Oak Forest softball standout Jourdan Skirha came up big n the Bengals' drive to win the South Suburban Blue championship. She also came up big in Patch's MVP ballot, outpolling 10 others to become eligible for May Patch Athlete of the Month recognition.
On a recent trip to Florida, Marian Catholic junior shortstop and Patch Athlete of the Month Alex Nickel was thrilled to ride the coasters and just as happy to bond with her Spartan teammates. Her all-around game has Marian motoring toward the postseason.
From St. Kieran School to the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelly has grown physically and mentally into a force to be reckoned with.
Former Marian Catholic star and Purdue offensive tackle selected as fifth-round pick in NFL draft.
Marian Catholic 8, Oak Forest 3: Rebecca Stanton and Alex Nickel connect for homers as the Spartans rally from a 3-1 deficit to take the non-conference battle on Friday afternoon in Oak Forest.
Lincoln-Way Central girls water polo standout Danijela Jackovich made a big splash in Patch's weekly MVP voting. She outpolled 11 others to become eligible for April Patch Athlete of the Month recognition.
Marian Catholic wrestling standout Nate Jackson took action—this time with a pen, not a pin. Jackson signed a national letter of intent to continue his career at Indiana University. He was one of 15 Spartans to announce his plans in a ceremony at school.
Oak Forest softball standout Emily Naegele outpolled 10 others in Patch's weekly MVP voting. She is now eligible for April Patch Athlete of the Month recognition.
Simeon 45, Bloom 35: The Blazing Trojans started fast in the Class 4A state semifinals against the top-ranked Wolverines but were unable to sustain their momentum over the long haul in Friday's semifinal battle at Carver Arena in Peoria.
Bloom Township 53, Edwardsville 41: Donald Moore scored 15 points and powered the Blazing Trojans past the Tigers in the Class 4A Normal Supersectional on Tuesday night at Redbird Arena.
Bloom Trail graduate Japheth Cato came within a whisker of winning his first national championship in the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 10 in Nampa, Idaho. He set a University of Wisconsin record en route to a second-place finish.
Lejavius Johnson spent extra time in the gym preparing for his senior season. His leadership was a telling factor in the Blazing Trojans' 43-32 victory over Homewood-Flossmoor Friday in the Class 4A Lockport Sectional final.
Bloom 43, Homewood-Flossmoor 32: Donald Moore's 20 points paced the Blazing Trojans in the championship game of the Class 4A Lockport Sectional on Friday night.
DeJahown Freeman threw himself on the floor to come up with a huge steal in the frantic final moments of Bloom's 40-37 victory over Sandburg Friday in the Class 4A Joliet Central Regional championship game.
Bloom 40, Sandburg 37: The Blazing Trojans rallied from an 11-point first half deficit to win their first regional championship since 2008.
Bloom Township boys basketball coach Jasper Williams wasn't particularly pleased with the Blazing Trojans' defensive effort in a 41-37 victory over Thornton Fractional North Tuesday at the Class 4A Joliet Central Regional.
Bloom 41, Thornton Fractional North 37: Donald Moore scored a game-high 15 points and his leadership helped the Blazing Trojans stave off the Meteors in a semifinal game at the Class 4A Joliet Central Regional.
Bloom Township senior Donald Moore will play in the Chicago United Hoops Classic on May 5 at the University of Chicago's Ratner Athletic Center. The game is part of the Norm Van Lier Scholarship Fund and Non-Violence Legacy Campaign.
Bloom Township boys varsity basketball will be back at Bloom Trail for the first time since 1995 on Friday night. The Trojans will face Crete-Monee in a "Whiteout" game.
Senior guard Henry Hicks has accepted his role—and been given a new nickname—as he helps Bloom Townshp's boys basketball team build on a terrific start.
Bloom Township 55, Joliet Central 35: The Trojans made 7-of-8 shots and built a 19-0 first-quarter lead. Henry Hicks scored a game-high 17 points.
Despite a 52-39 win, Bloom coach Jasper Williams was not pleased with his team's effort.
Bloom 52, Rich Central 39: Bloom's defense held Rich Central to only two points in the last six minutes and got its seventh victory of the season.
A Patch reader made a good point when she said the boys basketball victory was something to brag about.
Former Bloom Trail wrestling standout Chris McFarland credits his old high school coach, Ron Ray, with setting a foundation for his success on and off the mat.
Reliving the Glory Days: Former Bloom Trail coach Ron Ray molded an inexperienced group of wrestlers into a state powerhouse.
Marian Catholic placed fourth in the Class 3A girls state volleyball tournament. The Spartans dropped a 25-20, 25-11 decision to Wheaton St. Francis on Saturday at Redbird Arena in Normal.
Despite the strong play of Amber Clay and Kelsey Clark, Marian Catholic dropped a three-set thriller to Woodstock Marian in semifinal action in the Class 3A girls volleyball state tournament at Redbird Arena in Normal.
Jeremy Esparza's 28-yard field goal turned Evergreen Park into a winner in a second-round Class 4A football game vs. Rock Island Alleman. Fans voted him a winner in balloting for Patch Athlete of the Week, Oct. 31-Nov. 5.
Spartans sweep past Payton College Prep, 25-18, 25-13, to win the Rich East Supersectional and earn a trip to the finals tournament at Illinois State University.
Led by a pair of underclassmen, the Spartans claim a hard-fought 25-21, 25-23 victory and move on to the Class 3A supersectionals.
Bengals let leads slip away in both games of Tuesday night's Marian Catholic sectional semifinals. The host Spartans take care of business to advance to Thursday's final.
What's he doing now? Marian's all-time leading rusher, Terence Marable, played at Illinois before joining the working world.
Reliving the Glory Days: Marian Catholic's all-time leading rusher, Terence Marable, helped the Spartans win the Class 4A state football championship in 1993.
Patch partners with Comcast to bring you the game of the week. Catch the highlights on video.
Spartans' turnovers piled up in Friday's loss to Joliet Catholic, and special-teams play continues to be a problem.
Joliet Catholic 64, Marian Catholic 13: First-half nightmare dooms the Spartans, as the host Hilltoppers score 34 unanswered points on the way to a blowout.
Blazing Trojans senior sweeper Raymundo Munoz talks about how much it means to play his sport of choice at Bloom.
Fans from both Rich Central and Crete Monee decked themselves out in orange and helped raise money for leukemia awarenss and treatment on Thursday, Sept. 22.
Rich Central senior Nakeyta Clair has found her groove on the volleyball court and has earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Mississippi.