Through four varsity seasons, senior Taylor Carroll has seen plenty of success with the Lyons Township girls volleyball team.
On Saturday, even she was a part of program history.
The Lions won the prestigious 24-team 19th annual Wheaton Classic invitational for the first time Saturday by beating Lincoln-Way East 25-18, 25-18 in the final.
The Lions (15-1) won all three Gold bracket matches in two sets with no opponent scoring higher than 19 points and both pool matches Sept. 16 in two sets.
They’ve moved up to No. 3 in this week’s IL Prep Volleyball Class 4A rankings behind defending state champion Marist and Mother McAuley.
“We’ve come close in some of my past years. Getting to win the tournament but winning and not dropping a set was fun and a confidence booster for our team, proving to people that we’re a team to beat,” said Carroll, a Xavier (Ohio) commit.
“Going into the season, we knew we were going to be good and were really excited about it. I think it was just a matter of proving it to other people. We know what we can do, know we can win and are going to be a big competitor.”
The 6-foot-1 Carroll also became the Lions’ first MVP at the Classic.
Senior libero Julia Ahrens and sophomore outside hitter Olivia Pora also were all-tournament. Seniors Colleen Chambers, Sophia Jackson, Blake Spreyne, Jackson and Avery Tyrrell, junior Ula Garbauskas, sophomores Gabby Munoz and Shannon Carroll and freshman Francesca Wolf also have been key contributors this season.
“That (MVP) was so fun. It’s such an honor. I’ve been playing in that tournament since I was 14 years old,” said Carroll, who had eight kills against No. 5 Lincoln-Way East (11-4).
“To finally be MVP with all of the other amazing athletes, the team helped me a ton. Colleen set so well and the libero and other (defensive specialists) passed so well. I’m proud of all of my teammates and how they did and how much they helped me succeed.”
The Lions usually reach the Gold bracket but only previously reached the Wheaton Classic finals in 2022, losing to Benet in the last three-set final.
This time, LTHS beat Minooka 25-16, 25-19 in the semifinals and Neuqua Valley 25-13, 25-15 in the quarterfinals.
In pool play Sept. 16, the Lions defeated Wheaton North 25-17, 25-22 and Metea Valley 25-15, 25-16.
No. 6 Benet, which had won the last four Classic titles, finished fifth Saturday after losing to fourth-place Loyola in the quarterfinals. LTHS previously beat Lincoln-Way East 25-20, 25-23 Aug. 26.
“I think over the course of the tournament we served and passed really well. That’s the foundation of the game,” Carroll said. “Against Minooka, the first was really strong. We were playing lights out.”
The Lions’ Senior Night win over Downers Grove South Sept. 17 had the only set they’ve lost on their current nine-match winning streak. They lost at home to Glenbard West 25-23, 25-22 Sept. 8 after leading 22-20 in the second set.
LTHS boys soccer
The undefeated LTHS boys soccer team’s tough defense also can provide a little offense.
On Sept. 14, senior defender Owen Kachmarik scored both goals as the Lions defeated Marmion 2-0 in the semifinals of the BodyArmor tournament.
The Lions (8-0-1) have won six straight since their 1-1 tie with New Trier with the last three by shutout. They are ranked No. 2 in the area by ChicagolandSoccer.org behind undefeated St. Laurence, which beat the Lions in last year’s Class 3A sectional semifinals.
On Sept. 15, the Lions won 2-0 over No. 15 Glenbard West (previously No. 4) to move to 2-0 in the West Suburban Conference Silver. Joao Piretti and Ryan Keenan scored with assists by Cormac Moran and Harrison Kittridge. Goalie Wolfie Ketterling recorded the shutout.
Piretti, a junior callup, now leads the team with seven goals.
LTHS also beat Maine South 3-0 in BodyArmor action Sept. 12 as goalies Owen Ruiz and Ketterling split duties. Piretti scored twice and Rocco King once with Hayden Rout and Emmett Kessler assisting.
Piretti delivered the hat trick in the 5-2 victory over Willowbrook. Julian Avdiu and Moran also tallied.
Keenan, Nick Dreves-Hunt and Piretti scored in the 3-1 Silver victory over York Sept. 8. Avdiu had two assists and Hayden McTigue the third.
LTHS girls swimming and diving
Besides being among many returning state qualifiers for the Lyons Township girls swimming and diving team, junior Abby Thompson also returns now as the older sister.
After competing two seasons with sister Kylie, who just graduated, freshman sister Sophie is among the talented varsity newcomers.
“It’s kind of funny because Kylie’s very positive and hard working so it’s big shoes to fill,” Thompson said. “She was always the one motivating me so now I’m the one who has to kind of motivate Sophie and convince her it’s fun to wake up at 4:30 in the morning (for practices).”
The Lions had a lot of fun and success at their annual LT Relays Invitational Sept. 12 in taking second (332 points) to Neuqua Valley (360) in the 10-team field. The meets consists solely of relay events, many of which are not normally competed.
The Lions won the 400-yard medley relay (Collins Brock, Paige Foster, Abby Thompson and Olivia Chavez of Brookfield in 4:03.25), 300 medley relay (Brock, Molly Forebaugh, Foster in 3:06.36), 300 breast stroke relay (Abby Thompson, Foster, Livia Joern in 3:25.60) and first of two 400 freestyle relays (Morgan Bainbridge, Rae Wagner, Sophie Thompson, Brock in 3:47.94). Tatum Fridrych, Chavez, Forebaugh and Claire Crimmins were second in the second 400 free relay (3:34.86). Diver Abbie Fauth was third (196.05 points).
Abby Thompson already is swimming faster than she was at the same time last season. She went on to be a state qualifier in the 100 breast but actually swam the butterfly leg for the invite’s winning 400 medley relay.
“(The 300 breast relay) was really fun because me, Paige and Livia are pretty much the same speed. For us to be on a relay together, it was really fun that we won,” Thompson said.
While this is Brock’s first high school season, she has attended the last three state meets.
“It’s really fun (at LTHS). I’ve met a lot of new people but practices have been a lot tougher than my club team (RISE),” Brock said. “(The LT Relays is) not like state, where it’s super intense. You’re just doing relays so it’s super fun.”
