Tuscola girls track and field secures fourth straight IHSA state trophy
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Patterson closes historic career as Lady Warriors finish second at Class 1A finals
By Ben Crane
CHARLESTON — The Tuscola Lady Warriors made more than just noise at O’Brien Field last weekend — they made history. With a second-place team finish at the IHSA Class 1A Girls Track and Field State Finals, Tuscola clinched its fourth consecutive state trophy, a run of consistency and excellence that places the program among the elite in Illinois small-school athletics.
The Lady Warriors tallied 49 points across a packed two-day schedule, trailing only El Paso-Gridley (56) and edging out Father McGivney Catholic (48) in a thrilling finish that wasn’t decided until the final races on Saturday. For a program that won a state championship in 2022, followed by a third-place finish in 2023 and another runner-up effort in 2024, this latest result adds a new chapter to a legacy still being written.
“Four trophies in four years — I mean, I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t something I thought about,” said Head Coach Drew Sterkel. “It’s not something I always express to the girls, but that’s a pretty cool thing. That’s a hard feat to accomplish.”
Leading the charge in Charleston was senior Lia Patterson, who punctuated her remarkable career with another four-medal performance. She won her second straight state titles in both the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles, placed second in the 200-meter dash, and anchored the third-place 4×200 relay team. In doing so, she became a 16-time All-State performer — a record Sterkel said may never be topped.
“I told her, ‘Go out there and be a 16-time All-Stater, and it’s a record nobody can beat. They can only tie it — unless they change the rules, of course,’” he said.
Patterson’s final state meet was marked not only by her performance, but also by a moment of reflection shared with Sterkel before her last race. In a quiet corner near the staging tent, coach and athlete stood together one final time in the black and gold.
“She looked at me and said, ‘Hey, what do I have to do?’ And I said, ‘Just go out there and give everything you’ve got,’” Sterkel recalled. “We just had a conversation about all four years, everything she’s put in. She was tired, but still focused on what we could do for the team. That really touched me.”
It wasn’t the first time the two had stood in that spot and talked about what it would take to finish strong. In 2022, as a freshman, Patterson was seeded outside the top five in the 200 meters and shocked the field with a runner-up finish that helped deliver Tuscola its state title.
“This was almost the same exact conversation I had with Alyssa her senior year, when Lia was a freshman,” Sterkel said. “It just shows you how much she’s grown, and how much she’s meant to this team.”
Patterson wasn’t the only standout. Junior Kate Foltz placed third in the 3200-meter run and qualified for finals in the 1600, finishing 10th. Tuscola’s 4×200 relay — featuring Kenna Clodfelder, Reese Davis, Rylie Vanausdoll, and Patterson — grabbed bronze, while Vanausdoll also soared to third in the triple jump with a personal best.
Sterkel credited the depth and resolve of the team, especially in a high-stakes setting.
“That stage is completely different than a Friday invitational or a Tuesday meet,” he said. “The stands were packed. Fortunately, we’ve got a bunch of kids that have done that before.”
The only newcomer to the state meet experience was Reese Davis, while Vanausdoll was competing in her first events despite attending in the past. Still, the pressure didn’t rattle the team.
“I was so pleased with the way they were able to compete,” Sterkel said. “Everybody’s going to give their best that day — and the fact that we were able to walk out with a whole bunch of medals and yet again, another team trophy, is just amazing on their part.”
What separates Tuscola’s program, Sterkel says, isn’t just the talent — it’s the buy-in.
“We talk about it all the time: You get five minutes to be upset, and then it’s time to move on,” he said. “That’s something we’ve talked about for four years with these girls. They weren’t good at it at first, but they’ve learned how to do it.”
That mentality paid off during the finals. After a tough result in one event, Clodfelder and Vanausdoll could have folded — but instead regrouped and contributed to the relay that ultimately made the difference in team scoring.
“It just goes to show how much they care about each other,” Sterkel said. “They could’ve said, ‘I did terrible in my favorite event,’ but they didn’t. They came out and ran just a heck of a race and got third. Heck, if we get fourth — we tie.”
Sterkel also praised the program’s ability to respond to adversity with grace and pride.
“I remember I texted one of our coaches and even pulled Kenna and Rylie aside and said, ‘How blessed are you that your day’s not done?’” he said. “I never once got to compete at the state meet. They’re not going to let a teammate down — that’s how much they love each other.”
As the team racked up points and closed in on the podium, Sterkel maintained his usual routine. Every year, he finds the same seat in the bleachers, wearing the same outfit — a quiet, personal tradition.
“I sit in the same exact spot every year,” he said. “Same shirt, same pants, same sweatshirt and socks. I don’t know if it’s superstition or just reliving some of the great memories, but this will be one of those.”
He kept score mentally and scribbled notes in a notepad — his largest yet — tracking scenarios as competitors from schools like Effingham St. Anthony and Father McGivney jockeyed for placement.
“I guess it’s more so me, just second-guessing. Did I do enough for them to be successful?” he said. “That’s my biggest fear — not living up to all the work they’ve put in.”
After the final race, the team made a mad dash home to make it to graduation in time. For Sterkel, it was a moment to remind his athletes that these are the memories they’ll cherish.
“I told them, ‘Not many people get to come back with a trophy. I know you want to get back to graduation, but this will be a memory you’ll have forever,’” he said.
Tuscola’s gymnasium will soon hang another black banner — a visual reminder of the program’s incredible four-year run. And for Sterkel, it will also be a reminder of the girls who made it possible.
“I purposely walk in the north doors every morning just so I can go into the gym and look at those banners,” he said. “And relive some of those great memories of these girls and all their accomplishments.”
From the first title in 2022 to Saturday’s silver trophy, the Tuscola Lady Warriors have written one of the most impressive chapters in area sports history — with no signs of slowing down.
“This isn’t just a great team,” Sterkel said. “This is a legacy.”