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Chicago Tribune
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: East-West basketball rivalry in Aurora stands the test of time
The late Marie Wilkinson was sometimes said to be the 'matriarch of Aurora.' She was an inspiration to at least two generations of Aurorans as an activist and advocate of equal rights for everyone. She became synonymous with Aurora, and Angela Richardson began to learn more about her from reading newspaper stories in the 1990s. Knowing that the East Aurora—West Aurora athletic rivalry had also become synonymous with Aurora for many people, Richardson had a 'light bulb' moment in 1997. She wondered if she could connect the two 'Aurora stories' in a meaningful way. I interviewed her for a Beacon-News story in 2015, and discovered that she loved Aurora and its diversity. I referenced her as a 'proud daughter' of the city as I learned of her dedication and service. And it began with basketball. 'Mrs. Wilkinson is amazing and is always doing something for someone,' Richardson said in 2015. 'I thought it would be cool if I could do just something. I thought about having an alumni game for former East and West basketball players, and then donating the money to the Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center.' The Wilkinson Center offers social, emotional and educational support services for low-income children and families. Richardson felt a special calling to help the center as her mom had been a single mother. With the help of many community leaders and volunteers, the first alumni game was played in 1997 with more than 1,800 fans in attendance. Thousands of dollars were raised for the Wilkinson Center that night. The alumni game has become a tradition, and a ladies' alumni game was added to the program as the years progressed. I have attended many of the games during its 28-year run, and have been impressed by the sportsmanship and community shown by the players and by everyone involved. The basketball rivalry is and always will be intense, but everyone has always seemed to have fun and to display friendship with former rivals. A wonderful memory occurred one year when Marie Wilkinson herself attended the game, and players (some a foot taller than she was) lined up to give her a hug as a tribute and a sign of their gratitude. This year's edition of the East-West Alumni Basketball Game was played on April 11 with another enthusiastic and spirited crowd in attendance. Among them was a smiling Sherri Penson, who for 17 years has been executive director of the Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center. 'This game has been a tremendous help in providing adequate care for our kids, and has generated between $5,000 and $10,000 a year,' Penson said. 'It has helped at least 70 children per year to be with us during the summer, and we were also able to purchase a van to help transport our children.' I made it a point to speak with the four alumni who were the 'senior' players on each team — those whose graduations occurred long ago. I was impressed that they had lost almost none of their school spirit, but more impressed at their willingness to participate with the goal of giving back to their common community. They gave brief thoughts on their night of coming back and giving back: 'I have close friends who have worked for the Marie Wilkinson Center, and I have nieces and nephews who have received before- and after-school care. It means a lot to me,' said Andre Newson, West Aurora class of 1998. 'I loved coming to school every day and looking forward to playing basketball, and the East-West game was always the highlight of our year,' said Sky Joiner, West Aurora class of 2005. 'The East-West game was the competition that we looked forward to every year. I'm glad that we've stayed healthy and that we're still playing, especially that this game is for charity,' said Yessenia Cabadas, East Aurora class of 2008. 'I'm glad to be part of giving back to the community. I've lived in Kansas as well, and giving back is something I've taken across the country with me — giving back and sharing what I can,' said Terry Jeffries, East Aurora class of 2004. The evening was ultimately about basketball, and the games did not disappoint. Both the women's and men's games were close and very competitive and exciting. The alumni played as hard and with as much spirit as they had played in their student days. The West Aurora ladies defeated East Aurora 60-58, and were led by the scoring and rebounding of Kina Miller. And in a game reminiscent of the glory days of the East-West rivalry, the West Aurora men defeated East Aurora 103-101 in double overtime. Hezekiah Salter dropped in the winning basket on a drive into the lane during the sudden-death second overtime. To paraphrase the famous Aurora cheer from both sides of the river: 'East is East and West is West, but in Aurora … community pride, sportsmanship, friendship and giving back are best.'
Chicago Tribune
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Alivia Lathen, daughter of legendary East Aurora basketball star, hits home run for Yorkville. How? ‘I just did.'
Yorkville's Alivia Lathen might want to keep visualizing good things happening for her when she steps into the batter's box. The sophomore second baseman was already 3-for-3 in a breakout performance Tuesday afternoon when she came to the plate in the top of the sixth inning at Kaneland. 'I was like thinking, 'Oh, I feel like I'm gonna hit a home run,'' Lathen said. 'And I just did.' See it, believe it. If it works, why not? Lathen's line-drive, two-run homer was a legitimate frozen rope, gaining little altitude while rocketing over the left field fence to complete the scoring in Yorkville's 10-2 nonconference win. 'My hitting has been a little iffy, but I've been getting in some extra work this week to get back to consistency,' Lathen said. 'I've been in my head a lot, swinging at pitches that aren't my pitches. 'This game, I was swinging at my pitches and waiting for my strength.' It started benignly enough for the Foxes (5-2) and Lathen, with a sacrifice bunt attempt in the second inning that was so well-placed it went for a single with no throw on the play. Lathen then added a double and single, boosting a 13-hit attack on Kaneland (7-2) that included three from Iowa-bound junior catcher Kayla Kersting in support of winning pitcher Ellie Fox. Fox, a junior right-hander, struck out eight in going the distance. She allowed six hits and a walk. 'I think we allowed her to get in a good rhythm and she was mixing (pitches) well and she kept us guessing a little bit more than what we should have,' Kaneland coach Mike Kuefler said of Fox. 'Ellie took advantage of the outside corner, and we just didn't make any adjustments for it.' Freshman first baseman Addison Coulter had two doubles and sophomore outfielder Ansley Ruh added a two-run single for the Knights. Junior righty Brynn Woods struck out seven in four innings. Kaneland was coming off a spring trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, winning four games and losing one in extra innings. 'We started out the season pretty strong and really haven't faced much adversity,' Kuefler said. 'Our girls are still learning and we learned (Tuesday).' That's true as well for Lathen, a second-year varsity player. 'I was happy to make varsity freshman year and start because I was playing a lot,' she said. 'I realized, though, I had to keep working hard just to keep playing. 'I felt a little nervous at first with the older girls, but they were very welcoming.' The daughter of Darius and Crystal Lathen, Alivia started playing softball when she was 9. She plays travel ball with the Crystal Lake-based Crush Tidal Waves Premier 16U. Her father is legendary in Aurora basketball circles, having made the game-winning shot for East Aurora in overtime of the 1999 sectional final win over West Aurora. Captured in a Beacon-News photograph, it's one of the most talked about moments in the long history of the East-West rivalry. Alivia's grandfather Craig 'Cubby' Lathen also starred in basketball at East Aurora, playing for the legendary coach Ernie Kivisto. She played basketball and volleyball but gave them up in junior high and after freshman year, respectively, to focus on softball. 'I don't want to say she struggled, but the last couple games, we faced some challenging pitchers,' Yorkville coach Jory Regnier said of losses to Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way Central. 'We just talked about her approach, approach, approach. 'She put in the extra reps and she's feeling good, had a great game. She's crazy athletic and is great on the bases. If the third baseman is playing back, she has the green light to bunt or drive the ball. She's a pretty dynamic player.'
Chicago Tribune
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Failure doesn't faze Mariel Lopez. It's why she leads East Aurora in goals. ‘There will be a positive impact.'
Senior forward Mariel Lopez is pretty philosophical about her game for East Aurora. She takes the approach of a Socrates, making her quest about solving problems and finding answers. And in that manner, Lopez is always looking for ways to make things work. 'A lot of times the game is in my mind, and when I dribble with the ball, I'm in my own flow state,' she said. 'Whenever I get a shot off, sometimes it goes in and sometimes it doesn't. 'You always have to keep trying.' Lopez kept going Thursday night, scoring her team-best ninth goal in the 68th minute to seal a 2-0 victory for the host Tomcats over Fenton in an Upstate Eight Conference crossover game. Freshman midfielder Miley Pereida also scored in the 48th minute off a pass from sophomore forward Aly Rodriguez for East Aurora (6-2-1). Sophomore midfielder Beila Hernandez set up Lopez's goal that put the game away. As a four-year starter, Lopez knows to never get discouraged by plays that go against her. Perseverance is her calling card — in every situation. 'You have to fail before you succeed,' she said. 'That's just the way the game is. You're going to fail and fail and fail, but eventually it's going to work out and there will be a positive impact. 'I have my teammates I always rely on to get me the ball, and that pushes me to be better and get the ball in the net.' Lopez's combination of poise and consistency, while always living in the moment and ready to take advantage, has marked her outstanding play. And it has elevated her team. Senior midfielder Chelsea Fuentes, a captain like Lopez, said her teammate's desire for excellence distinguishes every part of her game. 'She was made to be on the field,' Fuentes said of Lopez. 'I've known her for a long time, and Mariel just has passion. She's always ready, always prepared for the moment and fighting for it. 'She's a challenger. Even at practice, she's always pushing us to be the best that we are capable of. The way she is on the field is how she is in life — sometimes shy but really comfortable and fun when you get to know her.' The youngest of three sisters, Lopez has another reason for joy. Her middle sister Jennifer, who also played for the Tomcats and Aurora University, is a first-year assistant coach in the program. 'My siblings were older, but we all grew up playing soccer together,' Mariel said. 'We'd compete. I remember playing in the backyard and we'd get in trouble for sending the balls over the house. 'At that age, I was competitive and I liked to win.' Jennifer Lopez said her younger sister radiated a belief in her talent at a very young age. 'She was ultracompetitive,' Jennifer said. 'I was older, but she always knew that she could hang. I specifically remember when she was 7 years old. She was in a tournament final and made a shot from midfield. 'Obviously, it was a smaller field, but when I saw her take that shot with confidence, I just knew that one day she was going to be a star. Her playing does her talking for her.' Having her sister as a coach marks a specific bond, but Mariel also sees those connections with her close-knit team. Her success is also theirs. 'I obviously like to attack a lot, and I like to go in there and try to get the ball into the back of the net,' Mariel Lopez said. 'The most important part is connecting my players. 'It's more beautiful when it's a team goal and not just mine alone.'
Chicago Tribune
16-03-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Former Aurora police officer remembered for his work at East Aurora High School
'Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.' We all know people to whom that may apply, and maybe you are lucky enough to actually be one of those people. I have known many, and one of the first people who always comes to mind is retired Aurora Police Officer Joe Beyke. Officer Beyke passed away in February at age 81, and his memory will live on in the minds of all of the young people he touched in his career in law enforcement. He had a unique role as an officer of the law, and was a pioneer in many ways, along with his fellow Aurora Police Officer Bill Messmer. They faced the task of blazing the trail in Aurora's public high schools in a new and somewhat experimental program. 'A new idea was introduced in Aurora's high schools in the mid-1970s known as the Police Counselor Program,' said Tom Madden, an East Aurora administrator at that time. 'It placed an Aurora police officer in the school on all school days and during many school events.' The officers would be in plain clothes during the school day, but in uniform for evening school events. Students were to learn that the person they grew to like, trust and respect during the day was the same person as the uniformed officer working during an evening event. Officer Beyke was assigned to East Aurora High School from 1976-84, and Officer Messmer to West Aurora High School from 1975-83. In 2014, I caught up with both officers to write a Beacon-News article about the parts they played in the infancy of what would become a very successful program. 'We were to try to communicate to students that we — all of us — had to solve problems together,' Beyke said at the time. 'We were not assigned to pester or arrest kids and that was not the theme at all. 'We were there to assist students and teachers, and to try to solve things at the school level to avoid kids getting into the criminal justice system.' Beyke proved to be a 'natural' for the position. First and foremost, he loved kids, and it began with the love for his own daughters. He loved being with the students, and almost all liked, trusted and respected him — the precise goals of the program. As a fringe benefit of that trust, he would sometimes learn of a potentially dangerous situation that was brewing, and was able to take action to avert it. 'I got to relate to the students, and I think they related to me,' Beyke said in 2014. 'They were probably the best eight years of my career as a police officer. 'My wife Donna and I met hundreds of students, and many would come to our house. We met many wonderful people, and when they graduated, we were in weddings and were even Godparents. We've been lifelong friends and still see a few of them to this day,' he said at the time. East Aurora students during Officer Beyke's time at the school, who are now in their 50s and 60s, posted some wonderful tributes on Facebook. These were only a few: 'He was a good man, and always treated everyone with respect,' 'RIP, you were a difference maker,' 'He was a true soldier, always motivating youths to be all they could be and to never give up. I was one of those youths,' 'He helped me a lot through personal issues. I'll never forget his compassion to help us kids.' But it was a two-way street for Officer Beyke as he told me in 2014. 'I matured as a man because I was fortunate enough to work with fantastic staff, teachers and especially students,' he said. The Police Counselor Program which began at the Aurora schools served as a beginning, and was then implemented at many high schools and middle schools in our area. Madden remembered the earlier days and Officer Beyke's role in particular. 'I have worked with many outstanding police counselors over the years, and Joe Beyke was certainly one of them in his role at East Aurora,' he said. 'He had a unique ability, based on his respect for the mission of schools, to relate extremely well with students to make the school environment safer and more productive for them and the entire community.' As a faculty member at East Aurora High School for most of my career, I was lucky to know Joe Beyke as an outstanding police officer and as a personal friend. I can only echo the thoughts of some of his 'kids.' Officer Beyke, you were a true soldier and a difference maker, and I'll never forget your compassion to help kids. Rest in peace, Officer Beyke.
Chicago Tribune
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
East Aurora teachers union members protest proposed Trump administration education cuts
The East Aurora Council AFT Local 604 teachers union held a national 'Day of Action' on Tuesday to protest Trump administration education policies and offer a show of support for the district and its students, according to a news release from the union. On Monday, teachers and staff protested at their building faculty meetings, and a handful showed up at East Aurora's board meeting that evening. The following morning, union members met outside before school and then staged a 'walk-in' at Hermes Elementary School in Aurora. In February, the Education Department under President Donald Trump's administration said schools and universities had two weeks to get rid of diversity initiatives or risk losing federal funding. Trump has also called for the elimination of the Education Department. And while colleges and universities have largely taken the focus as schools scramble to determine whether they are in compliance, East Aurora staff are also expressing their concerns about how federal education policies may impact instruction at public schools. In a news release Monday, Becky Roireau, the union's president and a former fifth-grade teacher at Hermes Elementary, referred to this moment as a 'fork in the road,' citing concern over the Department of Education's 'special emphasis on advancing private, for-profit charter schools' and the Trump administration's crackdown on DEI policies at educational institutions that receive federal funding. The East Aurora Council AFT Local 604 represents over 1,300 teachers, support staff and office staff in the district, and is affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the news release said. For the district's part, East Aurora School District board members said they are also concerned about threats to federal funding. 'The school board is carefully watching news out of Washington about funding,' board president Annette Johnson said in a statement provided to The Beacon-News. 'We are concerned since our district has been heavily reliant on federal and state funding.' The board will be working with public officials and the teachers union on what to do moving forward, according to Johnson. 'I think it's a little bit of a fear of staff is, are we being in compliance, not being in compliance?,' Roireau told The Beacon-News on Monday. 'But also people are concerned about what they've been able to teach, you know, the things that are mandated by the state of Illinois … are in complete opposition to what the federal government is saying.' Gov. JB Pritzker has spoken out against possible federal education cuts, saying that schools across the state depend on federal funding for programs like special education. But uncertainty still remains as to what federal cuts would mean for Illinois schools. 'When people don't know what's happening, it makes them more fearful than it actually happening,' Roireau said. 'It's that apprehension of what could come.'
