Patrick McGavin – Page 27

Bartlett's Tess Evans (10) tries to get past East Aurora's Arizbeth Sanchez (6) during the first half of an Upstate Eight Conference game on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

The return of Tess Evans after the first five games gives Bartlett guarded optimism. And about her first name? ‘It’s faster to say.’

May 16, 2022 at 2:55 p.m.

Bartlett's Tess Evans has the answer to the famous "what's in a name" question posed by Shakespeare in "Romeo and Juliet." She's listed on the roster as Tessa. Evans, however,...

East Aurora's Amara Olivas (9) tries to settle the ball in front of Bartlett's Macy Medendorp (13) during the second half of an Upstate Eight Conference game on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

Patrick Z. McGavin’s Beacon-News/Courier-News girls soccer rankings and player of the week for Tuesday, May 17, 2022

May 16, 2022 at 11:17 a.m.

Top 10 With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses. 1. Metea Valley 16-2-1 (2) 2. Oswego East 16-2 (1) 3. St. Charles North 16-2 (3) 4. St. Charles...

Chicago Christian's Sam Vis crosses the plate as the ball gets past Shepard during a nonconference game in Palos Heights on Friday, May 13, 2022.

As a freshman, Shepard pitcher Tyler Bartczak hit .130. Chicago Christian gets to see his improvement. ‘He is just ultracompetitive.’

May 13, 2022 at 10:15 p.m.

During the 2019 season, Tyler Bartczak was so skilled as a freshman pitcher on the varsity that Shepard coach Frank DiFoggio willingly overlooked his struggles as a hitter. "He wasn't...

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end James O'Shaughnessy (80) runs a pass route during a football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.

Naperville North graduate James O’Shaughnessy gushes about joining Chicago Bears: ‘It’s a sentence you write in a children’s book.’

May 13, 2022 at 3:13 p.m.

Depending on traffic and the time of day, it takes about an hour to drive from Naperville North to the Chicago Bears' practice facility in Lake Forest. But when James...

Seeing is believing for Clay Schrader as Naperville Central downs Metea Valley for ninth straight win: ‘I think I have good vision.’

May 10, 2022 at 11:03 p.m.

Naperville Central's Clay Schrader upends the stereotype of the No. 8 batter in the order. He actually hits. And he hits with power. For the junior center fielder, the key...

Benet’s Luke Bafia got bigger. He got stronger. He got faster. And nothing fazes him as a junior. ‘I love the natural ups and downs.’

May 16, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.

Benet's Luke Bafia plays baseball the way a philosopher ponders the state of the world. "I love the randomness of the game," said Bafia, a junior shortstop who bats leadoff....

Dundee-Crown's Berkley Mensik (18) tries to get past Huntley's Adriana Respondi Trocchio (15) during the first half of a game on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Dream weaver: Climb aboard the scoring train of Dundee-Crown’s Berkley Mensik. Since sixth grade, she’s wanted to play for Notre Dame.

May 9, 2022 at 2:10 p.m.

Dundee-Crown's Berkley Mensik had every reason to be devastated by what happened early in her freshman year. In March 2019, after scoring a goal against Conant, she tore her left...

Oswego East's Mikayla Lambert (4) kicks the ball away from St. Charles North's Lauren Balster (15) during a Naperville Invitational game in Naperville on Saturday, April 23, 2022.

Patrick Z. McGavin’s Beacon-News/Courier-News girls soccer rankings and player of the week for Tuesday, May 10, 2022

May 9, 2022 at 11:16 a.m.

Top 10 With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses. 1. Oswego East 15-2 (1) 2. Metea Valley 14-2-1 (2) 3. St. Charles North 14-2 (3) 4. St. Charles...

Benet’s Pierce Walsh started on a developmental youth team. Now, he’s committed to Minnesota: ‘I never thought this day would come.’

May 6, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.

Benet junior Pierce Walsh had a humble start to his football career. "I started playing with a youth league team in Downers Grove and didn't even make the gold team,"...

Freshman catcher Zach Bava gets into the flow as Naperville North downs Metea Valley. How? ‘I felt confident the whole day.’

May 4, 2022 at 10:17 p.m.

Naperville North's Zach Bava redefines the meaning of precocious. Everybody realizes the freshman catcher should not be able to accomplish so much at his age. And even with that in...

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