The Ozone has once again qualified for the 1A/2A Student Section Showdown!  Over the course of the basketball season, The Ozone has been on the sidelines cheering on the Rockets and Lady Rockets.  

Okawville submitted a video for the competition in February to earn a spot at the State Tournament this coming weekend Saturday, March 12.  The video consists of footage of the Ozone getting loud and crazy for the Okawville Rockets and Lady Rockets and can be found on YouTube as “2022 IHSA SS Showdown: Okawville.”

OHS students have gotten very creative with themes for the Ozone this year.  A new theme was Ref Appreciation Night.  Students dressed up as referees or wore white and black to show their appreciation to the officials.  Many classic OHS themes were also brought back such as Hawaiian Night, Pack the Place (White Out), Frat Night, and many others.  

This year’s student section leader was Wilson Welch (senior).  He was helped by fellow seniors Levi Traub, Raegan Luechtefeld, and Sydney Tebbe.  “Seeing the impact we made by cheering on the girls or boys, you could tell it was big and meant a lot to them when they were on the court knowing their friends were there for them,” says Welch.  “I am definitely going to miss the Ozone and all the energy. It was something that I knew I was going to be leading once I got into high school, so this being the last time I got to lead, it really stings and I will miss it forever.”  Welch has helped lead the Ozone all four years of his high school career.  “I think the Ozone has a great chance to win it all. We do every year because we are the best around and everyone knows that.”

The Ozone has won three Student Section Showdowns in the past, those being in 2017, 2018, and 2019.  This is the fifth appearance in the State Showdown for Okawville.  Good luck to the Ozone this Saturday at the State Tournament in Champaign, Illinois!