Free Press Advocate

Best baseball players in the ICE

Published by admin on Tue, 05/31/2022 - 3:22pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The baseball season in the Illinois Central Eight came to an end with Coal City being eliminated by Joliet Catholic Academy in the Sectional championship game on Saturday.
The Coalers, Comets and ‘Cats had many standouts, 10 of which were given the nod as All-Conference players.

ICE names best kickers in conference

Published by admin on Tue, 05/31/2022 - 3:21pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Nine area soccer players were named standouts in the Illinois Central Eight Conference as they were voted onto the ICE All-Conference team.
Reed-Custer (10-6, 4-3) made it all the way to the regional championship game, falling to Peotone in the title match. They still finished fifth in the ICE Conference, giving the All-Conference nod to Brooklyn Harding and Taylin Pippenger.
Brooklyn Harding

Wildcats have season come to an end in regional loss to JCA

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 3:41pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington baseball team had a hard time stringing together rallies against Joliet Catholic Academy pitchers as they were held to six hits in a 9-3 loss to JCA during the Braidwood (Reed-Custer) Regional quarterfinal game.
It was hot, muggy and hard to pitch with wind gusts of 20 mph.

WHS Greenridge inches from qualifying for state

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 3:40pm

On Wednesday, May 18, the Wildcat Boys competed in the IHSA Boys Sectional Track and Field Meet in Seneca.
The top performance on the night was by Joel Greenidge in long jump sho surpassed his previous personal best distance by two feet. Greenridge jumped 19’05 and missed qualifying for state by two inches.
The boys had 3 personal records (PR’s) on the day, ending their season total at 88. A PR is an improvement on a person’s previous mark or the establishment of a personal record.  Performances by the boys included:

Southall brings home two state champ medals

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 3:39pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wilmington Middle School track eighth grader Molly Southall brought home first place medals in two events during the Illinois Elementary Association 3A State Track & Field Championship which was held in Peoria on Friday and Saturday.

Lady ‘Cat kickers break records during historic soccer season

Published by admin on Tue, 05/17/2022 - 3:55pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington soccer team had their impressive season come to an end in a 5-1 loss to Reed-Custer on Wednesday during the Braidwood (Reed-Custer) Regional semifinal game.
Reed-Custer jumped in front with three first half goals to take a 3-0 lead into the break.
The ‘Cats finally cut into the Comet lead as senior Abbie Rampa would get the feed from Alexa Clark and fired it through to make it 3-1 at 24:17 left in the second.

Wildcats oust Tigers, next up top-seed JCA

Published by admin on Tue, 05/17/2022 - 3:51pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington baseball team is moving on to the regional semifinal game after a 10-0 shutout win over Herscher in the Reed-Custer regional play-in game on Monday.
Kaden Humphries threw a two-hit shutout and Jacob Friddle led the offense with a home run, triple and two runs driven in.

WHS Kate McCann is heading back to state

Published by admin on Tue, 05/17/2022 - 3:50pm

Will compete
in three events
On Thursday, May 12, the Lady Wildcats traveled to compete in the IHSA Girls Sectional Track and Field Meet in Seneca.
There were many splendid performances on this hot, but near, perfect day for track and field. The girls finished 7th in the 16-team field. Kate McCann, Sr, had a fabulous day, qualifying for the state finals in three events.

Lady ‘Cats dismantle Redskins to get to rematch with Panthers

Published by admin on Tue, 05/17/2022 - 3:49pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington softball team came out swinging with 14 hits Monday to upend Momence 15-0 during the play-in game to the Manteno Regional.
Momence’s pitcher was plunked in the head by her own catcher on the throw down and had to leave the game. She stayed up in the dugout and so did her team. Wilmington coach Jack Skole gives them all the credit in the world for not falling apart after losing their pitcher.

‘Cats run near bottom of Black Diamond Invite

Published by admin on Tue, 05/10/2022 - 3:51pm

The Running Wildcats placed sixth and eighth in the Black Diamond Invititational held in Coal City on Monday.
The girls finished sixth with 34 points in the 8-team field while the boys finished last in the 8-team field with four points.
The girls had Kate McCann run to a first in the 200 meter dash, a season record and a firrst in the long jump.
The boys were led by Hunter Osipavicius, who placed fifth in the 100 meter dash.
Girls performances
McCann-200-26.4-SR-1st, long jump-4.94m-1st.
Julia McCully-100-14.0-PR-4th.