Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Downers Grove South teacher Kevin Ahrens credits a friendship from his days at Lyons Township High School for setting into motion his career as a special needs educator.
A high school friendship changed the course of Kevin Ahrens’ life. Ahrens played varsity baseball while a student at Lyons Township High School. His coach, Terry Sullivan, asked him to help the team’s manager, a student with special needs, learn some tasks, such as how to organize baseballs and where to store equipment. That partnership blossomed into a friendship that shaped Ahrens’ career as a special needs teacher at Downers Grove South High School. On St. Patrick’s Day, Ahrens, now a coach himself, led the DGS Special Olympics basketball team to victory at the state championship. “It was a magical year,” said Ahrens, of La Grange, who began coaching the team this fall. Every single player got to play for at least part of each game …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The 12-member team was celebrated after school Wednesday, just a few days after they won the Special Olympics Illinois State Basketball Tournament in Bloomington-Normal.
The Downers Grove South community came together in full force Wednesday to celebrate a crowning achievement for the school—a state title for its Special Olympics basketball program. The 12-member team wrapped up a 21-6 season by winning the championship at the Special Olympics Illinois State Basketball Tournament on March 17 at the Illinois State University campus in Bloomington-Normal. On Wednesday, the school held an after-school celebration to toast the team and present the players with championship T-shirts. The team's coach, Kevin Ahrens, said the players' positive attitudes and "team-first approach" led them to the state title. "It was a magical year where everything just fell into place," Ahrens said, fighting back tears. "I'm …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
A Downers Grove South High School student noticed a suspicious vehicle around 3:53 p.m. Wednesday, prompting an investigation by Darien police.
A Downers Grove South High School student noticed a suspicious vehicle on her way home from school Wednesday afternoon, prompting an investigation by the Darien Police Department. The student was walking home around 3:53 p.m. near 71st Street and Exner Road in Darien when she noticed an older, gold minivan pass and brake just ahead of her, police said. There was no conversation between the student and the male driver and no attempt was made to coerce the student to the vehicle, police said. As a preventive measure, the student walked between residential yards. Police said she noticed the vehicle circle the block several times before leaving the area. Darien police were notified of the incident and checked the area with negative results. …
Monday, March 11, 2013
Jerrot Wilbut is a former candidate for Mr. Basketball Illinois; he and two others are charged with robbing a juvenile near Clarendon Hills.
One of the three men arrested and charged with robbing a juvenile near Clarendon Hills late Thursday afternoon—a group that also incuded a Darien man—is a former Downers Grove South basketball star and a 2013 recruit for the Seton Hall University Pirates. Jerron Wilbut, 19, of Willowbrook, is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail following their arrests Thursday, according to the DuPage County Sheriff's Office. Before graduating from Downers Grove South in 2012, Wilbut was a standout shooting guard for the school's basketball team and was a candidate for Mr. Basketball Illinois. Wilbut spent his postgraduate year playing for St. John's Northwest Military Academy in Wisconsin, and was reportedly recruited by Seton Hall University in January, …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Loukia Mastrodimos will assume the position of associate principal for staff and students at South High School on July 1.
Downers Grove South High School has named a new associate principal. Loukia Mastrodimos will assume the position of associate principal for staff and students at South High School on July 1. She will replace Georgia Hash, who will become the new associate principal for curriculum and instruction at the school. The District 99 Board of Education approved Mastrodimos’ appointment at its business meeting Monday night. For the past two years, Mastrodimos has served as assistant principal at Glenbard South High School in Glen Ellyn. Prior to that position, she worked at Downers Grove North High School, serving as department chair of the career and technical education department from 2006 to 2011. She has also worked as a teacher at York High …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The speech team at South High School placed second and North High placed fourth at the IHSA state meet Friday and Saturday.
It was a winning weekend for the speech teams at both District 99 high schools. Downers Grove South placed second and Downers Grove North placed fourth in the IHSA Individual Events Team State Championship at the speech state meet, held Friday and Saturday in Peoria. In addition, three students—Dan Leahy (South High), Natasha Prosek (South High) and Alex Buckley (North High)—were all crowned state champions in their individual events. South High Results South High’s team, led by head coach Nicole Carreno, captured second place in the state meet. Senior Dan Leahy was named state champion in Original Comedy, and also received third place in Prose Reading. Junior Natasha Prosek is state champion Humorous Interpretation. Three other students …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Get the latest schedules, scores and more for Downers Grove North and South, Hinsdale Central and South and area private schools. Basketball, bowling, wrestling and more!
It's playoffs season for high school winter sports, and we want to track the action for local teams in basketball, wrestling, gymnastics and more. We'll follow the top schools in the area, including Downers Grove North and South, Hinsdale Central and South and area private schools. You can also help us by sharing photos from games and meet. Follow a certain team? You can also post photos and updates to our Local Voices section: Write on Darien Patch / Write on Woodrige Patch Playoffs have started for girls basketball. Here's the latest results and upcoming games for local teams: Hinsdale Central: Season over. Lost 70-56 to OPRF in the regional championship. Hinsdale South: Season over. Lost 59-45 to North Lawndale Charter in the …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Senior Daniellle Conrad will play at University of St. Francis in Joliet this fall.
Danielle Conrad, a senior at South High School in Downers Grove, will signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to play volleyball at the University of St. Francis in Joliet in the fall. Conrad led South High in assists this season as a three-year varsity player and was a key asset to both the offense and defense. She was a co-captain this year and was a leader on and off the court in her commitment to being a student athlete. “It has been an honor to coach Danielle for her four years here at South High,” said Coach Trisha Kurth in a release. Danielle is a two-year all-conference award winner and MVP of this year’s varsity team. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - There are plenty of ways to keep up on Downers Grove news:
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Downers Grove South grad Mariah Pulice touched judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj with her beautiful voice and moving story.
It takes a lot to shake up a diva like Mariah Carey. But Mariah Pulice, of Darien, brought tears to the eyes of the Grammy-winning singer on Thursday night’s episode of American Idol with her lyrical rendition of The Beatles’ Let it Be. “You touched me,” said Carey, before joining judges Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj in ushering Pulice through to the reality show’s Hollywood round. The moment, however, was about more than just the power of Pulice’s voice. The Downers Grove South alum, 19, shared her struggle with anorexia in a video segment prior to her performance. "If there was no music, I would not be alive," she said. “This eating disorder did not beat me, and it will not, it will not beat me.” Like what you see here? Like Darien …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Peter Freischlag will be recognized later this month by the Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association.
The Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTCA) has named Downers Grove South High School's boys tennis coach Peter Freischlag “Coach of the Year” for 2012. Freischlag, who is also a teacher in the special services department at South High, will be recognized later this month following his team's successful fall season, according to District 99 officials. Each year, the IHSTCA recognizes a coach based on team record, obstacles the team faced, contributions the coach made to the sport outside of the high school season and player development. Led by Freischlag, the boys tennis team achieved the following accomplishments in 2012: In addition to the team’s record, the IHSTCA committee noted Freischlag’s challenge after a tornado …
Liz layden
2:14 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Way to go mustangs and coach Kevin!! So proud of you-- the kids at DGS are lucky to have you!!!! more ›