Althoff, Highland lead southwestern Illinois to 17 spring sports state championships
Metro-east high schools collected 11 team and six individual state championships this spring after COVID-19 postponed many fall and winter sports, pushing state runs to the spring.
According to the Illinois High School Association, the modified schedules pushed state playoffs further into June than they’ve ever played before.
Althoff Catholic High School secured 1A IHSA state championships in both girls soccer and girls track in June, holding off Timothy Christian in Elmhurst and Winnebago, respectively. Within the Illinois Drill Team Association, which oversees dance and drill teams, Althoff also was the jazz state champion.
The city of Belleville celebrated Althoff Catholic’s three wins on Sunday with a reception and parade, complete with a traditional fire engine ride on West Main Street.
The Highland softball team was the 3A title winner and within IDTA’s AA division, also captured titles in both pom/dance and lyrical/contemporary categories.
The metro-east swept the IHSA state championships in girls soccer. Triad High School is the 2A state champion, and O’Fallon High School is the 3A champion.
Meanwhile, the Freeburg baseball team and the Mascoutah boys track team were both 2A champs.
In track and dance, nine more local athletes were state champions in individual events:
- Brandon Battle, Edwardsville, 3A boys track, 100m, 200m and 400m
- Kenzie Weisner, Edwardsville, Miss IDTA for dance
- Devonte Ford, East St. Louis, 2A boys track, 110m hurdles
- Barry Evans, Mascoutah, 2A boys track, discus
- Jayden Ulrich, Wood River, 2A girls track, discus and shot put
- Shelby Thorson, Karmen Reynolds, Talanie Kozuszek and Halle Rueter, Nashville, 1A girls track, 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay
This story was originally published June 24, 2021 at 7:00 AM.