November 23, 2024
Sports

High school sports: 4 memorable winter sports moments for Lyons Township

By SUBURBAN LIFE
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Lyons Township swimmers jump into the water with their first place trophy on Feb. 27 after winning the state title. It was the Lions' first state title and first trophy at the state meet since finishing third in 1974. (Sandy Bressner)

The winter season tends to be cold and dreary, but the winter sports season featured plenty of bright spots for Lyons Township athletics. Here’s a look at some of the best moments of the winter sports season for the Lions:

Boys swimming takes state title

The Lions knew all season they had the makeup of a team that could contend for a state trophy. They ended up with the state’s top prize when all was said and done Feb. 27, ending a state trophy drought that dated to third-place finishes in 1973 and 1974.

LT saved its best for the last race of the state meet as the quartet of Ryan Hammond, Ben Breitenbucher, Weston Credit and Henry Claesson won the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:04.76 for the Lions’ only win in an event.

Credit, Spencer Walker and Chris Phillips each earned two individual medals, Scott Seamus won a diving medal, Claesson and Hammond were solo medalists, and Matt Linden also swam at state as the Lions medaled in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.

Quotable: “It’s definitely something very special. All year we’ve had our eyes on a trophy at state but to win [the title] is pretty amazing,” Credit said.

Girls basketball reigns in regional

LT’s girls basketball team dealt with its share of injuries this season as seniors Emily Pender and Frannie Corrigan were sidelined at different times. When both were back together in the starting lineup, the Lions were nearly unbeatable.

Senior Nina Scaramella drained a 3-pointer to ignite a 7-0 run to close the game in a 54-47 win against Simeon in the regional championship game. It was the program’s first regional title since 2005 and came after LT defeated Oak Park-River Forest to claim the West Suburban Silver title and then defeated Proviso East in a conference crossover game to capture the overall league title.

Quotable: “This is our first regional championship in a long time [2005], so it’s really significant, especially to us seniors,” Corrigan said.

Bowling over the competition

A total pinfall of 6,277 at the Hinsdale South regional was the start of a solid postseason for the boys bowling team. The Lions won the regional as Jack McGuinn finished with a score of 1,351 and was crowned the regional champion. Colin Temple (1,303), Garrett Ariana (1,259), Otto Meccia (1,252), Marco Garcia (920) and Thomas Brasse (192) also contributed to the regional title.

LT went on to score a 6,128 at the Lake Park sectional to move on to state, where McGuinn placed eighth overall with a two-day total of 2,793 pins. LT was 16th as a team at state.

Wrestling trio earns state medals

The wrestling season is a grind, so to emerge from the campaign with a state medal is a big accomplishment, which is what three LT wrestlers did this winter.

Junior Johnny Mologousis surrendered just five points in his first three state matches as he advanced to the 160-pound title match and finished second.

Tyler Zeman (132) and Frank Walsh (220) finished sixth at their respective weights to join Mologousis on the medal stand.

In addition to Mologousis, Zeman and Walsh, Elias Garcia (120) and Ezra Avery (182) also made it to the state tournament. Zach Villarreal (126), Mac Casella (138) and Gabe Mata (285) were part of a large contingent of LT wrestlers that advanced from the regional tourney to the sectional.