Locals to shine in state volleyball, lacrosse.

By Jeff Vorva
Staff writer

When it comes to the postseason, there are rarely guarantees.

There are, however, two guarantees this season when it comes to having teams in the IHSA state finals this weekend.

Boys volleyball and girls lacrosse will each have an area representative at their respective state tournaments.

Boys Volleyball

In volleyball, Marist and Brother Rice were still standing after winning regional titles on May 25 and sectional semifinal matches two days later to set up a May 30 showdown at Rice. The winner faces the Oswego Sectional champion in the state quarterfinals at 2 p.m. June 2 at Hoffman Estates High School.

The RedHawks (34-3) reached the sectional final with a 25-15, 25-13 victory over Marian Catholic. Marty Canavan had eight kills, Nathan Toth six and Christian Teresi five to go with 18 assists.

The Crusaders (31-7) earned a spot in the sectional final with a 25-16, 25-8 victory over St. Rita (20-17). Nathan Kramer had 11 kills while Brendan McCarthy added six.

Could the area get a second team in the Elite Eight?

As of May 27, Lyons (32-6) was still alive in the Oswego Sectional, beating Hinsdale Central, 25-21, 25-20 in the semifinal, Sam Levinson had nine kills and Luka Kostic eight. The Lions were slated to meet Downers Grove North (29-9) on May 30 for a right to play in the quarterfinals.

Girls Lacrosse

In girls lacrosse, Marist and the District 230 United coop team (Stagg, Sandburg and Andrew) were slated to face off at the Benet Supersectional on May 30 for the right to play in the state semifinals at 7 p.m. June 2 at Hinsdale Central High School.

Gaby Virgen, Maddie Bailey, Genna Sulek, Lizzy Ellsworth and Keira Doyle-Odenbach were named All-Sectional players for United.

The Marist girls lacrosse team won its own sectional with a 9-5 victory over Benet on May 26.

The District 230 United coop team got by Lincoln-Way Central, 13-11, to win the O’Fallon Sectional.

Boys Lacrosse

In boys lacrosse, United team won the Washington Sectional with a thrilling 11-10 victory over the hosts on May 26.

The team was set to meet Benet on May 30 for a right to head to the state semifinals June 1 at Benedictine University.

All-State Track Stars

The area had a big day May 27 collecting top-nine All-State medals at the IHSA State Boys Track Meet at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

In Class 3A, Lyons senior Will DiSessa finished fourth in the triple jump with a leap of 45 feet, 8.75 inches.

The Lyons 3200 meter relay team of Michael Ferrell Nicholas Strayer, John Meyers and Matthew McGovern finished fifth with a time of 7:51.25.

Also in the 3200 relay, Sandburg with Trent Anderson, Mateo Ramiro-Garcia, Jackson Canellis and Grant Giblin, took eighth in 7:53.67.

The Eagles’ 3200 has taken all-state honors 12 straight state meets and that streak could continue since Canellis and Ramiro-Garcia are freshmen and Giblin is a junior.

Brother Rice senior Marcus Kennedy tied for seventh in the high jump (6-2.75) while Oak Lawn senior Robert Wagner tied for ninth (6-2.75). Wagner took seventh in the long jump (21-11).

Marist junior Lucas Parr took eighth in the 100 in 11.04.

In Class 2A, Mount Carmel senior Jaden Bossie took fourth in the 110 hurdles in 14.62.

De La Salle junior David Coffey finished sixth in the 100 in 11.19.

St Laurence’s 400 relay team of Harley Rizz, Quinton Williams, Allan Potter and Monroe Thompson finished eighth in 43.69.

In Class 1A, the Chicago Christian 400 relay team of Blake Denman, Jeremiah Oliver, Jon Tobey and Ryan Heard claimed ninth in 51.39.

Lyons Nets 10th Place in State Boys Tennis

Lyons tied for 10th in the IHSA state boys tennis tournament in Class 2A with 12 points. The meet took place May 25-27 at various locations in the suburbs.

The Lions doubles team of Mason Mazzone-Jack McLane started off scorching by winning their first three matches to reach the quarterfinals before dropping their last two matches in three-set battles.

Lyons singles player John Dunleavy and Shay Sweigard both finished 2-2. The doubles team of Luke Howell-Patrick Adams finished 1-2

Brayden Bartecki picked up a win for Marist.

In Class 1A, Nazareth’s doubles team of Declan Foley-Ryan Nelson finished 3-2 and made it to the fifth round of consolation.

Evergreen Park’s Jack Harris, Chicago Christian’s Aidan Gorman had at least one win in the tournament.

Evans to Lindenwood

Morton women’s basketball star Kaylen Evans, who came to the national power via Loyola University, is back on the NCAA Division I level as she signed to play with Lindenwood in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The former Nazareth star led the Panthers with an 18.3 scoring average, which was fifth in the nation among National Junior College Athletic Association players.

Lukas Second in Half-Marathon

Orland Park’s Brandon Lukas, who won the 2022 Orland Park Turkey Trot in November, finished second out of 4,806 runners in the Life Time Chicago Spring Half Marathon and 10K on May 21.

The 25-year-old ran the half marathon in 1:17:12.