Free Press Advocate

Five fish caught so far in river fishing derby

Published by admin on Mon, 07/02/2018 - 3:51pm

by shawn long
staff writer
    A Momence man will be shopping in Wilmington after catching a tagged fish in the 35th annual Kankakee River Valley Fishing Derby.
    Joseph Catona of Momence caught “R&D The Mar”, a tagged fish sponsored by the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce worth $500 in gift certificates. It’s name is to honor Rick Smith and Denise Issert of the Mar Theatre who are the 2017 Business persons of the year.
    It is one of five tagged fish caught so far, adding up to $3,500 in prizes as of Monday.

Come from behind win for D'Orazio

Published by admin on Mon, 07/02/2018 - 3:47pm

by Shawn long
staff writer    
    The Wilmington Bronco boys baseball team sponsored by D’Orazio Ford came from behind to win the Galaxy Championship on Thurday in a Wilmington  tournament that started June 11.
    “Giving all the kids an opportunity to learn each position gave us the experience needed to make a come-from-behind win,” said coach Loren Burkey.

The life lessons taught on a trip to Cooperstown

Published by admin on Mon, 07/02/2018 - 3:44pm

by shawn long
staff writer    
    I walked out on the mound with runners on base and our team trailing. I kicked the dirt, dug into the rubber and looked at catcher Tyler Anderson.
    He gave me the number one, signaling a fastball. I fired one as hard as I possibly could, getting a “strike” call from the umprire.
    I got the ball back, ahead in the count with some confidence from that last heave, ready to do it all over again.

Eight area kickers named All-Conference

Published by admin on Tue, 06/26/2018 - 5:18pm

by shawn long
staff writer    
    Eight athletes from the Coal City, Reed-Custer and Wilmington soccer squads were named to the Interstate Eight All Conference soccer team.
    Coal City’s Bridget Kauzlaric, Lauren Phillips and Sarah Moore were all recognized for their 2018 season.
    In her senior season, Kauzlaric led the Lady Coalers by scoring 15 goals while assisting in six others.
    Phillips, a junior, was the number two player for the Lady Coalers, scoring five goals from the forward position, coming up big whenever her team needed it.

‘Cats will play a full slate of I-8 teams

Published by admin on Tue, 06/26/2018 - 5:03pm

by shawn long
staff writer    
    With the football schedule locked in and made available to the public, the Wilmington Wildcats will be dealing with all familiar teams in 2018.
    The ‘Cats come off an 10-2 season where they made it to the Class 3A quarterfinals before losing 46-21 to the two-time state champions, IC Catholic.

New champions for memorial softball tourney

Published by admin on Tue, 06/26/2018 - 5:00pm

BY Shawn Long
staff writer
    Carbon Hill Homecoming softball tournament ended Sunday night with a new champion.
    The Josh Cumming Memorial Softball Tournament was won by Low Voltage Solutions from Crest Hill, IL who beat Gippers Here 4 Beer in the championship game.
    It was a title game that earlier in the week looking like might never come after several delays due to rain.

Wilmington team lives the Cooperstown dream

Published by admin on Tue, 06/26/2018 - 4:56pm

By Shawn Long

Staff Writer

Wilmington girls improve fundamentally during shootout

Published by admin on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 2:44pm

by shawn Long
staff writer    
    The Wilmington girls basketball team got some  court time in last Tuesday, competing in the Braidwood Shootout, the first year girls have ever been invited.
    The Lady Wildcats started neck-and-neck with Coal City in the first game.    They could not however, come all the way back losing 35-26.
    That pushed them to the consolation bracket to play Clifton Central, who was dominated by Reed-Custer in the first round 30-13.

Young Wildcats to build upon Braidwood shootout

Published by admin on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 2:42pm

BY shawn long
staff writer
    The Wilmington boys basketball team competed in the Braidwood Shootout last week, not having the success they had hoped for but gaining insight on what it takes to win.
    Their day started with a 67-36 loss to Bishop McNamara, sending them to the loser’s bracket.
    A quick and sound Grant Park team ran the ball on Wilmington in the second game, beating the ‘Cats  63-48.

Godley venue just as entertaining as big-time wrestling

Published by admin on Tue, 06/19/2018 - 2:35pm

by shawn long
staff writer    
    Bringing professional wrestling to the village of Godley, population 695, seemed like a far-fetched idea three years ago.
    But organizers with Northern Lights Wrestling liked the small venue of the Godley Park District gym, and its ability to draw fans from the Chicago southland. The strongest influence was  they had a wrestler who was local who wanted to bring something new to the region.