Neighbor Sports

Basketball

Warren Blue Devils: The Warren Junior Blue Devils seventh-grade girls basketball team recently completed their season and picked up their second consecutive division title. The Devils posted a perfect 14-0 record in division games and also won one tournament and placed second in two others during the year. Warren was eliminated in the NIGFBA quarterfinals, losing to Stevenson, the eventual champion. The Blue Devils ended the season with a 27-5 record. Their two year record now stands at 48-12 including a division mark of 26-0.

Cheerleading

Team openings: The CCA Titans competitive all-star cheerleading teams are open for the 2008-09 season to all girls entering kindergarten through 12th grade. Previous experience is welcome, but not required. The Titans maintain a no-cut policy for girls entering kindergarten through ninth grade, so everyone will be placed on a team.

Teams will be formed at the end of May and practice starts in June. Two clinics, one in April and one in May, will be offered for girls interested in improving their skills before next season.

For dates and times, call (847) 438-1894, or e-mail chi cagolandcheer@msn.com or go to the Web site at www.ccatitans.com.

Swimming

CATS Aquatics tryouts: Registration and tryouts for the CATS Aquatics Swim Team spring/summer sessions will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 14 at Vernon Hills High School, 145 N. Lakeview Parkway. Online registration will be available or attend the walk-in registration from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 15 near the pool at Libertyville High School, 708 W. Park Ave. Several swim sessions will be offered. Sign up for one or all of the sessions. Session one begins April 16.

The CATS Aquatics Swim Team provides swimmers age 5 through college age to develop at all levels of competitive and developmental swimming. The team is the feeder program to District 128 high schools and welcomes athletes from other areas. For more information, visit www.cats-aquatics.com.

Wrestling

State Champ: Joel Valdivia won the 189 pound championship March 8 at the Illinois Elementary School Association wrestling tournament held at Northern Illinois University's Convocation Center. Valdivia earned the right to compete by finishing first in the Oak Grove Sectional held the previous week. The top three place finishers from eight separate sectionals earned an opportunity to wrestle for the state crown.

Valdivia started his road to victory with a first round pin of Dimiti Bonilla from Romeoville Lukancic Friday evening. The next morning Valdivia defeated Camp Point Central's Zach Dively in a come-from-behind victory, with a final score of 12-8. The victory gave Valdivia the chance to face Oscar Aguilar of DeKalb Clinton Rosette in the semi-final match. Valdivia gained an early lead, but fell behind late in the match. Valdivia fought for a late reversal, which gave him an 11-10 lead and the victory for the championship bout.

In the championship match, Valdivia faced Jordan Watkins of Jacksonville Turner. Valdivia scored the only points of the first period with a takedown for a 2-0 lead. With Valdivia in the down position he scored with a 1 point escape and followed with another takedown for an additional 2 points for a 5-0 lead. Near the end of the second period, Valdivia lost control of Watkins and allowed him to score a last minute escape to end the period with a 5-1 score in Valdivia's favor. In the third period Watkins chose to take a neutral position that placed both wrestlers on their feet. Each wrestler made several attempts to take the other down, and late in the third period, Valdivia was successful for his third takedown of the match to secure a 7-1 victory over Watkins for the 189-pound state title.

Valdivia becomes the first Grayslake Middle School student to earn a state wrestling title and ended his eighth-grade wrestling career undefeated at 20-0. He is the first medalist since Danny Mendoza finished third in 2006 at the 112-pound weight class.

Avon Center School had three champions prior to consolidation with Grayslake's District 46. Former champions, who are now head wrestling coaches for several area high schools, are Grant Community High School's Ryan Geist, who won his championship title in 1986. The following year, he was joined by Lakes Community High School Head Coach Curt Onstad. In 1988, Eric Olsen joined the ranks of Avon Center wrestler's with a state title.