A pair of Princeton Logan Junior High School eighth-grade wrestlers - Hawk Amy and Eric Giaquinto - captured IESA State championships on Saturday at the Convocation Center on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

They were both excited to win together.

“Winning the State tournament with one of my best friends was amazing. We have worked hard together for a long time, and to be able to win it with him is something I will never forget,” Amy said. “I would like to thank all of my coaches for believing in me, especially my dad, who has been with me my whole journey. And seeing all of my closest friends cheering for me and Eric in the stands was pretty cool.”

Giaquinto said it was a moment he will never forget.

“Winning state in wrestling was one of the most exciting moments of my life. After months of hard practices, tough matches, and pushing through exhaustion, all the work finally paid off,” he said. “When the referee raised my hand, I felt an incredible rush of pride and happiness. Knowing that I had reached my goal and represented my team and school at the highest level made the victory even more meaningful.”

Amy won the 126-pound division, defeating Jax Alderin of Rockridge by tech fall at 3:16. He gave up only two points in four matches, opening with a 6-1 win over Luke Henson before defeating Anthony Feole of Fairview Heights Grant 7-0 and a fall at 3:26 over Alex Thompson of Rock Island Jordan Catholic.

Giaquinto landed the gold at 155 pounds by fall at 1:37 over Clayton Bush of Camp Point Central. He allowed just one point on the way to the title with a 13-0 major decision over Brantley Crumley of Petersburg PORTA, a fall at 0:46 over Manuel Rodriquez of Beardstown, and a fall at 0:56 over Zyler Pozos of Forrest Prairie Central in the semifinals.

PHS coach Steve Amy was proud of his future Tigers.

“Those two have worked really hard for a long time to get where they are at,” said. Steve Amy, a two-time IKWF State champion at Rockridge. “I’m proud of what they have accomplished and can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the future.”

Four years ago, Casey Etheridge (first) and Augustus Swanson (third) medaled together for Logan and went on to capture IHSA State runner-up finishes for PHS this year.

Other classes: Libby Endress (BV, jr.) 1,070, Caroline Morris (Hall, jr.) 522, Payton Brandt (PHS, so.) 510, Brynley Doty (BV, so.) 479, Brooke Helms (BV, so.) 386, Ava Delphi (Hall, jr.) 238, Hannah Heiberger (SB, fr.) 220; Danica Burden (PHS, jr.) 136; Hanna Waszkowiak (SB, so.) 118, Kiyrra Morris (PHS, jr.) 105, Parker McClain (SB, so.) 105

It was the Pumas’ second consecutive regional championship.

PC (17-6) will meet Kewanee Wethersfield for the sectional title at 6 p.m. Monday at Seneca.

The Pumas entered the regional tournament as the top seed, earning a first-round bye and advancing to the semifinal matchup against Ottawa Wallace (18-5). The Pumas came away with a two-set victory, winning 27–25, 25–18 to secure their spot in the championship match.

But she did. Big time.

When running mate Camryn Driscoll went down with a season-ending knee injury in early January, Davis took it upon herself to step up her game.

At the time of Driscoll’s injury, Davis was averaging 15.9 ppg with a 17.4% clip on 3-point shooting. In her next 13 games, Davis averaged 21.5 ppg and incredibly doubled her 3-point shooting to 34.6%.

She had 28 points in Princeton’s second full game without Driscoll in a win over Orion. She enjoyed eight games of 24 or more points, including an all-time PHS senior night record of 29 in a win over Marquette.

“It was hard at first, but I kind of adjusted not having (Driscoll) on the court as a valuable player, offensive scoring and defense. After a while we got used to not having her, but ... without her, it was hard,” Davis said.

Davis was a unanimous all-conference selection once again in the Three Rivers East and named special mention IBCA All-State. She led the area in scoring at 17.9 ppg and steals (4.5) while averaging 7.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

For all of her accomplishments, Davis is the 2025-26 BCR Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She was Co-Player of the Year in each of the last two seasons, last year with Driscoll.

Davis said receiving this award, “Means a lot to me. Shows how much hard work I put in, just not me, but for my teammates to help me get here to support me and my coaches and family to push me.”

“The thing I’m most proud of is the leader she was this season, especially when Camryn went down with the injury,” PHS coach Tiffany Gonigam said. “She understood what that meant and became the voice and heartbeat of our team. Her competitiveness and the way she inspired and motivated the team was admirable. She kept them believing in what we were doing and pushed them to overcome adversity in some tight games.

“Keighley leaves a legacy here that goes far beyond the stats and the records she set this year. The teammate, player and person she was this year will be remembered forever.”

Davis found herself with more responsibilities handling the ball with the loss of Driscoll, who is most adept at point guard.

“The year before I brought the ball up sometimes and had some guard experience. It was a lot more to take on, for sure,” she said.

“Hard knowing I have to be the feeder now. Like, I don’t have to run the floor anymore, which I was fine with. (It) was less running I had to do. It was good knowing some that I can rely on somebody else to, and I didn’t have to have all the pressure on me.”

She liked having the ball in her hands more ... until “I got doubled-teamed more,” she said with a laugh.

Davis, who made a living the last four years on fast-break layups, said she also knew she had to shoot better to give the Tigresses another outside threat.

“I started working on it more knowing that one of our big 3-point shooters was out and I needed to take it out on myself to score more and put more points on the board to help our team. Helps me knowing I can work anywhere on the floor,” she said.

Gonigam said Davis truly took her game to another level, becoming a “nightmare” for opponents.

“Teams now had to plan for a player who can truly do it all – shoot the 3, drive to the lane, post up,” Gonigam said. “Plus, she averages over three assists per game. She’s a great passer too and had kids around her that could make plays.

“She can do it all on both ends of the court.”

Davis said it just wasn’t the same playing without Driscoll the second half of the season. The Tigresses were 14-0 with Driscoll in the lineup and finished 7-9 without her.

“We played together since seventh grade, so we got used to each other and how our styles have grown together and how they’ve changed together,” she said. “Especially being on the same team, we’ve worked the same things, we’ve done the same things. We know what each other like to do and don’t do and how to work off each other.”

Davis, who will be playing soccer this spring, will turn to volleyball full-time at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

The proposal to start the IHSA softball season a week earlier was passed this season seemed a bit of a head-scratcher with traditional unseasonable climates traditionally throwing a curve ball at games in early March.

Nonetheless, all four Bureau County teams got their season under way with one game this week. Bureau Valley and Hall found away around Mother Nature by moving up their season-opener one day to Monday to avoid the severe storm forecast on Tuesday.

Hall has postponed its Saturday game with Marquette due to the cold and more rescheduled games will follow next week.

Princeton coach Jessica Strauch was pleased with the earlier start regardless if the Tigresses got a game in or not because “it gives us an extra week of practice.”

The St. Bede Bruins have been the area’s top softball program with two state trophies, including a state championship in 2023 and a third-place finish in 2019, six regional and two sectional titles in the last seven seasons.

The Bruins have all the makings of continuing that success on the diamond with three seniors - Lily Bosnich, Ava Balestri and Emma Slingsby - in their fourth year on the varsity players and a pair of three-year varsity players in Lili McClain and Jillian Pinter.

St. Bede coach Jim Ruppert calls Bosnich, their leadoff hitter, a ”one of a kind" player, who can bunt, she can hit for average, she can hit for power.” Last season she batted .472 with six home runs, four triples, 31 runs and 17 RBIs.

Jessica Strauch has taken over as the new head coach at Princeton, bringing in new enthusiasm to the program. She was an assistant coach at L-P, her alma mater, where she was a catcher, for eight years, and has extensive experience as a travel coach.

She inherits a PHS program that has 10 leading contributors from last year’s 15-12 team, implementing her own tweaks to make them better.

“We’re always going to change things, but for the better. And they’ve been adapting super well to the changes I’ve made,” Strauch said. “They’re like a bunch of sponges. They’re absorbing a lot of stuff.”

Bureau Valley coach Dave Shepard and Hall coach Ellie Herrmann were able to get a good look at their respective teams in Monday’s opener to see what they will need to work on for the rest of the season. The Storm won 4-0.

“I thought the girls played really well. Before the game, we talked, let’s see what we need to work on because we have a full week now before our next game,” Shepard said.

Herrmann said the Red Devils would be drilling hard in practice to work out the “silly errors” they had, but knows “we can play better than that.”

The Hall coach got to see freshman pitcher Maddie Krewer under fire for the first time and liked what she saw.

“She’s where we want her to be right now, and is only going to keep getting better,” Herrmann said.

There are several players in line as leading contenders for 2026 BCR Player of the Year honors, including:

Ava Balestri, St. Bede, sr. - A big bopper for the Bruins, Balestri batted .338 with six homers, nine doubles and 24 RBI.

Lily Bosnich, St. Bede, sr. - The Bruins leadoff hitter, who batted .472 last season, has speed (31 runs) and power (six home runs, four triples).

Izzy Gibson, Princeton, sr. - The fourth-year varsity player has plenty of pop, batting .447 with seven homers and 16 RBI. She had three hits in last year’s regional championship game.

Keely Lawson, Princeton, sr. - The senior infielder/outfielder is in her third season at PHS, batting .395 with four home runs and 15 RBI last season.

Avah Oertel, Princeton, jr. - The BCR reigning Player of the Year was the first Triple Crown winner in Bureau County since 2002, leading the area in average (.474) and RBIs (43) along with the 12 homers. She also went 4-4 with a 3.35 ERA in the circle.

Emily Wright, Bureau Valley, sr. - The Storm catcher in her fourth season, who will hit in the No. 3 hole in the BV lineup, batted .351 last year with 16 RBIs, nine doubles and a home run.

2026 - Keighley Davis, Princeton

2025 - Keighley Davis, Camryn Driscoll, Princeton

2024 - Ali Bosnich, St. Bede

2023 - Keighley Davis, Olivia Gartin, Princeton

2022 - Mckenzie Hecht, Princeton

2021 - Jaci Cinotte,Hall

2020 - Hannah Hart, Hall

2019 - Saige Barnett, Bureau Valley

2018 - Lexi Loftus, LaMoille/Ohio

2017 - Hunter Galassi, Hall

2016 - Hunter Galassi, Hall

2015 - Darcy Kepner, Heaven Bennett, Bureau Valley

2014 - Megan Foes, Annawan (Mineral)

2013 - Mo Dean, St. Bede

2012 - Jaclyn Kain, Hall; Jasmine Kunkel, PHS

2011 - Emily Considine, Hailee Brayton, St. Bede

2010 - Melanie Thompson, Bureau Valley

2009 - Sam Galas, Abby Toraason, St. Bede

2008 - Jen Andes, Hall

2007 - Brooke Jensen, Austyn Miller, Princeton

2006 - Kailey Klein, Hall

2005 - Kailey Klein, Hall

2004 - Kailey Klein, Hall

2003 - Kailey Klein, Hall; Nigel Geuther, LaMoille

2002 - Nigel Geuther, LaMoille

2001 - Karisa Dinges, St. Bede

2000 - Erin McGunnigal, St. Bede

1999 - Tiah Romagnoli, Princeton

1998 - Tiah Romagnoli, Princeton

1997 - Tiah Romagnoli, Princeton

1996 - Marissa Heath, Annawan

1995 - Andrea Blackert, Manlius/Tampico

1994 - Maria Lorenzi, St. Bede

1993 - Jolene Bair, Neponset

1992 - Jolene Bair, Neponset

1991 - Megan Lanham, Western; Tina Colgan, Bradford

1990 - Nicki Hansen, Manlius

1989 - Angel Jaggers, Manlius

1988 - JoAnn Thomson, Western

1987 - Angie Noble, Princeton

The dugout is all Smith’s this season as he succeeds Warren, who retired after 10 years as the Tigers head coach. Smith said the transition has been pretty smooth thanks to the help of varsity assistants Tony Brucker and Caleb Dickens and the JV staff of Brock Hansen, Brent Yepsen and Garrett Allen.

“We have great assistant coaches so that helps quite a bit,” Smith said. “They have helped create high energy practices with guys moving around all over the place, so it’s been a lot of fun in the early going.

“I thought our first week went really well. The guys are working hard and learning a lot.”

Senior Ryan Jagers said things are a little bit different this year under Smith to help their hitting and pitching.

“We have changed our practices a little bit and have been working on our speed and agility more this year,” he said. “We have been doing a lot more live hitting against our pitchers and not just the machine. We lost most of our team from last year, so we’ve got a lot of inexperienced guys this year, but I like the group we got this year. We all come ready to practice everyday and want to compete against each other.

“We have been putting in work these past couple weeks getting a little bit better everyday. We have a busy and tough schedule this year and we are all looking forward to the competition.”

The Tigers return seniors Tyler Forristall, Cayden Benavidez, Jagers and Stihl Brokaw, junior Braden Shaw and sophomore Jack Oester, all who have varsity experience.

The roster is rounded out by juniors Reed Jesse, Hunter Spiegel, Abram Longeville, Noah Morton, Hayden Sayler and Luke LaPorte.

“I’m really excited for the season. Obviously, we lost a lot of production from last year’s lineup, but we still have six guys with significant varsity experience coming back,” Smith said. “They will all need to play bigger roles than they have in the past, so hopefully they can take a big step this year. Overall, I’ve been really pleased so far with our guys’ approach to practice and the energy they’ve had.”

After the first week of practice, Smith said player positions are still being figured out with “most of our guys repping two or three different positions on any given day.”

The Tigers will need to replace the offense lost with the graduation of its top four bats from last year - Ace Christiansen (.434), Jordan Reinhardt (.419), Noah LaPorte (.382) and Nolan Kloepping (.361).

Another question in the Tiger camp is whether senior southpaw Forristall, a returning first team all-conference pitcher, will be able to pitch this season coming off a shoulder injury. He went 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 26 innings before being shut down last year.

While Smith said it’s too early to know who is going to take over as their top arms, he has plenty of options.

“We don’t know how much or if Tyler will be able to pitch at all this season,” Smith said. “Jagers and Shaw each saw some time on the mound last year, but we expect to get good innings out of Benavidez, Morton, Spiegel, Sayler, Oester and LaPorte, too.”

The Tigers will open the season on a three-game road stand starting on Thursday, March 19 at Sterling followed by trips to Dixon on Saturday, March 21 and Streator on Monday, March 23. They will play their home opener Thursday, March 26 against Rock Falls.

The secret will be out Thursday.

Steven Olson’s band has been selected to play during the Class 1A and 2A semifinal games on Thursday at the State Farm Center in Champaign. Olson submitted an audition video last year along with other bands from around the state.

The PHS band was originally selected to play at the state volleyball tournament last fall, then the IHSA moved its performance back to the boys’ basketball tournament to align with the recognition for the 1976 Tiskilwa band’s 50th anniversary on Thursday. The Tigers band planned to play the Tiskilwa Fight Song as they were introduced on the floor.

“This is a huge honor for the band and my students,” Olson said. “Pep band is just one element of our band program, but we take a lot of pride in the way that we perform as a pep band and in bringing the music and energy to games at PHS. We are very excited to bring the same enthusiasm to the schools participating in the IHSA state tournament.”

Olson said about 75 students will make the trip to perform. Due to the limited size of the U of I band section, the Tigers will split into two groups with half of the band playing at a time covering the four games.

The Princeton band planned to play the Tiskilwa Fight Song as they were introduced on the floor.

Kevin Howard played on Princeton’s 1994 Class A Sweet 16 team. Now he’s taking it a step further as an assistant coach for York.

York punched its ticket to the 4A State Final 4 by defeating St. Ignatius 58-56 in overtime in Monday’s Chicago Supersectional at UIC. It’s York’s first supersectional victory since 1982.

The Dukes (32-4) will face Marist (31-5) in Friday’s first 4A quarterfinal at 2:30 p.m. at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Howard, who was head coach at Princeton in 2018-19, is in his third season on the York staff. He said the Dukes are “really big and physical.”

Bureau Valley freshman Carson Gruber was named first team Lincoln Trail All-Conference.

Teammate Blake Foster was selected to the second team, while senior Logan Philhower and junior Carter Chhim received Special Mention.

St. Bede senior Gino Ferrari was named second team Tri-County All-Conference.

Payton Brandt, Princeton, so.

The 5-foot-10 center had a solid sophomore season in the post for the Tigresses, averaging 12.0 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. She earned Three Rivers East All-Conference first-team honors. This is Brandt’s first selection to the All-BCR first team.

Keighley Davis, Princeton, sr.

The BCR Player of the Year became the school’s all-time leading scorer, girls or boys, with 1,689 points. She led the area in scoring at 17.9 ppg and steals (4.5) while averaging 7.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Davis was an unanimous all-conference selection in the Three Rivers East and IBCA All-State special mention. Previously a co-Player of the Year twice, Davis is named to the All-BCR first team for the fourth time.

Camryn Driscoll, Princeton, sr.

The reigning BCR co-Player of the Year’s senior season ended abruptly with a knee injury on Jan. 8. Even still, she became Princeton’s seventh 1,000-point scorer, ranked No. 4 all-time in the program and 20th all-time in Bureau County with 1,203 points. She averaged 14.5 points and 4.9 rebounds and an-area best 3.5 assists. The Tigresses were 14-0 with her in the lineup and finished 7-9 without her. Driscoll, an unanimous all-conference pick as a junior, is named to the All-BCR First Team for the third time. She will continue her hoops career at Illinois Central College next season.

Libby Endress, Bureau Valley, jr.

Endress had a memorable junior season netting her 1,000th career point and setting the school single-season record for steals with 117. The unanimous Lincoln Trail All-Conference and IBCA All-State special mention selection was the top scorer for the Storm at 14.5 ppg while averaging 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.5 steals. She is ranked No. 5 all-time in scoring (1,070) for the BV girls and will take aim on Saige Barnett’s program record of 1,426 points. This is Endress’ second selection to the All-BCR first team.

Lili McClain, St. Bede, sr.

The senior sharp-shooter led the Bruins in scoring at 16.5 ppg, shooting 35% behind the arc with an area-best 79 3-pointers. She also led the Bruins in steals at 3.4 while chipping in 1.8 assists and 0.88 blocks per game. McClain is ranked No. 3 all-time in scoring for St. Bede and 25th for Bureau County girls with 1,143 career points. The Tri-County All-Conference second-team pick was named All-BCR first team for the second time.

SECOND TEAM

Jillian Anderson, Amboy-Ohio, sr.

The senior from Ohio was a two-year starter for the Clippers co-op. She led the Clippers in rebounding (9.0) and assists (2.8) while averaging 7.9 ppg. She was named to the All-NUIC second team.

Savannah Bray, St. Bede, sr.

The senior center was a formidable force inside for the Bruins, averaging 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She was named to the Tri-County All-Conference second team.

Brynley Doty, Bureau Valley, so.

The Storm sophomore heads up the BCR second team as a Lincoln Trail All-Conference first-team selection. Doty had eight double-doubles, leading the Storm in rebounding (7.7) and blocked shots (0.64) while averaging 11.5 ppg.

Caroline Morris, Hall, jr.

The junior post was the Red Devils’ leading scorer at 9.4 ppg while pulling down 5.4 boards per game. She earned All-Conference honorable mention in the Three Rivers East.

Charlie Pellegrini, Hall, sr.

The senior point guard was the glue to the Red Devils’ offense, averaging 9.0 points and 2.0 assists per game while making a team-high 41 3-pointers. She was named to the Three Rivers East All-Conference second team.

THIRD TEAM

Ava Balestri, St. Bede, sr.

The senior post gave the Bruins a strong inside presence, averaging 6.3 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.

Danika Burden, Princeton, jr.

The Malden product averaged 4.3 points and a 4.4 rebounds a game from her forward position for the Tigresses.

Brooke Helms, Bureau Valley, so.

The sophomore point guard dished out 3.4 assists while averaging 5.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals with a team-high 47 3-pointers. She was named Lincoln Trail All-Conference special mention.

Emily Wright, Bureau Valley, sr.

The senior forward set a school record with 58% field goal shooting. She averaged 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds, earning Lincoln Trail All-Conference second-team honors.

Natalia Zamora, Hall, sr.

The senior forward pulled down an area-best 9.4 rebounds a game. She also chipped in 5.8 points and 2.4 steals per game and was named Three Rivers East All-Conference honorable mention.

Kadyn Haage (BV, sr.), Abby Jamison (BV, sr.), Ashlyn Maupin (BV, sr.), Kiyrra Morris (Princeton, jr.), Emma Mussche (BV, sr.), Isabelle Orozco (Hall, sr.), Riley Rauh (Princeton, sr.), Maddie Wetzell (BV, sr.)

Hall senior standout Braden Curran has made his pitch to play baseball for Augustana College next year. Curran, who is a returning first-team all-BCR and all-Three Rivers East selection, said Augustana crossed off all of the check marks he had.

“It’s a very beautiful campus. A very smart school. So it’s somewhere where I can learn and better myself academically and with sports,” he said. “They have a good baseball team. I know some of the guys who play there. That makes it easier. It’s not far from home, it’s comfortable place for sure.”

St. Bede senior Savannah Bray will stay close home to play basketball on the Hilltop for IVCC. Bray, a second-team All-BCR selection, had her signing recently, attended by family, teammates and coaches.

Another St. Bede senior, Maddy Fabish, will continue her bowling career with Columbia College of Missouri. She had her signing recently at the Illinois Valley Bowl accompanied by her Jason and Jen Fabish, St. Bede coaches Eric Acuncius and Buck Emmerling and Columbia coach Damon Helgevold.

Coach: Lori Stenstrom

Last year’s record: 25-4, 12-2 Tri-County, sectional champion

Top returners: Rachel Eckert, sr.; Brooklynn Thompson, sr.; Harper Schrock, sr.; Brynna Anderson, jr.; Bella Williams, so.; Emma Kay Gaspardo, so.; Addy Robbins, so.

Key newcomers: Alaina Sprague, fr.

Worth noting: The Mallards lost a strong senior class from last year’s team that won 25 games and the program’s first sectional title, but Henry also returns several key players from that team. “Getting to the supersectional last year motivated the team,” Stenstrom said. “Our team goal is to win the regional and get as deep into the postseason as possible.” Eckert and Williams will take over the pitching duties with the graduation of NewsTribune Softball Player of the Year Lauren Harbison. Eckert pitched 19 innings last season with a 2.21 ERA. “We don’t have a ton of game experience pitching,” Stenstrom said. “If we can hit our spots, we should be OK.” Defensively, the Mallards have options. Robbins, Gaspardo and Thompson can all catch. Schrock and Keira Zack will play first base, Anderson and Williams will see time at second, Thompson, Gaspardo and Zack can play third, Gaspardo, Robbins and Sprague will play shortstop, and Sprague, Williams, Lana Stanmar, Faith Arrington and Allison Real will see time in the outfield. “Our defense looks solid,” Stenstrom said. “We have a lot of players who can play multiple positions, so changing up the lineup shouldn’t hurt us.” Offensively, Anderson returns after hitting .386 with 20 RBIs and 20 runs. Thompson hit .295 with 16 RBIs last year. “We have some players whose swings are looking great,” Stenstrom said. “We will look for our seniors to improve their hitting and for Brynna Anderson to continue where she left off last season.”

Coach: Joel Perez

Last year’s record: 2-19, 0-10 Three Rivers East

Top returners: Addison Perryman, jr.; Leah Henkel, so.; Karson Doyle, so.; Sydney Tolley, jr.; Emily Diaz, jr.; Karissa Freeman, so.; Charlie Dankenbrig, so.; Alexis Nave, so.

Key newcomers: Eva Beetz, fr.; Lexie Saylor, fr.; Laurali Thompson, fr.; Averie Hazelwood, fr.; Ava Mahaffey, fr.

Worth noting: The Trojans have limited numbers with only 20 in the program and they are young with just one senior and three juniors. “We have a young team that has been working hard on getting better,” Perez said. “Our strengths will start showing down the road. Right now, they’re putting in the time.” Perez said the Trojans have shown offensive potential during early practices. He expects Perryman (.457 batting average, 10 R, 11 RBIs), Henkel (.403, 14 R, 10 RBIs) and Doyle (.273, 10 R, 14 RBIs) to lead the way at the plate. “If what we see in the cages translates to the diamond, we have something to be excited about,” Perez said. “We expect that our top hitters from last year will be some of our top hitters this year. We have seen some good things in the cages from some of our other players as well.” Freshmen Saylor and Beetz will do the bulk of the pitching, but the Trojans have four other players who could see time in the circle. Perez said the Trojans have put a lot of time into their defense as they look to improve on last year’s record. “Our goals are to be competitive, earn 10 wins, make less than two errors per game and get better each game,” Perez said.

Coach: Jessica Strauch

Last year’s record: 15-12, 8-2 Three Rivers East

Top returners: Avah Oertel, jr.; Keely Lawson, sr.; Izzy Gibson, sr.; Caroline Keutzer, sr.; Makayla Hecht, sr.; Sylvie Rutledge, sr.; Kiyrra Morris, jr.; Reese Reviglio, sr.; Piper Hansen, so.; Addi Perry, so.

Worth noting: Strauch inherits a roster with 10 players returning who saw significant time last season, led by Oertel, Gibson, Keutzer and Lawson, who were all NewsTribune All-Area players last spring. Oertel should once again be a force offensively after hitting .474 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs as a sophomore. Gibson (.447, 7 HR, 16 RBIs), Keutzer (.391, 28 R) and Lawson (.395, 4 HR, 10 2B) also will be key contributors along with Hecht, Rutledge and Morris. “They’re a very athletic group, lots of talent,” Strauch said. “All of the seniors are doing a job of teaching the younger girls. They definitely don’t take it easy on them. They hold them accountable.” Oertel (4-4, 3.35 ERA), Reviglio (4-7, 4.24) and Hansen (7-1, 4.23) will once again split the pitching duties. With a powerful offense and several pitching options, the Tigresses look to have a successful season. “We want to stay in season until June 6 [for state],” Strauch said. “That’s our goal. Every game we can learn something different. Every game is going to be a challenge.”

Coach: Dave Shepard

Last year’s record: 17-19, 9-11 Lincoln Trail

Top returners: Emily Wright, sr.; Kadyn Haage, sr.; Mallory Maubach, jr.

Key newcomers: Ali Carrington, so.; Danicka Benavidez, so.; Remie Marshall, so.

Worth noting: The Storm won a regional championship in Class 2A in 2024 but fell short last season. This spring, Bureau Valley has dropped down to 1A. “Being 1A will bring challenges that hopefully we can be successful at and have a good postseason,” Shepard said. The Storm returns three key players from last season in Wright (.351, 16 RBIs) at catcher, Haage (.393, 26 RBIs) at shortstop and Maubach (5-5, 2.40 ERA) at pitcher. Maubach will take over as the Storm’s No. 1 pitcher after throwing 58⅓ innings last year. “I have seven seniors this year, so hoping that the leadership will help us through the season,” Shepard said. Other seniors are center fielder Abby Jamison, first baseman Kloey Trujillo, outfielders Lila Spencer and Addie Crawford and utility player Katrina Wahl. Carrington will play third base, Benavidez will play second and Marshall will play left field.

Coach: Shannon Cook

Last year’s record: 11-9, 5-5 Little Ten

Top returners: Addie Scherer, jr.; Audrey Scherer, so.; Bailey Miller, sr.; Shelby Garbacz, sr.; Savannah Majestic, so.; Riley Kelly, so.; Hailey Mathesius, so.; Samantha Knauf, so.

Key newcomers: Savana Lawton, so.

Worth noting: The Red Raiders have a strong core of veteran players to lead the way in all-conference players, Addie Scherer (.655 batting average, 20 RBIs, 9-9, 2.30 ERA) and Audrey Scherer (.492, 30 RBIs, 20 R), along with Miller (29 runs) and Garbacz. “The starters have been starting since their freshman year, so experience is a strength,” Cook said. The Scherers and Miller will lead the Red Raiders at the plate, while Addie Scherer and Kelly will share pitching duties. Defensively, Audrey Scherer will be behind the plate, Miller will play shortstop, Garbacz can play first base and outfield, Lawton will play third and Majestic, Mathesius and Knauf will see time in the outfield. Cook said the Red Raiders hope to be competitive in the LTC.”

Coach: Elizabeth Kay

Last year’s record: 0-18, 0-11 Heart of Illinois

Top returners: TeriLynn Timmerman, jr.; Emry Conroy, sr.

Worth noting: The Knights have a young roster, as Conroy is the only senior. Timmerman was a standout last year, hitting .658 with eight doubles, four triples, two home runs and 15 runs. “We have strong leadership from our upperclassmen and great team chemistry,” Kay said. “We are a young team that will improve through game experience.”

While the Storm lost a strong senior core, ninth-year Storm skipper Ryan Schisler believes the Storm have the makeup with seniors Logan Philhower (IF/P) and Tyce Barkman (C/OF) and juniors Drake Taylor (IF/P) and Blake Foster (IF/P) for continued success.

“We graduated a great group last year that is certainly tough to replace, but we have a really strong crop of juniors that have played a lot of baseball together over the years,” Schisler said. “I think if we can get them up to speed at the varsity level, and playing as a unit, we will have a great chance to be successful.

“Our four returners all played really critical roles for us last year, so we will need for them to lead the way in showing what confidence and discipline on and off the field look like, and have confidence that they will be able to do that.”

Philhower and Taylor believe the Storm can pick up where they left off last year.

“I think we can keep the program going. We have a bunch of young guys coming in that can definitely be a big part of our program,” Philhower said. “I think we will continue to get better each and every day, and I am really excited to see how we compete going into the season.”

“Last season was fun, it was great. We had all 11 guys on the same page no matter what was going on. The chemistry on that team was incredible,” Taylor said. “This year we are going to have to have a lot of discipline and pride to have another season like that. We lost a lot of experience. The returning guys need to step up and show our teammates how to win at the varsity level.”

Philhower is coming off a season of All-State recognition. He set the school record for ERA (1.58) and tied the record for wins (8-3) while striking out 103 batters in 53 1/3 innings. He also carried a team-high .369 average with 31 RBIs, 35 runs, five doubles, a homer and 11 steals.

Taylor set a school record with 34 RBIs last spring, batting .362 with five doubles, two triples and a homer.

Philhower and Taylor, along with Foster (.326, 10 doubles, 20 RBIs), all earned first team Lincoln Trail All-Conference honors in the West Division.

Juniors being counted on to step up this spring are Tyler Donnelly (OF), Dylan Howlett (OF/C), Aiden Litherland (IF/P), Brody Lewis (IF/P), Dakarai Martin (OF), Reid Maynard (IF) and Ashten Salzmann (IF).

“Our junior group has some guys recovering from injuries that sapped part of their year last year or will bleed into this year, so we are hoping to get them all healthy and rolling by mid-April,” Schisler said.

Schisler is also happy to add senior Brandon Carrington, who is new to the program, “but we know is a great athlete, so we will coach him up.”

The Storm’s first game is scheduled for Tuesday at Rock Falls.

Easton Olson (INT 84) was first at the Rock Island Sectional, Rayelynn Hartmann (NOV 68) and Gabriella Hollars (SEN 110) were second, Scotlynn Hartmann (BAN 43), Kyra Gibson (NOV 74), Layla Rucinski (INT 115), Kaya Olson (SEN 120) placed third and Anastasia Rucinski (NOV 125) was fourth.

Scotlynn Hartmann, Kaya Olson and Hollars qualified for the first time.

The IKWF State Tournament will be held Friday and Saturday in Peoria.

The Rams used a first-place finish in girls basketball and a tie for second in boys basketball in the Three Rivers West to stretch its lead from two points to four.

Riverdale, which also had first-place finishes in boys golf and girls volleyball in the fall, has 53 overall points with Sherrard standing second at 49.

Rounding out the top five through the winter season are Erie-Prophetstown (46), Princeton (45) and Newman (41.5), which came on strong with TRAC East titles in boys and girls basketball and tying for first in wrestling.

Riverdale won its first Three Rivers All-Sports Championship in 2023-24.

Each school is awarded points for its sports finishes based on the number of teams in that sport. Most sports are split by divisions, rewarding a first-place finish with six points, a second-place finish with five points, etc.

There are 14 athletic sports recognized in the conference, with the addition of boys soccer in 2023-24. .

This is the eighth year of the BCR Three Rivers All-Sports Race, recognizing the overall champions in athletics. Non-sports activities are not included.

Rockridge won the first championship in 2015-16, followed by a two-year run by Newman (2016-17, 2017-18) and Orion in 2018-19.

Sherrard heads the honor roll with three titles in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2024-25, with Riverdale sneaking in for 2023-24.

There were no Three Rivers All-Sports titles awarded in 2019-20 and 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2025-26 All-Sports Standings:

Three Rivers All-Sports Honor Roll

2025-26 - Riverdale

2024-25 - Sherrard

2023-24 - Riverdale

2022-23 - Sherrard

2021-22 - Sherrard

2020-21 - Not held because of COVID-19 pandemic

2019-20 - Not held because of COVID-19 pandemic

2018-19 - Orion

2017-18 - Newman

2016-17 - Newman

2015-16 - Rockridge

The Indians were not the first Tiskilwa group to play at state, however.

In 1976, the Tiskilwa pep band under the direction of Jim Jones was selected as the first high school band to play at the state tournament. The Tiskilwa band was chosen over 60 other schools who auditioned for the honor.

Dressed in formal attire, the 34 members of the award-winning Tiskilwa band came equipped with a 36-song list that included fan favorites like “Proud Mary” as they serenaded fans throughout Friday’s quarterfinal games.

The IHSA is getting the old band back together. Members of that Tiskilwa band will make an encore this week to mark its 50th anniversary of its record-making performance. Twenty-four of the 32 living band members are expected to be in attendance this Thursday in Champaign, which will be 50 years to the day of their state performance.

In addition, the band from Princeton High School, which took in Tiskilwa students in 1996 when it dissolved, will commemorate the anniversary by playing at the state tournament on Thursday.

Jones joked that he “doesn’t know how they did this, and I don’t want to know,” but is thrilled that the Princeton band is playing that day.

“Princeton is doing the actual work, because that’s their age. And our age is to say, ‘Atta boy,’ ” he said.

The Tiskilwa band members will be recognized at halftime of the first 2A semifinal Thursday, approximately at 3:15 p.m. Jones thanked Larry Magnuson of the Tiskilwa Museum for proposing the band’s 50th anniversary celebration to the IHSA.

Phil Kaufmann, who played the clarinet for the Tiskilwa band, said it will be fun to return to state and reminisce.

“At the time, I don’t recall that this was a first time event to have a band there. But leave it to Mr. Jones, who said, ‘Wait a minute, music’s got to be recognized at the state level, too,’ ” he said.

After playing in the tiny Tiskilwa gym, Kaufman remembers how enormous Assembly Hall was.

“I remember walking in there and thinking, ‘Wow, this is a pretty big room. I think I can play as loud as I want. Nobody’s going to complain,’ ” he said. “We could kind of rock the rafters (at Tiskilwa), but the rafters were pretty high down there.”

Kaufmann said part of the reason he wants to go to Champaign is to express appreciation for the music department they had at Tiskilwa.

“Mr. Jones and Mrs. Hamilton worked to make opportunities for us to experience things not everybody got to do in high school,” he said.

Tiskilwa had an enrollment of 166 students in 1976, of which a little more than 20% participated in band.

Other members of the 1976 Tiskilwa band were Curtis Albrecht, Barbara Ary, Sally Ary, Laura Baldwin, David Bitting, Kim Brokaw, Cathy Cain, Sharon Cooper, Chris Cotter, John Cotter, Joe Jamison, Julie Jamison, Monica Jamison, Brian Johnson, Paul Kaufmann, Phyllis Kaufmann, Don Longman, Laurie Miller, Rex Ringenberg, Laurie Rossman, Michelle Rossman, Mark Schultz, Sherrie Sendelbach, Sandra Shepard, Mark Shull, Jennifer Smith, Julie Smith, Sally Snow, Abby Stacker, Muriel Walters, Cindy Walton, Rhonda Workman and David Yepsen.

Jones said that state performance put a lot of pressure on the Tiskilwa band to live up to its reputation.

“It brought a tremendous amount of publicity and good to the school and community,” he said. “Quite frankly, it put some burden on the band’s shoulders to keep the quality of performance progressing and the concerts and performance that the audiences like. We just felt like we had to keep it going.”

As a result of the Tiskilwa band’s commitment to excellence, it won the right to play at state again in 1978 and 1984 (the girls tournament).

Band was introduced at Tiskilwa in 1934 by Fred Weber, a nationally known composer and publisher. The Tiskilwa band won first at the State Music Contest for the two years leading into their 1976 state performance.

Jones, who came to Tiskilwa after graduating from Illinois State University in 1968, was a member of the University of Illinois Rose Bowl band in 1964.

“I was lucky enough to get a job in Tiskilwa that had a long, long history and appreciation of music. And it continues to this day now at Princeton,” he said.

The Lions grapplers advanced to this weekend’s state wrestling tournament at NIU’s Convocation Center in DeKalb on Friday and Saturday.

Princeton girls qualify for IWCOA state

Princeton High Schoo’s Rylee Backes, Jadeyn Klingenberg and Ava Wunderlich have qualified for the IWCOA Girls State Wrestling Tournament in Springfield on Saturday and Sunday.

And she was good Monday.

The junior hurler tossed a three-hit shutout, pitching the Storm to a 4-0 win over Hall in the 2026 season opener in Manlius.

Maubach knows the Storm will be counting on her heavily this season and she’s up for the challenge.

“Makes me push harder,” she said.

Maubach said having senior catcher Emily Wright makes her job easier.

“I love her. She’s so amazing. She’s just very genuine and I have a lot of confidence in her,” she said. “Knowing that Emily has my back made me comfortable and also knowing my team had my back.”

The Storm gave Maubach all the runs she needed in the third inning, scoring three runs on three hits.

Wright led off with a double against Hall pitcher Maddie Krewer, advancing to third on an error. She scored on RBI grounder by Kloey Trujillo. Abby Jamison reached on an infield single and swiped second, scoring on a double by Danicka Benavidez to center. Benavidez raced home on wild pitch to make it 3-0.

In the fifth, Wright started another Storm rally with a leadoff walk. Trujillo reached the hard way on a hit by pitch. Benavidez followed with a one-hit infield hit and Maubach brought Wright home on a fielder’s choice to make it 4-0.

Benavidez led the Storm at the plate with a 3 for 3 game and two RBIs. Wright added two hits.

Krewer took the loss for Hall, allowing seven hits and five walks with eight strikeouts.

Maubach threw three no-hit innings before Caroline Morris’ pop up single that fell untouched just out of the circle. Maubach wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning, finishing with three strikeouts with no walks.

“We are going to depend on her as our anchor on the mound. She’s been waiting and wanting this since her freshman year,” BV coach Dave Shepard said.

Shepard said it was a nice way to start the season, coming a week earlier with the IHSA’s early start this spring.

“As a coach, you’re always thinking when are you going to get that first win and you hope it’s right off the bat,” he said. “I thought the girls played really well. Before the game, we talked, let’s see what we need to work on because we have a full week now before our next game.

“Hall’s a much more competitive team. We’ll get to see them once or twice more.”

Hall coach Ellie Herrmann said it proved to be a typical first game.

“We should’ve been putting balls in play left and right tonight, and we just weren’t ready at the plate,” she said. “There are a lot of things we’ll be drilling hard on for the rest of this week’s practices. We can’t have the silly errors we had. We can’t expect to win games playing like that, but the good news is I know we can play better than that. We’ll need to move on from that and work out those kinks.”

She was quite pleased with her three freshmen starters - Krewer, catcher Bernie Larson and second baseman Aubrie Pellegrini.

“For the most part, Maddie made all of her pitch calls. She’s where we want her to be right now, and is only going to keep getting better,” Herrmann said. “Her partner in crime, Bernie, played tough behind the plate, caught a girl stealing. They’re a really fun pitcher/catcher duo.

“Aubrie made some good plays at second base and had a beautiful base hit up the middle. Those were all the highlights of our game, and the freshmen should be proud and excited about how they performed.”

Shepard was pleased to be able to get 12 different girls at-bats, including his three freshmen.

“They’re (the freshmen) going to play game time roles. Keeping everybody involved is going to be our key to success,” he said. “Just keeping everybody wanting to play. Wanting to show up for practice. Wanting to get better. Rather than worrying necessarily about the best players. We have to worry about every player because we only have 16.”

The Storm will have eight days between games, playing next on Tuesday, March 17 at Rock Falls.

BV coach Dave Shepard is trying to put the pieces together to get the Storm back on top this spring.

“I have seven seniors this year so hoping that the leadership will help us through the season,” Shepard said.

Senior catcher Emily Wright thinks this season will be a building season for future success.

“Our goal is always to hang a banner. To do that we will need to be ready every game no matter the competition. Never letting up and trusting each other will be key,” she said. “I’m excited to see how far our team will go this year. We want to be remembered, and I don’t think we will have a problem doing that.”

Wright is one three key returning players from last year’s 17-19 campaign to help get them there along with classmate Kadyn Haage and junior Mallory Maubach.

Haage, a steady shortstop, batted .393 with 26 RBIs and seven doubles last year.

Wright returns behind the plate as catcher for the fourth season and will bat in the important No. 3 hole in the lineup. The Coe College signee batted .351 last year with 16 RBIs, nine doubles and a home run.

Maubach split pitching duties last season with Carly Reglin, going 5-5 in the circle with a 2.40 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 58⅓ innings. She will assume the No. 1 this season with Reglin’s graduation.

“Mallory will be our number one on the mound and she has been patiently waiting for this opportunity,” Shepard said.

Wright is looking forward to catching Maubach more this spring.

“Having Mallory on the mound will also be a big component for us. She’s gotten a lot stronger and I’m excited to see how well she does this year,” Wright said. “Obviously we will need to back her up with fielding, but I’m not worried. We have a lot of returning players that can back our pitchers up. There will always be errors made in the field, that’s the game of softball, but it’s how well we bounce back.”

Other senior leaders will be center fielder Abby Jamison and first baseman Kloey Trujillo, joined by classmates Lila Spencer (OF), Addie Crawford (OF) and Katrina Wahl (DP/U).

Junior Maggie Besler will round out the outfield and has been waiting for this opportunity, Shepard said.

Shepard said sophomores Ali Carrington (3B), Danicka Benavidez (2B) and Remie Marshall (LF) will play important roles and their “speed and ability on defense and offense will be important to our success.”

Junior Tatiana Longmire will get some innings in the circle while freshmen Gabby Trujillo (OF), Avery Bopes (OF) and Linden Ferrell (C) will be put in supporting roles which will lead into more responsibilities, Shepard said.

“We open with Hall (4-0 win Monday) so hopefully we can play a clean game and see what things we need to work on to get better,” Shepard said.

After playing in Class 2A since the inception of the four-class system in 2008, Bureau Valley will drop to 1A for the postseason this spring.

“Being 1A will bring challenges that hopefully we can be successful at and have a good postseason,” Shepard said.

Wright said new assistant coach Darcy Kepner, a former Storm standout, has had a big impact on the team as they prepare for the season.

“We have been working hard these past few weeks at practice. We are going to need to rely on our base running a lot this year, being smart on the bases will win us games,” Wright said.

Which coach has the most wins at the varsity level for Princeton?

Andy Puck retired after 24 seasons as the winningest volleyball coach with 516 wins. He stands No. 2 with the most wins of any coach all-time in any sport at the varsity level in school history, second only to longtime cross country coach Pat Hodge, who has headed the girls program since 1987 and the boys since 1994.

I did some research on PHS athletics coaches over the decades with a look at who heads the list for the most wins at the varsity level. There are no records available for track or tennis nor complete records for golf, girls soccer and wrestling.

Of coaches of note, Rita Placek won 11 regionals, nine sectionals and a state championship in volleyball, Puck won nine regional championships and two sectionals in volleyball, John Smith won five regionals in girls basketball, David Gray has won four regionals in boys soccer and one in girls soccer, Jason Smith has won four regionals in boys basketball, Jesse Brandt won four regionals in boys basketball, Randy Swinford won four regionals in wrestling with a state runner-up finish in football, Roger Lowe won regionals in both girls golf (2) and boys basketball (1) and Ryan Pearson has won 12 playoff games in football.

Here’s a rundown of the Tigers’ winningest varsity coaches:

1935 - Peoria Central 36, DePue 24

1936 - Fulton 41, Princeton 29

1941 - Streator 34, Hall 32

1944 - Marseilles 37, St. Bede 35

1950 - Kewanee 57, DePue 50

1951 - Odell St. Paul 57, DePue 53

1952 - Ottawa 59, DePue 53 (Little Giants turned back in third straight finals appearance)

1954 - Princeton 54, Ottawa 46 (Tigers become first Bureau County team to reach state, then the Sweet 16; Joe Ruklick had 20 points, Fred Boher 16, Lew Flinn 13)

1955 - Princeton 48, Streator 37 (Dick Hult had 19 points, Flinn 11 as Tigers return to state, placing 4th)

1958 - Ottawa 70, Tiskilwa 65 (Chuck Sash leads Indians with 28 points)

1973 - Toluca 62, St. Bede 58-Class A

1974 - Hall 55, Wethersfield 49-Class A (Red Devils win first sectional, Steve Hochstatter scores 16 points, Tom Jaskowiak 12, Rollie Himes 12. Bob Jiles’ Red Devils did not play a single home game that season as Red Devil Gymnasium was under construction)

1975 - Western 51, Wenona 50-Class A (Chips Giovanine’s undefeated Rams go on to state, Bobby Sprowls has 21 points)

1976 - Western 62, Roanoke-Benson 61-Class A (Rams return to state undefeated, Kevin Anglin scores 16 points, Ron Nielson 12)

1980 - DePue 68, Wethersfield 67-Class A (Eric Bryant’s Little Giants win first and only sectional at Princeton; Rick Resetich scores 34 points)

1983 - Tiskilwa 62, Mendota 61-Class A (Bob Prusator’s Indians win first sectional and would advance to state; Bill Moretz has 20 points, Tom Schertz 17)

1985 - Ohio 81, St. Bede 60-Class A (Bulldogs win first sectional behind its “Thunder (Brad Bickett 26) and Lightning” duo (Lance Harris 27); Bruins had stunned state-ranked Princeton in regional finals)

1986 - Ohio 61, Newark 59-Class A (Lloyd Johnson’s Bulldogs repeat as sectional champions and would go on to place 2nd at state; Harris nets 24 points, Bickett 23)

1988 - Sandwich 75, Hall 49-Class A

1989 - Mendota 85, DePue 69 (Tom Dobrich’s Little Giants)

1991 - Hall 78, Yorkville 60-Class A (Red Devils reign on their home floor)

1992 - Princeton 54, Mendota 53-Class A (Jeff Ohlson sinks game-winning free throw to give Roger Lowe’s Tigers first sectional title for PHS in 37 years; Matt McDonald nets 26 points)

1994 - Princeton 60, Stark County 58-Class A (Dan Marquis stole the ball back each time after missing three free throws to preserve Bruce Placek’s Tigers’ sectional title on their home court)

1995 - Yorkville 73, Princeton 70-Class A (Foxes win in third overtime on last-second 3-pointer on a deflected pass; Foxes also hit 3 at buzzer to send game into OT)

1997 - Hall 71, Indian Creek 48-Class A (Eric Bryant “Jr.” scores 22 points for his dad’s Devils who would go on to the state finals)

1998 - Hall 102, Bureau Valley 45-Class A (Hall keeps hustling atop the 1A rankings behind Class A Player of the Year Shawn Jeppson’s 22 points; Red Devils would finish as state runner-up again)

1999 - Plano 64, Hall 40-Class A (Reapers end Red Devils’ sectional run)

2000 - Bureau Valley 60, Winnebago 59-Class A (Brad Bickett’s Storm survive in overtime, led by Justin Yepsen’s 17 points)

2001 - Bureau Valley 59, Stillman Valley 48-Class A (Storm repeat as sectional champions at Somonauk, Reuben Slock has 21 points, 8 rebounds)

2002 - Bureau Valley 52, Princeton 41-Class A (The Storm rally at the Storm Cellar behind the late shooting of Phil Endress (16 points) to keep their sectional streak alive and go on to earn third straight third-place finish at State)

2003 - Princeton 63, Rockford Christian Life 32-Class A

2004 - Peoria Christian 68, Hall 65-Class A (Russ Witte takes Hall to finals in first year as coach)

2005 - Eureka 66, Bureau Valley 60-Class A (At Princeton)

2009 - Princeton 71, Manual 65-2A (Jesse Brandt’s Tigers shock former 4-time state champ at Chillicothe in one of PHS’ biggest wins in school history)

2010 - Winnebago 70, Princeton 54-2A

2019 - Bureau Valley 56, Newman 49-2A (Jason Marquis’ Storm overcome 18-10 deficit to overtake the Comets)

2023 - Rockridge 64, Princeton 46-2A (Rockets end Tigers’ season that saw them ranked No. 1 in state for most of season)

2024 - Byron 59, Princeton 43-2A

2025 - Rock Falls 49, Princeton 43-2A

At Orion

Tuesday: 3 Pecatonica 70, 1 Sterling Newman 66

Wednesday: 2 Lanark Eastland 49, 1 Dakota 33

Friday: Championship - 2 Lanark Eastland 48, 3 Pecatonica 41

At Amboy

Tuesday: 1 Marquette 54, 2 Hinckley-Big Rock 41

Wednesday: 1 Indian Creek 58, 2 Woodland 43

Friday: Championship - 1 Indian Creek 46, 1 Marquette 44

1A SUPERSECTIONALS

At Macomb

Monday: 2 Tremont (25-10) vs. 2 Lanark Eastland (32-4), 7 p.m.

At Joliet

Monday: 1 Indian Creek (27-6) vs. 3 Chicago Fenger/1 Chicago Marshall winner at Momence, 6 p.m.

2A SECTIONALS

At Mendota

Tuesday: 2 Rockford Lutheran 69, 4 Oregon 67 (OT)

Wednesday: 1 Johnsburg 51, 3 Aurora Christian 47

Friday: Championship - 1 Johnsburg 68, 2 Rockford Lutheran 50

At Chillicothe

Tuesday: 1 Peoria Manual 66, 2 Riverdale 42

2 Warsaw 71, 4 Farmington 41

Friday: Championship - 1 Peoria Manual 57, 2 Warsaw 41

2A SUPERSECTIONALS

At Sterling

Monday: 1 Johnsburg (24-11) vs. 1 Peoria Manual (21-9), 7 p.m.

3A SECTIONALS

At Ottawa

Tuesday: 1 Morton 69, 2 LaSalle-Peru 48

Wednesday: 1 Kankakee 59, 2 East Peoria 53

Friday: Championship - 1 Morton 61, 1 Kankakee 48

3A SUPERSECTIONALS

At DeKalb

Monday: 1 Morton (30-4) vs. 1 Kaneland (34-0), 6 p.m.

1A STATE

At Normal

Thursday: Mt. Pulaski 47, Brown County 40

Deer Creek-Mackinaw 48, Rockford Christian 35

Third place - Brown County 59, Rockford Christian 47

Saturday: Title - Mt. Pulaski (33-1) vs. Deer Creek-Mackinaw (33-3), 10 a.m.

2A STATE

At Normal

Thursday: Breese Central 48, Pleasant Plains 40

Byron 49, Elgin St. Edward 43

Third place - Pleasant Plains (30-2) vs. Elgin St. Edward, 8:15 p.m.

Saturday: Title - Breese Central (31-3) vs. Byron (33-2), noon

- Kevin Hieronymus

His dad, Spencer, and uncles Brian and Luke were standouts in high school at Manlius/Bureau Valley. Spencer went on to play at Augustana College, while Brian excelled in semipro football.

Drake Davis was a ball boy coming up through the Princeton Youth Football ranks. His football journey took him to Bureau Valley High School for three years when his dad became the Storm coach. He moved on to Naperville North as a senior before launching a seven-year collegiate career, including stops at the University of Illinois and in the Division II ranks at Northern Michigan University and Quincy University.

He’s also had an eye on coaching, starting with an internship while playing at Northern Michigan and last fall as the quarterbacks coach for Princeton High School, where his brothers Wyatt, Cael and Teegan previously played.

This week, Davis fulfilled a dream by landing his first head coaching job at Marquette Academy in Ottawa. He said he knew Marquette was the right place for him with all of its tradition.

“I like the way they aligned with their program. It felt like a great fit for me and was the right place for me,” Davis said. “[Being a head coach] is something I’ve always wanted to do. The seven years of playing experience and the one year of coaching doesn’t necessarily line up with everyone’s ideal head coaching candidacy, but my knowledge and experience can get me to that spot.

“With anything that you get hired in, it just takes that one person that is like, ‘yeah, this is our guy.’”

Davis, 26, who will teach at Marquette, succeeds Ken Carlson, who led the Crusaders to a 6-4 record and the program’s 13th consecutive playoff appearance in his only season as head coach. Carlson had been a longtime assistant in the program under Tom Jobst, who retired after the 2024 season.

Marquette principal Brooke Rick said in a statement that the academy is excited to name Drake Davis as its new head football coach.

“Coach Davis’ playing career at the Division I and Division II levels [has] established a high-level understanding of the game of football, and his strong work ethic and will to succeed will be pivotal in his contribution to the continued success of the Marquette football program,” Rick said.

“His coaching experience at the collegiate level at Northern Michigan University and with a very successful Princeton High School football program gives him a solid background to continue the success of the Marquette football program.”

Princeton coach Ryan Pearson was pleased for Davis, even though it means losing a quality assistant.

“It’s kind of bittersweet. We’re sad to lose Drake, but at the same time, we’re very supportive of his decision,” Pearson said. “He wanted to be head coach. He made it clear when he joined the staff last year he had aspirations of being a head coach, and I said I will be more than happy to help you.

“Just super happy for him. We’re going to be Ottawa Marquette fans next year, because we want to see him be successful.”

Davis said it’s good to have a football mind in his dad that he can turn to if needed.

“It’s good to have that in the family, because it’s somebody you can rely on and trust in when you’ve got tough things that need to be answered, and [who] knows some of the things not every head coach thinks about. But your dad’s done it and got the experience and most of times the answers for it,” he said.

In his final season at Quincy, 2024, Davis started at quarterback in all nine games for the Hawks. He passed for 1,693 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

In his high school career split between Bureau Valley and Naperville North, Davis totaled 9,878 yards with 7,686 passing yards and 2,192 rushing. He accounted for 108 touchdowns overall, including 77 passing, 28 rushing and three defensive scores.

He was a Three Rivers All-Conference player for Bureau Valley. As a senior at Naperville North, he was recognized as the DuPage Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year and named to the Class 8A All-State team.

Jessica Strauch is hoping it also runs longer.

The new Princeton coach is taking over a Tigresses squad featuring 10 returning contributors from a 15-12 campaign and a second-place 8-2 finish in the Three Rivers East. She has high hopes for an extended season.

“We want to stay in season until June 6,” Strauch said, with a nod to the IHSA State Finals. “That’s our goal. Every game we can learn something different. Every game is going to be a challenge.

“We kind of have it like a stepladder. Every game we’re one step closer to our goal.”

Two returning mainstays, junior infielder/pitcher Avah Oertel and senior infielder/outfielder Keely Lawson, said the Tigresses are off to a good start with their new coach.

“I love the energy and chemistry we already have together, and I hope we can continue that. If anything, it just goes to show we are a great team and we can go places if we really want to,” Oertel said.

“I’m really excited. We’ve got some newcomers that will be a great addition to our team. Got great chemistry right now. We’re just trying to roll off what we had last year and keep it going,” Lawson said. “I’m really hoping we can make it past sectionals this year. We’re strong. We just need to compete the way I know we can and we’ll be all right.”

Strauch, who was an assistant coach at La Salle-Peru, her alma mater, for eight years, is not making big changes how former PHS coach Jhavon Hayes, now hitting instructor at Illinois State University, ran the program, just a few tweaks here and there.

“We’re always going to change things, but for the better. And they’ve been adapting super well to the changes I’ve made. Things are a little bit different, but a good different,” Strauch said. “They’re like a bunch of sponges. They’re absorbing a lot of stuff.”

“She’s been really helpful. Not trying to change everything. We’re just building off our strengths already, and I think that’s a positive,” Lawson said.

The season is scheduled to start Friday, March 13 at Ottawa.

Oertel is the reigning BCR Player of the Year, the first BCR Triple Crown winner since 2002, leading the area in average (.474) and RBIs (43) along with the 12 homers. She now has 18 homers with two years left to chase the school career record of 25.

The Tigresses also look for big contributions from seniors Izzy Gibson (.447, 7 HR, 16 RBI), slap-hitter leadoff Caroline Keutzer (.391, 14 SB, 28 runs), Lawson (.395, 4, 15), Makayla Hecht (.241) and Sylvie Rutledge (.283) along with junior catcher Kiyrra Morris (.324, 13 RBI) and sophomore Addi Parry (.304).

Oertel and Lawson are two-time, first-team All-BCR selections, with Hecht named in 2024.

Strauch said the Tigresses will have a lot of consistency up and down their lineup with speed and power.

“They’re a very athletic group, lots of talent,” she said. “All of the seniors are doing a great job of teaching the younger girls. They definitely don’t take it easy on them. They hold them accountable.”

The pitching squad remains the same with a trio of arms – Oertel (4-4, 3.35) joined by senior Reese Reviglio (4-7, 4.24) and sophomore Piper Hansen (7-1, 4.23). Strauch said it’s just the right number of arms to have.

“In my previous coaching at L-P, we either had too many pitchers or not enough. And it’s really great to have three returning varsity pitchers,” Strauch said. “They all have their own little niche, their own greatnesses. We also started them early. We got them started in the offseason with a pitching routine working on reps, so by the time we start next week with all these rainout games getting made up they’ll be ready to go.”

There are 18 girls out this spring, with juniors Taylor Compton and Paityn Lucas rounding out the varsity, joined by sophomore Lexi Hahn and freshmen Collyns Etheridge, Kinzley Hansen, Ellie Longeville and Libby Sierens.

Strauch, an insurance agent for State Farm in Peru, is the 10th varsity coach in program history dating back to its inception in 1992.

First-place finishers for the Tigresses were Ruby Acker in the 3,200 (13:18:57), Annie Thompson in the pole vault (8-0), Josie Sierens in the high jump (4-9¾), RayyLee DePauw in the triple jump (31-2¾) and Makayla McCarty in the shot put (28-5½).

DePauw also claimed second in the 60 hurdles (10.83) and was third in the high jump (4-9¾) while Sierens took second in the long jump (13-9¾). Other second-place finishers were Jocelyn Strouss in the 800 (2:37.05), Alexandra Waca in the 3,200 (13:42.09) and Lenora Hopkins in the 400 (1:07.72).

“A nice overall performance by us,” PHS coach Pat Hodge said. “Most of our veterans were ahead of where they were last year at this time and we had some nice contributions from the freshman girls and others making their debuts for PHS girls track. It was nice to get six PHS meet bests along the way.”

At Wethersfield: No. 3 seed Bureau Valley lost to No. 2 Princeville 25-23, 11-25, 9-25 in Tuesday’s regional semifinals of the 2A Wethersfield seventh-grade regional.

They were joined on the first team by Newman seniors Garrett Matznick and George Jungerman, who were also chosen unanimously, Erie-Prophetstown senior Connor Keegan and Kewanee sophomore Chris Crowe.

Princeton senior Gavin Lanham and Mendota seniors Aden Tillman, Dane Doyle and Oliver Munoz were named to the second team.

Honorable mention honors went to Princeton sophomore Jack Oester, Hall junior Noah Plym and sophomore Chace Sterling and Mendota junior Drew Becker.

Augustus Swanson (113), Kane Dauber (138) Casey Etheridge (165) and Eli Berlin (190) were all named to the boys’ first team while Corbin Brown (132) received honorable mention honors.

For the girls, Abby Harris (115) and Avalena Wunderlich (170) were named first team all-conference and Rylee Backes (105) and Jadeyn Klingenberg (125) were named to the second team.

St. Bede girls earn all-TCC honors

St. Bede seniors Savannah Bray and Lili McClain were named to second team Tri-County Conference All-Conference.

Roanoke-Benson/Lowpoint-Washburn senior Brianna Harms was named as the TCC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Other unanimous selections were juniors Anna McGlasson of Midland, Graysen Provance of Seneca and Mikayla Chambers of Dwight with Kaitlyn Davis of Marquette rounding out the first team.

The concert will take place on Friday, March 13, at 1 p.m. at Bureau Valley High School provided by Cross Cultural Connections.

Guests are asked to park by the football field and enter the building on the east side. School staff will be on hand to welcome guests beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Farmer Jason’s highly acclaimed live show is full of sing-alongs, dancing and joyful participation. During the performance, he also leads kid-friendly discussions about nature appreciation, ecology, and farm animals.

Ringenberg, who is a 1977 Western High School graduate, said he is a “very proud son of Bureau County” and is excited to return home to perform.

“Playing here always has a special poignancy and meaning for me. Even though my music career has been based in Nashville since 1981, I still have deep connections with Bureau County, and often visit,” he said.

Performing solo with just his acoustic guitar, Farmer Jason brings a spontaneous, high-energy feel—no backing tracks, just real music and real fun. While the show is designed for children ages 2 to 8, everyone is invited to join in, and they always do.

Farmer Jason’s music is inspired by folk, country, and rock ’n’ roll, with a fun dash of DIY punk rock that keeps audiences smiling and moving.

Bureau Valley invites families and community members to grab a pitchfork — or your guitar — and climb aboard the tractor for an afternoon of music, movement, and community fun for this special hometown performance.

Ringenberg said his show is organized by John Taylor with Heartand Connections, which sponsors a lot of live music in the area. Donations can be made to Heartland Connections at https://heartlandconnections.com.

The longtime custodian/bus driver kept things lively in the hallways, the bus barn and on the bus.

For many of the students, his warm smile and laugh were the first things they saw and heard in the morning and the last before heading home in the afternoon.

Always thinking of others, Donovan took a turkey dinner to a family in need this past Christmas.

He was much beloved by one and all.

The Bureau Valley staff is fondly remembering Bernie, who passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the age of 67.

Superintendent Jason Stabler said Donovan will be missed greatly.

“He left a lasting mark on our school community, and we are better for having known him,” Stabler said. “Bernie was a true fixture in the Bureau Valley community. He genuinely loved our students and staff, and that was evident in the positive attitude he brought to his route and our buildings each and every day.”

Stabler said Donovan was the kind of person who did countless things for others without ever seeking recognition.

“He simply loved coming to work. He was the only person who ever gave me a hard time for calling a snow day because, as he put it, he was ‘stir crazy at home and needed to get to work,’ ” Stabler said. “To Bernie, he didn’t have to go to work — he got to go to work. He often told anyone who would listen how much he enjoyed his job."

BV Transportation Director Paul McMahon said Donovan’s unexpected death hit the staff and students hard at Bureau Valley.

“Everybody loved him. He was just so sincere and genuine,” he said. “He wanted to know how to help. Bernie served the community and the school. Just dedicated. He would come in at 4:30 in the morning on a negative 20 day to start school buses. Bernie said that way it’s warm when the driver gets here.”

“Everyone’s suffering that he’s not here anymore. He just reached the whole part of Bureau Valley. He was part of that heartbeat at Bureau Valley.”

Everyone at Bureau Valley has a “Bernie Story,” and frankly there’s too many to count. He always had one more “Bernie Story” to tell you.

He made the first pot of coffee for the bus barn every morning, a classic “First in, Last out guy.”

Co-workers knew you couldn’t stop him if he was on a mission, replying with his trademark, “I gotta go, I gotta go!”

He always checked into the bus radios in the morning with a loud “sounds good!”

He was the first person to call to provide help if someone had a flat tire or was stuck in the snow or if they needed their bus fueled up.

He always did a great job teaching the high school kids who came on for summer custodial help every year.

“He is not one that can be replaced,” BV Assistant Technology Coordinator Ryan Carlson said.

McMahon said there was no question who was going to win the bus barn’s MVP (Most Valuable Person) award at the office Christmas party every year.

“Everyone knew it was Bernie. You didn’t have a chance to beat Bernie,” he said.

McMahon had the unenviable task of taking over Donovan’s morning route the day after he passed. He found the bus ready to go just as Bernie left it.

“Bernie rarely ever missed. Finding someone who knew what Bernie did was tough. Just never had to sub for him,” he said. “So, I get up in the bus. It’s full of fuel, full of fluid. It’s swept out. There wasn’t anything on the floor. There’s no dirt. And the sub list was right there by my foot. The guy who never missed was ready for a day he missed.”

McMahon quickly found he had big shoes to fill. He said the first kid he picked up on the route was a little kindergartner, who asked, “Where’s Bernie?” He said others said that it wasn’t that they didn’t want to see him, but “it’s supposed to be Bernie’s bus. If you saw Bernie’s bus and you were in it, then it was kind of reality hitting.

“It was a terrible morning trying to get through it and trying to get the staff through it. It hit hard.”

Stabler opened the February school board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 25, asking for a moment of silence to honor Donovan.

They trailed Oregon the whole game, down 11 at the half and by 10 early in the fourth quarter. Then the Crusaders used a 10-0 run to force overtime, taking their first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter on the way to a 69-67 win in Tuesday’s 2A Mendota Sectional semifinal contest.

“We were down and out for three quarters,” Guse said. “They just showed a lot of guts.

“The defensive intensity is where we had to do it and try to turn the ball over. You know, third quarter we played super hard and get it down to four or five, and – bang – the next thing you know, they’re up 10 again. And then they bang in a 3 at the end of the third quarter. If that doesn’t go in, it’s only like a five- or six-point game, and it’s back to eight or nine, and you’re like, ‘Boy, all that work, and we only gained two points.’

“Numerous occasions, our guys could have quit. I’m proud of the grit they showed, and they found a way to pull it out.”

The Hawks, who won their first regional championship since 2006, bow out at 24-10. Oregon coach Jarrett Reynolds said there’s a lot to be proud of.

“Thing I’m going to hang my hat on, by wins this is the best Oregon team,” he said. “We said going into the year, we were going to set the standard this year, and I think we did. If you look at the crowd, it’s got a bunch of young faces, and these guys are someone to look up to.”

Benny Olalde beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer from the right corner to give the Hawks a 47-38 lead at the end of the third quarter. Nole Campos hit another 3-pointer from the opposite corner to give the Hawks a 50-40 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Mason Keller, who scored a game-high 23 points, started the Crusaders’ 10-0 charge with a drive. He sank a pair of free throws to draw Lutheran within 54-51, and after a putback by Zady Mumin, Keller danced around the baseline to put the Crusaders up for the first time of the night at 55-54 with 1:40 left in the fourth quarter.

Oregon missed 5 of 6 free throws in the final two minutes of regulation, but the one it made by Ethan Peeling with 1:24 remaining was enough to knot the game at 55 at the end of regulation.

Cooper Johnson made a step-back jumper for Oregon, but Lutheran’s Zach VanBlaricom answered with a 3-pointer to give the Crusaders a 58-57 lead they would not surrender.

Brayden Petrie converted a three-point play from the charity stripe to put the Crusaders up 63-59. Lutheran went on to make 7 of 9 free throws in overtime to hang on to victory.

“They did a good job speeding themselves in the second half and became more physical and caused some turnovers,” Reynolds said. “[Guse] is a good coach, has a game plan and his kids stuck to it. They got the ball to the right guys at the right time and hit free throws, and we didn’t.”

Tucker O’Brien paced four Hawks in double figures with 17 points, followed by Olalde with 16 and Cooper Johnson and Campos with 10 each.

Lutheran (19-15) advances to Friday’s sectional championship against the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Aurora Christian (20-7) and Johnsburg (22-11).

“It’s just one at a time, get ready for the next one,” Guse said. “These seniors are playing for their basketball lives. And it was a freshman (Evan Krull) who hit two big free throws late in the game that helped get a win, too.”

Oregon raced out to score the first nine points of the game, O’Brien and Johnson each scoring twice, with Johnson converting a three-point play off a steal and layup to make it 9-0.

Olalde converted a three-point play off a steal and layup, Oregon’s third time converting off a turnover to take a 15-9 lead at quarter’s end.

Keaton Salsbury scored on a drive and followed with a 3-pointer to put the Hawks ahead 22-12.

Keller hit a 3-pointer for Lutheran at the five-minute mark and followed with a scoring drive to cut the Oregon lead in half at 24-19. O’Brien knocked down a 3-pointer, and Peeling scored on a drive to push the Hawks’ lead back to double digits.

2025 - Casey Etheridge, Augustus Swanson

2025 - Casey Etheridge, PHS

2024 - Ace Christiansen, PHS

2023 - Augie Christiansen, PHS

2022 - Ace Christiansen, PHS

2021 - Matthew Harris, PHS

2020 - Matthew Harris, PHS

2019 - Chase Tatum, PHS

2018 - Chase Tatum, PHS

2017 - Austin Wetsel, PHS

2016 - John Barnes, St. Bede

2015 - John Barnes, St. Bede

2014 - Austin Wetsel, PHS

2013 - James Peacock, St. Bede

2012 - Earl Towne, PHS

2011 - Reiter Bird, PHS

2010 - Dan Rucinski, St. Bede

2009 - Matt McClure, PHS

2008 - Ty Taylor, PHS

2007 - Ty Taylor, PHS

2006 - Zack Bird, PHS

2005 - Zack Bird, PHS

2004 - Steve Piper, PHS

2003 - Brandon Nink, Ryne Bird, PHS

2002 - Brian Taylor, PHS

2001 - Matt Seidel, PHS

2000 - Brian Taylor, Matt Seidel, PHS

1999 - Josh Taylor, PHS

1998 - Zach Anderson, PHS

1997 - Adam Wason, PHS

The Lions (15-2) will face No. 8 Rockford Kennedy at 9 a.m. Saturday followed by No. 5 Spring Valley JFK vs. No. 4 Rockford Marshall at 10:15 a.m.

In Kewanee, No. 7 Bureau Valley will meet No. 2 Princeville at 10 a.m. Saturday at the 2A Wethersfield eighth grade regional.

In the seventh grade, No. 3 seed Bureau Valley defeated No. 6 Cambridge 25-6, 25-7 at the 2A Wethersfield Regional on Saturday. The Storm will play No. 2 Princeville at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Host Wethersfield is the No. 1 seed.

No. 3 seed Princeton Logan lost to No. 4 LaSalle Lincoln 17-25, 26-24, 23-25 and No. 7 seed Spring Valley JFK lost to No. 2 Mendota Northbrook 6-25, 17-25 on Saturday in the Class 3A regional at LaSalle.

Etheridge took first place and Swanson was third. The best thing about going, Etheridge said, was going with his best friend.

Fast forward four years later and Etheridge and Swanson made one last ride together at the IHSA State Wrestling Tournament in Champaign.

Swanson was state runner-up at 113 pounds while Etheridge claimed a second-place finish at 165.

They couldn’t have thought of a better way to go out together.

“It’s petty cool. We’ve both wrestled since first grade together. Making it to state is a huge accomplishment. Both of us as seniors, it’s a good way to end it,” Swanson said.

Etheridge wasn’t sure his eighth grade self would have pictured himself going this far.

“I could picture him. I don’t know if I had the confidence in myself,” he said. “Doing that in eighth grade I was like, ‘wow I didn’t think I could make it this far.’ Even with how the year started out I didn’t see myself making it very far. Our coaches kept reminding us, it doesn’t matter until February. I felt like that really showed over the tournament.”

They were both crowned as regional champions on the home mats at Prouty Gym. They both achieved their career 150th win at sectional and surpassed the school-record for career pins.

For all of their accomplishments, they are the 2025-26 co-BCR Wrestlers of the Year.

Tiger coach Steve Amy said he couldn’t have asked any more out of his senior tandem.

“Casey and Augustus are perfect examples of buying into the program and working hard to accomplish your goals,” he said. “I have been with these two a very long time. We have gone through a lot and have grown together through the process. I remember when they were in Tiger Town Tanglers, Casey crying and hugging me after every loss and Augustus always had the biggest smile sometimes even during his matches.

“These two have been through it all and they did it together. They have been amazing role models for the future of Princeton wrestling and I am beyond proud of them and all of their accomplishments.”

Etheridge said things haven’t changed much for those two eighth graders who wrestled at state together.

“Doing that in eighth grade in IESA, I would say is a lot easier than high school. So I think it’s really cool to get back to a similar spot,” Etheridge said. “I think (Swanson) has a similar feeling. We’re happy we were able to make it to the podium but there’s also some disappointment of not getting first place because when you make it there you want to give it your all and get first.

“But in a way, you can’t win every single one. I felt like him. We both grew compared to last year and even at the beginning of the season. We grew over the season and I feel like that’s the most important thing, is growth.

“He didn’t place last year and I got fourth. And this year we both got second so we’ve both shown a lot of growth the last two years and our four years.”

Swanson, who became just the second four-time state qualifier for the Tigers along with Ty Taylor (2008), was pleased to bounce back this season after not making it on the podium last year.

“My junior year I was at 120. It was a pretty hard weight class. I didn’t make it to the podium. It was nice again to get towards the top of the podium,” he said. “I definitely left it all out on the mat. I’m happy of all that I accomplished ... but the goal’s always first.

“It was super fun being down there with all my teammates and both of us getting second.”

PHS sophomore Kane Dauber, who joined his elder Tigers at state, taking fourth, said the senior pair set a high standard to follow.

“They’re my practice partners. They push me to the next level. They set a standard that we need to keep going,” he said.

Looking at his image and career highlights on the Wall of Medalists in the PHS wrestling room, Etheridge is proud of the legacy he and Swanson left behind.

“I felt we left something behind that a lot of kids can look up to and I think that’s the most important thing is inspiring those kids to work hard,” Etheridge said. “We might not wrestle year-round, but we’d come in the room and give it our all every single practice and I felt like that showed because we wouldn’t have been on the podium if we wouldn’t have given it our all every day.”

Swanson plans to continue his wrestling career at St. Ambrose University next year. Etheridge, the BCR Football Player of the Year, will be playing football at UW-Platteville, but hasn’t ruled out wrestling.

“It’s been a very confusing feeling. Last year I was content with getting fourth place. But this year, I didn’t think I’d make it far enough to get second,” he said. “There’s a lot of emotion this week (after the state meet) so you’re still trying to process that. I’ll miss wrestling and I’ll see what’s in the cards for me at Platteville. Maybe if I miss it enough I can always come back to it.”

The senior grappler wrestled his way to sectional as a regional champion at 190 pounds at the 1A Princeton Regional. He finished with a 38-10 record with an area-best 31 falls, good for a new single-season school record. He also scored 72 takedowns and 34 escapes. He finished fourth at the LeRoy Invite and fifth at the DeWitt Sabre Invitational.

Mikey Benge, St. Bede, So.

The St. Bede sophomore posted a 31-6 record at 126 pounds with first-place finishes at the Fort Zumwalt (Mo.) Jaguar Classic and Kewanee Invitational and second-place finishes at the Seneca and Orion tournaments. He had 20 pins, 41 takedowns, 11 reversals and 13 escapes.

Corbin Brown, Princeton, so.

Brown punched his ticket to sectional for the first time at 132 pounds with a third-place showing at the Princeton Regional. He went 32-13 on the season with 69 takedowns and 26 escapes.

Kane Dauber, Princeton, so.

There was no sophomore jinx for Dauber, who tracked down his second state medal with a fourth-place finish in Class 1A at 138 pounds. Missing time by injury, Dauber finished strong with a 29-5 record, including a regional championship, 18 falls and five tech falls. He finished third at the DeWitt Sabre Invitational.

Justyn Doden, PC-Hall, so.

The Panthers sophomore heavyweight was a sectional qualifier, placing third at the Princeton Regional at 285 pounds. He finished at 24-18.

Casey Etheridge, Princeton, sr.

The two-time BCR Wrestler of the Year added a second straight state medal with a runner-up finish at 165 pounds. He finished at 46-7. He also scored an area-best 103 takedowns along with seven tech falls and 30 escapes. He won the LeRoy Invite and DeWitt Sabre Invitational, placing second in the PIT. He finished with a 157-39 career record, third all-time for PHS.

Max Moreno, St. Bede, so.

The St. Bede sophomore finished with a team-high wins, going 36-9 at 132 pounds. He recorded 17 falls, 14 tech falls, 87 takedowns, 15 reversals and 16 escapes. He won the Fort Zumwalt (Mo.) Jaguar Classic, placed second at the Orion Invitational and third at the Plano and Kewanee tournaments. He was the regional runner-up at the Princeton Regional to qualify for sectional.

Brady Peach, Princeton, so.

Brady had a Peach of a sophomore season, going 32-12 at 106 pounds with a second-place finish at the LeRoy Invite and a sixth-place finish at the DeWitt Sabre Invitational. He recorded 15 falls.

Augustus Swanson, Princeton, sr.

Swanson became just the second four-time state qualifier for the Tigers, landing his second state medal with a 1A runner-up finish at 113 pounds. The BCR co-Wrestler of the Year led the area with 47 wins, finishing 47-3. He had 30 falls, 81 takedowns and five tech falls. He won Princeton’s Lyle King Invitational for the first time and won the LeRoy Invite. He finished with a 154-26 record, fourth all-time for PHS. Swanson was selected to be on the 31st annual IWCOA Team Illinois vs. Iowa All-Star Classic on March 15.

Abby Harris, Princeton, so.

Harris had a 15-7 record, qualifying for sectionals at 115 pounds with a fourth-place finish on her home mats at regional.

Ella Irwin, PC-Hall, sr.

The Putnam County senior was a four-time sectional qualifier, placing fourth at regional at 179 pounds this year. She placed second at the Metamora and Mahomet-Seymour tournaments and third at Ottawa. She finished with a 17-8 record, including 16 falls.

Jadeyn Klingenberg, Princeton, so.

Klingenberg qualified for sectionals at 125 pounds with a fourth-place finish at the Princeton Regional. She had an 18-17 record.