Yorkville Recognizes Spring Athletes With Assembly

When you’re competing in track, you’re often in your own little world, focusing on what you need to do to perform at your best.

On Tuesday, eight Yorkville track and field athletes suddenly found themselves as the center of attention when they were recognized for their efforts this spring.

YHS hosted a ceremony on in the gymnasium on Tuesday afternoon to recognize the excellent achievements in its sports programs this spring.

The 4 x 800 Class 2A boys track and field relay team of Scott King, Kyle Dhuse, Chris Kellogg and Jake Callahan, which finished in second place, was announced. Then the Class 2A state champion relay team of Bri Stuepfert, Leena Palmer, Ali Hester and Esther Bell was honored after a the sound system blared Queen’s “We Are The Champions.”

The boys relay team ran a season-best 7 minutes 51.76 seconds while the girls relay team established a new Class 2A record, finishing in 9 minutes 17.32 seconds.

 “It’s always kind of neat to get all of the kids at Yorkville High School in one room because you never realize how many kids are here,” Yorkville boys and girls track and field coach Ben Draper said. “It’s a special thing and the athletic department puts a lot of work into it with the choreography and the band.”

“For a while the kids look at each other nervously with everyone looking at them, but in the future they’ll look back as this being a pretty neat sidenote to their experience with track," Draper continued.

The Class 3A regional champion softball team, track and field state qualifiers, the boys tennis team, among others, were also honored.

"It is a special year anytime our student-athletes experience success at the state level," Yorkville athletic director Seth Schoonover said. "But to have a number of spring sports have outstanding seasons is really great for our kids."

Download the movie

Download the movie