On November 28, the Nazareth student body, faculty and staff, members of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, parents, alumni and other members of the Nazareth community gathered in the Rooney Gym to celebrate the State Championship of the Football team and the accomplishments of all of those who participated in all sports programs this fall. 

Over 400 students registered for sports teams this fall and even more participated in cheer, dance and color guard and serve in the roles of student athletic managers and trainers. It is clear that the Nazareth student body is active in athletics and that there is much to celebrate from this fall sports season.

Football

On Saturday, November 26, the Nazareth Football team defeated Peoria in the championship game to win the IHSA Class 5A State Championship. The Roadrunners’ quest to reclaim the IHSA State Title (previously won in 2014, 2015 and 2018) brought them decisive victories throughout the playoffs and culminated in the state title game.

In addition to the team win, many players earned special recognitions for their accomplishments on and off the field. Seven players were selected for All Conference: Zach Hayes, Justin Taylor, Brady Gorman, Will Beargie, Brendan Flanagan , Gabe Kaminski, and Jimmy Penley.

Six players were selected for IHSA Class 5A Academic All State honors with GPAs of 3.5 or higher: Zach Hayes, Brady Gorman, Will Beargie, Brendan Flanagan, Gabe Kaminski, and Jimmy Penley.

Sophomore Logan Malachuk was named the Class 5A State Championship Player of the Game.

The State Championship Team players are Will Beargie, Aaron Bustamante, Noah Barnes, Braden Ferguson, Brady Gorman, Zachary Hayes, Brady Linn, Connor Nolan, Finn O’Meara, Zach Stimach, Justin Taylor, Addrian West, George Youssef, Andrew Buenrostro, Mick Byczek, Alex Carillo, Cullen Craig, Daniel D’Andrea, Kevin Dalton, Ethan Enriquez, Brendan Flanagan, Andrew Fowler, Luke Holstrom, Mark Korinek, Luke O’Gorman, Jacob Pinckney, Kevin Prosen, Jacob Raschke, Jackson Rybski, Thomas Taylor, Alex Angulo, Nolan Daly, Jaden Fauske, Gabe Kaminski, Logan Malachuk, Jimmy Penley, Garrett Reese, Sam Stec, Lesroy Tittle, Jake Cestone, Eddie McClain, Luciano Cesario, Trenton Walker, Noah Sanchez, Jeremy Thompson, Luke Dimit, Hector Galindo, Michael Kanzer, Nico Plescia, Dominic Chiaramonte, Maxwell Deering, Anthony Donato, Dickie Holly, Luke Neri, Jack Nisivaco, Danny Wrzesinski, Karol Wszelaki, Orion Caceres, Johnny Colon, Ben Lukes, Frankie Nichols, Justin Watson and Tomek Wszelaki.

The team’s student trainers are Abby Baldwin, Maura Degnan, Ava Calderon, Sophie Westol and Maureen Staelgraeve.

This team was guided this year by an amazing coaching staff. Thank YOU coaches for your amazing leadership this season.

The Junior Varsity coaching staff isTodd Jones, Rod Molek, Ed Cogan, Marco Alvarez, Avery Weston, Mike Stella, Dan Daly and Roy Verdin.

The Varsity coaching staff is Tim Racki, Casey Moran, Tony Navigato, Rudy Luna, Joe Reynolds, Antonio Miranda, Keith Lukes, Joe Battaglia, Jeff Tumpane, Jacub Paniusiak, Breven Reifsteck, Larry White, Jon Bittle and Deacon Bob Esposito.

This win marks Coach Racki’s eighth state championship as a football coach. 

The Girls Cross Country team concluded their season as IHSA Class 2A Regional Champions and IHSA Class 2A Sectional Qualifiers. Individual accomplishments include Senior Colette Kinsella ESCC All-Conference Medalist, IHSA Class 2A Regional Medalist (Champion) and IHSA Class 2A State Qualifier; Junior Hannah McCarthy ESCC All-Conference Medalist andIHSA Class 2A State Qualifier; Junior Jane McNamara ESCC All-Conference Medalist, IHSA Class 2A Regional Medalist and IHSA Class 2A State Qualifier; Junior Neeve Olson IHSA Class 2A State Qualifier; Sophomore Sarah Owen ESCC All-Conference Medalist and IHSA Class 2A State Qualifier; Sophomore Alayna Plahm IHSA Class 2A State Qualifier; Junior Samantha Rozmus ESCC All-Conference Medalist and IHSA Class 2A State Qualifier.

The Boys Cross Country team concluded their season as IHSA Class 2A Sectional Qualifiers. Individual accomplishments include Senior John Mowrer ESCC All-Conference Medalist and Junior Hagen Perfect ESCC All-Conference Medalist.

The Nazareth’s Girls Golf team were IHSA Class 1A state qualifiers and finished 12th in state with both Junior Kacey Hughes and Sophomore Maryssa Zielinski representing Naz in the final round. Other individual accomplishments include Sophomore Anna Bucovac IHSA Class 1A Sectional Qualifier and IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier; Junior Kasey Hughes ESCC All-Conference Medalist, IHSA Class 1A Sectional Qualifier and IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier; Senior Caroline Kelly IHSA Class 1A Sectional Qualifier and IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier; Senior Megan Kornafel IHSA Class 1A Sectional Qualifier and IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier; Junior Gianina Montoro ESCC All-Conference Medalist, IHSA Class 1A Sectional Qualifier and IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier; Sophomore Maryssa Zielinski ESCC All-Conference Medalist, IHSA Class 1A Sectional Qualifier and IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier. 

In Boys Golf, Freshman Sam Wilda was an ESCC All conference medalist.

Boys Soccer members Nicholas Czochara, and Domenico DiBrizzi who both earned ESCC All-Conference titles.

The Girls Tennis team earned titles of IHSA Class 1A Sectional Champions; IHSA Class 1A State Qualifiers. The doubles team of Senior McKenzie Hyland and Junior Audrey Moster made it to quarterfinals. Individual accomplishments include Junior Layden Almer ESCC All-Conference Medalist (singles) and IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier (singles); Senior Diana Anos ESCC All-Conference Medalist (doubles) and IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier (doubles); Senior Molly Finn ESCC All-Conference Medalist (doubles); Senior McCahey Hardy ESS All-Conference Medalist (doubles) and IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier (doubles); Junior Matea Hewitt, ESCC All-Conference Medalist (singles); Senior Mackenzie Hyland ESCC All-Conference Medalist (doubles), IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier (doubles) and IHSA Class 1A All-State 2nd Team (doubles); Junior Claire Layden ESCC All-Conference Medalist; Junior Audrey Moster ESCC All-Conference Medalist (doubles), IHSA Class 1A State Qualifier (doubles) andIHSA Class 1A All-State 2nd Team (doubles).

The Girls Volleyball team earned the titles of IHSA Class 3A Regional Champions, the IHSA Class 3A Sectional Champions, and the IHSA Class 3A Supersectional Champions. These accomplishments culminated in this team earning second place in the IHSA Class 3A state championship. Senior Kitty Sandt specifically earned honors including the American Volleyball Coaches Association All American Honorable Mention, AVCA Best and Brightest, and Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association All State Honors. Other individual accomplishments include Junior Olivia Austin ESCC All-Conference and Senior Katherine Sandt ESCC All-Conference.