Bugle Newspapers 12-2-21

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news from plainfield Joliet shorewood lockport Crest Hill Bolingbrook Romeoville downers grove Westmont Woodridge lisle niles Morton grove park Ridge & more

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Joliet Catholic wins state title No. 15 By mark gregory Editorial Director

@Hear_The_Beard mark@buglenewspapers.com

A season ago, the pandemic nearly took away the IHSA football season.

While the teams were still able to play, the season was a six-game, spring tilt with no state champion crowned.

That was fine for most teams that were just happy to play, but for a team like Joliet Catholic Academy, playing the game is all about the chance to win state championships.

In that abbreviated season, the Hillmen went 6-0 and claimed a conference championship – the only title they could win.

This year, however, was different.

JCA still earned a conference title and an undefeated regular season, but capped it off with a 56-27 win over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin for the IHSA Class 4A state title on Brigham Field in Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

It was the 15th football championship for the Hilltoppers, the most by any program in state history.

“It feels like we have been grinding,” said JCA coach Jake Jaworski, who led the Hillmen to their second title in his five years at the helm.

“That is 20 games in 2021 and to go 20-0 in that stretch is not easy. I am really, really proud of our guys.

These guys bought in and worked really hard. They have been working for this since they were freshmen and to be is here is very humbling. We are very blessed.”

It was a true team effort for JCA in the win, as the defense limited the Cyclone offense that was averaging more than 50 points per game this year.

The Hilltoppers not only held SHG to half its point average, they limited the Cyclones to 221 total yards and eight first downs in the game. JCA sacked Springfield quarterback Ty Lott three times, recovered its only forced fumble and intercepted Lott once.

Offensively, the Hillmen were paced by senior running back Jordan Anderson, who set the Class 4A state title game rushing record with 306 yards. The University of Illinois recruit tallied five total touchdowns – four on the ground.

The previous Class 4A state rushing record was held by RichmondBurton’s Jack Dechow who tallied 244 yards in 2011.

Anderson was limited at times this year with injuries, but said nothing would stop him from playing at his best in the state championship game.

“I just put my heart out there. It was the last game and I wasn’t going to hold anything back,” Anderson said. “It was the last game and I was going to go out there and do what I do. I had to leave it all out there in the state championship game.”

Legendary Sacred Heart-Griffin coach Ken Leonard heaped deserving praise on Anderson after the game.

“He is the whole package,” Leonard said. “A lot of kids are great, but the ones that are special are the ones that work that extra effort.

He’s just special. He’s a man. He’s a 230-pound high school tailback.

There’s some guys in the NFL that aren’t that big.”

When Anderson wasn’t running the ball, the task mostly went to Vinny Iannantone, who rushed for 131 yards of his own, said Friday’s performance showed the duo was the state’s best rushing tandem.

“They call me and Jordan one of the deadliest duos in the state,” Iannantone said. “I think that was solidified tonight with him rushing for 300 yards and me still being able to rack up a few yards, get big first downs and some touchdowns.”

The game didn’t start off as JCA planned, as the Cyclones returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and a fast 6-0 lead after the TD and missed point after.

“Obviously, it didn’t start off how we drew it up, but when you look at how we responded, it says a lot

photo by mark gregory

Vinny Iannantone scored a pair of TDs in JCA’s win over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin for the IHSA Class 4A state title. It was the 15th in JCA history — the most by any program. about the guys we have,” said JCA coach Jake Jaworski.

The series after the Sacred HeartGriffin score, JCA took the ball 72 yards on 16 plays and Anderson’s first touchdown of the game – a plunge in from 2-yards out. The

subsequent point after gave the Hillmen the 7-6 lead with 5 minutes, 24 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, which it would never relinquish.

An Aiden Voss to Jake Fieldman TD pass from 8-yards out. After a

failed 2-point conversion attempt put JCA up 13-6 with 1:00 left in the opening quarter.

After a defensive stand forced a fast punt, JCA started the second

see ‘JCA’ page 10

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Lockport claims 8A title — 1st since 2003 By mark gregory Editorial Director

@Hear_The_Beard mark@buglenewspapers.com

The last time Lockport football played in the IHSA state finals, it was 2003 and the Porters defeated Maine South 48-27 to win the second of its back-to-back state titles – the only two championships in Lockport history.

Until now.

On Saturday night, Lockport and Maine South locked horns again – this time on Brigham Field in Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and the Porters claimed that third title with a 24-6 win over the Hawks.

“I am speechless because I didn’t know how this game was going to go,” Lockport coach George Czart said. “One day, I am looking at film of a pretty awesome team on the other side and then I started looking at our guys and felt better about it. This wraps up a pretty good twoyear run. This is a great send off for these seniors.”

With fall football cancelled last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois teams played only a six-game spring schedule, with the Porters going 4-2 on the year. That gives the Porters an 18-3 in the 2021 calendar year.

That is a far cry from the 0-9 campaign Lockport suffered through 2018 season. In 2019, Czart took over and posted a 4-5 mark en route to the state championship three years later.

“Their freshman year, the program was 0-9,” Czart said. “I can pretend that I am the big wig here, but we can’t win without the horses.

They already wanted it – we just gave them a schedule and got after it. The rest is their talent and desire and want to. I feel very fortunate to be associated with them. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for letting me be there when they are playing football.”

The title game was a defensive battle early, as Lockport tallied

the first score of the game with 1 minute, 43 seconds left to play in the first quarter when Ty Schultz punched it in from 11 yards out for his first of two scores on the night.

It was the only score of the first half.

Gabe Czako added a 26-yard field goal with 5:29 left in the third to put the Porters up 10-0. The football championship was Czako’s second state medal in November, as he helped the Lockport soccer team to a third-place finish.

Maine South got on the board three minutes later as quarterback Rowan Keefe scored from one-yard out with 2:13 left in the third.

During that drive, Maine South faced a third and 11 near midfield.

Keefe was sacked for a loss of seven

by Ethan Gallagher and fumbled the football. Maine South running back Mike Sajenko picked the ball up at the 50-yard line and advanced it 36-yards to the Lockport 14, setting up the TD. That play, and subsequent score, could have changed momentum for Lockport, but the Porter defense answered. After a three-and-out by the offense, Lockport’s Danny Martisek stripped Sajenko of the ball, which was recovered by Troy Mutz to get the ball back to Lockport.

“I saw on film that when he ran, the ball was up and kind of loose, so every time I tackled him, I tried to pull the ball out,” Martisek said.

Czart said the defense responding was nothing new.

“That was our M.O. I could pick a point in the Loyola game and Glenbard North and Glenbard West, where we were on the ropes and these guys stepped up defensively and made plays,” Czart said.

“We did a great job of answering the bell.”

After the fumble recovery, Schultz scored his second TD of the game from seven yards out with 11:16 left in the game. For the game, Schultz carried the ball 32 times for 231 yards.

The teams traded punts and with 5:17 left in the game, Gallagher intercepted Keefe to all but ice the

The Lockport defense held Maine South in check en route to a Class 8A state title. game.

For the game, Gallagher had six tackles, a forced fumble, interception and sack.

Lockport closed out the scoring with 2:50 left when Andrew LoPresti broke loose on a 21-yard scamper.

Despite the loss, longtime Maine South coach David Inserra was

proud of the way the Hawks played in the game, the playoffs and all season.

The Hawks ended the campaign 12-2 and 18-2 in 2021 between the two seasons.

“We were in it for the last eight minutes on the clock, which is about 20 minutes in life, and that

photo by mark gregory

does not make up a season. The run these kids had, the courage and heart they gave us and they are one of 10 Maine South teams to be in the state championship - it is not easy to get here and they played great all season to get here and for

see ‘Lockport ’ page 10

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WIll CounTy

plainfield east band Director to march in rose bowl parade Plainfield East High School Band Director David Lesniak will march in the 2022 Rose Parade in January as part of the first-ever “Band Directors Marching Band.”

Lesniak will be among 275 band directors from all 50 states, Mexico and Canada performing in the highly televised annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. The unique entry will include an animated float and marching band made up of only band directors.

Saluting America’s Band Directors, a project of the Michael D. Sewell Memorial Foundation, created the parade entry. It will convey the theme, “America’s Band Directors: We teach music.

We teach life.”

Lesniak, who has taught at PEHS since 2008, is looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“It’s one of those bucket list items as a band director you would love to be able to march or play or bring a band to participate in the Rose Parade,” Lesniak said.

Lesniak’s job is to memorize the

music and get into shape for the 5.5mile parade trek, he said.

It’s neat his students have seen him practice on his mellophone for the big day, he added.

“Whether you are 13 years old or 45 years old, it doesn’t change in terms of the process of learning how to be a musician and how to march, memorizing music, holding your horn at the right angle,” Lesniak said.

Lesniak, his wife and their two children will travel to California on December 29, 2021, where he will rehearse with the band for the first time.

The band will play four songs including “Strike Up the Band,” “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” and an arrangement of “Seventy-Six Trombones” written just for this band.

The band’s float will feature roses donated by band members as a tribute to someone special. Lesniak donated a rose in memory of his brother, Anton Lesniak, who passed away.

“While my brother hated roses, I know he would have loved the fact that I get to march in the Rose Parade,” Lesniak said.

dupage CounTy

bond set for man accused of killing 3 in DUI crash DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Lisle Chief of Police Ron Wilke announced today that bond has been set for a Naperville man accused of causing a crash that killed three individuals last October. Brendan Wydajewski, 22 (d.o.b.

9/30/1999) appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh set bond at $500,000 with 10% to apply. Wydajewski has been charged with three counts of Aggravated DUI Causing Death, a Class 2 Felony. He has also been charged with Misdemeanors of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Transportation or Possession of Open Alcohol by a Driver.

On October 30, 2021, at approximately 1:18 a.m., Lisle police officers responded to a call of a crash at the intersection of Warrenville Road and Corporate West Drive. Upon their arrival, officers observed two vehicles, one of which was cut in half, with the driver’s side of the vehicle located in the road and the other half located off the road to the north. Officers found one person inside the vehicle who was identified as Andrew Purtill, 46.

Mr. Purtill was pronounced deceased at the scene. In the second vehicle,

allegedly driven by Wydajewski, officers found two individuals, Graciela Leanos, 21 and Geovanny Alvarez, 22.

Alvarez was pronounced deceased at the scene. Leanos was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased later that evening.

Wydajewski was found on the ground near the driver’s side of his vehicle seriously injured. He was transported to a local hospital for medical attention and was released on November 28, 2021. Officers also allegedly found two handguns located in the vehicle driven by Wydajewski. It is alleged that Wydajewski was driving his vehicle at approximately 122 mph westbound on Warrenville Road when he crashed into a vehicle driven by Mr. Purtill. It is further alleged Wydajewski’s BAC was .147 when taken at the hospital.

“Like all alleged DUI cases, the case against Mr. Wydajewski was 100% avoidable,” Berlin said. “As I have said countless times in the past, if you have been drinking, do not drive. This is particularly relevant now, as we begin the holiday season. It is a very simple idea but unfortunately, in far too many instances, people feel they are able to drive when they are not,

and tragedy follows as alleged in this case. Don’t allow yourself to become a statistic. Do yourself a favor and call a cab or use a ride-sharing service if you have been drinking. I would like to thank the Lisle Police Department as well as the MERIT Major Crash Reconstruction Team for their efforts in this case. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Nick Catizone for his work in securing a strong prosecution against this defendant.”

“Reckless and dangerous driving have taken far too many lives in DuPage County and continue to put law abiding citizens at risk,” Wilke said. “Law enforcement remains steadfast in seeking justice for those impacted by these reckless acts and urges people to consider these traumatic impacts prior to driving while intoxicated and at excessive speeds. The Lisle Police Department would like to thank the MERIT Major Crash Reconstruction Team and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office for their collaboration in this investigation.”

Wydajewski’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 11, 2022, in front of Judge O’Hallaren Walsh.

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real estate IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION ISLANDCAP, LLC; Plaintiff, vs.

SUZANA VUKIC; DINO VUKIC; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 21 CH 1212 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 10-16-200-047-0000.

Commonly known as 9541 Laramie Avenue, Skokie, Illinois 60077.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Anselmo Lindberg & Associates, LLC, 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563-1890. (630) 453-6960.

F21010057 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3182086

Published 12/1/21, 12/8/21, 12/15/21

‘jca’ from page 3 quarter with the ball and with 9:36 remaining in the game, Voss hit a wide-open Anderson from 35 yards out for a score. Anderson added the conversion and the Hillmen were up 21-6 with 9:36 remaining in the first half.

Ian Williams picked off Lott at midfield on the next possession and with 4:31 left in the half, Voss hit Anderson again to go up 28-0.

Two plays into the subsequent SHG drive, senior defensive back Malachi Hood forced a fumble and recovered it, giving the ball back to the Hilltoppers.

Iannantone then scored from 2-yards out with 1:18 left in the half to put the game out of hand at 36-6 before halftime.

The Cyclones did not quit, scoring in three pass plays to close out the half down 36-13.

SHG came out to open the sec-

ond half and took the ball down and scored 90 seconds in to cut the score to 35-20.

Joliet Catholic answered with a 12-play, 69-yard drive that ate up 7:09 on the clock and ended with an Iannantone score to put JCA up 42-20.

The teams traded scores to open the fourth quarter, as Anderson ran in from 26 yards out with 9:17 left in the game. That was followed by a Cylone score with 5:27 left, before Anderson closed out the scoring with a six-yard jaunt with 3:25 left.

With his performance in the game, and his career, Anderson etched his name in JCA lore with running backs such as Mike Alstott, JR Zwierzynski, Ty Isaac, Mike Ivlow, Josh Ferguson and Keenan Hailey.

“It is an honor. I talk to Ty, his sophomore year he used to go to our practices and he told me what to do and what not to do,” Ander-

son said. “I talked to Josh Ferguson and I’ve trained with him and saw him at an Illinois visit a few weeks ago. It is an honor being named one of those players, I always looked up to them when I was in grade school and middle school.”

Anderson will follow Ferguson’s path and head to Champaign to play for the University of Illinois and new head coach Brett Bielema.

“Coach B, everyone has trust in him,” Anderson said. “They love running the ball and they have great running backs on the depth chart right now, so I have to make my way up and prove myself.”

Joining Anderson with the Illini will be Hood, who at one time thought he would be the next great JCA running back.

“I thought I was going to be the running back and it was sophomore year they told me they had me on defense and at first, I was a little reluctant but I made a few plays in

practice and coaches got excited and I realized maybe I can go somewhere with this defense thing and it was a great feeling,” Hood said.

Coach Jaworski and our defensive coordinator, coach (Zach) Dolph, they put me in great spots and there are times when I was like, ‘what are they doing with me?’ and it worked and it was an oh, wow moment. I am blessed to be put in the spots that I am and make plays for my team.”

Hood will now also be part of the rebuild in Champaign. “(Jordan and I) are really close and the staff at Illinois and coach B – we really bought into the philosophy and I believe that we will turn it around,” Hood said. “All the commits believe that coach B has a plan for this team and sooner than later, we will. If it’s on the field or the scout team or even if I have to be a water boy, we will do what we need to make an impact.”

‘lockport ’ from page 5 about three quarters, we played well,” he said. “We are really proud of these kids that represented the Park Ridge community and Maine South. Turnovers hurt and we gave up some big plays that got them out of bad field position.

“There was great leadership from the senior group and they laid their platform for the community. The guys talked about what this meant for all the guys who have played and for the guys that are coming in the future. This group, they wanted to be part of it and they laid it on the line for 14 games. This is a great program and we take pride in it and this group left their mark and accomplished things that most teams canty accomplish and I am really, really proud of them.”

Maine South iplayed in its tenth state title game as aprogram.

photo by mark gregory

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Phone: 815.4246.24241 >> Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. FAX: 815.4249.2415 email: classifieds@enterprisepublications.com IN PERSON: Enterprise Publications >> 2241556 Andrew Rd. >> Plainfield, IL

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