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TF South Football wins on homecoming; Athletic royalty returns for hall of fame induction

By Josh Bootsma

LANSING, Ill. (October 1, 2022) – The TF South community was out in full force Friday night as this year’s homecoming game included an induction ceremony for the school’s first-ever athletic Hall of Fame.

After a meet-and-greet on Friday afternoon, hall of famers were honored before the varsity football game. The homecoming court was honored at halftime of the game, which TF South won by a score of 18-7 over Evergreen Park. Photos from the evening are included below:

Hall of Fame photos

hall of fame
Deb Mlynarcik and Al Rodriguez were present at the meet-and-greet for the first TF South Hall of Fame class. Mlynarcik accepted the hall of fame nomination on behalf of her father, Joe Sowinksi, who coached TFS wrestling for 24 years. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Dave Smith graduated from TF South in 1983 and went on to play football for Southern Illinois University and then the Cincinnati Bengals. His team won the 1988 AFC Championship and played in the Superbowl. When asked about his memories about his time at TFS, Smith praised the hard work and care shown by the coaching staff. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Cassie (Breschock) Banske (left), and Jenna Pasko were doubles partners in badminton in 2014, when they went 43-0 and won the state tournament in doubles badminton. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
MLB All Star and TF South grad Curtis Granderson celebrates his TF South Hall of Fame plaque before the varsity football game started on Friday. “This is awesome. I tell everyone, ‘It starts here.’ Everyone talks about the things that it led to, but those wouldn’t have happened if not for the things that happened here,” Granderson told The Lansing Journal. Returning to the TF South football field, Granderson remembered taking class photos on the bleachers. “I saw the bleachers and the first thing that pops into my head is senior photo day,” he said. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
hall of fame
Chris Clopton (far left) and his family are all smiles as he receives his hall of fame plaque for his football career. Clopton is second all-time at TFS in career rushing yards and touchdowns. Clopton went on to play football at Purdue and played in the 2001 Rose Bowl. “Coach Tom Padjen, Coach Jim Long, my teammates … they really helped support me. And gosh, Patti Leach followed me all through my entire career and kept every newspaper clip,” he said. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Ken Kremer (left, in red) received his hall of fame award with his family. Kremer played football for the Kansas City Chiefs for six seasons after receiving a MAC Defensive Player of the Year Award while he played at Ball State University. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Chris (Rassel) Peterson was TF South’s first ever state and national champion in hurdles. She was also a member of the 1976 Jr. Olympic team. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Some members of the 1990 Girls Bowling team were present to receive their hall of fame awards Friday night. The team won a state championship in 1990. Pictured, from left, is Shay Wilson, Ellen (Kohlberg) Damik, Jennifer (Szczepkowski) Riley, and Dave Scofield, receiving the award on behalf of his niece Debbie (Jaroscak) Sowder. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Cassie Banske receives applaud from the crowd Friday night as she is recognized for her legendary badminton career. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Longtime TF South football coach Tom Padjen celebrated his hall of fame nomination with his family on Friday night. Padjen won 234 games during his 39 years as head coach, earning him 33rd all time on the Illinois high school wins list. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
TF South Athletic Director Marc Brewe congratulates hall-of-famer Bob Padjen. Padjen is the current head coach of the Red Wolves and has been a part of the coaching staff since 1994. Padjen has also taught biology and PE at TFS. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Jim Kijewski — the original “Coach K” — stands with his family to receive his hall of fame plaque for his 39 years as a swimming coach at TF South. Kijewski also coached football. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Longtime TF South cross country coach and teacher Rich Dust receives his hall of fame plaque from TFS Athletic Director Marc Brewe. Dust’s girls cross country teams won seven consecutive conference championships and three consecutive regional championships. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Coach Bill Anderson received his hall of fame award with his family. Anderson coached baseball at TF South for 34 seasons, winning 578 games in that span. The TFS baseball field is named after him. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Hall of fame football coach Tom Padjen shares a special moment with his former student athlete Dave Smith. “They cared so much for the well-being of their players” Smith said of the TFS coaches during his time in high school. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)

More information on the first Athletic Hall of Fame class is available here.

Homecoming game vs. Evergreen Park

TF South choir members sang the national anthem before kick-off on Friday. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Senior wide receiver Brandon Woods (#10) lines up before the snap during Friday’s homecoming game. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Junior Seneca Smith runs around the outside against Evergreen Park Friday night. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Newly-minted TFS hall-of-famer Bob Padjen coaches from the sideline against Evergreen Park during Friday’s homecoming game. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Junior Edgar Rodriguez punts the ball away. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
The crowd was full and energetic under the Friday night lights at the homecoming game on Friday night. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
The Lavish barbering studio had a van available for free haircuts at the game. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
The mid-50s weather brought out the jackets and blankets Friday night. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
homecoming
Homecoming royalty Kaylyn Pamon and Anthony Listenbee were recognized as queen and king during halftime of Friday’s football game. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
The 2022 TF South homecoming court was presented at halftime. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Two percussionists focus during the band’s halftime performance. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
The dance and cheerleading squads gave a joint halftime performance. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
A cheerleader does a backflip during halftime. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
The halftime ladies struck a final pose to end their routine. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Assistant coach Mike Tisza talks with sophomore quarterback Christian Streeter. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Senior Cortez Jones brings down Evergreen Park’s running back for a loss. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Senior Deshawn Hampton lays out for 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Christian Streeter. The touchdown put the Red Wolves up 12-7 over Evergreen Park in the third quarter. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
The final score of the game was 18-7 favoring TF South. The Red Wolves are now 2-4 on the season. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)
Josh Bootsma
Josh Bootsma
Josh is Managing Editor at The Lansing Journal and believes in the power and purpose of community news. He covers any local topics—from village government to theatre, from business openings to migratory birds.