Latest news with #Reavis
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
After pushing car home, Jozef Walus propels Reavis to upset win over Brother Rice. ‘Meant for a moment like this.'
On the eve of one of the biggest boys volleyball matches in years for Reavis, senior outside hitter Jozef Walus certainly didn't see this coming. The engine blew in his car. Walus and his friends pushed the car for two miles Wednesday night, and when all was said and done, he got home at 3 a.m. and finally went to sleep. But the effects from that adventure weren't over. 'I got up at nine and my back was hurting from pushing that car,' Walus said. His mother, Agnieszka, came to the rescue. 'She put some Icy Hot on my back, I fell back asleep with it, and when I woke up, I felt better,' Jozef said. 'I felt replenished.' Things went much better Thursday night for Walus. The host Rams hummed along like a brand-new car, pulling off a 25-18, 25-15 stunner over Brother Rice at the Reavis Regional in Burbank, winning their first regional title since 2011. Walus tallied five kills and three aces for sixth-seeded Reavis (31-2). He also unleashed several other serves that had the backrow of third-seeded Brother Rice (30-8) scrambling. Pawel Greczek led the Rams with nine kills and a .500 hitting percentage, while Brandon Wilke added six kills. Blue O'Neill had 23 assists and Krystian Paluch chipped in with 18 digs. Vaughn Goberville paced Brother Rice with four kills. The Crusaders were guilty of 13 hitting errors and six serving miscues, ensuring that their season would end sooner than they expected. Walus and the Rams, however, set the tone by taking a 14-5 lead in the first game. That helped silence the jitters they were collectively experiencing. 'We were 100% nervous,' Walus said. 'We were all nervous, but we put that aside and said that we wanted to win this. We put it aside and played our hardest.' How nervous was Walus? 'When I went back to serve, I thought I was going to trip and fall,' he said. To prove the opener wasn't a fluke, the Rams took a 15-4 lead in the second game and won handily, advancing to Saturday's Hinsdale Central Sectional semifinals against second-seeded Sandburg (33-4). For Reavis coach Mike Jebens, this was the culmination of a graduating class that featured talented freshmen with potential four years ago. And Walus was one of them. 'Joey has been through so much,' Jebens. 'He was a JV player as a freshman and started as a sophomore and started as a junior and as a senior and has improved so much. 'He was meant for a moment like this.' Paluch, who was also a top soccer player for Reavis, remembered regional final losses to Marian Catholic and Sandburg the past two years. He thought the Rams were ready for a breakthrough. 'It was great that we were at home,' he said. 'When we're at home, there is this different vibe, and the fans came out and supported us. This is something special.' Paluch said he doesn't think he will go to college, so he wants to make the most out of the end of his high school career. On the other hand, Walus committed to play volleyball at Bryant & Stratton in Wisconsin. He's glad that he can get in at least a couple more years of the sport and go from there. 'They are bringing in a few 6-8 middles and the setter from Argo,' Walus said, referring to Alexander Jakowicki. 'I didn't want to go to a four-year college. I just wanted to get my associate's degree real quick and go to a trade school. 'But I had a friend who committed there. It's a two-year program and it's close to home.'
Chicago Tribune
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Catching on as utility player, Carson Maranda rights ship for Richards. To him, it's easy. ‘I'll just lock in.'
Junior Carson Maranda is the ultimate utility player for Richards. He can be a game-changing catcher, the way he was Monday, or he can operate on the other end of the battery as a pitcher. Third base or outfield? That's no sweat, either. And Maranda is ready to go anywhere on short notice. 'It's amazing,' Maranda said. 'I love being that utility guy. Before the game, I ask coach (Jeff Kortz) where I'm playing and I'll just lock in right then and there. 'If he tells me I'm catching, I mentally prepare for that because it's a big mental game.' Maranda was locked in for Monday's game, throwing out back-to-back runners on stolen-base attempts in the fourth inning while also reaching base three times to help visiting Richards pull off a 3-2 South Suburban Red win over Reavis in Burbank. Maranda went 2-for-2 with two singles and a walk for the Bulldogs (9-5, 4-2). Illinois-Chicago recruit Sean Cody went 2-for-3 with a homer and raced home for the go-ahead run in the seventh. Joliet Junior College commit Xavier Fernandez struck out five over five innings, allowing two earned runs while scattering five hits and five walks. Max Kawa tossed two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Parker Zasada picked up an RBI single for Reavis (12-6, 7-1), while Isaac Velasco reached base three times and scored a run. Dennis Muraida pitched 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing three earned runs on five hits. Richards broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh when Kawa hit a fielder's choice grounder but beat the throw to first to prevent what would have been an inning-ending double play. Cody dashed home all the way from second base. 'I'm speechless right now,' Cody said. 'I knew it was going to be a close play at first and I knew Max had good speed and he'd beat it out, so I just went home. It was great.' Maranda, meanwhile, set the tone both offensively and defensively. When consecutive Reavis baserunners tried to steal second base in the fourth inning, Maranda threw them both out. 'I was thinking, 'I hope he goes, I hope he goes,'' Maranda said. 'They ended up going. It was a costly mistake for them. Every time a guy steps on first base, I'm always thinking, 'He's running.' 'And when he does, I'm ready.' Maranda, who said playing third base helped him develop a powerful arm, did some catching on the freshman team but did not play the position at all as a sophomore in his first varsity season, spending most of his time in the outfield. 'After not catching at all last season, I had to take a big leap stepping back in but it's been a lot of fun,' he said. 'Definitely blocking is the biggest challenge. My arm has always been there. 'Framing takes time to get down, but that's been fine. Blocking is the hardest.' Regardless, Cody is always confident in Maranda. 'We can always count on Carson,' Cody said. 'Carson is electric. Back-to-back plays throwing guys out — that really got us all amped up. And then he's always doing his job getting on base.' Richards snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Rams, beating them for the first time since 2019. That was especially meaningful for Fernandez, whose uncle, Ryan Flood, is an assistant coach for Reavis. 'At Christmas, he's always talking, so it feels good to get him back,' Fernandez said. Maranda helped make sure Richards would finally break through against Reavis. And Kortz knows the junior leader will always be ready for anything. 'We've got him behind the plate because he's so athletic,' Kortz said. 'Last year, he took some lumps at the plate, but he started to feel it toward the end of the season and he's continued to get better. 'Next year, the sky's the limit for him.'
Chicago Tribune
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Uncertain about college, Pawel Greczek grinds away as Reavis rolls past St. Laurence. ‘That's biggest thing.'
Pawel Greczek came to Reavis as a soccer player. But during his freshman year, Stephanie Korbakes coaxed the 6-foot-4 Greczek into coming out for volleyball. Korbakes, his health teacher, also happens to be an assistant coach for the Rams. 'She told me to come and try out because I was pretty tall,' Greczek said of Korbakes. 'And I just fell in love with the sport.' Without any experience from club or grade school, Greczek had to learn on the fly. 'At first, I wasn't really comfortable, but it was a great atmosphere — great people around me,' he said. 'I love the coaches. Everybody wanted me to get better, and that's the biggest thing.' Greczek, a senior outside hitter, would play a big role Tuesday night for host Reavis in a 25-16, 25-17 season-opening win over St. Laurence in a nonconference matchup in Burbank. While Greczek finished with five kills, a block and an ace for the Rams (1-0), Jozef Walus came through with 10 kills, including seven in the first game. Brandon Wilke added six kills and hit .500. Krystian Paluch tallied 15 digs and Ryan Odell chalked up 23 assists for Reavis. Elijah Landeros landed six kills and two blocks for St. Laurence (0-1), while Tim Hyland had four kills. Since 2021, the Battle of Burbank has been the opening match for both teams. The previous four seasons, St. Laurence prevailed in three games. This time, it was Reavis' turn to start with a win. 'This game was amazing after we kept losing to them in three sets,' Greczek said. 'We lost to them every single year, and this year we broke the streak. It's my senior year, and it feels amazing to finally do it after all of these years. 'I played club ball with Elijah and I know a lot of their players, so it feels good.' Greczek and Landeros play for Adversity. Greczek said playing on that team boosted his game. 'It really helped me mentally,' he said. 'I've learned not to just dwell on points and move on. They taught a lot about how to focus on my game.' Reavis coach Mike Jebens likes what he has seen out of Greczek 'He has gotten way better during the offseason,' Jebens said. 'He's the guy on the team that looks most like a volleyball player. And he looks like a physical one, too. He has that dominant presence not only hitting, but blocking, too. 'I'm really excited to have him for his senior year.' Walus, a Bryant & Stratton recruit, joined Korbakes in talking Greczek into playing volleyball three years ago. 'He's one of our best hitters,' Walus said. 'He gets kills like they are nothing. His passes are great. His serves are great. His defense is great. He's just a great player overall.' Greczek gave up soccer after this freshman year to concentrate on volleyball. He's undecided about his future in the sport, though. He's getting college interest but remains unsure. 'I love the sport because it's like a family being on a team,' Greczek said. 'Every day at practice, I'm really pumped to be here.' If this is his last season, however, Greczek wants to definitely make it a good one for the Rams, who should contend for a South Suburban Conference title. 'Honestly, I think we have a really good team and we've been 10-0 in the conference each year since my sophomore year,' he said. 'I feel like this year, we're all seniors and we've played together for so long. 'I have high expectations. We want to win a regional championship and go farther. Maybe go to state.' Originally Published:
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill that protects free speech, journalists and guards against frivolous lawsuits heads to Senate
Rep. James Reavis, D-Billings, speaks before the House Judiciary Committee about House Bill 292 which would prohibit strategic lawsuits against public participation. (Photo screenshot via Montana Public Affairs Network) For now, it's safe to say that no bill may ever be quite as popular as House Bill 292, which unanimously passed the Montana House of Representatives on Thursday and would protect citizens and journalists from 'SLAPP' lawsuits. If passed into law by Montana, after going through the Senate and the governor's desk, it would give new protections to those targeted by 'SLAPP' lawsuits, which stands for 'strategic lawsuit against public participation.' The bill, cosponsored by Reps. Tom Millett, R-Marion, and James Reavis, D-Billings, demonstrated bipartisan and overwhelming support throughout its journey in the House, where it passed the Judiciary Committee 20-0, and then passed both readings on the full House floor by votes of 100-0, and 99-0. The bill will now head to the Montana Senate. SLAPP lawsuits, which have garnered attention increasingly, including an entire segment on the popular HBO news show, 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,' are often filed by large corporations or sometimes even government entities to try to prevent the public or media from bringing facts to the public's attention. Often, the lawsuits are funded by corporations or businesses that have extensive legal resources or in-house attorneys, while those speaking out against them must hire their own attorneys, and may not have the legal resources to challenge it in court, thus stifling or completely ending criticism or investigation into wrongdoing. As many advocates argue, the purpose in SLAPP lawsuits isn't to win, it's to stop the opposing party from being able to fight, using wealth and the justice system to force opponents to stop. 'The real goal is to entangle the defendant in expensive litigation and stifle their ability to participate in constitutionally related activities,' Millett said. Both sponsors of the bill told fellow lawmakers that the legislation is modeled after other states that have adopted similar laws. The new anti-SLAPP bill allows courts to quickly dismiss SLAPP lawsuits, while forcing those who brought the suit to pay for the other side's attorney fees. Reavis and Millett said that provides a deterrent from bringing bad faith lawsuits. And both sponsors pointed out that the legislation was consistent with freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of association protections found in the state and federal constitutions. 'The mandatory nature of attorneys' fees will help stop the filing in the first place,' Millett said. As attorney, Reavis said fellow lawyers will look at these cases differently. 'It will discourage the practice because an attorney will have to warn their client that they could be on the hook for the other side's attorneys' fees,' Reavis said. Jacqueline Lenmark, one of five Montana Commissioners on the Uniform Law Commission, said her group unanimously supports the measure, which has been adopted in 32 other states. The bill also had the support of some larger, higher profile groups, like the Motion Picture Association of America, which represents large news organizations as well as small independent documentary filmmakers, who are often sued to stop reporting on a project. 'This protects everyone's free speech against costly and unnecessary litigation,' said MPAA lobbyist Jessie Luther. Al Smith of the Montana Trial Lawyers Association said his organization supports the efforts, too. 'Bad attorneys and their clients get dinged for bringing bad suits, and good attorneys get fees because they brought a valid lawsuit,' Smith said. He said as Montana law stands currently, even fighting a SLAPP lawsuit can take years and thousands of dollars. 'This speeds it up and protects free-speech rights,' Smith said. Jay Adkisson, an attorney in Nevada, told about his experiences as an attorney being sued. He said he was once sued for $4.7 billion and also faced a $20 million SLAPP lawsuit in California, just for writing about a court opinion for He said that both were eventually dismissed, but both could also stifle free speech and a free press. And both lawsuits took an extensive amount of time just to fight, even though he was successful, and the claims were preposterous. 'These cases are not about winning in court, but about wasting the resources of those who speak out,' Millett said. 'We need to make it harder for entities to abuse the legal system.'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two Republican Medicaid expansion bills advance, one from Democrats is tabled
The Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan) Medicaid expansion saves lives and saves money, proponents said — an estimated $27 million the last biennium, according to Rep. Ed Buttrey, sponsoring one bill to continue the program. 'Our program is a budget savings to the general fund, which is something that is pretty amazing,' Buttrey, R-Great Falls, said. Buttrey made his comments last week introducing his bill to continue Medicaid expansion, and it's among at least four addressing the issue this session. This week, at least two Republican bills are still advancing, including Buttrey's and a separate bill that directs the program's phase out. However, a key proposal from Democrats to increase its reach died Tuesday. Medicaid expansion started in the state in 2015 and was reauthorized in 2019, but it's slated to sunset this summer without legislative action. In committee Tuesday, Rep. James Reavis, D-Billings, said he was pleased to support Buttrey's bill, House Bill 245, given the personal testimony heard the previous week. Reavis cited a Montanan who had a stomachache and only went to the doctor because of Medicaid — and learned they needed emergency surgery. He said one woman with Hodgkin lymphoma told him she was alive only because of the program. 'The testimony we heard from last week's hearing was powerful, emotional and compelling,' Reavis said. The House Human Services committee voted 14-7 to advance HB 245, which Buttrey characterized as a continuation of the current Medicaid expansion program. The program currently covers nearly 80,000 Montanans living below 138% of the federal poverty level — or up to about $21,000 for a single adult, around minimum wage. Although the committee approved Buttrey's bill to keep the program going, it tabled House Bill 230, which would have augmented Medicaid expansion to include things like a customer service component and reopening some of the offices of public assistance that had closed for budget reasons in 2017. Rep. Mary Caferro, D-Helena, sponsored the bill, along with more than four dozen other legislators, and her attempt to amend it by paring back some of its additions failed in committee Tuesday. Legislators voted 12-9 to table it, although some expressed support for taking up improved customer service in another form, a theme in public comment. In an earlier hearing, Michelle Lewis, of Butte, testified to the difficulties of trying to navigate eligibility, having turned in at least 50 pages of documentation, plus information on wages and bank statements. 'Improving the hotline experience is really important,' said Lewis, in support of 'continuous eligibility' and better customer service. A separate bill on Medicaid expansion, Senate Bill 199 from Sen. Jeremy Trebas, R-Great Falls, was heard Monday, but the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety committee had not taken action on it Tuesday. Trebas described it as the 'most sustainable' of the options on the table, one he said would maintain the status quo from 2019 but ensure 'community engagement,' or a requirement that people on the program also work. No one spoke in support of it, but Trebas said he believes it aligns with the direction the new Trump administration is going with work requirements. After the House committee meeting Tuesday, Rep. SJ Howell, D-Missoula and vice chairperson of the Human Services committee, said Democrats are likely to propose individual components of expanding the program, such as continuous eligibility and better customer service, as separate legislation. However, Howell also said if SB 199 is approved, they are concerned it could put a complete halt to Medicaid expansion because the bill is strictly tied to a work requirement. The feds have approved waivers that allow work requirements, but if a waiver isn't approved in the timeline the bill lays out, Howell said the bill might compromise expansion altogether. Howell said most work requirements have been struck down in federal court, and the bill doesn't allow for that outcome. 'That is playing with fire for 80,000 Montanans,' Howell said. 'We can't predict what's going to happen in Congress, we can't predict how quickly or slowly things will move, and that could end the program.' Gov. Greg Gianforte has included Medicaid expansion in his budget for the upcoming biennium. However, his office has said he wants 'strong work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents,' KFF has reported. The debate over Medicaid expansion is taking place in the wake of significant economic benefit to the state reported by economists and the health care industry, but it's also underway in the midst of concern in Montana about cost and the federal debt. 'When I was younger, the novel idea for health insurance was get a job,' said Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, in a meeting with reporters on Tuesday. On the opening day of the session, McGillvray told fellow lawmakers the federal health care programs Medicaid and Medicare are $1.1 trillion in the red, 'hemorrhaging money,' and Montana can help. 'Every legislator in this room has an obligation and an opportunity to do something about that at the state level,' McGillvray said to the Senate. 'We need to take action.' Montanans, though, lined up this month to tell legislators to back the bills to continue Medicaid expansion — and to oppose one to phase it out. Bailey Torgerson, of Bozeman, said she has had diabetes since she was two-and-a-half years old, and Medicaid expansion helped her pay for things like a $10,000 insulin pump and afford to go to college. Torgerson, who gave testimony via a video presentation during discussion of HB 245, said she and her husband are now able to sign onto a program besides Medicaid. Buttrey said that's the case with most people insured through Medicaid expansion — they're insured for 22 months on average, debunking the myth that once people are on the program, they never leave. Buttrey also said the program is budget neutral through the Affordable Care Act, funded by rate cuts to hospitals and other revenue sources, and Montana will send dollars to the federal government as a result whether it funds expansion or not. Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, is sponsoring Senate Bill 62, which would phase out Medicaid expansion. Glimm's bill squeaked out of the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety committee on a 6-5 vote with Sen. Mike Yakawich, R-Billings, joining Democrats to oppose it. Glimm described it as a 'soft unwind' rather than a hard stop, allowing people who are qualified to stay on the program, preventing new people from enrolling, and removing those who become unqualified. 'It eventually would shrink the rolls of Medicaid expansion,' Glimm said. The federal government pays 90% of the program to the state's 10%, and an economist recently reported the money from the feds translates into $775 million of economic activity in Montana. At a hearing last week, no one expressed support for Glimm's bill. Opponents said it would hurt farmers, vulnerable patients, tribal families, college students and rural Montanans. Carole Lankford, with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council, said she has made it a priority to ensure the most basic needs of her constituents are met. She said the bill would have 'catastrophic' consequences for tribal health. 'It will cause a reduction in jobs and may force the closure of tribal health facilities,' Lankford said. 'Health care costs will go up, which will be felt by many families, including children.' A recent report on the impacts of Medicaid expansion on Indian Country in Montana said it has improved mortality rates, extending a person's life 1.4% compared to the period prior to expansion. It said 40% of tribal members stopped skipping routine medical care because of cost. Jasmine Krotkov, representing the Montana Farmers Union, said many farmers and ranchers are self-employed, and they don't have access to coverage from employers. Medicaid expansion has supported not just them, Krotkov said, but it has allowed rural health providers to offer more services, benefiting all Montanans. 'Farming and ranching families who get the health care they need can return to work and school more quickly, and stay in the workforce longer, and stay productive,' Krotkov said. 'Rural Montanans have a right to live full, secure and productive lives.' The legislation to continue Medicaid expansion drew similar support. The debate over expansion is taking place following redetermination in Montana, the process to confirm that people on the program were qualified for it. Caferro's bill would have addressed some of the shortcomings that came to light through the process — and eliminated the existing work requirement — and at least a couple of ideas from her bill could reappear as separate legislation. Some Montanans said they waited hours for help on the phone in their attempts to keep their insurance, but never heard responses to their questions. Some said they filed paperwork multiple times, but never heard back from the Department of Public Health and Human Services. Buttrey's bill keeps a work requirement intact, and he said he anticipates the Trump administration would approve it. However, both he and Caferro said people insured through Medicaid expansion do work. In his presentation, Buttrey outlined data from a Montana Department of Labor and Industry report regarding the number of people on Medicaid who work: 72% are actively working; 4% are in school; 7% are caretaking; 2% are retired; 10% are acutely ill or disabled and unable to work; and 3% are looking for work. The report lists 2% as 'other.' Buttrey also said his bill would require approval for Medicaid expansion from the legislature every time it meets in case the state decides it can't afford it at some point.
