Articles filed under Radtke, John

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There’s a little northern yet local flavor to Larkin Slugfest Apr 26, 2012 12:00 AM
Steve Salisbury is putting his turkey hunt on hold for a week this year. And thats no small thing for a someone in Rice Lake, Wis. to do. But its a bit of a homecoming for Salisbury Saturday when the Rice Lake Warriors come to Elgin to play in the 19th annual Larkin Slugfest softball tournament at the Elgin Sports Complex.
St. Edward’s Chicagoland Challenge hoping for good weather Apr 12, 2012 12:00 AM
When former St. Edward softball coach Peg Corcoran started the Chicagoland Challenge tournament in 2002, the idea was to have a one-day tournament for Class A schools. The advent of 4-class softball made that not possible the last few years, but with defending Class 3A state champ Marengo having left the field, the only team not a Class 1A or 2A squad this year is Hampshire. The Chicagoland Challenge will be played for the 10th time Saturday at the Elgin Sports Complex, weather permitting. Last year the tournament was rained out for the first time but despite the current forecast for Saturdays event, Green Wave coach Jaci Corn and the City of Elgin are prepared to do all they can to get this years tournament in.
Vogt knows the challenges she faces at Larkin Mar 23, 2012 12:00 AM
When Anne Vogt crouched down to catch warmup pitches from Kiernan Schock at Larkins home opener on March 15, she understandbly had a bit of a flashback. I was thinking, I havent done this on this field during a game since 1992, Vogt said. Vogt was one of the best softball players to ever play in the Fox Valley area. Her game was solid offensively and defensively and she was, as coaches love to put it, a student of the game. Its no wonder Vogt has made softball her life. Its always been her passion and after playing at ECC and Judson University, she started putting her knowledge to work as both a privtae instructor and as the head coach at ECC for 12 years.
A look back, ahead at Fox Valley girls basketball Mar 8, 2012 12:00 AM
Its been a few years since weve presented our season-ending look at the Fox Valley girls basketball season this far into March. Thanks, Bartlett and we mean that in a good way. It had been five years since a Fox Valley team had made it to Redbird Arena, so this was my first state tournament under the four-class system. Ive covered a couple state volleyball tournaments with four classes and didnt like it very much, but basketball? Not a fan.
A great exit for Bartlett's eight seniors Mar 4, 2012 12:00 AM
The Whitney Young team Bartlett lost to in Friday nights girls basketball semifinals might just go down as one of the best teams in Illinois girls basketball history. Hard to argue with 34-0 and a No. 2 national ranking. So what the Hawks had to do Saturday was regroup for the third place game against Loyola, which at first glance looked far from imposing, with only one 6-footer and that one being a freshman. The Ramblers gave Bartlett all the Hawks could handle, but in the end the Hawks got monster efforts from their seniors down the stretch and prevailed 61-59 in overtime in one of the best consolation games youll ever see.
Bartlett’s trip to state allows for walk down memory lane Feb 29, 2012 12:00 AM
Preparing to cover a team in the girls state basketball tournament always becomes a combination of exhaustive research on the participants as well as a walk down memory lane. Many times, memory lane has multiple avenues, especially when it’s a group of seniors who have been together a long time, and the program is one that’s been there before but doesn’t have the luxuries of some and can’t take a state trip to the bank as a given every year.
Baker the latest Bartlett player to make a difference Feb 27, 2012 12:00 AM
The hardest Bartlett player to find during Monday night's postgame mayhem at Chesbrough Field House was Janessa Baker. DeKalb probably wishes she wouldn't have shown up at all. In a sea of 6-footers on the fabled tartan floor at Elgin High, it was one of the smallest — and quickest — who turned the tide in the Hawks' 48-30 win over DeKalb in the Class 4A Elgin supersectional.
Bartlett fine with being both lucky and goodFeb 25, 2012 12:00 AM
The old saying tells us it's better to be lucky than good. But we all know it's best to be lucky and good. And if that's what the Bartlett girls basketball team has been this season, it's just fine with Hawks' coach Denise Sarna.
On a team of sectional champs, Bartlett's Videckis stands out Feb 23, 2012 12:00 AM
There's not a single player on Bartlett's girls basketball team who didn't contribute to Thursday night's exhilirating 54-51 overtime win over Wheaton Warrenville South in the championship game of the Class 4A Hoffman Estates sectional. From the starters, to the role players, to those who never took their warmups off, the way Bartlett kept its cool in the face of adversity is what team basketball is all about. But when it came to crunch time, it was Haley Videckis' time to shine, just as the Hawks' senior leader has done all season.
Palmer's presence a big plus for Bartlett Feb 20, 2012 12:00 AM
It doesn't take a coaching genius to figure out that to slow down the Bartlett girls basketball team this season, you have to control the scoring of senior standouts Haley Videckis and Kristin Conniff. But any team that is 29-1 at this point of the year better have more than two players who can carry the load, or it might just be jersey turn-in day before you expected it. Lisa Palmer is one of those Bartlett players who doesn't get the attention Videckis and Conniff do — on the court, in the press, or by opposing coaches sometimes.
Burlington grad Hilbrich embraces new challenge Feb 18, 2012 12:00 AM
During her outstanding athletic career at both Burlington Central and then Wisconsin-Whitewater, Cindy Hilbrich was never one to shy away from a challenge. When you played against Hilbrich, regardless of the sport, you knew you were going against one of the toughest competitors the Fox Valley has ever seen. Hilrbich’s latest challenge is one she’s embracing with all the zeal and competitiveness she became known for during her playing career.
Bartlett hosting third annual Kay Yow Pink Night Jan 26, 2012 12:00 AM
The Bartlett girls basketball program will be hosting its third annual Remembering Kay Yow Pink Night on Tuesday when the Hawks entertain District U-46 rival South Elgin. The event will honor survivors and remember those who have lost their battle with cancer. The program is hoping to reach its goal of $4,000 for the third straight year, with all proceeds going to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Yow, who spent most of her coaching career at North Carolina State and is one of the winningest women’s coaches of all time, passed away three years ago after battling breast cancer for 22 years. At Tuesday’s game, pink T-shirts will be sold for $7 and there will be raffles. The Bartlett High School teams and the Bartlett feeder program have also been shooting free throws to raise funds for the event.
Larkin grad Hatchett living her dream as a Luvabull Jan 20, 2012 12:00 AM
So many athletes, so little time to keep up on them all when they graduate. That’s our plight most of the time. As hard as we try to keep tabs on all of our area athletes through college and beyond it’s just not possible. Thankfully, we have loyal readers like Todd Opsahl who drop a phone call now and then with some news. And while this one’s a little off the beaten path of local sports, it’s quite the “former local athlete doing good” story. It’s about Elgin resident and 2008 Larkin graduate Ellis Hatchett, who was a standout softball player for the Royals during her high school years.
Jacobs’ Kirker, Grady make college choices Jan 5, 2012 12:00 AM
Two Jacobs High School senior female athletes recently made their college choices, and both have decided to stay close enough to home to allow their friends and families to continue to see them compete. Katie Kirker, a softball player who has overcome two ACL surgeries, has committed to play for coach Becky Stenning at Judson University while Lauren Grady, who transferred to Jacobs from Marian Central before her junior year, has decided to join coach Chris Koenig’s women’s soccer program at Lewis University in Romeoville.
Charger Classic had all the elements again Dec 30, 2011 12:00 AM
It didn’t take long to figure out that the 29th Annual Charger Classic Christmas Tournament at Dundee-Crown this week was going to offer its usual variety of drama and girls basketball excellence. From Maine West’s thrilling 54-53 upset of Prospect in the tournament’s first game right on through to Game 32, Bartlett’s 76-66 championship game win over New Trier, the Charger Classic again offered some of the best girls basketball you’ll find outside the state tournament anywhere in Illinois.
Zierk was truly the ‘Mom of Central’ Dec 15, 2011 12:00 AM
Today’s column was going to be some random questions and thoughts about the upcoming basketball holiday tournament season. But that’s going to have to wait. Life threw us a little curveball Wednesday night when we learned of the sudden passing of Marsha Zierk.
No reason to believe Bartlett won’t be very good again Nov 17, 2011 12:00 AM
Bartlett girls basketball coach Denise Sarna was in one of those situations last year that coaches dream about. She had too many starters. Well, of course she only had five starters, but she had enough talent on her 2010-11 team to honestly say any of about eight of them could have started at any time.
Elgin Sports Hall of Fame banquet a night of nostalgia Nov 7, 2011 12:00 AM
If you’re a fan of nostalgia, the Heritage Ballroom at The Centre of Elgin was the place to be Sunday night. Putting aside the fact that many of us in the room showed our age by reminiscing — catching up with former Larkin football coach Ray Haley was my favorite part of the night — it’s always a special time when the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation holds its annual banquet and induction ceremony, and bringing the event to an Elgin venue this year made it even better.
Elgin Sports Hall of Fame set for its big night Nov 5, 2011 12:00 AM
In a manner of speaking, the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame is truly coming home Sunday night. The ESHOF’s 32nd annual induction ceremony and banquet will be held at The Centre of Elgin for the first time after a longstanding run at Villa Olivia in Bartlett. And to kick things off, the Hall of Fame Foundation will rededicate its Wall of Fame at The Centre at 4:30 p.m. The banquet and induction ceremony will follow.
New attitude at Burlington turns into winning formula Oct 13, 2011 12:00 AM
Rich Crabel knew the knock on the Burlington Central football program when he was chosen to replace Aaron Wichman as the Rockets’ head coach this past summer. It wasn’t so much about the winning and losing — although three straight years with no playoff berth wasn’t sitting kindly around Rocket Hill. It wasn’t even about the talent. Injuries had decimated the team in two of the past three seasons, so talent wasn’t really an issue. It was about attitude. It was about involving the community. It was about getting everyone on the same page.