Published: November 29, 2008
Kane County Chronicle
GENEVA - Rosary gave Geneva its first taste of a challenge in the championship game of its own Thanksgiving Invitational Tournament.
But that was just the first half. By the end of the game, the dominant, quick and aggressive Vikings had chalked up another big victory to take the tournament 85-53.
Geneva senior Taylor Whitley dominated the court, scoring 38 points and tying her career high. Rosary junior Jordan Rettig almost had her matched in the first half as the two teams traded points back and fourth.
But as Geneva got more aggressive with their defense, Rosary started to fray and put up more fouls than free-throws.
“We wanted to work together and we tried,” Rettig said, “I know we can handle their pressure, but we didn’t handle if very well.”
For her part, Rettig led the Royals with 21 points, while junior Stephanie Haugen followed with 16.
But while the Vikings were able to put enough pressure on the two Royals, Whitley and senior Emily Hinchman were making the most of turnovers, nailing most of their baskets and fast breaks.
“It’s hard to beat a team when they’re going two-on-zero down the court,” Rosary coach Dave Beebe said, “because when we pass the ball, we’re basically handing it to them.
And when the ball wasn’t handed to them, Viking players like Hinchman and junior Kelsey Augustine made impressive steals and rebounds to catapult their lead in the third quarter.
“[Augustine] just gets her hands in all those passing lanes,” Geneva coach Gina Nolan said. “She really brought her A-game.”
Geneva (4-0) hopes to parlay their big victories as Western Sun Conference play starts at home on Tuesday.
For the Royals (4-1), their first loss of the season is not a total one.
“It’s just disappointing, but give credit to Geneva. They have a nice team,” Beebe said.
He did add that adjustments next year might help their chances against the Vikings.
“I’m tired of seeing Whitley,” he said jokingly. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the kid ... but I’ll be glad when she goes to Indiana State.”
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
aLive: El Guincho / Lemonade @ the Empty Bottle, Chicago
Published: November 27, 2008
El Guichino | Lemonade | Golden Birthday
The Empty Bottle - Chicago IL
November 25th 2008
Last time El Guincho was supposed to come through Chicago, mastermind Pablo Díaz-Reixa ended up cancelling most of his summer tour because of that dreaded beast, exhaustion. If last night’s show at the Empty Bottle - El Guincho’s first ever Chicago show - is any indication, it isn’t so hard to see how this kind of work could be exhausting.
Flanked by a bandmate named Aleix banging on a sampler, Díaz-Reixa bounced like a giddy schoolboy behind his keyboards and electronics, playing a set of new material and reworked tracks from his excellent album Algranza. Still, for all of the movement onstage, it didn’t compare to the movement in the crowd, with the floors shaking from everyone’s best attempts at salsa dancing. In between songs, people overwhelmed Díaz-Reixa with their best college Spanish (kind of makes me wish I didn’t take French for a moment). He was appropriately gracious, saying that back in Barcelona, some people said that Americans wouldn’t take to his music because he sang in Spanish. It just goes to show that if you make dance music this infectious, relentless, worldly and thoroughly modern, it doesn’t really matter what language you’re singing - People will still storm the stage even if the encore is the “Palmitos Park / Kalise” medley again.
Not to be counted out were the Brooklyn by-way-of San Francisco trio Lemonade. Like El Guincho, the group relied on tropical samplers and pre-programmed beats. But in combination with live drums, bass and Callan Clendnin’s howling, effects-laden vocals, they struck a terrifying but celebratory chord. Díaz-Reixa made time to call them amazing in his set, and rightly so. The band’s experimental take on dance music might be one of the best compliments to the headliner.
Starting things out were Chicago’s own incense-enhanced - they actually lit incense onstage before they played. Quite the welcome exchange for cigarrette and pot smoke if you ask me - Golden Birthday. The drum-machine driven quartet traded instruments back and forth between their hazy, reverb drenched pop tunes. Even as the beats and bass lines got busy, the songs all had a pleasingly mellow vibe that had many of the soon-to-be dancing crowding nodding their head.
photographs by Andrew Mitchell | all images © Pensatos
Bulldogs find game in time
Published: November 27, 2008
Kane County Chronicle
At that point in the game on Wednesday, the Batavia boys basketball team was trailing, as they it been all half to Aurora Christian, 26-23.
But when the final buzzer rang, Batavia had drastically turned the tables and overpowered the Eagles, 62-45, taking the second game in their own Ken Peddy Windmill City tournament.
The Bulldogs (2-0) had to struggle along in the first and second quarter while Aurora Christian senior Juwanza Wright drove in for layups and junior Nate Hill canned threes. Wright would lead his team in scoring with 11 points.
But as soon as the third quarter started, the Bulldogs started consistently hitting their shots. Juniors Adam LeTourneau and Ricky Clopton helped steal the lead with a couple of baskets. From there, sophomore Jesse Coffey hit his first of four three-pointers and the Bulldogs never let go.
"We had to struggle along the way," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said, "I felt like we got a great lift ... from Jesse Coffey's shooting."
Batavia senior David Bryant was also in top form, leading the game in scoring with 20 points, three of his baskets coming from deep. He also shot 7-for-7 on his free throws.
As the Bulldogs were racking up points, the Eagles (0-2) could hardly get a basket.
Bryant said that was kind of the idea all along.
"They were playing zone and wouldn't let us get inside," Bryant said. "But after we kept hitting shots, we spread their zone apart."
Victory aside, both Bryant and Roberts were clear in identifying a big wrinkle in their early-season system – seizing early momentum.
"We started out kind of slow, and that's just something we need to work on in practice," Bryant said, "going hard all of the time."
Roberts agreed, simply saying, "Defensively, we've got to get better. Early on, we did not do that well."
The same could be said for St. Francis (1-1), which earlier in the evening fell to Addison Trail, 51-41. The game had been more evenly matched in the first half, but with Addison Trail's added second-half aggressiveness and some crucial missed shots on the Spartans' part, the balance began to drastically shift.
"We shot ourselves in the foot," St. Francis coach Shawn Healy said. "When you turn the ball over as much as we did, you don't even get a chance to shoot the basketball. It's frustrating."
Even more frustrating was the amount of free throws Addison Trail (1-1) was able to capitalize on. Addison Trail senior Ian Horvath was 8-for-8 in the second half.
Spartans junior Larry Murison was a consistent scorer for the first three quarters, but was in foul trouble in the fourth. Still, he led the Spartans in scoring with 12 points. Freshman Ryan Coyle followed with 11.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
BSS Bud Revisits Origins on EP Before Uprooting With Imminent Album
Published: November 26, 2008Pensatos.com
Gentleman Reg - Little Buildings
* 1/2
The best question one can ask of Little Buildings, a nine-song compilation ep album from Canadian singer-songwriter Gentleman Reg, is “why?” Why repackage eight previously released songs from two albums? I know Cinderella and Hanson have “20th Century Masters” greatest hits records, but this is ridiculous.
OK, there is semi-worthy reason for this; Gentleman Reg Vermue put out three albums on the recently defunct Canadian label Three Gut records, so maybe Vermus’s new label Arts & Craft - yes, he is also a part-time Broken Social Scene member - wanted to re-introduce him to a wider audience and hype his upcoming fourth album, Jet Black (which is an ironic name for a man who played an albino in the movie Shortbus, but I digress.)
Unfortunately, judging from Little Buildings, there’s not really much to hype about Reg. As far as indie pop/rock goes, Vermue feels pretty orthodox. Depending on your generosity, the music’s either very modest or just plain dull which may go to show how far he’s really come. Arrangements never seem to veer far from that Starbucks-ready air of inoffensive passiveness. And just when things do start to pick up, Vermue’s vocal delivery takes things down a peg. It’s so breathy and affected that it makes the light-hearted and gay sing-a-long “The Boyfriend Song,” sound annoyingly precious. The lone new song on the compilation, an outtake Vermue’s originally recorded for 2004’s Darby & John called “Something to Live For,” benefits from brooding and tense mix of electric guitars and a subtle string quartet, but it’s still so passive that it hardly has time, weight or hooks to be memorable. So what’s to expect on Jet Black? Well, a visit to his myspace page actually shows some promise, with a couple of songs that veer more into power-pop and synth-pop. Maybe his friends in Final Fantasy, the Constantines or the Hidden Cameras have come to his aid and add some much-needed energy. Or maybe the fourth album will blow the rest of his catalog away. At any rate, this stopgate release is so easily skippable, it makes the prospect of starting over on a new label sound a lot more appealing.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tri-Cities well represented on Day 1
Published: November 22, 2008
Kane County Chronicle
EVANSTON – Day One of the IHSA Girls State Swimming and Diving Meet is always the more difficult of the two days. The spectators stand is crowded, so is the pool deck. Never mind the pressure to perform well enough to make it to the finals on Saturday.
Several local favorites kept their cool enough to advance to the finals. Both St. Charles East swimmers, freshman Emma Smith and junior Kayla Scott, survived Day One. Smith placed eighth in the 500-yard freestyle with a 5:02.74 time, almost 2 seconds better than Rosary's Kally Fayhee.
Scott placed seventh in the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.38. Both she and Smith competed in the 200 individual medley, but only Smith advanced with a 12th-place finish in 2:08.86
"She's great," East coach Joe Cabel said of Smith. "You just kind of wind her up and let her go."
Cabel said he was impressed with both of his athletes telling them to "just to go out there have a good time" today. Also, "don't take it so seriously," he said.
Cross-town rival St. Charles North will be joining them, as well. Junior Angie Chokran ended their day with a first-place finish in the 100 breaststroke. Her time, 1:02.85, bested her sectionals finish by almost 2 seconds.
"I don't think it was ... winning it that gave me the confidence," she said after her race. "but that I dropped so much time. Just seeing my best time on the board was amazing. I didn't even care what my other competitors had done."
Chokran also helped the North Stars qualify for the finals in the 200 medley relay, placing ninth at 1:48.89, as well as placing fifth on the 200 IM in 2:06.91.
Fellow junior Jessica England also advanced, placing 12th in the 500 freestyle.
"It's a step in a great direction for those girls," North coach Rob Rooney said. "It's an honor to even swim in the meet."
Rooney added that he hoped the success would further fuel their drive in the finals.
"If you're a great athlete, you're always wanting a little bit more," he said, "and I think they're walking out of here wanting a little more."
Still, as much as both St. Charles schools will want it, it's hard to imagine anyone walking over Rosary to a third state title. The Beads started out the day in great fashion, setting a state record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:44.85
And if that wasn't enough, they also beat the state record in the 200 freestyle relay, too, clocking in at 1:33.89.
They didn't set a record on the last race of the day – the 400 freestyle relay, but a first-place finish at 3:27.58 helped cap of a day of big wins, as well as some heartbreak.
That came to junior Olivia Scott just after she swam the 100 butterfly in what would have been the first-place time of 54.72. She was disqualified because of a false start.
Rosary coach Bill Schalz explained that a noise at the start caused Scott to flinch, but was unheard by the referees and the starters.
"It was just one of those unfortunate situations," he said. "They're good men. They're good officials – they just didn't hear it. ... If it was just me hearing it, it'd be one thing, but virtually every coach behind the blocks came up to me and said they heard it. But what do you do?"
Still Scott's performance in the relays and her second-place finish in the 200 IM in 2:03.24 helped Rosary solidify the points lead heading into competition today. Schalz was even more impressed by junior Diana Norkus in the same event. She went from being seed 25th to placing fourth in the event at 2:06.7.
Same goes for senior Fayhee, who tied for first in the 200 freestyle in 1:51.03.
"If you told me that Kally was going to be at the top of the 200 free and the 500, I wouldn't have believed it," Schalz said.
The state finals begin at 1 p.m. today.
Kane County Chronicle
EVANSTON – Day One of the IHSA Girls State Swimming and Diving Meet is always the more difficult of the two days. The spectators stand is crowded, so is the pool deck. Never mind the pressure to perform well enough to make it to the finals on Saturday.
Several local favorites kept their cool enough to advance to the finals. Both St. Charles East swimmers, freshman Emma Smith and junior Kayla Scott, survived Day One. Smith placed eighth in the 500-yard freestyle with a 5:02.74 time, almost 2 seconds better than Rosary's Kally Fayhee.
Scott placed seventh in the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.38. Both she and Smith competed in the 200 individual medley, but only Smith advanced with a 12th-place finish in 2:08.86
"She's great," East coach Joe Cabel said of Smith. "You just kind of wind her up and let her go."
Cabel said he was impressed with both of his athletes telling them to "just to go out there have a good time" today. Also, "don't take it so seriously," he said.
Cross-town rival St. Charles North will be joining them, as well. Junior Angie Chokran ended their day with a first-place finish in the 100 breaststroke. Her time, 1:02.85, bested her sectionals finish by almost 2 seconds.
"I don't think it was ... winning it that gave me the confidence," she said after her race. "but that I dropped so much time. Just seeing my best time on the board was amazing. I didn't even care what my other competitors had done."
Chokran also helped the North Stars qualify for the finals in the 200 medley relay, placing ninth at 1:48.89, as well as placing fifth on the 200 IM in 2:06.91.
Fellow junior Jessica England also advanced, placing 12th in the 500 freestyle.
"It's a step in a great direction for those girls," North coach Rob Rooney said. "It's an honor to even swim in the meet."
Rooney added that he hoped the success would further fuel their drive in the finals.
"If you're a great athlete, you're always wanting a little bit more," he said, "and I think they're walking out of here wanting a little more."
Still, as much as both St. Charles schools will want it, it's hard to imagine anyone walking over Rosary to a third state title. The Beads started out the day in great fashion, setting a state record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:44.85
And if that wasn't enough, they also beat the state record in the 200 freestyle relay, too, clocking in at 1:33.89.
They didn't set a record on the last race of the day – the 400 freestyle relay, but a first-place finish at 3:27.58 helped cap of a day of big wins, as well as some heartbreak.
That came to junior Olivia Scott just after she swam the 100 butterfly in what would have been the first-place time of 54.72. She was disqualified because of a false start.
Rosary coach Bill Schalz explained that a noise at the start caused Scott to flinch, but was unheard by the referees and the starters.
"It was just one of those unfortunate situations," he said. "They're good men. They're good officials – they just didn't hear it. ... If it was just me hearing it, it'd be one thing, but virtually every coach behind the blocks came up to me and said they heard it. But what do you do?"
Still Scott's performance in the relays and her second-place finish in the 200 IM in 2:03.24 helped Rosary solidify the points lead heading into competition today. Schalz was even more impressed by junior Diana Norkus in the same event. She went from being seed 25th to placing fourth in the event at 2:06.7.
Same goes for senior Fayhee, who tied for first in the 200 freestyle in 1:51.03.
"If you told me that Kally was going to be at the top of the 200 free and the 500, I wouldn't have believed it," Schalz said.
The state finals begin at 1 p.m. today.
DeKalb co-op moves on at state swim meet
Published: November 22, 2008
DeKalb Daily Chronicle
EVANSTON – In the midst of stiff competition, each member of the DeKalb co-op swimming team managed to advance to Day 2 of the girls swimming State meet.
On both the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays, DeKalb placed in the top 12, placing as high as ninth place in the 400 with 3:33.07, a mere four hundreths of a second behind Waubonsie Valley.
The team of of Casey Jepsen, Kate Taylor, Grace Waller and Emily Waller reached the consolation final in the 200 freestyle relay, finishing 12th in 1:38.69.
For the Waller sisters, senior Emily and sophomore Grace, the sucess was better felt with their teammates.
“I think that there is definitely more pressure to get into the finals in general,” Emily said, “[but] esspecially the individual events.”
Fortunately both of them did well enough to advance in their individuals.
Grace placed ninth in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:08.09. Emily swam the 100-yard freestyle in 52.53, which narrowly put her in 11th place and advancing her to Saturday.
With those qualifications out of the way, the Wallers said it helped them feel more at ease during their relays.
Now all there’s left to do when it counts the most, Saturday’s competiton with the toughest field of the season.
DeKalb will return to Evanston Township High School on Saturday for the finals, starting at 1 p.m.
DeKalb Daily Chronicle
EVANSTON – In the midst of stiff competition, each member of the DeKalb co-op swimming team managed to advance to Day 2 of the girls swimming State meet.
On both the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays, DeKalb placed in the top 12, placing as high as ninth place in the 400 with 3:33.07, a mere four hundreths of a second behind Waubonsie Valley.
The team of of Casey Jepsen, Kate Taylor, Grace Waller and Emily Waller reached the consolation final in the 200 freestyle relay, finishing 12th in 1:38.69.
For the Waller sisters, senior Emily and sophomore Grace, the sucess was better felt with their teammates.
“I think that there is definitely more pressure to get into the finals in general,” Emily said, “[but] esspecially the individual events.”
Fortunately both of them did well enough to advance in their individuals.
Grace placed ninth in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:08.09. Emily swam the 100-yard freestyle in 52.53, which narrowly put her in 11th place and advancing her to Saturday.
With those qualifications out of the way, the Wallers said it helped them feel more at ease during their relays.
Now all there’s left to do when it counts the most, Saturday’s competiton with the toughest field of the season.
DeKalb will return to Evanston Township High School on Saturday for the finals, starting at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
NACo prescription drug discount cards come to Winnebago County
100th published story :)
Published: November 19, 2008
Northern Public Radio.
INTRO: Prescription drugs could be less expensive for people in Winnebago County. Yesterday, the County Board announced that they would offer discount cards for people with limited or no health insurance. Andy Mitchell has more.
Click blog title for audio.
Sugar Buzz Band Crashes Thanks To Maturity & Heartbreak
Published: November 18, 2008
Pensatos.com
Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
****
When people first talked about Los Campesinos!, the Cardiff-based septet, they often brought up their child-like energy (we’re guilty). But underneath their early singles and debut full-length Hold On Now, Youngster…, beneath the giddy and Crayola-colored homage to American indie rock, there was a darker almost militant edge to their pop tunes. They started the debut with a song called “Death to Los Campesinos,” and looked for solace in an “International TweeX Underground.” Even their breakthrough single, “You! Me! Dancing!,” could be misinterpreted as an order instead of a sugar high.
That darkness is on full display resting upon the band’s sophomore album, released only eight months after they gave us their proper debut of adrenaline. What started as an innocent Seattle studio sesh with John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney) to record some B-sides instead saw the band coming away with an albums worth of material: 10 songs more angry and cathartic than anything they’ve released thus far.
The catharsis is primarily directed at - what else - a relationship gone sour. Doesn’t sound too original, but what makes this collection so compelling is its sudden, off-the-cuff bitterness. For a band who usually paints in bright and broad strokes, it’s surprising to hear lead-singer Gareth screaming darker, more violent images; “He got his teeth fixed / I’m gonna break them” he bellies on the title track. Elsewhere, on the wounded ballad “You’ll Need Those Fingers for Crossing,” the glockenspiel and violin weave together melodies of a bitter breakup kiss as Gareth and Aleksandra harmonize, “I’m sucking your last words from the back of your throat.”
It’s comforting to know that even when tackling a subject rich with clichés the band can maintain its hookiness and wit; I like now having a name for those post-breakup keepsake - “Miserabilia.” Los Campesinos! have always been compared to Arcade Fire (comes with the territory when your band has strings and bells incorporated in almost every song) and I suspect that raw emotions ofWe are Beautiful, We are Doomed will only further validate that for some. But it will be interesting to see what the third album will sound like; their sophomore is either a step in a new direction for group or a much needed therapeutic detour.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Rosary victorious in opener
Published: November 18, 2008
Photo by Corey R. Minkanic
"We only had an hour scheduled," Rosary coach Dave Beebe said. "But we're going to open up another hour so we will be running."
That's because it was a sloppy first game for both the Royals and the Titans. For the first three scoreless minutes, it seemed like both sides would be in for a painful night of basketball.
But Rosary (1-0) finally found a rhythm, taking advantage of IMSA's several turnovers to take a commanding lead in the first half, thanks to some aggressive play from junior guard Stephanie Haugen and center Jordan Rettig.
Even with the lead, Beebe wasn't satisfied.
"They played hard, but they just went through the motions," he said.
The Royals' defense especially started to show rust in the second half as communication amongst the team got quieter and the Titans (0-1) went from eight points to 28 points, led by Isolina Rossi, who rallied her team with eight points, five in the fourth quarter.
"We really weren't talking as much as we should be ... especially on defense," said Rettig, who had a game-high 16 points and seven rebounds.
Beebe has hopes that his Royals can finish the season at the top of the Suburban Catholic Conference, with eyes on Montini being the "powerhouse" to beat. Closer is Geneva's Thanksgiving tournament, which should supply some tough competition.
"There's no pushovers in that one as far as I know," Beebe said.
Despite the uneven play, Beebe said it was nice to get the win and to have every girl play and almost every girl put points on the board. Following Rettig, Haugen scored 10 points while senior guard Audrey Van Acker added seven, including a three-point shot in the first quarter.
"Offensively wasn't so bad," Beebe said. "It's just defensively it was not so good. ... We'll get the act together. We're still trying to find the right combination soon."
And the Royals know what the first step is toward that right direction – communication.
"We can't guarantee to make baskets and we might not be the best defenders," Beebe said. "But by Saturday, we'll be able to communicate."
Monday, November 17, 2008
Colourmusic - F, Monday, Orange, February, Venus, Lunatic, 1 or 13
Published: November 17, 2008
Pensatos.com
*** 1/2
Once upon a time there was a band called the Beta Band. They were Scottish, sarcastic and absolutely psychedelic. But they never got their due and four years after their breakup, they’re primarily known for being name-checked by Rob Gordon in “High Fidelity,” and opening for Radiohead.
The reason I bring them up is that on it’s best moments, Colourmusic’s exhaustingly titled debut record manages to sound awfully similar to some of the Beta Band’s best rambling, genre-hopping EPs. Take the vocal harmony breakdown of the otherwise throbbing “Put in a Little Gas,” or the folky sex-romp “The Gospel Song.” Listening to the simple dirge beginning of “Try,” suddenly feels like early 2000 again.
Not that Colourmusic take every cue from one band, so much as they take nods from a lot ’60s psych-pop touchstones: a Beatles-esque chord progression and beat here, a Zombies horn arrangement, a bit of the Kinks and Bowie for good measure. But they manage to make it sound more fun and a lot less boneheaded than, say, the Aliens. Lyrically, the band doesn’t measure up to the convincingly creative music underneath it, letting slip a few hippie standards on “Circles” (”We live in cycles…”) and the saccharine love cry “Winter Song.” But they’re delivered with such a playful sense of whimsy, it’s easier to let them fade into the background. And while the Aliens were one to drag on and repeat their band name, Colourmusic never overstay their welcome. While they don’t sound as ambitious or outworldy as some of their peers, Colourmusic strike right at the heart instead of the head. You can practically hear them smiling as they sing “Deedlely deedlely dee” during the chorus of “Moolah.” They’re worth a smile back.
Friday, November 14, 2008
North's sectional streak at stake Saturday
Published: November 14, 2008
Kane County Chronicle
ST. CHARLES – When swimmers from 15 schools compete at the IHSA St. Charles North Sectionals Saturday, it won’t matter to the host team who comes out on top.
That’s because North coach Rob Rooney tries to have his team focus more on qualifying as many girls as they can for state competition as they can.
“[That’s] the real victory,” Rooney said.
For that past six years, that strategy has served North well; the team has won its sectional meet every year since 2002. That’s helped the North Stars build confidence in their program and themselves.
Another big confidence booster came two Saturdays ago at the Upstate Eight Conference meet. For the first time in their relatively short history, the North Stars took first place by edging Neuqua Valley.
But Rooney is already putting that milestone behind him.
“That meet is over. It’s done,” he said. “The way Rooney sees it, dwelling on what happened could undermine the work they’re doing for sectionals. “It can be [a big confidence booster] if they let it be, as long they don’t overthink it,” he said.
Juniors Angie Chokran and Jessica England don’t need to be reminded of the pressure.
“It’s the most nerve-wracking meet of the year,” Chokran said, “because you know it should be your best meet of the season, so you have to prove it.”
Chokran also believes that whether or not North wins for the seventh year in a row does not matter so long as they get girls to state.
“I think that it’s a combination of not wanting to jinx it and having more of a team based goal,” she said.
For England, this is the first time she has not been rested for the sectionals – meaning this is the first time she’s been able to actually qualify for state.
But she and the team try not to focus of the pressure of outside competition so much as they work on beating personal bests. In a way, then, Rooney sees swimming as more of an individual sport.
“At the end of the year, no matter what your meet is, you’re racing against something that doesn’t lie – the pace clock,” he said. “I’d prefer to have this meet in a glass bubble in our own little world.”
On the starting block, England says that the majority of success comes from keeping your head.
“You know you’ve done the work,” she said. “You can’t improve anything while you’re in the race, so you just have to go out and have a good mental attitude.”
It helps also that this year’s girls have been a tight group. Chokran and England both talked about how much the team has gotten together for movies and breakfasts outside of school. And with four freshman girls also competing Saturday, England says that it adds some levity to the mix as well.
“They’re a lighthearted group,” Rooney said of his team. “They’re having success through having fun. Even when it’s super hard, they’ve found the fun in it.”
Kane County Chronicle
ST. CHARLES – When swimmers from 15 schools compete at the IHSA St. Charles North Sectionals Saturday, it won’t matter to the host team who comes out on top.
That’s because North coach Rob Rooney tries to have his team focus more on qualifying as many girls as they can for state competition as they can.
“[That’s] the real victory,” Rooney said.
For that past six years, that strategy has served North well; the team has won its sectional meet every year since 2002. That’s helped the North Stars build confidence in their program and themselves.
Another big confidence booster came two Saturdays ago at the Upstate Eight Conference meet. For the first time in their relatively short history, the North Stars took first place by edging Neuqua Valley.
But Rooney is already putting that milestone behind him.
“That meet is over. It’s done,” he said. “The way Rooney sees it, dwelling on what happened could undermine the work they’re doing for sectionals. “It can be [a big confidence booster] if they let it be, as long they don’t overthink it,” he said.
Juniors Angie Chokran and Jessica England don’t need to be reminded of the pressure.
“It’s the most nerve-wracking meet of the year,” Chokran said, “because you know it should be your best meet of the season, so you have to prove it.”
Chokran also believes that whether or not North wins for the seventh year in a row does not matter so long as they get girls to state.
“I think that it’s a combination of not wanting to jinx it and having more of a team based goal,” she said.
For England, this is the first time she has not been rested for the sectionals – meaning this is the first time she’s been able to actually qualify for state.
But she and the team try not to focus of the pressure of outside competition so much as they work on beating personal bests. In a way, then, Rooney sees swimming as more of an individual sport.
“At the end of the year, no matter what your meet is, you’re racing against something that doesn’t lie – the pace clock,” he said. “I’d prefer to have this meet in a glass bubble in our own little world.”
On the starting block, England says that the majority of success comes from keeping your head.
“You know you’ve done the work,” she said. “You can’t improve anything while you’re in the race, so you just have to go out and have a good mental attitude.”
It helps also that this year’s girls have been a tight group. Chokran and England both talked about how much the team has gotten together for movies and breakfasts outside of school. And with four freshman girls also competing Saturday, England says that it adds some levity to the mix as well.
“They’re a lighthearted group,” Rooney said of his team. “They’re having success through having fun. Even when it’s super hard, they’ve found the fun in it.”
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Cali-fornified Alt Rockers Summon Yorke-esq Sounds
Published: November 12, 2008
Pensatos.com
Audrye Sessions - Audrye Sessions EP
Black Sea ; 2008
3 stars
In a world filled with bands aiming for Radiohead’s level of transcendent gradeur, it’s a bit unusual to hear someone go for it by sounding like Pablo Honey instead of OK Computer. But surprisingly enough, Audrye Sessions manage to make that notion sound quite pleasing on their self-titled EP.
The Oakland based quartet start off their four-song release with a whopping dose of Big Star-esque power pop on ‘Turn Me Off’. It sounds a bit basic at first, but when Ryan Karazija’s nasal voice goes into a Yorke-like falsetto, it ushers the songs to a more expansive and - pardon the pun - higher place. The rest of the Sessions start to flex their muscle on ‘Awake’, creating an ominous atmosphere for Karazija’s snakey melody and pounding out a familiar-sounding yet just as exhilarating chorus on ‘Where You’ll Find Me’. Perhaps it’s not surprising then that the weakest track, the acoustic guitar ballad closer ‘New Year’s Day’, suffers until the band starts to crescendo half-way through. Karazija’s voice sounds awesome on top of Audrye Session’s bombast, but the more its stripped down, the more distracting it becomes.
Still, the Audrye Session EP displays a band that impresses not with particularly innovative sounds, but with competent ones; hitting the right spots at the right time without sounding forced or trite.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Less Chicken Soup And More Soul Needed
Published: November 11, 2008
Pensatos.com
Matisyahu - Shattered EP
Sony/BMG; 2008
2 stars
Is there an easier target for atheist cynics than Matisyahu? Probably not as far as pop music is concerned. That gives me an odd sense of sympathy for the only suburbanite turned hasidic Jew reggae-rap star in existence because throughout his Shattered EP, a precursor to his upcoming album Light, it’s hard to say that Matisyahu does not - in fact — believe and mean everything he says.
Unfortunately, like the vast majority of spiritually-guided musicians, all we get for his passion is typical, big-picture, low-vocabulary mid-tempo message songs, like ‘I Will Be Light’. Matisyahu shows some signs of trying to expand his sound on ‘Two Child One Drop’ - a six-minute song that moves through ideas like a suite - but doesn’t offer much of a hook outside of the usual, “World is dying, children are morning the father … the world keeps turning,” stuff. Then there’s ‘So Hi So Lo’, a U2 sized rock number which answers the question, “what would it sound like if Matisyahu guested on a Coldplay song?”
Perhaps a more sympathetic listener will give Matisyahu points for trying to mix things up musically. The main problem with modern spiritual music is the way it settles for mediocrity, letting the sermon be the driving force. Matisyahu is a long way from making a Seven Swans, but even in Shattered’s own blandness, there is an odd sense of promise that maybe he will see the light.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Illinois Veterans Oral History website opens
Published: November 11, 2008
Northern Public Radio
Click blog title for audio
Monday, November 10, 2008
Eagles pushed, survive
Published: November 9, 2008
Kane County Chronicle
AURORA – For a change, the Aurora Christian football team got a challenge.
Even though the Eagles scored first and never lost the lead, the Coal City Coalers didn't make Saturday’s 28-20, IHSA Class 4A second-round playoff victory any easier. The win vaults the Eagles into a quarterfinal showdown with seven-time defending state champion Driscoll.
The first touchdown of the game showed the Eagles (11-0) know how to operate in the clutch. Twice in the drive, quarterback Jordan Roberts converted a third down with 16- and 56- yard passes to Matt Morse, before throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to David Zielke with 4:29 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles’ next drive started at their 1 yard line, but nine plays later, the Eagles doubled the lead, 14-0, with 10:48 to go in the second quarter.
Then the Coalers (7-4) starting fighting back, and brought the score to 14-7 three minutes later.
The Eagles’ offensive line then started slacking and let Roberts get sacked three times in the first half, costing them 29 yards and drawing the ire of coach Don Beebe.
"If you give up three sacks for Jordan – that's unheard of." he said. "We don't get sacked."
Despite ending the half with a seven-point lead, Beebe was not about to let his team off the hook.
"I thought we played the first half with no fire at all and that upset me," he said. "It was the first time this year I thought our kids came out flat."
Beebe said he had to really get fired up at his team during the halftime and even though the game was never a sure thing, he was glad to know that his team had taken his words to heart.
"Every one of them has come up to me after this game and said 'Thank you,' because they knew it," he said.
If the halftime talk didn't rile up the Eagles enough, then senior Lewis Gaddis' turnover by fumble in the end zone five minutes into the third quarter sent them over the edge. Beebe and the rest of the team cried out in protest, saying that Gaddis was down by contact when the ball went loose, but the ruling stood.
"I think that play right set the tone for the whole rest of the game," Gaddis said. “Because the whole team was mad and everybody came out with such great intensity, all the fire, all the passion we've been known to play with."
The Eagles’ defense kept the Coalers down to six yards on the following drive, and after returning the punt to Coalers’ 27 yard-line, slammed their way to another touchdown and two-point conversion, increasing the lead to 22-7 with 3:30 left in the third.
However, the joy of domination was short-lived as the Coalers and Eagles went back and forth with touchdowns for the rest of the game.
"We kind of had the game," Beebe said, "but we never had the game in hand. We just couldn't get up that third touchdown."
While in the end the Eagles managed to keep Coal City at arm's length, the feeling on the field was anything but.
"The scoreboard said one thing," Gaddis said. "But I didn't see it at arm's length at all."
Still, with its 11th straight win in hand, Aurora Christian can now set its sights on Driscoll. For a team with a perfect season, the matchup feels both like a reward for their hard work and the defining test of their strengths.
"We've been waiting for this and it's going to be a lot of fun," Roberts said. "We'll have to work harder than we ever have, and it's just going to be a big battle out there."
"I've got to hand to them, whatever they're doing over there, they're doing right," Beebe said. "We're going to take the David and Goliath approach."
Kane County Chronicle
AURORA – For a change, the Aurora Christian football team got a challenge.
Even though the Eagles scored first and never lost the lead, the Coal City Coalers didn't make Saturday’s 28-20, IHSA Class 4A second-round playoff victory any easier. The win vaults the Eagles into a quarterfinal showdown with seven-time defending state champion Driscoll.
The first touchdown of the game showed the Eagles (11-0) know how to operate in the clutch. Twice in the drive, quarterback Jordan Roberts converted a third down with 16- and 56- yard passes to Matt Morse, before throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to David Zielke with 4:29 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles’ next drive started at their 1 yard line, but nine plays later, the Eagles doubled the lead, 14-0, with 10:48 to go in the second quarter.
Then the Coalers (7-4) starting fighting back, and brought the score to 14-7 three minutes later.
The Eagles’ offensive line then started slacking and let Roberts get sacked three times in the first half, costing them 29 yards and drawing the ire of coach Don Beebe.
"If you give up three sacks for Jordan – that's unheard of." he said. "We don't get sacked."
Despite ending the half with a seven-point lead, Beebe was not about to let his team off the hook.
"I thought we played the first half with no fire at all and that upset me," he said. "It was the first time this year I thought our kids came out flat."
Beebe said he had to really get fired up at his team during the halftime and even though the game was never a sure thing, he was glad to know that his team had taken his words to heart.
"Every one of them has come up to me after this game and said 'Thank you,' because they knew it," he said.
If the halftime talk didn't rile up the Eagles enough, then senior Lewis Gaddis' turnover by fumble in the end zone five minutes into the third quarter sent them over the edge. Beebe and the rest of the team cried out in protest, saying that Gaddis was down by contact when the ball went loose, but the ruling stood.
"I think that play right set the tone for the whole rest of the game," Gaddis said. “Because the whole team was mad and everybody came out with such great intensity, all the fire, all the passion we've been known to play with."
The Eagles’ defense kept the Coalers down to six yards on the following drive, and after returning the punt to Coalers’ 27 yard-line, slammed their way to another touchdown and two-point conversion, increasing the lead to 22-7 with 3:30 left in the third.
However, the joy of domination was short-lived as the Coalers and Eagles went back and forth with touchdowns for the rest of the game.
"We kind of had the game," Beebe said, "but we never had the game in hand. We just couldn't get up that third touchdown."
While in the end the Eagles managed to keep Coal City at arm's length, the feeling on the field was anything but.
"The scoreboard said one thing," Gaddis said. "But I didn't see it at arm's length at all."
Still, with its 11th straight win in hand, Aurora Christian can now set its sights on Driscoll. For a team with a perfect season, the matchup feels both like a reward for their hard work and the defining test of their strengths.
"We've been waiting for this and it's going to be a lot of fun," Roberts said. "We'll have to work harder than we ever have, and it's just going to be a big battle out there."
"I've got to hand to them, whatever they're doing over there, they're doing right," Beebe said. "We're going to take the David and Goliath approach."
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Rulin’ the courts
Published: November 6, 2008
Photo by Rob Winner
Reuland isn’t sure how opponents who play other sports are able to handle more.
"Not everyone can hit," she said, "it takes so much hand-eye coordination."
At least not like Reuland can.
Few have her degree of passion for the sport, either.
Her accomplished third season as a Royal earned Reuland the Kane County Chronicle Girls Tennis Player of the Year honors.
As the backbone and forefront of Rosary's strongest year since coach John Tsang began working with the Royals, Reuland capped off her 34-3 year with an impressive showing at the IHSA State Meet, going 5-2 at state and advancing to the seventh-round consolation match.
At state, Reuland lost against the only girl to beat her in the regular season, Jenny Hois from Downers Grove South, and fifth-place Rachael White of Deefield – who also beat Hois.
Reuland likes to think of her game in basic terms of strength and speed. She said she has "a really big forehand and a really big serve. I can get to a lot of balls really quick.
But playing against White opened her eyes.
"Rachael White is extremely strong," she said, "She ran me off the court."
That was role reversal from Reuland’s entire season.
Reuland said that she had been planning and preparing for success since the summer before.
"I know I wanted to win sectionals and conference," she said.
She did that by focusing her game down to each point.
"Instead of just focusing [on] one match at a time, I tried to think about every hit," she said.
Reuland’s most noteworthy achievement of the regular season was being the only player to defeat the long-dominant Geneva junior, Kayla Fujimoto. The two took their match – played on two days due to a suspension – to three sets, with Reuland coming out on top, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.
Reuland said the rivalry is an amicable one.
"We've been pretty good friends," she said, since they started getting into tennis around the same time. "Kayla was the first match [of the season] that was really difficult. I was pretty excited when I won."
Tsang said Reuland’s victory was a symbol of how Reuland has grown throughout her career. This year, she was the first junior to be named team captain for the Royals.
"I think it's well deserved," he said. "She got better on every match […] and she played some of the best in the area."
Assisting along with Tsang her is Reuland’s father, who Reuland said offers her as much guidance as her coach.
"My dad's a pretty good player," she said.
Reuland, this year, was a great one. Already, she is planning a fitting encore at state next season.
"I've got to make the top 10," she said.
Season of firsts for Tsang’s Royals
Published: November 6, 2008
That caliber of improvement earned Tsang Kane County Chronicle Girls Tennis Coach of the Year honors.
The success was not all because of junior team captain and Chronicle Player of the year, Emily Reuland.
Apart from Reuland, Tsang called junior Elizabeth Vertin, “a solid player who would probably be No. 1 in any other school.” He also said senior Viatra Baker enjoyed “an outstanding year.”
Tsang said the proudest moment of the 16-5-4 season was being able to send four girls to state competition.
“That’s the most girls we've ever sent,” he said.
Couple that with Rosary’s first victory at the West Aurora quad, its first victory at the Rosary quad in 20 years and the Royals’ top team finish at sectionals, and it’s easy to see why Tsang would be so proud of his Royals.
And he hopes to do it again because singles Reuland and Elizabeth Vertin are only juniors, and doubles-team Angelina Goheen and Katie King are sophomores.
Tsang primarily credited the talent of team for their success. But players credit Tsang for creating an environment that encourages competition, hard work and team unity. Reuland described Tsang as a down-to-earth and approachable coach, who often feels a little more like an equal than an authority figure.
“Me and John have always been close,” Reuland said, adding that his coaching was a positive factor in her success throughout the season.
Tsang said that he looks forward to competing next year with many of his best players still in the fold.
Chronicle All-Area Girls Tennis Team
Published: November 6, 2008
Singles
Emily Reuland, Rosary junior
The Chronicle Player of the year capped a 34-3 season, which included a victory against Kayla Fujimoto and first place at sectionals, by going to the 7th round consolation match at state.
Kayla Fujimoto, Geneva junior
Another year, another conference and sectional first place finish for Fujimoto. The junior once again led her team with a 33-3 record and was seeded 5-8 at state.
Brooke Henry, West Aurora junior
West Aurora's lone state qualifier had another solid year, finishing second in sectionals and in the DuPage Valley Conference. Her 2 1/2 hour second-round win at state became the final highlight of her 27-9 season.
Doubles
Annemijn Koenen-Liselot Koenen, St. Charles North senior, sophomore
Great singles players in their own rights, the Koenen sisters combined forces to great effect. They finished the state tournament with a 19-3 record and sixth place finish.
Stefanie Youngberg-Erin Bowman, St. Charles East senior, sophomore
Youngberg made her fourth straight appearance at state, this time alongside up-and-coming Bowman. Together, they were 24-5 for the season and made to the consolation quarterfinals at state.
Mary Pelling-Krista Panko, Geneva seniors
Pelling and Panko peaked in the fourth year. Their performance 32-5 season culminated with strong performance at state, advancing to the 6th round consolation match.
Alexa Schofield-Kim Sawyer, Batavia senior, junior
For Scholfield, it was a fitting end to her prep career; Sawyer and she got farther in the state tournament that any Batavia player before them had done before, making it to the 7th round consolation match and ending with a 23-5 record.
Second team
Singles
Sarah Amalraj, St. Charles North junior
Carly Ausman, Geneva freshman
Elizabeth Vertin, Rosary junior
Doubles
Jenna Bell-Alecia Natale, St. Charles North juniors
Lauren Ferry-Dana Hildebrandt, South Elgin seniors
Angelina Goheen-Katie King, Rosary sophomores
Emily Jagielo-Genna Armbrust, St. Francis junior, sophomore
Honorable mention
Singles
Lexi Baltes, St. Charles East junior
Andrea Krueger, St. Francis junior
Mallory Ramp, Batavia junior
Doubles
Nessa Saengyothinh-Brittany Boelter, South Elgin seniors
Kerry Zepeda-Viatra Baker, Rosary junior, senior
Anne Mason-Courtney Vazquez, St. Charles East seniors
Lauren Drawbridge-Carly Dutkiewicz, St. Charles North juniors
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Vikings’ defense leads the way
Published: November 2, 2008
Nonetheless, the Vikings fought their way to a 27-7 win Saturday against Rolling Meadows in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs.
“This is the way football should be – the way I always remembered it,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. “Four quarters ... you’ve got to battle it out.”
The Vikings (10-0) will play at Rockton Hononegah in the next round.
The win showed just how vital the Vikings’ defensive line is to their success, keeping the Mustangs scoreless until the fourth quarter.
“Our defense has been the strength of our team all year long,” Wicinski said.
The Vikings’ offense, meanwhile, had a tougher time trying to get points on the scoreboard. The Vikings came up short on their first quarter drives, and senior Sean Grady had his field goal attempt blocked early in the second quarter.
“All of them were hitting until the whistle,” senior running back Michael Ratay said of Rolling Meadows (5-5).
The half was also plagued by penalties. For Geneva especially, the calls interrupted momentum and incited some boos from the Burgess Field faithful.
There was also some concern the defense would be lessened by the absence of standout junior defensive tackle Frank Boenzi. Boenzi missed the game because of mono, and his timetable for a return is uncertain.
But in Boenzi’s absence, seniors Cory Hofstetter and Rich MacDonald made some momentum-stopping sacks on Mustangs quarterback Jim Garoppolo.
“They came out strong,” Hofstetter said. “It took us that first [quarter] to get our bearings.”
The Vikings turned a seven-point lead to a 20-point lead in the third quarter thanks to a 4-yard rush from Ratay and a 20-yard pass from junior quarterback Brandon Beitzel to senior Jason Holmes. Ratay, as usual, dominated with 232 rushing yards.
“It’s been the same formula,” Wicinski said. “We give to ball to Ratay and our defense shows up and plays.”
But the Vikings might have to do more than follow the formula – especially if the penalties keep mounting.
“We take a lot of pride in doing things the right way and being really crisp on our assignments,” Wicinski said. “You don’t want playoff games with 16 penalties.”
Nonetheless, the Vikings remain perfect, with Champaign in their sights.
“As long as we come out on top of that scoreboard, that's all that really matters,” Ratay said.
Saints win with ease
Published: November 2, 2008
"That's what I told the kids right before we played," East coach Jennie Kull said. "I said, 'You know what?’ Today is All Saints Day. Last year [on] All Saints Day, you beat the No. 1 team. Today, let's see how well you play.' And they played awesome."
It was awesome from the start for the Saints, who beat Willowbrook, 25-9, 25-13, for the IHSA Class 4A Willowbrook Regional title.
East advances to Tuesday’s York Sectional semifinal against Glenbard East.
Game 1 came easily as junior Jacqui Seidel served an ace for the first point of the match. From there, the Saints outmaneuvered and overpowered the Warriors, leading by 17 at one point in the game.
"We had intensity throughout the whole match," Seidel said. "So we had our confidence up as a team."
Game 2 was considerably less easy for East, as the Warriors (20-15) started out stronger, trading points back and forth with the Saints.
"Willowbrook did a really nice job." Kull said. "They fought. They didn't want to give it up. Fortunately for us, we were in sync, we were in rhythm and everybody was working real hard together."
The momentum quickly shifted back to East (32-4), which broke a 7-all tie with a powerful kill from junior Caroline Niski, assisted by Laura Homann. Homann would then serve a 10-point string that stopped any sign of a Willowbrook comeback.
Homann led the team in assists, setting 25 points for her team, as well as serving two aces.
"Laura was setting great," Seidel said. "[They] were easy to put down."
Seidel herself earned six kills and had four digs. Other stat leaders included Niski with 10 kills, three blocks and eight digs.
Last year’s Saints advanced to the IHSA State Tournament. With sectionals coming up, Kull said she hopes that her team can maintain its rhythm and make a dent in the matches that follow.
"The thing I can say after that this match," Kull said, "is that they're on board and they're ready to work."
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