Glenbrook South ready to take its chances sans ’23 Player of the Year Shampine

Six-foot-4 outside hitter Kris Blumberg, who accounted for 224 kills as a junior, is one of several seniors back to boost Glenbrook South's bid to return to Hoffman Estates this spring. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorSo what are Glenbrook South’s chances of repeating last year’s near-flawless run to the IHSA quarterfinals?That depends on whether the Titans can compensate for the loss of Sports Performance VBC/Illprepvb.com Player of the Year Chance Shampine.Shampine led Glenbrook South (33-2) on its return to...

Presenting the preseason Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com boys H.S. rankings

Adam Graham and Glenbard West will be seeking their second IHSA championship three-peat in nine years when the 2024 IHSA boys high school season opens Monday. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permission. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorFive out of eight?Last year’s boys’ high school preseason rankings accurately predicted ...

Great Lakes Regional Championship … what does it mean? Nothing. Everything.

Michio Chicago 15 National 's (from left) Malley Green, Luca Bombacino, Kyla Mitchell and Mikayla Marshall. https://youtu.be/VYIKGqz9szQ By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorBid, lose or draw, they came with a purpose.The 15s and 16s age divisions took center stage this weekend to compete in the 2024 Great Lakes Regional Championships at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park and Southland Complex in Lynwood.1st Alliance 16 Gold and 1st Alliance 15 Gold, the top cats in the 15/16 Open division of the Windy City Power Leagu...

Jake Schreiner, Wheaton North turn back St. Francis’ furious third-set rally

Wheaton North improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 21-25, 25-20, 25-23 victory over visiting St. Francis on Wednesday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorWheaton North took a trip to Six Flags Great America without boarding a bus Wednesday.“That’s high school volleyball,” said Wheaton North’s 6-5 outside hitter Jake Schreiner. “There’s going to be ups and downs every single time. But the game is not supposed to be a roller coaster. You have to have the same energy the whole time.“I told the guys, you can’t fall into a divot when...

Silvers max out well, bring the hammer down to sweep Great Lakes Regional

Adversity G16 Adidas' (from left) Charlotte Kozak, Bella Potempa, Marin Thaxton and Audrey Schabes. https://youtu.be/JKxm7IvNlrg By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com Editor The great late comedian George Carlin once said, “Behind every silver lining, there’s a dark cloud.”Sunday at the 2024 Great Lakes Girls Regional Championships, however, behind every Silver lineup there was a pot of gold.1st Alliance 16 Silver defeated Adversity G16 Adidas, 25-22, 25-23, to win the 16 Open division, and 1st Alliance 15 Silver stopped Michio Chicago 15...

Simon Bratt, Wheaton Warrenville South light up Lyons for fourth win in row

Wheaon Warrenville South made it four in a row to start the young season, defeating visiting Lyons Township, 25-11, 25-21, on Thursday. By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorYou never want to take any opponent lightly, but even with three earlier games on the schedule, Wheaton Warrenville South’s Simon Bratt admitted that Thursday’s visit by Lyons Township was the game the Tigers had been pointing to all week.“This entire week, as a team, we were looking forward to this,” Bratt said. “They (Lyons Township) were really good last year. I w...

Six returning starters with a ‘chip on their shoulders’ bodes well for York Dukes

York's Luke Shorter is one of several players back from last year's team hoping to make a run at the school's first IHSA quarterfinal appearance since 1999. (File photo by Dave Ruggles) By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorHow long has it been?There is not a single player on the York roster this season who was born the last time the Dukes appeared in an IHSA boys’ quarterfinal. There is a greater possibility that their parents were still in college, or perhaps in some cases, had not even met yet.The year was 1999. Behind Tim Geigner, Rich S...

The race begins … here’s a look at some of the teams that will take the floor in ’24

Barrington head coach Charlie Spry and the Broncos will seek their fourth IHSA quarterfinal berth in five years in 2024. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Notice: You may not distribute, modify, transmit, reuse, re-post, or use the content of the Site for public or commercial purposes, including the text, images, audio, and video, without Illprepvb.com, LLC’s written permission.By Phil BrozynskiIllprepvb.com EditorEvery team in Illinois has a story to tell, so we want to send out a big “Thank-you” to all those coaches who took the time to tell us the...