fred@mahometnews.com

Area high schools are in the process of preparing their athletes to return to competition.

The IHSA permitted limited participation last week, allowing districts to conduct conditioning, agility and strength training exercises in small groups.

Oakwood chose to wait until this week in order to get its plan in place.

“We are taking a cautious approach for right now,” Oakwood football coach Al Craig said. “We are making sure all the ducks are in a row before we start.

“We have been meeting with the athletes once a week on Zoom and going over things we would have normally gone over. It has gone well.”

Craig fears the repercussions of doing too much too soon.

“I am just concerned with health and safety,” he said. “I don’t ever want our student-athletes or coaches in danger.

 “I’m also worried that too much at the beginning gets everything closed down again, then we lose August. We don’t want that. Nobody wants that.”

St. Joseph-Ogden and Villa Grove/Heritage began the process of restarting workouts last week.

Throughout the area, slow steps are the norm.

“Right now, they are student-athletes who we haven’t seen for multiple weeks,” SJ-O football coach Shawn Skinner said. “We are working on getting them in shape.

“Their core, legs and lungs are what we want to ensure are getting ready as we progress at this time.”

SJ-O athletes are at the school in shifts, taking advantage of the weight room.

“We have eight groups and those groups have six to eight kids,” Skinner said. “We have some groups going at 7 a.m., another set at 11 a.m. and another round at 5 p.m.

“Prior to working out, we have to check the kids in with a series of questions and we record their temperatures. We will do that every time we work out, at least during this stage of our return-to-play plan.

“We have essentially created small weight rooms outside on and around our track and sports fields. The workouts incorporate speed improvement, flexibility, strength and conditioning.”

The workout takes about an hour and the athletes remain with the same group every day. Sixty-five Spartan football prospects, from freshmen through seniors, worked out last week.

Skinner said his program is not far behind where he originally expected to be by mid-June.

“Our summer plan was to always be in the weight room three days a week, so from that standpoint we are moving forward with that plan,” Skinner said. “We have lost only about two weeks of summer workouts, so we are trying to stay positive from that standpoint.”

He said the school’s staff is doing everything possible to not put anyone at risk.

“Obviously we want everyone to be as safe and healthy as can be,” Skinner said, “so we’re being cognizant of spacing and what we touch; wiping down and cleaning equipment after every athlete uses that.

“For the athletes, we want to avoid over-taxing them early. Some of them have been working out at home, but several of them have not. It’s not a race to get back in shape in one week.

“This will be a process and we have to ensure we avoid injuries, especially soft tissue injuries, as that could linger all season.”

Unless athletes were working out on their own, most had been away from regimented practices for more than 80 days. Skinner didn’t know what level of conditioning and fitness to expect from his returnees.

“I was really concerned with what shape we would be in,” he said. “Honestly, it’s better than I thought. It’s not good, but it’s not bad either.”

Villa Grove/Heritage football coach Heath Wilson has about 50 potential football players working out.

“At this point, I am just excited,” Wilson said. “Excited to get to start working with the players and coaches.

“A lot of our players are out of shape due to the stay-at-home order, so it’s time to do the work and get ready for the season.”

The staff at VG/Heritage is adhering to recommendations.

“First and foremost, we are making sure we understand and implement the guidelines appropriately,” Wilson said. “The safety of these athletes is very important. We have worked quickly to survey our players, break them into groups and get them in the weight room. 

“With seven coaches, we are able to divide and conquer. We have six groups that are working out three days a week. During this phase, we are focused on lifting and conditioning.”

The emphasis is not the same for coaches in cross-country and soccer as it is in football.

“The great thing about our sport, although it’s better to be together, it can be done solo,” SJ-O cross-country coach Jason Retz said. “Every athlete has the same ability to improve.

“We are simply going to control what we can control and enjoy each day as it comes.”

Retz expects a turnout between 40 and 50, including both the boys’ and girls’ programs.

“We meet once a week and have four groups right now,” Retz said. “They already have their own schedules they are working off, so we get together and they get it done.”

Bill DeJarnette is returning to the SJ-O soccer program he helped to implement. He has about 15 potential players thus far and they are divided into two groups.

“We plan to continue to add (groups) as we expand our recruitment,” DeJarnette said. “The workouts will vary within cycles.

“Cycle examples are Plyo, Long Slow, Intervals, fast twitch, strength and visualization, with constant evaluation of strengths and weaknesses so we can tune the workouts to address issues as needed.”

Conditioning is generally not an activity that teen-agers look forward to. This month could be an exception.

“We are excited to be back together, even if only for conditioning,” Villa Grove coach Jeanine Block said. “The girls are excited to see one another and are anxious for the next phase.”

Oakwood volleyball coach Lynn Anderson said the starting point is to make clear that the guidelines in place must be followed.

“My main concern is getting the players to understand we have regulations we have to follow,” Anderson said. “That is foreign to them, in a sense, especially with the sport.”

Block said she tries to keep things fresh and not repeat the same routine.

“Kids get bored without sport-specific activities,” Block said. “We are doing our best to make the workouts ‘competitive,’ but these girls are anxious to play volleyball.”

The unexpected break, which was mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic, took away from the ongoing changes around the SJ-O facilities.

“Prior to the virus shutting everything down, we were having a very good offseason,” Skinner said. “We had really built up some momentum in our weight room.

“Casey Hug, our athletic trainer, has assisted us in changing our strength and conditioning program and you could really see the kids’ bodies starting to change.”

A booster support group was helping to implement other additions and improvements,

“Our SJO Fan Club had purchased new equipment and Mr. Hug had updated our weight room,” Skinner said. “If we had returned from Spring Break, it would have been an entirely new facility for our kids.

“I can’t wait to get to use it in the manner we really want to soon. We hope that happens in early July as we enter the next stage in the return-to-play.”

The coaches have mixed feelings about what is in store in the weeks and months ahead.

“We will plan and work with the assumption that the fall season is a go,” DeJarnette said. “Even if not, there are no downsides to working together as a team every opportunity you get.”

Added Retz: “The opportunity to help student-athletes grow will continue to happen regardless of what the season looks like.

“Our goal is to help make better people. That will happen regardless if we get to race against other schools or not.”

Craig sees many issues that need to be resolved before games can again take place. He isn’t convinced that everything can fall into place.

“I would love to say I’m really confident, but I’m not,” Craig said. “I would say I’m somewhere between pessimist and optimist.

“I just need to see the logistics of games and locker room usage before I can become really confident.”

Block said now is the time to plan for the possibilities of what a new-normal may look like.

“I can see us playing, with precautions and possibly no fans,” she said. “We are looking at options to live stream games in case the parents/fans are not allowed to attend games.”

Anderson, too, wonders what athletic competition will look like once the games resume.

“My concern is whether we can just relax and play eventually,” Anderson said. “If we have to wear masks, wipe down balls, not touch each other, etc.

“Where is the consistency of just playing, when we have to worry with everything else? Hopefully, it won’t come to that. How confident about whether we have a season or not depends on the day and who I listen to.”

Skinner said this is a time of many questions, but few answers.

“Obviously, the threat of the virus is going to remain and it’s not going to change anytime soon,” he said. “What do we do if one of our players or coaches gets it? What will that look like? Also, how do we advance the workouts in the best/safest way; safe from a physical and spacial standpoint, but also an emotional and mental standpoint?

“These are real concerns that we need to be aware of and observe. We have a tendency as Midwesterners to have a blue color, tough-it-out, mentality. I think that we need to really reflect on that.

“If you’re feeling sick, if you have a sore throat, cough, etc., then maybe stay home a day or two. That goes against our mentality, but maybe we need to take a step back and realize it’s OK to miss a day of work, school, practice, if that means in the long run you’re healthier for it.”

He realizes that is easier said than done.

“That would require a huge change in our perception, and I am probably as guilty of this attitude as anyone,” Skinner said. “But it may be time to acknowledge we can take better care of ourselves and in the process take better care of those around us.”

Like others, Skinner knows it’s merely speculation as to whether there will be a season and – if so – when it would start and how it will look different from previous years.

“What we know is that at this time there is a strong desire and intention for there to be a return to school in August and with that a fall-sport season,” he said. “I’m working with that in mind.

“That’s all I can do at this point. If/when that changes, we will adjust.”

Retz said in one respect this year will be like all others:  There will be a need to deal with the unexpected.

“Each year brings different challenges and it will be fun to take these on one day at a time,” Retz said. “Distance running takes time.

“We’ll deal with any bump in the road there may be, but those bumps only help us learn and grow.”

The key word, Wilson said, is optimism.

“I have to stay positive and say there will be a season,” Wilson said. “I can’t imagine a fall without football.”

If the green light is given for competition, Anderson knows one fact for certain.

“We will be ready to play,” she said. “All athletes just want to get started, which might be a positive out of this whole deal.

“They will not take for granted anymore that things just always happen how they want it to. They know their lives can change that quickly now.”

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fred@mahometnews.com

Stories like Frankie Izard’s come along about once a century. Maybe twice.

They are the heart-warming tales that give credence to the theory that anything can happen and it’s never too late to get a start in a sport.

Izard played one year of high school softball, as a senior in 2018.

Now, two years later, she is heading to a Division I program (Louisiana Lafayette) that was ranked among the top 10 nationally in the final 2020 USA Today poll, and she has three years of eligibility remaining.

In truth, though Izard only played one year of softball at St. Joseph-Ogden – where she earned seven state medals in track – it was a sport she had participated in during the summer months for years with elite travel teams.

“I played junior high softball for the school, but when I got to high school, I had to decide and I decided to do track until my senior year,” Izard said. “I knew I could play travel ball in the summer.

“I loved both sports and still do to this day.”

What changed as a high school senior was the need to look to her future.

“I had to make a decision about what I wanted to play in college,” Izard said. “I figured I should get one year of school ball under my belt.”

An outfielder, she made an impact on the final SJ-O high school team coached by Randy Wolken. Izard earned second-team All-Area recognition from The News-Gazette in 2018.

“She was hurt (hamstring injury) for about the first quarter of the season and that restricted her some after that,” Wolken said.

He never doubted that she would contribute to the Spartans.

“She hit good pitching as well as anybody,” Wolken said. “She had a lot of potential.”

During the first portion of her freshman year at SJ-O, Wolken tried to convince Izard that she had a future in softball.

“She had played high-caliber summer ball and I thought her best ticket (to a college program) was softball,” Wolken said. “I thought she had the skills to play in college.”

Once Izard picked track, Wolken backed off, but willingly welcomed her when she opted for softball as a senior.

Before she had played a game for SJ-O, Izard had already committed to Lake Land College, in Mattoon.

“I knew I wanted to play for Coach (Nic) Nelson,” she said. “He had watched me and I’d gone to his camp when I was 12.”

Though she had no high school statistics at the point she gave her verbal commitment, Nelson knew everything he needed about Izard.

“The first thing is, she has speed,” Nelson said. “Speed never goes into a slump and speed keeps her in the game.

“I tell people that pitching is hard to find, but that kind of speed is even harder. You’ll take it every time.”

He wasn’t disappointed.

In Izard’s inaugural season of junior college competition in 2019, she batted .512 (131 for 256) and led all NJCAA players in hits and at-bats while striking out just twice in 271 plate appearances.

Her hit total and at-bats as a freshman were also Lake Land single-season records.

For a team that was 50-19, she stole 42 bases and totaled 12 triples, earning honorable mention status on the Fastpitch News’ All-American team. She was the Region 24 Player of the Year.

“She has an incredible work ethic,” Nelson said. “She understands the game and works hard at getting better.”

But Izard’s focus is not just on herself.

“She cares a lot about her teammates,” Nelson said. “I’ll miss her leadership.”

Izard and Lake Land played about one-third of their 2020 season. The Lakers were 21-4 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced all spring sports at all universities to cancel their remaining schedules.

“We had 70 games scheduled,” said Nelson, who was in his 11th year as the Lake Land head coach. “I tell people I’ve coached 10.3 seasons.”

During his tenure, 68 of his players have received scholarships to play at four-year universities.

The pandemic did more than play havoc with the schedules.

“Our history says, ‘If you play for us, here is what will happen (as far as college offers),’” Nelson said. “Because seniors got their year (of eligibility) back, that was thrown out the window this year.

“It really affected junior college transfer kids. A lot of schools we thought would be interested, weren’t. In a normal year, there would have been 20 to 25 schools looking at her.”

Instead, Izard had Division I offers from Louisiana-Lafayette (which was ranked eighth nationally this year) and Eastern Illinois University.

Wolken wasn’t surprised that Louisiana coach Gerry Glasco was interested in Izard.

“He had recruited some of our kids when he was at Georgia and Texas A&M,” Wolken said.

Izard is the first Spartan to sign to play for Glasco.

“Ever since Glasco has been at Louisiana, it has been my dream school,” Izard said. “I met him a few years back and saw the hitting style that he does.

“I love the way he coaches and can’t wait to learn from him and get better.”

As a bonus, all junior college spring-sport athletes were granted an extra year of eligibility. Izard will have three years to play at the Division I level.

“She is graduating this year (from Lake Land) and this is like hitting the lottery,” Nelson said. “I said you’ll get a year of grad school paid for.”

While she acknowledged that the situation went well for her, Izard also recognizes that’s not the case across the board.

“It worked out in my favor,” Izard said, “but I’m very sad because we had a great team and it would have helped a lot of people (to be seen) if we’d made it to nationals.”

Izard, who has maintained a 3.8 grade-point average at Lake Land will finish her on-line courses with the school this week. She plans on majoring in kinesiology at Louisiana.

Izard’s goal was to play Division I softball, but when she signed her letter of intent on May 1, she exceeded her expectations.

“I didn’t expect to go this far,” she said, “nowhere like Louisiana.

“I was very lucky. The coronavirus put a hold on the recruiting process. They had some (senior) players who left, and he offered me.”

Louisiana, which has an enrollment of approximately 14,000 students, has been ranked in the final NCAA softball poll 13 consecutive seasons. The team was 18-6 when this year’s season was halted.

In addition to studying, Izard is working out daily at home, trying to stay sharp.

“There’s nothing like the actual game, but I practice every day, multiple times,” she said, “and I hope that will help me out.”

She has the facilities she needs right on her parents’ property.

“Dad has a setup in our barn with a couple of hitting cages and a pitching machine,” Izard said. “I can hit as long as I want.

“I hit once or twice a day and lift weights for an hour or two every day.”

From Wolken’s view, it is a success story with a capital ‘S.’

“It’s amazing,” he said. “One year of high school ball and basically one year of junior college. It’s quite a story.”

With Izard’s departure from Lake Land, Nelson said he will miss more than the former SJ-O athlete.

“She has a great family that is always supportive,” Nelson said.

The post Frankie Izard transfers from Lake Land College to play D-1 softball at Louisiana-Lafayette appeared first on .

“By being an athlete, I have learned to always work hard and go through the adversity that sports present to you,” he said. “As an athlete you can learn a lot about yourself and others. One of the biggest things that being an athlete can teach you, is about what kind of character you should have and ultimately what kind of person you should be in the future.”

The last eight weeks has not been easy for any athlete in Illinois, especially those who continue to question if and when they will be able to step back onto the field with their teammates one final time. 

The IHSA announced in late April that spring 2020 tournament will be canceled, but the organization did leave the door open for possible summer matches should stay-at-home instructions be modified.

Even though the possibility of stepping onto Dozer Field to compete for a state championship has been eliminated, Dable, along with the other Spartans have kept their hearts and minds on working for each other.

“The one specific thing that I enjoy about being in the Spartan program, is the dedication that everyone has to the program,” he said. “Going all the way from the coaches to the players, everyone is dedicated to the game and the program, which is hard to find. It means a lot to know that everyone around you is just as dedicated as you are.”

Dable kept up on hitting off of tees and working on indoor drills that would keep him sharp should the call come that the team could get together. 

“Each time I step on the field I want to bring positive energy to the team in order to keep the team morale up,” he said. “At the same time I try to stay as focused as possible.”

The third baseman and pitcher wanted to set a good example for his underclassmen teammates. He said that he had been through a lot of the circumstances and worry they would be going through. It’s the same viewpoint that those who came before him had.

“I have stuck with (baseball) because I have always had a love for the game and the relationships that the game brings with other people,” he said. “I have had many mentors who have influenced me to become a better athlete. My entire family has always pushed me to be better because they have all previously been athletes at SJO. I have also been lucky enough to have good coaches that have pushed me to be better.

“The biggest thing that I will look back on at the end of my career will be all of the good times that our team has had with each other. I know that I will miss it a lot, so I need to take it in as much as I can right now.”

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fred@mahometnews.com

Ty Pence came into the basketball season as a varsity letter winner at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Most of his teammates were in the same club, with one major difference.

Pence is a freshman, who lettered in the fall as a receiver on a playoff-qualifying football team. Many of his basketball teammates were members of a 10-member senior class.

Pence eventually earned more than a letter in basketball. He gained status as the top boys’ basketball freshman in the state, regardless of size of school.

The honor was bestowed upon the 6-foot-4 Pence by Chicagoland Prep Hoops, an NCAA-compliant scouting service.

The football season was valuable, Pence said, but not from the standpoint of developing swagger as a varsity athlete.

“Football gave me the opportunity to meet most of the guys on the (basketball) team and I am very thankful of the way they took me in as one of their own,” Pence said.

“They gave me confidence and showed that they believed in me. We had many leaders on our team and they built everyone’s confidence, so that really helped me calm my nerves and perform to the best of my ability.”

Despite all of the adulation and the accolades, SJ-O head coach Kiel Duval emphasized one point about the standout freshman who started all 32 varsity games during his inaugural high school season.

“One of the cool things about Ty this year was we obviously pulled him up from the freshman team this year right away,” Duval said. “He still made a point to go to all the freshman games to support his classmates.

“Those are his guys. He still loves them. He knows that down the road they are going to be right there with him. Shows a lot about his character.”

Chicagoland Prep Hoops senior editor Seth Pote, who learned about Pence during the AAU circuit last summer, saw him play in person for the first time on Feb. 15 at the Riverton Shootout.

It only took Pote until the Spartans’ first points of the game were on the board for him to view Pence favorably.

“I was immediately impressed with the way he carried himself and his smoothness on the court,” Pote said. “The very first basket of the game for SJ-O was a Pence bucket.

“He started on the wing, drove the hoop and finished with a double-clutch layup.”

Pence, a shooting guard, didn’t stop there. He went on to score 28 points against West Hancock, a game SJ-O won 72-37.

“He has a knack for hitting shots with a high degree of difficulty and did so throughout the game,” Pote said. “He has a pretty well-rounded game for such a young player, but has the build, athleticism and room to grow that gives him a high ceiling as a college prospect.”

In his scouting report for Chicagoland Prep Hoops after the SJ-O game against West Hancock, Pote wrote:

“WOW! Ty Pence made possibly the best first impression a freshman has ever made on CPH. And that’s no hyperbole! 6-4 guard with size and lift on his jumper. Passing touch and feel on the wing already. Moves the ball well, gets a lot of hockey assists. Has plus game IQ and high skill level for his age. Great body control, showcased this on a steal and score in the open court with a finish off his off-foot and against solid defense. Really hit some tough shots. Handles will need to get tighter. Scored at all three levels. Can put ball on floor and attack from wing. Will get stronger as he gets older. Twenty-eight points for Pence, who will be a top five 2023 prospect in the initial rankings!”

To make sure that one game wasn’t an anomaly, Pote did additional research.

“I went back and watched some of his games on the NFHS website to further scout and research his ability,” he said.

“A few factors led to the decision to name him Freshman of the Year. He more than impressed when I was able to watch him in person, which left a lasting impression.

“He has the ability to be a very good college prospect, but his play on the court as only a freshman was a large factor.”

Pence finished the season averaging 12.9 points and 3.9 rebounds for the 23-9 Spartans. Pence hit 57 three-pointers for the season and made at least one three-pointer in 27 of his 32 games.

“He had one of the best stat lines of any freshman in the state,” Pote said. “Many of my trusted sources throughout the state also vouched for him as a player.”

Though Pence often made his play look effortless, he said the season offered difficulties.

“I was challenged every time I stepped on the court,” he said. “Guys were stronger and more athletic than anyone I had ever played against.

“I had to work every single play to succeed in our goals as a team. It was a tough experience and it pushed me to work as hard as I could every day.”

Pence didn’t have lofty expectations for his ninth-grade season in basketball.

“I accomplished my goal of contributing as a freshman,” he said, “and helping the team win.”

A major key to flourishing in his role, Pence said was the SJ-O head coach.

“Mr. Duval pushed me very hard to be the best, whether it was in the weight room or on the court,” Pence said. “He is a great coach and is going to lead us to success in the coming years.”

Duval regarded Pence as a potential varsity impact player even during the preseason.

“We had a good feeling we were going to need Ty this year because we knew he had an ability to score the basketball and his length and athleticism could help us out on both ends of the floor,” Duval said.

“We were really only bringing one scorer back from the previous year, and Ty gave us glimpses during the summer that he was going to be able to score at this level.”

The player’s overall effectiveness was due to the attitude Pence brought to the gym each day.

“He became a sponge,” Duval said. “He soaked everything up that we were talking about in practices to make himself a better player.

“I think there were times where at the beginning of the year that he started slow and people started to worry about him. He got better each game. By the end of the year, he established himself as a really good varsity basketball player.

“We told him from Day 1, ‘You are not a freshman anymore. You are a varsity basketball player. We are going to coach you that way.’ He took that in stride.”

The number of veteran players on the SJ-O roster helped keep Pence on his toes.

“With how many seniors we had returning, I knew that I would have to work hard to earn my playing time,” Pence said. “I was willing to step into any role they gave me.

“Our coaching staff does a great job scouting other teams, so our roles would change just about every game. We were all willing to fill in with any role they gave us day in and day out.”

Pence regards basketball as his favorite sport, but added, “I love baseball, too.”

When it came time for Pote to construct the blurb about Pence when the Chicagoland Prep Hoops announced its award winners, he wrote:

“Not well known outside of the central Illinois hoops circles, Pence is perhaps the most promising freshman in the state. He definitely had the most impactful season of any freshman, putting up 12.9 points and 3.9 rebounds a night for the 23-9 Spartans. Pence has all the tools to be the next big name out of central Illinois. The sky is the limit for the 6-4 guard.”

Pence said it’s important to give credit where it is due.

“I was very blessed to have the opportunity to play as a freshman and learn from all my teammates and coaches,” he said. “They are the ones that led me to be successful enough to win this award.”

Pence found himself in an unusual situation with SJ-O as a freshman. Often, when a ninth-grader gets a varsity uniform, it is out of need in a program that is rebuilding or else has a lack of veteran players.

The opposite was true for Duval’s program. He had 10 quality seniors on his most recent roster.

“Our guys love Ty,” Duval said. “He is a really good basketball player. He is an even better kid. He has a great personality. He is a smart kid.

“The players enjoy being around him. He is a very easy guy to root for. Our older guys knew from Day 1 they needed Ty. They knew that his progress was going to be essential to their success. They challenged him, but they were also his biggest fan.” 

Pence worked his way into the starting lineup because his skills predicated that he should play. His performance demanded that he stay on the court.

Pence had the Spartans’ top rebounding performance of the season (12 against Cissna Park) and led (or shared) the team lead in scoring in 10 games and in rebounding in seven games. He was also the Spartans’ most accurate free throw shooter, hitting 79 percent of his attempts (49 of 62).

All the while, Pence carried himself like he belonged and displayed boundless confidence.

“I think some guys have this and some don’t,” Duval said. “We realized right away that Ty has the confidence to take any shot. He wants to hit that big shot at the end of games.

“There were multiple times this year where he hit a HUGE shot down the stretch that pulled us ahead of the opponent. It is nice to have a guy that has the guts to do it.”

Regardless of what the statistics reveal, Pence is not an athlete who makes it about himself.

“Ty is a multisport athlete that has made an impact on every program he has been involved with,” Duval said. “He is also an exceptional teammate.

“That in itself is a hard quality to find today with talented players. Ty wants his teammates to do really well.”

For all the good that Pence did, Duval said he is not the player he will be next year. Or the following year. Or the year after that.

“Ty has a very high basketball IQ,” Duval said. “He understands the game. He understands positioning. He moves like a basketball player on the floor.

“He had a good year shooting the basketball for us, and I think that he can be even better next year. Next season we are going to rely on him much more in two main areas. Rebounding and getting to the free throw line.

“These are areas that he is going to have to work on to become an elite player and really push his team to the next level. Both of these areas he is very capable of.

“He led our team in free throw percentage this year, so if he gets to the line, I like our chances for some easy buckets. There were also games where he had double digit rebounds. We know he’s capable of it. He is just going to have to do it with more consistency.”

Ty Pence is the third of Todd and Kendra Pence’s children to make a major impact on various SJ-O athletic teams. Jake Pence was an All-Area football player who started in basketball at guard for the 2016 Class 2A state championship team. Kenzie Pence was an All-Area softball player who started in the outfield for the 2017 Class 2A softball state runner-up team. She is playing collegiately at Illinois State University.

Ty Pence didn’t feel pressure to match his siblings’ achievements.

“I always looked up to them and now being in the position they were in is awesome,” Ty Pence said. “I think that being a freshman added the most pressure on me to succeed.

“Coach Duval told me at the beginning of the season that it would be a huge step from playing 13-14-year-olds in eighth grade to now playing kids that are four years older than me.

“To alleviate that pressure, I just tried to work my hardest in whatever I did and prove that I belonged out there with these older guys.”

Ty Pence recognizes that there is still more work to do.

“I feel like the best thing I did this year was developing as a varsity basketball player,” Pence said. “By the end of the season, I was fixing mistakes I had been making at the beginning of the season and becoming very successful.

“The area that I know I need to improve on is being a leader. Without the 10 seniors next year, we are going to need someone who can lead the team and keep everyone together.”

The list below shows recent Freshmen of the Year, as chosen by Chicagoland Prep Hoops. The 2017 recipient, Duke recruit D.J. Steward (now at Chicago Whitney Young), was chosen as the 2020 State Player of the Year.

Duval said there is a challenge that awaits Pence.

“(Freshman of the Year) is a big compliment to Ty,” Duval said. “He has put in the work to earn that recognition. I think now it is up to him to keep pushing and not be complacent.

“He needs to work to be even better next year and keep improving. The best players are grateful for their accomplishments, but are never satisfied with those.

“It is a lot of work to be great. Ty is a smart enough player to know that. He needs to keep finding ways to improve himself.”

Recent CPH Freshman of the Year Recipients
2020 Ty Pence SG St. Joseph-Ogden
2019 Kam Craft SG Buffalo Grove
2018 Max Christie SG Rolling Meadows
2017 D.J. Steward SG Fenwick
2016 Marquise Walker PG Westchester St. Joseph
2015 Kezo Brown SG Simeon

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Izard led the 23-9 Spartan squad, averaging 16.2 points per game with a high game of 36 points against Bloomington Central Catholic. He was the team’s leading scorer in 17 games.

“Being recognized in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Special Mention team is a huge honor to me, and it serves as a reflection of all the past years that I’ve put into the sport,” Izard said. “Not just the practices, games, workouts, etc., but the friendships with players, coaches, and the overall relationships I have built with the incredible people throughout my journey of being a Spartan.”

From a young age, Izard worked on consistency in order to become a leader.

“Consistency means showing up to every practice, walk-through, game, film session, etc., and carrying the same mindset — pushing every kid around you to be better, and trying to express the significance of the limited amount of time we have with one another,” he said.

The team’s motto this year was to take everything day-by-day. Izard said that he did not always come to the court with that mindset, but the 2019-20 squad of Spartans helped.

“It was a little bit easier to overcome the sluggish practices and bring the team out of slumps when needed,” he said.

Losing to Tuscola in IHSA regional play a year ago in 2019 did not sit well with Izard.

“In the beginning of the season, we made it very clear as a team that we were not going to look past a single day,” Izard said. “Looking back at last year’s season and losing to Tuscola, a game that concluded our season much earlier than it needed to be, we realized that our focus was not as detailed and tailored as it should’ve been.”

Coaches kept athletes focused on every move, what each movement meant and how it affected the Spartans’ overall game during practice.

Izard said that this vision created the highlight of his senior year.

“Not the individual awards, not the 11-game winning streak, or winning conference, but the practices,” he said. “The amount of fun (we) had with each other can’t be described. It was a literal joy to come every day and get in with the coaching staff. Everyone was family. Everyone was a brother.”

Izard’s favorite memory of the 2019-20 season wasn’t even a game that the Spartans won.

In what Izard claims “wasn’t anywhere near to one of my better games, performance-wise,” the Spartans fell to Champaign Central, 43-39.

“But this was a game that had an electrifying atmosphere,” Izard said. “The crowd was wild, the gym was packed, and it was pure excitement overall.

“People talk about games where one team walks into a gym with absolutely zero expectancies to win, that was what this was. And even though we did lose, I thought our guys showed what SJ-O basketball really represents.”

SJ-O held a 31-21 third-quarter lead before the Maroons took control with a 15-0 run. Late in the third quarter, Champaign Central took the lead 33-31.

“For three quarters, we played them to a ‘T’,” Izard said. “Each individual had the scouting report down and we executed it perfectly. Sure we didn’t see the outcome that we wanted, but we revealed some of the potential we had.

“We operated that night as a unit and it brought a lot of confidence to all of us for what we had in store for the season. That game was special to us.”

Even more special was playing with the 11 seniors, most of whom he had grown up being right beside.

“It was more than a brotherhood, it was the fact that we got to go to class every day, hangout, the jokes, the laughs, we got to carry that onto the court every day, and that was a special thing for us,” he said.

“Each senior carried a different role this year and each senior executed their role. Each guy in that locker room was selfless and wanted what was best for the team, not so much the individual. And that created a special chemistry that was crucial to our success.”

Despite the large senior class, Izard was chosen to be the leader by head coach Kiel Duval.

“He challenged me, intensely, to embrace leadership and run with it. That was ultimately what was important,” Izard said.

Carrying the scoring load weighed heavily on Izard’s mind. Even though he took home the Toyota of Danville Classic MVP award, he felt as though his game was forced.

“When I was able to relax, and do the things I’m best at — getting to the rim, creating for others, pushing in transition, and being an overall facilitator — the scoring took care of itself,” Izard said.

“I think it was when this happened I also started to form into a leader. I sort of took a different perspective on the court, and I saw what other guys were capable of doing.”

Izard went on to challenge fellow seniors Payton Cain, Jordan Kelly and Payton Grimsley, bringing them out of their comfort zone to highlight their strengths.

“Being a leader to me is more than being the kid with the highest amount of points,” Izard said, “but being the kid who can bring out the best in everyone around them.

“Ultimately we weren’t going to be able to succeed if they didn’t break out from that shell. They were that vital.”

It’s similar to what Izard’s dad did to him as he was growing up.

“He’s been my guy ever since I was a little guy,” he said. “He has offered me every opportunity that I needed to get where I got.”

That love has been realized in the St. Joseph-Ogden High School coaching staff, too.

“I have never met a group of guys that truly cared as much as they did,” Izard said. “Each coach really did the most for us. Whether that meant traveling two hours on a weeknight to make a scouting report or staying after practice getting shots up with the guys.”

Izard said Duval goes beyond the extra mile.

“Ever since we were freshmen, he’s been our trainer, math teacher, and coach,” he said. “He literally would wake up at 5 a.m., call us to wake us up, and hit the gym with us.

“I don’t know a lot of coaches that are doing that. I am very thankful for the time spent with these coaches. They develop players on and off the court.”

Izard also earned the team MVP honor earlier this month.

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St. Joseph-Ogden won the first half, but Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin captured the second half and the victory in Friday’s Class 2A boys’ basketball regional championship game at the Spartans’ sold-out gymnasium.

B-H/R-A improved to 32-0 with a 38-28 triumph. The game attracted an estimated 1,500 spectators.

Ty Pence scored 14 points and Chance Izard had 11 to lead the Spartans. The team’s other three points were scored by Payton Grimsley.

The Spartans held a 19-14 halftime lead, but managed just eight points thereafter.

Drew Coursey cleared six rebounds in the season-finale. Jordan Kelly handled five rebounds. Payton Cain had three assists.

SJ-O ends the season with a 23-9 record.

The deep and balanced Spartans had seven squad members lead – or share the team-lead – in rebounding this season.

Cain led the way in 10 games, followed by Coursey (nine games) and Conner Hodge (eight games). Pence led in seven games.

Kelly led in rebounding twice and teammates Andrew Beyers and Grimsley each led once.

Pence had the top single-game performance, with 12 rebounds.

Izard was the scoring leader in 17 games, followed by Pence (10), Cain (seven) and Hodge (one).

Izard registered a 36-point game, followed by Pence with a 28-point performance.

Izard ended the year with 83 three-pointers. Pence totaled 57 and Kelly had 14.

Izard posted the highest scoring average for the team this season (16.2 points per game), followed by Pence (12.8) and Cain (9.0).

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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.

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Junior A.J. Wagner won one match in the Class 1A state finals, but fell short of earning a medal.

Wagner rebounded from an opening-round 4-0 loss to fifth-ranked Michael DiBenedetto, from IC Catholic, to turn back Mount Carmel’s Cade Keepes 5-1 in his first wrestleback bout.

He then suffered a season-ending 5-0 decision to Mercer County’s Broctyn King, who went on to place sixth. Wagner ended the season with a 42-10 record.

Spartan teammate Isaiah Immke dropped both of his state bouts. He lost 12-4 to Robinson’s Jeff Hermann and 7-5 to Putnam County’s Connor Booker.

Immke ended his junior year with a 20-9 record.

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The Spartans lost a lead that was one point at halftime and grew to four in the third period on Friday at Bloomington Central Catholic and wound up dropping a 62-53 decision.

The loss was the first for SJ-O in Illini Prairie Conference games.

SJ-O led 22-21 at halftime and didn’t relinquish the lead until the final two minutes of the third quarter when BCC shot into a 31-30 lead.

Payton Cain scored 16 points to lead the Spartans. Ty Pence chipped in with 14 points to go with 11 rebounds. Chance Izard added 13 points and two assists.

Cain finished with six rebounds and three steals.

SJ-O (21-8) returns to action on Tuesday in the 6 p.m. Class 2A regional tournament game against Westville on the Spartans’ court.

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Neither of the Spartans’ state-qualifiers was ranked (by IWCOA.net) among the top six for the IHSA Class 1A state tournament, which begins on Thursday at the UI State Farm Center.

At 113 pounds, A.J. Wagner (41-8) has more wins than any of the other 15 candidates in his weight class. In the first round, Wagner will take on fifth-ranked Michael DiBenedetto, from IC Catholic.

At 145 pounds, Isaiah Immke will start with Robinson’s Jeff Hermann. The winner will likely draw third-ranked Alex Carrillo, from Nazareth Academy, in the second round.

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