By Jeff Vorva

Another week, another big trophy from the Illinois Elementary School Association.

One week after Manteno Middle School won the Class 3A Softball Championship, Beecher Junior High School finished fourth in the state in Class 2A, on October 5, at the Eastside Centre in East Peoria.

Beecher (18-6) opened play with a 3-1 quarterfinal win over Green Valley Midwest Central, as Michael Zaher and Carter Kvasnicka combined for the win. Domenico Camilleri and Easton Lane drove in runs.

Things were rougher the rest of the way, as the Bobcats lost 14-0 in the semifinals to the eventual state champ St. Joseph, then lost 11-5 to Washington Middle School in the third-place game. Zaher scored twice in the third-place game.

Other members of the team are Ethan McKnight, Colton Hanson, Brayden Kvasnicka, Easton Smith, Anthony Murphy, Lukas Nellegar, Julian Rojas, Enrique Raygoza, Kaleb Hipke, Camden Lane, Anthony Bruno, Dario Jienez, Mason Haddon, and Gavin Vanness.  

This was Beecher’s sixth trip to the quarterfinals, and the first time it reached the final four.  

In the swing

Beecher’s boys golf team won its own Class 1A Regional on October 2, with a 308. It was 19 shots better than runner-up McNamara.

Jackson Reece tied for first with a 75, Noah Berry took third with a 76, Peyton Serafin – fourth with a 78, and Ben Anaciero – fifth with a 79 for the Bobcats.

At the Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional, Crete-Monee’s Terrence Blevins Jr. tied with two others for first place with a 78.

At the Class 2A Lemont Regional, Peotone’s Joe Hesse tied for 10th with an 82 at Green Garden Country Club.

In girls golf, freshman Fiona Hagan-Storbeck of Beecher finished 15th at the Class 1A Dwight Regional, with a 107, Illinois Lutheran freshman Julia Jacobucci was 21st with a 109, and Manteno freshman Genevieve Kvasnicka was 24th with a 112.

Super seeds

Ready for a Beecher-Manteno showdown in boys soccer to determine a sectional semifinal?

That’s what the coaches think will happen as the IHSA released it seedings, and Beecher picked-up the top seed, with Manteno grabbing the second seed in Sub-Sectional A of the Manteno Sectional.