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A boys basketball team composed of special needs students from Southside Occupational Academy and De La Salle won the 2023 IHSA state championship. Photo by Mike Walsh

Special needs hoops team from Chicago wins Unified Sports state title

By Mike Walsh Correspondent If Tom White had his choice, getting doused with cold water on a 35-degree morning in mid-March in Champaign would likely not be high on his list of things to do. Considering the context of the soaking, however, White was more than happy with everything that took place. Coaching a team…

Mallory Swanson, shown moving the ball for the Red Stars in the team's home opener on April 1, may not be playing for a while as she suffered a knee injury while playing for the United States Women's National Team. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro Sports Report | Knee injury could keep Swanson out of women’s World Cup

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer This was supposed to be a huge year for Mallory Swanson. The Chicago Red Stars and U.S. Women’s National team forward opened 2023 with six goals for the national team in friendlies ahead of this summer’s World Cup. She also figured to be a key player for the Red Stars…

Illinois State pitcher Derek Salata, a Nazareth graduate, struck out 11 hitters in a 2-0 loss to Belmont, becoming the sixth Redbird to strike out 10 or more hitters three times in a season. Photo courtesy of Illinois State University Athletics

College Notebook | Illinois State’s Salata named Pitcher of Week

By Mike Walsh Correspondent Illinois State baseball player Derek Salata was chosen a National Pitcher of the Week by Collegiate Baseball News for the period ending March 27. In a 2-0 loss to Missouri Valley Conference foe Belmont on the road March 24, the fifth-year senior worked six innings, striking out 11 Bruins while walking…

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Baseball | Stagg seeks more success in clutch

By Steve Millar Correspondent Facing a late five-run deficit, Stagg did not go quietly. The Chargers rallied for two seventh-inning runs and loaded the bases, putting the tying run at first. The comeback came up short, however, in a 5-2 loss to Lemont on April 8. “Fighting at the end against a good team is…

Marist's boys track team, here celebrating its sectional title in 2022, got its season underway after the offseason death of coach Jon Gordon. Photo courtesy of Marist High School

Area Sports Roundup | Marist runners get season underway after coach’s death

By Jeff Vorva Staff writer After one of the worst possible offseasons, Marist’s boys track team is trying to get down to business. In December, boys track and cross country coach Jon Gordon died, leaving the team in shock and sadness. The RedHawks were scheduled to open the outdoor season on April 1 at home…

Leo Cassidy

EPCHS Senior Earns Chick Evans Scholarship for Golf Caddies

Leo Cassidy, a senior at Evergreen Park Community High School, has been named a Chick Evans scholar. Cassidy is the second EPCHS Mustang to win the prestigious scholarship award for golf caddies this year and the fourth in the last three school years. “I’m so grateful,” said Cassidy, who will be headed to the University…

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Baseball | Justin Lang’s heroics lift Marist over H-F

By Steve Millar Correspondent Marist had let a late lead slip away and was down to its final three outs, but senior shortstop Justin Lang was not too worried. “I feel like we just didn’t lose our energy,” Lang said. “That was a big part of it. In the middle of the game, we started…

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Baseball | St. Laurence looks strong in early going

By Steve Millar Correspondent Luke Stulga is confident St. Laurence has a special team this season, but it’s about more than the talent highlighted by the many Division I recruits on the roster. “I think it’s the chemistry and relationships everyone has combined with the work ethic we have,” said Stulga, a senior outfielder. “Everyone…

St. Xavier University's men's volleyball team qualified for the NAIA nationals for the fourth time. SXU photo

Area Sports Roundup | Saint Xavier men’s volleyball team heads back to nationals

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Four for four. The NAIA will host its fourth Men’s Volleyball Championships on April 11, and Saint Xavier kept its record perfect in making it to every national tournament. The Cougars picked up an automatic bid on April 1 with a 25-18, 25-15, 25-22 victory over Judson University in the…

Chicago Red Stars’ rookie Jenna Bike’s momentum took her into the net during a 2-1 loss to Houston on April 1. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro Sports Report | Houston puts the freeze on Red Stars

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer There was no cold field advantage for the Red Stars. The way Arin Wright saw it, the weather for the team’s 2023 home opener should have been an advantage. It was cold and windy at SeatGeek Stadium on April 1 in a 2-1 loss to Houston in front of an…

Olivet Nazarene men’s volleyball player Jake Ostema won weekly conference awards for attacker and defender in consecutive weeks during March. Photo courtesy of Olivet Nazarene University Athletics

College Notebook | Sandburg grad Jake Ostema earns back-to-back awards

By Mike Walsh Correspondent The month of March has been very good to Olivet Nazarene men’s volleyball player Jake Ostema. The 6-foot-8 senior middle hitter earned consecutive Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the week honors. For the time period ending March 5, Ostema was named the CCAC Defender of the Week. The Sandburg graduate…

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Palos South basketball places 2nd in SWIC Conference, 1st in North Division

Palos South Middle School’s eighth-grade boys’ basketball team finished second in the post season Southwest Interscholastic Conference in March. The Cardinals completed the season with a 13-3 record and finished first in the North Division. During the championship game, the team lost 55-52 to undefeated Century Junior High following a last second 3-point shot. Student…

Mallory Swanson of the Red Stars opened the season with a goal in a 3-2 loss to San Diego on Saturday, March 25. Photo by IMAGN

Pro Sports Report | Alex Morgan converts PK and Wave tops Red Stars in opener

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Two of the best scorers in the NWSL made great first impressions to begin the 2023 season. The Chicago Red Stars’ Mallory Swanson, coming off a scoring explosion in the SheBelieves Cup earlier in the year, scored a tying goal on a penalty kick in extra time in the first…

Morton College's Mia Simpson, shown during a game earlier this year, helped the Panthers to a fifth-place finish in the nation and surpassed 1,000 career points. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Area Sports Roundup | Morton College takes 5th in nation

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer For three quarters, Janiah Jones’ stats were bland. The Richard Bland College guard had just two points. But she lit things up in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 of her team’s 18 points to help Bland stun Morton College, 69-63, in the quarterfinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association…

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Track and Field | Oak Lawn’s Robert Wagner gets jump on season with highest leap at Top Times

By Tim Cronin Correspondent BLOOMINGTON — Robert Wagner, with a name straight out of Hollywood, starred in the high jump at the Illinois Top Times meet, held March 25 at Illinois Wesleyan University. The only thing missing for the Oak Lawn senior was a spotlight — and, from Wagner’s viewpoint — breaking his indoor personal…

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College Notebook | Richards grad Abby Mallo swinging a hot stick for Billikens

By Mike Walsh Correspondent Welcome to Division I softball, Abby Mallo. Mallo, a Richards graduate playing at Saint Louis University, was chosen the Rookie of the Week by the Atlantic 10 Conference for the week ending March 19. Mallo, a freshman, hit safely in all four games that week, recording a .429 batting average, a…

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Baseball | Brother Rice seeking spark after two-loss week

By Steve Millar Correspondent Brother Rice is missing some big pieces from the team that finished third in the state in Class 4A last season. Multi-sport superstar Jack Lausch graduated and moved on to play quarterback at Northwestern. Catching star Zion Rose, a potential high Major League Baseball draft pick this summer, transferred to IMG…

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Baseball | Chicago Christian kicks off Brandon Hickey era with win over Bremen

By Steve Millar Correspondent Brandon Hickey is optimistic about his first season as head coach of the Chicago Christian baseball team. The Knights struggled to an 11-18-1 record last year, when Hickey was an assistant. But he saw some things to be excited about. “We saw we had a lot of talent last year with…

Alex Knight, a Marist graduate now playing at Lake Forest College, was named to the All-Midwest Conference First Team. Knight’s average of 18.1 points per conference game led all players and he finished third in the conference in field goal percentage (52.6). Photo courtesy of Lake Forest College Athletics

College Notebook | Marist grad Alex Knight slaying buckets for Lake Forest

By Mike Walsh Correspondent Lake Forest College’s Alex Knight has been named to the All-Midwest Conference First Team in men’s basketball for the 2022-23 season. Knight, a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard who prepped at Marist, was the league’s leading scorer this season, averaging 18.1 points per conference game. He finished third in the MWC in field…

The Chicago Hounds' Julian Dominguez (11) battles for the ball against Utah earlier this season. Dominguez scored two tries in a 24-22 victory over Dallas on March 18. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro Sports Report | SeatGeek to host Major League Rugby championship; Hounds sniff out first win

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer SeatGeek Stadium, host of the expansion Chicago Hounds, will host this season’s Major League Rugby championship game. The game is scheduled to be played July 8 in Bridgeview. It will air nationally on FOX. “Moving the championship match to a predetermined venue has long been a goal of Major League…

Morton College's women's basketball team is playing in the NJCAA national tournament this week after celebrating its regional championship. Photo courtesy of Morton College

Area Sports Roundup | Nazareth grads Martinucci, Evans have unfinished business at NJCAA National Tourney

By Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Martinucci family carries a lot of weight in the Berwyn-Cicero area. Tony Martinucci has coached boys basketball at Morton High School for 24 years, racking up five regional titles and a trio of conference crowns during his tenure. His daughter, Jovanna, is hoping to do something even more spectacular:…

Century's Zedan Said (No. 52) starts to get mobbed by his teammates after he hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with four seconds left in the SWIC eighth-grade championship. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Area grade school teams win SWIC championships

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Century Junior High School’s eighth grade boys basketball team had a target on its back all season. After enjoying an unbeaten campaign as seventh-graders, the Wildcats were the team everyone wanted to beat this season. Not one of them one did. Zedan Said made sure of it. The 5-foot, 90-pound…

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College Notebook | Area grads Hynes, McCormick earn honors

By Mike Walsh Correspondent University of Chicago women’s basketball player Grace Hynes has been named to the 2022-23 University Athletic Association’s First Team. The Maroons senior guard, a Mother McAuley graduate, led Chicago to a 23-4 overall record through their first 27 games, and went 10-4 in the UAA, good enough for second place in…

Jim Ramazinski is the new Evergreen Park football coach. Photo courtesy of Evergreen Park Community High School.

Area Sports Roundup | EP football gets new coach; Morton women head back to nationals

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer For the second time in two weeks, an area high school football team is getting a new head coach. Evergreen Park announced Jim Ramazinski has been named to the position. He will replace Jerry Verde. Ramazinski comes to the Mustangs with a wealth of coaching and teaching experience. He is…

Sammy Malcolm

Pro Report | Sammy Malcolm leads Toronto to win over Hounds

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Sammy Malcolm. Chicago Hounds fans may remember that name for a long time. And not for a good reason. Malcolm was not just in the middle of things, he was the whole scoring show for Toronto as he tallied all Arrows points in a 27-26 victory over the Hounds on…

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Jason’s Deli has closed its doors in Oak Lawn.

Comings & Goings: Jason’s Deli closes in Oak Lawn

By Bob Bong Jason’s Deli, which had been open in Oak Lawn for more than 10 years, closed its doors for the last time on May 31. According to employees, the Beaumont, Texas-based restaurant at 6260 W. 95th St. closed because the lease was up and the company decided not to renew. Messages to the…

Dr. Robert J. Nolting, District 230 superintendent, speaks at the June 2 ceremonial groundbreaking for a $15.5 million expansion project at Stagg High School, 8015 W. 111th St., with school board members, teachers and students behind him. (Photo by Dermot Connolly)

Stagg breaks ground on $15M school expansion

By Dermot Connolly Stagg High School administrators, teachers and students all lifted ceremonial shovels at a June 2 groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of a two-year $15.5 million expansion project that will add 11 new classrooms, four science labs and much more at the Palos Hills school. The build-out at the District 230 school at 8015…

Grace Point Place residents at 5701 W. 101st St. in Oak Lawn celebrated the Indy 500 on May 25 with a remote-control car race against students from AERO Special Education Cooperative from School District 806. (Supplied photos)

Special Ed students, seniors race for friendship

By Kelly White While cars revved their engines at the Indy 500 this past weekend, residents at Grace Point Place in Oak Lawn were able to join in on the excitement. Grace Point Place, an Anthem Memory Care community located at 5701 W. 101st St., celebrated the Indy 500 on May 25 with a remote-control car race against…

Former Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy (right) and Keith Pekau talk before a meeting in 2022. McCarthy will have the police station named in his honor. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Orland Park police station to be named after former chief Tim McCarthy

By Jeff Vorva Sometime in the near future, Tim McCarthy will be driving by or visiting his old home at the Orland Park police station and he will notice something new. His name. The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees voted to name the station the Tim McCarthy Police Headquarters at its June 5…

Perfect attendance students (front row, from left) Adrian Buenrostro, Ryan Arethas, Saanvi Patel, Matthias Davis; (back row, from left) Jack Bledsoe, Deijon Feliciano, Alan Martinez, Rosebud Summers, Makayla Knight, Nadia Gilmore and LeeSean McCorker. (Supplied photo)

23 EPCHS students achieve perfect attendance

Twenty-three Evergreen Park Community High School students were recognized by Principal Bill Sanderson at a breakfast in the school cafeteria on May 19 for having achieved perfect attendance for the 2022-2023 school year. Perfect attendance is truly an accomplishment, and we commend the following students and their parents for their focus on coming to school…

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Chicago man charged in Palos Heights motor vehicle thefts

From staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with possession of stolen motor vehicles after Oak Lawn police found him allegedly driving a van stolen in Palos Heights. Police said they responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Good Shepherd Church at 7800 McCarthy Road about noon…

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Palos 118 foundation donates $30,000 for new classroom displays

The Palos 118 Educational Foundation recently made a $30,000 donation to Palos School District 118 for classroom equipment upgrades. The donation will be used for the purchase and installation of new 70-inch interactive displays in all of the district’s third-grade elementary classrooms. “Our hope is that the new displays can be delivered and installed over…

Bobalicious at 12250 S. Harlem Ave. offers dozens of teas, smoothies and other drink combinations.

Family-run Bobalicious pops up on Harlem with community focus

By Isabella Schreck Families can bond and kids can have fun at Bobalicious in Palos Heights, according to co-owner Gustavo Godinez. The cafe, which opened in late November at 12250 S. Harlem Ave., offers dozens of teas, smoothie and other drink combinations. It sells boba toppings and features free popcorn, cotton candy, foosball, air hockey…

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Moraine Valley to host summer Movie in the Moonlight series

Moraine Valley Community College is hosting its popular Movie in the Moonlight series this summer. The college will show three movies on a 16-foot inflatable screen at the Gateway, between Buildings F and M, on campus, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills. Admission is free. The first movie is the Oscar-nominated “Puss in Boots” on…

Shepard High School senior Lauren Sinisi announces award winners at the annual U.S. Air Force JROTC program awards ceremony. (Supplied photos)

Shepard JROTC closes year with awards ceremony

The U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Shepard High School concluded its academic year recently with an awards ceremony honoring cadets who distinguished themselves. Many national organizations presented awards to students for scholastic excellence, JROTC leadership and involvement, conduct, and military bearing. Students named the top cadets in their academic class…

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Worth passes parking restrictions for better safety

By Joe Boyle A series of parking regulations have been established in Worth in an effort to provide improved public safety within sections of the village. Trustee Brad Urban, who is the head of the public works committee, mentioned that an ordinance was being considered to eliminate parking on the south side of 116th Street…

Palos Heights Alderman Jack Clifford announced current road construction projects in the city. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Contruction headaches starting, splash pad coming to Palos Heights

By Jeff Vorva Road construction time is in full swing and already residents of Palos Heights are experiencing some headaches. At a brief June 6 city council meeting that had four of eight aldermen absent, Alderman Jack Clifford said that an Oak Park Avenue construction project had started and is inconveniencing residents along that street…

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