Latest news with #NazarethAcademy
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
49ers' rookie DL smart to take notes from veteran superstar in practice
The San Francisco 49ers added six defensive players with their 11 picks in the 2025 NFL draft, and through the first 10 practices of the team's training camp at their SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara, California, they've had varying levels of success. While first-round pick Mykel Williams got most of the attention early, it's been fourth-round pick defensive lineman C.J. West, who has been the talk of the fanbase recently. West, 23, was a three-star recruit out of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Illinois, who committed to Kent State out of high school. He spent four seasons with the Golden Flashes (2020-23), earning All-MAC honors once and recording 110 tackles (19 for a loss), seven sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovered in 39 games. Ahead of the 2024 season, West transferred to Indiana, where he went on to appear in 13 games and record 40 tackles (eight for a loss), two sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovered. Now in San Francisco, West has been wreaking havoc at practice in the interior, and despite playing different positions, he's learning a lot from superstar edge rusher Nick Bosa during practice. "Every time Bosa goes, I watch every single rep," West said during a recent media session. "I watch every step he takes. How he deliberate he is with his hands. How deliberate he is with his first steps. I watch a lot because he's a great player, and, you know, one day, I want to be a great player and really make a name for myself in the league. I take every little thing. Even though we play different positions, some of the stuff does translate. How quick you need to shoot your hands or how violent that first step has to be, you're gaining ground on your second step up as well. Talking to him, he's been helping me with that and really focusing on me getting off the ball every single rep." Bosa, the five-time Pro Bowler, has been taking on more of a leadership role this year, and that seems to include helping out West whenever he can, as the rookie explained how Bosa seeks him out with tips. "Honestly, it's both," West explained. "There was one practice where he was watching me get off, and he was like 'Hey, keep doing that every single rep and translate to team (drills) as well.' Because team (drills), a lot of things are thrown in. You have the play, you have what formation the offense is in, but if you just focus on getting off the ball, you'll be OK." Entering training camp, West seemed destined for a rotational role, but if this trend continues into the preseason, he could play himself into a starting job in the middle of Robert Saleh's article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers' C.J. West details just how closely he's following Nick Bosa
CBS News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Nazareth Academy star Jaden Fauske named the Gatorade Illinois baseball player of the year
Nazareth Academy's Jaden Fauske was recently named the Gatorade Illinois baseball player of the year. It's an award that celebrates a player's accomplishments on and off the field. It's probably more the on the field work that will get him selected in the upcoming MLB Draft, but Fauske's much more than just a great baseball player, he's also an elite chess player, and a state scholar Fauske earned a starting job on the varsity lineup during his freshman season at Nazareth Academy. He helped the program win its first state title that year, finishing a historic career with a 136-21 record. "Jaden is different. Jaden's at-bats were different. Jaden, the ball coming off his bat was different, the distance is different, the height is different. He threw 34 innings on the mound for us as a sophomore and he gave up two earned runs over 34 innings," head coach Lee Milano said. The multi-talented outfielder helped Nazareth win back-to-back state titles his freshman and sophomore seasons. His impressive offensive skillset as a left-handed batter led to a .492 career batting average, with 12 home runs and 136 RBI. "When I'm in the hole and on deck, there's a lot of things I'm telling myself, and trying to learn about the pitcher, but as soon as I step in the box my mind just goes silent," Fauske said. Fauske has been learning how to stay one step ahead of his opponents since a young age; not only playing baseball, but by mastering chess. "I think I got third place in state when I was in fourth or fifth grade. I feel like people, they kind of get surprised when I tell them that," he said. Fauske continues to play chess as a hobby, and feels it benefits him on the field too. "Hitting, every at bat is kind of like a chess match between the pitcher; you know, trying to predict their tendencies, what they might do at a certain count, stuff like that. So I think there's definitely a correlation there," he said. Does Fauske challenge his teammates to play him in chess? "They don't give me much of a challenge, to be honest, but, yeah, we play sometimes," he said. "AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, 4.3 grade point average, elite chess player, Jaden works extremely hard," Milano said. A talented player who will now either continue his career collegiately at national champion LSU, or, as a projected first-round MLB Draft pick, go pro. "I mean, chasing the dream of playing in the big leagues, either way you go to LSU or go to the draft. You can't really go wrong," he said. While Fauske has a lot to look forward to in his future, he will never forget memories made at Nazareth Academy. "I'm going to miss playing for Coach Milano and those coaches, and playing alongside my friends … wearing the Nazareth uniform across my chest," he said. There is only one thing his coach might not miss. "Jaden hit anywhere, on a daily basis, 8 to 10 homers in our field where our field is backed up to the woods. So the balls, once they're out there, we can't get them, we can't find them. I figured Jaden owes the school about 600 baseballs right now, and I told him whatever happens at some point when he signs that pro contract, a couple dozen balls back to the program wouldn't be a bad idea," Milano said. Something that could apparently be a problem for Fauske the rest of his career.
Reuters
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Auburn flips 4-star QB Peyton Falzone from Penn State
June 26 - Auburn, a late entry into the recruitment of four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone, got the recruit to flip from Penn State to the Tigers on Thursday. Falzone announced on social media and told recruiting websites that he is committing to Auburn, after decommitting from Virginia Tech in November 2024 and then, in April, choosing Penn State in his home state. The Nazareth (Pa.) Academy High School rising senior had posted on June 2 on social media that he received an offer from Auburn. He has not made an official or unofficial visit to the campus. "Auburn is a place full of tradition," Falzone said in an interview with 247Sports. "My family and I have spent a lot of time discussing the school and its blend of elite football and high-level academics. It has it all. I'm blessed to be able to play at a school with a strong tradition of faith and family running throughout the university and the community. All of that is very important to us. I can't wait to be there. War Eagle." Falzone is ranked the No. 246 prospect in the nation, No. 18 quarterback and No. 6 player in Pennsylvania for the Class of 2026, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Falzone threw for 2,135 yards, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions, and rushed 78 times for 697 yards and eight TDs in 2024. As a sophomore in the 2023 season, Falzone passed for 2,528 yards with 19 TDs and four interceptions and rushed for 440 yards and 11 TDs. He also has offers from Iowa, Utah, Syracuse, Rutgers, West Virginia and Wisconsin as well as Penn State, Virginia Tech and others. --Field Level Media
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Star players, Hall-of-Famer assistant coach have Nazareth Academy baseball riding high
Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Illinois, captured its first baseball state championship in 2022, and won back-to-back titles the following year. The Roadrunners haven't slowed down since, thanks to a pipeline of talented players and a veteran coaching staff with some Hall-of-Fame help. This is Lee Milano's 26th season as head baseball coach at Nazareth Academy, and it began with another impressive winning streak — 14 straight games, to be exact, by a team with youth and experience. "It's the best. I mean, there's nothing like winning. We've won a lot my four years here, and hopefully, we do a little more winning later this spring," said Nazareth senior Jaden Fauske. Fauske has been a part of a 35-game and 46-game winning streak at Nazareth, winning two state titles. The LSU commit is also a top 20 MLB draft prospect. "There's been up to 70 scouts, general managers, out at out games to watch him — which is not an easy thing," said Coach Milano. "He is going to walk away here as the most decorated baseball player we've ever had." Nazareth has another player headed to an SEC program on the roster. Junior shortstop Landon Thome is committed to defending national champion — Tennessee. "Me and him going to similar colleges in the SEC, we've become really tight over these last few years," Thome said of his teammate Fauske. "I would call him one of my best friends, and we really get to pick each other's brains too in baseball. He knows a lot." Another mind Landon learns from is his dad. White Sox legend and Hall-of-Fame slugger Jim Thome is an assistant coach. "You know, it's a dream come true to watch your son keep progressing, be around a good culture of coaches, and then watch his love of the game just grow and grow," said Jim Thome. Jim Thome, of course, was on the World Series champion 2005 White Sox team. His career is quite the inspiration for his son. "I've grown up in the clubhouses around my dad, and just seeing him play, I mean, it's really inspired me to want to be like him — because he's like my hero," said Landon Thome, "so just makes me want to follow that path and create my own path too so." Milano takes pride in both the younger Thome and Fauske. "He's definitely a different player than his dad, which is really I think a good thing for him. But he also has the power," said Coach Milano. "Both young men are great kids. They do volunteer work. They're quiet leaders." But leadership and talent are not the only things that make the team unique. "I just feel like we have a really strong bond here at Naz, and around the team, I mean all the guys — we're really close, even though some of them are new," said Landon Thome. "So it's really cool. We have a really good bond." "Coach Milano is obviously the baseball aspect, but just being a young man too — learning to respect the game, learning to be humble," said Fauske. All lessons that have led to a lot of success at Nazareth. "Winning has become a big thing here, and we take a lot of pride in making sure we give them the information but that they want to be good," said Coach Milano. "They put the work in, they take the information, and at the end of the day, they go play — and the reward is them doing well." The team hopes "doing well" this year means a third state title in four seasons.
Chicago Tribune
09-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
La Grange area leaders laud selection of Chicago-area pope
News of a new pope has Catholics celebrating everywhere, but Pope Leo XIV being from the Chicago area has La Grange leaders proud and excited. Cardinal Robert Prevost, selected after a two-day conclave, chose as his name Leo XIV, the late 19th Century pontiff known for his devotion to social justice. 'I would say that we are just thrilled that not only a person from America, but from the Chicagoland area adds an extra layer of excitement to it,' said Deborah Tracy, president of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park. 'He seems like a person who will carry out many of the actions, hopes and dreams of Pope Francis.' Tracy, a 1982 Nazareth alumna, said Prevost's time in Latin America and the general consensus that he will continue Pope Francis' commitment to social justice inspires her. 'So much of the mission of Nazareth and the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph was something that really resonated with the things that Pope Francis was trying to do in building bridges and caring for the dear neighbor and caring for those marginalized in our society,' she said. 'It sounds like Pope Leo will be doing the same thing. We're just so happy about that because it seems like who we are.' Prevost, 69, was born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, and raised in south suburban Dolton. He grew up in St. Mary of the Assumption parish, where he went to school. La Grange Village Trustee Lou Gale also hails from the south suburbs. 'It's wonderful that we have a pope not just from the United States, but from the same area of myself and my extended family,' Gale said. 'It's great to hear about his connections to New Lenox, where my parents lived after I left home.' La Grange Park Village Trustee Joe Caputo said he thought the new pope would be good for the Chicago area. 'Sadly Chicago gets a bad rap for its violence and sometimes politics,' Caputo said, pointing out the bad press the city received from people like Al Capone, high crime rates and crooked politicians. 'So I'm kind of hopeful that this will be a positive for the city and the state,' he said. 'I think the new pope will be a good symbol for Chicago and Illinois trying to turn it around and get some good recognition.' Although initial reports were that Pope Leo XIV was a fan of the Chicago Cubs, his older brother corrected that impression, stresing he was a longtime White Sox fan. Maggie Jarr, La Grange Park assistant village manager, took that as a hopeful sign. 'White Sox fans can only benefit from the new pope's devotion to lifting up those who suffer,' Jarr said. U.S. Rep. Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia, a Democrat whose district includes the area, also noted the new pope's connection to Latin American. 'Latin America has the most Catholics in the world, and Pope Leo XIV's knowledge of the region, the time he spent in Peru and his fluency in the Spanish language will be key qualities that will endear him to Latinos in the United States and Latin Americans alike,' Garcia said. Prevost attended St. Augustine Seminary High School in Michigan before earning a bachelor's degree in science and math from Villanova University, an Augustinian college. Prevost also obtained a master of divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, after which he taught physics and math at St. Rita High School. He joined the Augustinian Mission in Peru in 1988 and spent a decade there serving as judge, prefect of studies, and teaching canon law in the seminary. Garcia also noted Prevost's status as an honorary St. Rita High School Mustang. 'As a Catholic and an immigrant, I am encouraged by the stances Cardinal Prevost has taken in defense of immigrants, and by his views on the poor and the environment,' Garcia said.
