Sports

Return to play approved, practices underway.

Published by admin on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 2:41pm

by shawn long
staff writer
High school athletes are one step closer to having normal practices (if there is such a thing) with last week’s approval of Return to Play guidelines by the Illinois Dept. of Health.
The IHSA announced Friday that teams, with up to 50 players and coaches, can meet for 20 contact days through Aug. 9 under the Phase 4 guidelines approved by both agencies.

Return to play approved, practices underway

Published by admin on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 2:40pm

by shawn long
staff writer
High school athletes are one step closer to having normal practices (if there is such a thing) with last week’s approval of Return to Play guidelines by the Illinois Dept. of Health.
The IHSA announced Friday that teams, with up to 50 players and coaches, can meet for 20 contact days through Aug. 9 under the Phase 4 guidelines approved by both agencies.

For the record: Wilmington football school record holders

Published by admin on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 2:37pm

by shawn long
staff writer
Hut...hut...hike!
In the spirit of the football season that will hopefully start in late August, the Free Press is diving into the school record books highlight the best athletes in the program.
Owen Weaver leads Wilmington all-time with 38 total touchdowns in a season beating out former NFL rusher Damien Anderson’s mark of 37 set in 1996.
“It’s definitely an honor to be recognized alongside a great athlete like Damien,” said Weaver. “It’s an awesome feeling to know that hard work really does pay off.”

Slammers put together a season with MLB managers

Published by admin on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 2:35pm

by shawn long
staff writer
The Joliet Slammers have separated from the independant Frontier League to create their own league in order to play baseball this year.
Four former Major League baseball players will be acting managers during the City of Champions Cup set to begin on July 16.
The City of Champions Cup will feature four teams competing in a 27-game schedule at DuPage Medical Group Field in Joliet from July 16 to Sept. 6.
Teams will be made up of players from the Frontier League, free agents from MiLB affiliated teams and tryout participants.

For the record: Who are the leading Coaler wrestlers in school history?

Published by admin on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 2:34pm

by shawn long
staff writer
The Coal City wrestling program has had an impressive run the last six years qualifying for dual team state all but one year.
The Coalers are a talented group and here are the records to prove it. This week the Courant dives deep into school’s wrestling records.
The Coalers have brought home the second place trophy in 2016 (Class 1A), 2019 (Class 2A) and 2020 (1A). In 2015 and 2018 they finished in third placve.

Wilmington 12U Wildcats win one of three games in Indiana tourney

Published by admin on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 3:02pm

by shawn long
staff writer
The Wilmington 12-U travel baseball team competed in the Silver Series Championship at Optimist Complex and Riverside Park in Hammond Indiana over the weekend,
On Sunday, they were no-hit by the Chicago White Sox 12U Black team in a 7-0 shutout to finish 1-2.
Wildcats 12U 3
Vernon Hills 10
On Saturday, the ‘Cats were unable to rally from a 5-1 deficit which led to a loss.
Vernon Hills scored a run in the first to take a 1-0 lead.
Wilmington answered back with a run of their own to tie it 1-1.

Wilmington 13U spoils luck of Irish

Published by admin on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 3:01pm

by shawn long
staff writer
The Wilmington 13U travel team battled Seneca on Tuesday and came out on top of a 5-4 affair, thanks to a two-run fifth inning that sealed the deal.
Seneca scored first to take a 1-0 lead in their half of the inning.
The ‘Cats grabbed a 2-1 lead with two runs in the second inning.
The Irish came right back with two runs of their own in the fourth to regain a 3-2 lead.
The ‘Cats tied it at 3-3 in the bottom half of the fourth and they were right back to where they started.

For the record: Who leads Comets all-time in wrestling?

Published by admin on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 3:00pm

by shawn long
staff writer
Who are some of the best wrestlers in Reed-Custer history?
This week is a blast back through all individual and team Comet wrestling school records.
The Comets, sometimes overshadowed by neighboring Wilmington and Coal City, has withstood the test of time with 282 career wins and a near 50% winning percentage. If you add in the fourth place finish (1996), the three state qualifying years (1996, 2000, 2001), the seven regional titles and their one sectional title, there are signs of success.

Gunier sad to leave after Sweet 16 softball run with Lady Comets

Published by admin on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 2:59pm

by shawn long
staff writer
Reed-Custer softball coach Taylor Gunier is moving on after a successful season with the Lady Comets who made it to the Sweet 16.
“COVID didn’t have anything to do with my departure,” said Gunier. “It was still out of my control. It was learned that the district had to make cuts due to student numbers being unusually lower for the next few years. And even though English is a core subject area, that is where they decided to make the cut.”
The Minooka native didn’t want to leave Reed-Custer after one year but is accepting it.

For the record: Leaders of Wilmington wrestling

Published by admin on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 2:58pm

by shawn long
staff writer
Who are some of the best wrestlers in Wilmington High School history?
This week we dug into the wrestling records kept by the Wildcats and they’re impressive.
Much success
With 887 wins all-time, that’s impressive to say the least. But add the ‘Cats have three state titles (2007, 2008, 2009), two second place trophies (2006, 2017), a fourth place trophy 2010) and three additional state qualifying teams (2002, 2011, 2012) that takes impressive to a new level.