By Jeff Vorva

It was a clash of area powers meeting in the Elite Eight. 

Manteno Middle School’s eighth-grade girls volleyball team finished second in the state in Class 3A and had to beat Beecher in order to bring a trophy home.

Both area schools qualified for the Illinois Elementary School Association quarterfinals and Manteno beat Beecher, 25-12, 25-9 March 15 at Pana High School.

Manteno went on to beat Staunton, 25-27, 25-14, 25-16 in the semifinals on March 16 and lost to Eureka, 25-13, 26-24 in the championship later that day to finish 26-1 on the season.

Manteno’s Kendall Blanchette had 27 serving points and nine aces while Maddy Weiland had 19 points, Joslyn Dole had 12 and Nora Donnelly 11.

Other members of the squad were Kaylee Wilson, Emma Derrico, McKenna Majerski, Hayden Petak, Savanna Watkins, Emily Young, Adelyn Toepper, Abbey Tamblyn, Amelia Cabello, Litzy Campos-Avila and Makenna Laskowski.

Beecher finished 14-9 and players on its roster were Grace Wuest, Anahi Lagunas, Gianna Bonomo, Sydney Kettmann, Allie Johnson, Ashley Lorenzatti, Olive Schultz, Makenna Albert, Carmela Irwin, Nina Wilhelm, Emma Henderson Madison Smith and Maddy Grooms.

Broken records

In the infant stages of the spring season, Crete-Monee athletes are already breaking school records.

Joshua Hill broke the Warriors’ indoor track record in the triple jump with a leap of 47 feet, 5.75 inches at the Joliet Central Quad on March 13.

The old record was held by K.J. Franklin in 2008.

Skyer Welcome also broke a softball record as she cracked her 16thcareer home run in a 6-0 win over Illinois Lutheran on March 12. Twelve of her homers came in 2023.

 Strough honored

Peotone girls basketball coach Steve Strough was named one of the Illinois High School Basketball Association’s Coach of the Year.

It’s the third year he received that honor.

 Fun at the Dells?
Manteno’s young girls basketball team had an impressive season in 2023-2024 and is looking forward to an even better showing next season.

As a part of it’s June program, the Panthers will be playing in scrimmages and shootouts but will also play six games at the Wisconsin Dells June 18-19.

Heading to SSC

Beecher soccer player Taylor Killis signed to play at South Suburban College next season.