Free Press Advocate

Long joins FPN news staff

Published by admin on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 5:20pm

Shawn Long, of Wilmington, has joined the Free Press Newspapers to help cover high school sports.
    He is a graduate of Illinois State University where he majored in broadcast journalism and was a television sports reporter on the campus news station, TV-10 News.
    Long graduated from Wilmington High School in 2011, and went on to attend Joliet Junior College, where he originally wanted to be an architect. He took a couple of journalism classes and it was a fit.

Saying good-bye to an amazing position

Published by admin on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 5:19pm

It’s never easy to say good-bye, especially when you enjoy the job you’ve been doing the past five years.
    After all, who wouldn’t want their office to be at a baseball diamond, or at a football field. Granted, the recent weather has made me wish I was in the actual office a little more.
    However, as I pack up my desk, ready for that next opportunity on the horizon, I can’t help but look back on the sporting events I have covered, the relationships I have built, and the passionate fans I have met.

Panthers scratch the Wildcats in two

Published by admin on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 5:09pm

The Wilmington varsity baseball team faced Manteno on Wednesday to finish off their conference double-up with a 8-5 loss.
    Manteno tallied six runs in the second inning to make Wilmington play catchup the rest of the game.
    The Wildcats got two runs back in the bottom of the second as Tyler Long launched a two-run homer, to also plate Brock Bolser.
    The Panthers tallied two more runs between the third and fourth innings, as Mantneo held an 8-2 lead heading into the fifth.

Lady Wildcats drop series to the Panthers

Published by admin on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 5:01pm

The Lady Wildcats softball team got swept in a two-game series with Manteno. They dropped their second game on Wednesday in their home match-up, 6-1.
    Wilmington just couldn’t keep pace with Manteno’s offense down the stretch, as the Lady Wildcats could only muster one run in the fourth inning.
    Ava Narine kicked off the fourth frame with a lead-off triple, and eventually crossed the plate thanks to an RBI double from Katie Kucharski.

Lady ‘Cats earn two shutout wins

Published by admin on Tue, 04/17/2018 - 4:52pm

    The Wilmington varsity girls soccer team had a solid week as they went 2-1 through their competitions.
    The Lady Wildcats finished the week off on Friday, as they battled through a 2-0 shutout victory against DePue High School on the road.
    Haleigh Wolcott got the offense rolling, and kept it going, as she accounted for both of the goals in the game.
    Chloe Kirsh picked up an assist in the win.
    It was a pretty dominating game down the stretch in terms of posession, as Rachel Wandless faced just one shot on the net, which she saved.

Mother nature puts a damper on spring sports

Published by admin on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 5:33pm

    Mother Nature has been uncooperative.
    While game cancellations this time of year are typically due to spring thunderstorms, this year has been a different.
    Winter is refusing to go away, and in turn athletes and fans are enduring freezing temperatures and even snow.
    “This year has definitely been different,” said Wilmington Athletic Director, Brian Goff. “Typically in the spring it is rain. You can move a day or two, and you are good. This season it is cold, and it has been consistent. This has definitely been one of the more frustrating springs.”

Matt Nutt to wrestle for UW-Oshkosh

Published by admin on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 5:31pm

    Wilmington wrestling coach Rob Murphy saw another one of his athletes commit to competing at the next level on Friday, as Matt Nutt signed with the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.
    Nutt, who had a strong showing in high school, will continue his academic and wrestling careers as a Titan.

Josh Jones signs to play football for Loras

Published by admin on Tue, 04/10/2018 - 5:30pm

    Wilmington’s Josh Jones announced his college decision Thursday, as he committed playing football at Loras College.
    Jones, who played football, baseball and wrestling for the Wildcats, will head to Dubuque, Iowa in the fall, attending the same college his brother does. Overall, he is just happy to have his decision finalized.

Lady Wildcats hang tough against Beecher, beat Chicago Christian

Published by admin on Tue, 04/03/2018 - 6:09pm

    A big fourth inning by Beecher haunted Wilmington’s varsity softball team Thursday after the Lady ‘Cats looked impressive earlier on and even owned the lead against a top-notch team.
    The Lady Wildcats held a 4-3 lead after three innings, as Megan Mann plated the initial run in the first inning off an RBI single, scoring Lauren O’Donnell.
    Wilmington recorded their other three runs in the third thanks to a three-RBI double from Madison Gorges, scoring Jenny Kucharski, Michelle Gramlich and Mann.

Wildcat offense secures win over Kankakee

Published by admin on Tue, 04/03/2018 - 6:06pm

    The Wilmington varsity baseball team got its offense rolling Wednesday, scoring their most runs in a game this season to defeat  Kankakee 15-2 in five innings.
    The Wildcats didn’t waste any time either, errupting for nine runs in the first inning, as everyone on the roster was hitting.
    Kyle Lewis, Conner Dempsay and Mark Youngquist all blasted singles to load up the bases with no outs.
    Josh Jones smacked a grounder right up the middle, plating Lewis and Dempsay to hand Wilmington the initial 2-1 lead.