Columnists

ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles North defense has given coach Mark Gould plenty of reason to trust it this season.

WHEATON – Geneva placekicker Charlie James darted in jest toward his first crack at the second-half kickoff Friday, flanked by 10 teammates trying to sell an onside kick.

No football team in the area – not Geneva, not Marmion, not anybody – was brimming with more optimism back in mid-September than St. Charles North.

Hours removed from hoisting and posing with her own team’s regional plaque, St. Charles North girls volleyball coach Lindsey Hawkins found herself on the floor for St. Charles East’s celebration on Saturday afternoon.

Today’s regional championship match against rival Rosary should carry enormous emotional impact for the Aurora Central Catholic girls volleyball program.

Change of venue requests are common but not always granted in the justice world.

It’s been almost a week, and that drubbing in Cincinnati is still haunting me. Honestly, I’m shocked and more than a little concerned. 

Prior to joining the Northern Illinois women’s volleyball team, Maddie Hughes bounced between positions for her club and high school teams.

Sammy Scofield doesn’t believe in anything other than full commitment.

Spotting college scouts in the stands during Saturday’s St. Charles East-St. Charles North football game at Norris Stadium proved difficult with all the partisan viewers on hand, but word about seniors from both teams apparently is getting out somehow.

BATAVIA – Through three quarters on Friday, it was tricky to tell which was the 2-6 football team and which was the conference champion-in-waiting, eyeing another serious postseason run.

Geneva senior right guard Justin Craig waxed poetic more than critical when he labeled Burgess Field an “ocean of mud” three weeks ago.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling, the sky is falling!

Annie Tourte thought she had a good chance to make Geneva’s varsity tennis lineup this season.

Reporters’ ears detect the darnedest things, and sometimes I set mine to funnel in all musings that are even remotely funny.

MAPLE PARK – There was plenty to think about in the aftermath of Friday’s 27-24, overtime win by Geneva against Kaneland.

Chicagoland lacrosse coaches paint a picture of their underdog sport as an underground community, unknown to the masses.

Maybe I’m starting this premise on the wrong note by referring to myself as “TW.” Speaking in the third person, even if it’s only using initials, does feel creepy.