Local Sports News
Football roundup: Christian Flutman helps Chicago Christian advance
Christian Flutman rarely comes off the field for Chicago Christian and he wouldn’t have it any other way. The senior starts at quarterback and defensive back and also is the holder for kicks — duties that kept him plenty busy on Nov. 2 when the Knights rolled by visiting Illini West 53-16 in a Class…
IHSA football playoff scoreboard
With records and seedings in parentheses Note: Classes 8A and 7A are seeded 1-32. All other classes are seeded as two 1-16 brackets. First round Class 8A Glenbard East 49, Curie 0 Stevenson 31, Sandburg 14 Marist 42, Glenbrook South 14 Lyons 38, Joliet West 0 Class 7A Fenwick 12, Brother Rice 7 Quincy 49,…
Area sports roundup: Red Stars fall to eighth seed, will face Orlando
The Chicago Red Stars are heading into the NWSL playoffs with a three-game losing streak and will face the regular season’s best team. The eighth-seeded Red Stars visit top-seeded Orlando at 7 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals. The Red Stars had a 1-1 draw at Orland on March 29 and lost 1-0 in Bridgeview on…
Postseason roundup: McAuley wins 44th straight volleyball regional
The streak is up to 44. Mother McAuley won another regional championship in girls volleyball on Oct. 31 and that brings its total up to 44 straight regional or district championships after a 25-12, 25-14 victory over Stagg to win the Class 4A Stagg Regional in Palos Hills. Excluding the 2020 COVID-19 season, the Mighty…
Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel cruise in Class 7A opener
Before a Class 7A opener in Machesney Park on Nov. 1, Mount Carmel and Harlem had never played each other. The Huskies are likely fine with not seeing the Caravan again anytime soon, as the Caravan rolled to a 56-14 victory. Playing only in the first half, Mount Carmel quarterback Jack Elliott completed 11 of…
Two-way star Myles Mitchell helps Richards advance
With Richards trailing late against visiting Dunlap in a Class 6A opener on Nov. 1, Bulldogs coach Tony Sheehan knew what time it was. Myles Mitchell time. “I’m not going to lie,” Sheehan said. “I went up to him in the fourth quarter and told him that we were going to put it all on…
Shepard’s bounceback season ends in Class 6A opener
A rough start led to a season-ending loss for Shepard on Nov. 1. In the first three minutes of a Class 6A playoff opener against downstate Washington, the Astros fell behind 14-0 en route to a 52-21 road loss. Shepard went three-and-out on its first possession. Washington blocked the ensuing punt and scored on a…
Unbeaten Quincy ends Argo’s season in Class 7A opener
Argo coach Phillip Rossberg knew it wouldn’t be easy going on the road to play unbeaten Quincy in a Class 7A opener on Nov. 2. Quincy quarterback Bradyn Little passed for six touchdowns as the 10-0 Blue Devils defeated the Argonauts 49-7. “They’re as advertised,” Rossberg said. “Their quarterback passed 10,000 yards for his career,…
Marist pulls away in second half to win Class 8A playoff opener
Missing the IHSA playoffs last year for only the second time in 14 seasons was a bitter pill for Marist. “We had a letdown last year by not making the playoffs,” RedHawks linebacker Kevin Tomkins said. “We knew that we needed to pick it up this season. “When we worked out in the offseason, we…
Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 11
1. MARIST (9-1) Last week: 8A, Beat Glenbrook South 42-14 This week: vs. Loyola Comment: After shaky start, RedHawks defense was excellent against the Titans. 2. LYONS (10-0) Last week: 8A, Beat Joliet West 38-0 This week: vs. Downers Grove South Comment: Lions’ offense has been strong all season averaging 35.4 points per game. 3.…
Eduardo Seija, Curie earn first playoff berth since 2019
Eduardo Seija and his Curie teammates had plenty to celebrate on Oct. 24. Seija, a senior two-way starter at fullback and linebacker, scored the first touchdown of his career as the Condors shut out Urban Prep-Bronzeville 30-0 at Rockne Stadium to complete one of the state’s biggest turnarounds. A year after going 0-9, Curie is…
Area sports roundup: Stars to get the ‘Red’ out; SXU falls again
Starting in 2025, the Chicago Red Stars will tweak their brand. The team will be known as the Chicago Stars Football Club and will have a new logo. They are getting the “Red” out. “As the stewards of this club, Laura Ricketts, the ownership group and the leadership team believe it is time to evolve…
Postseason roundup: Marist’s Helena Klooster finishes fifth at state
Two of the best girls tennis players in Orland Park have taken each other on several times over the years during various tournaments. But they never had a match like this one. Marist’s Helena Klooster and Sandburg’s Estela Loureiro – both sophomores — met in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament consolation quarterfinals on Oct.…
Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 10
1. MARIST (8-1) Last week: Beat Notre Dame 34-0 This week: vs. Glenbrook South, Class 8A Comment: Jacob Ritter threw for three touchdowns and scored on a run for the RedHawks. 2. LYONS (9-0) Last week: Beat Proviso East 50-6 This week: vs. Joliet West, Class 8A Comment: This is the Lions’ first 9-0 team…
Shepard rolls past Eisenhower, looks ahead to playoffs
Shepard coach John Rone knows what his seniors have been through. That makes where they are – heading to the IHSA Class 6A playoffs – that much sweeter. The Astros finished 7-2 in the regular season and second in the South Suburban Red behind Richards at 5-1 after beating Eisenhower 31-6 on the road on…
Richards routs Reavis, clinches South Suburban Red title
Whether the conference was called the SICA North, the SICA Orange or the South Suburban Red, the most dominant team has usually been Richards. The Bulldogs reaffirmed that on Oct. 25, cruising past Reavis 76-0 in Oak Lawn. Richards (8-1, 6-0) won the 35th conference championship in program history. According to coach Tony Sheehan, the…
Kenny Jager powers Chicago Christian past Aurora Christian
When Chicago Christian needs a play, chances are the ball will go to Kenny Jager. In a 28-21 road victory over Chicagoland Christian Conference rival Aurora Christian on Oct. 25, Jager carried 27 times for 178 yards and two touchdowns. “Kenny could potentially be the conference’s player of the year,” first-year Chicago Christian coach CJ…
Argo beats Evergreen Park, punches ticket to playoffs
Win and you’re in. The scenario couldn’t have been clearer for Argo in the final game of the regular season Oct. 25 against South Suburban Red rival Evergreen Park in Summit. The Argonauts needed to beat the Mustangs to clinch their third consecutive state playoff berth and sixth in program history. Mission accomplished. Javoris Cotton…
Mount Carmel drops regular-season finale to Loyola
For all its years of excellence, one team has recently proven to be the bane of Mount Carmel’s existence: Loyola. In a Week 9 CCL/ESCC Blue matchup on Oct. 25 on the South Side, the Ramblers continued their mastery over the Caravan, winning 31-7. It was Loyola’s fourth win over Mount Carmel in the last…
Area football teams learn postseason paths
One of the facts of life in Class 6A football has been that the road to the IHSA title runs through East St. Louis. Few know that better than Richards, whose season was ended by the Flyers in the 2019 quarterfinals, the 2021 second round and the 2022 first round. There were no playoffs in…
Postseason roundup: Nazareth boys golf finishes seventh in Class 2A
NORMAL – Nazareth was in a position to win a trophy after the first round of the IHSA Class 2A boys golf championship at Illinois State’s Weibring Golf Course. Then golf happened. The Roadrunners’ team total jumped 17 strokes higher in Saturday’s near-windless second round, and that was enough for them to tumble from second…
Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 9
1. MARIST (7-1) Last week: Beat Marmion 42-0 This week: vs. Notre Dame Comment: After missing out on state playoffs last season, RedHawks appear ready for a deep run. 2. LYONS (8-0) Last week: Beat York 24-7 This week: vs. Proviso East Comment: Snapped six-game losing streak to Dukes and earned first outright conference title…
Stagg flag football coach wins Bears honors
The Chicago Bears have officially named Saja Alnajjar, head coach of Stagg High School in Palos Hills, as the Chicago Bears Girls’ Flag Football Coach of the Week for Week 7. This award recognizes excellence in leadership and team commitment, highlighting efforts to support young athletes and expand girls’ flag football throughout Illinois. As part…
Football notebook: Kennedy finishes unbeaten in conference
Kennedy went into its Week 8 game against Hansberry minus some of its usual leaders on defense. But despite missing four starters on that side of the ball for various reasons, the Crusaders wrapped up a perfect conference season with a 47-12 win over Hansberry at Stagg Stadium. “A lot of guys had to step…
Gabriel Taylor Jr., Curie move closer to state playoff berth
Gabriel Taylor Jr. played Pop Warner football growing up in New Jersey, but his focus shifted when he moved to Chicago before his freshman year. Taylor was part of the Curie boys basketball program, consistently one of the best in the Public League and the state. Football wasn’t on his radar until another basketball player…
Local News
Orland Park Christmas parade lights up the season
“Even in the cold, this parade warms your heart,” said Cathy Garner, an Orland Park resident who joined her twin daughters in Sunday’s Christmas Parade. With temperatures hovering at 25 degrees but feeling like 15 due to the wind chill, residents bundled up in blankets, winter coats, and hats for the beloved tradition. The parade…
Chicago poll a ‘North Star’ amid 2025 budget disputes, local aldermen say
Change Research conducted an online survey of 801 general election voters from Nov. 18-21, focusing on Chicago’s budget negotiations. The city-wide poll was conducted to discover residents’ opinions about various topics such as politician and group favorability, property taxes, city spending, Chicago’s sanctuary city status and more. The majority of poll respondents identified as Democrats;…
Grandma’s legacy: Patsy’s gaming and golf brings fun and community to Palos Heights
Jim Ostry grew up in Evanston, across the street from Northwestern University. He spent his summers of his youth working as a caddy at Westmoreland Country Club. “That was when I started golfing and fell in love with the game,” said Ostry, of Lakeview. Ostry turned his passion for golf into a career with a…
Historian Kevin Wood brings Lincoln to life in Thanksgiving program
Standing over 6 feet tall and wearing a wide-brimmed stovetop hat, Kevin Wood cuts a striking figure as Abraham Lincoln. The historian from Adrian, Michigan, began portraying the 16th U.S. president—who served from 1861 until his assassination in 1865—due to their uncanny physical similarities. Wood and Lincoln even share the same height. As Lincoln once…
Mac and cheese, please! Mad Chicken brings comfort food flavors to Palos Park
Melted cheese dripped off the fork as Sawyer Schweikert took another bite of her favorite meal: mac and cheese. She’s nearly two years old and already has found her go-to dish at Mad Chicken, a new comfort food spot at 13037 LaGrange Road in Palos Park. Mad Chicken hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony…
Palos Heights council makes waves, approves $1.8M pool upgrade plan
Fifteen years after a citizens’ group fundraised to save the city’s aging pool from closure, the facility is undergoing a $1.8 million transformation. The upgrades, partially funded by a $600,000 grant, include decking repairs, concrete replacements, and a new pool house. “This pool is 50 years old,” Alderman Jeffrey Key said. “We’re essentially getting a…
Contested races mark Palos Heights’ April election
Palos Heights voters are set to cast their ballots on April 1, 2025, in an election featuring key races for mayor, city treasurer, and City Council seats. Mayor Incumbent Mayor Robert Straz, who has served in various capacities in Palos Heights for more than 40 years, is seeking another term. Straz’s campaign highlights his tenure…
In the holiday spirit, YSV Candles and Gifts nurtures creativity, connection in Garfield Ridge
Mildred Rivera, owner of YSV Candles and Gifts, is more than a businesswoman. She’s a candlemaker and community advocate whose Garfield Ridge store is a hub for artisan wares and creative workshops. Located at 6623 W. Archer Ave., YSV Candles and Gifts offers handmade candles, natural cosmetics, and unique artisan creations from 20 local makers.…
Area Lions clubs ready to sing ‘O Christmas Tree’
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time for local Lions Clubs to hold their annual sale of Christmas trees to raise money for the wonderful causes they support during the year. The Palos Lions will get the tree sales rolling early this year because Thanksgiving falls so late, Nov. 28. The club…
Pekau, Dodge to duke it out in Orland Park
At one time, Keith Pekau and Jim Dodge were on friendly terms. Pekau said he even supported Dodge for Illinois treasurer in the 2018 election. But things went sour during their time on the village board with Pekau being the mayor and Dodge a senior trustee and the two frequently locked horns until Dodge declined…
