The 8th grade girls basketball team from St. Patrick School in Washington is shown Dec. 14 with the IESA 8-1A state championship trophy. This team won the state 7th grade title a year ago and has a two-season record of 54 wins and no losses. (Provided photo)

WASHINGTON — This year’s girls basketball season at St. Patrick School in Washington will long be remembered by the school community.

On Dec. 14, the 8th grade Irish earned the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Class 8-1A girls state championship by defeating previously undefeated Sigel St. Michael 38-30 to complete a perfect 26-0 season.

That would be memorable enough, but there’s more! Last year, as 7th graders, the team earned the IESA 7-1A girls state title and also sported a perfect record, 28-0, for a two-year unblemished record of 54 wins, 0 losses, and two state titles.

Incredibly, this year’s 7th grade squad from St. Patrick is following in the same perfect footsteps. One week earlier, the 7th grade Irish girls won the IESA 7-1A state championship by defeating Kinderhook Western 22-6 to complete a stellar 28-0 season.

Pictured above with the 8-1A state championship trophy after their Dec. 14 win at Clinton Junior High School are, front row from left, Shelby Matsko, Cecilia Hatton, Rose Berberich, Gianna Ruppel, Annie Tenuta, Hayden Cadwalader, Petra Chiras, Miranda Windsor, Ava Ritter, Lily Larrison, and Brynn Reed; second row from left, Aime Blankenship, Maya Anthony, Emma Draeger, Grace Messmer, Lilia Blankenship, Ashlyn Crowley, Emily Clift, Ella Reed, Kate McDougall, Grace Johannsen, A.J. Berberich, Blythe Briggs, Maeve Greene, and Sophia Ozella; back row from left,

Also winning an IESA state championship this month was the 7th grade girls basketball team from St. Patrick School in Washington, shown with their trophy after completing a 28-0 season. (Provided photo)

assistant coaches Jerry Lee and Jeff Draeger, and head coach Dustin McDougall.

At right with the 7-1A state championship trophy after their Dec. 7 win at Assumption Central Middle School are, front row from left, Sophia Ozella, Grace Ruppel, AJ Berberich, Emily Clift, Lilia Blankenship, Kate McDougall, Ella Reed, Grace Johannsen, and Ashlyn Crowley; second row from left, Blythe Briggs, Cecilia Hatton, Rose Berberich, Emma Draeger, Maya Anthony, Aime Blankenship, Gianna Ruppel, Brynn Reed, Grace Messmer, Maeve Greene, and Shelby Matsko; back row from left, Jerry Lee (assistant coach), Dustin McDougall (head coach), and Jeff Draeger (assistant coach).

Peru Catholic placed fourth in 7-1A and finished with a 16-4 record.