Alex Barger, Gatorade Illinois Boys Soccer Player of the Year
Naperville Park Board vice president, Leslie Ruffing, presented a certificate of honor to Alex Barger, right, recently named Gatorade Illinois Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
Linemen in focus; Noah Schultz selected by White Sox
Sports out of season can build tradition and become part of the mainstream. Examples include the abbreviated National Basketball Association Summer League recently concluded, and the high school lineman competition and training, the Battle of the Big Butts. Just the name of the latter is telling for 25 high schools
Many linemen in Battle of Big Butts, West Aurora high school football
West Aurora High School’s 16th annual Battle of the Big Butts was a showcase for more than 200 football linemen from 25 suburban high schools in strength, speed, and agility contests Thursday, July 14.
Disappointment barometer a bad needle for Sox, Cubs,
Look out below: The Chicago Cubs have played competitive baseball in the last five weeks, however, Cincinnati has been playing better baseball recently. Through Monday this week the Cubs were only two game ahead of Cincy’s Reds. The Cubs were 18 games under .500 and Cincinnati was 22 games under
Riverside-Brookfield boys basketball team seeks continued success
By Bobby Narang The Riverside-Brookfield High School boys basketball program has been a consistent winner over the past few decades. A program built on the pillars of a solid team chemistry, defense, and sharing the ball, the Bulldogs enter the upcoming season with several question marks. The Bulldogs lost four
Atlanta Braves’ success led by Illinois native
By Woodrow Carroll The defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves have an opportunity to test themselves this week. Three games the early part of the week with the New York Mets will be followed by four games with the Washington Nationals. Results should reveal Braves’ pennant position. Brian Snitker, 66,
Yorkville Christian’s David Douglas, Jr. in leadership role
By Bobby Narang Yorkville Christian High School senior guard David Douglas, Jr. is a player on the rise this Summer. Douglas learned all the ins and outs of becoming an elite player last season. He watched former teammate Jaden Schutt become one of the top players in the country last
Questions abound for sudden demise of Sandwich football
By Woodrow Carroll The media and concerned others were recently informed that Sandwich High School would not be fielding a varsity football team in the Fall. The stated reason was the poor turnout among junior and senior class students to leave the football program short of numbers. In the past,
Sports year-round: Football to tennis and to fastpitch
Sports covers all seasons all the time: • Women’s professional basketball with the first-place Chicago Sky is in the middle of its season, led by Candace Parker a Naperville Central High School graduate and polished profession in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). • Another Winter sports in July: Although
Plano “Lady Reapers” softball team honored by Plano mayor Mike Rennels
The League champion Plano “Lady Reapers” 12U softball team was honored by Plano mayor Mike Rennels at the City’s inaugural Midweek Music concert event Wednesday, June 29.
East Aurora School District 131 successful at State Olympics
East Aurora School District 131 was well represented recently at the Special Olympics State Tournament at Illinois State University. Eight gold, five silver, two bronze medals, and a sixth-place certificate were awarded to Tomcats. Senior Alex Mota was a gold medalist for all events he competed in, squat, bench-press, and
Battle of Big Butts at West Aurora July 14
West Aurora High School’s Battle of the Big Butts, strength, speed and endurance contests for high school football linemen, will be held Thursday, July 14. The 22nd annual event will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 14, at West Aurora High School, 1201 W. New York Street in Aurora.
Oswego East June basketball offers encouragement
By Bobby Narang Oswego East High School boys basketball head coach, Ryan Velasquez, wanted to gather his team for one final Summer pep talk Sunday afternoon. The Wolves had wrapped up the June team camp season by playing two games at the Ridgewood Shootout Sunday, June 26. The three-day shootout
Suarez makes history with first NASCAR victory
By John Schutt NASCAR Cup Series, Toyota / Save Mart 350, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, Calif., Sunday, June 12. Daniel Suarez made history when he won his first NASCAR Cup race and was the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race. Following in second place was Chris Buescher, Mike
Struggling White Sox still close to Minnesota, Cleveland
By Woodrow Carroll Were it not for a 4-3 victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles Sunday, June 26, the Chicago White Sox would have been swept by a team that has been a Major League Baseball (MLB) punching bag much of the past decade. In Chicago for a four-game series
Three grid deaths mourned; Sandwich in football pause
Death is a part of life. Its demise will visit us all. That is why making the best of it during life is important. The final breath is uncertain. Three persons in the wide tent of sports suffered mortal deaths, however, to family, loved ones, and others, life will continue
Owen Murphy leaves large legacy in baseball at Riverside-Brookfield
By Bobby Narang Owen Murphy’s place in Riverside-Brookfield High School baseball program history is set. The senior pitcher and infielder is one of the best players in program history. The University of Notre Dame recruit capped a stellar career by lifting the Bulldogs to the program’s first Class 4A regional
Surprising MLB still offers continuing changes
By Woodrow Carroll It really comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with the world of sports. The strange and bizarre are an almost every-day occurrence. • The Atlanta Braves arrived in Chicago Friday, June 17 on a 14-game winning streak. The Braves’ opponent, the Chicago Cubs were
Sports shorts: Sox, Wolves, several Springfield teams
Relevant and not-so-relevant thoughts: • Will the Chicago White Sox ever surpass the .500 mark and make a run at the Central Division leaders in the American League, Minnesota and Cleveland? Through Monday this week, the Sox were one game under .500, 32-33, and only 4.5 games behind first-place Minnesota
St. Charles North, Nazareth, State champions, Metea Valley, Julie Straub, stop powerhouse teams
By Bobby Narang The Metea Valley High School girls soccer team ended an unlikely season with an unlikely ending. The Mustangs closed out the best season in program history, recently, by beating Barrington, 1-0, in the biggest-school Class 3A State championship game at North Central College in Naperville. The Mustangs