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St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School in Streator announced its honor roll for the second quarter of the 2023-2024 school year. (Tom Sistak)
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School in Streator announced its honor roll for the second quarter of the 2023-24 school year.
Kendall Cox, Cole Dodge, Ollie Hernandez, Rosalee Holocker, Payton Kimes, Carson Knoblauch, Vivian Olson, Faith Sharisky, Grace Tkach
Paige Clark, Cutler Zavada
Brynlee Bedeker, Avery Blumenshine, Selena Gonzalez, Adalynn Himan, Cooper Masley, Ella McClernon, Madilynn Thorp
Isaac Brockman, Luca Chalkey, Liam Doty, Scarlett Harcharik, Valeria Oliver, Mateo Orozco, Zoey Rath, Erin Seo, Addison Urbanec, Chloe Zavada
Bennett Bourell, Emily Dovin, Hayden Flori, Evan Ostrom, Cade Wright
Jacob Dippel, Luke Hiltabrand, Carly Isermann, Gretchen Kaschke, William Lukach, Bentley Missel, Kolton Muntz, Megan Pavlick, Benjamin Price, Ella Sokol, Natalya Solis, Paxson Thorp, Rocco VanDuzer, Katelyn Wahl
Zayden Gallik, Elyse Kochis, Raegan Lepper, Logan Leskanich, Zoe Luckey, Isabella Pacheco, Ian Seo, Margaret Tutko
Dylan Brown, Aaron Camacho, Antalya Casey, Annadelle Durre, Aubrey Lahman, Ari Scudder, Logan Skinner, Harvey Volkman, Derek Wissen
Axel Armstrong, Deken Doty, Cassiel Flores, Santiago Hernandez, Rhett Lepper, Lilianna Liptak, Clayton Lynch, Titus Marconi, Camila Mascote, Bruce Pence, Eliza Renken, Drake Snow, Makenna Urbanec, Dessa VanDuzer, Vivian Zito
Adrianna Pacheco, Collin Schumacher, Jaxson Simmons, Elliot Volkman
Lianna Flores, Weston Harris, Valerie Himan, Harper Pellino, Genesis Perez, Brinley Stevens, Ella Tkach, Kash Weibel, Urijah Zavada
Bryce Blakemore, Paisley Pence, Marshall Volkman
Kylie Dennis, Analicia Orozco, Beckett Stevens
Bruxton Chalkey, Emma Cinnamon, Lucas Gutierrez, Angelina Mainor, Harmony Pence
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The Princeton Logan seventh-grade volleyball team received a royal send-off Friday afternoon embarking on their trip to the IESA Class 3A State Tournament at Warrensburg-Latham High School. The Lions fell to Staunton 25-6, 25-21 in quarterfinal play. (Mike vaughn)
The Princeton Logan seventh-grade volleyball team went down swinging, making a second game stand, but saw its run to the IESA Class 3A State Tournament come to an end Friday night at Warrensburg-Latham High School.
Logan dropped the opening set to Staunton 25-6, but came back strong in the second set, playing to a 20-19 score. Staunton, however, outscored Logan 5-2 the rest of the way to take the match with a 25-21 winner.
The Lions bow out with a 21-4 record.
Staunton (27-1) advances to the state semifinals on Saturday against Lawrenceville Parkville (27-0), which defeated Monticello 25-16, 25-23.
In other semifinal matches, Williamsville (21-1) defeated Burr Ridge Gower 25-6, 25-11 and Manteno def. Germantown Hills 25-16, 25-17.
Williamsville (21-1) and Manteno (24-2) will meet in the first semifinal at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The third-place match will follow at 2 p.m. with the championship at 3:15 p.m.
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Princeton junior Casey Etheridge was the top area state medalist, finishing fourth at 144 pounds, with a 48-6 record. He is the 2024-25 NewsTribune Wrestler of the Year. (Mike Vaughn)
Casey Etheridge didn’t forget.
He made the 2024 state wrestling tournament and was the only wrestler of four from Princeton not to medal.
He made sure it didn’t happen again.
That motivation carried Etheridge all the way to the awards podium at the IHSA Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament this year. The Princeton junior grappler made it through the “blood round,” taking his place on the podium with a fourth-place finish at 165 pounds, his first state medal in three years wrestling for the Tigers.
“Last year I was pretty disappointed that I wasn’t able to place because I came so close and wasn’t able to be on that podium,” he said. “But this year, I was happy I finished a lot stronger. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be in fourth place, but I met my goal of placing, so I was happy with that.”
Along the way, Etheridge won the LeRoy and Dewitt invites, placed fourth at the PIT and was crowned as a regional champion. He sported a 48-6 record, named First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference.
For all of his accomplishments, Etheridge is the 2024-25 NewsTribune Wrestler of the Year.
PHS coach Steve Amy wants to see Etheridge continue to be motivated to get all the way to the top of the podium next year.
“I think last year was very disappointing for him. To be that close and fall short is very hard. I think that for him though it was an eye-opening experience that told him that he is right there with the best guys in the state,” he said. “I know this year his goal was to make the medal stand and he accomplished that. I am very proud of how hard he has worked over the years to make that happen, but he is not done yet.
“Hopefully this season showed him just how close he was to being in the finals and winning it all. If he continues to work this offseason I have no doubt that with his talent he can be standing on the top of the podium next year.”
Sterling Newman’s Danny Kelly and Princeton’s Casey Etheridge wrestle at 165 pounds at the 1A Oregon Regional on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Earleen Hinton)
Walking into the PHS wrestling room with its newly installed wall of champions this year, featuring all of the past state medalists from yesteryear, was another source of motivation for Etheridge.
“It feels really good since this is the first year (Amy) did it and last year I didn’t place and it drove me a little further,” Etheridge said. “I realized I had an extra goal to get up there on the wall. It’s a good thing to have because it pushes you. I saw some of my friends up here and I was so close to being with my guys. I didn’t want to be close this year. I wanted to be up there.”
Etheridge had his work cut out to make it back to state. He dropped a 5-4 semifinal match at sectional and had to win one match in the “blood round.” He barely worked up a sweat winning with an 18-4 major decision to punch his ticket to State before falling 7-2 in the third-place match.
He said there is a sense of pressure leading into each match knowing if you lose you go home, but not when you’re out on the mat.
“It shows how much you’re willing to fight to get a medal if you lose in the first round,” he said. “At sectionals, if you lose you’re not going to state. And if you lose at state, what did you work for if you’re not going for a medal? No one wants to end your season just going to state. You want to finish the season strong, place, be on top.”
Admittedly, he was pretty frustrated dropping his first match at state to Adam Haddad of Northridge 7-3. He bounced back to take three straight before falling to Haddad once again in the third-place match.
“The second day, I had a pretty quick match and kind of got my head going a little better,” he said “I gained some confidence and the coaches helped me get through that and I just kind of kept rolling. They told me to wrestle the way I wrestle in practice.”
Etheridge had a pretty good wrestling partner in 2023 PHS grad Augie Christiansen, a former state medalist and BCR Wrestler of the Year.
“It’s nice wrestling Augie, because he’s still really good and he’s technical with this stuff,” Etheridge said.
Etheridge reached a milestone this season by recording his 100th win for the Tigers, now standing at 111-32 for his career. He took a lot of pride in that accomplishment.
“Kind of shows you’re going in the right direction,” he said. “You’re able to produce your freshmen and sophomore years. Halfway through my junior year it was a nice accomplishment. Hopefully I can keep it going and maybe reach 150.”
Far from satisfied, Etheridge knows he’s got some work to do to get higher on the awards stand with an eye on first place. And he’s taking nothing for granted.
“It’s going to take lot more technique work and more determination,” he said. “I still need to have that drive I had coming into this year. Just because I got fourth place this year doesn’t mean I can place next year unless I keep going.
“And you see that with a lot of people. In the quarterfinals in 1A, there were three state champions who lost. It was a crazy round. Just shows you just because you won last year, doesn’t mean you will next year.”
And that’s enough motivation for Etheridge to make it happen.
Princeton junior Casey Etheridge was the top area state medalist, finishing fourth at 144 pounds, with a 48-6 record. He is the 2024-25 NewsTribune Wrestler of the Year. (Mike Vaughn)
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Princeton junior Casey Etheridge was the top area state medalist, finishing fourth at 144 pounds, with a 48-6 record. He is the 2024-25 NewsTribune Wrestler of the Year. (Mike Vaughn)
Casey Etheridge didn’t forget.
He made the 2024 state wrestling tournament and was the only wrestler of four from Princeton not to medal.
He made sure it didn’t happen again.
That motivation carried Etheridge all the way to the awards podium at the IHSA Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament this year. The Princeton junior grappler made it through the “blood round,” taking his place on the podium with a fourth-place finish at 165 pounds, his first state medal in three years wrestling for the Tigers.
“Last year I was pretty disappointed that I wasn’t able to place because I came so close and wasn’t able to be on that podium,” he said. “But this year, I was happy I finished a lot stronger. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be in fourth place, but I met my goal of placing, so I was happy with that.”
Along the way, Etheridge won the LeRoy and Dewitt invites, placed fourth at the PIT and was crowned as a regional champion. He sported a 48-6 record, named First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference.
For all of his accomplishments, Etheridge is the 2024-25 NewsTribune Wrestler of the Year.
PHS coach Steve Amy wants to see Etheridge continue to be motivated to get all the way to the top of the podium next year.
“I think last year was very disappointing for him. To be that close and fall short is very hard. I think that for him though it was an eye-opening experience that told him that he is right there with the best guys in the state,” he said. “I know this year his goal was to make the medal stand and he accomplished that. I am very proud of how hard he has worked over the years to make that happen, but he is not done yet.
“Hopefully this season showed him just how close he was to being in the finals and winning it all. If he continues to work this offseason I have no doubt that with his talent he can be standing on the top of the podium next year.”
Sterling Newman’s Danny Kelly and Princeton’s Casey Etheridge wrestle at 165 pounds at the 1A Oregon Regional on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Earleen Hinton)
Walking into the PHS wrestling room with its newly installed wall of champions this year, featuring all of the past state medalists from yesteryear, was another source of motivation for Etheridge.
“It feels really good since this is the first year (Amy) did it and last year I didn’t place and it drove me a little further,” Etheridge said. “I realized I had an extra goal to get up there on the wall. It’s a good thing to have because it pushes you. I saw some of my friends up here and I was so close to being with my guys. I didn’t want to be close this year. I wanted to be up there.”
Etheridge had his work cut out to make it back to state. He dropped a 5-4 semifinal match at sectional and had to win one match in the “blood round.” He barely worked up a sweat winning with an 18-4 major decision to punch his ticket to State before falling 7-2 in the third-place match.
He said there is a sense of pressure leading into each match knowing if you lose you go home, but not when you’re out on the mat.
“It shows how much you’re willing to fight to get a medal if you lose in the first round,” he said. “At sectionals, if you lose you’re not going to state. And if you lose at state, what did you work for if you’re not going for a medal? No one wants to end your season just going to state. You want to finish the season strong, place, be on top.”
Admittedly, he was pretty frustrated dropping his first match at state to Adam Haddad of Northridge 7-3. He bounced back to take three straight before falling to Haddad once again in the third-place match.
“The second day, I had a pretty quick match and kind of got my head going a little better,” he said “I gained some confidence and the coaches helped me get through that and I just kind of kept rolling. They told me to wrestle the way I wrestle in practice.”
Etheridge had a pretty good wrestling partner in 2023 PHS grad Augie Christiansen, a former state medalist and BCR Wrestler of the Year.
“It’s nice wrestling Augie, because he’s still really good and he’s technical with this stuff,” Etheridge said.
Etheridge reached a milestone this season by recording his 100th win for the Tigers, now standing at 111-32 for his career. He took a lot of pride in that accomplishment.
“Kind of shows you’re going in the right direction,” he said. “You’re able to produce your freshmen and sophomore years. Halfway through my junior year it was a nice accomplishment. Hopefully I can keep it going and maybe reach 150.”
Far from satisfied, Etheridge knows he’s got some work to do to get higher on the awards stand with an eye on first place. And he’s taking nothing for granted.
“It’s going to take lot more technique work and more determination,” he said. “I still need to have that drive I had coming into this year. Just because I got fourth place this year doesn’t mean I can place next year unless I keep going.
“And you see that with a lot of people. In the quarterfinals in 1A, there were three state champions who lost. It was a crazy round. Just shows you just because you won last year, doesn’t mean you will next year.”
And that’s enough motivation for Etheridge to make it happen.
Princeton junior Casey Etheridge was the top area state medalist, finishing fourth at 144 pounds, with a 48-6 record. He is the 2024-25 NewsTribune Wrestler of the Year. (Mike Vaughn)
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Princeton junior Casey Etheridge was the top area state medalist, finishing fourth at 144 pounds, with a 48-6 record. He is the 2024-25 BCR Wrestler of the Year. (Mike Vaughn)
Casey Etheridge didn’t forget.
He made the 2024 state wrestling tournament and was the only wrestler of four from Princeton not to medal.
He made sure it didn’t happen again.
That motivation carried Etheridge all the way to the awards podium at the IHSA Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament this year. The Princeton junior grappler made it through the “blood round,” taking his place on the podium with a fourth-place finish at 165 pounds, his first state medal in three years wrestling for the Tigers.
“Last year I was pretty disappointed that I wasn’t able to place because I came so close and wasn’t able to be on that podium,” he said. “But this year, I was happy I finished a lot stronger. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be in fourth place, but I met my goal of placing, so I was happy with that.”
Along the way, Etheridge won the LeRoy and Dewitt invites, placed fourth at the PIT and was crowned as a regional champion. He sported a 48-6 record, named First-Team All-Three Rivers Conference.
For all of his accomplishments, Etheridge is the 2024-25 BCR Wrestler of the Year.
PHS coach Steve Amy wants to see Etheridge continue to be motivated to get all the way to the top of the podium next year.
“I think last year was very disappointing for him. To be that close and fall short is very hard. I think that for him though it was an eye-opening experience that told him that he is right there with the best guys in the state,” he said. “I know this year his goal was to make the medal stand and he accomplished that. I am very proud of how hard he has worked over the years to make that happen, but he is not done yet.
“Hopefully this season showed him just how close he was to being in the finals and winning it all. If he continues to work this offseason I have no doubt that with his talent he can be standing on the top of the podium next year.”
Sterling Newman’s Danny Kelly and Princeton’s Casey Etheridge wrestle at 165 pounds at the 1A Oregon Regional on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Earleen Hinton)
Walking into the PHS wrestling room with its newly installed wall of champions this year, featuring all of the past state medalists from yesteryear, was another source of motivation for Etheridge.
“It feels really good since this is the first year (Amy) did it and last year I didn’t place and it drove me a little further,” Etheridge said. “I realized I had an extra goal to get up there on the wall. It’s a good thing to have because it pushes you. I saw some of my friends up here and I was so close to being with my guys. I didn’t want to be close this year. I wanted to be up there.”
Etheridge had his work cut out to make it back to state. He dropped a 5-4 semifinal match at sectional and had to win one match in the “blood round.” He barely worked up a sweat winning with an 18-4 major decision to punch his ticket to State before falling 7-2 in the third-place match.
He said there is a sense of pressure leading into each match knowing if you lose you go home, but not when you’re out on the mat.
“It shows how much you’re willing to fight to get a medal if you lose in the first round,” he said. “At sectionals, if you lose you’re not going to state. And if you lose at state, what did you work for if you’re not going for a medal? No one wants to end your season just going to state. You want to finish the season strong, place, be on top.”
Admittedly, he was pretty frustrated dropping his first match at state to Adam Haddad of Northridge 7-3. He bounced back to take three straight before falling to Haddad once again in the third-place match.
“The second day, I had a pretty quick match and kind of got my head going a little better,” he said “I gained some confidence and the coaches helped me get through that and I just kind of kept rolling. They told me to wrestle the way I wrestle in practice.”
Etheridge reached a milestone this season by recording his 100th win for the Tigers, now standing at 111-32 for his career. He took a lot of pride in that accomplishment.
“Kind of shows you’re going in the right direction,” he said. “You’re able to produce your freshmen and sophomore years. Halfway through my junior year it was a nice accomplishment. Hopefully I can keep it going and maybe reach 150.”
Far from satisfied, Etheridge knows he’s got some work to do to get higher on the awards stand with an eye on first place. And he’s taking nothing for granted.
“It’s going to take lot more technique work and more determination,” he said. “I still need to have that drive I had coming into this year. Just because I got fourth place this year doesn’t mean I can place next year unless I keep going.
“And you see that with a lot of people. In the quarterfinals in 1A, there were three state champions who lost. It was a crazy round. Just shows you just because you won last year, doesn’t mean you will next year.”
And that’s enough motivation for Etheridge to make it happen.
Princeton junior Casey Etheridge was the top area state medalist, finishing fourth at 144 pounds, with a 48-6 record. He is the 2024-25 BCR Wrestler of the Year. (Mike Vaughn)
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Three Rivers logo 24-25
Boys basketball players from Princeton, Hall and Mendota received 2024-25 All-Three Rivers East Conference team honors.
Princeton seniors Noah LaPorte and Jordan Reinhardt and Mendota freshman Cole Tillman were unanimously named all-conference along with Newman junior Garret Matznick. They were joined on the first team by Hall senior Wyatt West and E-P junior Connor Keegan.
Mendota junior Aden Tillman and senior Cam Kelly were joined by Hall junior Braden Curran on the All-Three Rivers East second team.
Honorable mention honors went to Princeton senior Jayden Fulkerson, Hall senior Jack Jablonski and Mendota senior Braiden Freeman and junior Dane Doyle.
LaMoille senior guard/forward Tyler Billhorn and Earlville senior center Adam Waite were voted to the All-Little Ten Conference team.
Waite was a unanimous selection.
Fieldcrest senior Eddie Lorton was voted to the All-Heart of Illinois Conference first team.
Fieldcrest senior Jordan Heider was named second-team all-conference and also was selected first-team All-HOIC Defense.
Bureau Valley players received All-Lincoln Trail Conference boys basketball honors.
Bureau Valley senior Landon Hulsing was named to the 10-man first team.
Also for Bureau Valley, the league champ, senior Elijah Endress was named to the second team, while senior Landen Birdsley earned honorable mention all-conference honors.
In addition, Bureau Valley’s Zackary Wiggim, Ryan Wasilewski, Logan Philhower, Hulsing and Birdsley received Lincoln Trail Academic All-Conference honors.
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Illinois Valley Alzheimer’s Caring Friends Support Group is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday, March 17, in the lower level of the Peru Public Library, 1409 11th St. (Derek Barichello)
Illinois Valley Alzheimer’s Caring Friends Support Group is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday, March 17, in the lower level of the Peru Public Library, 1409 11th St.
The discussion will be how to cope with caring for your loved ones with Alzheimer’s.
For more information contact Joanne Milby at 815-228-1858, Peg Gonet at 815-481-6465 or Bob Frig at 815-220-0202.

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Find Recent Obituaries for Princeton, Illinois  Legacy.com
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Princeton coach Jason Smith works the Tiger bench during a timeout in Friday’s sectional championship game at Marengo. (Kevin Hieronymus)
Losing in the postseason always hurts.
It means the sudden end and all the promises and hope that go with it.
And if you’re a coach that’s as passionate as Princeton’s Jason Smith, who puts his heart and soul into it, it hurts. Really hurts.
The Tiger coach became emotional following Friday’’s 49-43 loss to Rock Falls, which marked the third straight year the Tigers reached the sectional final only to lose.
“Yes (they’re hard), because that’s three years in a row. I felt like I let my team down. Let the kids down. That’s where it hurts the most,” he said.
PHS senior all-stater Noah LaPorte, for one, is not hearing anything about their coach letting them down in any way. He picked him up just how he’s picked them all up.
“I told him that I wouldn’t have wanted another coach for my high school career no matter the outside noise. He taught us more about being better men than anything,” he said. “He was always there for any situations and we went through a lot together as a team. All coaches will put the blame on themselves but it never is. They lose sleep trying to get us the best look, spend money on the team and pray for our success.
“At the end of the day we are the ones out on the court and didn’t get the job finished, but that doesn’t take away from the life lessons all the coaches gave us and the memories.”
Smith is not only the first Princeton coach in school history to coach the Tigers to four straight regional championships, he’s the first to take them to three straight sectional final appearances. When Princeton last won four straight regionals, Roger Lowe led the Tigers to the first in 1992 with Bruce Placek guiding them in 1993-95.
In this four-year stretch, Smith’s Tigers had records of 20-10, 32-3, 17-16 and 21-13, good for an overall mark of 90-42 and a .682 winning percentage.
What Smith said he’ll remember the most about this year’s team is the love and the heart they have for one another.
“They fight for each other. They play well with each other. Starts with the leadership at top with Noah and Jordan (Reinhardt) and filters all the way down,” he said. “They’re unselfish. Very unselfish. Just great kids.”
Brantley Fulkerson, 11, younger brother of Princeton senior guard, Jayden, reacts to the final moments of the TIgers’ season-ending , 49-43 loss to Rock Falls in Friday’s sectional finals at Marengo. (Mike Vaughn)
Looking past the heartbreak of the sudden-ending, there were a lot of memorable moments after overcoming injuries and sorrow with the deaths of Tiger dad Pat Mason and Smith’s brother, Dave Camp.
“Proud of those kids how they fought the whole year through adversity. Not too many teams face two deaths in the family either. They’ve just been through a lot and battle tested,” Smith said. “I told them it doesn’t matter the basketball player or athlete you were on the court, they were better human beings. I would go to war with those guys any time, any where, any place and they know that. I just appreciate them so much for their hard work and blood, sweat and tears into the program.”
Reinhardt and LaPorte will take a lot of this season with them.
“It was rough at the start. Me, Jayden and Noah all got an ankle injury, but once we got healthy our coaches really believed in us and we knew they did and we worked hard for them,” Reinhardt said. “Not many people can say they went to the sectional three straight years. Obviously, we want to win, but you can’t take it for granted.”
“I’m just so proud of this team. People were looking at us. What, we were 9-12? Nobody gave us a chance to be playing for the sectional championship. There again, we go against odds,” LaPorte said. “We shouldn’t have been here in all the other people’s eyes. The only people that believed was in our huddle. It’s a great feeling to have a team like this. It’s one of the best seasons I’ve had and that says a lot considering I’ve been a part of successful teams.
“There were so many ups and downs to the season. We really picked it up once everyone was starting to play together.”
Kevin Hieronymus has been the BCR Sports Editor since 1986. Contact him at khieronymus@bcrnews.com
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Princeton Tigers logo
League champ Princeton headed the 2024-25 Three Rivers All-Conference wrestling team with five first-team selections.
Senior Cade Odell (285) and Ace Christiansen (144), juniors Augustus Swanson (120) and Casey Etheridge (165) and freshmen Kane Dauber (132) were all named to the first team.
PHS freshman Brayden Bickett (106) received honorable mention all-conference honors.
Mendota senior Angil Serrano was named second-team all-conference while sophomore Gavin Stevenson received honorable honorable mention.
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