Making plans

Taylor Joehl is moving from one successful school to another.

Joehl, a standout running back for the Triopia-Meredosia Trojans, announced his plans to attend and play football at Augustana College Wednesday.

“It’s good to finally have a school picked out and to know where I’m going next year,” Joehl said. “I’m really excited.”

Joehl ran for 1,565 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, averaging 11.1 yards per carry. He led the Trojans to a 9-2 record and the second round of the playoffs.

Joehl was named Triopia’s Offensive MVP and the Journal-Courier’s Player of the Year. He was a Western Illinois Valley All-Conference selection, as well as an Illinois Football Coaches’ Association Class 1A first-team all-stater.

He’ll join one of the top teams in NCAA’s Division III. Augustana has won 22 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin titles and is the only school in NCAA history — regardless of level — to win four consecutive national championships.

“They have a strong tradition of good football teams and that was definitely one of the factors of why I picked there,” Joehl said.

Augustana runs the wing-T offense, the same formation Joehl has operated in for the past four years at Triopia. Joehl said that also played a role in his decision.

“It’s good to know that they’re running pretty much the same offense that we do,” he said. “I already know how to do it, so it makes me more comfortable knowing that I should be able to adapt to what they want to do.”

Joehl, who lettered for Triopia in basketball and baseball as well, also considered Monmouth College and Millikin University. The Triopia senior wants to study physical therapy at Augustana.

“I picked (Augustana) because when I went there I just felt real comfortable being around the coaches,” he said. “They seemed like they really wanted me. I just felt like I could see myself going there.”