Oak Park-River Forest High School senior Anna Topel delivers a pitch against Fenwick in a softball game, May 22. The Huskies rallied to defeat the Friars 12-10. Credit: Mark ReganOak Park and River Forest High School softball’s come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Lockport in the IHSA Class 4A third-place game in Peoria, June 14, brings the 2024-25 high school sports year to a close.
It also wraps up my eighth season covering sports for Wednesday Journal. Before I present my “Tatesies” awards, I’d like to thank you for your support and encouragement, not only this year, but since I started. It’s a pleasure to chronicle all the good things about local high school student-athletes (let’s never forget, these are teenagers, not professional athletes). While I feel I have gradually improved over the years, I’m always looking to get better. No, I’ll never be perfect and I won’t always make everyone happy, but I will always do my best.
Now, without further ado, here are my picks for The Tatesies:
Female Team of the Year: OPRF softball. The Huskies finished third in Class 4A for the second time in three years. For seniors Maura Carmody, Elyssa Hasapis, Gloria Hronek, Julia Mattiace, and Anna Topel, this was their second trip downstate, and thanks to their efforts, OPRF has reestablished itself as a state power.
Male Team of the Year: Fenwick boys basketball. The Friars finished 23-11 and advanced to the Class 3A Little Village sectional final, where they lost to St. Patrick (eventual 3A third-place finisher). Four-year varsity players Dominick Ducree, Ty Macariola, and Nate Marshall led the team.
Female Team Coach of the Year: J.P. Coughlin, OPRF softball. The longtime assistant has taken the Huskies to state twice in three years and has proven to be a worthy replacement for legendary coach Mel Kolbusz.
Male Team Coach of the Year: David Fergerson, Fenwick boys basketball. Fergerson was named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association District Seven Coach of the Year this season. He has a 41-22 record in two seasons leading the Friars.
Female Athlete of the Year: Bella Brauc, OPRF girls track and field. The Illinois State signee capped her fourth Class 3A state meet by earning All-State honors in the 400 meters and the 4 x 100 relay. She finished with four All-State medals overall in her career (she was ninth in the 400 and high jump respectively in 2024).
Male Athlete of the Year: Nate Marshall, Fenwick football and basketball. Marshall starred on the gridiron for the Friars all four years, and the Michigan signee had a standout season last fall. He finished with 60 tackles (11 for loss), 5.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. On offense, he had five touchdowns (four receiving, one rushing).
Marshall was named the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference White Division Tony Lawless Player of the Year. He also made the Chicago Sun-Times’ All-Area Team and the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association’s Class 7A All-State Team as Fenwick finished 8-3.
Moreover, Marshall, whose grandfather is longtime NBA star and University of Illinois alum Ken Norman, provided physicality and muscle in the post for the Friars’ basketball team the past four years.
Female Game of the Year: OPRF softball vs. Loyola Academy at the Class 4A UIC supersectional, June 9. With the Huskies trailing 3-2 in the top of the seventh and down to their final strike, Sofia Ayala kept the season alive with a game-tying single that eventually led to extra innings. OPRF then scored seven runs in the eighth and went on to punch its ticket to state, winning 10-3.
Male Game of the Year: OPRF vs. Fenwick, baseball. The Huskies and Friars had a wild back-and-forth battle at Triton College, May 2. After OPRF took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Fenwick scored eight consecutive runs over the next five innings and seemed headed for victory.
But the Huskies climbed back into the game with three runs in the bottom half of the sixth, then Brady Green’s two-out, two-run single capped another three-run rally in the seventh, giving OPRF an improbable win.
I hate to end things on a sad note, but I want to pay tribute to Ken Uhlir. Trinity’s esteemed volleyball coach passed away unexpectedly on April 15. He guided the Blazers for 11 seasons, winning four regional titles. Uhlir was also the founder of the Triple Ace Volleyball Club, based in River Forest.
I have not covered Trinity volleyball often, but whenever I did, Ken was always affable and accommodating with his time. He genuinely cared about his players on and off the court, and his presence will be missed come this fall.
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