With sisters and cousins who have played high school soccer, it’s no surprise that Pauly Rzdakosz is thriving in the sport.
As a sophomore at St. Laurence last season, he made the All-Catholic League Blue team because of his defense.
On offense?
“I don’t get many scoring chances — usually it’s on set pieces like corners and free kicks,” Rzadkosz said.
He’s making the most of those chances.
He scored his second goal in the young season on Aug. 30 to help the Vikings beat Sandburg 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the 32-team Windy City Classic at Reavis. He scored on a penalty kick with 9 minutes, 49 seconds left in the game.
The Vikings (3-0-1) and De La Salle were the lone area teams to advance to the Sept. 2 semifinals. The championship is slated for Sept. 4.
His older sisters — Patricia and Sylvia -— at Reavis and Moraine Valley, and at Reavis and Stagg respectively.
His cousins, Matthew and Thomas Suchecki, played for the Vikings and both wore No. 3. After Matthew graduated in 2024, Rzadkosz grabbed that number this season. Thomas is playing soccer at Benedictine and Matthew is playing golf there.
Rzadkosz, who also plays golf and volleyball, is looking for a college career in soccer.
“I’ve been playing soccer and working hard my whole life and it’s my dream to play it at a higher level,” he said.
The Vikings were 17-3-5 last season and are off and running for another strong campaign in 2025.
“I love the team and the chemistry that we build with everyone,” Rzadkosz said. “It’s fun celebrating with our teammates.
“And winning.”
Marist, McAuley serve up titles
Marist’s girls volleyball team, ranked 17th in the country by the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association, won the 32-team Crimson Classic Aug. 29-30 at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora.
Savanah Weathers was named the tournament MVP, while Cassidy Cage and Elayna Davidson were named to the all-tournament team.
Meanwhile, Mother McAuley won the 16-team Metea Valley Invitational for the fourth year in a row.
Peyton Heatherly, Lucy Maloney and Campbell commit Cayla Prohaska were named to the all-tournament team for the Mighty Macs (7-0), who have not dropped a set this season.
Do-it-all Hovey
St. Xavier volleyball setter Samantha Hovey was not only named the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Setter of the Week on Aug. 26, the next day she accomplished a rarity.
The senior recorded a triple-double in a four-set home loss to Bethel as she had 18 assists, 13 digs and 10 kills.
Strus has surgery
Former Stagg basketball star Max Strus, a starter for the Cleveland Cavaliers, injured his left foot during a recent workout and it required surgery.
He will refrain from basketball opportunities for three or four months, according to the team.
NBA camps open Sept. 29.
Hoosier managers coaching TCC
Zane Shewmaker, a manager for four years at Indiana, is the new assistant men’s basketball coach at Trinity Christian.
Second-year head coach David Osborn has a soft spot in his heart for Hoosier managers as he also served as a manager at Indiana before embarking on a coaching career.