Free Press Advocate

Comets, ‘Cats, Coalers to play in Braidwood Shootout

Published by admin on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 2:59pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Reed-Custer will host its Braidwood Shootout for the first time in two years starting Tuesday when girls and boys basketball players will do battle against 31 other teams from around the state.
The Braidwood Shootout will start with the girls side of the bracket on Tuesday when Reed-Custer and Gardner-South Wilmington begin the tournament in the Reed-Custer Middle School gym at 8 a.m.

Wildcat wrestling numbers keep going up, good turnout at camp

Published by admin on Tue, 06/07/2022 - 2:57pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington wrestling program hosted its annual youth wrestling camp on Tuesday as interest for the club is growing with 35 campers there ready to work.
For new Wilmington wrestling coach Nick Dziuban, that just means good things for the future of the wrestling program.

ICE recognizes best in conference softball

Published by admin on Tue, 05/31/2022 - 3:23pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Illinois Central Eight Conference was loaded with softball standouts including nine local players who were named All-Conference honorees.
The softball season came to an end in the ICE when Manteno, the conference-leader, would fall to top-seeded Pontiac in the semifinal round of the Herscher Sectional.
Coal City (15-16, 7-7), won the Manteno Regional Championship and fourth place in the ICE Conference. Three Lady Coalers—Makayla Henline, Kerigan Copes and Abigail Gagliardo—were chosen to the All Conference team.

Best baseball players in the ICE

Published by admin on Tue, 05/31/2022 - 3:22pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The baseball season in the Illinois Central Eight came to an end with Coal City being eliminated by Joliet Catholic Academy in the Sectional championship game on Saturday.
The Coalers, Comets and ‘Cats had many standouts, 10 of which were given the nod as All-Conference players.

ICE names best kickers in conference

Published by admin on Tue, 05/31/2022 - 3:21pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Nine area soccer players were named standouts in the Illinois Central Eight Conference as they were voted onto the ICE All-Conference team.
Reed-Custer (10-6, 4-3) made it all the way to the regional championship game, falling to Peotone in the title match. They still finished fifth in the ICE Conference, giving the All-Conference nod to Brooklyn Harding and Taylin Pippenger.
Brooklyn Harding

Wildcats have season come to an end in regional loss to JCA

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 3:41pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington baseball team had a hard time stringing together rallies against Joliet Catholic Academy pitchers as they were held to six hits in a 9-3 loss to JCA during the Braidwood (Reed-Custer) Regional quarterfinal game.
It was hot, muggy and hard to pitch with wind gusts of 20 mph.

WHS Greenridge inches from qualifying for state

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 3:40pm

On Wednesday, May 18, the Wildcat Boys competed in the IHSA Boys Sectional Track and Field Meet in Seneca.
The top performance on the night was by Joel Greenidge in long jump sho surpassed his previous personal best distance by two feet. Greenridge jumped 19’05 and missed qualifying for state by two inches.
The boys had 3 personal records (PR’s) on the day, ending their season total at 88. A PR is an improvement on a person’s previous mark or the establishment of a personal record.  Performances by the boys included:

Southall brings home two state champ medals

Published by admin on Tue, 05/24/2022 - 3:39pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wilmington Middle School track eighth grader Molly Southall brought home first place medals in two events during the Illinois Elementary Association 3A State Track & Field Championship which was held in Peoria on Friday and Saturday.

Lady ‘Cat kickers break records during historic soccer season

Published by admin on Tue, 05/17/2022 - 3:55pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington soccer team had their impressive season come to an end in a 5-1 loss to Reed-Custer on Wednesday during the Braidwood (Reed-Custer) Regional semifinal game.
Reed-Custer jumped in front with three first half goals to take a 3-0 lead into the break.
The ‘Cats finally cut into the Comet lead as senior Abbie Rampa would get the feed from Alexa Clark and fired it through to make it 3-1 at 24:17 left in the second.

Wildcats oust Tigers, next up top-seed JCA

Published by admin on Tue, 05/17/2022 - 3:51pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington baseball team is moving on to the regional semifinal game after a 10-0 shutout win over Herscher in the Reed-Custer regional play-in game on Monday.
Kaden Humphries threw a two-hit shutout and Jacob Friddle led the offense with a home run, triple and two runs driven in.