St. Thomas sixth-grade boys basketball team wins St. John Vianney Tournament
On Jan. 5, the St. Thomas of Villanova sixth-grade Vikings boys basketball team took first place of six teams competing at the St. John Vianney Tournament in Northlake.
The Vikings went head to head with Ascension (Oak Park), St. John Vianney (Northlake) and Holy Trinity (Westmont) before advancing to play St. Luke (Oak Park) in the championship game, which they won 38-30.
St. Vincent (River Forest) also competed in the tournament.
Led to victory by Head Coach George Iliopoulos and Assistant Coach Tomm Smithe, the sixth-grade Vikings boys basketball roster includes Jake Bargowski (#22), Vince Bowling (#13), Alex Iliopoulos (#11), Andy Iliopoulos (#16), Peter Mulhern (#23), Conrad Okulski (#26) and Thomas Smithe (#14).
Rounding out a vacancy on the bench was substitute player Johnny O'Brien of St. Theresa School, Palatine.
This sixth-grade championship win comes just weeks after the St. Thomas eighth-grade boys basketball team took second place in the Northwest Catholic Conference on Dec. 15.
"I am so proud of our athletes," said Athletic Director Jenny Parlier, who coordinates the school's competitive no-cut sports programs. "They work so hard and never give up no matter what."
St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic School serves students in preschool through eighth grade. It offers no-cut, competitive sports programming beginning in fourth grade. The school is at 1141 E. Anderson Drive, in Palatine.
More than $150,000 of scholarships funds are specifically earmarked for St. Thomas of Villanova through Empower Illinois.
For information, call (847) 358-2110 or visit www.stvschool.org.
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