Eureka Ended a 22-Year Curse, and Nobody in Illinois Saw It Coming

Alright, Seattle, listen up! While we're all out here bleeding green and blue for our own squads, some crazy stuff has been going down in the high school sports world out in Peoria, Illinois. Seriously, you gotta hear this. The Journal Star is running a poll right now to pick their Boys Team of the Year for 2025-26, and after seeing what some of these teams pulled off, it's gonna be a tough call. And get this, Auggie Lohnes and Izzy Ripka just snagged the final Athlete of the Week honors. The poll closes fast, so let's dive into some of the insane seasons these teams had.

El Paso-Gridley's Defense Was Absolutely Nasty

First up, El Paso-Gridley football. The Titans, coached by Tanner Benedict, made history in 2025. They hit their first-ever state semifinal as a consolidation, which is massive! But the real kicker? They rolled through the regular season undefeated, crushing the Heart of Illinois Conference-Large Division at a perfect 5-0. They ended up losing to eventual state champ Wilmington in November, but these dudes were averaging 36.8 points a game, scoring 35 or more EIGHT times. But we gotta talk about that defense, folks. This wasn't just good, it was *special*. They only gave up 11.0 points per game, shut out opponents four times, and kept teams to 15 points or less in TEN games. Are you kidding me? Sophomore wide receiver Cha'von Maxon and junior linebacker Owen Adams were straight-up All-Area selections. That's a defense you dream about building here in the Emerald City.

Washington Soccer Almost Rewrote the Record Books

Then you got Washington soccer, and what a run they had on the pitch. These Panthers, led by head coach Chad Clift, finished as the Class 2A state runner-up, only falling in penalty kicks to Chicago De La Salle back in November. Can you imagine the heartbreak? That was their program's first-ever boys soccer state finals appearance, by the way. They finished with an unbelievable 29-2-1 record. Just one more win would've tied the state's single-season win mark. John Clift's first-half goal in that title match tied it at 1-1, showing they never quit. Before that final, they'd won 14 in a row and were outscoring opponents 55-4. Isaac Retz was named Player of the Year, with Hudson Scrivner, John Clift, Truman Lenover, and Ollie Wettstein also getting all-area nods. What a squad! And get this, Washington golf also snagged a Class 2A second-place trophy. Retiring head coach Dan Garske went out with a bang thanks to senior Gavin Schreurs, who finished fourth overall. These guys know how to win! But the real shocker? Eureka cross country, folks. They broke a 22-year drought, grabbing the program's first-ever Class 1A state title and their sixth overall. They edged out powerhouses Elmwood/Brimfield 151-163 on the legendary Detweiller Park course in November. Ending a curse like that? That's pure magic. So, who gets your vote for Peoria-area team of the year? Seriously, hit up pjstar.com/sports and make your voice heard before noon Thursday. And keep your eyes peeled next week for the girls' team of the year nominations. You know we'll be watching!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.