November 8, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Student-Athlete of the Month Rylee Sjuts

Every month in season coaches at St. Joseph-Ogden High School nominate athletes to be the student-athlete of the month. A committee of out of season coaches selects the student-athlete of the month.

We then ask them five questions.

In July, the committee selected Rylee Sjuts.

What is your favorite class at SJO?

My favorite class at SJO was Advanced Spanish 4 with Señor Sutton because he made each class enjoyable. I learned a lot but still managed to laugh and have fun each day.

What are your plans for after high school?
After high school I am attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am not completely decided on my major but think I will study business.

What is the best thing about being a student athlete at SJO?
The best thing about being a student-athlete at SJO is the encouragement and involvement from the community. Everyone is always asking how things went and cheering you on.

What is the most difficult thing about being a student athlete at SJO?
The most difficult thing about being a student-athlete at SJO is leaving it behind. I had so much fun each day and loved the family atmosphere so it is sad to say goodbye after an amazing four years.

How does it make you feel to know your coach nominated you for Athlete of the Month?
I feel honored that Coach Steffen nominated me for Athlete of the Month. I have loved being coached by someone with so much passion, knowledge and personal success. There are so many great athletes so it means a lot that she thought of me.

The Coach Says: Rylee values input from coaches. She always wants to make sure she is doing everything correct in terms of training, taking care of her body and being a good leader- Kelly Steffen

Banner
Related Posts

Gilliland coaching legacy strong at PVO

June 1, 2020

June 1, 2020

Coaching legacies can last decades for families. For the Gilliland family of rural Ogden, that notion has resonated for a...

Vallee, Lannert help SJO girls’ basketball increase win streak to four games

December 12, 2019

December 12, 2019

Winning close games has become a theme so far this season for the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team....

Walsh giving back: Former SJO quarterback now an assistant with the Spartans

November 2, 2019

November 2, 2019

Dalton Walsh has grown up around St. Joseph-Ogden High School football. Quite literally. “I remember being a kid and always...

‘They are all so unselfish’

February 22, 2019

February 22, 2019

The St. Joseph-Ogden Girls Basketball team is going to make history this weekend by bringing home a State trophy. And...

SJO football wins Illini Prairie Conference title

October 9, 2026

October 9, 2026

The Illini Prairie Conference is considered one of the best small-school high school football leagues in the state of Illinois.Meaning...

Plotner and Bagby lead Spartans to second place showing

April 5, 2019

April 5, 2019

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ track and field team began the outdoor season with a runner-up showing at a...

SJO soccer knocks off Comets via penalty kicks

September 17, 2019

September 17, 2019

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team picked up its second win of the season last Friday. The Spartans played...

Mattsey, Maroon and Mabry help Spartans shine in Monticello

October 24, 2020

October 24, 2020

The final regular season meet saw the St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ cross-country team thrive. So that’s a good sign for the...

Commitment pays off for Mattsey

December 10, 2019

December 10, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden Junior Brandon Mattsey is a leader. That is why his cross country coach Jason Retz, nominated him for...

Panthers on the prowl for state title

May 18, 2019

May 18, 2019

St. Joseph Middle School Head Track and Field Coach Zachary Steele couldn’t be prouder of his team. “We had a...

Armstrong leads balanced offense in win against Pontiac

February 25, 2021

February 25, 2021

Recovering from a tough home loss with a road win is always a good sign.Especially with multiple road games on...

Landrus, Waller help SJO baseball get off to strong start

April 1, 2024

April 1, 2024

Playing a competitive schedule is nothing new for the St. Joseph-Ogden baseball team.Neither is racking up win after win after...

Strong bond motivates Spartans Cross Country

November 9, 2019

November 9, 2019

Ally Monk wants people to know there is more to the St. Joseph-Ogden Cross Country program than trophies.  The SJO...

Relays shine bright for SJO girls’ track and field at Unity Invite

April 14, 2019

April 14, 2019

This past Friday night saw the St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ track and field team turn in a sterling performance...

Cramer, Jacob come up clutch in SJO girls’ basketball’s win against Tuscola

December 5, 2019

December 5, 2019

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team has fared well under pressure so far this season. The Spartans’ latest...

Comments
Leave a Reply