By Bobby Narang Football is thriving in Elmhurst. The 2021 Fall season is turning into one of the best in Elmhurst history. For years, IC Catholic Prep carried the town’s name with pride by winning three straight State championships, in 2016 and 2017 in Class 3A and a 4A championship
By Bobby Narang Recent football history was not on York High School’s side in week six Saturday, The Dukes had won their first five games of the season, to produce the best start in 11 years. One of the oldest schools in the State, York had built a rich history
By Bobby Narang Glenbard West High School senior forward Braden Huff possesses a rare game. The 6-10 and 225-pounder ended up picking a college that rarely recruits in the Chicago suburbs. Huff announced his commitment to Gonzaga University September 27. It’s a fitting choice for the highly-skilled inside-outside player with
By Bobby Narang York High School and Downers Grove North High School each is enjoying a renaissance in the respective football program. Both West Suburban Conference Silver programs won their first three games to lift the spirits of their players after a few rough years. Playing in a division that
By Bobby Narang York High School’s football records go back to the start of the program, way back in 1920. The Dukes have one of the oldest and most extensive record-keeping across nearly every sport, a rarity in this age. Many sports have their annual win-loss record for 100 years,
By Bobby Narang Glenbard West High School’s Joey Pope a junior running back is making a name for himself early in the 2021 regular season. The Hilltoppers lost some key players from last season’s team, including at running back. But Pope, a speedy and shifty runner, has energized the offense
By Bobby Narang Wheaton Warrenville South High School head football coach, Sean Norris, has a long way to go equal or surpass his predecessor, but his era started off on the right foot Friday. The first-year Tigers’ head coach earned his first career victory in an epic fashion, by recording
By Bobby Narang The 2021 high school football season is set to be another historic journey into the unknown. After the coronavirus pandemic pushed the 2020 season into Spring this year, and shortened the regular season to six games without a playoffs, the upcoming season is already bringing another set
By Bobby Narang By this time of the season, Sue Skelley is usually knee deep into coaching. For most of her life, Skelley had been a staple in the East Aurora community, coaching several sports and handling various administration jobs. But these days, Skelley is enjoying her view from the
By Bobby Narang Naperville Central High School is ready to turn the page. The Redhawks, one of the top teams in the DuPage Valley Conference on seemingly an annual basis, are coming off one of their best seasons in the Spring version. Six games. Six victories. But, that’s the Redhawks’
By Bob Narang Montini Catholic High School head football coach Mike Bukovsky is among coaches and players ready for a full regular season. After the 2020 football season was delayed until the late March, and shortened to a six-game regular season without any playoffs, the State is set to resume
By Bobby Narang By mid-Summer, Timothy Christian High School senior guard Ben VanderWal had become one of the fastest rising basketball recruits in Chicagoland. With that, VanderWal learned to become used to spending a lot of time talking on the phone, a lot of time. The 6-foot-6 VanderWal gained 13
By Bobby Narang Oswego East High School senior Jared Badie already is considered one of the best players in the State. At 6-5 and 218 pounds, Badie is a bone-crushing, sideline-to-sideline, linebacker capable of changing the outcome of a game with his physical style and athleticism. Badie had a number
By Bobby Narang Glenbard West High School boys basketball head coach Jason Opoka called it the ideal start to a potential special season. Last season, the Hilltoppers won all but one of their games in the abridged regular season to establish themselves as one of the top teams in the
By Bobby Narang York High School head football coach, Mike Fitzgerald, is hoping to keep to keep his program’s momentum continuing into the Fall. Under Fitzgerald, the Dukes slowly have been piling up signature victories in hopes of building sustained success, which is important element to be a contender in
By Bobby Narang Jaden Schutt is making the most of his delayed Summer. The Yorkville Christian High School incoming senior guard in basketball is among the top players in the State for his class and is attracting attention from a wide range of schools across the Country who are looking
By Bobby Narang Neuqua Valley High School senior Nicolas Dovalovsky had some unfinished business Saturday. The University of Illinois recruit is a decorated high school athletes with numerous awards and achievements, from personal to the team variety. But Dovalovsky wanted to lead Neuqua Valley to a top-three place in the
By Bobby Narang West Aurora High School senior Victoria Spagnola was a household name before she had even stepped on to the track in her freshman season. Her older sister, Emma, was the most decorated athlete in program history, which put pressure on the younger Spagnola to achieve similar results.
By Bobby Narang Naperville North High School made program history on many levels in the final week of the water polo season. The Huskies set a new standard in the girls program by capturing their first water polo State championship with a victory over Stevenson, 15-6, Saturday at Fenwick High
By Bobby Narang West Aurora High School girls soccer coach Laura Wagley is seeking to build a consistent winner. Aurora Central Catholic (ACC) first-year coach Enrique Anaya is attempting to keep his program on the same level, or better, than previous coach, Kristy Kane. Both programs clashed in a rare
