LANSING, Ill. (April 19, 2023) – Two athletic booster club presidents who worked to improve the school’s facilities and a pair of talented brothers highlight the 2023 induction class for the TF South Athletic Hall of Fame.
The class is made up of Doug Elkins, Mike Manno, Michael Holba, Tom Holba, Joe Lorenz, Dr. Bruce Montella, and Angie (Porche) Rundh.
2023 TFS Hall of Fame class
- Elkins served as booster-club president in the 1980s, and was followed by Manno in the ’90s and into the 2000s.
- “We wanted to make sure we recognized the two booster-club presidents who did so much for the athletes,” South athletic director Marc Brewe said. “They left a legacy with their contributions and unselfishness in giving to students.”
- Among the projects they worked on were the installation of the school’s first all-weather track and a number of improvements at the football stadium, including lights, and press-box, and concession-stand upgrades.
- Michael Holba (class of 1999) was an all-stater in baseball who also starred in football basketball. He went on to play baseball at Notre Dame.
- Tom Holba (’84) also played football, baseball and basketball, and was named all-state in football.
- Lorenz (’74) was yet another three-sport star (baseball, football, basketball) who went on to play minor-league baseball. He’s also in the Lewis University Sports Hall of Fame.
- Montella (’80) was a football All-American and Academic All-American at the University of Chicago.
- Rundh (’06) was Valparaiso University’s first volleyball All-American and is the program’s career leader in kills and attacks. She also was a Third-Team Academic All-American.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for October 13, when South football hosts Oak Forest in its homecoming game.
Baseball
The Red Wolves cruised past Rich Township 11-1 in five innings on Saturday. Freshman Chris Rodriguez pitched a three-hitter for the win, striking out nine. Khanon Gresham was 3-for-3 with three stolen bases, a run and an RBI. Jake Stachelski also went 3-for-3, driving in two runs and stealing a base.
South cruised to a 25-7 South Suburban Conference crossover win against Eisenhower on Thursday. Rakim Ali went 4-for-4 with three doubles, a homer, and eight RBI. Tyler Earmsmuth went 3-for-3 with a homer, two runs, and six RBI, and also struck out four in earning the win. Also contributing were Moises Mata (3-for-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI) and Jayden Spann (3-for-3, run).
The Red Wolves fell 5-1 to Sandburg on April 12. Drew Danehl allowed one earned run and struck out four in five innings of relief, while Jack Starcevich was 2-for-3.
CJ Stuckey pitched a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts as South blanked Hillcrest 15-0 on April 11.
The Red Wolves also beat Hillcrest on April 10, 20-3. Gresham was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and three steals. Earmsmuth was 1-for-1 with two walks, five steals, and two runs. Josh Moss got the win, allowing three earned runs over four innings with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Boys track and field
The Red Wolves finished third among nine teams at Friday’s Yorkville Invitational with 96.5 points, 55.5 behind the first-place hosts.
South won the 400- and 800-meter relays. The team of Jason Jones, Jaleel Lewis, Jeremiah Jones, and Nazheer Moore ran a 43.30 in the 400. The same group — though in a different order: Jeremiah Jones, Moore, Jason Jones, Lewis — won the 800 at 1:31.96.
South’s Anthony Listenbee was runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles in a personal-best 41.36.
Taking thirds for South were Jason Jones (100, 11.36), Moore (200, 22.81), Mekhi Tompkins (400, 51.85), Karrel Harvest (discus, 42.64m, 139-10.75) and Romello Ali (triple jump, 12.84m, 42-1.5).
Girls track and field
The Red Wolves tied for third among nine teams at Friday’s Yorkville Invitational with 86 points, 109.5 back of the first-place hosts.
Janiya Lucas won the 200 in 26.68 and was runner-up in the 100 (13.07). Rashiya Warfield took second in both the 100 hurdles (16.86) and 300 hurdles (51.64).
Taking third place finishes were Nyrobi Moore (400, 1:03.67), Jamirah Lucas (300 hurdles, 52.76), and the 400 relay team of Taylor Poole, Janiya Lucas, Earehc’ Hill, and Laniya Porter (50.54).
Badminton
The Red Wolves shut out Shepard 15-0 on Thursday, winning every match in two sets,
Singles winners were: Glory Ike at No. 1, Samantha Vazquez at No. 2, Nathalia Castellanos at No. 3, Patience Alonzo at No. 4, Sophia Wieck at No. 5, Annika Biegel at No. 6, Kailey Klausner at No. 7, Rereloluwa Sonoiki at No. 8, Trinity Veal at No. 9 and Azuri Akbar at No. 10.
Taking doubles wins were Klausner and Biegel at No. 1, Sonoiki and Veal at No. 2, Wieck and Akbar at No. 3, Ike and Vazquez at No. 4, and Castellanos and Alonzo at No. 5.
Softball
The Red Wolves (6-5, 3-1 South Suburban) beat Hillcrest 15-2 on April 10 as Izzy Sprehe threw three shutout innings. Abby Kleidon and Christina Aguilar both had two hits and scored twice.
South lost 12-2 to Bradley-Bourbonnais on April 8. Emily Dominia had two hits.
Marian Catholic
Boys volleyball
The Spartans won their second tournament title of the season, sweeping four matches at Saturday’s Eisenhower Invitational.
Marian (15-4) beat Richards 25-21, 25-16, downed Lemont 25-18, 25-22, knocked off Shepard 25-18, 25-13, and defeated St. Laurence 25-20, 25-19 in the championship match.
Justin McGary had 18 assists against Richards, 16 assists against Shepard and 22 assists vs. St. Laurence. Jacob Haney contributed eight kills against Shepard and two aces against St. Laurence. Joseph Staack had nine blocks vs. Shepard and eight blocks against St. Laurence.
Also contributing in the St. Laurence win were Brandon Painter with nine kills and Sebastian Jaculbe with three digs.
Marian lost 25-21, 25-16 to Marist on April 11. McGary had 12 assists, Painter had five kills, Jaculbe contributed eight digs and Staack added four blocks.
Girls track and field
Bethany Peoples cleared a season-best 4-11 to take second in the high jump and pace the Spartans at Thursday’s Hillcrest Invitational.
Taking thirds for Marian, which scored 45 points, were Mia Rodriguez (200, 26.3), Autumn Price (100, 13.05) and the 800 relay team of Ava Holman, McKenzie Mixson, Mikyah Ward and Rodriguez (1:51.03).
Boys track and field
Marian finished third among five teams at the Benet Open on April 11, scoring 104 points. The host Redwings were first with 155.
Braydon Waller won the (10.97) and 200 (23.86) for the Spartans. Daniel Kasperan won the 1,600 (4:45.03) and took second in the 800 (2:11.70). Michael VanHootegem took first in the 110 hurdles (15.14) and Jeremiah Lockwood won the 300 hurdles (56.89). Paul Frazier tied for first in the high jump with a 5-8 clear.
Marian’s Kaleb Isom, Van Hootegem, Austin Alexander and Waller won the 400 relay in 45.00.
Boys tennis
The Spartans dropped to 3-5 with a 4-1 loss to Stagg on April 12. Marian’s Jon Bolton and Matt Jenkins won 4-6, 6-4, 10-6 at No. 1 doubles.
Marian fell 4-1 to Marist on April 11. Julian Brown and Colin Cyzon earned the Spartans’ point, winning 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 at No. 3 doubles.
The Spartans swept Bremen 5-0 on April 10. Winning in singles were Nick Kirsch at No. 1 and RJ Macasaet at No. 2. Doubles winners were Bolton-Jenkins at No. 1, Aaron Yock-Gavin Krueger at No. 2 and Brown-Cyzon at No. 3.
TF United (TF South/TF North co-op)
Boys volleyball
United went 1-2 at the Eisenhower Tournament on Saturday, losing 25-16, 25-17 to St. Laurence, beating Rich Township 25-20 25-14 and losing 25-7, 25-14 to the host Cardinals.
Boys tennis
United fell 5-0 to Argo on Thursday and lost 4-1 to Eisenhower on April 11. United’s Angel Urquizo won 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1 singles against Eisenhower.
Illiana Christian
Baseball
In a matchup of defending Indiana state champs, reigning 2A winner Illiana Christian split with returning 3A winner Andrean on Saturday. Illiana dropped the opener 12-1 but won the nightcap 4-2.
Nick Neri’s RBI double in the top of the sixth of the nightcap broke a 2-2 tie and helped the Vikings earn the win. Cody DeJong had an RBI single and pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings to earn the win for Illiana, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Isaac VanderWoude hit a solo homer in the seventh to add an insurance run for the Vikings. DeJong and Kevin Corcoran Jr. each had two hits for the Vikings.
Illiana was held to five hits in the opener. Corcorcan took the loss, allowing five runs and striking out five in three innings.
Illiana rolled by River Forest 29-3 on Thursday. Josh Vis was 4-for-5 with a double. Aaron Gouwens, Tyler Balkema, and Dylan Polak also had multiple hits.
The Vikings beat Lake Station 14-0 on April 11. Spencer Bandstra pitched three innings, striking out five and allowing one hit and no walks. Corcoran went 2-for-3.
Illiana cruised past Calumet 32-0 on April 10 as Corcoran threw a five-inning perfect game with 14 strikeouts. Matt Bultema homered twice, VanderWoude was 2-for-2 with a double, homer and four RBI, and Gavin Meyer also homered.
Boys golf
Illiana finished fourth among 12 teams in Saturday’s Marquette Invitational at Briar Leaf Golf Club in LaPorte, shooting a 352.
Isaac Sherwood paced the Vikings with a 7-over 79, good for fourth place individually. Also scoring for Illiana were Donny Woo (88), Van Corcoran (90) and William Bloom (95).
The Vikings shot a 183 on Wednesday to win a triangular with Hanover Central (185) and North Newton (245). Scoring for Illiana were Sherwood (40), Corcoran (46), Woo (47), Zach Davids (50) and Zander Weemhoff (50).
Softball
The Vikings blanked Wheeler 4-0 on Friday as Mikayla Derks pitched a six-hitter with nine strikeouts and no walks. She also was 2-for-3 with a double, while Lydia VanderWoude finished 3-for-3 with a stolen base.
Mia VanProoyen pitched a no-hitter as Illiana shut out River Forest 11-0 on Thursday. Pacing the offense were Maya Wondaal (3-for-3, triple, double), Avery Martin (2-for-3, triple), and Cheyenne DeJong (2-for-3, double).
The Vikings beat Tri-Township 16-0 on April 12 as Derks threw a four-inning two-hitter with no walks. Leading the offense were Libby Kreykes (3-for-3, triple, double), Martin (2-for-2, double), Wondaal (2-for-3, triple, double), and Maddie Ritzema (2-for-3, triple, double).
Illiana beat Lake Station 15-1 on April 11 as Derks got the win, allowing no hits or walks and striking out five. Ritzema was 2-for-2 with a homer. Kreykes and Wondall also homered.
The Vikings rolled by Calumet 24-1 on April 10 as Derks picked up the win and was 2-for-2 with a double. VanderWoude finished 3-for-4 with a triple, while Martin went 3-for-4 with a triple.
Girls tennis
The Vikings blanked Wheeler 5-0 on Thursday, winning every match in straight sets. Singles winners were Gianna Vukas at No. 1, Sabri Lopez at No. 2 and Avery Olthof at No. 3. Maddy Smith and Josie Plank won at No. 1 doubles, while Ava Lindemulder and Sophie Plank won at No. 2.
Illiana beat Bishop Noll 4-1 on April 12. Vukas, Lopez and Olthof swept the singles, all in straight sets, for the Vikings. Lindermulder and Sophie Plank won in straight sets at second doubles.
The Vikings blanked Hanover Central 5-0 on April 11, winning every match in straight sets. Vukas, Lopez and Olthof won at first through third singles, while Smith-Josie Plank and Lindemulder-Sophie Plank won at first and second doubles.
Boys volleyball
Illiana fell 25-15, 25-19 to Timothy Christian on Thursday.
The Vikings beat Kankakee Valley 25-23, 23-25, 25-13, 25-7 on April 12.
Illiana swept Hobart 25-19, 25-16, 25-16 on April 11.
TF North
Softball
The Meteors fell 21-5 to Proviso East on April 11.
Related
- SSC All-Americans named in basketball, Marian Catholic successful in softball, volleyball – other scores (April 12, 2023)
- TF North alum Anthony Pignatiello takes reins of football program – local scores (March 31, 2023)
- Red Wolves to see improved facilities this fall (March 29, 2023)
- TF South Football wins on homecoming; Athletic royalty returns for hall of fame induction (October 1, 2022)
