JOLIET – Lincoln-Way Central sophomore Jose Luna finished as the runner-up in the 132-pound novice finals at last weekend’s Chicago Golden Gloves boxing tournament.
His father, Jesse Luna, operates Luna Boxing Club on Scott Street in Joliet along with Jesse’s uncle, Miguel Luna, and Thomas Moreno. The gym is where Jose Luna and other up-and-coming local boxers have been training the past few years.
“We’re in our third year, and our second full year where kids have been competing,” Jesse Luna said.
Jose Luna is a three-time champion, having won Chicago Power Gloves titles in 2013 and 2014 at 125 and 139, respectively, and the 2013 Silver Gloves at 125. He had an 11-0 record heading into the Golden Gloves final.
Eric Rodriguez, Jesus “Juicy” Luna, Arturo Magana and Adan Rojos are others who have won tournament titles representing Luna Boxing Club. Rodriguez won Golden Gloves and Chicago Power Gloves championships; Jesus Luna was a Silver Gloves champion and recently won the Chicago Park District Citywide Tournament; and Magana and Rojos won Silver Gloves titles.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Lincoln-Way West 25-25, Reavis 19-7: Jake Gasparich helped West (13-0) remain undefeated with 10 kills and six digs. Scott Christensen chipped in seven kills, Dylan Kogut gad four kills, and Michael Wexter had 21 assists.
Minooka 25-25, Romeoville 15-18: James Lefaiver had five assists, two aces and a pair of kills to lead visiting Romeoville (3-11, 0-3) in the Southwest Prairie loss. Gio Dekire and Nolan Kavanagh had two kills apiece, and Mark Hamilton added three blocks.
Joliet Catholic 25-25, IMSA: 9-10: Aron Goeken (26 assists) evenly distributed the ball to the visiting Hilltoppers (9-1, 1-0) in the nonconference match. Ben Gabor had nine kills, Jason Turley seven and Jeff Budz five. Dominic Gallo had nine digs and two aces.
GIRLS SOCCER
Lemont 5, Shepard 0: Madelyn Bermele led Lemont (5-1-1, 3-0) in the South Suburban Blue home victory with three goals, while Niamh Hehir and Sara Knoepfle each tallied one. Michelle Jerantowski had three saves to record her fifth shutout.
PepsiCo Showdown: Hannah Rieker and Kasey Watts scored goals for Minooka (6-3) in its 2-0 win over Streamwood. Martina Kotrba registered an assist, and Lily Benig made five saves.
In another game, Lincoln-Way West lost to West Aurora, 1-0.
TENNIS
Romeoville 5, Plainfield East 2: Miguel Rayos del Sol won in singles for visiting Romeoville (2-0, 1-0) in the Southwest Prairie match. The Spartans’ other winners were in doubles – Kevin Lam-Martin Rayos del Sol, Brandon Kavaliunas-Cole Brooker, Matt Szwab-Will Caron and Kyle Listermann-Henri Lam.
Lemont 5, Thorton 0: Faraz Longi and Juan Diaz-Sanin won their matches, while the doubles partners of Nick Urban-Nathaniel Burner, Charlie Cannon-Matt Retzke and Aldo Pizzoferrato-Matt Uthupan also won for Lemont.
Andrew 7, Lincoln-Way Central 0: Host Central (3-4, 0-2) fell in the SouthWest Suburban Red match.
GIRLS WATER POLO
Sandburg 14, Lincoln-Way Central 7: Delaney Shepherd scored three goals, Kim Bernhard two and Erin Muellerschoen and Madison Brown one for Central (6-6, 2-3) in the nonconference home loss. Erin Kay had six saves.
BADMINTON
Lincoln-Way West 8, Homewood-Flossmoor 0: Lincoln-Way West (12-4) won the SouthWest Suburban matchup.
MEN’S GOLF
Lewis ties for 11th: Alex Thode led Lewis to an 11th-place tie among 31 teams at the Midwest Regional No. 4 at Purgatory Golf Club. Thode fired a 71 on Monday, totaling a 145 to tie for ninth overall in the 155-player field. Ryan Frederick (Lockport) shot 149, Robert Dofflemyer III 155, and Jeremy Fraser and Austin Buente both 159.
The latest NCAA Midwest Region rankings have Lewis ranked third.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Lewis’ Sweeney wins title: Rachel Sweeney tied a career-best round with a 73 to win the individual title at the Triton Spring Invitational. Sweeney finished the tournament with a 152 and helped the Flyers take fourth at the 12-team tournament.
The Flyers are ranked No. 6 in the NCAA East Region.
St. Francis ties for 10th: St. Francis tied for 10th place at the 19-team Illinois Wesleyan Spring Fling on Saturday and Sunday. Krystal Garritson (Lockport) tied for ninth overall after firing a 154. Mary Jackson and Alex Catalano (Plainfield South) were next with scores of 163 and 164, respectively. Ashley Howard (Wilmington) carded a 170, and Maricar Nones shot 174.
MEN’S TENNIS
Lewis 6, Lindenwood 3: Visiting Lewis (12-7) got a doubles win from Armand Levandi and Mate Srdanovic. Levandi, Srdanovic, Erik Aunapuu, Andre Norasith and Alan Fijalkowski won in singles.
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
Winder cited: North Central’s Luke Winder (Plainfield Central) was named the NCAA Division III Men’s National Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week. The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Field-Event Athlete of the Week won the pole vault at Saturday’s Chicagoland Outdoor Championships.
Winder soared to a personal-best 17 feet 8 inches, breaking the North Central outdoor freshman record of 17 feet and three-quarter inches he set just a week earlier and moving into second place all time outdoors at North Central and fifth all time outdoors among NCAA Division III athletes.
The reigning Division III indoor national champion in the pole vault, Winder owns the top outdoor mark in Division III by nearly a foot.