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36 | December 13, 2018 | The Homer Horizon sports
homerhorizon.com
Girls Basketball
Celtics suffer first loss to
highly ranked Mighty Macs
A total of 14 Providence Catholic High School student-athletes made their college
commitments in their respective sports official Nov. 14, including Homer Glen residents Taylor
Blake (volleyball at University of Wisconsin-Platteville), Adam Kowalik (bowling at St. Ambrose
University) and Zachary Costello (baseball at Saint Xavier University). Photo submitted
Three Homer student-athletes from
Providence make college commitments
Submitted by Providence
Catholic High School
Providence Catholic High
School Athletic Director
Doug Ternik announced
Nov. 14 that 14 studentathletes
from the school will
continue their athletic careers
at the collegiate level,
including three homer Glen
students in the bunch
“We are extremely proud
of these student-athletes for
their hard work both in the
classroom and on the field,”
Ternik said. “We wish them
the very best in college and
in the future.”
The student-athletes from
Homer Glen signing their
college commitments include:
Taylor Blake
The daughter of Scott and
Christine Blake has committed
to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville
to continue
her volleyball career
on an academic scholarship.
There, she plans to major in
marketing and management.
She is a graduate of St.
Jude in New Lenox who in
her four years has been a
three-time varsity athlete in
volleyball and named captain
of the team in 2018.
Adam Kowalik
The son of Frank and Theresa
Kowalik has committed
to St. Ambrose University in
Davenport, Iowa to continue
his bowling career. He plans
to major in sports management
and minor in marketing.
Kowalik is a graduate of
Homer Jr. High and attends
St. Bernard Catholic Church
in Homer Glen. During his
high school career, Kowalik
has been a member of the
bowling team for all four
years and co-captain for three
years.
In addition, he has been a
Marching Band and Concert
Band member for four years,
and Jazz Band member for
one year.
Kowalik credits his coaching
and the athletic staff for
his success the last for years.
“I would like to thank
Coach Kevin Kullman, who
made me the bowler that I am
today,” he said. “In addition, I
would also like to thank Mrs.
Arthurs for giving me the opportunity
to bowl for PCHS,
and my family, who made the
tremendous sacrifice to send
me to PCHS.”
Zachary Costello
The son of Craig and Jaime
Costello has signed him his
National Letter of Intent to
Saint Xavier University for
baseball on an athletic scholarship.
He plans to major in
criminal justice.
Costello is a graduate of
Homer Jr. High and a member
of St. Paul the Apostle
Church. During his high
school career, Costello was
an honors student and a
member for the baseball team
for four years and football for
one.
In addition, he was named
Student of the Month his
sophomore year.
Costello credits the spirituality
at Providence Catholic
for building him into the athlete
he is today.
“The spirituality at Providence
has played a big role
by keeping me grounded
while competing,” he said.
“It helps me remember what
is truly important on being a
good player, teammate and
opponent.”
Providence starts
out with 6-1 record
Steve Millar
Freelance Reporter
Junior guard Claire Mc-
Grath likes the way Providence’s
girls basketball team
is clicking. The Celtics won
their first six games before
dropping a contest at Mother
McAuley on Nov. 29.
“We’re playing much more
as a team this year than we
did last year,” McGrath said.
“Our ball movement has gotten
a lot better.
“Our chemistry is really
good this year. We all trust
each other and work well on
the court, so I think that’s going
to help us.”
The Celtics opened the season
by winning the Beecher
Fall Classic, going 5-0 in the
event. Providence rolled in
its first four games, topping
Beecher 69-32, Tinley Park
63-32, Illiana Christian 54-26
and Peotone 58-22.
In the championship game
of the tournament, the Celtics
outlasted Bradley-Bourbonnais
76-66.
“We beat a really good
Bradley-Bourbonnais team,”
Providence coach Eileen Copenhaver
said. “That was a
shootout, back and forth, and
we pulled it out. We take a lot
of positives from that and the
whole tournament.
“It was a great start to the
season for us. The team is
jelling pretty good, and we
like the pieces we have to
work with.”
Junior guard Lauren
Knight was named MVP of
the Beecher Fall Classic, averaging
19 points a game in
the tournament.
“I was named a captain this
year, so I really wanted to
lead the team and talk more,”
Knight said. “I’m honored to
take that role.”
Senior guard/forward Ryann
Ogarek also showcased
her skills in the tournament,
averaging 16.8 points and 10
rebounds and being named to
the All-Tournament team.
Both players rose to the
occasion in the championship
game, Knight scoring 25
points and Ogarek adding 20.
“Those two are both playing
great for us,” Copenhaver
said. “Lauren’s shooting has
really been on point.”
The Celtics improved to
6-0 by routing Regina 72-20
in their home opener on Nov.
27.
Even in their first loss,
there were some positives to
take away.
An undefeated Mother
McAuley team, coming off
a sectional title last season,
provided a very tough test for
Providence.
The Celtics lost 66-31 but
outscored the Mighty Macs
in the second half.
“We won the second half,”
Knight said. “That was our
goal. At halftime, we felt
like we really needed to pick
it up. Even though we were
down big, we wanted to keep
playing hard and play better
in the second half.”
McGrath led the Celtics
with 12 points. Knight and
Ogarek added seven points
each, with Ogarek chipping
in six rebounds.
Junior center Jenna Spreitzer
came off the bench
to finish with six rebounds,
and sophomore guard Ashley
Raymer scored four points.
“Our energy was better in
the second half,” McGrath
said. “We communicated
better. We were happy with
that.”
Mother McAuley’s highpressure
defense forced
Providence into 23 first-half
turnovers, but the Celtics
turned it over just three times
in the second half, despite the
Mighty Macs’ starters playing
for a good portion of the
third quarter.
“They did some things that
got us off track in the first
half and got our confidence
down, but in the second half
we handled things much
better,” Copenhaver said. “I
liked the kids’ response and
the way they came back and
competed.”
Copenhaver was glad her
team got to play a team of
Mother McAuley’s caliber
early in the season.
“This is perfect,” she said.
“Sometimes you get a false
sense of security of how
good you are. A game like
this gives us a lot to work on.
You have to be positive, learn
from it and move forward.”
McGrath shared similar
sentiments.
“We have a lot of games
coming up against good
teams so this showed us what
we need to do and how we
need to step up to our competition,”
she said.
Going forward, Copenhaver
feels she has a team that
can put together a successful
season.
In addition to Knight and
Ogarek’s scoring abilities
and strong outside shooting,
Raymer and McGrath are capable
ballhandlers who can
also score.
Senior 5-foot-10 center
Maddy Bear provides an inside
presence.
Providence hopes to get
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