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San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Perseverance pays off for Metro standouts at state track and field meet
CLOVIS, Fresno County — St. Ignatius junior Prince Babalola-Buchango and Pittsburg pole vaulter Khaliq Muhammad drew from the long term. Montgomery-Santa Rosa distance runner Hanne Thomsen and St. Mary's-Berkeley jumper Kira Ganta Hatcher were motivated by painful moments earlier in the day. And De La Salle-Concord sprinter Jaden Jefferson was inspired by his own record performance. What all had in common Saturday were individual championships at the 105th running of the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veteran's Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School. On a sweltering, muggy 100-degree day in the Central Valley, the quintet topped a banner day for Metro Area athletes, who piled up 55 medals in one of the nation's top track and field meets. Babalola-Buchango collected three, finishing fifth in the 100 meters and second in a blistering 110 high hurdles field, before 'putting on the gas and not letting anyone stop me' to capture the 200 title in a lifetime best of 20.79 seconds. The 6-foot-3, 170-pounder bettered his previous best of 20.88 in Friday's trials to the delight of a loud contingent of 30 fans rooting on the popular junior who planned to start a football camp the following day. ' I've been running track for seven years now and every year I've made a championship final,' Babalola-Buchango said. 'But I never won one. I was yearning for a win. I placed second and fifth earlier in the day and I told myself, 'It's my time.' 'So yes, this means everything to me.' Muhammad not only won his first pole vault after finishing second last year and placing as a freshman, but he broke the meet record as well, clearing 17 feet, 10 ½ inches, breaking the mark of 17-10 set in 2019 by Sondre Guttormsen of Davis. He beat the rest of the field by 16 inches. When he cleared the meet record, the crowd of nearly 8,000 roared and Muhammad, whose sister won two state titles, was swarmed and congratulated by teammates. 'When I cleared it for about five seconds I thought 'I can't believe this,'' Muhammad said. 'But then I remembered I put 12 years of hard work into this. I always expect to do well. Even set records.' More urgent and exhaustive speed work that included running open 100s, 200 and 400s contributed to late-season surge. This was the fifth straight week Muhammad broke the 17-foot barrier. Said Pittsburg coach Aaron Alantorre: 'He seemed really locked in and prepared for the moment.' Hatcher definitely wasn't locked in after fouling on her three preliminary long jumps in Saturday's finals, after qualifying second Friday in trials. The normally upbeat junior let out a scream, and immediately fell into a flood of tears after her third scratch, which eliminated her from the competition. But she regrouped and, nearly three hours later, was atop the medal stand with a winning triple jump of 40-5. 'It was really hard,' Hatcher said of her three fouls. 'I was really sad for a pretty long time. But I got a good pep talk from my coach and parents and that boosted me. I realized if I stayed sad I wasn't going to do well in my next event. Said St. Mary's coach Jeff Rogers: 'Honestly, it was like putting Humpty Dumpty back together again emotionally. Kira is an awesome, positive girl and great competitor. It was an amazing comeback performance.' So, too, for Thomsen, who ran a nearly perfect 1,600 only to be edged at the line by Santiago's Braelyn Combe — 4:35.64 to 4:35.69, the second- and third-best times in the country this year. A slight stumble near the finish line might have cost the Stanford-bound star the title. Two hours later, Thomsen found herself in the same position with another Santiago runner, Rylee Blade. Even though Blade was fresher, Thomsen found another gear down the stretch, breaking the state-meet record to win in 9:48.98 for her second 3,200 state crown (she also won as a freshman). Jefferson pulled off perhaps the most stunning 100-meter runs in Friday's prelims, breaking the state record with a 10.01 run, breaking the California mark by 0.19. 'It was a perfect race,' said Jefferson, a top junior football recruit who has committed to North Carolina, of Friday's effort. But the trials showing wouldn't have meant as much without following through on Saturday, which he did by grinding out a victory in 10.27, just ahead of Servite-Anaheim sophomore Benjamin Harris. Jefferson earlier ran a strong second leg to help De La Salle set a PR while placing fourth in the 4x100 relay (40.80). Later he finished fourth in the 200. 'It feels great to be a state champion,' Jefferson said. 'All the hard work and dedication came to light. It's truly exciting to be in the record books.' Jefferson, who last week set a North Coast Section record by winning the Meet of Champions in 10.30, said he wasn't surprised by the 10.01 finish. The warm conditions helped. 'Even though we PR'd on the (4x100 relay) the guys were kind of down because we were capable of winning,' Jefferson said. 'That added fuel to my 100, plus I wanted to bring home a first-place medal back to the school.'
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Phoenix Gill is the son of an Illinois basketball great, but this is why Northwestern was ‘the place for him'
The shadow that follows second-generation athletes can be imposing. Phoenix Gill might not receive the same level of publicity as Bronny James, but as the son of a University of Illinois Hall of Famer and member of the 1989 'Flyin' Illini' Final Four team, the St. Ignatius guard faced high expectations. So when it came time for him to make his college choice, he took a different path from his father, Kendall Gill, a 15-year NBA veteran and now a Bulls studio analyst for Chicago Sports Network. 'Everybody thought I was kind of set on Illinois, and I wasn't that way at all,' said Phoenix, who led St. Ignatius to a school-record 25 wins this season and finished sixth in Mr. Basketball of Illinois voting. 'I might have thought that my eighth-grade, freshman, sophomore year, but once I really narrowed it down, Northwestern was a clear choice. 'Illinois definitely had a shot, but they didn't recruit me like Northwestern.' He said academics and campus life were factors in his decision, but coach Chris Collins' pitch is what separated the Wildcats from his other offers, which included Illinois, Iowa State and Stanford. 'Coach Collins basically told me straight up that he wants to get me out of my dad's shadow,' Phoenix said. 'Of course, his dad (former Bulls coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Doug Collins) played in the league, was a big-time coach, too, with Michael Jordan. He wants to help me build a legacy so that I'm Phoenix Gill, not Kendall Gill's son — just how he did it — and that kind of sold it for me.' Phoenix still is following in a parent's footsteps: His mother, Wendy, is a Northwestern alumna. And Kendall was sold on Northwestern and even echoed Collins about Phoenix becoming his own player. There was an initial nudge toward Champaign, though. 'A little bit at first for sure,' Phoenix said, 'but once we narrowed it down, he was all with me. He's really helped me throughout the whole process. And it really helps when you don't have your dad screaming at you to go to Illinois.' When people would ask Kendall why Phoenix chose Northwestern, he had a ready answer. 'It's the place for him,' Kendall said. 'Everybody thought that he was going to go to Illinois, but it wasn't meant to be. I'm glad the Gill name and No. 13 will be worn once again in the Big Ten, and I think that he's going to do really well.' A three-star recruit ranked No. 5 in the state in the 247Sports composite, the 6-foot-2 Phoenix is part of a five-player signing class for the Wildcats that ranked 23rd in the country and second in the Big Ten behind Washington. He averaged 19.1 points as a senior, the most since 2000 for St. Ignatius, and is in the Wolfpack's single-season top five in field goals (230, first), points (611) and rebounds (239). 'Phoenix is another Chicago product that we're excited to add,' Collins said in a statement on signing day in November. 'He's been around the game his whole life. Phoenix is a combo guard who's athletic, can attack the basket and play with the ball in his hands. He's a terrific two-way guard that we're really looking forward to getting here to Northwestern.' While Phoenix conceded the expectations of being the son of an NBA player 'can be rough, annoying and just a lot,' he's also grateful to carry the Gill name into the next generation. 'He's taught me so much, and the advice he's given me has been second to none,' Phoenix said of Kendall, who starred at Rich Central before becoming the Big Ten scoring leader at Illinois and the No. 5 pick in the 1990 NBA draft. 'I'm sure a lot of people would want this life, so I cherish it every day.' Kendall noticed during his son's high school journey what comes with being an NBA player's namesake, and he's proud of Phoenix for remaining poised and not letting the pressure hinder his potential. 'I could see the weight that he carries on his shoulders when everybody says, 'Your dad played in the NBA, you're supposed to be this good, you're supposed to be that,'' Kendall said. 'It also helped him as well because he's learned how to deal with the pressure of being an offspring of an NBA player, and he's handled it very well.' With an NBA veteran under the same roof, the wisdom Phoenix gets from his dad is unlimited. Kendall shared the best piece of advice he has given his son. 'He has to continue to work hard,' Kendall said. 'A lot of guys get to the mountaintop — that could be college basketball, that could be pro basketball — and then they stop working. Success is not owned, it's rented, and rent is due every day. If you're not paying that rent every day, somebody else is catching you.' Although at a different school, the Gill name will live on in the state and Chicago area. Both Kendall and Phoenix are excited to see how far it goes. 'There's always motivation,' Phoenix said. 'I think people will write (me) off because I'm a Gill — they'll make sure to bring you down. I continue to prove them wrong every day (and) make sure that I'm putting the work in so that I can make the most of my career and carry the legacy.'
Chicago Tribune
11-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Palos Park Women's Club Mother's Day walk raises funds for outreach
Orland Park's Karen Sloane has four daughters and her mother is 83 years old. Mount Greenwood's Barb Duffy does not have children, and her mother died in 2004. Yet both women cherish Mother's Day equally, Both were a part of the third Palos Park Woman's Club Mother's Day Walk Saturday at Lake Katherine in Palos Heights. Officials said 300 walkers signed up for the event and said the woman's club hopes to make $20,000. The money will stay within the organization to support outreach efforts, scholarships and service initiatives. But for Sloane and Duffy, it was a chance to be with friends and enjoy the day before Mother's Day. 'Mother's Day is a gift,' Sloane said. 'It's a gift to be a mother. It's the hardest job. It's a job that you cannot put in your resignation or retire. 'Sometimes it's tough but it's a joy. It's such a joy to be a mother and watch your children grow and see they are good people in the community.' Unfortunately for Sloane, her job was made even harder than for most mothers. Her husband, Herman Sloane, died in 2015 and she raised her four daughters, twins and Francesca and Gabriella and twins Scarlett and Penelope, on her own. The quartet, who all play violins in their own group, Sloane's on Strings, and were involved with sports, had a combination of home schooling and attendance at St. Ignatius. Scarlett and Penelope will graduate high school this year and Scarlett will head to Purdue and Penelope to Illinois. Gabriella is a student at Michigan and Francesca is at Wisconsin. 'I went from zero to two to four and two and it will be zero again,' Karen said. 'But it is something I've prepared for. My husband and I wanted them to succeed and make something of themselves. 'It's a change, but it's a happy change.' All four were around for Mother's Day, but Francesca missed the walk as she was flying in from Washington, where she is a legislative intern. The past 10 years have not been an easy time without Herman, but Karen has been trying to stay positive. 'You don't get everything in life,' she said. 'You have to be grateful for what you have. Despite our loss, I still feel very blessed with four healthy girls who are educated and smart.' Duffy, 58, planned to celebrate five years of being free of cervical cancer after the walk. She also had open-heart surgery in 2006 so she said she is happy to enjoy the moment. For her, Mother's Day brings back fond memories when she and her late mother, also named Barbara, worked in the family business, Duffy Floral. 'My mom and I always worked together in the flower industry, and it was always a day to work,' she said of Mother's Day. 'And working with my mom was even more important.' Duffy spent time at the walk helping to sell gifts with her friend Debbie Morley and soaked in all of the love that she saw among the walkers. 'This is a big celebration for all of the moms out there and it's fantastic,' she said. 'You love to see them out here celebrating life and family.' Palos Park Woman's Club co-Presidents Ronette McCarthy and Ann Oliver started this event in 2023 and held it on Mother's Day. They changed that last year and held it the day before. 'We wanted to free up those mothers who have other plans on Mother's Day,' McCarthy said. 'The Palos Park Woman's Club is made up of volunteers and many are mothers ourselves and we wanted to give ourselves Mother's Day.' There are walks going on throughout the Southland during the spring, but the club wanted to host one closer to home. 'This is a way we can bring people together,' McCarthy said. 'We thought it would be great to have another walk to celebrate mothers. We just wanted to have one in this direction.' There were different paths and distances for walkers to choose from and there were mothers, fathers, kids and a pet or two taking hikes. 'People love to walk along the lake because Lake Katherine is so beautiful,' McCarthy said. 'Others walk a path along the (Cal-Sag Channel). They walk at their own pace. 'We have a lot of families coming out. It's not just mom.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Truck driver who hit St. Ignatius hockey team bus in 2022 sentenced to prison
The Brief Victor Santos was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a 2022 DUI crash that injured 20 student-athletes from St. Ignatius College Prep. The crash occurred after Santos ran a red light and hit the team's bus in Indiana. A civil lawsuit is also pending against Santos and multiple transportation companies. CHICAGO - An Indiana judge on Monday sentenced a truck driver to 20 years in prison for a 2022 DUI crash that injured 20 hockey players from Chicago's St. Ignatius College Prep. What we know Victor Santos, a 60-year-old convicted felon and registered sex offender, pleaded guilty in a Warsaw, Indiana courtroom Monday afternoon as part of a plea agreement. He has been credited with two years already served since his arrest in November 2022. The crash happened on the night of Nov. 12, 2022, as the St. Ignatius hockey team was returning to its hotel following a tournament in Culver, Indiana. Their bus was making a left turn on a green arrow when Santos ran a red light and slammed into the side of the vehicle. At the time of the crash, Santos' blood alcohol level was measured at 0.13%, nearly twice Indiana's legal limit. Witnesses reported seeing his truck swerving on the highway and reaching speeds of more than 90 miles per hour. Investigators said Santos made no attempt to slow down or avoid the bus. All 23 players and two coaches were hospitalized, with some students taken to a trauma center due to the severity of their injuries. Santos was initially charged with 26 felony counts, including causing serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. Victims and their families were in the courtroom Monday to deliver emotional impact statements before the sentencing. Dig deeper In addition to being a registered sex offender for a 1999 conviction in New York, Santos previously faced charges in Indiana related to violations of federal motor carrier safety rules. He was also accused of failing to register under the Unified Carrier Registration system. What's next In addition to the criminal case, Santos and several transportation companies are facing a 98-count civil lawsuit filed by 18 injured students, their parents, and two coaches. The lawsuit names Uber Freight LLC, N&V Trucking Express LLC, Barnes Transportation 11 LLC, and the hockey team's bus driver — accusing them of negligence and disregard for the safety of passengers. That case is still pending. The Source The information in this article was provided by Indiana police, lawyers, court documents, and previous FOX 32 reporting.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-04-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Does St. Ignatius have its own Ohtani in two-way prospect Archer Horn?
By all accounts, St. Ignatius junior Archer Horn is the complete package. He hits for average (.383), power (six home runs, five doubles), runs well (11 steals) and throws and fields at a high level as the team's starting shortstop. No wonder that he's rated the ninth-best junior prospect in California according to Prep Baseball Report and has already committed to Stanford. He actually committed there the fall before his freshman season. 'Focused, meticulous, detail oriented and very competitive,' St. Ignatius head coach Brian Pollzzie said. 'He's very good at baseball but he's a very well-rounded kid.' If there's such a thing as a six-tool player, Horn, who throws right-handed and bats left, would be that. That's because, in the mold of Shohei Ohtani, Horn also pitches. Like the Dodgers slugger, he bats leadoff and is saving his arm for when the Wildcats need him most. Horn is part of a terrific 2026 class that took the West Catholic Athletic League and Bay Area by storm in 2023, leading the Wildcats to a CIF Northern California Division 2 championship a season after going 12-15 and not even making the Central Coast Section playoffs. With that team's strong senior class, Horn's contributions as a freshman were largely on the mound where he went 4-2 with a 1.86 ERA to go along with 53 strikeouts in 41 ⅓ innings. But he was the winning pitcher in the NorCal title game, a 3-0 win over Casa Grande-Petaluma, going five innings and allowing just three hits. Pollzzie didn't hesitate to put him in that spot because Horn is always ready. 'One of his first practices as a freshman he was the first kid there,' Pollzzie said. 'He had all of his homework spread out on the bench. He definitely sets the bar high for himself.' Horn is following in the footsteps of his father, Howard, a former pitcher at Princeton, but he also wants to be an everyday ballplayer. He hit .357 as a freshman but in just 28 at-bats. As a sophomore he has hit .333 in 93 at-bats and moved to the infield while also being utilized as a closer, as he is now. In 22⅓ innings over the last two seasons, Horn has struck out 42, recorded five saves while posting a 1.51 ERA. 'Wherever we need him most, he's willing and wanting to contribute,' Pollzzie said. 'He loves the high-leverage spots.' With a deep staff, the Wildcats don't need Horn to start, plus he's too valuable in the field. Their pitching has a combined 1.74 ERA with Chase Gordon (2-2, 2.57 ERA, 32 ⅔ innings pitched), Tycco Giometti (2-0, 0.88, 24), Finn Demuth (3-1, 0.35, 20) and Spencer Guido (2-1, 1.15, 18 ⅓) getting most of the work. Demuth, a junior, fired five innings, allowed two hits with eight strikeouts Thursday in a 5-0 home win over Sacred Heart Cathedral, the team's first game in nine days. Giometti worked the final two hitless innings with three strikeouts. The Wildcats improved to 11-7-2 overall and 6-3 in WCAL play. Horn went hitless in two at-bats, but he walked twice and scored once. The team's leader in RBIs, DJ Delaney, scored a run and drove in another. He and Horn were two of eight junior starters, all of whom have loads of varsity experience. Though the overall record isn't pretty, a closer look shows the Wildcats are ripe for a strong postseason push. Pollzzie put together a rigorous non-league schedule — the Wildcats opened with a 2-0 win over Chronicle No. 1 Granada-Livermore — that included Northern California powers Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa, St. Mary's-Stockton and Whitney-Rocklin. St. Ignatius' seven losses have been by a total of 15 runs, including three one-run losses and two two-run defeats. 'Our goal and mantra all season is to simply be playing our best baseball when it matters most,' Pollzzie said. 'We have a lot of guys with a really strong talent base who have been through it before.'
