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
Retired village employee appointed to Lyons ZBA
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The Karasek family has a long history of working for the village of Lyons dating back decades. And that history is getting a new chapter. Steven Karasek, 60, who two years ago retired after 36 years in the public works department, has been appointed by Mayor Christopher Getty to serve…
Walker teacher Eva Manzke honored by farm bureau
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan School District 104 teacher Eva Manzke was recently honored by the Cook County Farm Bureau for her work with teaching students about agriculture. Students at Walker Elementary in Bedford Park, and Manzke herself were surprised when Principal Amanda Venegonia said they were gathered to honor Manzke, as she had been…
Moraine Valley’s Tom Diaz earns All-Conference honors
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Tom Diaz is a freshman at Moraine Valley Community College, and is making big strides with their cross country team. Diaz is also a 2021 graduate of Argo Community High School, and is the first Argonaut to earn All Region honors while pursuing his cross country career. MVCC’s Men’s an&…
Summit native marks decade with the Harlem Globetrotters
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Saul White Jr., better known as Flip White to basketball fans, has been with the famed Harlem Globetrotters for just over 10 years, and has no intention of stopping the entertainment he provides for his fans. White, who grew up in Summit, attended Wharton School and Graves Junior High (now…
A heavenly sound
Spread the love In what is arguably the most ornate and beautiful house of worship on the Southwest Side—St. Joseph Church in Back of the Yards–the Polonijna Orkiestra Chicago played liturgical music selections last Sunday. Founded in 2011, the orchestra is designed to teach young musicians Polish music and culture. St. Joseph parishioner Konrad Pawelek…
Crime images spark outrage in Gage Park
Spread the loveRobbed at gunpoint in his own garage By Tim Hadac Home-security camera images of a 48-year-old Gage Park man being robbed at gunpoint in his own garage outraged a number of Southwest Siders this week. Images showed the man driving his car down the alley in the 5500 block of South Richmond at…
Here’s the skinny: Trimmed-down Lawrence helps Oak Lawn top Evergreen
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Oak Lawn senior basketball player Davion Lawrence is 45 pounds lighter than he was last season, but insists his eating habits are the same. He has, however, changed up his training habits. Heading into football last fall, Lawrence and a few fellow seniors wanted to get in the…
College Report: McAuley grad Swiatek plays hero for St. Francis
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Swiatek comes off the bench for the University of St. Francis and is averaging 3.1 points per game. But when called on for the biggest shot of her college career, the 5-foot-8 junior guard from Oak Lawn delivered. Swiatek scored the winning basket in a wild 99-97…
Evans, Adams lead Argo past Shepard on Alumni Night
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Corrspondent Argo’s Davonte Evans and Will Adams both knew it was just a matter of time before the Argonauts would find a way to beat Shepard. That time came in the third quarter of a South Suburban Red matchup, when Argo outscored Shepard en rout to a 61-52 on Jan.…
Stagg’s Laila Barakat and McAuley’s Bella Finnegan hit 1K career points; Richards’ Kortz gets 300th win
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Look what Laila Barakat started. The Stagg senior basketball star hit a milestone when she scored her 1,000th career point against Richards on Jan. 8. That was the first of three notable career accomplishments achieved the following week. It was followed by Mother McAuley senior Bella Finnegan scoring…
Neighbors
Pritzker calls SCOTUS emergency abortion ruling ‘small respite’ as state protections await his signature
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Abortion remains legal as an emergency medical procedure in Idaho, for now, after a Thursday U.S. Supreme Court ruling, while a bill that would cement those protections in Illinois law awaits Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature. The 6-3 decision saw the three liberal justices concur with the order. Three…
‘We don’t really know what we’re voting on,’ top Dem says of Pritzker’s prison plan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com LINCOLN – On the eve of a scheduled vote to advise Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on plans to close and rebuild a pair of dilapidated state prisons, hundreds filed into a junior high school gymnasium Thursday evening clad in matching green T-shirts. Printed on the shirts was a…
SCOTUS ruling could upend federal corruption cases for Madigan, allies
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday narrowed the scope of a federal bribery law prosecutors have relied on in their cases against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and several of his allies convicted of bribing him. A jury last spring found those allies – former lobbyists and…
Quantum technology companies set for big tax incentives under new law
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday gave final approval to a plan to bolster the state’s tech industry, including an incentives package – backed by $500 million in the state budget – aimed at making Illinois the nation’s leader in quantum computing. The package also expands tax…
Illinois child tax credit: who gets it, how much is it?
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com In the final hours of their spring legislative session, Illinois lawmakers approved a tax credit of up to about $300 for families with young children. The credit is available to Illinoisans with children under age 12 who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC. Although…
Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois law banning the sale and use of “bump stocks” and other devices that increase the firing power of semiautomatic weapons remains in place, at least for now, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday striking down a federal ban on such items. “Illinois law…
Another Choate Mental Health Center employee indicted for abuse of resident
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Another caregiver at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna is facing charges for abusing a patient. A grand jury indicted Joseph A. Clark, 24, of Grand Chain, on a felony charge of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor charge of battery. Clark pinned a Choate resident to…
State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois State Police say an automated license plate reader program has helped the agency identify witnesses or suspects in 82 percent of highway shooting cases this year, including all eight that resulted in a death. But as the state looks to further expand its network of more than…
Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois law banning the sale and use of “bump stocks” and other devices that increase the firing power of semiautomatic weapons remains in place, at least for now, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday striking down a federal ban on such items. “Illinois law…
Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Halfway through the 2024 election cycle and just a few weeks away from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy on Wednesday announced his resignation as head of the state Republican Party. Tracy, who’d held the job since February 2021, explained his resignation in…
