Sunny Weber Dominates First to the Finish; Connor Medina Shines

BREAKING NEWS: In a thrilling showcase at the First to the Finish Invitational held at Detweiller Park in Peoria, Illinois on October 14, 2023, local athletes delivered impressive performances that are making headlines today.

In the boys’ 2A event, Connor Medina of Ottawa secured a notable finish, placing 60th out of 555 runners with a time of 16:03.8. This performance stands out as the area’s only top-150 finish, underscoring Medina’s potential in competitive cross country.

Meanwhile, the 1A girls event saw a remarkable victory from Sunny Weber of Sandwich, who clinched first place by a decisive margin of nearly 10 seconds, clocking in at 16:18.7. Weber’s triumph is a significant highlight for local fans and adds to her growing reputation in the sport.

Other top local finishes included:
– Seneca’s Lily Mueller at 82nd with a time of 20:19.9
– Sandwich’s Kayla Kressin at 101st with 20:47.9
– Seneca’s Talia Jenkins at 127th with 21:12.2

In the boys’ 1A event, Alex Walsh from Sandwich placed 117th with a time of 17:01.3, marking the area’s top finish in that category.

Switching gears to soccer, the Ottawa Pirates faced off against the Serena Huskers, securing a convincing 4-1 victory. Ottawa established dominance early, leading 3-0 by halftime. The only goal for Serena came from Payton Twait, assisted by Troy Seiberlich.

In girls’ volleyball, Newark’s team participated in the Bullet Invitational at Williamsville, finishing with a 3-2 record, landing them in seventh place. Notable players included Rylie Carlson, who earned all-tournament honors with 30 kills and 32 digs. Other standout performances came from Zoey Carlson (24 kills), Heather Buhle (24 kills, 35 digs), and Morgen Hergenhahn (58 digs).

Additionally, at the Sandwich Invitational, the Fighting Irish achieved a perfect 5-0 record, claiming the championship title. Host Sandwich struggled, finishing 1-4, with notable performances from Shayla Green (33 digs, 8 aces) and Liza Goodbred (22 digs, 15 kills).

As these exciting events unfold, local sports enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the next competitions and how these athletes will build on their successes. Stay tuned for more updates on the First to the Finish Invitational and local sports action!