Prep Sports | Illinois Valley

NewsTribune briefs: L-P’s Andy Medina, Princeton’s Cade Odell selected for Shrine Game

L-P grad Chris Swayne earns All-American honors at St. Xavier

L-P's Andres Medina reacts after making a big play against United Township on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 at Howard Fellows Stadium.

Three area football players were selected for the 51st Annual Illinois Shrine Game.

La Salle-Peru defensive lineman Andy Medina, Princeton defensive lineman Cade Odell and Amboy defensive lineman Quinn Leffleman will play for the Blue team.

Medina was All-Interstate 8 Conference, Odell was unanimous All-Three Rivers Conference Mississippi Division and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 3A All State and Leffleman was IHSFCA 8-Man All State and helped the Clippers to a repeat state title.

The game is June 21 at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Tucci Stadium in Bloomington.

La Salle-Peru graduate Chris Swayne Jr., a junior at St. Xavier University, was named the Cougars' MVP, NAIA All-American third team and All-Mid-States Football Association Midwest League first team.

L-P alumnus Chris Swayne earns All-American honors

La Salle-Peru graduate and St. Xavier University junior linebacker Chris Swayne has earned several postseason honors.

Swayne was voted NAIA All-American third team, was named All-Mid-States Football Association Midwest League first team, earend Daktronics NAIA Scholard-Athlete and was selected as St. Xavier’s Team MVP.

Swayne led the Cougars, who finished 5-6, with 100 tackles to go along with 8 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, four interceptions - one returned for a touchdown - 1 sack and a blocked kick.

Maggie Richetta

PC graduate Maggie Richetta earns all-conference

Putnam County graduate Maggie Richetta was one of four players from Sauk Valley Community College named to the All-Arrowhead Conference volleyball team for 2024.

Sauk’s Lacey Eissens was named as the Arrowhead co-MVP.

The Skyhawks reached the Regional IV Championship, falling 3-2 to Milwaukee Tech.

Richetta was named as the NewsTribune and Tri-County Conference Volleyball Player of the Year as a senior and was selected as the 2023-24 Putnam County Female Athlete of the Year.

Richetta finished with 229 kills, 114 blocks and 78 digs for the Skyhawks, who finished 31-8 overall and 9-0 in the conference.

Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin Hieronymus

Kevin has been sports editor of the BCR since 1986 and is Sports Editor of Putnam County Record. Was previously sports editor of the St. Louis Daily News and a contributor for the St. Louis Cardinals magazine. He is a 2021 inductee into the IBCA Hall of Fame (Media) and a 2023 inductee into the Illinois Valley Hall of Fame as "Distinguished Media"