Hinsdale Central Top 10 Patch Sports Highlights of 2010

Even though the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Patch website has been around for only three months, it has covered Hinsdale sports like no tomorrow. This new, emerging site enlisted top-notch sports reporting talent to chronicle the triumphs and defeats local high school teams face while also featuring local athletic achievements. 

After looking over 100 sports stories, 10 were chosen as the top sporting highlights of the year. The criteria for this list were that the story originated from the Patch website and covered the Hinsdale Central athletic program.

10-

The Hinsdale Central girls' basketball team got off to a rough 0-12 start to the year, including dropping close contests to Glenbard West (51-50) and Proviso West (63-60).

The Red Devils almost let a 20-point lead over St. Charles East evaporate, but senior Avery Johnson hit two crucial free throws to help secure a 49-45 victory Dec. 21. Earlier in the game, Hinsdale Central had a 19-0 run to build a 24-4 lead. Senior Christine Rush had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.

9-

Despite Lyons Township winning eight of 12 swimming events, the Red Devils overtook their rivals for a 98-88 triumph Dec. 17.

Hinsdale had third-place points in 10 of 12 events while securing three of the four top swimmers in six events. Junior Danny Thomson's four-second win in the 100-yard breaststroke was the backbreaker.

8-

Hinsdale Central's girls gymnastics team edged out rival Lyons Township in a dramatic 143.75-142.45 decision Dec. 15 to gain an advantage in recapturing their West Suburban Conference Silver Division title.

The difference was the uneven bars, where the Red Devils won 35.55-34.75. Junior Kristen Grilli won the all-around with a 37.15 out of 40.

7- and Golf Teams Win Regionals

The Red Devils boys' golf team won the Wheaton Warrenville South regional 317-319 over Wheaton South Oct. 5 despite losing five of their six top players from 2009 to graduation. Glenbard West and Lyons Township finished three and four strokes behind.

Kyle Jeske was fourth with 77.

The girls prevailed in a landslide victory Sept. 29. Hinsdale Central's Rosanna Lederhausen and Jacqueline Burns had 75 in a three-way tie for first with Glenbard West's Brooke Kochevae. All four players finished in the 70s.

6-

The Hinsdale Central football team fell behind 26-7 to Downers Grove North Oct. 8 and saw its playoff hopes starting to fade. However, the Red Devils outscore the Trojans 30-7 to pull off a 37-33 comeback triumph.

Hinsdale running back John Skokna had two third-quarter touchdowns while quarterback Alex Hodakowski connected with Nick Sellinger for a 41-yard touchdown helped Hinsdale overcome the Trojans. The Red Devils later lost 44-20 to Proviso West eliminated them from the playoffs.

5-

 On Dec. 11, the Red Devils wresting team beat Downers Grove North 218.5-175 at the Mustang Invitational. Hinsdale's Matt Freyn (125), Terry Ward (145), Brian Allen (215) and heavyweight Jack Allen took home championships.

Four other Red Devils placed in the finals. Tom Ward (119), Ernest Battaglia (130), T.J. Sally (171) and Andrew Pyle (189).

4-

The Red Devils' boys soccer team upset an elite Downers Grove North squad 2-1 on quick goals Oct. 12. Defender Mike Oleferchik kicked a goal on a free kick in the first 10 minutes while teammate forward Zach Chiaramonte nailed a score in the 58^th minute as the ball eluded Trojans' goalkeeper Will Meyer. 

Before the game, the Trojans only dropped two matches on the season.  

3-

Hinsdale Central's girls volleyball team spiked a two-set win over Naperville Central Oct. 30 to claim the regional championship. Katarina Milojevic had the title clinching spike.

Hinsdale upset Downers Grove North in the semifinals earlier in the tournament. Facing Hinsdale South in the sectional semifinals, the Red Devils lost in three tough sets to a Hornets team that went to the super sectionals.

2-

After missing two-thirds of the cross country season due to a stress fracture in her foot, Jill Hardies won her first full race of the year Oct. 16. She had the second fastest time at Hinsdale's Katherine Legge Memorial Park with 17:40.7, being seven seconds off the mark.

She beat Downers Grove North's Samantha Fry. Hardies won the regional cross country regional title and qualified for state finals. Hardies lost in the championship race to Oswego East's Ariel Michalek, who edged Hardies by two seconds.

1-

Hinsdale Central tennis doubles partners Marika Cusick and Caroline Lorenzini captured the girls tennis doubles state championship Oct. 23. To win the title, both had to overcome stiff competition.

In the fourth round, they had a come-from-behind win over Whitney Young's Gabriel Moore and Brittany Ballog. They also fought twin sisters Amy and Tracy Kuhle of Decatur St. Teresa in the semifinals, who were state runners-up last year.

The sophomores finished with a 24-0 record for 2010.