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Fred's Blog

Just another busy day

Posted by: Fred Kroner

Sunday, November 2, 2008 12:58 AM

I got my fill of prep sports today.

Started the fun-filled day at 10 a.m. for the PBL cross-country sectional. One neat story angle was that both the boys' and girls' teams from St. Joseph-Ogden and Bloomington Central Catholic qualified for state.

Of the schools at this site, they were the only two to pull off that feat.

Spartans Chelsea Blaase, Sidney Long and Jolee Paden moved up in the final mile as did the team’s fourth-place runner, Lauren Cessna, who by one account passed 15 runners in the final 800 meters to place 36th overall.

The top three Spartan runners finished within 25 seconds of each other.

“The fact that we all pulled together on the same day made the difference,” Paden said.

Blaase took pride in her late surge.

“I was nervous at the beginning, but I told myself, ‘You can’t win without a fight.’ ” she said.

Coach Jon Jamison took note. “She kept working and working and fought all the way through,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier.”

There was no shortage of story angles to write about for the Sunday edition with PBL junior Tom Pacey winning the boys' 3-mile race and with the Urbana Uni High boys' squad capturing team honors.

Pacey's unbeaten season is one which gives area coaches joy in seeing.

SJ-O's Jamison said Pacey is someone opposing coaches don’t mind cheering.

“He’s not only a great runner, but a great kid, the type you want to see do well,” Jamison said. “He could be in the top two to three at state.”

The state meet will be held next weekend (Nov. 8) at Detweiller Park, in Peoria.

From PBL, I returned to the office to write my story, but while driving was able to listen to Danville's K-ROCK as it had announcers at three prep venues.

They helped me get my fix of football, though I wish I had been at one of the games in person. Maybe next week!! It was terrific how general manager Mike Hulvey, back in the studios, was able to get time for each of his broadcasting crews such that listeners were truly able to follow the game of their choice.

My evening's activities took me to Champaign Central's Combes Gym for a regional volleyball championship match and Centennial's Chargers earned their seventh regional this decade by defeating the Maroons 25-14, 25-23.

The second set was a highly intense, competitive struggle with the Chargers' moving closer to their school record for wins. The team has 32, one shy of the mark it set last year.

Centennial will play on Tuesday in the Class 3A sectional at Mount Zion against Chatham Glenwood.

And while I didn't get to see any of it, I heard that Champaign Central's girls' swimming team won the Big 12 Conference meet.

What a day for prep sports!

Congratulations to the six area football teams which made it to the next round as well as to the eight volleyball teams from the area which annexed regional crowns. And, best wishes to all of those cross-country state qualifiers.

Looks like next weekend is shaping up to be a busy one, too.