The Lyons Township High School competitive dance team is headed to the IHSA state meet for the fifth straight season.
The Lions advanced again by finishing fourth in its IHSA Class 3A division at the Deerfield Sectional on Jan. 22 with an 87.77 score. The top six sectional finishers advanced to the state meet Friday and Saturday in Bloomington.
LTHS team members are senior captains Alexis Carmody, Skylar Hennessy and Charlotte Remijas; seniors Ella Bylsma, Emma Chwierut, Morgan Fry, Georgia Katsoudas, Ellie Linder and Kathryn Rausch; juniors Abby Fix, Zoe Mathis, Leah Mini, Madison Niemiec, Gianna Ortega, Reilly Post, Audrey Schissler, Sarah Sedlacek, Madeleine Shorrock, Simryn Singh and Kaitlin Storey; and sophomores Mya Campbell, Lola Hennessy, Riley McCarthy and Hallie Olenec. They are coached by Brittany Smith.
The Lions have reached the state finals all five times they have participated in the postseason. Seventeen current Lions competed in the 2021 state meet, which was conducted virtually.
“I think coming from the non-traditional season of last year really pushed them all to want the very best,” Smith responded. “This year’s team is definitely a special one. They are some of the most driven dancers I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. They push themselves and each other to continue to grow as dancers and team members every practice.”
In Class 1A, Nazareth Academy qualified for state for the first time since 2017 by taking sixth at the Geneva Sectional (78.73).
LTHS boys, girls extend win streaks
The Lyons Township High School boys basketball team extended its winning streak to eight by beating Proviso West 78-57 on Jan. 21 and Proviso East 76-46 Jan. 22.
Tavari Johnson had 21 points in both victories for the Lions (18-3, 6-1 in West Suburban Conference Silver).
Will Carroll (14 points, 12 rebounds) added a double-double against Proviso West and Graham Smith (19 points, 8 rebounds), Aidan Sullivan (12 points) and Billy Bach (10 points, 7 rebounds) also were in double figures.
Jackson Niego (17 points), Smith (15 points, 9 rebounds) and Nik Polonowski (13 points) also achieved double figures against Proviso East. Bach and Elliot Russell added 11 and seven rebounds, respectively.
The LLTHS girls won their sixth straight 88-43 over Fenton at the Morton College Shootout on Jan. 22.
Hailey Markworth (20 points), Olivia Mezan (10 points) and Ella Ormsby (9 points) led the Lions (19-3).
LTHS wrestlers 6th at OPRF Invite
Senior Cooper Schodrof (170 pounds) and sophomore Gunnar Garelli (126) both finished second for the Lyons Township High School wrestling team at the Oak Park and River Forest Invitational Saturday. The Lions were sixth (124 points).
Seniors Ben Zeman (145), Patrick Jesse (113), Willy Takash (160) and Ricky Cavaliere (220) placed third; sophomore Kellan Knop (182) finished fourth; senior Quinn Riordan (138), sophomore Sam Costello (285) and freshman George Webster (106) were fifth ;and juniors Cooper King (195), Charlie Campbell (152) and Jackson Garelli (120) were sixth.
On Senior Night on Jan. 21, the Lions moved to 2-2 in WSC Silver duals by beating Downers Grove North 41-33.
The Riverside-Brookfield High School freshman wrestling team won the OPRF Freshman Invitational (212 points) on Jan. 22 by 34.5 points over the host Huskies.
Julian Espinoza (22-3) captured the 152-pound title. He won his championship match with a 45-second pin after previous pins in 4 minutes and 58 seconds.
Ricky Blanko (138), Ben Lupfer (120), Ethan Rivas (126), Sam Sacramento (99) and Max Strong (145) placed second in their weight classes. Johnny Givens (195), Kaleb McCottry (170) and Chase Murrell (99) were third, Nate Standard (132) was fourth and Matt Elzy (160) sixth.
