OLCHS bowler earns athlete of the month honors
By Brian Frangella Charlie Dell was a picture of consistency for the month of December on the lanes for the Oak Lawn Community High School boys bowling team. He won Top 5 individual medals at three different invitationals, he rolled his career-best 289, and he was the South Suburban Conference Red Individual Champion. All this…
Postseason Roundup | Marist breaks through with first state cheerleading title
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent For years, Marist’s competitive cheerleading team was knocking on the door of a state championship. On Feb. 3, the RedHawks were like cops on television busting down the door. Marist won the IHSA state championship in the large-team division at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington with a score of 96.32, ahead…
Boys Basketball | Darshan Thomas scores late to lift Marist over Benet
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent A life lesson can be learned anywhere and at any time. “Sometimes it is hard and it does not work out, but you have to keep fighting and he did,” Marist coach Brian Hynes said after the RedHawks defeated Benet on Feb. 2. The “he” Hynes was referring to was Marist…
Area Sports Roundup | Larry Rothschild joins Windy City ThunderBolts
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent First Bobby Jenks. Now Larry Rothschild. The Windy City ThunderBolts are stacking their staff with some familiar names from the Chicago baseball scene. They hired Jenks, a former White Sox closer and member of the 2005 World Series-winning team, as manager earlier in the offseason and recently hired Rothschild to be…
Girls Hoops Wrap | Nazareth gets top seed at Class 4A Mother McAuley sectional
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent How about a dream Nazareth vs. Homewood-Flossmoor matchup, with the winner going to state and the loser staying home? If the girls basketball coaches’ seedings come true, that’s exactly what will happen in Class 4A. But there is a lot of basketball to be played — and a lot of upsets…
Boys Hoops Wrap | Riverside-Brookfield’s Stefan Cicic hits 1,000 career points
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Riverside-Brookfield senior Stefan Cicic had a memorable week, scoring 28 points — surpassing 1,000 career points in the process — while leading the Bulldogs to a 55-47 conference win over Westmont on Feb. 2. Cicic also grabbed 15 rebounds and had five blocks in the win, one of R-B’s (22-4, 5-0…
Shepard, Richards cheerleaders earn highest sectional scores
The varsity cheerleaders from Shepard High School in Palos Heights on second place on Saturday at the IHSA Sectional tournament at Hinsdale South High School. The team advanced to the IHSA state finals as a result. Coached by Shepard graduate Felicia Marr, the Astros earned their highest score ever at a sectional tournament. The team…
Boys Basketball | Hot shooting fuels comeback as Sandburg tops Stagg in thriller
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Sandburg spends 45 minutes of every practice just shooting the ball, so with the team trailing Stagg by double-digits late in the rival programs’ latest matchup, Eagles coach John Daniels had no worries. He told his shooters to “Just fire it.” Ryan Tomczak sank a deep 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left…
Boys Hoops Wrap | Marist, Oak Lawn have unbeaten weeks; Curie’s win streak snapped by Lindblom
Games played between Jan. 22-27 By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After a week off, Marist got back on track with a week of wins. The RedHawks (19-4, 7-2 East Suburban Catholic) opened the week with a 70-54 conference win at St. Viator. Darshan Thomas led the charge with 23 points. Thomas continued his strong play with…
College Notebook | Niagara guard Henderson looks like lock for MAAC freshman of year
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Ahmad Henderson’s collegiate basketball career has gotten off to a promising start. The Niagara freshman guard was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s Rookie of the Week for the period ending Jan. 24. Henderson, a Brother Rice graduate, paced the Purple Eagles to a 2-1 record that week as he averaged…
Red Stars’s schedule and roster set for 2024
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The schedule is set. The roster is set. The Red Stars are ready to roll. Once they get the preseason stuff out of the way, the Red Stars will open the NWSL slate at 6:30 p.m. March 16 with a road game against the expansion Utah Royals. Their home opener at…
Area Sports Roundup | Longtime hoops coach Bruce Scaduto stepping down
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Bruce Scaduto kept the family name going for a few more decades, but he is hanging it up after this season. Scaduto, the Evergreen Park boys basketball coach from 1997 through 2011 and the Mustangs girls coach since 2011, has announced he will retire after this season. “I feel that it’s…
Postseason Roundup | Six area teams heading to state cheerleading finals
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Marist competitive cheerleading team has an impressive resume. The RedHawks have in their history brought home six IHSA large-school trophies. They took second place in 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2022, and earned third-place trophies in 2012 and 2020. They are still searching for that elusive state championship, and will get…
Boys Hoops Wrap | Curie stays hot with four wins in four days
*For the period of Jan. 15-21 2024 By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Curie played games on four straight days last week, ending the stretch with an 86-60 victory over Joliet West for their 17th consecutive win In the Jan. 21 matchup played at the Ronald Chops Billinger Memorial Shootout at Whitney Young, five players scoring in…
Area Sports Roundup | Chicago Christian hires new football coach
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Chicago Christian has a new football coach, and he comes from one of the best high school football programs in Illinois. CJ Cesario has been tabbed to head up the Knights program, replacing Dan Chiarito. In 2023, Cesario coached the sophomore team at Mount Carmel. The Caravan won back-to-back Class 7A…
NWSL champions Groom, Kuikka sign with Red Stars
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars continued to fill out their roster on both offense and defense last week, this time adding veteran talent with championship pedigrees. A latest additions in a busy offseason were free-agent signings Shea Groom and Natalia Kuikka. Groom, a midfielder, was inked to two-year deal. She is coming…
Postseason Roundup | Nazareth dance team wins first sectional title
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Will the streak continue? With a new team sharing the glory? Nazareth’s athletics programs have collectively won one IHSA state championships in each of the last five high school sports seasons, going back to spring 2022. The LaGrange Park private school’s baseball, football, girls volleyball and girls basketball teams each has…
Brother Rice tops Marist for first Pulaski Post
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Classes and athletics competitions across Illinois were called off due to bone-chilling temperatures early this week. That did not stop two of the area’s hottest teams from duking it out in the Battle of Pulaski. Brother Rice senior forward Zavier Fitch scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Brother…
Swanson signs record deal to remain with Red Stars
From Staff Reports Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson has re-signed with the franchise in what is reportedly the richest deal in NWSL history. Swanson, who was a free agent for the first time in her career this offseason, agreed to stay in Chicago on a deal worth a reported $2 million, including a fifth-year…
Boys Hoops Wrap | Oak Lawn beats Richards in crosstown tilt; Br. Rice, Mt. Carmel and Curie keep winning
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Oak Lawn junior guard Dante Montgomery scored a game-high 19 points and the Spartans defeated Richards, 49-43, in what will be the only regular-season matchup this season between the crosstown rivals. The South Suburban Red teams battled for most of the game, but Oak Lawn (11-5, 4-0) walked away with their…
Evergreen Park tops Bremen in game called after fight between players
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent On the eve of the area’s first winter storm of 2024 rolling in and eventually bringing with it sub-zero temperatures, Evergreen Park was heating up their gym with one of their most sizzling performances of the season. Unfortunately, things got a little too heated. With Evergreen Park dominating Bremen in a…
Area Sports Roundup | Marist tabs Mike Fitzgerald to lead football program
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent There is a change at the top. Mike Fitzgerald, who over the past six seasons helped build York into a Class 8A power, has been named Marist’s new football coach. Fitzgerald replaces Ron Dawczak, who resigned. Marist announced the hire on Jan. 8. Fitzgerald is a former RedHawks assistant. He led…
Red Stars get NWSL Defender of Year finalist Staab for draft pick
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars may not have a general manager, but whomever is pulling the strings and making the big decisions had a few busy days last week. After adding Masaki Hemmi to the mix as an assistant coach, the Stars wheeled and dealed and set up a revolving door during…
Girls Hoops Wrap | Mother McAuley’s Morgan Feil hits milestone; Macs assistant honored by Maroons
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Mother McAuley’s Morgan Feil hit the 1,000-point milestone on Jan. 11 against DePaul Prep. Three days later, one of her coaches was honored for passing that mark last season. For Feil, hitting that milestone was a big deal, but she added to that big night by getting the game-winning basket in…
Boys Hoops Wrap | Mount Carmel makes statement with beating of Benet
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent In. a highly anticipated matchup, Mount Carmel used a second-half surge to top Benet, 50-36, at the 5th annual Steve Pappas Shootout hosted by DePaul Prep. The Caravan (17-2, 2-0 Chicago Catholic Blue) held a three-point lead at halftime, but outscored the Redwings 29-18 over the final two quarters. Benet’s 36…
Lions Club District 1A Helen Keller race draws big field
By Kelly White The damp weather from overnight rain did not deter more than 100 people on Sunday morning from getting some exercise. The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn. “This is a really great event,” Oak…
EPCHS students collect shoes for Christmas Without Cancer Sneaker Drive
From staff reports Students in Evergreen Park Community High School’s junior physical education leadership class teamed up with the non-profit organization Christmas Without Cancer to help local families battling the devastation of cancer. The class – taught by EPCHS physical education teacher Ree McDonald – helped gather donations for Christmas Without Cancer’s second annual Sneaker…
Swallow Cliff Chapter, NSDAR, honors JROTC cadets
From staff reports Swallow Cliff Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, participated in recent JROTC awards ceremonies held at Shepard High School in Palos Heights and Richards High School in Oak Lawn. The DAR JROTC award, consisting of a medal and certificate, was presented to Navy Cadet Emily Schrode at Richards High School…
Man charged with child abduction in Stickney Township
From staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with child abduction and luring of a minor after Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives found he attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle, said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. According to police, about 4:43 p.m. on Monday, April 22, officers responded to an…
Worth Library celebrates 60th anniversary
By Kelly White The Worth Public Library has been around for decades. Resting in the heart of the village at 6917 W. 111th St., the library held an event focusing on its rich background story on April 23 with a historical photo exhibit. “It’s amazing because this library is still so important to the community,”…
Rose Zubik, Woman’s Club veteran, installed as 3rd District president
Rose Zubik, of Palos Heights, the new president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois, lights a candle during the installation ceremony held April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park. Heather Linehan, the outgoing president, is beside her.By Dermot Connolly A longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club is now president…
Shots fired in Chicago Ridge Commons parking lot
From staff reports Shots were fired Wednesday night in the parking lot at Chicago Ridge Commons mall. Police said they received reports of the shooting about 9:45 p.m. No injuries were reported. Multiple witnesses told police four men were walking through the parking lot from the XSport Fitness area. They approached two vehicles and separated…
Hair salon with a ‘flair’ marks first year in Chicago Ridge
By Joe Boyle Melissa Kowalski wanted to do something meaningful to mark the first-year anniversary of her Flair With Hair Salon in Chicago Ridge. “We did not have a grand opening last year so I wanted to do something really special,” Kowalski said. “We wanted to say thank you to our clients.” Kowalski, a resident…
Palos East fifth-grader wins Scholastic Storyworks writing contest
Gabriel Chowaniec, a fifth-grader at Palos East Elementary School, has been named a winner of the Scholastic Storyworks Magazine writing contest. Gabriel, who is a student in Cathy Casey’s fifth-grade classroom, was named one of only five winners nationally for the December 2023/January 2024 competition. Garbriel’s submission for the nonfiction story “The Shattered Land,” “showed a strong understanding of the text along with the ability to author a well-organized and engaging response,…
Shepard celebrates Autism Week
By Kelly White World Autism Acceptance Week is organized by the National Autistic Society in the first week of April and aims to raise awareness about the challenges autistic people face across all areas of society. Not missing out the opportunity to celebrate all-inclusion was Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights. “We…
Billions of cicadas get ready to raise a racket
By Kelly White If you haven’t heard the buzz yet, you will soon. With 2024 marking a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, billions of the red-eyed buggers will soon be making an appearance. Periodical cicada broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time. Although exact…
‘A man of honor, a beacon of kindness’
. Chicago weeps for Officer Luis Huesca . By Tim Hadac People across the Southwest Side shed tears earlier this week, as throngs of police officers and other filled the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 77th and Western for a funeral Mass for CPD Officer Luis M. Huesca. Officer Huesca was “a man…