Lemont Hornets teams win league titles

LEMONT – The NFL's big game is still two months away, but three teams from the Lemont Hornets youth football program played for Bill George Youth Football League titles this season.

The Hornets' junior varsity gold and varsity teams both won the BGYFL Super Bowl games at Benedictine University in Lisle on Nov. 13, while the 103-pound gold team made the final and finished second.

Additionally, the 83-pound gold team was a playoff semifinalist and the 73-pound team finished the regular season undefeated.

The varsity team, led by head coach Tom Zwick and comprised mostly of eighth-graders, took to the field to play against the Downers Grove Panthers in the championship game on Nov. 13. It was the final title game on the BGYFL championship weekend. The stands were filled with Hornet fans cheering on their team. The stage was set, and it was time for the players to play the best game of their young lives, as this would be the last chance for them to walk away Lemont Hornet champions before heading on to high school. The score stayed tied at 0-0 for most of the game, but Lemont made its lone score of the game stand up for a 6-0 win and BGYFL title.

Players on the varsity team were: Jason Berger, Cullin Bulanda, Christian Castro, Aidan Cochrane, Massimo Columbia, Austin Dorgan, Michael Doyle, Muath Hashlamoun, Collin Labno, Charles Maida, Michael Mardjetko, Evan Mutterer, David Niemyjski, Albert Pontrelli, Keven Sarvey, Dylan Schmutzler, Connor Stop, Daniel Sweeney, Dominic Troxell, Jake Wilk, Cole Wolski, Jacob Yeoman and Graias Zvirbulis. The team was coached by: Tom Zwick, Bob Gallet, Mike Mlady, Richard Schmutzler, Joe Mardjetko, Keith Wolski, Ralph Pontereli, Mark Niemyjski and Andre Ward.

Also matching up with the Downers Grove Panthers earlier on Nov. 13 was the Hornets' The junior varsity gold team made up of mostly seventh graders and led by head coach Elliot Kaye. Facing a Panthers team that finished first during the regular season, the Hornets came out victorious in the end with a 16-6 win.

Players on the junior varsity team were: Austin Belsan, Tyler Bentley, Anthony Devito, Cullen DeWalls, Connor Grist, Nick Hawkins, AJ Heeg, Mack Indestad, Nicholas Kuhlman, Albert Kunickis, Cooper Mikolajczak, Estevan Moreno, Justin Paluch, Anthony Pasquale, Michael Stricker, Alexander Tagler, Thomas Ulatowski, Jake Zator and Christopher Zvirbulis. The team was coached by: Elliot Kaye, Matt Tagler, Aaron Heeg, Benito Russo, Joe Russo and Albert Kunickis.

The 103-pound gold team coached by Mark Labno faced the Arlington Heights Cowboys in the title game. The Hornets hung tough but fell 44-20. Players on the team were: Tommy Iaquinta, Drew Indestad, Mike Jabaay, Alexander Jaros, Jacob Katauskas, Nathan Kunickis, Dillon Labno, Jack Nolan, Alex Pasquale, Anthony Robledo, Payton Salomon, Sam Schuit, Jerry Simek, Jake Sulzberger, Dylan Swanstrom, Noah Taylor, Nicholas Walker, Luke Wallace, Nathan Wrublik, Luke Dudney and Gino Fornero. The team was coached by: Mark Labno, Chad Taylor, Daryle Wallace, Rick Dudney, Michael Fornero and Chris Soloman.

Lemont boys basketball

Paul O'Leary tallied 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Indians topped visiting Argo 46-35 on Dec. 6 to improve to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the South Suburban Conference.

Lemont welcomes Shepard at 7 p.m. on Dec. 9 before a Dec. 13 road game at Stagg.

Lemont girls basketball

Lemont hit the road on Dec. 6 and scored a 46-36 win against Argo on Dec. 6. The victory upped the Indians' record to 4-2 overall before a Dec. 8 game at Shepard and a Dec. 12 home date against Lincoln-Way West.

Lemont boys bowling

Max Kral bowled a 433 series (games of 249 and 184), Joe Margalus had a 214 game and Patrick Kerrigan had a 203 game as Lemont topped Eisenhower 1,810-1,468 on Dec. 6 to improve to 7-1 on the season.

Lemont wrestling

Kyle Schickel (106 pounds), Greg Perini (138) and Jake Kirkman (152) posted pins for Lemont in a 54-30 dual meet win against Kaneland on Dec. 3. Lemont's record improved to 4-0 on the season.