Fall in Love with Fall Sports

Second quarter has started, and with that comes the end of the fall sports season. From football to golf, the SHG sports program continues to shine, and this year was no exception. Although no state championships were earned, many students made it to regionals, sectionals, and a few exceptional athletes made it to State.

Our two-time defending State Football Champions led an undefeated season, winning the Central State Eight Conference. Crete-Monee, however, defeated SHG in a tight competition, taking away SHG’s hopes at a “three-peat”. 

Girls’ Swimming and Diving also had a good season. Sophomore diver Hannah Ketchum got third at Conference and talked about her experiences. “It was a lot of work but it was all worth it. Everyone worked really hard.” Seniors Izzy Garcia and Kailey Johannes, junior Bella Giacomini, sophomores Abby Fierstos, Madison Johannes, and Anne Mosley, and freshmen Cami Blair and Megan Rupnik, all moved on to sectionals.

Girls’ Tennis had a strong season. The girls played all over the Central Illinois Area, with individuals senior Isabel Cross, and juniors Claire Nachtwey and Hannah Abrahamson advancing to state.

Girls’ Golf, newly coached by Elena Holler, ended up winning their Regional. They, however, lost at the sectional, losing their chance at a state appearance.

Volleyball had an overall good season, with a winning record. The varsity girls, while advancing through regionals to Sectionals, however, lost to Quincy Notre Dame in the supersectional.

Boys’ Cross Country had a strong season. The team was successful this year, with senior Nate Fierstos advancing to the state meet. The team as a whole advanced to Sectionals from Regionals, in third place. They got 12th place at the Sectional.

Girls’ Cross Country also has a young, strong team. Sophomore Hannah van Houten qualified for state, with a 15th place finish. The team advanced from Regionals at fourth place, ending the season with a 10th place Sectional finish.

Boys’ Soccer, while at a better overall conference record than last year, they unfortunately lost their regional. This was the first time in school history that the boys lost to Springfield Southeast High School.

First quarter is packed with SHG sports. As winter approaches, we anticipate the beginning of new sports and new chances at glory. SHG athletics have always been strong, and they are bound to continue to succeed in the future.

First Quarter Recap

First quarter is already over and second quarter is starting. It seems like just yesterday summer break ended and students were trying to figure out their new schedules. However, a lot has happened since orientation back in August.

Before school started, many changes were already taking place. The lunch, both the cafeteria layout and the menu, changed to excite the students. A new grading scale brought more encouragement to the students. A new face at the school also appeared. Father Marty Smith has joined Sacred Heart-Griffin as the school’s chaplain. Both Father Marty and the new school ideas have been met with happiness.

As the school year started, many sports began their seasons. As homework started rolling in, so did athletics. Fall sports such as football, volleyball, cross country and golf started practices and games. Some students had to balance homework and training in a tight first-quarter schedule. Junior Maddie Mayfield’s favorite activity of the first quarter was the cross country season. “It is an amazing sport,” she explains. “All of the girls are so supportive and it is a fun sport. I’m very happy I decided to do it this year.” She decided to run the sport next year as well.

The Homecoming Court waits in anticipation to see who will be crowned king and queen. Photo courtesy of the Yearbook staff.

The main school events that happened this quarter included Spirit Week, Homecoming, and the second All-City Mass. Sophomore Killian Davis said that Homecoming was his favorite day of the first quarter. “I enjoyed the great times with my friends, and I danced hard, but not very well.”

Although the first quarter is over, the rest of the year is still to come. Both Davis and Mayfield said that their first quarter experiences were overall very good. They are both looking to the future school year with bright hopes. Mayfield said that she is looking forward to building friendships with fellow classmates and staying focused on her grades, while Davis is hoping to reach the milestone of getting his driver’s license.

The first quarter held many new changes and fun activities, as well as the start of another academic school year. With three-fourths of the school year to go, students should keep their heads up as they embrace the second, third and fourth quarters.