Category Archives: Features

Loyola’s Mangan ‘confident’ in college choice

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The last name Mangan is one that is well known to the Loyola Academy community. With four brothers having walked through the Wilmette school’s halls, all having played multiple sports, it’d be fair to say they’ve left a mark on the school. 

The fourth — and final — Mangan, Matthew, will leave Loyola as a two-sport athlete, having played both football and basketball his last two years at the school. His play on the football field helped him gain some collegiate looks, especially as his senior season went on. 

On Thursday, Jan. 30, Mangan made his official decision on where he’ll be playing football for the next four years of his life: the University of Dayton. Continue reading →

Loyola’s Van Zelst partners with charity in 2019 season

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Loyola’s Nate Van Zelst kicks the extra point. Loyola defeated New Trier 34-3 on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019.

Kick-It, an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) program, is a national volunteer-driven effort focused solely on raising money for childhood cancer research. For many athletes around the country, it’s a chance to help be part of a good cause, one that could help others of all ages.

Loyola Academy football junior kicker Nate Van Zelst decided to be one of those helped. He became a member of the The Kick-It Champion for Kids Program — a part of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation — a National Organization registered 501(c)3 charity whose mission is to “change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families and empowering everyone to cure childhood cancer.” Continue reading →

Local dancers shine on national level

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For many high school and middle school students, their teenage years are full of sporting events, plays, musicals or cheerleading competitions. For the Lougin siblings, Daniel and Sofiy, their teenage years have led them on a different path: the dance floor. 

The brother-and-sister team from Glencoe is the No. 10 ballroom dancing team in the country in their age group.

Photos submitted
Photos submitted

While many ballroom dancers may start with professional training from a young age, the Lougins’ start was a little more fun. Continue reading →

New Trier senior wins 2017 U.S. speed skating championship

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Mia Krone started out her childhood as a hockey player, playing all over the North Shore. But by the time she hit 11, hockey wasn’t fun for her anymore — she was looking for a new challenge.

“My dad took me to the Evanston club and had me watch [speedskating] practice,” Krone said. “Because I knew how to skate, they gave me some speed skates and put me on the ice. At the time, Shani Davis was coaching on the ice so he was my first coach and got me hooked on the sport.”

 

Davis, a Chicago native, won the gold medal in the 1000-meter at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics and the silver medal in the 1500-meter in those same two Olympics. Continue reading →

Winnetka couple attends 2019 NCAA Final Four as rivals

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Winnetka couple Sid and Laura Glenn never expected to be rivals. 

That is until their alma maters faced off in an NCAA Final Four game April 6 in Minneapolis. 

“I think the instant reaction when we realized they were going to play each other was, ‘This is never going to happen again, we’ve got to get tickets and we have to go,’” said Laura, who graduated from Michigan State University. Continue reading →

Wilmette resident captures gold at 2019 Special Olympics World Games

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Wilmette’s Johnny Wrenn, a graduate of New Trier High School, had never been out of the country before. 

So imagine his reaction to traveling all the way to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to participate in the 2019 Special Olympics World Games last March.

“I wish it never ended,” Wrenn said. Continue reading →

North Shore Schools Look to Help Fight Melanoma

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According to the American Cancer Society, more than 76,000 new patients will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2016. Despite the fact that it accounts for only one percent of all those struck with skin cancer, it is considered to be the worst form of skin cancer, as well as the world’s fastest-growing form of cancer. Continue reading →

Elmwood Park juniors learn at Parker Tournament

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BY MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW

Coming off a 14-13 season, change can be a good thing.

However, the amount of change that occurred at Elmwood Park between the end of last season and the start of this season is staggering. Nine of last year’s 11 team members, including seven members of the Class of 2012, were not on the Opening Day roster. The two players who return are seniors Elliott Perez and Pat McNulty.

Despite the lack of varsity experience, all of the 2012-13 Tigers entered the season with at least one year in the system under their belts. Seven of this year’s 10 varsity members are juniors who saw playing time on the sophomore level.

“We all have some experience, so its nothing really new to us,’’ junior Presley Garrett said. “We just have to play together and it will all work out.’’

With many already having played with each other in the past, becoming familiar with each other on the court might not be too much of an issue. But the juniors are glad they do have some returning leadership to help them through their first varsity season.

“We’ve only got two seniors coming back this year but they’ve shown us how to do things at this level,’’ said junior Hassan Basbous. “We’ve all played before, but for there to be guys that can give us some advice is always good.’’

Once again the Tigers opened their season at the Francis Parker Tournament, which features other teams in Class 3A or lower. Basbous feels the team can pick up some pointers there.

“It’s good playing against some of these teams because we can learn from our mistakes during the game and work some stuff out,’’ said Basbous. “It’s especially good because we don’t have the most varsity experience so it can help out there.’’

Garrett also has similar feelings.

“We can only grow as a team by playing games like these,’’ he said. “I know that I, for one, can work on things you can’t do in practice. Game situations are a lot different than in practice. These plays count.’’

Elmwood Park hopes its new squad will bring more victories. The juniors believe that success is on the horizon.

The team opened the season by defeating CICS-Northtown 72-53 behind Garrett’s team-high 18 points. Elmwood Park struggled against UIC Prep before pulling out a 54-52 win. Elliott Perez, who was named tournament MVP, led the squad with 18 points. In the wrap-up to the tournament, the Tigers fell to host Parker, 71-63.

Link to story: http://bit.ly/XkQYxZ