Riverside-Brookfield Preps

Lemont, Class 3A runner-up last season, lost Ohio State recruit Jacob Parr to a high ankle sprain before the season, but the team has shaken off the early adversity and is enjoying a spring break trip to Florida. That, plus notes on Nazareth, Montini and Riverside-Brookfield.

The 2025 high school softball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Glenbard East rode an incredibly hot early hand – and then held off a furious comeback by Riverside-Brookfield – to prevail 67-49 and deadlock the Upstate Eight East lead with two games left.

Riverside-Brookfield senior Brycen Grove completed a rare four-point play during a 15-3 run in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs topped Lyons Township 69-66 on Saturday.

Riverside-Brookfield senior Vince Dockendorf's steady play at point guard is a good sign for the Bulldogs as they head into holiday tournament season. That, York a work in progress heading into Jack Tosh Holiday Classic and more in Bob Narang's boys basketball notes.

Glenbard West boys basketball won the District 87 title, Cam Mercer scored 25 points to lead Riverside-Brookfield past Hinsdale South, and York, Wheaton Warrenville South and St. Francis boys basketball were all winners in Wednesday's roundup.

The 2024-2025 boys basketball season tips off this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life area.

York junior third-year starter Katie Day had eight kills and 11 digs to lead the Dukes to a 25-23, 25-19 over Riverside-Brookfield on Thursday to capture the Class 4A York Regional championship.

Riverside-Brookfield scored two straight touchdowns in coming back from a four-point halftime deficit, and rallied to knock off Glenbard South 26-21 to snap the Raiders' four-game winning streak.

Riverside-Brookfield junior Gavin Sharenow, who shot a 4-over-par 75 to tie for second place, helping lead Riverside-Brookfield to the Upstate Eight Conference championship, is the Suburban Life Athlete of the Week in an online vote. Here is his Q&A with Sports Editor Josh Welge.

Riverside-Brookfield, in its first season in the Upstate Eight Conference, won the league's boys golf tournament title on Monday, with R-B's Gavin Sharenow second on a scorecard tiebreaker. Glenbard South was fourth.

The 2024 girls volleyball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

With the Upstate 8 splitting into the East and West Divisions, will Glenbard East and Glenbard South's Week 8 matchup prove to be the conference decider? How will the new teams fare? Plus, players to watch and Steve Soucie's picks in the Upstate 8 East preview.

Dana Rettke, a 2017 Riverside-Brookfield graduate and five-time All-American at the University of Wisconsin, is making her debut on the international stage this week as a member of the U.S. women's volleyball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Riverside-Brookfield junior guard Cameron Mercer's dad, Ron, was a star at Kentucky and played in the NBA from 1997-2005. Now Cameron Mercer is looking to make his own mark and is the leading returning scorer for a Bulldogs' team coming off a 26-5 season.

What looks different for the new high school football season? With the IHSA football schedules now out, Steve Soucie looks at the latest changes in conferences and more.

Riverside-Brookfield hosted a boys basketball summer shootout on Saturday, June 22, 2024.

Westmont's Abraham Johnson, Wheaton Warrenville-South's Amari Williams, Hinsdale Central's Aden Bandukwala, and Downers Grove North's Philip Cupial and 4x800-meter relay team each came away from Saturday's meet with a state title.

Willowbrook senior Evan Weder has high hopes for the high jump, aiming to become the program's third All-Stater in the event and eyeing the outdoor school record. That, Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South lead girls conference champs and more in Bill Stone's track notes.

The 2024 high school softball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Downers Grove North senior Jack Stanton was voted First Team All-State by Illinois Media, while Riverside-Brookfield's Stefan Cicic is Second Team and York's AJ Levine, Benet's Gabriel Sularski, Oswego East's Jehvion Starwood and Kaneland's Troyer Carlson honorable mention.

Riverside-Brookfield lost to Simeon in the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Regional final Friday.

Downers Grove North wrestler Kayleigh Loo missed last year's postseason with a knee injury. Now a senior, Loo is headed to state after winning the 170-pound championship Saturday at the Schaumburg Sectional. Batavia senior Sydney Perry was among other locals to advance.

AJ Levine had a memorable two-week personal run of accomplishments that coincided with York rebounding from a blowout road loss to Downers Grove North to win six straight. That, Riverside-Brookfield sophomore Cameron Mercer shows vast potential and more in basketball notes.

Cameron Mercer hit six 3-pointers, Stefan Cicic had three dunks and Steven Brown caused havoc all game pushing the pace and banging the boards as Riverside-Brookfield maintained a double-digit lead for much of the game in an eventual 68-60 win over Lyons.

Downers Grove South, which won a combined 15 games the last two seasons, is enjoying a big bounce-back season behind three-year starter Justin Sveiteris and a deep group of guards. That, Riverside-Brookfield winning close ones and a big even in Wheaton in Bob Narang's notes.

Palatine advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic for the second consecutive year with a 53-51 win over Riverside-Brookfield on a Connor May layup off a give-and-go pass from Tommy Elter as time expired.

Brady Chambers' 3-pointer in the final minute boosted Lyons past St. Patrick in the first round of the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic. Downers Grove North and Riverside-Brookfield were big winners at the Tosh, and Downers Grove North and Hinsdale Central were winners at Wheaton North.

Despite a big changeover in its roster, Riverside-Brookfield – led by 6-foot-11 senior center Stefan Cicic – is still off to 7-1 start. That, Lemont playing at a high level despite key losses and brackets revealed for the 49th Annual Jack Tosh Holiday Classic in basketball notes.

An imposing rim protector with the bulk to cause problems for opponents at both ends, 6-foot-8 Downers Grove North senior center Jake Riemer has worked to add elements to his game. That, plus notes on Downers Grove South and Benet from Bob Narang.

Stefan Cicic had 10 points and nine rebounds and was part of a key defensive stop in the final seconds, and Riverside-Brookfield rallied from a seven-point deficit over the final two minutes to pull out a 50-49 victory against St. Ignatius in the Chicago Elite Classic.

The girls basketball season starts this week. Here are preview capsules for teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Fifteen of the 16 higher seeds survived and advanced in Round 1, but the matchups look much more even in Round 2. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2023 IHSA Class 6A playoffs.

Kaneland used an unrelenting ground attack to roll to a 56-20 Class 6A first-round victory at Riverside-Brookfield. The Knights pounded out 325 rushing yards and had two players go over 100 yards each.

East St. Louis and Kankakee enter as favorites in the south bracket, while the north side is wide open. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2023 IHSA Class 6A playoffs.

Luca Davies, who has scored 19 goals this season after scoring 19 last year, closes in on Hinsdale Central's single-season scoring record. That, Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South's playoff rematch and Diego Villegas sparks Riverside-Brookfield's surge in soccer notes.

The 2023 boys soccer season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Riverside-Brookfield senior quarterback Diego Gutierrez, in his third varsity season, said he is more comfortable in the offense and able to "let his creativity run free." He'll lead the Bulldogs into the tough Southland Conference this season.

Stefan Cicic has grown to 7 feet, reshaped his body and put down roots in his second season at Riverside-Brookfield, as the senior center with five scholarship offers continues to be a prospect to watch. 'He’s very talented now, but he’s not close to a finished product.'

Coastal Carolina recruit Emily Petring added to her illustrious career this week, helping lead Downers Grove South past Morton to clinch its third straight West Suburban Gold title and run its win streak in the league to 25. That, plus notes on Morton and Lyons from Bob Narang.

Led by "late bloomer" Troy Stukenberg, Lyons Township is in the hunt for the West Suburban Silver title and riding a hot streak as the postseason nears. That, plus notes on Riverside-Brookfield and Nazareth from Bob Narang.

On a Nazareth team full of D1 I talent, sophomore Jaden Fauske is one of its biggest stars, the Louisville commit a driving force behind the Roadrunners' unbeaten start and drive to a repeat state title. That plus notes on Wheaton Academy and Riverside-Brookfield from Bob Narang.

Hazel Hall delivered the shocking, decisive blow Monday night, heading home a corner kick from Niahm Larson with 2:31 remaining in the second half to give the visiting Bulldogs a stunning 2-1 upset of Morton.

The girls soccer season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Riverside-Brookfield junior point guard Will Gonzalez coming into his own as the catalyst for the surging Bulldogs, plus Wheaton Warrenville South's loss Wednesday sets up a huge DuKane showdown Friday at Lake Park in Bob Narang's basketball notes.

Lyons senior and Yale football recruit Graham Smith met his physical match Saturday against Riverside-Brookfield's 6-foot-11 Stefan Cicic, but responded to the challenge with a team-high 14 points and seven rebounds in a 61-49 win over the Bulldogs.

Stefan Cicic followed up a monster game against Aurora Christian with another double-double, 18 points and 10 rebounds, powering Riverside-Brookfield past IC Catholic Prep 66-48 to stay unbeaten in the Metro Suburban Blue.

Ben Oosterbaan's 26 points powered Hinsdale Central past Homewood-Flossmoor into the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic semifinals, Lyons and Riverside-Brookfield advanced to the Jack Tosh quarterfinals and Montini, Nazareth and York rolled at Montini.

Winona State recruit Arius Alijosius hit seven 3-pointers and scored 29 points, sending Riverside-Brookfield past Schaumburg 59-38 in Monday's Jack Tosh Holiday Classic first-round game.

Sweet-shooting Arius Alijosius is taking a lead role this season for Riverside-Brookfield, and he's off to a good start after a 30-point game against Curie. That, plus notes on IC Catholic and Wheaton Warrenville South in Bob Narang's boys basketball notes.