GA_060619

More documents

Recommendations

Info

26 | June 6, 2019 | The glencoe anchor SPORTS glencoeanchor.com Athlete of the Month Frankel earns Giant honor Nick Frazier Contributing Sports Editor A magical postseason run helped Jeremy Frankel stand out this month. Frankel, a senior pitcher on the Highland Park baseball team, was named 22nd Century Media Athlete of the Month. He’s the second Giant to win the award in 2019. Thanks to the efforts of Frankel on the mound, Highland Park shocked everyone en route to winning a regional title. Frankel got the start in a 4-2 win over second-seeded Stevenson in the regional semifinal. Frankel won this month’s voting with 120 votes. Voting lasted from May 10-25. The Athlete of the Month contest for athletes selected in the month of May gets underway on June 10 and will end on June 25. Vote at GlencoeAnchor.com. May Athlete of the Month Candidates Loyola Academy Jack Loveland, boys track and field Maggie Gorman, girls lacrosse Kathryn Kinsella, softball New Trier Andrew Kost, baseball Sydney Kunkler, girls track and field Boys volleyball New Trier downs OPRF in state’s third-place match Bill McLean Freelance Reporter New Trier’s Connor Ppochetti prepares to send the ball back over the net Saturday, June 1, in Hoffman Estates. David Kraus/22nd Century Media It electrified New Trier’s boys volleyball team before every match this spring. Every Trevian but senior outside hitter Connor Pochetti would huddle on a court and create an opening. Pochetti then would rush through the gap and pop straight up, his 37- inch vertical jump in the middle of all that humanity straining teammates’ necks and inciting waves of whoops. “That’s one of the things I’ll always remember about this group — the way Connor would fire all of us up before we competed,” New Trier coach Sue Ellen Haak said after her boys defeated Oak Park-River Forest 29-31, 25-22, 25-21 in the thirdplace match at the state tournament at Hoffman Estates High School on Saturday, June 1. “His jump, along with the reactions to it, symbolized our team’s tremendous attitude and enthusiasm all season.” Pochetti launched himself again at a critical juncture in the second set against OPRF. But instead of rocketing due north, he dived abruptly to his right for a tremendous sideline dig to extend a point that New Trier would win on a kill by junior right-side hitter Peter Brown (16 kills, six digs, four blocks, three aces). A joyous Pochetti screamed and pumped his fists as he joined his huddling teammates for a boisterous on-court celebration. The point gave New Trier (32-8) a 19-17 lead. The advantage grew to 20-17 on a kill from senior middle Eli Lieberman before the Huskies (35-6) struck for three straight points. Back-and-forth it went. New Trier was only five OPRF points away from having to settle for fourth place at state for the second year in a row. Seven points later, a resounding kill by NT junior OH Colin Heath (11 kills, seven digs) clinched the middle set (25-22) for a program that started its sixth consecutive Elite Eight appearance with a three-set defeat of St. Rita in a state quarterfinal on May 31. Lieberman (six kills, four blocks) elevated for back-to-back blocks in the decisive set, with the second denial upping NT’s lead to 11-8. “We were a defenseminded team this year, and we took pride in our defense,” Pochetti said. But Brown’s offense certainly came in handy, particularly in the latter part of the third set. After OPRF — which fell to New Trier in three sets, on May 4 — won four-of-five points to cut New Trier’s lead to 16-15, Brown smacked a kill. His slowpaced, well-placed kill to a deep corner gave his club a match point, at 24-20. And Brown’s final kill, on another match point, secured the Trevians’ first third-place showing at state. “Those two guys [Brown and Heath], what a duo,” Pochetti said. “Watch out for them next year. Insane. They’ll be insane as seniors.” New Trier senior outside hitter Alden Schatz — a tricaptain, with twin Aaron Schatz, the Trevians’ starting libero, and Lieberman — had to sit and wear street clothes for most of the 2019 season. A severe back injury limited him to action in the first two matches. But ask any of Alden Schatz’s coaches or teammates, and you’d hear nothing but praise for his relentless leadership and infectious enthusiasm during matches. He essentially served as an assistant coach, pulling down the approximate salary of a Miami-based snowplow driver. “Positivity is what I preached all season,” said Schatz, whose brother amassed a match-high 15 digs against OPRF. “Our team was a ‘familyhood’. Each player knew he was playing for the guys next to him, not for himself.” Trevians senior setter Zach Salberg capped his superb weekend with a 35-assist effort against the Huskies. In New Trier’s 25-14, 25-23 state semifinal loss to Glenbard West earlier in the day, he stood at a baseline, set to serve with the score knotted at 7 in the second set. New Trier won the next three points, Salberg’s ace on the second point highlighting the promising stretch. Glenbard West called a timeout, regrouped and won five of the next seven points. The Hilltoppers went up 17-16 after a quartet of tie scores and would not face another deficit in the rematch of the 2016 state championship (won by Glenbard West). NT junior middle Emmett Burnside contributed three blocks in the thirdplace match, and junior outside hitter Patrick Condon — who had recorded only 12 kills, one assist and 24 digs during the regular season — provided a kill, an assist and three digs on the big stage June 1. “It’s not easy playing for third place at state,” said Haak, who cracked a bright smile and hugged her assistant coaches right after the end of the thirdplace contest. “The teams are usually disappointed they’re not playing for the title. They’re both usually exhausted, too. We kept gritting it out, grinding and grinding, going for every ball, and we stayed focused. “I’m proud of our guys, really proud. They fought hard.” New Trier’s third-place finish was the program’s fifth top-four showing at state and third in the last four seasons. Haak, owner of an impressive 519-168 (.755) record after 18 years at the school, guided the Trevians to state runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2016 and that fourth-place trophy last spring. Former Trevians boys volleyball coach Debra Kirch helmed NT’s state championship squad in 1995. Marist (40-2) downed Glenbard West 25-21, 25- 23 in the state championship match on June 1.
glencoeanchor.com sports the glencoe anchor | June 6, 2019 | 27 Athlete of the Week 10 Questions with Fallon Warshauer The New Trier senior is a three-year member of the girls varsity soccer team. What’s one thing people don’t know about you? I have always wanted to be an elementary school teacher. Every day I spend an hour and a half volunteering in a fourth grade classroom at my old elementary school. The Varsity: North Shore Podcast Guys recap playoffs, announce girls soccer honors Staff Report In this week’s episode of The Varsity: North Shore, hosts Michal Dwojak, Michael Wojtychiw and Nick Frazier recap the girls soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, boys volleyball and baseball postseasons, hear from New Trier girls soccer players Heidi Bianucci and Emma Weaver, announce the Team 22 all-area girls soccer teams and announce 22nd Century Media’s Girls Soccer Coach and Player of the Year awards. Find the varsity Twitter: @varsitypodcast Facebook: @thevarsitypodcast Website: GlencoeAnchor.com/sports Download: Soundcloud, iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, PlayerFM, more First Quarter The three recap all the postseason action from the past week. Second Quarter The guys hear from Bianucci and Weaver about their team’s performance at state. Third Quarter With the girls soccer season over, the guys announce the 2019 Girls Soccer Team 22. Fourth Quarter The three announce the Coach and Player of the Year. What’s your greatest skill? My greatest skill is probably my ability to laugh at myself. I make a lot of mistakes and I definitely have some embarrassing moments, but I always try and just laugh it off. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I have always wanted to go to the Galapagos. My parents went there before I was born and it sounds like such an incredible place. If you could have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and from where or who would make it? My mom is an amazing cook, and she makes the best lasagna, so if I could only have one thing for the rest of my life, I would definitely choose that. If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money? I would donate most of it to children’s charities, but I would save some for traveling. What’s the best part about being a New Trier athlete? The fans. We have the most amazing fans. Every game our stadium is filled with parents and students and they make games so much fun. What’s been your favorite thing at New Trier? New Trier has introduced me to all of my best friends. Throughout the past four years I have made friends that I know I will have for the rest of my life. If you could play 22nd CENTURY MEDIA FILE PHOTO another sport, what would it be and why? When I went to overnight camp I always loved horseback riding, so if I didn’t play soccer I would have loved to do that. Who is your dream dinner guest? Jennifer Aniston. I am obsessed with the show Friends, so I would love to meet her. What’s the hardest part about playing soccer? Soccer is a very physical sport, but mental toughness is also extremely important. If you’re down by a goal, you need to stay positive and believe in yourself and your teammates if you want to turn the game around. Interview by Sports Editor Michael Wojtychiw/
Page 1 and 2: ® End of a chapter Loyola graduate
Page 3 and 4: glencoeanchor.com news the glencoe
Page 5 and 6: glencoeanchor.com glencoe the glenc
Page 9 and 10: glencoeanchor.com news the glencoe
Page 15 and 16: glencoeanchor.com sound off the gle
Page 17 and 18: home sweet home After previous clos
Page 19 and 20: glencoeanchor.com life & arts the g
Page 23 and 24: glencoeanchor.com real estate the g
Page 25: glencoeanchor.com glencoe the glenc
Page 29 and 30: glencoeanchor.com sports the glenco
Page 31 and 32: glencoeanchor.com sports the glenco

GA_060619

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?