Rochelle

A history-making year for the Hubs

Rochelle Township High School Lady Hubs doubles teams made history

At the IHSA Girls Tennis Sectional, the underdog Lady Hubs battled tough opponents as well as the wind for a third-place team finish and medals. Were it not for the pandemic, the RTHS Lady Hubs would have had two doubles teams competing in the state tourney: Sawyer McGee and Sylvia Hasz, and MeLisa Young and Jordin Dickey. That was a first! Coaches are Lizzie Cartwright and Jeff Truckenbrod. MeLisa and Jordin competed for the 2021 State doubles title Oct 21.

This Rochelle HUB has drive — Megan Thiravong won the Greater Rockford Womens Classic on August 2, 2020, at Aldeen Golf Course. Megan’s 1 under par on her home course earned her a medal and a spot in golf history. She is the first girl to shoot under par in a meet playing on the Boys Golf Team. Due to Covid, there was no gallery to cheer.

The RTHS FFA Non-Reasons Horse Team successfully won a second state title — Congratulations to Josie Lundquist, Mary Coglianese, Ava Coglianese, and Mark Hopkins! These Hubs won the state title in another horse event last year. This year they bested teams from 70 schools. Fifty teams, including 214 individuals, competed.

Owen Hasz and Griffin Ohlinger fish for the title — The Bass Fishing Team competed at the State Bass Fishing Finals. It made the Hubs’ sixth consecutive trip to state; our ninth since the program began. Bassmaster Curt Samo is the coach.

Speech team defends 2020 Regional Championship!!!

Individual regional champion designations were awarded to:

Faith Worthington in Informative Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking

Ariel Zuercher and Jenn Heinrich for Dramatic Duet Acting

Paul Swartz and Mikayla Preston in Humorous Duet Acting

Morgan Haas for Oratorical Declamation

Ava Coglianese in Special Occasion Speaking

Layla Pelan for Prose Reading

The Performance in the Round team won, too. The cast included: Mateo Hughes, Heidi Cruz, Bella Nauman, Jaela Ludwick and Jessica Nguyen.

Sectional Speech champs

The Hubs competed at state in eight events. The Speech team emerged from the 30-team IHSA Sectional in second place, including a pair of Sectional Champions! Megan Thiravong earned hers in Radio Speaking and qualified for state in Extemporaneous Speaking. The Performance in the Round cast was another 2021 IHSA Sectional Speech Champion.

Silver Service Honor Cord

The Silver Service program honors students who volunteer 400 hours of community service while in high school. Recipients for 2021 were: Melanie Gonzalez, Clare Green, Morgan Haas, Zoe Hardcastle, Ben Harvey, Sofia Lenkaitis, Sawyer McGee, Noah Messer, Alexis Sanford, Ayah Sbeih, Jesenia Solano, Megan Thiravong, Sam Villalobos and Mary Wall.

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Here we R again

Senior swimmer Alli Cole won a sectional championship in the 50-yard freestyle. Had there been a state swim meet (it was cancelled due to Covid-19), it would have been Alli’s fourth consecutive swim for the title. At right, Alli’s dad’s 1986 letter jacket got an update, with a “21” and Alli’s letter.

Chellettes dance their way to state

Alexis Huerta won the Chellette Dance team award. Kayla Keilman was Chellette of the Year. All Conference dancers included: Jessica Vagle and Makaila Crump. Macy Ramos received Honorable Mention. Academic All Conference Dance honors were awarded to Keilman, Taylor Ponto and Kelsey O’Brien. For the third consecutive year, the RTHS Chellettes Dance Team was 10th at the IHSA Dance State Finals.

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Students’ artistic talent shines at invitational

Marlen Hueramo’s “Nuestra Cena de Nochebuena” won Best In Show, first place among all works submitted, at the Kishwaukee Art Invitational.

Other winners were ... 1st Place Drawings in Color: Leslie Rodriguez Sassy 2nd Place Drawings in Black and White: Kiley Frankenberry Fine 3rd Place Drawings in Black and White: Azeneth Milan Clinophobia 2nd Place Digital and Mixed Media: Emily Ward Removing the Mask

Honorable Mention: Grayson Yates Statue

Hubs earn $1.48 million institutional and $170,000 in local scholarships

Students’ academic achievements honored

Students and presenters appeared in person at the RTHS Auditorium for Honor Night, while family and friends viewed the ceremony through a live stream, at https://bit.ly/2021HonorsNight.