Elm Leaves

Guerin blanks Josephinum to advace to sectional finals for first time

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:40:00 -0500

RIVER GROVE — It took a while, but Guerin finally got a second-chance opportunity to break through against Josephinum in their 1A sectional semifinal match at Guerin Wednesday. The Gators (7-8) had plenty of early chances in the first half and most of the second half against the Cougars (7-5-2) and their porous defense, but mistimed plays and some excellent saves kept the Gators at bay. The Gators ended up with a 2-0 victory, finally breaking through in the 32nd minute of the second half after a Cougars’ foul deep in their own territory. Sophomore forward Alondra Rodriguez kicked it …

Fenwick downs Stevenson to reclaim state trophy

Sat, 18 May 2013 22:24:01 -0500

LINCOLNSHIRE — There might not be any high school team in any sport in the state of Illinois more synonymous with winning than Fenwick boys water polo. From 1999 to 2011, the Friars won 11 state titles. After a one-year hiatus, the championship trophy returned to its most familiar case Saturday night as Fenwick defeated Stevenson 10-4 to win the school’s 20th boys water polo championship. “The guys before us would like to say it’s synonymous, but its all about the hard work and what you need to do in order to get here,” senior Matt Bresnahan said. After defeating …

New Trier captures state title in 4x800 relay, Schmidt wins pole vault

Sat, 18 May 2013 20:24:09 -0500

CHARLESTON — Saturday’s Class 3A girls track and field state final was full of firsts for New Trier’s 4x800-meter relay. It was the first time this season that senior all-state runners Courtney Ackerman and Jessica Ackerman had run on the same 4x800 relay. Courtney Ackerman decided she felt healthy enough after Friday’s state preliminaries to run in two races on Saturday. She joined her twin sister, sophomore Mimi Smith and senior Kathleen Keene on the relay. The Trevians reaped the benefits of that decision en route to winning a state title. Jessica Ackerman, running the relay’s third leg, rocketed from …

Blazers hit double digits in regional final win

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:26:00 -0500

MELROSE PARK — Trinity went into their regional final against Lake View on a mission. The Blazers (13-7-2) imposed their will from the very start against the Wildcats (4-3-2) with a relentless offensive attack. Seven different players scored for the Blazers Saturday in an 11-1 rout in the 2A Trinity Regional. “We emphasized in practice and before the game to have a good start and the girls came out strong,” Blazers coach Dave Preston said. The Blazers went on the attack quickly with a goal by freshman forward Heather Baran in the seventh minute. Senior midfielder Sarah Spohnholtz added two …

Dixon pairs with Lehman to roll to OPRF Sectional doubles championship

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:33:57 -0500

OAK PARK — Oak Park-River Forest senior Jeremy Dixon has enjoyed plenty of success in singles during his high school career. Now he’s hoping to fare even better in doubles this year at state after helping the Huskies capture their own sectional championship Saturday. Dixon teamed with Graham Lehman to beat Fenwick’s Jack Ryan and Colin Fitzpatrick 6-1, 6-0 in the doubles championship. The OPRF duo dropped just two games in their four victories. “It means a lot,” said Dixon, who won three matches at state a year ago in singles. “We just needed confidence for state, so this was …

McGuire sets IHSA record while protecting Fenwick net from H-F attackers

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:28:27 -0500

LINCOLNSHIRE- After the day’s first boys water polo state quarterfinal match went down to the wire, the second was over by halftime. Behind hat tricks from seniors Matt Farmer and Matt Bresnahan, the Friars led 10-0 after two periods and rolled to a 13-6 win over Homewood-Flossmoor at Stevenson Friday afternoon. “The first couple of minutes were slow but we adjusted and put it together,” Farmer said. Fenwick (29-5) will face Naperville North in Saturday’s first semifinal at 11:30 a.m. The Huskies held off New Trier 10-9 in the first quarterfinal game earlier Friday. Having beaten Homewood-Flossmoor 15-5 at Fenwick’s …

May 17 high school sports scoreboard

Fri, 17 May 2013 23:32:21 -0500

Sports scores from around the area Friday.

McAuley turns lights off on Fenwick repeat bid

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:20:00 -0500

LINCOLNSHIRE — There will be no three-peat. Fenwick, the two-time defending girls water polo champion, had the lights turned out on its season Thursday night by Mother McAuley, 8-7. Kristen Kleist scored on a man-up advantage with 27 seconds to go for the decisive goal that capped an eventful fourth quarter. “Clare (Bryar) gave me a perfect crosscourt pass and I put it away for my team,” Kleist said. “It was very emotional and intense. Two powerhouse teams, what more can you want?” Fenwick, down 7-3 after three quarters, woke up and scored four straight goals to tie the game. …

Wold shows no rust while winning 800, 1,600 at Fenwick Sectional

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:10:00 -0500

OAK PARK — Glenbard South’s John Wold laced up his running shoes just two weeks ago after suffering a foot injury, but it didn’t show as he led the Raiders to the Fenwick Class AA Sectional championship Thursday at Concordia University. Wold recovered from his ankle injury to qualify for state in the 800-meter run (2 minutes, .02 seconds) and the 1,600-meter run (4:24:57) while contributing to Glenbard South’s 130 points. “I don’t have a groove in the bone but we figured out what’s wrong with my tendons and it should be smooth sailing from here,” Wold said. “It’s been …

May 16 high school sports scoreboard

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:26:06 -0500

Sports scores from around the area Thursday.

May 15 high school sports scoreboard

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:25:22 -0500

Sports scores from around the area Wednesday.

Wojcik zeroing in on Elmwood Park record in 3,200

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:23:00 -0500

When Rickey Wojcik takes his first strides in the 3,200-meter run today he, like his fellow competitors at the Fenwick Sectional, will be trying to beat the 9 minute, 49.24 second state cut. But Wojcik will also be pursuing the right to call himself the fastest 3,200 runner in Elmwood Park history. “It would be awesome to say I was the fastest two-miler ever at Elmwood Park,” Wojcik said. “I think I can (break the record). With my coach’s help, I think I (can).” Wojcik has been chasing the school’s record in the 3,200 — 9:46 by Pat Frascone — …

Daley heading to state for third time

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:27:55 -0500

GLEN ELLYN — All Fenwick junior Briana Daley knew when she arrived at Fenwick was that she wanted to participate in a sport. She ended up choosing cross country and track and field, which proved to be a smart decision for the Oak Park resident. Daley earned all-state honors to help the cross country team place fifth last fall and will be headed to Charleston for the third time in three years for track after her performance Friday at the Class 2A Sectional at Glenbard South. “I came in freshman year joining cross country and track just as a sport …

Farmer’s return gives Friars another reason to believe

Thu, 16 May 2013 03:34:16 -0500

Even with injuries and ailments and a broken hand to star senior Matt Farmer that was feared to be season-ending, Fenwick’s boys water polo continued to thrive this season That prompted coach Kyle Perry to compare the Friars to their neighbors down Madison Street, the Chicago Bulls. With star Derrick Rose out and assorted other players suffering setbacks along the way, the Bulls reached the second round of the playoffs and knocked off the vaunted Miami Heat in the first game of the conference semifinals. “This group, they remind me of the Bulls because they’ve got guys out, we’ve got …

Conference rivals pose Fenwick’s biggest roadblocks

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:28:18 -0500

After the celebration of another sectional championship died down Saturday, Fenwick girls water polo coach Jack Wagner turned his attention to this week’s state tournament at Stevenson. The Friars find an all-too-familiar foe awaiting them in Thursday’s 8:15 p.m. quarterfinal: Metro Catholic Aquatic Conference champion Mother McAuley. And while the two-time defending state champions from Fenwick were feeling good after a 10-2 win over Lyons Saturday, Wagner couldn’t help but gush over the team the Macs have put together this season. “I love the Mother McAuley team,” Wagner said. “I think they play well together as a group. I think …

Calderon helps Guerin in many ways

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:22:11 -0500

Ever since she was small, Guerin sophomore Victoria Calderon has done a little of everything on the soccer field. This season she’s used those skills to help the Gators to their first regional title in team history. It’s not uncommon for Calderon to play three or four positions in a single game. “I’m ready for whatever is out there,” she said. “I’ll do whatever I can to help the team.” In the regional semifinal against Phoenix Military Academy, Calderon started out playing defense and sweeper. Later in the first half she moved to forward on the left side, then the …