Valparaiso hired Andy Waddle as its new head football coach in December and it didn’t take him long to mine a few gold nuggets from the area.
Marist quarterback Jake Ritter, Mount Carmel linebacker Tristan Pusateri and Brother Rice defensive back Donovan Brown made it official on Feb. 5 that they would be attending the Northwest Indiana school during national signing day.
“Valparaiso as an institution is easy to get young people excited about,” Waddle said in a news release. “We think we put together a strong class that hit some positional needs as well as adding some talent.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what these young men can do over the next couple of years.”
Ritter, a transfer from Lincoln-Way East, was a first team all-conference player in the CCL/ESCC Orange.
His father, Dave, played football at Michigan and mother, Janet, played volleyball at Iowa.
Pusateri was a part of Mount Carmel’s three straight Class 7A state championships and was named the team’s outstanding linebacker in 2023 and 2024.
His sister, Taylor, is a member of the track and cheerleading teams at Valparaiso.
Brown was a CCL/ESCC Blue all-conference honorable-mention selection in 2024.
He comes from a football family.
Brown’s brother, Marcus, is a freshman quarterback at Valparaiso but did not see any action in 2024. He has three other brothers who played football on the college level.
Other area stars committed to Division I schools on signing day and the list includes some of Ritter’s high school teammates. Defensive back Michael Flynn is heading to Butler and running back John McAuliffe is heading to Cornell. On a side note, junior offensive lineman Rico Schrieber announced his verbal commitment to Purdue.
St. Rita linebacker Justin Buckner chose Western Illinois, while running back Nick Herman picked Drake.
Nazareth’s Nolan Daly is heading to Brown.
Chicago Christian two-way lineman Brock Sperling committed to Western Illinois, as did Argo kicker Kacper Lobas.
Lyons receiver/safety Mack Long committed to Penn.
Evergreen Park’s Arshawn Powell signed with Southern Illinois.
SXU signees
St. Xavier’s football team enjoyed a big haul on signing day.
From the area, the Cougars picked up commitments from Marist defensive lineman Josh Loera, Morton defensive lineman Ulises Mancilla, Sandburg defensive back Brian McBride and Sandburg quarterback Anthony Shelton.
The Cougars picked up some area transfers as well.
Former Reavis defensive back Anas Everette transferred in from Quincy, while former Mount Carmel wide receiver Joey Thompson came in from Midland (Nebraska).
Rolling to sectionals
Richards won its own IHSA girls bowling regional with a 5,555. Bulldogs junior Ulyssa Garcia not only led her team, but was also the tournament’s individual champion with a 1,284 in six games.
Evergreen Park took third, led by junior Esperanza Garcia’s 1,131 and Stagg was fourth and was led by Junior Kaylin Silva’s 997.
Morton finished second in the Glenbard East Regional with a 5,187 and was led by senior Ashley Baeza’s 1,139.
Shepard finished fourth at the Rich Sectional with a 4,577 led by sophomore Madison Ciciora’s 1,061.
Sandburg placed fourth in the Andrew Sectional with a 5,028 with sophomore Kaeley Dangerfield leading the way with an 1,131 series.
Chausse a champ
The area produced one regional champion in girls gymnastics.
At the Lincoln-Way East Regional on Feb. 3, District 230 co-op’s Reagann Chausse took first in the all-around with a 36.300.
Chausse, a Sandburg student, finished third in state in 2024 on the balance beam.
Seeds are planted
The girls basketball postseason seeds were released and coaches project five area regional champions.
In Class 4A, Lyons is seeded first in its own powerhouse sectional and Nazareth is seeded third.
Marist picked up the top seed at the Rich Sectional.
In Class 3A, Evergreen Park was seeded third and Kennedy fourth in the St. Laurence Sectional.
Regional games start Saturday.
Highlands fall in Elite Eight
LaGrange Highlands’ seventh-grade boys basketball team reached the Elite Eight of the Illinois Elementary School Association Class 3A state tournament before falling to Eureka, 53-25 on Feb. 9 at El Paso-Gridley High School.
Jonathan Farkasch led Highlands (16-8) with 12 points.
Sports bits
The Chicago Stars home opener on March 23 with Houston at SeatGreek Stadium in Bridgeview has been moved from 4 p.m. to 2 p.m.
● Former St. Laurence football great Tim Grunhard, who played in the NFL for more than a decade, has been named the Vikings’ senior executive for football program development.
● Former Mount Carmel football star Nate Ollie was named defensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons. He had been an assistant DL coach for the Houston Texans.