Nick Frazier

Lake Forest's Frank Pinn, left, pursues Libertyville quarterback Blake Ellingson during their game at Lake Forest on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019.

Football notes: Sophomore quarterback Ashton Gondeck looks like veteran in first games for Carmel

April 5, 2021 at 6:44 p.m.

Carmel is an especially young team this season, with only eight seniors on the roster. All of its quarterbacks are underclassmen, including sophomore Ashton Gondeck. But Gondeck's poise and demeanor...

Lakes' Evan Larsen, left, tries to get a shot past Grayslake Central goalkeeper Brendan Kirkner during their game in Lake Villa on Thursday, April 1, 2021.

Lakes senior Timmy Pollak shows a knack for the long-range shot. He scores two more in a key conference win against Grayslake Central.

April 2, 2021 at 3:53 p.m.

Timmy Pollak found his confidence late in 2019. The midfielder scored some critical goals in the second half of that season, including one against Crystal Lake South in a Class...

Wauconda quarterback Nick Bulgarelli (10) keeps the ball and runs for a first down during a game at Grayslake Central on Friday, March 26, 2021.

Nick Bulgarelli led another scoring drive right before halftime. The senior quarterback just keeps making plays for Wauconda. ‘We’re lucky to have him.’

March 27, 2021 at 5:32 a.m.

With a little less than three minutes left in the first half on Friday night, senior quarterback Nick Bulgarelli and Wauconda took the field at their 30-yard line. Six plays...

Zion-Benton's Javier Gonzalez, left, tries to keep himself between the ball and Warren's Edward Luna during their game in Gurnee on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

Warren needed offense. Right on cue, Ishaan Shah records his first career hat trick against Zion-Benton.

March 25, 2021 at 2:52 p.m.

Ishaan Shah's first goal on Wednesday came at a price for Warren. Shah headed the ball into the net in the 35th minute to break a scoreless tie but collided...

Warren's "Reese" Edwards (6) gets past Zion-Benton's Tra'Don Jones-Pugh on a long run during the first quarter of their game in Gurnee on Friday, March 19, 2021.

Grayslake Central transfer Reese Edwards started at running back in his Warren debut. Call it an ‘explosive’ success.

March 20, 2021 at 3:49 a.m.

Warren senior Malachi McNeal doesn't mince words when talking about new teammate Maurice "Reese" Edwards. "Reese is a really talented running back, the No. 1 running back in the state,"...

Waukegan lineman Martin Sotomayor’s long wait to play football again ends Friday. How long? His last game was in 2018.

March 18, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

Illinois high school football players have been waiting a long time to get back on the field for a game. Waukegan senior Martin Sotomayor has been waiting longer than most....

Mundelein's Trey Baker takes the ball to the basket during a game at Zion-Benton on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

Boys basketball notes: Mundelein’s turnaround with class of 2021 culminates not in state finals but in Chipotle Clash of Champions

March 15, 2021 at 5:57 p.m.

Mundelein was a struggling program when Conor Enright, Scottie Ebube, Trey Baker and Jack Bikus arrived in 2017-18. Matt Badgley, who took over as Mundelein's coach that season, said their...

Evanston's Blake Peters takes the ball to the basket against Simeon in a Chipotle Clash of Champions semifinal on Saturday, March 13, 2021. Evanston won 56-47.

Boys basketball notes: Blake Peters, Daeshawn Hemphill and Evanston’s other seniors make one last run together in Clash of Champions

March 15, 2021 at 3:08 p.m.

No Evanston boys basketball player has scored more points than Blake Peters. Yet Wildkits coach Mike Ellis said the senior guard left his mark on the program by doing much...

Round Lake's Deveauntay McNeal, center, puts up a shot as Grayslake Central's Colin O'Malley, left, and Brendan Whalen pressure him during their game in Round Lake on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

Remember the 2017-18 season? Round Lake does. Deveauntay McNeal, Hakim Williams and the Panthers won’t forget how far they’ve come.

March 10, 2021 at 4:24 p.m.

Senior guards Deveauntay McNeal and Hakim Williams have Round Lake standing alone at the top of the Northern Lake County Conference. What a difference three years makes. The Panthers, who...

Warren's Cooper Stacey shoots over Mundelein's Conor Enright during their game in Gurnee on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.

Boys basketball notes: Junior forward Cooper Stacey earned a starting role and extensive minutes for Warren. His work’s not done yet.

March 8, 2021 at 7:22 p.m.

Entering this season, Cooper Stacey knew he'd have the chance to play a vital role for Warren. The Blue Devils returned only three varsity players, and starting positions and minutes...

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