Sparta Bulldogs win the title. Chester YellowJackets are Runners-Up. Gibault takes 3rd Place and Perryville wins Consolation Championship
CHESTER – The 61st Annual Chester Invitational Tournament, better known as the CIT, took place Monday through Saturday January 13-18 in Chester High School’s Colbert Memorial Gymnasium on Rocky Bridges Court. According to some local authorities, the CIT is the longest running basketball tournament south of I-70.
This year’s event featured eight local teams, five from Southern Illinois and three from Southeastern Missouri. Southern Illinois teams included the Chester YellowJackets, the Waterloo Gibault Catholic Hawks, the New Athens Yellowjackets, the Sparta Bulldogs, and the Valmeyer Pirates.
Southeastern Missouri Teams included the Perryville Pirates, the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders, and the Ste. Genevieve Valle Catholic Warriors.
RESULTS
Round 1 Games
Monday January 13
Game 1: New Athens 75 – Saxony 57
Game 2: Chester 49 – Valmeyer 18
Tuesday January 14
Game 3: Sparta 75 – Perryville 50
Game 4: Gibault 55 – Valle 41
Round 2 Games
Wednesday January 15
Game 5: Valmeyer 59 – Saxony 47
Game 6: Chester 50 – New Athens 37
Thursday January 16
Game 7: Perryville 75 – Valle 69
Game 8: Sparta 52 – Gibault 46
NO GAMES FRIDAY JANUARY 17
Round 3 Games
Saturday January 18 “CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY”
Game 9: 7th Place Game: Valle 58 – Saxony 40
Game 10: Consolation Championship Game: Perryville 77 – Valmeyer 53
Game 11: 3rd Place Game: Gibault 66 – New Athens 63 (Buzzer Beater)
Game 12: Championship Game: Sparta 45 – Chester 35
Final Standings
1st Place “CHAMPIONS”: Sparta Bulldogs
2nd Place “Runners-Up”: Chester YellowJackets
3rd Place: Gibault Hawks
4th Place: New Athens Yellowjackets
5th Place: Perryville Pirates
6th Place: Valmeyer Pirates
7th Place: Valle Warriors
8th Place: Saxony Lutheran Crusaders
2025 Chester Invitational Tournament “All-Tournament Team
This year, players who were selected for the All-Tournament Team were announced at the end of each game to allow fans to witness the presentations of medals immediately.
In previous years when the All-Tournament Team was announced at the end of Championship Saturday, many players and fans had already left the event and missed the presentations. By presenting awards at the end of the tournament, school administrators were responsible for mailing awards after the fact. That practice also took added time, added effort and did not allow for the honoring of athletes and teams.
2025 CIT All-Tournament Team
Damian Lanton, Sparta, MVP
Dariontez Monroe, Sparta
D.J. Hayes, Sparta
Kolton Jany, Chester
Brenden Malley, Chester
Payton Schaefer, Gibault
Jack Holston, Gibault
Isaiah Lintker, New Athens
Jake Cissell, Perryville
Aiden Crossin, Valmeyer
Trophies were also presented at the end of the “Consolation Championship Game”; the “3rd Place Game”; and “Championship Game” for 1st and 2nd Places.
2025 CIT Trophy Winners
1st Place: Sparta Bulldogs
2nd Place: Chester YellowJackets
3rd Place: Gibault Hawks
Consolation Champion: Perryville
Throughout the tournament, cheerleaders were judged to determine who would be the 2025 Chester Invitational Tournament Cheerleading Champion. Not all schools had cheerleaders. Those that chose to be in the competition included Chester, New Athens, Perryville, Saxony, Sparta, and Valmeyer. A plaque was presented to the winning team.
2025 CIT Cheerleading Contest results
1st Place: Sparta 194 points
2nd Place: New Athens 189 points
3rd Place: Chester 186 points
4th Place: Perryville 162 points
5th Place: Saxony: 139 points
6th Place: Valmeyer 138 points
Note: Valle Catholic and Gibault Catholic did not have cheerleaders enter the competition.
The Sparta Bulldogs were the winners of the 2025 Chester Invitational Tournament. Pictured with their championship trophy are (in no particular order): Quintin Littlepage (0), Eian Wallace (1), DJ Hayes (2), Grant Allard (3), Damian Lanton (4), Camden Allard (10), DeQuan Woods (11), Tyrell Charles (12), Dariontez Monroe (13), Logan Shelton (14), Jake Wesbecher (20), Aidan Hernandez (22), and Owen Kueker (23). The Bulldogs are coached by Head Coach, Jordon Becley. He is assisted by Tommy Criag, and Thomas White. Jim Beers Photo
The Sparta Bulldog Cheerleaders were the winners of the 2025 CIT Cheer Competition. They are pictured here with their 1st Place plaque and their Cheer Coach following the presentation of their award. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured are the 2025 Chester Invitational Tournament “All-Tournament Team members from the 1st Place Sparta Bulldogs and the Runner-Up Chester YellowJackets. (Left to right) are Kolton Jany (13), Chester, Brenden Malley (34), Chester, DJ Davis (2), Sparta, Dariontez Monroe (13) Sparta, and Damian Lanton (4), Sparta. Lanton was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honor for the 61st Annual CIT. Jim Beers Photo
The Perryville Pirates were the 2025 CIT Consolation Champions. Pictured here with their trophy are (front row, left to right) Josiah Friesz (14), Karston Schilli (5), Evan Hayden (3), Jake Cissell (10), Bryce Webber (21), and No. 13 Not in program. (Back row, left to right): Carter Blechle (23), Josiah Paisley (15), Cole Rodewald (24), Waylan Huber (2), Hunter Esselman (25), Aiden Windel (1), Eli Schott (11), Head Coach, Chris Hahn, and Levi Cissell (12). Assistant Coaches are Jeff Reisenbichler and Josh Cole. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured are 2025 All-Tournament Team Members from Consolation Champion Jake Cissell (10) from Perryville and Consolation Runner-Up Aiden Crossin (3) of Valmeyer. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured are the Gibault Hawks, 3rd Place finishers in the 2025 Chester Invitational Tournament. Pictured (row 1, left to right) are Jai Lavington (44), Nolan Snell (22), Colby Kinchloe (12) Jack Holston (11), Tyler Frierdich (20), and Grady Frierdich (14). (Row 2, left to right) are Ryan Biffar (24), Drew Hagedorn (32), Payton Schaefer (40), Michael Wessel (34), Evan Braun (10), Oscar Gendris (4), Kole Schilling (50), and Kole Schilling, and Kyle Toenjes (30). The Hawks are coached by Head Coach, Dennis Rueter. He is assisted by Terry Souchek, Tim Augustine, Trevor Davis, and Dan Niebruegge. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured are 2025 Chester Invitational Tournament “All-Tournament” Team members from Gibault and New Athens. Gibault won 3rd Place and New Athens was the 4th Place finisher. Pictured (left to right) are Isaiah Lintker (23) of New Athens, Payton Schaefer of Gibault, and Jack Holston (11) of Gibault. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School YellowJackets were the Runners-Up of the 2025 Chester Invitational Tournament. The Jackets beat Valmeyer, 49-18, in Round 1 of the tournament to advance to the Semi-Finals and won against New Athens, 50-37, in Round 2 to advance to the Championship game vs Sparta. In the Championship game, CHS fell to Sparta, 45-35 to finish in 2nd Place. Pictured here (left to right) are the Varsity YellowJackets including Zane Eggemeyer (0), Kolton Jany )13), TaShawn Palacio (21), Devante Palacio (5), Brenden Malley (34), Evan Dunning (15), Gabe Coffman (23), Trey McCartney (32), Tallen James (10), Jack Heffernan (11), and Cayden Brunkhorst (1), Kolton Jany and Brenden Malley were selected to the 2025 CIT All-Tournament Team. he YellowJackets are coached by Head Coach, Chris Toledo. He is assisted by Nick Severs, Tony James, and Bryce Bainter. Jim Beers Photo
