By Bobby Narang Matthew Weerts is heading out west to find his mojo. Technically, the Batavia High School soon-to-be-senior linebacker found his football mojo a long time ago. Weerts, whose nickname is “Mojo,” committed to the University of Arizona in late June. The 6-4 and 224-pounder had many offers, including
By Bobby Narang The boys basketball high school State tournament will return to Champaign. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) board of directors voted to accept the Champaign-Urbana bid to be the host for the State basketball tournament beginning with the 2020-2021 season all the way through the 2022-2023 season
By Bobby Narang The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) revealed last week the Stage 1 plan to restart sports in the Summer. Since the coronavirus pandemic led to the immediate stoppage of all high school sports in early March, right before the opening of the Class 1A and 2A state
By Bobby Narang Two-plus months after the end of the high school girls basketball season, Jason Nichols made a surprise decision that sent shock waves in the Chicago area scene. Nichols announced last week that he was stepping down from his position as head girls basketball coach at Montini Catholic
By Bobby Narang Nazareth Academy High School quarterback J.J. McCarthy made a big splash Monday. After leading the Roadrunners to a Class 7A State championship and two State second-place finish in his first three seasons, McCarthy changed course and announced Monday he was transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.,
By Bobby Narang Luke Juriga is not afraid of long odds. He was a two-star prospect coming out of Marmion Academy in Aurora, despite a solid build and National Football League (NFL) lineage. Juriga was named the 2014 Chicago Catholic League co-Offensive Player of the Year, then made redshirt his
By Bobby Narang Broc Rutter is set to prove any doubters wrong, again. After a dominating performance in leading North Central College, based in Naperville, to the Division III national championship last Fall, Rutter signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers last week. “They are such a
By Bobby Narang In a way, Jordan Glasgow’s future was all mapped out for him. After all, when your two older brothers, Graham and Ryan, play standout roles at Marmion Academy in Aurora, then attend the University of Michigan as walk-on players, eventually earn scholarships, and become starters for the
By Bobby Narang Former Northern Illinois University men’s head basketball coach, Rob Judson, continues to add to an impressive coaching career. Judson completed his third season on the Marquette University staff in Milwaukee. A member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a player at both Zion-Benton
By Bobby Narang Aurora University is taking a step forward at a time when some colleges are choosing to take a step back in athletics. In late March, the Aurora University athletic department announced it would add men’s and women’s wrestling to increase the department to 24 collegiate sports. It
By Bobby Narang Northern Illinois University head football coach Thomas Hammock is accustomed to handling tough challenges. The former Northern Illinois star running back had his stellar career cut short by a heart condition just one game into his senior season. He finished with 2,432 yards and just one of
By Bobby Narang In a two-year span, Nate Shockey established himself as one of the best players in York High School basketball history. All Shockey did was win games in his final two seasons and played a leading role on two of the best teams in program history. That’s why
By Bobby Narang Just minutes before the tipoff of Hinsdale South High School’s boys Class 3A sectional semifinal home game against Benet Academy March 12, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) canceled the rest of the basketball season due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus epidemic). Hinsdale South senior guard Billy Durkin,
By Bobby Narang The Marmion Academy boys volleyball team was poised for another big season this Spring. With the COVID-19 (coronavirus) putting the Spring season on hold, the Cadets are in limbo regarding whether they will build off of last season’s success. After a 19-13 record last season, including a
By Bobby Narang The Montini Catholic High School girls basketball season ended with a victory. But the Broncos’ victory arrived a few hours earlier than veteran head coach Jason Nichols would’ve liked at Redbird Arena in Normal Saturday. The Broncos defeated Springfield Lanphier 55-43 Saturday afternoon in the Class 3A
By Bob Narang Aurora Christian High School’s Cam Johnson became an unexpected bystander during the Class 2A State individual wrestling tournament in Champaign February 22. Johnson missed an opportunity for a third State championship because of an illness which forced him to wait to be cleared to return to the
By Bobby Narang The smirk of Aurora Christian High School’s Noah Villarreal told the story of a satisfied journey. The senior wrestler capped a dominating showing at the Class 2A State wrestling tournament with a 10-1 victory over a Bloomington’s Ryan Gardner in Saturday’s Class 2A 138-pound division to claim
By Bobby Narang After setting a program record with 29 victories last season, the York High School boys basketball team was not expected to be among the top teams in the State this season. After all, the Dukes lost four key starters who had carved a memorable identity as a
By Bobby Narang The Benet Academy High School girls basketball team did not want to leave Welsh-Ryan Arena Saturday night. After pulling out an improbable 75-71 comeback double-overtime victory over Evanston in the third game of the inaugural E-Town Showdown, the Redwings’ players, coaches, and family members milled around the
By Bobby Narang Oswego High School’s Austin Millard judged his performance in Saturday’s Mustang swim meet at Metea Valley in Aurora with a harsh eye. Millard’s focus was on building for the future. More specifically, the IHSA State swimming meet at Evanston High School at the end of the month.
