Downers Grove 12-26-19

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2019: A LOOK BACK

January through June - the top stories in sports

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Wednesday, December 25, 2019 | buglenewspapers.com resources and launching its 1-to-1 technology program.

The District also initiated several new programs, including the Biliteracy Program, the Optional Kindergarten Enrichment and Enhancement Program, math acceleration, various specialized programs for special education students, instructional coaching for teachers and NWEA MAP benchmark assessments.

The District completed a myriad of capital improvement projects, added security enhancements to all schools, negotiated several collective bargaining agreements and maintained a balanced budget with the highest financial recognition from the State despite economic challenges.

Throughout her service, Cremascoli has kept students at the center of her work.

She has shown her passionate work ethic about supporting the growth of all students and nurturing highly engaging, childcentered learning environments.

She frequently visits schools and extracurricular events, and has recently helped to launch several community engagement efforts focused on collaboration and ongoing District improvements.

In the 2018 Illinois Report Card, all District 58 schools earned high marks from the State, with 11 of the District’s 13 schools earning an “exemplary” rating and two schools earning a “commendable” rating.

2019 in DuPage County saw the hiring of a college president and high school superintendent, the loss of an officer and high school athlete, and a local lady earn a key to the city on her 100th birthday. Here is a breakdown of some of the events shaped our community this past year.

Police mourn loss of Trooper Christopher Lambert

Illinois State Police Director Leo P. Schmitz regretfully announced the line of duty death of ISP District 15 (Downers Grove) Trooper Christopher Lambert.

On January 12, 2019, at approximately 4:45 p.m., Trooper Christopher Lambert #6527, was on scene of a three-vehicle traffic crash, in the left lane on I-294 near Willow Road.

While handling that crash another vehicle in traffic failed to stop and struck Trooper Lambert while he was outside of his patrol car. Trooper Lambert sustained serious injuries as a result the crash and was given CPR by an off duty nurse, before being transported to Glenbrook Hospital. At approximately 7:24 p.m., Trooper Lambert succumbed to his injuries.

Trooper Lambert was a five year veteran of the Illinois State Police District 15 in Downers Grove and was assigned to the Criminal Patrol Team. Trooper Lambert was also a prior member of the United States Army.

Additional information will be released once it becomes available. Trooper Lambert’s visitation and funeral arrangements are pending.

Superintendent Kari Cremascoli departing after seven years

The Downers Grove Grade School District 58 announced that Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli has accepted an offer to serve as the superintendent of Wilmette School District 39.

After seven years of service in District 58, Cremascoli will transition to her new position July 1, 2019.

Cremascoli has served District 58 since July 2012.

During her tenure, she successfully led the District’s efforts to achieve its 2011 Strategic Plan goals, which focused on student learning and curriculum, instructional technology, socialemotional learning and facilities/finance.

This past year, Cremascoli led the District through a new strategic planning process as it launched its Vision 58 Strategic Plan, which charts the path for the District to achieve three big ambitious goals: Focusing on Learning, Connecting the Community and Securing the Future.

Under Cremascoli’s leadership, District 58 increased student growth and differentiated instruction while strengthening its district-wide social-emotional learning curriculum, implementing new math and English-language arts curriculum

Benedictine University hires new president

A new leader is officially at the helm for Benedictine University, as the Board of Trustees has named Charles W. Gregory as its 12th president in the institution’s 132-year history. Prior to serving as interim President at Benedictine University, Gregory was the Chief Executive Officer of the University’s Mesa, Arizona campus.

However, for most of his Benedictine tenure, he was the Executive Vice President of Benedictine’s main campus where he provided oversight and guidance in the areas of enrollment, retention, financial aid, student life, campus safety, campus services and advancement.

During Gregory’s time at Benedictine University, he has been instrumental in a wide range of projects and initiatives.

Included in the oversee of projects was the construction of the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex; the addition of the new, 125,000-square foot Daniel L. Goodwin College of Business building; the opening of the branch campus in Mesa in 2012 and the growth of Division III Athletics to 17 sports programs.

From the years 2002-2012, a 132 percent enrollment growth was also calculated, earning the University the title of “No. 1 fastest growing campus in the country among private, nonprofit doctorial institutions,” by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Gregory started his career in education as a teacher but moved into higher education administration when he was hired by Cumberland University as the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. Later he was promoted to Dean of Enrollment Management.

Following a successful run at Cumberland, where he also taught courses in addition to his enrollment responsibilities, Gregory worked for Nashville State Technical Institute (now called Nashville State Community College) as the Dean of Students and Siena Heights College as the Dean of Enrollment before joining Benedictine University in 1997.

A native of Franklin, Kentucky, Gregory earned a Bachelor of Science from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Education from Cumberland University.

In 2018 he was given an honorary doctorate from Benedictine University.

Fire Chief making a difference

The great joy of serving others has not gone unnoticed with one Westmont Fire Chief Dave Weiss, who has been making a big difference in one local boy’s life.

Weiss has been committing his spare time to help bring a smile to the face of Braden Kubish, who has been in the fight of his life.

Over the past several years, Braden, now 10 years old, endured several life-threatening situations including the removal of a brain tumor.

Currently, he is going through Leukemia treatment in order to exonerate the deadly disease.

Braden and Chief Weiss became friends through the Make-AWish Foundation, after Braden had a

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Weiss recently went to Central DuPage Hospital to visit Braden on his last day of chemotherapy before his maintenance phase.

Weiss also surprised Braden with a Westmont Fire Department Challenge Coins and a Hat. Back in November, Weiss invited Braden to be part of the Westmont Holly Days Parade and ride on one of the fire trucks with Chief’s family making his wish come true.

This was the last year for Weiss in the Holly Days Parade as Chief, as he has announced his retirement.

Weiss said his family came down and also had the opportunity to meet Braden and ride in the fire truck with him. Weiss said on his last day of chemotherapy, Braden got up and walked 10 steps in back, which brought a lot of emotion to Weiss because back in November he wasn’t able to accomplish that.

He also said the steady impact of Braden being around his family including his wife has given him motivation to keep going and pushing forward which he one reason why he enjoys seeing Braden frequently.

For someone who has been a mentor, inspirational friend and making Braden’s wish come true, Weiss recognizes he has made a large difference in the little boys life, but he sais what goes unnoticed is the large impact Braden has had on his own life.

Man charged for death of DGN volleyball player

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Downers Grove Chief of Police Shanon Gillette announced Tuesday that bond has been set for Joseph Kucharski, 51, of Naperville.

Kucharski appeared at a bond hearing Tuesday morning where Judge Liam Brennan set bond in the amount of $750,000 with 10 percent to apply.

Judge Robert Miller issued a $5 million arrest warrant for Kucharski following the crash, which took place on Feb. 19.

At approximately 10:55 a.m. the Downers Grove Police Department responded to a report of a person, later identified as Dunlap, struck by a vehicle in the intersection of Main and Grant Streets.

An investigation into the incident revealed that Dunlap was crossing Main Street within the marked crosswalk, in conjunction with the “walk” signal, when she was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound on Main Street.

It is alleged that the vehicle crossed into the oncoming lanes and entered the intersection at Grant Street on a red light and that Kucharski was the driver of the vehicle.

At the time of the crash, Kucharski allegedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.031 and exhibited signs of impairment when interviewed by police. It is further alleged that through the course of their investigation, authorities found two crack pipes, crack cocaine and other drugs at a hotel room in which Kucharski was staying. Dunlap suffered life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead from her injuries on Friday, Feb. 22.

Kucharski has been charged with one count of Felony Aggravated DUI-Alcohol/Drugs Causing Death and one count of Felony Reckless Driving. He is eligible for up to three to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if found guilty.

Dunlap was a setter on the Trojan volleyball team that placed second in the state in Class 4A this season.

In the two games at state, she tallied 31 assists, including 11 in the state championship match.

A member of the 2018 Voyager Media All-Area team, Dunlap posted 979 assists, 276 digs, 65 kills, 29 blocks and 47 service aces for the Trojans.

Volleyball programs around the area, from JCA to Benet Academy to Marist have took to Twitter to extend their sympathy to the family and Trojan program.

Anne Szymski turned 100 years old, but was also presented one of the most prestigious awards

Anne Szymski is not your every day woman who should just be celebrated for recently turning 100 years of age.

She is well respected and highly thought about that Mayor Ron Gunter and the Westmont Village Board honored her with the Key to the Village and a Proclamation to celebrate her 100th birthday.

more stories on page 11

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upcoming events in your area wednesday, december 25, 2019 | buglenewspapers.com

DECEMBER 30 BOLINGBROOK happy noon year. From 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Fountaindale Public Library District. Celebrate the New Year with stories, music and more including a countdown complete with party favors, noisemakers and more. All ages, preschoolers with an adult.

DECEMBER 30 PLAINFIELD dance into the noon year. From 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. at the Plainfield Public Library District. Can’t stay awake until midnight? Count down to noon and celebrate the upcoming New Year with stories, music, and dancing. Please register each adult and each child attending. Children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.

DECEMBER 31 JOLIET noon year’s eve celebration. From 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Joliet Library Ottawa Street Branch. (Children of all ages with adult) Countdown to 2020 kid-style with some festive family fun. Music and party favors will be awaiting your arrival complete with a balloon drop and grape juice toast at noon. No registration.

DECEMBER 31 CREST HILL countdown to noon year. From 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Crest Hill Library Branch. We are celebrating Noon Year with snacks and crafts, plus a special toast, complete with balloon drop. Dancing will follow. This program is intended for all ages. *Please only register the number of children participating. Registration is required due to limited space. If you are not able to attend, please inform us 24 hours in advance so we can offer your spot to someone else. No shows may be waitlisted for future programs.

DECEMBER 31 NAPERVILLE ring in the new year at the museum’s bubble bash. From 9 a.m. – Noon at the DuPage Children’s Museum. Families will spend their morning creating lasting memories, exploring the Museum’s hands-on exhibits, taking part in special activities, enjoying live musical performances, and more.

column >> dave says

Dave Says: Who owes the debt when parents die?

you would only be held liable for any of their debt if you were a co-signer on the loans dear dave,

dear tammi,

My parents are getting up there in years, and they aren’t really prepared for when they pass away. They can’t afford life insurance at this point, and they also have a lot of debt. When they die, who will be liable for their debt?

Any outstanding debt your parents have upon passing will likely go against their estate. If they have a positive net worth—meaning they owned more than they owed—there will be money left over after the debts are paid, and this could go toward an

tammi

dave says by dave ramsey

@DaveRamsey daveramsey.com

inheritance. If they have a negative net worth, which means they owed more than they owned, everything could be sold off to cover as much of the debt as possible. Regardless, you would only be held liable for any of their debt if you were a co-signer on the loans.

I’d also suggest getting their permission to buy burial policies on them. If they won’t agree to this, you might have to save up money for their

final expenses yourself. In most areas, $10,000 to $15,000 is enough to cover basic burial costs for two people.

dave * Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey. com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

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BASKETBALL SOCCER CROSS COUNTRY FOOTBALL SOCCER TENNIS BASEBALL SOFTBALL VOLLEYBALL TRACK & FIELD SWIMMING CHEERLEADING DANCE bowling year in review - part 1 oF ii

a looK bacK

at 2019

part 1: a look back at the local sports stories that shaped the area in 2019 from January to June WIN No. 300 Joliet Central never looked back after cruising to a 19-3 first quarter lead en route to a 52-26 win Friday night on the east side of Joliet. The win was the 300th in the career of coach Lawrence Thompson, Jr. His wins came at two schools — Lockport and Joliet Central Central started hot right out of the gate, jumping to an early 11-0 run, with Crete-Monee getting its first bucket at the 2:40 mark in the ball game.

With two key players out of the game for the Steelmen (9-5, 1-1), Thompson knew that the next man up mentality was key for a positive outcome.

Senior guard Demarta Hill-Holmes and junior guard Dakota Joachim were the two men out for the Steelmen on Friday night, but senior forward Keaton Gregory did not miss a beat, leading the Steelmen with a 26-point performance on 8-17 shooting, with seven 3-pointers.

With Crete-Monee inching themselves back into the game after a 9-9 second-quarter battle, the Warriors still had a 28-12 deficit heading into halftime.

Gregory and his offensive crew were just a little bit too much for the Warriors, jumping to a 43-17 advantage at the end of the third quarter, led by the high percentage 3-point shooting.

With the win, Central remains undefeated on its home floor.

Crete-Monee (2-12, 0-2) shot a combined 10-52 from the floor Friday night, while committing 16 turnovers.

While the Steelmen were potent

on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, one area of concern for coach Thompson was free throw shooting.

Central shot a combined 4-14 from the line.

ANGELS TAKE FIRST Joliet Catholic Academy entered 2019 with 31 state finals, but that wasn’t enough for the venerable JCA athletic program justice.

The Angel dance team added to that number when it brought home the IHSA Class 1A Competitive Dance state finals title.

It was the 32nd title for the school, but first for the dance program.

The big stage is not something that was particularly new for the JCA Dance team, as Coach Shelley Poropats’ squad came in fourth place at last year’s festivities, with an axe to grind in the 2018-19 season.

Poropat said with every year having the mindset to get better individually and collectively as a team, it wasn’t a straightforward path to the finals for her girls this year.

The Angels featured seven returning dancers from last year’s squad, and the 10-member team featured just two seniors, co-captains Abi Voss and Reese Hafner.

For Voss, she said she has always been well aware of the accolades and the high standards her school sets, so brining home a championship was even more incumbent upon her.

In order to reach its goals, JCA had to rebound after a subpar performance being behind Morris, who posted a 93.22, while Clinton scored a 89.4 compared to JCA’S 89.3

The resilient Angels had no quit in them the following day on Saturday however, as they posted a 95.68 to usurp Morris’ 95.08.

Not only did JCA win the the state title, it recorded the best score in Class 1A tournament history, topping Highland’s 95.05 mark from a year ago.

COACH OF THE YEAR On the heels of the Oakton Community College baseball team being ranked No. 1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) preseason poll, head coach Bill Fratto was named 2019 Pitch and Hit Club of Chicago College Coach of the Year.

Fratto was honored at a ceremony held Sunday, Jan. 27, at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

Fratto was among an esteemed group of baseball honorees, including former Chicago White Sox announcer

Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, Bren Spillane, Pat Murphy, Dan Plesac, Daniel Palka and Natalie Niekro, among others.

The recognition is among several postseason coaching accolades Fratto received after guiding the Owls to a historic 2018 season that culminated with the team’s first national championship and a school-record 44 wins in his 13th season. Previous awards include the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Diamond Sports NJCAA Division III National Coach of the Year, Division III World Series Coach of the Year and Region IV Division III Coach of the Year.

In the Owls’ national championship season, Fratto’s squad finished second in the nation in runs scored (503), walks (289) and sacrifice flies (31) and third in hits (632), extra base hits (187), at bats (1,887) and total bases (932). Also, Oakton tallied 425 RBI and

45 home runs while amassing a .335 team batting average.

The Owls’ 44-17 record in 2018 pushed Fratto’s career mark to 472256, a .648 winning percentage. Fratto, who attended Oakton, is a three-time Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year, earning that distinction in 2006, 2012 and 2015. During his coaching career at Oakton, his teams won the Skyway Conference championship four times, in 2006, 2012, 2015 and 2016. The Owls also made NJCAA Region IV Championship appearances in 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2015 in addition to winning regional, district and NJCAA Division III World Series championships in 2018.

With Fratto’s guidance, dozens of players have been named all-conference and all-region selection and ad-

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‘ YIR’ from page 5 vanced to compete at NCAA Division I, II and III institutions. In addition, several players have gone on to play professionally and have been drafted by numerous Major League Baseball teams including the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds.

ACADEMY OF COACHES On January 26, as part of Alumni Day, Lewis University introduced the inaugural class of the Lewis Academy of Coaches.

The 10-member class was announced December 10 by Director of Athletics Dr. John Planek.

The class consisted of John Boles, Thomas Dedin, Tony Delgado, Jack Fitzgerald, Robert “Red” Miller, John Morrey, John Ostrowski, Matthew Senffner, Chuck Schwarz and Pat Sullivan

WRESTLERS EARN MEDALS A season ago when then freshman DJ Hamiti won his first state championship, he did so for Joliet Catholic Academy, who had not had a state wrestling champion since Pat Mudron in 1967.

• Matt Ramos and Baylor Fernandes led a quartet of Lockport medalists at the IHSA Class 3A wrestling meet.

At 120 pounds, Ramos defeated Noah Surtin of Edwardsville 8-4 for his first state championship, while Fernandes pinned Hunter Yohn of Quincy in a Class 3A 160-pound state final record 1 minute, 10 seconds.

Yohn got the first points of the match on takedown right off the whistle, but that did not sit well with Fernandes.

After Ramos had won earlier in the evening, Fernandes became the 11th state champion in Porter history, a goal he had always had.

To get to the final, Fernandes (35-4) pinned Brock Pfeifer of Lincoln-Way West in 1:48, defeated Barington’s Luke Rasmussen 11-4 and earned a 12-4 major decision over Brad Gross of Marmion Academy.

For Ramos, it was his third state medal becoming just the eighth threetime medalist in Lockport history after Anthony Molton reached that mark in the third-place match.

The fourth medal for Lockport went to Kaleb Thompson, who as a junior is wrestling for his high school team for the first time after transferring from Montini.

At 106 pounds, he won the thirdplace match by disqualification over Jameir Castleberry of Proviso East, however, Thompson was dominating the match up to the point of disqualification.

The 2019 tournament is the 12th time in school history that Lockport

has placed multiple wrestlers on the medal stand and fifth time the Porters have had at least four medalists.

• The last wrestler to medal for Bolingbrook High School was thensophomore Dylan Burnoski, who placed sixth in 2016 at 106 pounds.

A year later, Burnoski advanced to the state meet again, but lost in the opening round and did not place.

Prior to his junior season, Burnoski transferred from Bolingbrook to Montini Catholic in Lombard and placed fourth as a junior at 126.

In Februaury, he made his fourth and final trip to the state to the State Farm Center on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign and again came home with a fourthplace medal at 132.

• Plainfield South advances three to state and all earn medals — ­ most in school history Jimmy Pierandozzi, Jake Kendall and Andrew Bejarano all placed at state, marking the first time in school history the Cougars have placed three wrestlers on the podium inside the State Farm Center on the campus of the University of Illinois.

It is only the fourth time in District 202 history that three or more wrestlers from the same school placed in the same meet. Plainfield Central has the most with four in 2012.

Pierandozzi, a junior transfer from Lockport, earned his first state medal after advancing to state twice as a Porter.

This season he finished 35-9 on the season and placed sixth at 145 pounds after a 7-2 loss to Giovanni Cassioppi of Rockton Hononegah in the fifthplace match.

Pierandozzi opened the tournament with a 11-6 win over Joaquin Miranda of Huntley and a 4-1 loss to

Fidel Mayora of Montini.

GYMANSTIC FINISHES Downers Grove South senior Abby Carlson and Downers Grove North senior Brooke Stocki ended their gymnastics careers a day apart but with similar satisfaction.

Carlson scored 9.45 to finish third on uneven bars at the individual event finals of the state meet at Palatine, becoming the second girl in program history to finish her career with medals on two different apparatus. She was second on floor last year.

Stocki finished 15th on uneven bars during Friday’s preliminaries, sticking her final routine for a 9.275. The top 10 finishers in prelims advanced to finals, where the top 5 win medals.

Carlson, who missed the state meet two seasons ago after surgery for a torn ACL, capped her career with two tremendous bars routines. She tallied 9.525 in Friday’s prelims, which was the third-highest score.

As she did Friday, Carlson swung like a whippet on the high bar before dismounting with a double pike, which she landed flawlessly.

Carlson finished seventh in Friday’s all-around competition with a 37.075 total, which included 9.35 on vault, 9.325 on beam and 8.875 on floor, where a fall marked her only blemish of her final meet.

That was Stocki’s approach as well.

After returning to help the Trojans win a regional championship and advance to sectionals as a team for the third straight year, Stocki contracted stomach flu just two days before the sectional meet, but managed to compete and qualify for state on bars.

In other results, Downers North sophomore Gabriella Stellato made her state meet debut and finished last

of 38 competitors on balance beam with a 6.725.

Downers Grove South freshman Katrina Carlson, Abby’s sister, finished 14th on floor exercise with a 9.125, while senior teammate Andrea Davenport scored 9.0 to place 25th.

Katrina Carlson is the third member of her family to qualify at state and said competing with her sister this season helped her ease into high school gymnastics.

• Maine South senior Caleigh Pistorius became the first state champion in program history in 2018 when she won the balance beam title while finishing second in the all-around to Glenbard West’s Maddie Diab.

Pistorius didn’t win a state title in 2019 at Palatine, but she has never been happier.

That’s because Pistorius got to celebrate another historic accomplishment with her teammates. With Pistorius and junior Collette Roth leading the way, the Hawks finished third in the team standings to win their first state trophy.

Glenbard West won its second straight title with 149.025 points, while New Trier was second at 147.525 and Maine South third at 147.25.

Glenbrook South was .10 back in fourth.

When Maine South coach Tessa Robinson took over the program 16 years ago, the Hawks were an afterthought. The possibility of one day winning a trophy didn’t even cross her miind.

Indeed, Pistorius dislocated both elbows in a fall off uneven bars in a club meet last May. Except for changing her release move on that event, she somehow managed to regain all of her skills and contended for the allaround title.

Pistorius scored 38.075 to again finish second to Diab in the all-around.

She had the highest preliminary round score on floor (9.6) and tied Diab for the best score on vault (9.8) to advance to the event finals on both.

The Hawks had to battle several injuries this season and didn’t get their full lineup in place until late in the season. Then they won regional and sectional titles.

Senior Cristina DeFillippis, a fouryear starter who performed on vault and floor, reflected on that as she held the trophy.

Senior Olivia Johnson contributed on bars and beam, while freshman Annie Middendorf performed on vault, bars and beam and sophomore Susie Currey chipped in on beam and floor.

But the future team leaders will be Roth and junior Brittany Argaez, who are becoming stars in their own right.

Argaez, who broke her finger early in the season, did three events, tying for 18th on vault (9.375) and sharing 21st

on floor (9.075).

Roth was 11th in the all-around (36.925), which included 9.225 on vault, 9.5 on bars, 9.3 on beam and 8.9 on floor. Like Pistorius, she made two event finals, finishing 7th on bars (9.35) and eighth on beam (8.85 despite a fall).

Most of the Hawks have been doing gymnastics as long as they can remember. For Pistorius and DeFlillippis, the ends of their careers brought out some sweet emotions.

Neither could Pistorius, who earned tow more medals Saturday when she tied for fourth on vault (9.55) and tied for fifth on floor (9.475).

“It was the best ending I could think of,” Pistorius said. “I didn’t really come into this weekend thinking that I was going to win anything.

But Maine South’s run might not be over. Pistorius will be impossible to replace, but Roth will be a worthy successor.

STATE SWIMMING Kevin Sullivan wasn’t victorious in his final high school meet, but he still is going out a winner.

The Downers Grove North senior’s place in school history was already secured before he attempted to defend his state diving championship Saturday at the state finals at New Trier.

While the Penn State recruit came up a hair short in that quest, his legacy will be based as much for what he did outside the pool as in it.

Sullivan, who last year became the first diving champion in school history, racked up the sixth-highest point total in the 88-year history of the state meet, but it wasn’t enough to repeat.

Homewood-Flossmoor junior Jack Williams, a club teammate of Sullivan’s, captured the title with 531.20 points Sullivan was second at 524.75 and Evanston senior Trevor Nelson a distant third with 501.10. If Sullivan was disappointed afterward, he didn’t show it.

• In the history of the Plainfield Coop boys swimming program, Netzel and Tran are the only two surnames that dot the list of individual state medal winners.

Ryan Netzel won eight individual medals before graduating last year, while his brother Alex won one.

Brandon Tran, who graduated in 2017, took home four medals.

The list just got longer.

Juniors Alex Dvorak and Marc Avery combined to win three medals Saturday at the state finals at New Trier and they teamed with seniors Ethan Fox and Ryan Crafton to capture Plainfield’s first medal in the 400yard freestyle relay, which finished 11th in 3:09.05.

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‘ YIR’ from page 6 Avery joined Tran and Ryan Netzel as the only swimmers in program history to win two individual medals in the same year and he is the first to medal in the 50 or 100.

• Maine South swimmer Brendan Forrest made his state meet debut at New Trier and did well enough to advance to Saturday’s finals in the 200yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle.

He had the ninth-best prelims time in the 200 and sixth-fastest clocking in the 500. The top six swimmers in each event advance to the championship heat, while the next six qualify for the consolation heat. Everyone in those two heats are awarded medals.

NATIONAL STAGE Plainfield’s Luke Winder wins his fourth indoor national pole vault championship at North Central Drama had become the norm at the NCAA Division III National Championships for the North Central College men’s track and field team recently. The Cardinals placed second by a single point in both the indoor and outdoor championships in 2018.

In no mood to do the same at this

continued from page 3 Anne and her late husband Steve, who passed away in 2002, moved to the city of Westmont in 1945, and made their mark by being significant investors in the downtown community.

The couple started a plethora of businesses in Westmont including Westmont Dry Goods Center, Stephen’s Department Store, O.K. Hardware Builders, Family Shoe Store and Stephen’s Annex Domestics.

To Gunter, the family has not only been instrumental to revolutionize the downtown business area, but also to being contributors to the downtown Westmont bank that is now the Bank of America.

“Besides the businesses and the

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year’s indoor championship meet, the Cardinals surged ahead of the field with a series of clutch performances to win their sixth indoor national title and their 12th championship overall at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Winder is the first pole vaulter in collegiate history in any division to win four indoor national championships, and, owning a trio of outdoor titles as well, is also the only seventime pole vault champion collegiate track and field has yet to know.

FOURTH PLACE Benet Academy was openly disappointed Saturday night after a 49-39 loss to Rockton Hononegah in the IHSA Class 4A third-place game at Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University.

In the third-place game, Benet got out to a 12-0 run to open the game, but after cutting the lead to 14-3 with 7 minutes, 26 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Hononegah used a 14-0 run of its own that gave it a lead.

SHOOTING STARS On Saturday, March 16, Joliet Central forward Kendrick Williams announced on Twitter that he had

bank, her and her family continued to carry the tradition while also creating a Polka Fest which has been held in Westmont for a number of years,” Gunter said.

Presenting Szymski the key to the village was something Gunter said he will never forget, and he couldn’t think of a better person that was more deserving of the award.

Downers Grove votes on Pet Ordinance

The Downers Grove Board of Trustees voted to adopt an ordinance that would regulate the sale of cats, dogs and rabbits in the village to require stores to show proof that pets they sell came from an approved shelter.

The vote was approved by the board in favor of the ordinance, with six out

committed to play college basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

The next day, Sunday, May 17, he went out and earned MVP honors at the Voyager Media Boys Basketball All-Star Shootout at the University of St. Francis in Joliet. He scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the South squad rallied for an exciting 136-133 victory over the North team.

Williams is the second straight Joliet Central player to win MVP honors at the all-star event, which started in 2009. Ryan Saunders, who played at Kaskaskia College in downstate Centralia this season, won it last year.

• Anyone that walked in right after tip-off of Voyager Media Girls Basketball All-Star Shootout would have thought there was a lot of scoring in the opening moments since the scoreboard read 18-18.

But it was all by design.

The 18-18 score to start the game was in honor of Beth Dunlap.

The Downers Grove North junior was fatally struck by a car on Feb. 19.

She wore No. 18 as a setter on the Trojans volleyball team, helped them to a state runner-up finish last fall and was a member of the Voyager Media

In the second half of the 2019 Voyager Media Prep Shootout All-Star

of the seven members who were present voted in favor of the ban. The ordinance includes an amortization period that applies to Happiness is Pets, the only store in the village that currently sells pets.

Happiness Is Pets has until Oct. 1, 2019 to comply with the new ordinance or be subject to applicable fines.

Prior to the vote, the ordinance had been presented on Feb. 12 with an amortization period that coincided with the lease for Happiness Is Pets, which expires on Dec. 31, 2022.

If Happiness Is Pets fails to comply with the new ordinance after Oct. 1, it faces fines that range from $500 to $750 for a first offense and from $750 to $1000 for each subsequent offense.

Council members expressed concerns that the designated amortization period was too long and

also asked for clarification about the definition of a humane society.

The ordinance comes after ongoing concerns from villagers about preventing the sale of animals that have been sourced from so-called “puppy mills.”

To this point, Mayor Tully said that the there has been a lot of positive feedback from the community from what transpired at the board meeting.

“There has been overwhelming positive feedback so far from the community,” Tully said.

“There has obviously been folks who have lobbyist against it, but I think this will ultimately have many positive affects.”

If Happiness Is Pets fails to comply with the new ordinance after Oct. 1, it faces fines that range from $500 to $750 for a first offense and from $750 to $1000 for each subsequent offense.

All-Area volleyball team.

Throughout the end of the basketball season, Dunlap had been honored, so Voyager Media Publications decided to open the scoring at 18-18 in her memory.

The 18-18 start meant a higher scoring total than usual as the North team, which included the Downers Grove North players, pulled away for a 91-81 victory at the Voyager Media Prep Shootout All-Star game on Sunday, March 17 at the University of St. Francis in Joliet.

Niles West’s Sam Galanopoulos scored a game-high 20 points to lead the North squad to victory, 15 coming in the second half.

Jennifer Krizka finished with seven points and five rebounds for the South team. But the multi-athlete at Joliet Catholic Academy has made contributions not only in sports but off the field too. With that in mind, she was awarded the Jeremy Izzo Character Award, which is named after the former JCA boys basketball coach, who passed away in 2010.

SAM I AM

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game, Niles West senior Sam Galanopoulos took the game over, scoring 15 of her game-high 20 points, leading her team to the win and grabbing the game’s Most Valuable Player honors.

Galanopoulos finished four points shy of the record for the game, but that was not why she put on the performance she did. She subbed out of the game with four minutes left to play, knowing she was close to the mark.

Galanopoulos didn’t need an individual record — she needed a win.

Admitting as much after the game, the Central Suburban League South Player of the Year was not going to lose the final game of her career in her high school uniform.

That was how Galanopoulos played every game of her career that saw her put her name all over the Wolves’ record books that are headlined by WNBA star Jewell Loyd.

While leading her team, Galanopoulos averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

For her achievements, she is the 2018-19 Voyager Media Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Per the ordinance, separate offenses are committed for each dog, cat, or rabbit sold in violation of the ordinance.

Downers Grove North student named Illinois Journalism Education Association runner-up journalist of the year Matt Troher, a senior at Downers Grove North High School, has done something that most high school students can’t say they ever have.

He has been named runner-up for the 2019 Illinois Journalist of the Year by the Illinois Journalism Education Association (IJEA).

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