Just three years ago, Mary Clare “MC” Brusek was a freshman playing up on the Marist varsity volleyball team and trying to carve out a role for herself.

After a year away due to the pandemic, the annual Garage Cup showdown between the championship teams from Holy Name Society 16-inch softball leagues of St. Christina and St. John Fisher returned this summer.

Mt. Carmel 55

Jenna Bugos has been surrounded by running for as long as she can remember.

Jake Phillips doesn’t focus on his final times from race to race.

Having played well at early-season tournaments at Metea Valley and West Aurora, St. Ignatius headed into two tough nonconference tests a day apart.

University of Illinois football Coach Brett Bielema announced on Sept. 8 that junior linebacker Sean Coghlan, a 2017 St. Rita High School graduate, earned a scholarship after playing the last three-plus seasons as a walk-on athlete. Coghlan was one of five Illini players who received the bum…

Marist junior infielder Cal Sefcik announced on Sept. 8 that he has verbally committed to continue his academic-athletic career at Indiana University. A 6’, 180-pound junior, Sefcik was a huge varsity contributor as a sophomore last season on the mound and at the plate. On the mound, he went…

Loyola Academy (3-0, 0-0) at Br. Rice (3-0, 0-0)

Playing behind Marist star running back Jamari Grant last season, Jaylen Johnson accepted his role and knew his time would come.

A longtime assistant coach in the Most Holy Redeemer (MHR) football program, Matt Phelan was set to take over the Raiders for the 2020 fall season.

Standing on the championship podium with his Team USA teammates, Joe Ridler soaked it all in.

Walking slowly from midfield to take his potential game-winning penalty kick, Marist senior forward Brian Soto was as calm as could be.

Missing three key rotation players to injury, the St. Laurence volleyball team took the court on Aug. 31 for a home nonconference match against Rich Township looking to its bench players to step up.

Mother McAuley senior guard/forward Bella Finnegan announced on Aug. 31 that she had verbally committed to Indiana State University in Terra Haute. A 5’10” senior, Finnegan is an Oak Lawn resident and graduate of Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School. She is a four-year varsity athlete for the Mig…

Br. Rice alum Jack Guzek was named the Midwest Collegiate League Pitcher of the Year on Aug. 18 after a standout season with the Northwest Indiana Oilmen. Guzek finished with a 7-1 record over 8 regular-season starts with a 2.00 earned-run average. He struck out 62 and walked just 2 batters …

St. Ignatius (2-0) at St. Laurence (1-1)

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Attempting to block an earlier point-after attempt, Mt. Carmel senior J.T. Harris learned a lesson on getting to the ball.

Early in the third set of the season-opening match against Joliet Catholic Academy (JCA), Mother McAuley sophomore Ellie White went up for a block.

Stepping to the service line midway through the third set, Morgan Park Academy (MPA) senior Solana Delgado could sense the momentum slipping away.

Opening the cross-country season, the senior trio of Mother McAuley’s Evelyn Rowan and Marist’s Emma Karczewski and Nora McClorey battled extreme heat and humidity to finish first, second and third, respectively, in a rivalry dual meet.

Packing his bags for his first professional fight, Nico Ali Walsh packed a pair of black-and-white boxing shorts on a whim.

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Andrew Guerra, of Beverly, was recently named Major League Rugby’s Rookie of the Year after a gigantic first season with NOLA Gold in New Orleans. Playing in 12 games for NOLA, Guerra led the team in tackles with 149 successful, 5 of which were dominant tackles. He also had 112 carries of th…

Richards (1-0) at Marist (1-0), Sept. 2 6 p.m.

When Danny “Deuce” McGuire received an official scholarship offer from Northwestern University this spring, his first instinct was to commit on the spot.

Heading into his freshman year at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Michael Eastman understood the challenge ahead of him.

In the later innings of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) World Series championship game, Marquis Jackson looked around and took it all in.

A day after helping lead the Marist softball team to the Class 4A state championship, Abby Dunning was enjoying a well-deserved day of rest and relaxation.

A year ago as a sophomore, Elena Ruzevich was poised for a big season for the Marist tennis team, potentially as the team’s number-one singles player. 

Helping ESPN 1000AM host its ESPN Chicago Fantasy Football Championship on Aug. 21 at 115 Bourbon Street, longtime host and sports radio personality Marc “Silvy” Silverman couldn’t help but smile. 

Tommy and Liam Hopkins attended the Field of Dreams game between the White Sox and the Yankees on Aug. 12 in Dyersville, Iowa. The Morgan Park residents also commemorated the event with a memento from the Papa Hops 16-Inch Memorial Softball Tournament, which benefits the Tom Hopkins Memorial…

Mt. Carmel (0-0) at St. Rita (0-0)

Brian Badke has loved his time as the head football coach at Br. Rice.

As a sophomore, Bobby Atkinson wasn’t able to play in the field as he worked through a shoulder injury that limited him to just batting.

As student-athletes, Mother McAuley’s Elizabeth McNicholas and Marist’s Tommy Kavanaugh achieved success by being organized.

By Tim O’Brien 

Entering his freshman year at Carthage College, Gene McNulty wasn’t sure how much playing time he would get on the volleyball court.

Behind a deep lineup that delivered big hits, impressive pitching and solid defense, Mint Condition defeated Ignition on Aug. 5 to earn the championship of the Kennedy Park Men’s 16-inch softball Thursday League. With all three games scheduled in the best-of-three championship series to be p…

Br. Rice senior Jack Lausch has been a multi-sport athlete for as long as he can remember.