Local Sports News
Boys Volleyball | Reavis on cusp of 1st conference crown since 2018
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Reavis is having such a good season it’s scary. “It’s terrifying trying to win the conference,” Reavis sophomore outside hitter Joey Walus said. “Every team wants to beat us but we’re not going to allow it.” Walus walloped the match-winning kill as Reavis held off visiting Richards 25-19, 25-23 to move…
Pro Sports Report | Red Stars finish rough week with Gotham loss
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The first week of May was a bad week for the Chicago Red Stars, on and off the field. It started May 3 with a 3-0 loss at Houston in the first round of the Challenge Cup. The next day, the team fired general manager Michelle Lomnicki for a “lapse…
College Notebook | Concordia Chicago goalie McGee named to lacrosse all-conference team
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Ryan McGee is one of four Concordia University Chicago women’s lacrosse athletes to be chosen to the 2023 All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Team. McGee, a goalie who prepped at Nazareth, was one of two Cougars named to the All-NACC First Team. For McGee, this marks her third consecutive All-NACC First Team…
Baseball and Softball Wrap | St. Rita coach Nee honored with HOF nod
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer John Nee looks back with fondness at his early baseball days, when he was a big-time slugger playing with his friends for West Lawn’s baseball team. “Neighborhood baseball was all it could be,” Nee said. “Everybody played for their neighborhood team, and we have some really good teams at West…
Area Sports Roundup | St. Rita hoops coach resigns for job at St. Laurence
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The spinning carousal continues for the St. Rita basketball program. By the time the 2023-24 campaign rolls around, the talented team that picked up national attention last season will look a whole lot different — and it’s not just about players transferring. Roshawn Russell, who coached the Mustangs the past…
Baseball | St. Laurence senior Luke Geary embraces role in ‘pen
By Steve Millar Correspondent Many pitchers would prefer the certainty and routine of knowing when they were going to take the mound. St. Laurence’s Luke Geary, though, enjoys always being on-call. The senior is thriving in a bullpen role. “I really like it,” Geary said. “The starters have one day a week where they have…
Distance runner Dylan Jacobs has set records at every level, and he has his eyes on the Olympics
By Mike Walsh Correspondent If there is anything that Dylan Jacobs has learned over the years, it’s that Mom is always right. As youth growing up in Orland Park, Jacobs — now a standout runner at the University of Tennessee — played soccer, baseball and basketball. One day, he decided he was done with soccer.…
Baseball and Softball Wrap | Lizzie Sedakis is a hitting machine for Chicago Christian
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer When Lizzie Sedakis was playing t-ball at age 5, her father gave her some advice. Dave Sedakis was not a baseball player in his high school days, but his hitting suggestions resonate with her today. “My dad taught me how to hit,” Lizzie said. “He taught me three points of…
Pro Sports Report | Fire burn House, prep to host St. Louis in 3rd round of U.S. Open Cup
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Fire topped the House in the battle of Chicago and have a quick return trip to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. The Fire beat the House, 3-0, April 26 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kendall Birks scored a brace and Kacper Przybylko had a…
Area Sports Roundup | Kilbane, SXU heading to golf nationals
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Kilbane helped the Saint Xavier women’s golf team qualify for the NAIA nationals for just the second time in program history. Kilbane, a junior, needed a playoff hole to be crowned the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference champion, and her red-hot shooting on the second day of the conference tournament…
Area gamers head to Evergreen Park this weekend for state finals
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The best high school gamers from all over the state will battle is out for various state championships in Evergreen Park this weekend. The Illinois High School Association’s second eSports state championships will be held on Saturday, April 29, at Evergreen Park Community High School after it was held at…
Area Sports Roundup | U.S. hockey star Abbey Murphy scores quickest goal in tourney
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer At age 20, Abbey Murphy did something that will be difficult to top. In the United States women’s hockey victory over Switzerland on April 7 in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, the Mother McAuley graduate scored the quickest goal in an IIHF championship final, finding the net seven…
College Notebook | Freshman Luke Sefcik is a force for Chippewas
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Luke Sefcik, a Marist graduate who is playing baseball at Central Michigan, was named the Mid-American Conference’s Player of the Week for April 10. The redshirt freshman second baseman hit .625 while helping the Chippewas to a 3-1 record for the week. He collected 10 hits in 16 at-bats, drove in…
Baseball | St. Rita goes 4-1 over five-day stretch of games
By Steve Millar Correspondent Ryder Johnson knows his role in St. Rita’s offense. Hitting in the leadoff spot, the senior outfielder looks to wreak havoc and put pressure on the opposing defense. “With my speed, being at the top, it’s my job to get on base and start rallies,” Johnson said. “I scratch and claw…
Baseball | Sandburg hitters are heating up
By Steve Millar Correspondent After relying heavily on its pitching staff for the first half of the season, Sandburg has been picking things up in a big way offensively. The Eagles are confident in their ability to put up big run totals. “The bats have been clicking recently,” senior outfielder Jason Sullivan said. “It’s getting…
Baseball and Softball Wrap | Sandburg trying to find footing as season hits halfway mark
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Sandburg softball team dropped 10 of its first 13 games to open the season, but the Eagles record heading into this week was not indicative of how well they have played at times. Their three wins during that stretch were each by 10 or more runs, beating Lyons, 11-1,…
Pro Sports Report | Dual braces doom Red Stars
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Chicago Red Stars and the Chicago Fire II teams were on the losing side of scoring braces on April 22. For the Red Stars, it was double trouble against the OL Reign as Bethany Balcer and Jess Fishlock scored braces in a 5-2 Reign victory in a NWSL matchup…
Baseball | St. Laurence bounces back from trouncing with wins downstate
By Steve Millar Correspondent After the type of disastrous inning St. Laurence does not endure often, let alone at home, the Vikings did not go down without a fight. Lincoln-Way Central stunned the Vikings by scoring 10 runs in the top of the first inning of a non-conference showdown on April 12. St. Laurence answered…
Baseball | Sandburg rides hot arms to encouraging first half of season
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Focusing on the game in front of them has contributed to Sandburg’s success this season, which reached a notable point last week when a strong stretch of play enabled them to match its win total from 2022. With a 6-4 road win over Joliet West on April 15, the Eagles concluded…
College Notebook | North Central’s Precin finishes an unbeaten champ for 2nd straight season
By Mike Walsh Correspondent As senior seasons go, it’s tough to top the one authored by North Central College wrestler Robert Precin. Precin, an Orland Park resident, won his second consecutive national championship at 133 pounds at the NCAA Division III tournament held on March 10-11 at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia. He finished…
Elite wrestler Austin O’Connor aspires to be UFC champ
By Mike Walsh Correspondent There are 38 North Carolina wrestlers who stepped on the mat at least once for the Tar Heels this season. Nine competed in at least one match at 149 pounds. Seven battled at 165. At 157, however, there is but one name listed: Austin O’Connor. Competing as a graduate student this…
Orland Park native David Gust nets goal on first NHL shot
By Alison Moran Correspondent Orland Park native David Gust is living the dream. It was a year ago the 2012 Marist graduate helped the Chicago Wolves win the 2022 Calder Cup, tallying five goals and seven assists in 18 postseason games. Shortly after, Gust and his wife Lexi, found out they were going to be…
Area Sports Roundup | Strus gets loose, helps Heat bury Bulls
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Max Strus had a money game on April 14. Chicago Bulls fans, however, may not have been too happy with the Hickory Hills native’s performance in a 102-91 win to knock the Bulls out of the NBA postseason. Strus, a former Stagg star who played briefly with the Bulls, scored…
Pro Sports Report | Fire and House ready to battle in Bridgeview
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The official name of the tournament is the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. But the way things have been shaping up in 2023, there wouldn’t be much of an argument if it was changed to the Peter Wilt U.S. Open Cup. Three soccer teams that Wilt had a hand in…
Baseball | Sandburg drops two of three after hot start to season
By Steve Millar Correspondent Colin Kissane has played a big role in Sandburg’s fast start, producing some big hits out of the middle of the order. Kissane, who was injured for much of last season, is making up for lost time. He came through with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly as the host…
Local News
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
Repaving project set for part of 44th Street in Lyons
By Steve Metsch Residents of 44th Street in Lyons, between Riverside and Lawndale avenues, can look forward to smoother driving on an improved roadway. The village board on May 16 unanimously approved a resolution regarding the awarding of a Cook County Community Development Block Grant for the work. M&J Asphalt Paving Company Inc., based in…
