By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – It’s a movie Central Catholic fans have seen before.

Central Catholic drives its way to a state championship – with no drama.

“We are really close, there wasn’t any drama or anything (on) our team,” senior Sydney Shanks said in recapping the Saints’ Class 2A volleyball championship season which ended on Saturday with a dogpile at center court after a win over previously unbeaten Orion at Redbird Arena.

Coach J.R. Banister knows what makes these Saints special.

“Every one of them,” Banister declared. “They are all special in their own way. It’s a good group of kids. They all get along on and off the court.”

Junior Kate Hoerdemann said the state after the school’s title celebration that it’s still sinking in.

“This morning when I was driving I was like ‘Wow, we just won a state championship,” Hoerdemann said. “I think its really exciting because most of us have had this dream since we were kids.”

Central Catholic has won five state title in five sports in 2008 (football 2008, girls track 2009, girls basketball 2010, boys basketball 2014). Principal Sean Foster said these never get old.

“It really does help with school morale and it’s another fun thing we get to celebrate,” Foster said.

He added the Saints’ close-knit community appreciates the success of its student athletes.

“We are a smaller school and as such we have a very strong family atmosphere and so every students from freshman to seniors, they get excited,” Foster said. “Our faculty and staff get excited.”

Two notable CCHS alums, state Sen. Bill Brady and state Rep. Dan Brady, both offered congratulations to the team and encouraged the team to come to the Illinois Capitol in the near future to be formally recognized as finishing best in the state.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].