Jim Ramazinski is the new Evergreen Park football coach. Photo courtesy of Evergreen Park Community High School.
Area Sports Roundup | EP football gets new coach; Morton women head back to nationals
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
For the second time in two weeks, an area high school football team is getting a new head coach.
Evergreen Park announced Jim Ramazinski has been named to the position. He will replace Jerry Verde.
Ramazinski comes to the Mustangs with a wealth of coaching and teaching experience. He is a special education teacher at Andrew and served as the defensive coordinator for the Thunderbolts’ the past four seasons. Prior to that, he was a varsity assistant and special teams coach at Andrew and before that the head freshman coach and a varsity assistant at Crete-Monee.
He also started the District 230 co-op boys lacrosse program and in 2020 was named the IHSA Coach of the Year for lacrosse.
Ramazinski will teach special education in addition to serving as football coach.
“I’m happy to serve the students and community of Evergreen Park as football coach and teacher,” Ramazinski said in a news release. “Our football program is going to stress the three pillars of ‘pride, service and community.’ I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday nights this fall.”
Ramazinski grew up in Chicago and graduated from Brother Rice.
Verde coached the Mustangs for seven seasons from 2016-2022. He led the team to an 8-3 overall record and second round IHSA Class 4A playoff appearance in his final season last fall.
Two weeks ago, Chicago Christian announced Dan Chiarito would take over the Knights program.
Morton heading to nationals
Morton College, which finished second in the nation in National Junior College Athletic Association Division II last season and is ranked No. 1 this year, returned to the national tournament with a 96-68 victory over Rock Valley on Saturday, March 11 in the Midwest B Regional IV finals in Rockford.
The Panthers (31-0) were led by Mia Simpson’s career-high 34 points. They head to the national tournament, which is March 21-25, in Port Huron, Michigan.
The tournament and seedings were scheduled to be announced Tuesday, March 14.
Rock Valley only played five players as seven were suspended for leaving the bench during a scuffle in the semifinals.
Rivals are national v-ball powers
The boys volleyball season starts on Monday, March 20 and area teams are already picking up some national attention.
There are six teams from Illinois in the first USA Today Sports/American Volleyball Coaches’ Association Super 25, and two are neighborhood rivals.
Marist is ranked fourth in the nation while Brother Rice is 23rd. The two are scheduled for a May 15 showdown at Rice.
Other teams from Illinois in the top 25 are Barrington (third), Glenbard West (sixth), Lincoln-Way East (18th) and Hinsdale Central (19th).
Marist is scheduled to visit Barrington April 5 and Glenbard West on May 11.
The opening week will also see Marist hosting another powerhouse tournament March 24-25 that includes Lincoln-Way East, Lockport and local teams Mt. Carmel, Richards, Shepard, Stagg and St. Rita.
Kil-ing it
Saint Xavier junior Hannah Kilbane, a Sandburg grad, finished in first place for her third career individual title, finishing with a three-day score of 235 for the women’s golf team at the Saddlebrook Spring Kickoff hosted by Walsh University (Ohio) at the Saddlebrook Golf Course in Wesley Chapel, Fla., which wrapped up March 11.
Kilbane (79, 74, 82) sank a birdie on the 18th hole to win by one stroke over runner-up Sydney Hugo from Walsh and her second score of 74 was tied for her second lowest career score for any round.
Cougars men fall in nationals
Despite owning a five-point lead at halftime, SXU, seeded 16th in the the first round of the NAIA National Tournament, dropped a 75-65 decision to top-seeded William Penn on March 7 in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Jack Halverson and Cedric Johnson each had 17 points for the Cougars, who finished their season 24-8.
Local News
Hog Wild to open Monday in Oak Lawn
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Dining choices will get a boost in Oak Lawn with the arrival of Hog Wild. The restaurant is scheduled to open Monday, January 17, at 4040 W. 111th St. That’s a week later than originally scheduled. “We are very fortunate here in Oak Lawn to have attracted Hog Wild,” Oak…
Home security cameras could be big help to Orland cops
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Residents of Orland Park could have a hand in solving crime in the village. The board of trustees unanimously approved to move forward with a voluntary security camera registration program at its Jan. 4 meeting. It’s expected to start on Feb. 1. This program gives citizens and businesses a chance…
Ailing eagle on the mend
Spread the loveSeveral blocks northwest of Garfield Ridge—just west of 47th and Harlem–motorists late last month noticed an eagle flying low and acting erratically. The Villa Park-based Chicago Bird Collision Monitors was contacted, and its volunteers found and captured the majestic bird. It was transported to a facility owned and operated by Glen Ellyn-based Willowbrook…
Can’t we just fast-forward to spring?
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Hi everyone. Is it spring yet? Is the pandemic over yet? Not that I’m impatient or anything. I want to move forward past all the negative COVID-19 has brought to my life and everyone else’s life. I want to see…
Scavenger Sale different this year, Pappas says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ 2022 Scavenger Sale will look different, as the Treasurer’s Office takes steps to help small developers, homeowners and investors rebuild neighborhoods and create generational wealth. Under Illinois law, the Treasurer’s Office is required to conduct a Scavenger Sale every two years, offering at auction the…
Give poor countries a break, Chuy says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) is one of 18 Members of Congress who recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging her to use the voice and vote of the United States at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to abolish the IMF’s surcharge policy, which requires countries…
Stop sale of dangerous drugs online, Rush says
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Legislation designed to ensure that social media platforms and websites are held accountable for failing to prevent the sale of dangerous, illegal drugs on their platforms has been introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1st). The Domain Reform for Unlawful Drug Sellers (DRUGS) Act also was introduced by U.S. David…
America divided, enemies united
Spread the loveBy Ray Hanania America has been weakened by the continuing and political selfish polarization between those who support former President Donald Trump and those who support President Joe Biden. The viciousness of the fighting is weakening America’s image internationally, and nations like Russia and China are being empowered to challenge our leadership of…
Fairness will energize electric vehicle charging drive
Spread the loveBy Josh Sharp To promote electric vehicle adoption and help establish a nationwide network of EV charging stations, five governors in the Midwest region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota) agreed to join what they term the Regional Electric Vehicle Midwest Coalition. Based on the group’s initiative, the goal of this coalition is to foster increased…
Crime will be big issue this year
Spread the loveBy Rich Miller Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch marked his first anniversary as his chamber’s top leader with a series of news media interviews last week. One of the questions I asked was what his legislative district’s constituents were talking to him about the most. “The number one issue in my district, and…
Neighbors
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…