For the first time in the club’s history, two wrestlers from the Oak Park-River Forest Little Huskies have won state championships in the same year.
Sam Brooks, a 7th-grader at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, became the first Little Huskies’ wrestler since 1992 to win an Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation state championship, when he took the title in the Novice 115-pound division on March 10th. Brooks was joined at the tournament in Rockford by three other OPRF state qualifiers-Mike Raleigh, Nick Kowalczuk and Justin Wynn..
Ryan Fish, a 5th grade student at Horace Mann Elementary School won the Junior, or “Midget” state championship in the 89-pound division on March 18th in Danville. Fish was joined at the state tournament by two other OPRF state qualifiers-Michael Hamilton and Matt Kleinkoph.
The two tournaments bring together the top 9- to 14-year-old wresters in Illinois. Both Brooks and Fish dominated their brackets, not giving up any offensive points in any of their matches.
Area volleyball players honored
Six players from middle schools in Oak Park and River Forest were named to Morton College’s St. Patrick’s Day Volleyball All-Tournament Team.
The players honored included: Casey Tencate (Brooks Middle School, 7th grade), Olivia Nash (Brooks Middle School, 8th grade), Katy Oldach (Julian Middle School, 7th grade), Anna Munz (Julian Middle School, 8th grade), Dianna Polley (Roosevelt Middle School, 7th grade), and Emily Gullo (Roosevelt Middle School, 8th grade).
Julian defeated Northlake in the title game of the Orange Division (7th grade teams) and Roosevelt bested Brooks in the Blue Division (8th grade teams) championship.
ACORN Academy to begin
The Spring session of OPRF Strikers’ ACORN Soccer Academy starts April 6th. Registration has begun. The professional, licensed coaches from OPRF Striker’s Traveling Soccer Club do the training for this eight-week “camp-like” program held on Friday afternoons. The program is open to young players, grades 1-5 at all ability levels. Download the registration paperwork from: oprfstrikers.com (click on ACORN Academy) or call 771-5269 for more information.
Football camp
The 25th annual John Gilmore/Justin Gage/Revie Sorey All Pro Football Camp will be held at Concordia University on June 21, 22, 23 and 24th. More information about the camp can be found at campfootball.com. The camp is accepting applications from boys ages 10-18.
Press releases contributed to this report.
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