Bishop Noll's Trost returning home to Salt Lake City

Bishop Noll coach Drew Trost accepted a job on Thursday at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, which is his home. Trost was 129-57 in eight years at Noll and he took the Warriors to the Class 2A state championship game in 2011.

Sports is an economic driver in south suburbs

Mt. Carmel golfer Ryan Hernandez, practices with teammates at Glenwoodie Golf Club in Glenwood last August. The Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau is marketing the region as a golf destination.

Sports is an economic driver in south suburbs

Mt. Carmel golfers Nick Murray, Ryan Hernandez and Louis Vitiritti walk the course at Glenwoodie Golf Club in Glenwood last August. Sporting events are becoming a big economic driver, according to the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Sports is an economic driver in south suburbs

Mt. Carmel golfer Nick Murray practices putting at Glenwoodie Golf Club in Glenwood last August.

CRETE-MONEE INVITATIONAL

Bloom Township's Gina Narcisi, right, pulls away from the pack in the 3,200-meter run during the Crete-Monee Invitational on March 30. Narcisi gives the Blazing Trojans strength in the distance races as they head into today's Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional.

T.F. South badmnton coach Bob Tengstrand has built a power

Thornton Fractional South's badminton coach Bob Tengstrand gives a pat on the back to Andriana Johnson. Tengstrand has been the coach at both T.F. North and T.F. South high schools and has been very successful.

Miranda Elish, Crown Point

Crown Point freshman pitcher Miranda Elish has followed what most expected from the Oregon recruit. She is undefeated heading into this weekend's Twin Lakes Tournament and seems to be just hitting her stride.

L.C.'s Del Toro is learning how to lead

Lake Central pitcher Lily Del Toro has gone from the pup on the Indians pitching staff to the veteran in one season. The junior ace is also hitting a ton this year in her first season with a bat in her hand every game.

Gina Narcisi is one of Bloom Township's top runners

Bloom Township's Gina Narcisi passed up soccer this year to run track. She has been a plus for coach Huey Johnson's Blazing Trojans.

Lake Central's Tyler Wideman

Lake Central's Tyler Wideman grabs a rebound during a game this season. The 6-foot-7 forward-center has been named to the North group of the Indiana Junior All-Stars.

Seton Academy's Mark Weems Jr.

Seton Academy's Mark Weems Jr., left, grabs a rebound over Hales Franciscan's Shaquon Alexander, middle, during the Class 2A Illiana Christian sectional semifinal on Wednesday. He and Johnny Patterson, right, are two reasons the Sting is looking to make its second consecutive trip to Peoria.

Former Wheeler basketball player Christian Sikoski

Bishop Noll's Larry Crisler shoots over Wheeler's Christian Sikoski during last basketball season. Both competed in one of the state's lone sold-out sectionals, the Class 2A Wheeler Sectional. Sikoski will not be in this year's tourney. He is now playing at Trader's Point Christian Academy i…

Michael Schlotman, Munster

Munster point guard Michael Schlotman is smart, athletic and tough, the key ingredients to play that position at the No. 1-ranked program in the state. Munster will open Class 4A sectional play next week against E.C. Central in Gary.

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Bloom Township's Kat Strong, front, is a two-year starter for the Blazing Trojans. Strong is averaging 15.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game.

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Illiana Christian's Brandon Martin, right, drives over Ridgewood's Adam Krozel in a December game. Martin has been the catalyst for the Vikings this season.

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Grant Park's Devin Mahnke flips teammate Kevin McNally. Mahnke attends Beecher High School, which co-ops with Grant Park.

Seton Academy's Tiffany Ellis

Seton Academy's Tiffany Ellis, left, tips the ball away from Hawkins' Heather Martin during a Class 2A Seton Academy Regional semifinal. The Sting will be looking for their second straight sectional title.

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T.F. South's Kameron Dickens, middle, looks to pass around two Shepard defenders in a December game. Dickens and the Rebels host District 215 rival T.F. North at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

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T.F. North's Nick Wood, right, drives over Tinley Park's Marcus Stokes in a Meteors win. Wood has been a scorer, rebounder and defender for the Meteors.

Mike Miklusak, Lake Central

Lake Central's Mike Miklusak is a very good perimeter shooter for a young man who is 6-foot-5. But when he was a youngster all he dreamed about was getting a dunk. He hurt himself several times trying to throw one down as a lad.

T.F. South's David Stinson dunks

T.F. South's David Stinson jams the ball against Joliet West. The senior is one of the Rebels' floor leaders.

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Illiana Christian's Elijah Lares, left, grabs a rebound with help from teammate Marcus Ottenhoff during a game against Ridgewood. The Vikings do not play a home game in January and just four games total.

Laquon Treadwell gains yardage against Springfield

Crete-Monee's Laquon Treadwell is one of the top uncommitted wide receivers in the nation. He will compete in today's Under Armour All-American Game presented by American Family Insurance in St. Petersburg, Fla. gains some long yardage against Springfield during an IHSA Class 6A playoff fo…

Valparaiso coach Joe Otis

Valparaiso coach Joe Otis was 65-27 and won a sectional title in four seasons coaching the boys team.

David Yancey, Lake Central football

Lake Central's David Yancey is awaiting a doctor's release for his hyperextended knee and calf strain, as well as word on a new coach at Purdue, where he has made a verbal commitment.

Thornton's Jauan Wesley

Thornton's Jauan Wesley (8) celebrates with teammate Myshawn Smith (68) after Wesley scored against Naperville North in a regular-season game. Wesley and the Wildcats host Downers Grove North Friday in a Class 7A second-round playoff game.

Thornton's QB JoWahn Brown

Thornton's QB JoWahn Brown, right, gets hit by Naperville North's RJ Tomain during a Sept. 1 football game. Brown and Jauan Wesley have become a big-play tandem for the Wildcats this season.

Lake Central

Lake Central fans like Jimmy McNamara will likely have a lot to cheer about this season.

Coach Leroy Marsh sideline photo

Leroy Marsh begins his 40th season at Munster High School, 33 as the Mustangs' head football coach.

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Mount Carmel's Draco Smith rushed for 750 yards and five TDs last season. Smith committed to Northern Illinois, where he will be a defensive back.

Lake Central's Yancey picks Purdue for football

Lake Central quarterback David Yancey gave Purdue his verbal commitment on Saturday. He was the Duneland Athletic Conference co-MVP last fall as he lead L.C. to its first DAC championship.

Jake Upwood

Jake Upwood, right, charts players throwing the ball to home plate from right field during open player tryouts in May. Upwood played for the RailCats in 2003 before becoming pitching coach this season.

Homewood-Flossmoor's Lauren Parker

Homewood-Flossmoor's Lauren Parker has been a big reason for the Vikings Class 4A regional title. H-F plays Lincoln-Way East tonight in one semifinal of the Sandburg Sectional. The two split during the regular season.

Frank Lenti

Mt. Carmel coach Frank Lenti pleads his case with an official during the Class 8A semifinal last season. This Saturday, Lenti could win his 307th game and take the record for most IHSA football wins.

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Chris Sujka scores during an April game against Marist. The centerfield is batting .388 and along with Sam Kint, holds the program single-season record for homers with 12 each.

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Mount Carmel's Chris Sujka has helped lead two different teams to the state finals. In the fall, he led the Caravan's football team to the Class 8A championship game.

Lake Central's Matt Siedentopf

Lake Central's Matt Siedentopf scores against Highland catcher Luke Polster during a regular-season game.

RailCats Adam Klein

RailCats' center fielder Adam Klein set a franchise record for playing all 100 games during the 2010 season.

Mount Carmel's Frank Kelly tries to break up a double play

Mount Carmel's Frank Kelly tries to break up a double play in an April game against Marist. The Caravan face Lyons Twp. today in one Class 4A semifinal at Joliet's Silver Cross Field.

Jake Klocek, Chase Fieldhouse

Highland's third baseman Jake Klocek puts the tag on Lake Central's Chase Fieldhouse as Fieldhouse attempted to steal third base during a baseball game on Friday, April 8, 2011, in Highland, In.

T.F. South Grey badminton Invitational

T.F. South's Jenny Le has chugged along in her badminton matches this season, earning her the nickname "The Train."

T.F. South's Jenny Le

T.F. South's Jenny Le takes a 31-6 record into the sectional this week, hoping for a berth in the state tournament in Charleston.

Crown Point's Spike Albrecht

Former Crown Point standout Spike Albrecht signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to play for Michigan.

Class 8A semifinal high school football game between Mt. Carmel and Homewood-Flossmoor.

Mount Carmel's Chris Sujka rambles in for a touchdown around Homewood-Flossmoor defender Denzel Wilkins in the first half of a Class 8A semifinal game at Gately Stadium in Chicago. Mount Carmel won 28-21.

Valparaiso junior Ryan Nix

Valparaiso junior Ryan Nix has helped solve the Vikings' preseason receiver dilemma.

Valparaiso football coach Mark Hoffman

Coach Mark Hoffman has been at Valparaiso for more than three decades, but Friday will mark the first time he'll be a part of a battle of unbeatens with rival Chesterton when the Trojans travel to Viking Field. The last time the two teams were undefeated when they met was 1968.

Concussions

Collisions like this one have led to a stream of RailCats concussions this season. Against Kansas City on July 11, Adam Klein is called out at home. Klein, who has played in all 90 RailCats games, was not injured on this play.

Mike Valadez

RailCats catcher Mike Valadez has raised his batting average from below .200 when he was picked up by the Northern League team to .262 over his last 21 games. He's made a habit of chomping Big League Chew during games. He won't take a pitch without it.