the team,” Hoshauer said.

Oakwood coach Lyle Hicks made the selections.

“As captains, these young guys are to provide leadership during practices as well as matches, encouraging others to continue improving their games,” Hicks said.

“They are expected to be positive during practice and matches as examples for their teammates.”

In their efforts to lead, the two teen-agers will take heed of lessons learned in previous years from former team captains.

“You have to make practice fun,” Sperry said.

“They showed us how to pick up teammates and how to help them when they need it,” Hoshauer added.

High school golf teams throughout the state started practicing on Monday. Oakwood’s first meet is next Monday (Aug. 19) at 1 p.m. at Urbana Country Club in the Tiger Kick-Off Classic.

The Comets’ home meets will be played at Harrison Park, in Danville.

Hoshauer has been preparing for the start of the season.

“Golf is honestly my life,” he said. “I really wish I would’ve picked it up sooner as a kid, but sadly I didn’t.

“It has become a lifestyle. Every day I am on the course working and improving my game. I think the goal is to always improve and lower my scores, but making it to state is the main goal.”

Hoshauer is able to mix in light-heartedness with the determination to forge ahead.

“My personality can be rambunctious,” he said. “I’m the jokester of the group, but still know when it’s time to be serious.”

Sperry is also pleased that the high school golf season has arrived.

“I enjoy golf because it is quiet and peaceful,” he said.

Hoshauer and Sperry each have responsibilities to others beyond themselves.

“I just hope the team performs well and we can make it farther than we did last year,” Hoshauer said. “I will help keep the team on track and preparing as best as we can for the season ahead.”

A year ago, Oakwood placed third at a Class 1A regional tournament – with just one senior in the lineup – and qualified for a 12-team sectional, but fell short of earning a berth at state.

The post Oakwood Golf Captains Hoshauer and Sperry ready to lead Comets first appeared on SJO Daily.

Serving as captain of the Oakwood/Salt Fork cooperative cross-country team this year is not a case of lifetime achievement for Grace Davis.

The Oakwood senior first ran cross-country as a junior.

Her selection as a senior captain indicates that she embodies the traits of a team leader.

“She continues to lead by example, she runs mileage she is supposed to and encourages the younger teammates,” coach Phil Surprenant said. “I expect her to lead drills, motivate others and act as a second in command, so to speak.”

A teen-ager who describes her personality as “outgoing and supportive,” Davis thinks those traits were factors in her selection as captain.

“I believe these two things are what paved the way for me to be captain,” she said. “I also believe that my hard work and dedication also played a role in me being captain.”

Davis’ role models were those who came before her.

“I have learned from previous captions to never complain, to train hard, and to always respect your teammates,” she said. “I have also learned to never give up no matter how much I hurt, my position in the race, or how tired I am.”

Cross-country teams will officially start preseason practice on Monday, Aug. 12.

“It is an honor to be a leader to not only Oakwood athletes, but as well the Salt Fork athletes,” Davis said. “I put so much time and effort into this sport, therefore, it is rewarding for me to be captain. 

“The main responsibilities for me are to make sure I help my teammates perform to their best ability, have fun while doing the sport and to work hard.”

Davis now regrets not participating in cross-country before last year.

“I quickly learned that I should’ve signed up sooner because I fell in love with the sport,” she said. “It is by far my favorite sport.

“My goals for the upcoming season are to perform well as a team and to improve my time.”

A year ago, the distance runner was an All-Area honorable mention choice in both cross-country and track and field.

The post Oakwood’s Davis ready to lead cross country team first appeared on SJO Daily.