By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Jillian Cosler made a two-day trip to her grandfather’s hometown.
And, like her grandpa, she came out a winner.
Cosler, an Orland Park resident who graduated from Sandburg in May, won a one-hole playoff to claim the 44th Illinois State Junior Girls Golf Championship, held Aug 1-2 at the Aldeen Golf Course in Rockford.
People in Rockford golf circles know her grandfather, Ron, as a legendary senior golfer from the area. Ron Cosler has won multiple Rockford Senior Classic titles.
Jillian made her mark as she claimed her championship with birdies on the final three holes and beat Nicole Johnson in a playoff hole.
Cosler had a strong summer in 2022 when she qualified for the Junior PGA Championships at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Palos Park and shot a pair of 79s.
She opened last year’s high school season with a 71 to finish deadlocked for second place in the Prep Tour Showcase at the Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur, and she finished the season with an appearance at the IHSA state finals.
Cosler will continue her competitive golf-playing days at Bradley, where she is embarking on her freshman year.
Volleyball stars
The fall sports season started Aug. 7 but, before that, Michio Chicago VBS/Illprepvb.com got a jump on naming some of the best players in the state. The Southwest Regional Publishing area has some talent mentioned.
Among the website’s 150 seniors to watch are Sandburg’s Reilly Chausse, Keira Fitzgerald and Karina May; Mother McAuley’s Samantha Falk, Kiera Ohse, Ellery Rees and Ellie White; Lyons’ Abby Markworth and Grace Turner; De La Salle’s Jennifer Falk; Nazareth’s Lauren Salata and St. Laurence’s Ella Woltman.
Among the 100 juniors to watch are Marist’s Maddie Barry and Isabella Bullington; St. Laurence’s Kayla Birmingham; Mother McAuley’s Sydney Buchanan; Shepard’s Lexi Jensen and Oak Lawn’s Emma McAuliffe.
Among the 100 sophomores to watch are Marist’s Cassidy Cage and Elayna Davidson, and Evergreen Park’s Neve Hayes.
Rice stars help Cangelosi team
The Cangelosi Sparks 16U Black team had a top-four finish out of 474 teams in the 19th World Wood Bat Association National Championship in East Cobb, Georgia, finishing 9-2 in the tournament. Their run ended in the semifinals with an 8-3 loss to eventual chap East Cobb.
Members of the Sparks include Aidan Nohava, Gavin Triezenberg and Caden Workman, all of whom play for Brother Rice.
Trolls on TV
JEDtv will stream Trinity Christian College’s home contests in volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball streamed on JEDtv.
Fans will be able to watch the Trolls via an app or jedtv.com. Cost is $6.99 per month or $25.99 for a half season or $49.99 for a full season.
The first broadcast will be Aug. 18 with the women’s volleyball team hosting Mount Mercy. The following day, the men’s and women’s soccer teams will host St. Mary-of-the-Woods from Indiana.
Sports bits
• Brother Rice basketball player Cale Cosme, who could be one of the most exciting players this season, gave a verbal commitment to Division II Lewis University. Cosme ended his junior season by scoring 27 points in a 72-67 loss to Kenwood in the Class 4A St. Rita Sectional final.
• St. Rita junior Fernando Santos won the men’s open 1,000-meter freestyle championship at the Illinois ACAD Summer Regional, and claimed second place in the 400 IM and 500 free.
• Brother Rice tennis coach Rob Vogt was named the Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Boys Class 1A Regional Coach of the Year.
• The Morton College baseball team finished the spring season with a 3.0 GPA with 13 members of the team finishing with a 4.0 GPA.
Hey Jeff, My name is Nick Leno and I live in Garfield Ridge i enjoy reading your columns about our local talent. I have a good friend that lives in Justice and his 17 year old son who goes to Argo Highscool is a young up and coming boxer. He is trained by a pro boxer by the name of Mike Mollo. He is fighting August 19 at St Cajetan . If you would like to hear more email me thanks. Nick Leno