IC Catholic Prep football team loses in state semifinals
York girls swimmers compete at state.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The IC Catholic Prep football team’s tremendous run came to a close recently in the Class 3A state semifinals.
The Knights dropped a 42-14 decision to Bishop McNamara in the semifinals held at snow-blanketed Lewis Stadium at Plunkett Athletic Complex in Elmhurst.
IC Catholic Prep closed the season with an 11-2 record. The Knights, who won the Metro Suburban Conference West Division title with an unbeaten 5-0 mark, had an 11-game winning streak snapped.
Bishop McNamara (12-1) is the only team to beat IC Catholic Prep this season. McNamara came to Elmhurst in Week 1 and scored a 49-32 win and then returned 12 weeks later and scored another victory.
McNamara, the No. 5 seed on the top half of the Class 3A bracket, advances to this weekend’s Class 3A state-championship game in DeKalb at Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University against Tolono Unity (9-3), which scored a 30-8 upset win over St. Joseph-Ogden in the other Class 3A state semifinal. Unity was the No. 10 seed on the lower part of the Class 3A bracket. St. Joseph-Ogden (12-1) was the No. 1 seed and came into the game unbeaten. IC Catholic Prep was the No. 3 seed on the top half of the bracket.
The Knights finished the season scoring 520 points in 13 games, while allowing opponents to score 224 points. In eight games this season, the Knights scored 40 or more points in a game and in seven games held the opponent to 10 points or less.
IC Catholic Prep faced four teams in the playoffs that have a combined 37-9 record and went 3-1 against them.
The Knights made their 17th playoff appearance in program history this season. IC Catholic Prep has been to the playoffs six times since 2008 and three times under current coach Bill Krefft. The 2002 and 2008 teams won state championships. This was IC Catholic Prep’s third appearance in a state semifinal game. The 1974 and 2005 teams made it to the state quarterfinals.
York girls swimming
The York girls swimming team was well-represented at the recent state finals meet at New Trier High School in Winnetka.
Senior Paula Nolte took 26th in the breaststroke with a time of 1:06.67. She also played 30th in the 200 IM with a time of 2:11.47. Nolte won sectional titles in both events to advance to state.
Senior Maggie Schlecht took 47th in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.09. Junior Katie Fischer was 42nd in the 1-meter diving competition with 146.25 points.
York also made history by qualifying all its relay teams for the state meet for the first time in program history.
The Dukes’ 200 medley relay team placed 28th with a time of 1:49.51. That team included junior Winona Asher, Nolte, Schlecht and junior Sarah Lewand.
The 200 freestyle relay team placed 27th with a time of 1:39.35.That group featured sophomore Meghan Quinn, Lewand, Asher and Schlecht.
York was 34th in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:41.93.That team was comprised of Lewand, junior Ailie Orzak, Quinn and Schlecht.
York won sectional titles in the 200 medley and 200 relay events.
