Whether or not Thornridge High School will field varsity sports teams next year is yet to be determined, according to principal Brad Beilfuss.
"We are working towards a definitive solution," Beilfuss told The Times. "We hope to have some answers in the next few weeks."
One of the questions needing answers is whether or not varsity sports' at a freshman center is legal through the Illinois High School Association by-laws.
IHSA assistant commissioner Kurt Gibson said that a student-athlete must attend the school he or she is competing for, unless it is a co-op situation. Though some sports are co-ops like soccer, the plan would call for current Thornridge sophomore through senior students attending either Thornton or Thornwood to be bused back for practices.
"That cannot be done,"Gibson said. "You do not have to be a four-year high school to participate in varsity athletics, but you must attend that school."
The school is set to become a freshman-only academy in the fall. District 205 assistant superintendent Dr. Betheny Lyke had said in a Nov. 21 Times article that the Dolton high school will have sports next year.
"District officials and school athletic directors have been working on a plan that will allow all students the opportunity to participate in sports just like they do today," Dr. Lyke said. "There is no plan to reduce the number of slots for students, and there is no plan to reduce the number of coaches."
Dr. Lyke has also been in contact with the SouthWest Conference regarding the proposed changes at District 205.
Thornridge could still teach grades 10-12, plus a freshman academy. If that happens, Gibson said the school would continue to field varsity teams.
Also at issue is the cost of transporting student-athletes back to Thornridge for practice.
The name game: Washington High School has changed its nickname from Minutemen and Minutewomen to the Patriots, according to athletic director Joe Pancer.
Working way overtime: The Washington girls basketball team has played in three overtime games, losing two of them. First-year coach Sara Kalemba said she and her team have used it as a learning experience.
"Overtime has become a usual for us so far this season," Kalemba said. "It has been a great test for the girls, whether we've won or lost, we know that we've learned, and now its time to take and apply what we've learned to the games that are to come."
Matthews out: Marian Catholic senior guard/forward Jasmine Matthews is out indefinitely with a knee injury, according to Spartans coach Annie Byrne.
Matthews, a Bowling Green signee, was injured against Mother McAuley. Marian is 4-0 and plays Stevenson at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Maine West at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Maine West Tip-Off Classic.
Big weekend: There are several shootouts this weekend and Crete-Monee will be hosting the Chicagohoops.com Shootout. The Warrior boys team will face Von Stueben at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
At 4 p.m. Bloom Twp. takes on Chicago Vocational.
Meanwhile, Mt. Carmel travels to the "Shootout at the Hall' in Champaign. Fighting Illini signee Tracy Abrams and the Caravan face Lee (Ala.) at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at Assembly Hall.
The T.F. North boys play Orr at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at the Chicago State Shootout.
The North girls face Rich Central at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Kankakee Community College.
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