Latest news with #RoundLake
CBS News
12-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Fire rips through house in Round Lake, Illinois
A fire gutted a home in the north Chicago suburb of Round Lake on Sunday. Crews were called around 2 p.m. to 1971 Marsh Meadow Ln. in Round Lake for a house fire. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had already spread to the roof. The damage to the house was extensive, as seen in video footage. The Round Lake Fire Department has not said what started the fire, or if anyone was hurt.
Chicago Tribune
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Bri Lopez is a different hitter this season. ‘Her swing is so powerful.' She makes Grant stronger too.
Grant's Bri Lopez has been around long enough for opponents to think they know what she can do. But the senior right fielder has changed her approach at the plate in her fourth season as a starter for the Bulldogs. Coach Chris Van Alstine said Lopez is taking advantage of her strength, and he jokingly called her 'Quadzilla.' 'Bri is doing things different this year,' Van Alstine said. 'She picked a lane. She was a slap hitter, but she invested her time and became a solid power hitter. She's not slapping anymore. 'Her swing is so powerful, compact and quick. She does a great job driving the inside ball. She's a strong athlete in a small frame.' Lopez, a Wisconsin-Oshkosh commit, is one reason the Bulldogs (14-8-1, 5-2) have already topped their 12-win total from last season and are in second place in the Northern Lake County Conference. She's batting a robust .452 with a 1.191 OPS, six doubles, a triple, three homers and 20 RBIs. 'I would say this has been one of my best years offensively,' Lopez said. 'A lot of that is from the confidence that I built within myself. I put in a lot of hard work in the offseason during my spare time, going to the cages with my dad and hitting a lot.' Lopez, who hit a double and scored three runs during Grant's 17-2 conference win over Round Lake on Thursday, stands out in right field too. 'I remember seeing Bri play in fifth or sixth grade, so it's funny how time goes by so fast,' Van Alstine said. 'She's playing her best softball right now. She's played great the last three years, but she's really hitting the ball well and plays great in the outfield. 'She gets to the foul line so fast, makes so many plays in foul territory because of her speed and quickness. She's a complete player.' Grant senior third baseman Taylor Glover said Lopez plays with the right mindset. 'She is a good player because she gives her best, even when she's not feeling her best, and is always humble about how she plays,' Glover said. Just as important, Lopez is also a good teammate, according to Grant junior pitcher Haley Lloyd. 'Bri is always cheering us on and always has our back,' Lloyd said. 'She's very dedicated to the team.' Lopez said her teammates are very important to her. 'Softball gave me a second family, a sisterhood, and brought me so many of my friends,' she said. 'I don't think I would be the person I am today without it. I've made so many connections. It helped mold my personality.' Lopez said her two brothers have made a difference too. Her older brother, Michael, is a former Grant student-athlete, and her 10-year-old brother, Jacob, helps her stay positive. 'Jacob has taught me to never take life too seriously,' Lopez said. 'He's always cheering me on, even after a bad game, and he's always having fun during the game. He's my biggest cheerleader. He's always the first one to run up to me and give me a hug and say he's proud of me.' Lopez, who said she has a 4.6 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society, likes to encourage other people too. She does volunteer work, including for Feed My Starving Children. 'I like meeting new people, building connections and lending a helping hand for those in need,' Lopez said. 'I love putting a smile on someone's face.' Working together has benefited the Bulldogs, too, according to Lopez. 'All of us are contributing in our own different way to help the team win,' she said. 'I think we have the potential to go far if we put all three aspects of the game together.' 'Quadzilla' is doing her part.
Chicago Tribune
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Alexa Vega is a different player for Round Lake this season. Her evolution is ‘nothing short of inspiring.'
Round Lake junior midfielder Alexa Vega is in control this season. A captain for a young team, Vega also keeps her cool during games. That wasn't always the case during her first two seasons as a varsity starter. 'Yes, I did have a temper,' she said. 'It was not good in my freshman and sophomore years. It was kind of bad. I would get yellow cards here and there. I knew I had to bring it down so I wouldn't hurt my team.' Vega is helping her team in other ways, too, and Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez sees a correlation. 'She's a gamer and tries so hard,' Tellez said. 'She puts a lot on herself but is starting to understand the game better, and it's showing with her goals and assists.' Indeed, Vega has 11 goals and seven assists for the Panthers (4-4-2, 1-0), who won their Northern Lake County Conference opener against Grant last week. She has shown she can be a productive leader for a group that includes two freshmen and two sophomores in the starting lineup. 'She's matured a lot from last year to this year,' Tellez said. Vega has certainly impressed Round Lake junior defender Daisy Lopez this season. 'Her transition into upperclassman status has only amplified her impact,' Lopez said. 'Wearing the No. 10 jersey this season, she has taken on the legacy and responsibilities left by former leaders. She's not just meeting expectations, but she's surpassing them. 'Her growth on and off the field has been nothing short of inspiring. Alexa is more than just a talented athlete. She is the driving force behind our team's success. She's also a leader in every sense of the word and a player who truly defines what it means to be exceptional.' Vega said her skills have improved too. 'I'm more technical this season,' she said. 'That's helped me a lot. I like to dribble a lot and make plays.' Lopez said the Panthers can count on Vega to make plays all the time. 'Alexa is the complete package,' Lopez said. 'While some players can show flashes of skill, she delivers consistently.' Vega has delivered since the season opener on March 17, when she scored three goals as Round Lake beat Larkin 8-1. That game gave her confidence. 'I was feeling good, and all my teammates were connecting the ball, and we all played well,' she said. Vega has a lot to do with those connections, according to Lopez. 'Alexa has grown into a leader who not only sets the standard but also elevates the team,' Lopez said. 'Her presence on the team unites us, allowing us to play the kind of connected and inspired soccer that brings out the best in everyone. Alexa's influence sets her apart.'
Chicago Tribune
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Maron Bowes doesn't need to score to help Carmel win. She gets the point. ‘The little things can add up.'
To the casual observer, Carmel's Maron Bowes might not stand out on the court. After all, the 5-foot-7 junior forward doesn't score many points. But Bowes' teammates and coaches know such observations miss the point altogether. 'Everyone on our team sees it,' Carmel junior guard Josie Hartman said. 'She's always on the boards, on the ground, doing all the dirty work for us. 'When she's not on the court, we definitely feel a difference.' Bowes understands the part she plays for the Corsairs. 'Coming into Carmel, I knew I wouldn't ever be the leading scorer, and I scored a ton in eighth grade,' she said. 'I think that knowing your role is super important, and this is a role I've grown into. Every role is different, and I realize that I'm more of a role player. But me doing what I do leads to other players having success.' Bowes' philosophy was reinforced during fourth-seeded Carmel's 67-29 win against seventh-seeded Grant in the Class 4A Round Lake regional semifinals on Monday. As Hartman scored a game-high 26 points and sophomore guard Maliyah Mays chipped in 16 points, Bowes contributed six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two deflections. 'The little things can add up,' Bowes said. 'I don't score as much, but I feel like as a player, I know my role — getting rebounds, finding people on outlet passes, running up the court, playing hard defensively. My team always supports me. I feel like everything balances everything out.' Bowes, who entered the game averaging 4.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 2.0 deflections, has a particular affinity for offensive rebounds. Two of her rebounds on Monday came on the offensive end, and both led to points for the Corsairs (15-16), who will play top-seeded Libertyville (26-5) in the regional championship game at 6 p.m. Thursday. 'Every time I get an offensive rebound, that's a key to that possession, and I take pride in that leading to someone else scoring,' Bowes said. 'When I do that, I feel extra satisfied.' On the defensive end, Bowes is almost always tasked with checking the opponent's most physically imposing player, despite her size. 'She's our anchor inside, and she's going to play physical and do the things we need her to do,' Carmel coach Ben Berg said. 'She does the things that other players don't always necessarily want to do. 'She's always giving up size, normally with them several inches taller than her. But she battles and always does it with a smile on her face. I'm proud of the leader she's become.' After getting less consistent playing time last season, Bowes was named one of three team captains, which did wonders for her confidence. 'Knowing I had that role come upon me, it made me feel that what I am doing really does help the team,' she said. 'Being a captain gives me a sense of purpose. My teammates are so supportive, and I try to give back that support, helping the younger girls.' That's one reason Carmel is playing its best at the right time. The Corsairs have won eight of their past 11 games. So Bowes isn't going to change the formula. 'Obviously, I'd like to score, but if I don't, it's OK,' she said. 'Whatever's best for the team. I'm not going to hang my head because we did win by 30 and our team played great. Everyone filled their role, and we won. That's the goal.'
