Casey-Westfield High School Students Secure Top Honors at Regional Academic Competitions

Casey-Westfield School Board Meeting | March 16, 2026

Article Summary: Casey-Westfield Junior/Senior High School students demonstrated significant academic prowess throughout late February and early March, securing top regional finishes in both mathematics and general academics while also participating in high-level leadership conferences.

High School Academics Key Points:

• The district hosted 11 schools and 140 students for the ACES regional competition, with Casey-Westfield taking third place as a team.

• The Math Team saw sweeping success at Eastern Illinois University, including a first-place finish for the Freshmen Algebra 1 team.

• High school girls attended the Women’s LEAD Conference at Lincoln Trail College, while civics students participated in a mock legislative session at the State Capitol.

The Casey-Westfield School Board on Monday, March 16, 2026, was presented with a building report highlighting a streak of academic and extracurricular victories for Junior/Senior High School students.

According to the building report submitted by Junior/Senior High School Principal Jim Sullivan, the district successfully hosted the ACES (Academic Challenge) regional competition at the Roosevelt building on Thursday, March 5. The event brought in 140 students from 11 visiting schools.

The Casey-Westfield team secured third place overall in the regional competition. Individual standouts included Charity Large, who placed first in English; Zoe Miller, who placed third in Biology; and Kate Yates, who took third in Engineering Graphics.

The district’s Math Team also delivered strong performances during a February 28 competition at Eastern Illinois University. Twenty-two Casey-Westfield students participated, resulting in several top-tier placements. Corbyn Easton placed first and Chloe Taylor placed second in Algebra 1, while Destiney Budd took fifth in Geometry, and Will Cochonour placed third in Algebra 2.

In the team categories at EIU, the Freshmen Algebra 1 Team placed first, the Fresh-Soph eight-person team placed second, the junior-senior two-person team of Kellen Sullivan and Will Cochonour placed third, and the Oral Presentation team of Nolan Clement and Will Cochonour also placed third.

Beyond competitive academics, students also engaged in hands-on leadership and civics training. Counselor Mrs. Lee took a group of junior and sophomore female students to the Women’s LEAD Conference at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson on March 12. Attendees included Arhi Bonds, Gyllyn Gilbert, Claire Kusterman, Evelynne Norton, Madelynn Norton, Mariana Santillan, Haley Schackmann, Hannah Schackmann, Peyton Sellers, Brylee Spittler, Gracie Taylor, Bentley Wetherell, Olivia Whitacre, and Kyla Worby.

Additionally, on March 4, civics teacher Jeffrey Schnetzler escorted Will Cochounour, Lucas Weinberger, Norah Ramsey, and Ella Whitacre to the State Capitol in Springfield. The students served as the school’s representatives at the Youth Advisory Council hosted by State Senator Chapin Rose. During the visit, the students toured the House and Senate chambers and participated in a simulated committee meeting and a mock Senate floor vote on proposed legislation.