When Marist principal Larry Tucker witnesses the success the athletic program has had in recent seasons, he admits to being a little jealous. Marist’s girls volleyball team reached the state quarterfinals for the first time in November, while the boys and girls basketball teams are currently area-ranked, the boys volleyball team captured the state championship during the 2009-2010 season and the football team finished as state runners-up in 2010. “We didn’t get to go down state when I was in high school,” said Tucker, who was a star basketball player at Marist. “I always envy those kids.” …

One of the many aspects Larry Tucker enjoys about being the principal at Marist High School is the old acquaintances he runs into through the years. Even if some bring back bad memories. “Mallory Salis, who is a student at Marist and was on the state volleyball team, came up to me after a game this year and told me her dad (Gary) played against me,” Tucker said. “I asked what team he played for and when she said Oak Lawn I realized that he was the one that ended my high school career. He hit a half-court shot to win the game. When he came down from the stands, we gave each other a hard time. …

During his college basketball career at Northwestern, Larry Gorman had been dubbed with a less than flattering nickname. He certainly understood it, however. “I guess my nickname was often-injured,” said the 1987 Oak Forest graduate. After playing through a broken finger in his final high school game, Gorman endured an injury-riddled collegiate career. A hernia cut short a promising freshman season, but the real trouble started his sophomore campaign. “I just stood up during practice and my disc blew out,” Gorman said. “I had some hereditary issues with back problems and basketball just …

Oak Forest graduate Larry Gorman still wonders if his high school career could’ve ended differently nearly 25 years later. In the midst of a history-making season in 1987, Oak Forest boys basketball coach Ken Connor was suspended for the remainder of the year just a week before the postseason began by then-principal Edward Roberts for what he called conduct detrimental to the overall athletic program. The Bengals still managed to earn the program’s first and only state berth before losing to eventual champion East St. Louis Lincoln 64-58 in the quarterfinals. Oak Forest (28-3) actually led 24…

Emily Heikes hoped to lead Stagg to its first state basketball appearance during her high school career. It didn’t work out that way, but she got to enjoy plenty of championships during her four years on the Purdue University women’s basketball team. “Every year except my senior season, we won some kind of championship,” said Heikes, a 2001 Stagg graduate. “We didn’t get to go down state in high school, which was our goal, but being able to cut down the nets and having confetti falling on you after winning Big Ten championships and wearing the hats and T-shirts was just an unbelievable …

Growing up with two older brothers never fazed Emily Heikes when it came to playing sports. In fact, the 2001 Stagg graduate credits her successful basketball career to the bumps and bruises she endured during family pick-up games. “I have two older brothers and they would beat up on me,” the now 27-year-old Heikes said. “I give them credit for my toughness. Any time that we would play, they didn’t hold anything back because I was younger or a girl. They were a big influence on me. "At any family parties, we would always get a game going in the driveway. You would always bring a change of …

Andrew graduate Ken Trumpey is not proud of his actions at the state bowling tournament his senior year in high school, but it was never personal. The Thunderbolts were on the verge of winning their second consecutive state championship in 2006 when Trumpey set his sights on teammate and good friend Tony Yakes. “Tony got the spotlight and did amazing the previous year,” Trumpey said. “Sadly enough, I wanted to beat Tony so bad. Going into the last game, I knew we were going to win state, so I was trying to beat him. We just always strived to be the best. Whoever did the worse between all of …

When former Andrew boys bowling coach Mike Murphy thinks back to his Thunderbolts teams that won back-to-back state championships, in 2005 and 2006, he doesn’t hold back in the comparison department. “Remember the ‘Dream Team’ (the 1992 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team) with Michael Jordan and Larry Bird and the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team? That’s what those teams were like,” Murphy said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Championship teams all have this thing called chemistry, and they had it in spades. “Those championships were one of the highlights of my life. It was a …

Whenever Keri (Lorenzen) Cialdella attends a sporting event for her niece, Laura Lorenzen, or nephew, Casey Lorenzen, she can’t help but think about her high school days. “When I hear their names over the loudspeaker, it brings back memories,” said the 1989 Tinley Park graduate and basketball star. “I’ll never forget those days. It was the most special time of my life. It’s exciting to be back at Tinley Park for games now. I still have my loyalties to Tinley.” After graduating from DePaul University, Cialdella coached the freshmen basketball team at Tinley Park and was an assistant volleyball…

Keri (Lorenzen) Cialdella quickly realized her first impression of Central Middle School basketball coach Lou Broccolo was exaggerated. It did jumpstart her basketball career, however. “In my eyes, he was this big Italian guy with veins sticking out of his neck,” Cialdella said with a laugh. “He told me, ‘You’re going to play basketball.' I was like, ‘OK.' I had no intentions of playing basketball and then I walked through the junior high doors and saw Lou and everything changed. I credit Lou with my basketball career.” What a career it turned out to be. After being a two-time all-conference …

Growing up in East Chicago Heights, Chris McFarland can relate to many of his student-athletes at Fenger High School. He’s had an impact on the lives of many as a math teacher and head wrestling coach at the Chicago Public League School the last nine years. “It’s similar to where I came from, impoverished, low income and at risk,” said McFarland, a 1982 Bloom Trail graduate. “To make a difference and help them with discipline, self-confidence and respect means a lot to me. Of course, winning a few matches is nice, but I’m more concerned about winning in life.” McFarland helped Bloom Trail win…

Former Bloom Trail wrestling coach Ron Ray remembers exactly when he first thought 1982 had the chance to be a history-making season for the program. “I recognized halfway through the magical season that these guys were pretty special,” said Ray, who was a two-time All-American and NCAA individual champion at Oklahoma State in 1975. “I was a national champion, and I had trouble with and could not physically compete with our bigger weights. They were tough kids, and I thought they were going to raise some hell.” Ray was right. Bloom Trail went on to win the program’s first and only state …

As Scott Cappos was becoming a three-time All-America selection for Indiana University in shot put, the next opportunity came from his birth certificate. A coach noticed dual citizenship during paperwork. Cappos’ father emigrated from Canada, where Cappos was born before becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. The 1987 Class AA state champion for Oak Lawn Community High School, Cappos could represent Canada internationally. “The U.S. has the best shot putters in the world,” Cappos said. “I kind of looked at it as an opportunity to travel all over the world to do what I loved. Having Canada or U.…

Involved in four sports growing up, Scott Cappos was beginning to believe that his best was throwing the shot put. When he entered Oak Lawn High School, he discovered there still was a long way to go. “The fall of my freshman year, I got third in shot in my P.E. class. And that was just one out of 10 P.E. classes,” Cappos said. “It didn’t start out as well as it turned out to be.” By the time Cappos graduated, he was the 1987 Class AA state champion under legendary coach George Dunn. Cappos also earned a partial athletic scholarship to Indiana University and competed for Canada, his birth …

While finishing up his master’s degree at Quincy University in 2009, Excell Hardy decided to stop by his old stomping grounds to visit some acquaintances at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. It proved to be a worthwhile trip for the 2004 H-F graduate. “I came to visit (current H-F basketball) coach Jim McLaughlin and (former H-F coach) Roy Condotti and the guys to see how they were doing,” Hardy said. “Coach Mac said now that you’re back we could really use your help connecting with the guys. "I had some coaching experience under my belt and wasn’t too far removed from my playing days. I was …

During his Hall of Fame career, Roy Condotti has had the opportunity to coach many players that have gone on to star at major Division I colleges or play in the NBA. Homewood-Flossmoor graduate Excell Hardy may not fit that description, but he does make an elite list of the longtime coach. “He’s probably one of the top five players I’ve ever had the chance to coach,” said Condotti, who won 385 games and made state title runs during his stints at Westinghouse and H-F. “Since the time he was a sophomore, he was just a winner. Some kids are winners, but they can’t bring other guys along with …

The high school accomplishments of current Oak Forest varsity girls tennis and girls track coach Erica Amoni have become a daily reminder for the athletes Amoni coaches. Team and individual photos that feature Amoni, a 1995 Oak Forest graduate, and others from her playing era line the walls of the school’s lunchroom. One of those photos, featuring Amoni and her SICA championship tennis teammates, is located near the microwave. “The kids always joke with me now. They say, ‘Every time I heat up food, I see you, Coach,’ ” Amoni said. It’s just like old times for Amoni in many ways. The four-year…

Marian Catholic football coach Dave Mattio earned his 250th career victory Friday when the Spartans defeated Bloom 21-13. One person certainly not surprised by the impressive accomplishment is 1994 Marian graduate Terence Marable, who helped the Spartans win a state championship in 1993. “I love Dave Mattio,” Marable said. “Being a young man, I very much enjoyed playing for him and having him mentor us. He was a great leader for the team, and I can’t say enough about him. I enjoyed the time I got to play under his tutelage.” Mattio, who has coached Marian since 1976, has a career record of …

When Terence Marable was in fifth grade he remembers his friend, Kyle Savino, putting a damper on their summer plans. “My best friend started playing football,” Marable said. “I didn’t have anybody to hang out with, so I started playing and had some success as a youngster. I never would’ve started playing then if it wasn’t for him. I’m glad it happened, and he’s still a good friend today.” Marable would go on to star at Crete-Monee Junior High before becoming Marian Catholic’s all-time leading rusher and helping the Spartans capture the program’s lone state championship in 1993. Marian …

When Crete-Monee’s Carlos Posada broke the Illinois record for most career goals Oct. 11, no one knew what the experience was like more than Billy Savarino. The 1993 Brother Rice graduate was the previous record holder. “As he was inching closer to the record, I reached out to (Crete-Monee) coach (Julian Lagunas) and wished him and (Posada) luck,” Savarino said. “I told him I knew exactly what he was going through. "I felt a lot of pressure when I was getting closer. It was always on my mind and I felt a lot of weight on my shoulders. I told him to just play his game because that kind of …