By Jeff Vorva Correspondent After stops in Kentucky and Tennessee, Nellie Gannon is back home. The Marist graduate and dentist is working at offices in Palos Heights and Orland Park; and now that she has settled in, her running endeavors are going well, too. Gannon, 29, used the Orland Park Liberty Run/Walk at Centennial Park…
Read MoreBy Jeff Vorva, Correspondent Forward Mallory Pugh made her highly anticipated debut with the Chicago Red Stars on Wednesday night but it was her replacement who stole the show. Pugh, 22 and the youngest player to ever score an Olympic goal for the U.S. soccer team when was was 18, has had injury woes for…
Read MoreBy Jeff Vorva, Correspondent There were smiles from some St. Laurence football players at Kavanaugh Field on Friday night after their game with Providence Catholic. But they may have been a little forced. After the 33-7 loss to the Celtics in a Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference crossover showdown in Burbank, the players trudged…
Read MoreBy Jeff Vorva, Correspondent Because he is prone to making dramatic and spectacular plays on both offense and defense, Shepard football player Kendrick Washington finds himself to be the center of attention. But there was a time in his career when he was the center. Yes, when he was ages seven and eight, Washington was…
Read MoreBy Jeff Vorva, Correspondent Mother McAuley senior Elizabeth McNicholas admits that the process she uses to keep track of her busy schedule could be a little better. “I have some things in my phone and some things in my planner,” she said. “It’s unorganized a little bit, but it’s working.” That’s true. The swimmer and…
Read MorePhoto by Jeff Vorva Brother Rice junior receiver Ricky Smalling has already dazzled some college scouts and local media in recent weeks. He’s not a local secret any more. His performance on Friday night showed a little more of the world what he is all about with more Chicago reporters present and Comcast SportsNet Chicago…
Read MorePhoto by Jim Boyce No offense to Rich Central, King and Tinley Park, the schools St. Laurence beat on the way to last year’s Class 5A state football semifinals, but Vikings coach Harold Blackmon was happy to see the murderer’s row of traditional powers in his team’s 6A path when the brackets were announced by…
Read MorePhotos by Aaron FitzPatrick Brother Rice fans storm newly christened Tom Mitchell Field after winning a wild 49-42 victory over Mt. Carmel Friday night. Fans who saw Brother Rice defeat Mount Carmel, 49-42, last Friday got far more than their money’s worth. After a thrilling 21-20 overtime win by the Crusaders in the sophomore…
Read MoreMilitary training ‘Came back to me’ — Hastings By Dermot Connolly Hero. That’s what state Rep. Mike Murphy (R-99th) is calling State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-17th) after Hastings rescued him when he began choking at a reception last week. The stricken man said Hastings performed the Heimlich…
Read MoreBy Jason Maholy Sports Editor Let’s cut right to the chase, Super Bowl LIII is Sunday. Somewhere between pizza, salsa, beverages, ‘squares,’ stupidly expensive commercials, musical entertainment and general hoopla, a football game between the AFC champion New England Patriots and NFC champion Los Angeles Rams: Part II will be played in Atlanta’s sparkling new…
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Boys Bowling | Stagg charges to first state finals appearance
By Randy Whalen Correspondent For Stagg, it’s a first. For Sandburg, it’s a return trip. Both teams survived the Plainfield North Sectional at Town & Country Lanes in Joliet to advance to the state tournament. The finals will be Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28, at St. Claire Bowl in Fairview Heights. The Chargers,…

College Notebook: Ex-Spartan Sprycha balling with Bearcats
By Mike Walsh Correspondent The fall of 2022 was successful both in the classroom and on the football field for Jordan Sprycha. In the classroom, the Oak Lawn graduate was one of eight McKendree University chosen to the 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. CSC Academic All-District Award nominees must be a starter or…

Hoops Wrap: Ahmad Henderson’s late-game heroics lift Rice over Marist
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer There is no rule that says Ahmad Henderson needs to sink a game-winning basket at least once a season. If there was such a rule, the Brother Rice senior would follow it to perfection. Henderson worked his closing-seconds magic in one of the area’s hottest rivalries in a 49-48 victory…

Area Sports Roundup: Evergreen Park dancers make history with first sectional crown
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Evergreen Park was the only team from the area to place in the state’s top 12 in competitive dancing last season. The Mustangs, who finished a program-best sixth in the state in Class 1A in 2021, are seeking an even better showing this year. Evergreen Park made history by winning…

Boys Basketball: Improving Sandburg still seeking first conference win
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Sandburg coach John Daniels doesn’t have to give to his team what he refers to as the “let’s play hard” speech. The Eagles play hard. But as Daniels acknowledged after a 53-43 loss at Lockport on Jan. 17, they “have to play better.” David Vargas led Sandburg (9-14, 0-3 entering this…

Major League Rugby coming to SeatGeek Stadium
Chicago Hounds expansion team to play games at Bridgeview facility By Bob Bong A new professional sports team will be playing its matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview next month. The Chicago Hounds, an expansion team for Major League Rugby, will be calling Bridgeview home when they begin their inaugural season in February. “We’re honored…

She kept her promise
. . By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] . Never underestimate a woman’s love for her man. Gary and Kimberly Hughes met in 1996. They fell in love and were wed in 1998. They bought a home near 61st and Natchez and were on their way to raising…

Warn of burglars in Garfield Ridge
From staff reports A cluster of residential burglaries in Garfield Ridge has prompted police to issue a warning to the community. Crime scenes include: 5200 block of South Normandy on Jan. 1. 5600 block of South Mobile on Jan. 7. 5300 block of South Mason on Jan. 10. 6000 block of West 60th Street on Jan.…

Casten scolds sheriff on new gun control law
Says he can’t pick which laws to enforce By Tim Hadac U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-6th) and several other Democratic members of the state’s Congressional delegation recently sent a letter to DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, expressing concern over his Jan. 13 statement that he will not enforce the Protect Illinois Communities Act (H.B. 5471).…

Bust accused shooter in Clearing
By Tim Hadac Chicago Police and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force visited Clearing late last month to apprehend a man wanted in connection with a West Side shooting. Shaheer Muhammad, 24 of the 3800 block of West Grenshaw, was arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at a home in the 6000 block of South…

College Notebook: Ex-Spartan Sprycha balling with Bearcats
By Mike Walsh Correspondent The fall of 2022 was successful both in the classroom and on the football field for Jordan Sprycha. In the classroom, the Oak Lawn graduate was one of eight McKendree University chosen to the 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. CSC Academic All-District Award nominees must be a starter or…

Hoops Wrap: Ahmad Henderson’s late-game heroics lift Rice over Marist
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer There is no rule that says Ahmad Henderson needs to sink a game-winning basket at least once a season. If there was such a rule, the Brother Rice senior would follow it to perfection. Henderson worked his closing-seconds magic in one of the area’s hottest rivalries in a 49-48 victory…

Area Sports Roundup: Evergreen Park dancers make history with first sectional crown
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Evergreen Park was the only team from the area to place in the state’s top 12 in competitive dancing last season. The Mustangs, who finished a program-best sixth in the state in Class 1A in 2021, are seeking an even better showing this year. Evergreen Park made history by winning…

LaGrange man charged in Summit phone store robbery
From staff reports A LaGrange man has been charged with the robbery last week of the T-Mobile store at 5640 S. Harlem Ave. in Summit. Michael Lang Anderson, 26, was arrested in LaGrange after he was found hiding under some stairs, police said. Police said he robbed the store on January 10. Community activist Raul…

Major League Rugby coming to SeatGeek Stadium
Chicago Hounds expansion team to play games at Bridgeview facility By Bob Bong A new professional sports team will be playing its matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview next month. The Chicago Hounds, an expansion team for Major League Rugby, will be calling Bridgeview home when they begin their inaugural season in February. “We’re honored…