Wheaton's Thonn getting back in the game
A football guy like Steve Thonn must have a team to coach, so it's a relief that Thonn is back on the job.
One of the top athletes Wheaton's ever produced - whether roaming the old Pony League Field, at Wheaton North High or at Wheaton College, where he's in the Hall of Honor - Thonn has been hired as head coach of the Cleveland Gladiators.
Just before Christmas, he said, he was chosen to lead the franchise in the new Arena Football 1 (AF1) league, a 15-team group that includes the new version of the Chicago Rush.
Thonn had a homecoming of sorts in 2008 against the Rush. As head coach of the Arena League's Grand Rapids franchise the offensive guru led the Rampage into the American Conference semifinals at the Allstate Arena and came away victorious.
Meanwhile, the first inception of the Cleveland Gladiators was also playing in the 2008 semifinals. Thonn will get a another crack at the Rush when the Gladiators visit Chicago on April 11.
First, he's got to get a team before training camp starts March 15. On Tuesday Thonn said he had 10 players, though Cleveland's Web site lists 13.
After financial difficulties bankrupted the former AFL and wiped out the 2009 season, many players went on with their lives and pursued a career outside of football, Thonn said.
One player he's got his eye on: Wheaton North and Wheaton College graduate Pete Ittersagen, the last cut of the Jacksonville Jaguars entering this NFL season.
Fitting tributeThis Saturday, Jan. 23, York's main "Green and White" gym will be officially renamed the Dick Campbell Gymnasium.The 1983 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee started teaching health and coaching basketball at York in 1959. He had a seven-year excursion to the University of Illinois and then to Addison Trail High School but returned to York in 1977.Campbell retired in 1985 with (according to Illinois High School Association records) a record of 261-134 in 15 seasons, with Elite Eight finishes in 1962 and 1967.He and his wife, Nancy, will be present at Saturday's dedication ceremony. It will be held before the York-Downers Grove North varsity game, scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.Stuck on 59Speaking of York basketball, the boys have scored 59 points in four of their last five games. The Dukes won three of those four games.Somebody's finding workFormer Glenbard South star softball player Shannon Roney has been hired by the Chicago White Sox Training Academy, at its new Ackerman Park facility in Glen Ellyn.Roney was a two-way threat at Glenbard South, going 24-3 on the mound her senior season in 2004 and batting .465.The White Sox Academy looks out for its own. Roney played on its 18-under club team, out of Lisle, in 2003-04.Fun for a causeHinsdale Central girls basketball coach Lindsey Montgomery played for the Red Devils. Her assistant, Kelly Maley, played at Lyons Township. The two enterprising women came up with the idea of an alumni game between the two schools.The first of what they hope becomes an annual event takes place at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Hinsdale Central. Then the coaches can reapply their scowls for the varsity game at 5:30 against Lyons.Montgomery said so far about 15 players have signed up for the alumni game, including former Red Devils Morgan Kasperek, Val Fleischman, Maggie Acuna and Allie Kabat. Proceeds from the alumni game, sophomore and varsity games will go to the Kay Yow and Jimmy V foundations."We were trying to get LT and Central together for something," Montgomery said. "I think it'll create a good relationship between the two programs, and it's something fun and nice to do for a great foundation."Like father like daughter except, well, different sportsSt. Francis' Kristen Kelsay is a national finalist for Prep Volleyball.com's "setter of the year" award. Kelsay, of Wheaton, is the daughter of Addison Trail head boys track coach Bruce Kelsay, who also is an assistant football coach.