The artist as a work in progress

The nostalgic style of the late artist Norman Rockwell doesn't seem edgy enough to captivate today's teens. But it inspires Wheaton Warrenville South senior Joe Bianchi.

An award-winning artist himself, Bianchi said he can't approach Rockwell's craft quite yet: "It's way too good."

We here have been quite impressed, however, with Joe's illustrations that accompanied the "Talking Points" feature over the past year of the DuPage County Sports Monthly sections. Prep sports writer Kevin Schmit had suggested the idea of accompanying illustrations for "Talking Points," and he knew where to turn.

"Joe was always exceptional in class," said Ray Carlini, WW South art teacher and assistant varsity football coach, "and he was always doing some cartooning. Our art department is very talented, and Joe was one of a handful of students I'd talked about.

"His passion for sports is really what struck me. We always talked about the Cubs and the Bears, and I thought maybe this was some kind of opportunity for him to (prepare for) a summer internship. This was before I knew he was going into the Marines."

Bianchi, as he saw it, had three options after high school: continue his work at a restaurant chain, where it may have been possible to run his own franchise; enroll at a facility such as The American Academy of Art in Chicago; or enter the military. He chose the latter, less an offshoot of his interest in competitive paintball than a reflection of personal responsibility.

"It's kind of something I felt is necessary for any able male to do," said Bianchi, who after leaving in October will celebrate his 19th birthday and Christmas in boot camp in San Diego, the start of a five-year commitment to active service.

Of Rockwell's works, Bianchi favors one depicting American soldiers from the Revolutionary War to World War II - we couldn't reach Joe on this, but we're thinking "The Fighting Gillises" - and enjoys creating pieces on military themes himself. While in the Marines he'll continue drawing off duty, and he plans to attend art school after he fulfills his term.

We liked each of Bianchi's witty illustrations for Sports Monthly. Joe's favorites were the ones he composed for debates on public vs. private school tournaments and no-cut rules, in which a bench of basketball players extends into infinity. He usually completed them in one of Carlini's Drawing II classes; he drew his self-portrait in 45 minutes.

Bianchi's father, Claude, older brother Tommy and uncle Lee also showed artistic ability, said Joe, who continued the tradition by being honored at the DuPage County Fair when he was a student at Hubble Middle School, for a picture of Johnny Depp's "Captain Jack Sparrow" character. Bianchi earned two awards of excellence at WW South this year and undoubtedly won the heart of his girlfriend, Amara, by composing not only a watercolor scene of them together in Chicago but a poem to go with it.

That had to score major points. But art, not poetry, is Joe Bianchi's preferred creative medium.

"I can put my ideas out on a piece of paper, I guess, in a style that's not writing," he said. "You can create anything with a pencil."

Coming attractions

Sorry for the late notice, but we'd be remiss not to mention the third annual Tom Schlegel Memorial 5K. The 5-kilometer road race, starting at 8 a.m. Sunday, June 7, will be contested on a course winding throughout the campus at Neuqua Valley.

Tom Schlegel was a beloved physical education teacher and assistant football coach at Neuqua - and a husband and father - who died of lymphoma in 2006. More than 250 people ran in last year's event, which benefits the Tom Schlegel Children's Trust Fund, the Tom Schlegel Scholarship fund and the Neuqua Valley Physical Education Department. Entry fee is $35, with raffle tickets for nifty prizes also available. Visit www.ts5k.com for info.

As announced in February, Wheaton Warrenville South's Pat Dansdill will be presented with the Red Grange Award. The trophy presentation for the All-Area linebacker is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the DuPage Heritage Gallery in the DuPage County Government complex on County Farm Road in Wheaton.

Naperville North teacher and former boys track coach Jack Wright and his wife, Kelly, are presenting the second annual Shriners Scramble Golf Tournament to benefit Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago.

The Wrights have a 3-year-old son, Connor, who was born with a cleft lip and palate. They sought care at Shriners and have been so thankful they founded a golf outing, which last year raised $18,000.

Nongolfers can enjoy a dinner, silent auction and raffle, or contribute a raffle prize or monetary donation. The outing will be held Friday, July 24, at Sycamore Golf Club. Visit www.theshrinersscramble.com for details.

Still got your knees? Hand-eye coordination? Or just want some yucks?

Wheaton Warrenville South is hosting an alumni baseball game - open to former Wheaton Central players, too - at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at the Tigers' ballpark. Call the WW South athletic department, (630) 784-7218, for details.

Caribbean queen

"I live for spontaneity," quipped Benet junior McKinzie Schulz.

So when the nine-time track and cross country all-stater was invited to run the 800 and 1,500 meters in Puerto Rico, of course she said yes.

First in the 800 and second in the 1,600 at the recent girls Class 3A state track meet, Schulz was among 28 athletes nationwide and the sole Illinoisan invited by the National Scholastic Sports Foundation to compete in the fourth Caribbean Scholastic Invitational. It'll be held at the Roberto Clemente Sports Complex on June 13.

"I'm not really super-proud, but I'm just excited about competing internationally," Schulz said of a field that offers teams from Aruba, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Recently voted vice president of Benet's student government, Schulz will also stump this summer at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C., over June 18-20, and the USATF Youth World Trials in Michigan June 30-July 1.

No doubt the defending two-time AAU steeplechase champ will add to her resume, which already interests Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Notre Dame, Illinois, Georgetown and Michigan.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com