NORMAL — Mount Carmel has won state titles in several different decades under several different coaches and running several different offenses. But maybe never have the Caravan won a championship quite like this, overcoming so many hurdles. “The big challenge for us (is) no Mount Carmel team has won state (after) losing three games,” coach […]
Category: Chicago – Garfield Ridge
Logan Malachuk, Nazareth win third straight Class 5A state title
NORMAL — When the pandemic came, the players left Nazareth. With no prep football in Illinois in fall 2020 because of COVID, star quarterback JJ McCarthy transferred to national power IMG Academy in Florida. Other players moved elsewhere, including Iowa and Indiana, in order to continue their careers. When the football calendar returned to normal […]
Life is good for Kansas City Royals mainstay Michael Massey
It’s been a busy and happy couple of months for Michael Massey. In the span of a few weeks, the Brother Rice graduate and Kansas City Royals second baseman had a successful postseason debut, came home to help his brother, Evergreen Park coach Andrew Massey, with a youth camp and married his fiancee, Jane. Just […]
Area roundup: Mother McAuley named No. 1 in IHSA volleyball
To almost no one’s surprise, Mother McAuley was named as the state’s top girls volleyball program in the first 50 years the Illinois High School Association sponsored the sport. The IHSA compiled the list and for McAuley, the numbers have been staggering: 26 state trophies, including 17 state championships. The Mighty Macs have enjoyed four […]
Girls basketball notebook: Olivia Barsch, Marist flip script
Last season was something of a trial by fire for Olivia Barsch and several of her Marist teammates. Playing a demanding schedule with a roster that featured four freshmen and only one senior, the RedHawks finished 10-22. But one week into this season, they’re almost halfway to that win total after going 4-0 to win […]
Logan Malachuk, Jake Cestone lead Nazareth back to state
As Nazareth quarterback Logan Malachuk took a knee on the final snap, wide receiver Jake Cestone was lined up near midfield just in case something happened. Once Cestone saw that everything was indeed fine, he celebrated the Roadrunners’ 40-21 Class 5A semifinal victory over St. Francis on Nov. 23 in memorable fashion: with a well-executed […]
Kenny Jager’s running powers Chicago Christian to semifinal win
At 5-foot-7, height isn’t something that Chicago Christian running back Kenny Jager has much of. In terms of heart, however, the senior running back possesses that in abundant amounts. Last Saturday afternoon, Jager carried 37 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns as the Knights defeated host Farmington 34-20 to earn Chicago Christian’s first trip […]
Richards’ season ends with semifinal loss to East St. Louis
EAST ST. LOUIS – Often the end is sudden, unexpected. Great plans are made and then upended. So it was on Saturday for Richards. The Bulldogs walked into Clyde C. Jordan Memorial Stadium hopeful, knowing they were playing a fleet favorite in the East St. Louis Flyers, but believing they had a chance in the […]
Kenny Jager, Christian Flutman lead Chicago Christian to Class 2A state title
NORMAL – They’ve been playing football at Chicago Christian since 1968, when the Knights, long a basketball power, kicked off with a sophomore team. The varsity squad began in 1969. The IHSA began the state football playoffs five years later. For a long time, Chicago Christian and football championship games were mutually exclusive concepts. Friday, […]
Southwest Regional basketball roundup, Nov. 27
Boys Benet 66, De La Salle 47: Charles Barnes had 19 points for the host Meteors (2-1) in the pool-play loss at the De La Salle-St. Ignatius Tournament. De La Salle will play for third place at home at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Brother Rice 79, Zion-Benton 25: Jack Weigus’ 18 points led the two-time defending […]
