A collection of important notes and debatable thoughts as we make our shift from Fall sports to Winter sports:
• It was unfortunate, however, not entirely surprising that the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) did not advance to the membership for a vote on the suggested change in high school football district/playoff format proposed by more than 30 athletic directors in Illinois, to include Jason Buckley of West Aurora High School and Fil Torres of East Aurora High School. Often innovation is not welcome by organizations which keep changes tight to the vest. Perhaps another year in a different way progress may be made in how high schools construct competition. The IHSA is ready to implement a district competition for the season and playoffs which would end conference play in varsity football only. Interference is not welcome
• A special salute to the Aurora/Sugar Grove/Oswego Beebe athletic family. Don Beebe, the successful first-year Aurora University head football coach and former National Football League (NFL) icon proudly shares the spotlight with his daughter, Katie. She is a sophomore basketball player at Waubonsee Community College from Oswego High School. Recently she was name Division II Region I District L women’s basketball player of the week. She is a 6-0 power forward. Over three games she scored 50 point, took 64 rebounds, and blocked 30 shots to raise many eyebrows. She set a school-record 13 blocked shots. She leads the Nation in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II in rebounding and blocked shots. Her uncles include Dan Beebe, head basketball coach at Aurora Christian High School and David Beebe, head football coach at Aurora Christian. All three Beebe men played basketball at Kaneland High School.
• Oswego High School boys basketball team was 4-0 in the recently-concluded Oswego/Naperville North eight-team Hoops for Healing basketball tournament. Oswego’s largest margin in its four games, ironically, was 52-37, over Neuqua Valley which took second place with a 3-1 record. Oswego East, Hinsdale Central, Naperville North, and DeKalb each was 2-2. West Aurora was 1-3 and Downers Grove South was 0-4 in a field of many good teams.
• Certainly Oswego East has high expectations, led by 6-7 senior Sam Schultz, senior forward Tremont Brewer, two outstanding returning starters, and transfer, Will Wolfe, 6-6 senior.
• Aurora Christian’s Dan Beebe said his basketball team, “should be fun to watch,” without height.