Area Sports Roundup: Runners sign letters, SXU heads to volleyball nationals
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Back in the early 1970s, Richards had an outstanding distance runner, Ray Giff, who went on to run at Indiana University. History has repeated itself. Richards cross country and track standout Owen Forberg put forth an all-state effort at the cross country state finals on Oct. 5, and four days…
Mother McAuley tops Benet for 16th state title
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Playing with the motivation of losing last season’s Class 4A state title match, Mother McAuley was on a mission to bring home the championship this year. Mission accomplished. The Mighty Macs defeated Benet, 25-22, 17-25, 25-14, for the 4A state crown on Nov. 12 at Redbird Arena in Normal. Ellie White…
St. Francis tops Nazareth in three sets for Class 3A title
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Kitty Sandt smiled through the disappointment. There was no reason to dwell on it. The Nazareth senior setter/right side hitter had just ended her high school volleyball career in a familiar place: Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State. In three of Sandt’s four high school years, she saw the…
Pigskin Wrap: SXU defense can’t rest in playoff opener v. high-scoring Marian
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Saint Xavier’s defense will be put to the test in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series. The Cougars (9-2) drew the 11th seed in the 16-team tournament that will decide the national champion. They will visit seventh-seeded Marian (Indiana) (8-1) at 12:05 p.m. Saturday at St. Vincent…
Nazareth blanks Morgan Park, advances to Class 5A semifinals
By Steve Metsch Correspondent Justin Taylor has not forgotten the sting he felt watching Fenwick celebrate its IHSA Class 5A quarterfinal victory on Nazareth’s home field roughly one year ago. Taylor repeatedly reminded his teammates of that scene during practice last week as the Roadrunners prepared for this season’s quarterfinal matchup against Morgan Park. “That…
Vigil honors Shepard High School’s Ryan Plowman
By Kelly White Ryan Plowman will forever be remembered by his classmates and educators as an All-American kid who always put others above himself. The 17-year-old Shepard High School student from Crestwood passed away suddenly after a short battle with mononucleosis on November 5. “Ryan was the epitome of pure heart and soul,” said Renee…
Moraine Valley home to Southland Saints of rekindled American Basketball Association
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Moraine Valley Community College is the home of the American Basketball Association’s Southland Saints. The Saints, playing in the rekindled ABA — the modern-day incarnation of the professional league that produce several future NBA stars including Julius Erving and Rick Barry — opened the season Nov. 6 and have more…
Area Sports Roundup: Riverside-Brookfield wins first cross country state title
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Riverside-Brookfield’s boys cross country team brought home a state championship, the first championship — according to IHSA records — is the the school’s first state title an any sport. And four of the five runners who scored for the Bulldogs are underclassmen and could be back next season to defend…
Football Class 8A Playoffs: Lyons takes down Plainfield North
By Steve Metsch Correspondent Lyons scored three touchdown during a wild third quarter and its defense shut down the Plainfield North offense in the second half, and the Lions advanced to the IHSA Class 8A quarterfinals. The visiting Lions (9-2) posted a 24-13 win beat the previously undefeated Tigers (10-1) on Nov. 4. They will…
Pigskin Wrap: Brother Rice and Mount Carmel to meet for fourth time in two seasons
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer For the fourth time in two seasons, league rivals Brother Rice and Mount Carmel will do battle. The way the playoffs have shaken out, 24th-seeded Brother Rice (7-4) will visit top-seed Mount Carmel (11-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday in the IHSA Class 7A quarterfinals. The matchup materialized after second-round action…
From Brother Rice to the big leagues: Palos Park’s Michael Massey is having a Royal summer
By Steve Metsch Whether his career ends tomorrow, next year or in 10 years, Michael Massey is definitely enjoying Major League Baseball. He’s the local kid done good, living the dream. He’s a major league baseball player, starting at second base for the Kansas City Royals. Massey, 24, grew up in Palos Park where he played Little…
Pigskin Wrap: Catholic League teams power through first round of playoffs
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Todd Kuska Era at St. Rita is coming to a close. The retiring coach would prefer it would come two days after Thanksgiving, meaning the Mustangs would be playing in the IHSA Class 7A state championship game for a second straight season. The 12th-seeded Mustangs took the first step…
Postseason Roundup: Riverside-Brookfield boys lead bevy of area teams going to state
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer An army of area cross country teams and runners will compete at the state finals on Saturday. The leading boys team invading Detweiler Park in Peoria is Riverside-Brookfield, which won the Kaneland Class 2A Sectional Oct. 29 with 97 points. Junior Cooper Marrs led the way for the Bulldogs with…
Lyons tops Naperville Central in first round of 8A playoffs
By Steve Metsch Correspondent Practice paid off for Lyons quarterback Ryan Jackson, and it didn’t involve a single pass. Jackson looked good throwing the ball in the Lions’ Class 8A playoff opener against Naperville Central on Oct. 28. The junior completed 10-of-15 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. But it was his…
Girls Volleyball: Sandburg wins 18th straight regional crown
By Steve Millar Correspondent Sandburg’s girls volleyball team faced off with Lincoln-Way Central twice in the regular season. Both were hard-fought three-set matches, but the Knights beat the Eagles both times. Still, senior outside hitter Claire Hildebrand was optimistic heading into the teams’ third meeting in Thursday’s Class 4A Rich Township Regional championship game. “I…
Boys Soccer Playoffs: Mount Carmel holds off Washington for sectional title
By Steve Millar Correspondent Mount Carmel survived an upset bid from Kankakee in a Class 2A Brother Rice Sectional semifinal, prevailing 4-3 in overtime. But the poor defensive effort was a wake-up call for a Caravan team that has prided itself on shutting teams down all year. “That was way too many goals,” Mount Carmel…
Wilmington rolls over Chicago Christian to begin title defense
By Tim Cronin Correspondent WILMINGTON – Extravagant as the pregame ceremony introducing the Wilmington Wildcats to their loyal fans is — complete with fireworks, a motorcycle escort, running through the grove of trees beyond the south end zone and thence to a fan corridor on the Becker Field grass — it has nothing on the…
Nazareth dup place in top 12 at state girls tennis finals
By Steve Millar Correspondent Makenzie Hyland advanced to the fourth round in the consolation bracket at the girls state tennis finals last season with doubles partner McCahey Hardy. This year, the Nazareth senior found herself back in the same round with new partner, junior Audrey Moster. She was determined to go beyond. “It’s my senior…
Pigskin Wrap: Marist great late in win over rival Rice; area teams prep for playoffs
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Marist didn’t have too much time to savor its’ come-from-behind rivalry 34-16 win over Brother Rice. Twenty-fours hours later, the IHSA announced its playoff pairings, with the RedHawks (6-3) drawing the eighth seed and on the road at 15th seeded Naperville North (7-2) at 7 p.m. Friday in the Class…
Area Sports Roundup: Sandburg cross country runners bring home two titles
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Sandburg doubled its pleasure in cross country regionals. Both the boys and girls came up with regional titles at Midlothian Meadows in Midlothian on Oct. 22. The Eagles girls won their first regional title since 2015, according to the IHSA, with 23 points. Runner-up Mother McAuley finished with 54 points.…
Mount Carmel comes back to top Loyola, finishes regular season unbeaten
By Steve Millar Correspondent With his team trailing Loyola by 10 points at halftime in a battle between two unbeaten teams, senior quarterback Blainey Dowling had a message for his Mount Carmel teammates. Dowling called upon them to remember who they are. “I gathered the team up and I said, ‘Hey, the first half didn’t…
Mother McAuley tops Lyons; teams could meet again in sectionals
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Senior Night is always a special event. Especially when senior twins are on the team. The Moonan twins, Maeve and Jillian, played their final home match together at Mother McAuley last week and the Mighty Macs sent them out in style. In a possible postseason preview, McAuley made short work of…
Nazareth steamrolls into playoffs with rout of Benet
By Steve Metsch Correspondent When Nazareth coach Tim Racki was piecing together the Roadrunners’ 2022 schedule, he wanted to ensure the Roadrunners would be battle-tested by season’s end. He loaded the schedule with games against 2021 Class 5A runner-up Kankakee, perennial power Lemont and tough Catholic League opponents including Marist and St. Rita. After a…
New Palos Heights park in Coyne’s name is gold
By Jeff Vorva Olympic hockey standout Kendall Coyne Schofield said some of her success comes from growing up in Palos Heights. “For me, growing up in the city of Palos Heights was a dream,” she said. “There are so many things that make this such a special place. But most importantly, it’s the people in…
Red Stars Report: Alex Morgan and Wave sink Red Stars in OT
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer From the Chicago Red Stars point of view, things started out Yuki and ended up yucky. The Red Stars dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to San Diego late Sunday night in the first round of the NWSL playoffs at Snapdragon Stadium. Alex Morgan, who earned the league’s Golden Boot for…
‘A tragedy that’s waiting to happen’
Civic group demands action on condos By Tim Hadac Four condominium buildings on the south end of Archer Heights pose a threat to the safety of the men, women and children living there, a civic leader said this week. “I see those buildings and I see a tragedy that’s waiting to happen,” Archer Heights Civic…
Pizzeria promises ‘all new kitchen’
Villa Rosa retools after Health Dept. shutdown By Tim Hadac An Archer Avenue pizzeria is promising a complete renovation in the wake of its shutdown by the Chicago Department of Public Health six weeks ago. “We are renovating the entire restaurant with all new and innovative, state-of-the-art equipment to be able to provide the best…
‘Consistent, unwavering dedication to the community’
GRCL President Richard Techman’s life to be celebrated From staff reports Richard J. Techman was a lifelong Garfield Ridge resident and longtime president of the Garfield Ridge Civic League. He died suddenly and unexpectedly at home on Saturday, Oct. 15. He was 65 years old. “As a news reporter, I had contact with Rick going…
Police exam coming up next month
From staff reports The Chicago Police Department will host in-person police officer entry exams at all City Colleges of Chicago locations from Dec. 1-3. Those between the ages of 21 and 39 are eligible to take the exam and begin the process of becoming a CPD officer. “Anyone who is passionate about serving others is…
Johnny Rose is a singer with a dream
Clearing man trying to hit the big time By Kelly White John Rosenthal is a man who wears more than one hat. By day, he is a senior account manager at Associated Advertisers Inc. By night, he is an usher at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. But beyond that, he’s Johnny Rose, a singer with…
Andy’s Frozen Custard coming to Archer, Tabares says
Plans to set up shop in vacant bank building By Tim Hadac An Andy’s Frozen Custard shop may be coming to Garfield Ridge within a year, 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares said this month. If all goes according to plan, the new Andy’s will be located in the vacant bank building at 6366 S. Archer…
Veterans deserve our thanks
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] Seeing the valor displayed by Ukrainian troops this year, fighting back against an invasion by a military superpower, defending their nation against overwhelming odds, reminds me to reflect with gratitude as we approach Veterans Day. I never served in the military, although…
Wildcats winning at St. Laurence
Seven of the 12 girls on St. Laurence High School’s volleyball team are from just one school: St. Daniel the Prophet. As the Vikings stormed through the IHSA playoffs, winning a regional and a sectional championship, the heart of the Black and Gold’s squad came from seven former Wildcats: seniors Fiona Burke, Alexis Navarro and…
Vigil honors Shepard High School’s Ryan Plowman
By Kelly White Ryan Plowman will forever be remembered by his classmates and educators as an All-American kid who always put others above himself. The 17-year-old Shepard High School student from Crestwood passed away suddenly after a short battle with mononucleosis on November 5. “Ryan was the epitome of pure heart and soul,” said Renee…
Hurley fends off Hebein for second straight election
By Bob Bong Incumbent state Rep. Fran Hurley (D-35th) was again an easy winner in her race with Republican challenger Herb Hebein, a retired Chicago police officer. They squared off first in 2020. Hebein did improve on his previous showing. In 2020, Hurley received 64 percent of the vote. Tuesday night she only won with…
Burke wins seventh term in Illinois House
By Bob Bong State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th), of Evergreen Park, easily won election to her seventh term in the General Assembly Tuesday. Burke, who is also mayor of Evergreen Park, easily beat back Republican challenger David Sheppard, the police chief of Robbins. It was her first contested race since 2012. Complete but unofficial results…
Cunningham and Flowers post victories
By Joe Boyle During a campaign that focused on the economy, crime and abortion rights, southwest suburban voters appeared comfortable returning incumbents in two local races. State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18th) defeated his Republican challenger, Christine Shanahan McGovern. With 98 percent of the suburban votes tabulated Tuesday night, unofficial totals showed Cunningham with a comfortable lead of 53.88% to McGovern’s 46.12%. Cunningham…
