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Downers Grove North quarterback Owen Lansu blossomed into one of the top players in the West Suburban Conference last season by leading the Trojans to a runner-up finish in Class 7A. Now a junior with nine offers, he's ready to take the next step and lead the Trojans forward.
Summer was almost perfect for Benet’s boys basketball team. The Redwings, who return four of five starters, won 24 of their 25 games in June, absorbing the transfer of star Gabe Sularski.
Burlington Central senior point guard LJ Kerr, also a standout on the football field, has enjoyed a busy and productive summer on the basketball court. Kerr and Patrick Shell are among those players hoping to take a big leap for a Rockets' team coming off a 21-11 season.
Riverside-Brookfield junior guard Cameron Mercer's dad, Ron, was a star at Kentucky and played in the NBA from 1997-2005. Now Cameron Mercer is looking to make his own mark and is the leading returning scorer for a Bulldogs' team coming off a 26-5 season.
Oswego East, seeking a return to the playoffs after a 3-6 2023 season, must first replace its entire offensive line. The Wolves, though, can lean on what looks to be a strong defense and the return of junior quarterback Niko Villacci.
After a promising sophomore season, Glenbard West’s TJ Williams is making a big splash in a breakout summer for a Hilltoppers' team that returns four starters and adds transfer Josh Abushanab.
The York boys basketball team graduated eight seniors from last year's sectional finalist, but led by senior guard Connor Fitzgerald and junior forward Hunter Stepanich the new-look Dukes had a strong June capped off by a 3-1 finish at the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout.
Oswego senior Dasean Patton made his final appearance in the Morris Shootout an unforgettable moment. Patton closed out a strong showing by the Panthers at Morris by drilling a fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer to defeat Galesburg on the final day of the prestigious summer event.
Here is the 2024 Suburban Life All-Area baseball team.
Nazareth senior and UIC recruit David Cox, who contributed in all three phases for the 37-1 Roadrunners, is the 2024 Suburban Life Player of the Year.
Newman's 4x800 relay team narrowly missed the 1A state record of 7:53.69, but still raced to a state championship Saturday at the IHSA State Meet hosted by Eastern Illinois University.
Yorkville sophomore Owen Horeni battled a tough field to finish fourth in the 800, Oswego freshman Dontrell Young was fifth in the 400 and Yorkville jumper Taelor Clements, Oswego East's 4x800 relay and Sandwich junior Simeion Harris took seventh at state.
Sycamore senior Eli Crome closed out his high school career in style, anchoring the Spartans' 4x400 relay to the Class 2A state championship in Charleston after taking third in the 400. Teammate Aidan Wyzard took second in long jump and DeKalb's Jacob Barraza third in the 1,600.
Izzi Wirtz gave Lyons an early advantage by scoring on a half-bicycle kick from 12 yards out in the 11th minute, and the Lions earned a measure of revenge for a playoff loss last year by beating Hinsdale Central 1-0 in Tuesday's Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional semifinal.
Shae Simons struck out 19 batters in a stellar two-hit performance, but Grant Park scored two runs in the fourth inning and plated another run in the sixth to pull out a 3-0 victory over Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell in the Class 1A Walther Christian Regional championship game.