Posts by Jeff Vorva
Mr. 800 | Saint Xavier women’s volleyball coach Bob Heersema attains milestone win
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer A few trips around the baseball field in 1988 produced one of the greatest legacies in NAIA women’s volleyball history. Then-Saint Xavier Athletic Director John Morrey tried to coax women’s assistant volleyball coach Bob Heersema to lead the program. Heersema was reluctant. He wasn’t sure he was ready to be…
Read MorePro Soccer Report | Red Stars seeking max points in quest for playoffs
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer With three games to go and in last place, the Chicago Red Stars are in a position to be spoilers. But in this unpredictable NWSL season in which teams are bunched up in the standings, the Red Stars are in a position where they can play more than merely that…
Read MoreCross Country | Stagg’s Barham having an adventure in September
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Stagg senior runner Luke Barham has experienced a unique September. Barham finished third in the Richard Dust meet at North Creek Meadow in Chicago Heights on Sept. 2 with a time of 15:52.81. A week later, he placed 26th place but set a personal-best time of 15:19.30 in the Class…
Read MoreArea Sports Roundup | Hoops powers invited to December showcases
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The invitations are in. As basketball coaches and athletic directors put the finishing touches on the 2023-24 schedules, some of the teams in the Southwest Regional Publishing coverage area have picked up invitations to a pair of prestigious hoops tournaments in December. The Chicago Elite Classic takes place Dec. 1-2…
Read MoreOrland Park: Veteran and Pekau spar for a second time
By Jeff Vorva Round two. For the second time in three meetings, Orland Park’s Diana Howard, a veteran, stopped by Village Hall to get some things off her chest during her allotted three-minute public comment session. Howard visited the Aug. 21 meeting and accused Mayor Keith Pekau, also a vet, of yelling and swearing at…
Read MorePalos Heights: Classic Car Show celebrates but needs more volunteers
By Jeff Vorva When it comes to the Palos Heights Classic Car Show, there is plenty to celebrate and also plenty to worry about. The 20th running of the event took place in July and had a record 682 cars and the crowd was estimated at 6,000-8,000. Bob Starzyk, the organizer for all 20 events,…
Read MorePro Soccer Report | New owners watch Red Stars tie in front of record-setting crowd
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Chicago Red Stars put on quite a show for their new bosses. It was fun. It was exciting. It had a big crowd and it felt like a big-time atmosphere. But in the grand scheme of trying to make it to the NWSL playoffs, it didn’t mean much. The…
Read MoreArea Sports Roundup | Trinity soccer champs to be inducted into HOF
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The first team in Trinity Christian College history to win a national championship will be honored in October. The Trinity Christian College Athletics Department announced the 2005 women’s soccer team as the newest member to its Athletics Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on Oct. 21 as…
Read MoreGirls Tennis | Marist freshman Klooster a player to watch
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer When Helena Klooster was growing up, she tried a variety of sports and activities. Dancing and tennis were two of them. “I didn’t like dance at all,” Klooster said. “I would first have dance and I would head straight to tennis. “My mom said that I would look super sad…
Read MoreArea sports report: Coyne Schofield signs three-year pro deal
By Jeff Vorva The new Professional Women’s Hockey League is forming, and Palos Heights native and Sandburg graduate Kendall Coyne Schofield will be a part of its historic first season. Schofield was one of the first three players to sign for the Minnesota franchise, a trio that also features fellow U.S. Olympians Kelly Pannek and…
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