These guys can't be stopped - you can only hope to fine them
You can close Driscoll Catholic, but just try to pry the football from a Highlander.
There's an 8-on-8 flag football team containing an all-star array of former Highlanders playing Sunday mornings in the Northfield Football League, a Schiller Park-based entry in the United States Flag Football League.
One of them, kicker Rick Albreski - who holds state records for consecutive field goals and consecutive extra-points - rattled off names of participating Highlanders, some predating even 2001, the first of Driscoll's seven straight state championship teams: John Tranchitella, Greg Turner, Rick Albreski, Anthony Gebhart, Kentin Lathrope, Sam Koerner, Luke Mroz, Mike Segreti, Steve Tenorio, Brian Burja, Mike Kenders, Mike Redpath, Matt Tremback, Dan Paplaczyck.
Even former Driscoll head coach Brandon New plays for this flag football team called the Dogs.
"I think he just turned 34 or 35, but he doesn't look like our oldest player," Albreski said.
Through three games the Dogs were 2-1. On turf fields in Bensenville, Schaumburg and Melrose Park they play a 10-game schedule that is "more of a warmup for the fall season," Albreski said. The grail is a bid for the nationals in Florida.
Knowing the pedigree of these Dogs, in time they'll get there. There is a learning curve, though, that a stiff fine for the most flagrant violations helps reinforce.
"Gebhart just tackled kids a few times," Albreski said. "That's just instinctive to him. ... In their mind they're supposed to tackle the person, not grab a flag."
Last week Albreski found out there's a team on their schedule stocked with former Montini players.
"I think it's like a bunch of the Borsellinos," he said.
That's just too good to be true.
Lee Watch 2010The venerable one continues. Lee Maciejewski always had the goal of coaching in 100 athletic seasons. Hinsdale Central's softball coach is a year past that goal. This spring marks his 103rd season.Up and comersDuPage wrestlers won three of the 15 weight classes at the 14th annual Freshman/Sophomore Championships, March 13-14 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield.Wheaton North's Mike Swider went 4-0 to win the 194-pound bracket. Lake Park's Farai Sewera went unbeaten at 150, as did Alex Anaya of Downers Grove South at 145.Other top-six local wrestlers included: Richard Browne, Glenbard North; Angelo San Juan, Glenbard East; Zak Hassan, Glenbard West; Matt Adcock, Lake Park; Matt Slavik, Neuqua Valley; and Evan Welsh, Wheaton Warrenville South.She does it allDowners Grove North senior Elizabeth McKay was the sole DuPage County student chosen for the 2010 Caterpillar All-State Academic Team. She ran cross country for the Trojans and is on the track team, but she's more like a student-decathlete. Here are her credentials listed on Downers North's Web site that were submitted to the National Merit Scholarship Program, for which she's also a finalist:bull; Second in Impromptu Speaking at the IHSA State Speech Competition as a senior, sixth as a junior.bull; Captain, Speech Team.bull; Bausch and Lomb Science Award.bull; Leader, Belief 2 Behavior.bull; Four-year Class Board.bull; J. Kyle Braid Leadership Foundation.bull; Volunteer, Peer Jury.bull; Herrick Mentoring Program.bull; Accepted by University of Michigan Honors Program.bull; Translator, United Nations.We're fudging on that last one, but just you wait and see.Eichenberger can flyWest Chicago's Annette Eichenberger did 45 pushups in a minute, one of the physical tests Air Force recruits have to do. She did the basketball throw, the shuttle run and the pullups, and maybe some of that was a strain for the Wildcats senior.One thing wasn't. "I didn't need to push the mile," Eichenberger said.Holder of four West Chicago records - including the 1,600-meter time of 5 minutes, 18.49 seconds - Eichenberger on Friday will sign her letter of intent to attend the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where she'll continue her track career."I like the atmosphere there, the do-your-best attitude, and everybody's really driven there," said Eichenberger, who qualified for this Saturday's Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor Classic as part of the Wildcats' 3,200 relay and in the open 800 run. She's a two-time outdoor all-stater in the 800 with a school-record time of 2:14.46. As a member of the Aurora Flyers AAU team she was second nationally in steeplechase, and a USA Track and Field All-American in the 800 and steeplechase. She took second in the "Emerging Elite" 800 at the 2009 Nike Outdoor Nationals.Eichenberger, who down the line hopes to work with dolphins as a veterinarian, had a bevy of schools to sift through, including finalist Belmont University. She looked at the Naval Academy, Wake Forest, Duke, Notre Dame and Miami in Florida. William and Mary offered her a scholarship as did George Mason.Bloodlines won out, though."The big thing about the academies is just the relationships you form because you just go through so much," she said. "My dad (William) is still really good friends with some people, and he went to Air Force as well."Her six weeks of basic training start June 24. Like on the track, it doesn't sound like she'll fade."I'm actually excited because I went to a summer seminar last year and they pretty much show you what you're going to do in basic, and it's actually kind of fun. They have the obstacle course, that looks fun. Although waking up early won't be that great."