A lot is happening this time of year with finals and the holidays. Life can get extremely busy and overwhelming. If you haven’t been following IC Catholic Prep athletics this winter season thus far, you have been missing out! I encourage everyone to get to at least a game or match to support and share in the early successes we’ve had. Here is a recap of our sports thus far:
Boys’ Basketball
Boys’ Basketball started off the season 5-0 as they went on to win the Coaler/Manteno Thanksgiving Tournament. They followed that up with a conference win on the road at Guerin. They lost a close battle against a good Chicago Christian team. On 12/11, they finally had their home opener vs Walther Christian and finished with a 75-63 victory. Last Saturday, they faced Fenwick on the road and represented the Knights very well in a hard-fought battle ultimately falling 53-58. Last night, the boys’ varsity team took down Lisle at home 61-59 thanks to a pair of Chauncey Lee free throws with seconds left. They sit at 7-2 heading into a Friday home match-up vs RB and our annual ICCP/Westmont Christmas Classic. If you are looking for some good basketball after the Christmas holiday, come out to cheer us on! Visit www.iccpxmasclassic.org for more details on bracket, matchups, and times!
Girls’ Basketball
The Girls’ Basketball varsity team is off to a great start. Sitting at 9-3, they have been playing A LOT of basketball! Playing 5 games in 7 days and on a 4-game win streak. The streak includes a conference road win @ Bishop Mac and wins vs. Thornridge, Walter Payton, and Bremen in the Reavis Christmas Tournament. They will face off vs Reavis in the Championship of that tournament on Saturday at 10:30 AM. But first they host RB on Friday before the Boys’ varsity game at IC. Friday is a great opportunity to check out both varsity programs. The girls’ program is truly in the Christmas spirit as they will compete in two Christmas Tournaments this season. Following the holiday, they will play in the State Farm Holiday Classic, one of the premier tournaments in the state! The team returns to IC after the New Year vs Downers Grove North on 1/3.
Way to go Frankie!! https://t.co/PI1BNHagCC
— ICCP Lady Knights Basketball (@IccpGirlsBball) December 15, 2019
Wrestling
On 12/5, the wrestling team faced off against Westmont and Riverside-Brookfield and, in the first time in program history, beat Riverside Brookfield with a score of 48-30! They took down Westmont 47-24. This past weekend, on 12/14-15 in Plano at the 37th Annual Reaper Classic, the team did BIG things! The team won the Reaper Classic with a perfect 8 for 8 in the medal round, earning a 5th place medal, two 3rd place medals, and 5 champions! 126 Champ Nicholas Renteria (see below), 160lbs champ went to sophomore Brandon Navarro, who is ranked #3 and #6 in Illinois-Matmen and IWCOA rankings, respectively. Freshman Saul Trejo was crowned 106 lb. champ! Freshman Michael DiBenedetto won the 113 lb. Championship and Freshman Isaiah Gonzalez took the 285 lb. title! Senior Joe Scott and Sophomore Jadon Mims took bronze home in their weight classes. Junior Finn Barney was a 5th place medalist in the 120 lb. class! This coming weekend they will compete in the 32nd Annual AJ Dvorak at Harlem High School in Machesney Park, IL.
Nicholas Won the Plano Tournament and was voted Outstanding Wrestler. Defeated #6 Cale Horsch of GCMSF 10-6 in the semis and #2 Pauly Keane of Peotone 10-9 in the finals.
Bowling
Bowling has been competing and showing great signs of what’s to come! Freshman Jacob Gunther leading the way. In their own Knight Invite, out of 10 teams, Jacob Gunther took home a pair of medals! He won 3rd place for high series with a 664 and 6th place for a high game of 237!!! Following the invitational, the team traveled to Bishop Mac and won 6-0. They will compete before the holidays on 12/23 in the Rams Invite hosted by Glenbard East at Bowlero in Glendale Heights.
Dance
The dance team has been turning heads this competitive season. I have been extremely impressed and proud. They have a fun routine and have been regarded as “a team to definitely watch out for this year”. They opened up their competitive season at Wheaton North last month with a Top 5 Finish! Despite some injuries and key dancers sidelined as well as some adjustments in the choreography, the team really stepped up to finish 4th at Naperville North. This past weekend, the team competed in the Stevenson Invite. They take some time off for the holidays to recoup and get healthy. They will compete again on January 12th at the Huntley Invite.
Have a wonderful Christmas Holiday and a Happy New Year.
Go Knights!