The Doings Oak Brook

Two firsts cap Thompson’s two days of perfection

Thu, 16 May 2013 03:34:26 -0500

Hinsdale Central senior Brian Thompson nearly made history on Friday night. On Saturday, he did. Thompson hit on all six events during Friday’s IHSA boys gymnastics team and all-around championships, but still wasn’t able to squeeze ahead of Wheaton co-op’s Brian MacDonald, who eclipsed the Red Devil 56.3 to 55.95. “I was very happy, I went 6-for-6 and did as well as I think that I could’ve,” Thompson said. “I didn’t look at the scoreboard as the meet was progressing. I just focused on my team and tried to do my best.” The Red Devils placed sixth among the eight-team …

All-state will be tall order for Fenwick doubles

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:43:23 -0500

Fenwick senior Jack Ryan believes he could’ve been a pretty good basketball or football player. Instead, he decided to concentrate all of his attention on tennis. “It’s the sport that I love the most,” the 6-foot-7 Hinsdale resident said. “I’m probably better at tennis than the other sports, so I figured I might as well focus on one sport instead of spreading it all around.” Ryan certainly has no regrets about his decision, considering he will be making his third straight state appearance. At Saturday’s Oak Park-River Forest Sectional, he teamed with sophomore Colin Fitzpatrick to place second in doubles, …

Buglio looks to build on first year in the Fenwick cage

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:55:30 -0500

Junior goalie Alexis (Lexi) Buglio knows the pressure that comes with being a Fenwick girls water polo player. Her older sister, Danielle, was an all-state player in the program, so Lexi had been around the perennial powerhouse for a while. But the stress ratcheted up this past year in her first year as a goalie. “She was a field player until the middle of last summer when I approached her about playing in the cage,” Fenwick head coach John Wagner said. “She had to replace a two-time state goalie.” That goalie, Mackenzie Bonk, had helped Fenwick capture the previous two …

Long memory serves Fenwick goalie McGuire well at state

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:09:40 -0500

LINCOLNSHIRE — Tommy McGuire could never forget the goal he gave up in eighth grade. Playing for Windy City club team in 2009, he got beat at the buzzer. It prevented his team for playing in the Speedo Cup that year. “It was a rough loss and I was pretty upset with myself at the time,” McGuire said. “I was like, ‘I’m going to have to make up for this somehow.’ ” Saturday night, he made up for it alright. In the exact pool where he allowed that winning goal four years ago, he stopped eight Stevenson shots as Fenwick …

Cerny sparks Red Devils from midfield

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:09:47 -0500

Hinsdale Central junior Alison Cerny has played numerous positions during her soccer career. Until recently, she had never played attacking midfield. “I just started playing it a couple games ago,” Cerny said. “I think it really helps us a lot. We’ve kind of struggled at the position. On my club I play midfield, so I don’t know if I’m more comfortable with the position, but I’m getting more used to it.” A forward most of the season with the Devils, Cerny demonstrated the impact she can have at her new position during the Class 3A Wheaton North Regional final. She …

Hinsdale Central’s Lorenzini prepared to go solo at state

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:09:46 -0500

If Michael Lorenzini faces any struggles at this weekend’s state boys tennis meet, his partner won’t be able to provide inspiration. After placing fifth in last year’s state meet in doubles, Hinsdale Central’s Lorenzini will go at it alone at singles. “It’s all about you (at singles),” Lorenzini said. “You don’t have a doubles partner to rely on.” The sophomore from Clarendon Hills made his debut at the state meet last year as a freshman with junior Chase Hamilton. It appeared the duo would reunite for a another state medal run, but those plans were derailed midway through the season. …

Piker leads list of Red Devils state qualifiers

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:09:44 -0500

Nick Piker saved his best for last. The Hinsdale Central senior qualified as expected for the Class 3A state boys track and field meet in discus by winning the Downers Grove North Sectional title Friday night. But advancing in the shot put was in doubt. Piker was never able to reach the state qualifying mark of 52-feet-11 during the season. That streak ended with his last attempt in the sectional finals. The Westmont resident and future Holy Cross football player bettered his personal best by 2 1/2 feet with a heave of 54-8 under the glare of a temporary light …

GODDARD: Devils get better by playing against each other

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:09:41 -0500

Hinsdale Central’s tennis players are lined up like wooden soldiers waiting to march to the state championship this weekend after last week’s successful blitz through its own sectional. How good are the Red Devils of coach John Naisbitt? So good that it’s possible senior partners Alex Hagermoser and Peter Heneghan could play senior Harold Martin and sophomore Eddie Grabill for the doubles title. Sophomore sensation Martin Joyce also has a good chance at meeting senior Michael Lorenzini in the singles final. We’ll know more Saturday when the three-day meet wraps up in Arlington Heights. It’s comforting to know that all …

College roundup: Epifanio named to all-region team

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:12:02 -0500

Maine South alumna Emily Epifanio, a senior catcher on the Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team, was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region first team. Epifanio started 37 of the team’s 39 games and hit .382 with a .488 on-base percentage and a .588 slugging percentage. She finished her career with 27 home runs, the third most in program history. She also received Whitewater’s Position Player of the Week honor on April 29 after an impressive six-game stretch: The Park Ridge native hit .467 (7-for-15) and helped the Warhawks to a 5-1 record. Trinity alumnae Mimi Ramirez and Laura …

Red Devils defender Stockmal hopes to protect his country

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:09:43 -0500

Andrew Stockmal watched his best friend’s cousin play lacrosse when he was younger and decided to pick up the stick himself. He carried his love of the sport to high school and has been on Hinsdale Central’s varsity since he was a sophomore. Now a junior, in his short prep career he’s participated in the Under Armour Midwest Tryout Top 80, was a Super Sophs Showcase All-Star and is now a first-team all-West Suburban Conference defender. “I’ve always wanted to be all-conference,” he said. “It’s pretty cool to get it as a junior and next stop is all-state.” The transition …

Fenwick downs Stevenson to reclaim state trophy

Sat, 18 May 2013 22:24:01 -0500

LINCOLNSHIRE — There might not be any high school team in any sport in the state of Illinois more synonymous with winning than Fenwick boys water polo. From 1999 to 2011, the Friars won 11 state titles. After a one-year hiatus, the championship trophy returned to its most familiar case Saturday night as Fenwick defeated Stevenson 10-4 to win the school’s 20th boys water polo championship. “The guys before us would like to say it’s synonymous, but its all about the hard work and what you need to do in order to get here,” senior Matt Bresnahan said. After defeating …

New Trier captures state title in 4x800 relay, Schmidt wins pole vault

Sat, 18 May 2013 20:24:09 -0500

CHARLESTON — Saturday’s Class 3A girls track and field state final was full of firsts for New Trier’s 4x800-meter relay. It was the first time this season that senior all-state runners Courtney Ackerman and Jessica Ackerman had run on the same 4x800 relay. Courtney Ackerman decided she felt healthy enough after Friday’s state preliminaries to run in two races on Saturday. She joined her twin sister, sophomore Mimi Smith and senior Kathleen Keene on the relay. The Trevians reaped the benefits of that decision en route to winning a state title. Jessica Ackerman, running the relay’s third leg, rocketed from …

Buczkowski goal gives Hinsdale Central WSC crown in 2 OT

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:48:56 -0500

WESTERN SPRINGS — It was nothing short of deja vu for Lyons and Hinsdale Central. The rivals battled it out for the Western Suburban Conference championship Saturday afternoon in Western Springs and it was the Red Devils that prevailed 9-8 in double overtime. Overtime seems to be the trend between the two as Hinsdale Central beat Lyons last year for conference in overtime. When the two faced off on April 16, Lyons prevailed by one goal in overtime on the Red Devil’s turf. “Because we beat them in overtime last year on this field, it was a big reminder and …

Blazers hit double digits in regional final win

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:26:00 -0500

MELROSE PARK — Trinity went into their regional final against Lake View on a mission. The Blazers (13-7-2) imposed their will from the very start against the Wildcats (4-3-2) with a relentless offensive attack. Seven different players scored for the Blazers Saturday in an 11-1 rout in the 2A Trinity Regional. “We emphasized in practice and before the game to have a good start and the girls came out strong,” Blazers coach Dave Preston said. The Blazers went on the attack quickly with a goal by freshman forward Heather Baran in the seventh minute. Senior midfielder Sarah Spohnholtz added two …

Dixon pairs with Lehman to roll to OPRF Sectional doubles championship

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:51:29 -0500

OAK PARK — Oak Park-River Forest senior Jeremy Dixon has enjoyed plenty of success in singles during his high school career. Now he’s hoping to fare even better in doubles this year at state after helping the Huskies capture their own sectional championship Saturday. Dixon teamed with Graham Lehman to beat Fenwick’s Jack Ryan and Colin Fitzpatrick 6-1, 6-0 in the doubles championship. The OPRF duo dropped just two games in their four victories. “It means a lot,” said Dixon, who won three matches at state a year ago in singles. “We just needed confidence for state, so this was …

Binyon, Piker both head to state in two events

Fri, 17 May 2013 23:29:18 -0500

DOWNERS GROVE — Marist senior Kyle Hauser’s schedule Friday night included more than running two races. Hauser won both the 800-meter run and 1,600 at the Class 3A Downers Grove North Sectional and then hurried downtown to catch the remainder of his school’s prom. Hauser was escorted by his parents with plans to dress while in the car. He left the track and field meet right after winning the 1,600 with a come-from-behind victory in the last 300 meters. Hauser, running with the second pack for most of the race, passed Sandburg’s Pat McMahon and Downers Grove North’s Zach Smith …