Sports News

GURNEE – The Warren Blue Devils volleyball team went head-to-head against Glenbrook North on Aug. 26 at Warren Township High School in Gurnee.

ANTIOCH – The season is starting as planned for the Antioch boys soccer team.

There seems to be one common theme as the 2010 Lake County prep football season gets set to kickoff. Call it the R-word.

High school football games start this week, and fans might notice some significant rule changes that will be in effect this season.

MUNDELEIN – Winning the East Suburban Catholic Conference last season was nice for the Carmel Corsairs, but the team’s 7-3 record simply wasn’t good enough, head football coach Andy Bitto said.

WAUCONDA – The Wauconda Bulldogs believe this is a break-out year of sorts.

GURNEE – Ask Warren’s returning players about last season’s second round IHSA playoff loss to Loyola Academy, and a fire stews in some of their eyes.

GRAYSLAKE – The Grayslake North Knights have played a total of 36 games in the football program’s short existence. Just four of those have been wins.

ANTIOCH – Some might think it is a bit overzealous for a team that sat out last year’s postseason to be talking about a run to the state championship.

FOX LAKE –Call the Grant Bulldogs the underdogs of this year’s North Suburban Conference football season, and they will be more than happy to agree.

GRAYSLAKE – This is it.

ROUND LAKE – The Panthers might only have 28 boys on its varsity football squad.

LAKE VILLA – After winning its first playoff game in school history, the Lakes Eagles are hoping to repeat many successes from the previous season.

HARVARD – There’s not much defending that can be done against a goal from 40 yards out.

WAUKEGAN – On Aug. 7, the Waukegan Park District Ganster Pool staff took second place in the Illinois Park and Recreation Association’s annual Lifeguard Games Competition in Woodridge.

LAKE VILLA – The Lindenhurst Park District and Lake Villa Township will host a 5K walk/10K run to benefit the Roland Wetzel Soccer Scholarship Fund and Wetzel Fields Fund.

GRAYSLAKE – The Grayslake Community Park District offers a “Never Ending Season” adult hockey league at Rink Side Ice Arena in Gurnee.

WAUCONDA – The Wauconda Area Park District will offer an 11-week Weight Loss Challenge program to area residents.

GURNEE – The Warren Blue Devil Booster Club will host its second annual Blue Devil Booster Doubles tennis tournament over Labor Day weekend. 

ROUND LAKE HEIGHTS – Lake Shore Lynx took on the Lake County Cowboys in the Gridiron Football League playoff semi-finals on a rainy night Aug. 20 at Indian Hill School in Round Lake Heights.

WAUKEGAN – The Waukegan Park District’s Field House Sports and Fitness Center will host a free week of fitness from Monday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 5.

GURNEE – Once a year, area lifeguards get an opportunity to showcase just how skilled and responsive they are at the Lifeguard Games, which are facilitated by the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.

ANTIOCH – For the past two years, the Antioch All-Stars Little League softball team has been referred to as “Team Illinois.”

ANTIOCH – Donning running shoes and determination, Antioch resident Melissa Bernhardt will take to the streets of Chicago on Oct. 10 to help spread awareness of CdLS for the second time.

The following article is dedicated upon the Lake County Sidewinder’s request to Lake County Sidewinder founder Dale Friedman, who passed away during the winter of 2010.

ZION – Lake County Fielders right-handed pitcher Zach Ward has joined the Cincinnati Reds High-A affiliate team, the Lynchburg Hillcats, Fielders officials said.

WAUCONDA – The Wauconda Bulldogs football program will host an inner-squad scrimmage Friday, Aug. 20, to benefit the Wauconda/Island Lake Food Pantry.

MUNDELEIN – The Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County will host its 16th annual golf outing benefit Thursday, Sept. 23.

ROUND LAKE –The Round Lake Area Park District will host two races Sunday, Sept. 12, at its Sports Center, 2004 Municipal Way, in Round Lake Beach.

This is the second part of a two-part series looking into youth cheerleading and its football counterpart.

ZION – The Northern League announced that Lake County Fielders left fielder Josh Short has been named Northern League Player of the Week for the period ending Aug. 8.



NORTH CHICAGO- The Lake County Forest Preserve will be teaching Latin and African rhythms in its four-evening Zumba program from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 17 at Greenbelt Cultural Center, 1215 Green Bay Rd., in North Chicago. From there, the lessons will continue at the same time on Thursday, Aug. 19, Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 26. All participants must be at least 16 years old, and the cost is $7 per class for Lake County residents. Those who plan to attend all four classes will pay $25. Admission for non-residents is $10 per class or $37 for all four classes. Attendees who want to take advantage of the discount for all four classes must call 847-968-3321 before Monday, Aug. 16.

Each week, a different player from the Lake County Fielders minor league baseball team will be featured in a player poll in the Lake County Journal. The players were e-mailed a set of questions, posted below, and the players responded with their answers.

GURNEE – The Warren Wave 14U travel softball team recently won the 2010 ASA Northern National 14-Under Title in Terre Haute, Ind.

GURNEE – If a one-of-kind swimming event goes well in Gurnee this weekend, similar events could start popping up across the state and country.

This is part one of a two-part series looking into youth football and its cheerleading counterpart. Read part two in next week’s Lake County Journal.

GRAYSLAKE- Tryouts for the College of Lake County's golf team have changed. The two day event will now take place starting at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10 and Wednesday, Aug. 11 at Shepherd's Crook Golf Course, 351 Green Bay Road, in Zion. Those seeking more information should call 847-373-0911.

ROUND LAKE BEACH – Approximately 65 teen girls have attended free summer workouts at Fitzone for Women, 835 E. Rollins Road, in Round Lake Beach. Several have attended a cardio kickboxing class on Thursdays with instructor Shanon Rothmann.

LIBERTYVILLE- Want to go kayaking but don't know what to do in a life-threatening situation? Come out from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, to Independence Grove, 16400 W. Buckley Road, in Libertyville, for a class called “Kayak Rescues and Recoveries.” The cost is $29 for Lake County residents and $41 for non-residents. Equipment will be provided, and adult supervision is required. 

The first time I heard about bowfishing, I thought it to be a very strange sport. The thought of people armed with bows, peering down into the water, on a hunt for carp, bowfin and other species of rough fish seemed a little bizarre to me. But to each his own, I figured. It’s a legal sport, so who was I to say what seemed strange.