2023 Sports Year In Review

The Fairbury Journal-News was fortunate to cover a multitude of sports highlights from the beginning of 2023 and all the way to the end. A year of many firsts, repeats, and milestones crossed.January:In the month of January, basketball history was made for two teams.The Tri County Trojans boys basketball team were able to break a 40-year dry spell as they won the MUDECAS A Division championship with a final score 59-54 against Parkview Christian.The Meridian Lady Mustangs were able to make history winning their first MUDECAS Division B championship with a final score of 41-25 against Lewiston.February:The month of February had a handful of moments for multiple schools across the board at State Wrestling. The three schools of Fairbury, Wilber-Clatonia, and Thayer Central each crowned a State champion. For Wilber-Clatonia, at the time Freshman Zaiyahn Ornelas completed the season undefeated and broke a nine year dry spell taking first in the Class C 106-pound division becoming the eighth champion for Wilber-Clatonia.The Thayer Central Titans would also have a nine year dry spell broken by Senior Triston Wells taking first in the Class D 120-pound division becoming the seventh champion for Thayer Central.For the Fairbury Jeffs, senior Makenna Schramm broke the 22 year champion dry spell becoming the third State champion in wrestling for Fairbury and also became the first girls State champion in the 190-pound division. Schramm was also making history as the first girls wrestler to go undefeated in a season, and the second wrestler of Fairbury to ever go undefeated as she ended her year 39-0.March:In the month of March, Fairbury alumni, and current thrower for the Broncos at Hastings, Jessa Eden was able to become the first athlete in the history of Fairbury for track and field to win a national title. During the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships Eden was able to throw a distance of 59’ ½’’ taking first in the hammer throw. In the 151 years that Fairbury has since been established as a city, Eden is the second National champion in any sport coming from Fairbury.The Tri County Trojans basketball season comes to an end as they place fourth in Class C-2 State. By season’s end Tri County Trojans were runner-up in Pioneer Conference, Class C2-6 district final champions and 2023 MUDECAS Class A champions with a winning record of 24-6.May:The time of State track and field had some newcomers making the most of their first experience and some ending their career on the highest note possible.For the Fairbury Jeffs Sam Starr was able to place among the top eight in the Class B 800-meter run as she finished at seventh. With her effort Starr was able to set a new school record in the 800-meter time as she set a new time of 2:21.83.The Thayer Central Titans had Piper Havel making the most of her first time at State as she was able to place herself among the top five in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. Havel in the 100-meter dash would run the time: 12.78 in the finals and in the 200-meter dash ran the time: 26.37 as both efforts placed her at fourth. Heading into the Sophomore campaign with the records Havel had set her Freshman year has many eyes and ears open to what the season will hold for year two.The Wilber-Clatonia Wolverines had a handful of competitors at State, with the likes of graduate Tyson Kreshel and now Senior Carter Skleba making the most of their opportunities. Kreshel ended his career in discus with his best throw being his last with a throw going a PR distance of 159-01 placing him among the top five with fourth. Skleba rounded out the top five in long jump placing himself at fifth with a distance of 20-4.5.The Tri County Trojans had the 4x800 meter relay consisting of Carter Holtmeier, Lucas Lewandowski, Drew Siems and Carter Siems finishing in the top ten with sixth place as they ran a time: 8:26.19. Carter Siems would also find himself in the finals of the 400 meter dash with a time: 52.25 giving him eighth and in the 800 meter run finished as runner-up clocking in the time: 1:56.05.The Diller-Odell Griffins had the duo of Callan McKinney and Myleigh Weers placing in their respective events. Callan McKinney made the most of his first time at State in the triple jump as he would place himself at eighth with the distance of 41-04.25. Myleigh Weers had a solid run in the 400-meter dash and placed in the top ten with sixth as she finished with the time: 1:01.55.The Meridian Mustangs would have gold brought home not only once, but twice. For Kaylee Pribyl, already a one-time State champion in pole vault, looking to repeat was a daunting task. Pribyl was successful in defending her title and became a two time Class D pole vault champion reaching the height of 11’’00 even. Later Pribyl would become a three-time gold medal winner as she took first in the long jump with the distance of 17-00 even capping off quite the career at Meridian.August:In the summer more history for Fairbury was made with Makena Schramm. During the month of August, Makena Schramm would go on to make more history for Fairbury as she was awarded for completing the Triple Crown of Wrestling National Championships in Greco-Roman, Freestyle, and Folkstyle becoming the only three-time National Champion ever to come out of Fairbury.October:The Fairbury lady Jeffs softball season comes to an end as the Class C-6 Sub-District Champions and Class C-1 District runner up.The Thayer Central lady Titans sweep up the competition en route to winning the SNC Conference Championship. Thayer Central would go on a dominate run from the start of the tournament and did not lose a single set throughout as they swept 2-0 against Fairbury on Monday, October 16th. Then on Tuesday, October 17th Thayer Central had swept 3-0 against Milford in the semi-finals and against Centennial in the Conference championship.The Meridian lady Mustangs were able to fight through adversity on the way to winning the CRC Conference Championship on Oct. 17. Meridian’s tournament unfolded with Meridian sweeping Osceola in the first round, a 3-1 set victory against Dorchester, and a five-set battle victory of 3-2 against Cross County.November:Making it two years in a row, the Meridian lady Mustangs punched their ticket to State winning the Class D2-3 District championship. Meridian would go on to place fourth at State volleyball and finished their season with a record of (26-7).

Vonda Lea (Spargur) Roberts-Garland

Happy New Year and Stay Warm

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