Darren Day – Page 6 –

Waukegan's Noelani Rodriguez, right, practices with Josua Montes at the school's Brookside campus on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022.

Waukegan catcher Noelani Rodriguez is catching fire as a wrestler: ‘You could tell right away Noelani was different.’

December 14, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.

If you asked Waukegan's Noelani Rodriguez to name her favorite participation sport a year ago, she would have said softball. She is the Bulldogs' starting catcher. However, after a successful...

Grant’s Ayane and Vince Jasinski ‘take no prisoners’ on the mat. That makes quite the sibling rivalry.

December 9, 2022 at 2:43 p.m.

A lot of siblings wrestle at home, much to their parents' chagrin. Ayane Jasinski and her younger brother, Vince, get to wrestle each other in a team setting day after...

Warren's Alex Daniels, center, puts up a shot between Libertyville's Aidyn Boone, left, and Cole Bonder during a game in Libertyville on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.

Alex Daniels is making strides as a first-year starter. ‘He’s not the only one’ for Warren, a work in progress.

December 7, 2022 at 1:23 p.m.

Alex Daniels' transition from part-time player last season to starter went pretty smoothly over Warren's first six games. The 6-foot-4 junior forward has been consistently among the top scorers and...

Waukegan's Lawrence Harris (24) blocks a shot by Round Lake's LaMarr Pierce during a game in Waukegan on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022.

Waukegan’s muscular Lawrence Harris shrugs off height disadvantage in the post: ‘I can move some guys out of the way.’

December 1, 2022 at 12:47 p.m.

Waukegan's Lawrence Harris knows he will be lining up against bigger players in the post this season. The 6-foot-3 senior forward will give up a few inches to opponents in...

North Chicago's Ellis Usher, center, takes the ball past Zion-Benton's Rmoni Beals, left, and Jared Dawkins during a game in North Chicago on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.

North Chicago’s 5-foot-6 Ellis Usher needs no usher to get to the basket, no matter who waits to give him a seat: ‘He feels he can score against anyone.’

November 30, 2022 at 7:36 a.m.

North Chicago senior Ellis Usher isn't afraid to take the ball to the basket with force. Even if it means the 5-foot-6 guard ends up fighting for his shot against...

Lake Forest's Anthony Mordini (4) tries to put up a shot against Taft during a game in the New Trier/Loyola Thanksgiving Tournament in Northfield on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022.

Anthony Mordini ‘does the little things’ for Lake Forest, which wants to do big things this season

November 22, 2022 at 6:13 p.m.

Anthony Mordini is not Lake Forest's best shooter. The 6-foot-3 senior forward also isn't the Scouts' primary ballhandler, and he isn't their top rebounder. However, for Lake Forest to repeat...

Libertyville's Keira Kasten keeps the ball in play during a match against Carmel in Mundelein on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022.

Elon recruit Keira Kasten, the 2022 News-Sun Girls Volleyball Player of the Year, fulfills early promise for Libertyville. ‘In terms of ability, she was loaded.’

November 11, 2022 at 2:50 p.m.

Keira Kasten arrived at Libertyville with all the makings of a college volleyball player. That much was clear to Libertyville coach Greg Loika. "When she came to us as a...

Warren's GabriElle Brewer (13) sets during a match against Grant in Fox Lake on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022.

Introducing the 2022 News-Sun Girls Volleyball All-Area Team

November 11, 2022 at 2:51 p.m.

FIRST TEAM Elli Amjadi, Vernon Hills, senior, libero: Had 321 digs, 79 assists and 59 aces. Cougars' all-time leader in digs (1,057) and aces (186). Academic all-state and all-conference. Wisconsin-Eau...

Vernon Hills' Sonia Bondar, right, goes up to spike the ball against Libertyville's Hannah Fleming, left, and Ashley Branford during a match in Vernon Hills on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022.

Sonia Bondar leaves Ukraine amid war and comes to Vernon Hills. The senior outside hitter and Cougars then find success together.

November 3, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.

It took a lot for Sonia Bondar to compete for Vernon Hills this season. Bondar, her parents and her younger sister left war-torn Ukraine earlier this year to avoid the...

Vernon Hills' Alexa Cieslinski, left, celebrates with teammates after a 25-19, 25-21 win against Deerfield in a Class 3A Vernon Hills Sectional semifinal on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.

Alexa Cieslinski’s athleticism on display for Vernon Hills against rival Deerfield in sectional semifinal: ‘It helps when our big girl in the middle gets it going.’

November 1, 2022 at 1:13 p.m.

Alexa Cieslinski is a good enough athlete to be considered a college prospect in volleyball and basketball. The 6-foot-1 senior is versatile in both sports, but Vernon Hills girls volleyball...

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