OLCHS kicks off sports season with Fall Green and White Night tonight
By Brian Frangella Friday night kicks off the fall sports season at Oak Lawn Community High School as it hosts “Fall Green and White Night.” All fall sports teams will be represented, and each give a preview of what’s to come this season. The event will take place inside and out of the building. On…
Play Ball! | Wheelchair athletes come to Crestwood for Softball World Series
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent A little bit of heat and a summer downpour could not stop a collection of wheelchair softball players from competing for a world championship in the game they love. Teams traveled from 18 states and Japan to Crestwood, which along with the Frontier League’s Windy City ThunderBolts played host to the…
Gerard Wilcher embarks on first season leading alma mater Morehouse
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Houston, Texas. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In his 30-plus years of coaching college football, Gerard Wilcher has been employed in each of these communities plus several more. He now gets to include Atlanta on that list. But this addition has special significance. The 1987 Brother Rice graduate is going home.…
Area Sports Roundup | Orland Park recognizes wrestler Rocco Hayes for national title
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Sandburg wrestler Rocco Hayes was honored at the Orland Park Village Board meeting on Aug. 7 for winning a national championship. Hayes, a junior, beat five opponents by a combined score of 51-1 — including four technical falls — to win the 100-pound men’s freestyle title at the USA Wrestling/United…
Area Sports Roundup | Jillian Cosler wins Illinois State Junior title
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Jillian Cosler made a two-day trip to her grandfather’s hometown. And, like her grandpa, she came out a winner. Cosler, an Orland Park resident who graduated from Sandburg in May, won a one-hole playoff to claim the 44th Illinois State Junior Girls Golf Championship, held Aug 1-2 at the Aldeen…
College Notebook | Illinois Wesleyan golfer Clifford sets program mark
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Illinois Wesleyan golfer Quinn Clifford has been lauded as a member of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Team in men’s golf for the 2022-23 academic year. Clifford, a Brother Rice graduate and Chicago resident, is the first Titans underclassman men’s golfer to receive Academic All-America status. He was honored for…
Pro Soccer Report | Millonarios one-up Crystal Palace in festive game at SeatGeek
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer There was definitely a different soccer vibe at SeatGeek Stadium on July 26. The Bridgeview facility hosts the Chicago Red Stars and occasionally the Chicago Fire. The crowds for those games are relatively tame compared to international soccer. But during the Chicago Nations Cup Series battle between English Premier team…
Area Sports Roundup | Area baseball and softball stars on ESPN
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It’s easy to catch some of the area’s former athletes honing their crafts. You can find former Brother Rice star and Palos Park native Michael Massey belting home runs for the Kansas City Royals on MLB Network, ESPN or YouTube. During recent NBA seasons, Hickory Hills native and Stagg grad…
Pro Soccer Report | Fire will return to Bridgeview for Leagues Cup match
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Chicago Fire will play again this season at SeatGeek Stadium after all. After playing three games in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Cup at its former home in Bridgeview, it appeared the rest of the team’s home games would be played at Soldier Field. But the Fire worked its way…
College Notebook | Howie Hatton sets Crown College batting average, OBP records
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Howie Hatton, a Riverside-Brookfield graduate now attending and playing baseball at Crown College (Minnesota), was named the 2023 Player of the Year by the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. The senior right fielder also was also chosen to the All-UMAC First Team, the 2023 Division3.com First Team All-Region, and 2023 American Baseball…
‘Every year just keeps getting better’: Max Strus holds annual youth camp at Stagg
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Things have changed a lot since Max Strus held his inaugural basketball camp last summer. During that camp, he was a starting guard for the Miami Heat, which had just come off an Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Boston Celtics. This summer’s camp ran July 17-20 at Stagg —…
Area Sports Roundup | Kaylen Evans’ jersey is headed to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Kaylen Evans is not in any halls of fame, but her jersey will be. Evans, a Nazareth graduate who attended Loyola Chicago before transferring to Morton College, will have her Panthers jersey displayed in the Ring of Honor at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee, in recognition…
Area Sports Roundup | Palos youths face older competition in World Wiffle Ball Championship
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Palos Elite team played last weekend in the World Wiffle Ball Championship. The tournament, which was held July 15-16 at Memorial Park in Midlothian, is composed of teams consisting primarily of adults; but Jack Burke, 14, was Elite’s senior citizen. Some teams have a mix of adults and youths,…
Pro Soccer Report | U.S. women coming to Soldier Field
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Chicago Red Stars have no games scheduled at Soldier Field this season. But one player – goalie Alyssa Maeher – could be on that historic field in September. The four-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion United States will take on South Africa there at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 24. The…
Chicago Christian grad Adam Brouwer named top freshman in Great Lakes Valley
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Illinois-Springfield pitcher Adam Brouwer was chosen the 2023 Freshman of the Year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Brouwer, a Chicago Christian graduate, is the first Prairie Star to achieve the accolade. Brouwer was also named to the All-Great Lakes Valley Second Team. Brouwer was 7-3 with a 3.94 ERA last…
Storylines are Normal for 2023 high school football
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer This year, the road to a state football championship ends at Hancock Stadium in Normal. For Class 7A defending champion Mount Carmel and Class 6A champ East St. Louis, it begins there, too. The two titans kick off the opening weekend of 2023 against each other at 7 p.m. on…
La Grange tennis courts will soon re-open after settlement
By Steve Metsch Tennis balls will soon again be flying at La Grange courts that have been closed for more than a year. Thanks to an agreement between La Grange School District 105 and the La Grange Park District, three courts at the northwest corner of 53rd Street and Catherine Avenue will again be open…
MLR happy with SeatGeek Stadium, but championship return uncertain
By Jeff Vorva They came from the East Coast. They came from the West Coast. Heck, one guy came in from Canada and was wearing a wrestling mask. An announced crowd of 10,103 descended on SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview on July 8 to witness the fifth Major League Rugby Championship. And that included Toronto’s Wayne…
Pro Sports Report | Free Jacks top Legion for Major League Rugby title
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer After a good afternoon of running, kicking and celebrating, Jayson Potroz needed a little rest. So, the New England Free Jacks flyhalf found a spot in the SeatGeek Stadium grass in Bridgeview and threw a shirt over his head. “I’m actually exhausted,” he said. In Major League Rugby’s first neutral-site…
Area Sports Roundup | Adversity volleyball finishes 5th in nation
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Adversity was faced with adversity. As a result, its dreams of a national championship were dashed. Adversity 16 Adidas-South still finished tied for fifth in the nation at 50th AAU Boys National Volleyball Championships held in Orlando, Florida, in early July. The team is top-heavy with rising juniors from Marist.…
Nazareth retires Julian Love’s No. 20, inducts him into Roadrunners Hall of Fame
By Steve Metsch Julian Love was not happy when he fell short of making the Nazareth varsity football team as a freshman. During the summer before bis sophomore year, he worked out every day, improved his skills and earn a varsity spot. And he did not disappoint, helping the Roadrunners to back-to-back state championships in…
Schofield, Orland Park break ground on new sports complex
By Jeff Vorva Groundbreaking took place last week at Schussler Park for the Michael Schofield III Sports Complex, which is a part of a massive renovation of the park. Schofield has a naming rights and sponsorship agreement through the Kendall and Michael Schofield Family Foundation and the complex will feature an artificial turf area with…
Chicago Hounds host Dawg Town Block Party, MLR Championship on Saturday
By Bob Bong The Chicago Hounds rugby team organization will host a day of festivities featuring a “Dawg Town Block Party” on Saturday, July 8, at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. DJ Diesel, who is also known as former basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, and American Celtic band Dropkick Murphys are set to perform at the 2023 MLR Championship…
Gannon motors past Ford for Liberty run victory; Stanko, 17, is women’s winner again
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer And the race was on … During the final stretch of the Orland Park Veterans Liberty Run, two competitors were side by side. But Patrick Gannon passed and beat Owen Ford to win the overall title of the 2-mile race, held July 3 in Centennial Park in Orland Park. Krysta…
College Notebook | Abby Mallo mashes way into Billikens record book
By Mike Walsh Correspondent The transition from high school softball to college went quite smoothly for Abby Mallo this season. The starting third baseman as a freshman for Saint Louis University, Mallo was named to the 2023 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team, claiming a place on the NFCA’s Third Team. Mallo is…
Oak Lawn Fourth of July festivities
Celebrate Independence Day at the Village of Oak Lawn’s annual Fourth of July Parade at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 29! This cherished community event brings together families, friends, and neighbors to honor the spirit of freedom and patriotism. Parade will step off at 95th Street and Lacrosse and head west on 95th to 55th…
District 230 names Director of Safety and Security
From staff reports The Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education approved Dr. Mary Pat Carr as the district’s first Director of Security. She will move from her current position as Assistant Principal of Activities at Stagg High School to the Administrative Center on July 1. Her duties as Director of Safety and Security…
Worth Public Library kicks off summer reading program
By Kelly White Patrons at the Worth Public Library welcomed in the summer season earlier this month. The library, 6917 W. 111th St., hosted its annual celebration on June 1 to bring patrons of all ages out to sign up for its summer reading program. “We love any excuse to celebrate reading with our community,”…
Fire knocks out Orland’s UFC Gym
From staff reports A fire last Thursday afternoon practically destroyed an Orland Park gym and knocked out neighboring businesses, as well. Orland Park firefighters received a call at 2:31 p.m. June 20 for a reported fire in the UFC Gym located at 66 Orland Square Drive Unit C. Multiple 911 calls were received for a fire in…
Chicago Ridge Fire Chief Bonnar retires
Started his 50-year career as Orland Park cadet By Dermot Connolly Chicago Ridge Fire Chief William Bonnar officially announced his retirement from a nearly 50-year career at the June 18 Village Board meeting. Mayor Jack Lind made the announcement “with great regret,” joking that “he doesn’t have the age to retire but he decided to…
Shepard’s yearbook wins national recognition
By Kelly White Shepard High School students have worked tirelessly to create a yearbook for this academic year that was nationally recognized. The high school, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Palos Heights, was chosen as a Yearbook Excellence Contest recipient from Walsworth Publishing Company, a family-owned printing company based out of Marceline, Missouri. Walsworth produces…
Hickory Hills man charged in grandfather’s murder
By Nuha Abdessalam A 32-year-old Hickory Hills man has been charged with first-degree murder in the June 21 death of his 90-year-old grandfather. Dean J. Faulk was charged on June 22 with the June 21 murder of Dean L. Faulk. Police said they responded to a call at 9:45 a.m. June 21 at a residence…
Orland Park Public Library kicks off summer
By Kelly White Summer is nearly here and the Orland Park Public Library is ready for it. On June 8, the library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave., hosted its second annual Summer Reading Challenge Kick-Off event themed, Read, Renew, Repeat. “There are multiple interpretations to this theme,” Jackie Boyd, Communications Manager at the Orland Park Public…
llinois VFW names Porfirio Senator of the Year
Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars recently selected state Senator Mike Porfirio as the Senator of the Year. “I’m deeply honored to receive this prestigious award from the Illinois VFW,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “I am committed to ensuring our veterans receive the protections, care and dignity they deserve. This recognition is a testament to the…
Niego Real Estate salutes America again
. Popular flag program underway . By Tim Hadac Clearing and Garfield Ridge residents who want to decorate their blocks in red, white and blue this Independence Day are encouraged to contact Niego Real Estate and reserve a supply of U.S. flags at no charge. The popular program to promote patriotism and community pride is…
Lyons Mental Health Commission pulls LeaderShop funding
Executive director accused of harassment From staff reports The local nonprofit service community was jolted when nearly $300,000 in mental health funds was withdrawn by a Lyons Township agency from the Western Springs LeaderShop, a social service agency that has provided youth programs for nearly 40 years. The Lyons Township Mental Health Commission is one…
Palos Heights tax preparer convicted of Covid-relief fraud
From staff reports A Palos Heights tax preparer who operates a business in Bridgeview has been convicted on federal charges for fraudulently assisting customers in obtaining loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago on June 10 convicted Hadi Isbaih, 42, on all four counts…
