Latest news with #Sandburg
Chicago Tribune
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Sandburg's Vincent Smith remembers his stepfather as he commits to West Virginia. ‘It hits so close to home.'
For Vincent Smith, the road to becoming a Division I football player has been far from smooth. Smith, a cornerback headed into his senior season at Sandburg, has attended three high schools and made a big move from Florida to Chicagoland. Then, in January, he and his family were struck by tragedy when his stepfather, Walter Mack, died. 'It was really surreal because I got my first offer from Toledo, and then only two days later, he died,' Smith said. 'I remember having my last conversation with him and he was just saying he was really proud of me. I remember him coming and hugging me.' Smith had his stepfather on his mind at Sandburg on Thursday when he announced his commitment to West Virginia. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Smith is rated as a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. He had received 10 Division I offers, narrowing it down to three finalists — which also included Iowa and Purdue — before choosing the Mountaineers. 'I believe West Virginia is the right place for me,' Smith said. 'They have a great coaching staff. I really love the campus. On my visit, the players felt so together and I feel like I'll really fit in.' Before announcing his school choice and revealing a West Virginia shirt, Smith began the ceremony wearing a shirt that read 'Mental Heath Matters' in honor of his stepfather. 'I made sure to wear that,' Smith said. 'I've always been a big advocate for mental health but especially now because it hits so close to home. I feel like it'd be wrong for me to not be a big supporter of mental health and really just try to help anybody that needs help. 'Honest to God, I didn't even know that he was struggling with as much of a battle as he was.' Smith grew up in Orlando and attended high school at West Orange in nearby Winter Grove, Florida, as a freshman. His family moved to the Chicago area before his sophomore year due to his mother's job transfer. Smith played varsity football at Lemont as a sophomore before moving again and attending Sandburg as a junior. 'It's been a crazy journey, but I like to embrace the hardships,' Smith said. 'I really do like having to be outside of my comfort zone. It makes me have to learn how to adapt and how to fit with new people.' Sheamus Murphy, who is going into his first season as Sandburg's head coach, was a first-year assistant at the school last fall after stepping down as Eisenhower's head coach. Murphy confirmed that he and Smith hit it off fast. 'We were both the new guys, so we had that connection,' Murphy said. 'He's got an infectious personality and you could see, right away, that athletic ability I haven't seen or coached before.' Smith originally committed in March to Northern Illinois, but a couple months later, he had several new schools become interested, in part due to an impressive camp performance that he said included running the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. 'The offers started rolling in,' Smith said. 'I think the first one was Kentucky. I still really liked NIU. But once I got a few more offers, a couple Big Ten offers and then when USC offered, I was like, 'I've really got to research.'' Smith reopened his recruiting and went on more visits this summer. In the end, the whirlwind process led him to West Virginia. 'It feels great,' Smith said. 'This day meant a lot to me. A year ago, I didn't know I'd be in this position. My recruiting kind of blew up super fast and I'm really happy I even got this opportunity. 'I just thank God.'
Chicago Tribune
30-05-2025
- 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
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Hitless since April 16, Juliann Radz delivers walk-off single as Shepard downs Sandburg. ‘Was actually pretty calm.'
It was bases loaded, nobody out. The table was set for the biggest at-bat of her high school career. But would Shepard junior Juliann Radz be ready for it? Before Wednesday, she hadn't walked up to the plate in a game since May 15. Her last hit was on April 16. You certainly couldn't blame her if she was nervous. But she would have none of that. 'I was actually pretty calm,' Radz said. 'My other teammates had done all that work to be where they were. With the bases loaded and with zero outs, I just knew I had to do what I can do.' Two pitches after stepping into the batter's box, she walked off the host Astros for a thrilling 1-0 victory over Sandburg in a Class 4A Shepard Regional semifinal game. Radz dropped a single into left field to score freshman Carly Edmiston with the winning run for Shepard (28-6). Edmiston and Emrie Peterson each singled earlier in the inning. DePaul recruit Kailey Selvage tossed a three-hit shutout for the Astros, who advanced to play Lockport (27-9) at 4 p.m. Friday for the regional title. Olivia Trunk reached all three times for Sandburg (10-24). Grace Torgerson added a hit. Radz is in her second season on the varsity for Shepard and her third year in softball. Before high school, she played Little League baseball against mostly boys as a pitcher/outfielder. A memorable highlight? Sure. 'We had this one dude on my team, he was one of our best hitters,' Radz said, smiling. 'He never struck out. But then he switched to another team and I struck him out.' Walking off against Sandburg probably topped that exciting moment. But her philosophy about it afterward was as cool as she was at the plate. 'It could have been a lot of peoples' last game on my team, all the seniors,' Radz said. 'It just felt like all the power was in my hands. I had the bat, not the pitcher.' Shepard coach Bridget McDermott has primarily used Radz on defense this season. Radz and Peterson switch off at the flex position. 'I come ready to do whatever is needed,' Radz said. 'I don't really expect to bat or expect to play the field. I just contribute as much as I can. 'When I'm in the outfield, I try not to let a lot of balls drop. I know that I can catch them.' McDermott gave Radz the bat against Sandburg because there was some history. 'Her last hit actually was against Sandburg,' McDermott said of a 4-2 loss. 'She (drove) in one of the two runs we scored. We were keeping an eye on her the last couple of practices, and she was really hitting the ball well. We just had the feeling, 'Let's get Juliann the bat today.' 'It's a really special thing to be able to come in with bases loaded when we need a run, having only played defense for several games. She did the job.' Selvage, who broke program pitching records this season and was the South Suburban Red's player of the year for the second straight spring, had a great view. She was on first base when Radz won the game, having reached on a Sandburg miscue that loaded the bases. 'I was just watching and feeling super confident,' Selvage said. 'If she was a little nervous, I knew that she wouldn't let it affect her. I'm super happy that she got the walk-off hit. She deserves it. 'Juliann is an awesome person. A silent, but 'go get 'em' kind of kid. She's very fierce and always gives 110%. She will dive for a ball and go after everything. 'She's quiet, but she'll get it done. And she continues to prove it every day to us.'
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Sandburg's Gabby Dittmer, who's headed to DePaul, lays down law with hat trick against Stagg. ‘Definitely special.'
Gabby Dittmer wasn't ready to play her last soccer game for Sandburg. Dittmer, a senior forward and a standout player in all four years for the Eagles, has decided to bypass some opportunities to play in college. She plans instead to study law at DePaul. That meant Wednesday's playoff opener could have been the end. Dittmer was determined to make sure it would not be. 'It's definitely special for me,' she said. 'I've been playing soccer my whole life and obviously I love soccer, so I was very excited for this game. You never know what's going to come next. It could be nothing or it could be another game. 'I really wanted another game.' Dittmer extended her final season by turning in one of the best performances of her career, recording a hat trick to lead Sandburg to a 3-1 win over district rival Stagg in a Class 3A Joliet Central Regional semifinal. Alanna Noone made six saves for the eighth-seeded Eagles (5-9-4), who avenged a 1-0 shootout loss to the Chargers on May 6. Maeve Durkin led a strong defensive effort. The Eagles will take on top-seeded Lincoln-Way East (16-3-1) — a 9-0 winner over Joliet Central — at 5 p.m. Friday in the regional final. Sandburg played the Griffins tough in a 1-0 loss on May 8. Justyna Palenica scored Wednesday on a free kick for ninth-seeded Stagg (7-12-2), while Maritza Alvarez made five saves. Dittmer, meanwhile, struggled mightily with her choice to give up soccer. 'It was probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever made,' she said. 'I love soccer so much. My family, my teammates and my coaches all put so much time into me and helped me get to where I am, so it's a really hard thing to walk away from. 'But for me, education came first when I wanted to think about my future.' Dittmer came out on a mission Wednesday night. She scored in the 16th minute, then added a second goal just over five minutes later by juking a defender and ripping in a 20-yard shot. Durkin has grown accustomed to seeing her teammate pull off moves like that. 'She's always been a special player,' Durkin said of Dittmer. 'Since freshman year, we've been playing together, and every time, her skill and her drive to want the ball and want to score the ball, it's always there. She has the energy 100% of the time.' Things later got a bit scary for the Eagles. Palenica scored with five seconds left in the first half. Then, with Stagg building momentum early in the second half, a red card against the Eagles put them down a player for the final 23 minutes. Dittmer, though, took the pressure off by completing her hat trick, converting a 25-yard shot with 18:11 to go. It was her 12th goal of the season and 52nd of her career. Sandburg coach Tom Kubowicz has enjoyed watching all 52 goals. 'It's going to be tough to replace her,' Kubowicz said. 'She doesn't need a lot of space. If you give her a chance to shoot, she's going to shoot and there's a good chance it's going to go in.' As for the future, Dittmer believes being a soccer player has prepared her for a tough academic journey. 'Soccer helped make me a very disciplined person and helped teach me hard work,' she said. 'I wanted to stay busy, challenge myself and be on a good career path. 'Everything I learned from soccer, I want to bring it to school, and I think it's a very good way for me to keep going with the hardworking mindset.' As for soccer, she's going out in style. 'I'm definitely taking everything in and trying to enjoy it,' Dittmer said. 'Ending in high school, with these girls and these coaches who have all meant so much to me, it's the perfect ending for me.'
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Working out of bullpen, Owen Lense bears down as Lincoln-Way East clinches share of conference title. ‘I was ready.'
Even before the first pitch, junior right-hander Owen Lense actually knew that he would be getting into Wednesday's game for Lincoln-Way East. He just didn't know when or for how long. Lense then took control with the SouthWest Suburban Conference title on the line. 'This was supposed to be a bullpen game and everybody was going to be getting innings,' said Lense, who came in facing a two-run deficit in the second. 'I knew I was coming in. I was ready.' Was he ever. Lense scattered three hits in six scoreless innings and was involved in a pitcher's duel through five innings before the Griffins erupted for an 11-2 victory over host Sandburg in Orland Park. That performance paved the way for Lincoln-Way East (23-9, 12-4), which tied Lincoln-Way Central (17-10, 12-4) for the conference title with the Knights beating Bradley-Bourbonnais 8-2. 'I was just concentrating on going in and using both sides of the plate,' Lense said. 'I wanted to win this game. I knew it was for the conference championship and I had to do it for my team. 'It went better than I expected. I came in there and I was in the zone.' So was Evan Riiff, who had two hits and three RBIs for the Griffins. Casey Mikrut, Cooper Johnson and Tyler Hudik each added two hits and Rocco Triolo drove in a pair of runs. Hudik showed his versatility, bunting for a single in an eight-run sixth and hitting a solo homer in the seventh. Ryan Evoy came up with a single, double and triple for Sandburg (20-11, 7-9). 'That's what he does every time he goes out there,' Hudik said of Lense. 'He goes out there and shoves every single time. When he's out there, I have no doubt in my mind that we will be fine.' Lincoln-Way East coach John McCarthy felt the same way as Hudik did. 'Owen came in and threw strikes and did a really good job,' McCarthy said. 'He came up big and kept us in the game. This game could have gone sideways. Kudos to him. He was outstanding.' The Griffins snapped a five-game losing streak that produced only 14 runs with Monday's 1-0 win over Sandburg in Frankfort. They then scored just two runs in the first five innings Wednesday. So, the deluge of runs in the sixth created a sigh of relief in Lincoln-Way East's dugout. 'We have a great group of guys,' Lense said. 'When we string hits together, good things happen.' 'It was one of those innings that happens in baseball,' McCarthy said. 'Thankfully, it happened for us in time to win the game.' The Griffins believe they have enough talent to make a run at a Class 4A state championship. 'It's just about going out there and winning ball games,' Hudik said. 'The sky is the limit. I think we can go as far as the state championship if we keep playing like this.' Surviving and thriving in the SouthWest Suburban Conference could help that cause. McCarthy thinks sharing the conference title is still a huge accomplishment. 'It's one of the best conferences in the state of Illinois from top to bottom,' he said. 'For us to be a conference champ is a real honor for our boys. It shows the type of grit they have because there are a lot of ups and a lot of downs. We managed to stay with it.' Lense, who said he's been playing baseball since kindergarten, also stayed with it. He said one of the things he loves about baseball is playing in big situations like Wednesday's game. 'I like the satisfying big moments,' Lense said. 'A lot of moments in baseball are just like 'wow' and you feel great after doing it.'
