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.
By Bobby Narang Everett Stubblefield III is putting together a season to remember. The Willowbrook High School senior is a two-sport, star athlete, who dominates on the football field and then makes a transition to be a high-volume scorer on the basketball court. In the Fall, as a wide receiver,
By Bobby Narang Batavia High School girls basketball head coach Kevin Jensen wanted to organize an event that would include numerous Batavia area teams and pit them against another conference. That’s how the inaugural MLK Day Conference Challenge that pit the DuKane Conference and Mid-Suburban League was formed. The six-game
By Bobby Narang Geneva High School girls basketball team shared a similarity with Saturday’s opponent that few teams in the State can lay claim to, a fellow State champion. Just four days into the new decade, the Vikings, a two-time State champion in Class 4A in both 2017 and 2018,
By Bobby Narang Glenbard West High School sophomore forward Braden Huff is rapidly becoming a basketball player to watch in the Chicagoland area. The 6-9 Huff put his talents on display at last week’s 18th Annual Glenbard West Holiday Classic. Armed with a sweet shooting stroke and good handles to
By Bobby Narang The North Central College football team made history Friday. The Cardinals, hailing from Naperville, captured the program’s first championship, by defeating Wisconsin-Whitewater in blowout fashion, 41-14, in the Division III national championship game in Shenandoah, Texas. The Cardinals, 14-1, made their first trip to the Amos Alonzo
By Bobby Narang Nearly one month into the season, Elmhurst area boys basketball teams are playing at a high level. After winning 29 games and reaching the Class 4A sectional semifinals, last year, York is having another strong season by winning five of their first six games despite losing four
By Bobby Narang Nazareth Academy High School junior football quarterback J.J. McCarthy enters the offseason full of motivation. By his own admission, McCarthy, a University of Michigan recruit, encountered his first experience of adversity, following a 37-13 loss to Mount Carmel in the Class 7A State championship game at Northern
By Bobby Narang Nazareth Academy High School junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy was ready to begin his training for next season. After having one of his worst games in a Nazareth uniform in his 28-game career, McCarthy was focused on improving himself for his final season. McCarthy, a five-star University of
By Bobby Narang Several Nazareth Academy players had one last request following the conclusion of Saturday’s 42-14 victory over Rolling Meadows in a Class 7A State semifinal football playoff game. Many players, while walking over to meet coach Tim Racki near the far goal post, started chanting “One more!” in
By Bobby Narang After sealing a second straight State girls volleyball championship, Newark High School’s Megan Williams forever will be remembered in school lore. A year ago, Williams was a wide-eyed freshman but she capped a stunning run by the Norsemen with the match-winning kill over Hartsburg-Emden in the Class
By Bobby Narang On a day when former Kaneland High School star wide receiver, P.J. Fleck, notched his biggest head coaching victory, his former school made history. Fleck, who led the Knights to back-to-back State football championships in 1997 and 1998, helped guide the University of Minnesota to a victory
By Bobby Narang Nazareth Academy’s run to a second straight high school football State championship has been filled with some lows, but more highs. After gaining national traction in the Summer due to an influx of four- and five-star recruits on their roster, the Roadrunners came crashing down to earth
By Bobby Narang The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) football playoffs, announced Saturday evening, are in eight classes. The State championship games will be played at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb November 29-30. Here’s a look at some teams and games. (Selected pairings are on page 11.) Wheaton St. Francis
