The best of 2008 sure look great

So how'd they rate in 2008? Let's take a look. Here are my top prep sports stories in Lake County from the past year.

1. Hoopin' it up

Oh, sure, the county produces major-college athletes every year. But usually they kick a soccer ball, or swim, or block and tackle, or deliver wicked serves and volleys, or twirl on bars. Rarely do these kids slam-dunk a basketball or flash freakish skills in the open court.

The past year saw Zion-Benton's boys basketball team nearly win a state championship, as the Zee-Bees lost in the Class 4A final to Richards by just a 67-63 margin.

Lake County has probably never a better collection of boys basketball talent. Warren senior Brandon Paul committed to Illinois as a junior and is now signed with the Illini. Z-B junior Lenzelle Smith verbally committed to Ohio State before the season. Lake Forest senior Matt Vogrich is Michigan-bound. Smith's Zee-Bees teammates Markus Yarbrough has committed to Tennessee State. Mundelein's high-scoring junior Ben Brust is almost certain to play major-college hoops, and don't forget about sharpshooter Connor Mooney at Lake Zurich.

The year ended with Paul and his Warren teammates winning the prestigious Pontiac Holiday Tournament on New Year's Eve.

And we thought Lake County basketball was all about Sarah Boothe. While the former Warren star is now a freshman at Stanford, at least the boys are showing they have big-time talent too.

It's about time.

2. Our Bailey dose

She was tough at the volleyball net, a good rebounder on the basketball court, and before Grant coach Jim Cramer persuaded her to go out for track and field, she seemed destined to be a star slugger on the softball team.

Suffice it to say, Bailey Wagner made the right choice in choosing to wing a shot and discus.

In downstate Charleston last May, Wagner, a Georgia Tech signee, won the state championship in the discus with a state-record toss of 157-feet-8, 7 inches farther than the state runner-up.

She settled for second in the shot put, an event she won at state the previous two seasons. Funny thing is, Wagner broke the state record in the shot put in the prelims, only to see that mark smashed by eventual champ Daniella Bunch of Mahomet-Seymour.

Wagner's teammate, Illinois State recruit Tori Ziegler, finished fourth in both the shot put and discus. The dynamic duo helped Grant finish fifth.

"It's kind of surreal that it's over," Wagner told our Michael Eaken. "But it has been a fun ride."

3. Denis the Menace and more tennis

What would Warren boys tennis be without a dynamite Denis or Dennis, wielding a racket?

Blue Devils junior Denis Bogatov captured state glory last May by topping top-seeded Eric Spector of Glenbrook North 7-6 (5), 7-5 for the singles state championship at Hersey. Two years earlier, Warren's Dennis Nevolo won the state singles crown. Before him, Dennis Polyakov ruled the courts before transferring from Warren to Texas following his sophomore year.

Bogatov, who also earned All-American status, and the doubles duo of Igor Fedorov and Konrad Siczek (third-team all-state) helped the Blue Devils tie for sixth place at state.

"Today was just a great day for Warren tennis," coach Greg Cohen told our Mike Garofola.

May 24 was also a great day for Stevenson tennis. The Patriots finished second in the state, one point behind Hinsdale Central.

Lake County ruled the doubles final, with Highland Park's Ben Woldenberg/Sam Barnett topping Stevenson's freshman tandem of Ross Putterman/David Packowitz 6-1, 6-1. Highland Park finished fourth.

4. The White stuff

From 0-9 two years ago to 9-0. Then 10-0, 11-0, 12-0.

In its 13th game of the season, Antioch's football team finally lost.

Led by the superior talents of senior running back Cameron White, second-year coach Brian Glashagel's Sequoits advanced to the Class 6A state semifinals - only the second time they got that far in the playoffs.

The shifty, speedy White rushed for nearly 1,800 yards and scored 35 touchdowns. He had help, too. Besides White, Antioch also boasted all-conference selections Jake Anderson, Tom Gerstner, Vinnie Holm, Travis Kwielford, Steve Lorenzini, Alec Paramski, Matt Romani and Louis Schultz.

Antioch's season ended with a 38-14 loss to Lemont.

"I'll never forget (the season)," the spunky QB Romani told me before limping off Lemont's spiffy turf on that cold night of Nov. 22. "It's probably the last time I'm ever going to play... But it was awesome."

The town of Antioch will never forget its 2008 football team.

5. Twisting and shouting

Fremd's girls gymnastics team won state, because the Vikings always do, but no county did better at state than Lake last February.

Stevenson (147.875) was second, Warren (147.050) third and Carmel (145.550) fifth.

Warren was powered by the power and grace of Kim Gotlund and Kacie Holop. Gotlund finished second in the all-around, placed fourth on vault, tied for seventh on bars and was 10th on beam. Fellow all-arounder Holop hopped to a second-place tie on floor.

Stevenson was led by Stephanie Wojton (finalist on bars and beam, ninth in the all-around) and Chelsie Seplowin (fourth on beam, eighth in the all-around).

Carmel soared with MaryAnn Oehlerking (tie for fifth on bars) and Amber Mirski (10th in the all-around, finalist on bars and floor).

"I knew they had the potential," Stevenson coach Judy Harwood told our Rusty Silber of her state runner-up girls. "I really didn't expect them to be this strong, be so competitive and so consistent. They were so composed under pressure."

6. Slam-Duncan

Not to be confused with Stevenson swim teammate Matt Duncan, Duncan Partridge dunked his competition in pools.

The Stevenson senior sped to a runner-up finish at state last winter in the 50-yard freestyle (20.59) and third-place effort in the 100 free (46.16). The Iowa recruit swam the maximum four races at state on that final Saturday, as he also helped the Patriots earn ninth-place medals in the 200 and 400 free relays.

Jamie Clark, Greg Spigelman, Duncan and Partridge collaborated on the 200 free. Clark, Ty Kuper, Duncan and Partridge comprised the 400 free.

Matt Duncan. Duncan Partridge. Man, that still makes my head swim.

7. Izzy gets busy

It'll make you dizzy what Izzy did.

Yes, it was Izzy Montemayor who earned a state medal for coach Ryan Geist's tradition-rich wrestling program at Grant.

While defending state champ Lee Munster couldn't bounce back from his quarterfinal loss, it was his less-heralded teammate Montemayor who made sure Grant had another memorable state meet in Champaign last February.

Montemayor reached the 125-pound state final and nearly won himself a title. He fell 3-1 to two-time state champ Tony Ramos of Glenbard North.

"I've been fortunate to be around so many great wrestlers during my four years (at Grant)," Montemayor told our Mike Garofola after finishing his season with a 40-4 mark.

Those wrestling greats at Grant inspired him, Montemayor said. Montemayor earned a ride to Northern Illinois.

Rest assured, he's inspired kids who now sweat in Grant's wrestling room.

8. They shoot ... they score

Stevenson's water polo teams sure did a lot of shooting and scoring - and winning - last winter.

Coach Jeff Wimer's Stevenson's girls finished third in the state thanks to an 11-7 win over Naperville Central, while coach Sean Wimer's boys team also reached state.

The girls were led offensively by Becca Shopiro and Amy Michelau who scored 60 and 50 goals, respectively.

The Patriots' boys team packed an even more prolific 1-2 scoring bunch. Swimming stars Jamie Clark and Greg Spigelman were the go-to men in swim caps. Clark fired in 86 goals, while Spigelman tallied 79.

9. Major feat for Minor

She had a goal of winning state. Then Carmel Catholic's Jasmine Minor lost in the semifinals to top-seed Elizabeth Epstein of F.W. Parker 6-3, 6-4.

Minor told herself to get over it, and she did.

She went out and beat Barrington's Kristy Dodge 6-4, 6-2 to finish third on that windy day of Oct. 25.

"You really have to toughen up," Minor told our John Juettner after her final match. "You've got to suck it up. The losses only make you stronger."

10. Getting their kicks

Its star stood only 5 feet 3, but Carmel Catholic's girls soccer team stood out like a giant.

The Corsairs reached the Class AA state quarterfinals with a 22-1 record, only to lose to Downers Grove South 1-0 in overtime.

It was one of the few times that Sara Petermann didn't score. The 5-3 senior totaled 37 goals and 20 assists in a magical season. She got big-time support from sophomore Kassidy Brown (17 goals, 18 assists), Maggie Ogrinc (13 goals, 12 assists) and a host of other veterans.

"If it wasn't for them I wouldn't have that many goals," Petermann told our Rusty Silber. "I give my props to them."

I give mine to all those who made 2008 another memorable year.