Local participants will compete in state All-Star games

Harvard’s Alex Rodriguez and Richmond-Burton’s Nick Legnaioli, both three-year varsity starters on their teams, will play in the 47th Annual Illinois High School Shrine Football Game on Saturday at Illinois Wesleyan’s Tucci Stadium.

Rodriguez was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Hornets. He will play for the Blue team in the game, which kicks off at 11 a.m.

Legnaioli, who will play for the Red team, did a little bit of everything for the Rockets, who won 20 consectuive games over the past two seasons. He played running back, linebacker, did placekicking and also had a big role in R-B’s return game. In R-B’s 50-14 victory over Murphysboro for the 2019 Class 4A state championship, Legnaioli retuned the second-half kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.

Legnaioli was a three-time Northwest Herald All-Area first-team selection.

IBCA games: Marengo’s Jennifer Heinberg, Hampshire’s Kelby Bannerman and Burlington Central’s Elena Wells will play for the North girls teams in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-Star on Saturday, June 26 in Pontiac.

Heinberg, the 2021 Northwest Herald Player of the Year, will play in the Class 1A-2A game, which starts at 11 a.m. Bannerman and Wells will play in the Class 3A-4A game at 4 p.m.

Heinberg was an All-Area second-team selection as a junior and helped the Indians to the Kishwaukee River Conference title this season, earning Player of the Year honors. She will play at McHenry County College next year.

Bannerman, a 6-foot guard, suffered a badly sprained ankle early in the season and played in only a few games this season. She was an All-Area first-team pick as a junior and will play at NCAA Division I Davidson next year.

Wells, an All-Area first-team pick, will play at D-II Davidson next year. She helped the Rockets to a 13-2 mark and the Fox Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles.