Jim Adduci had always played baseball for the love of the game. While that never wavered, the mentality changed slightly when he helped Brother Rice capture the state championship in 1976 as a junior outfielder. “That set the tone for my career,” Adduci said. “It was a great group of guys that cared about winning. It was the first time I thought, ‘Wow, maybe I have a chance to go to college and get drafted.’ It was the beginning of me thinking I could make a career out of baseball.” After producing an all-state season as a senior for the Crusaders, the Evergreen Park resident went on to star …

Mary Therese and Shannon McDonnell grew up playing sports together, but never really experienced any sibling rivalry. “Surprisingly, the way my family was raised, we were just always happy for each other,” Mary Therese said. “We were competitive, but no one was ever jealous of something someone else accomplished and just thought it was awesome. We always had great support in our family.” That kind of camaraderie has come in handy for the sisters through the years. Shannon was a four-year starting sweeper and three-time all-state selection for the Sandburg girls soccer team before graduating …

While getting caught up in the excitement of watching FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer on television, sisters Shannon and Mary Therese McDonnell couldn’t help but imagine one day being in the spotlight themselves. The Sandburg High School graduates are members of the Republic of Ireland National football team and would relish the opportunity to help Ireland qualify for its first-ever World Cup one day. “Certainly that’s what we’re shooting to be able to do,” 26-year-old Shannon said. “I would love to help get them to the World Cup and be part of the team that qualified for the first time. I’m …

Brian Wise got his opportunity and has absolutely no regrets. After helping the Tinley Park football team capture the Class 4A state championship in 1986, Wise went on to have a successful career at the University of Iowa. Despite not getting drafted by the NFL, he received a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings, only to get cut. “I was very much OK with that,” Wise said. “I had dreams of playing in the NFL, but I had one shot and got banged up a little in camp and got released. I made the conscious decision at the time that I didn’t want to bounce around and try to put my foot in the door with …

When Steve Maslan thinks back to his first start as the quarterback of the Tinley Park football team in 1986, all he can do is cringe. He remembers fumbling the first snap and recovering his own fumble. He recalls getting his feet tangled in the sideline chains. And don’t forget the penalty he received for having his mouthpiece dangling from his helmet instead of in his mouth. That all happened on the first series of what would result in a 20-14 loss to Bolingbrook. “All I could think about was, 'What did I get myself into,' ” said Maslan, who also was sacked a number of times in the setback…

Demetrius McDaniel thought he missed his only chance to experience a state championship when he graduated from Richards. He’s grateful that he was wrong. When the Bulldogs captured the program’s only state championship in 2008, McDaniel soaked in the experience as an assistant varsity coach. “I thought when we let it slip away my senior year, that was going to be the only chance Richards had to win a state championship,” McDaniel said of the Bulldogs’ 64-63 supersectional loss to Joliet Township. “I thought about our loss every day until (Richards) won it, so that was real special. To play in…

Demetrius McDaniel doesn’t like to think about what his life would be like today if he hadn’t played basketball at Richards High School. The 1998 graduate lost count of the addresses he had growing up in shady parts of Chicago and longed for stability. “Playing basketball at Richards meant the world to me,” McDaniel said. “It saved my life. It gave me something to love besides myself. It changed my life because I found people that loved me, were wonderful role models and father figures.” McDaniel’s life changed for the better when he moved from the city to Robbins and lived with his brothers…

Former Sandburg girls volleyball coach Joann Holverson had a conversation with standout setter Stephanie Brandys before promoting her to the varsity ranks as a freshman. “I told her, ‘I want to bring you up to varsity, but by your senior year you’re going to either hate me or love me,' ” Holverson said. “That’s just how it is when you’re together for four years. Fortunately for both of us, we loved each other. She brought out the best of me, and I think I brought out the best in her. She was an amazing player and joy to coach.” The respect was mutual for Brandys, who helped the Eagles capture…

When it came to picking a high school to attend, Stephanie Brandys couldn’t decide between Sandburg and Mother McAuley. So she figured out a tie-breaker. “I decided I wanted to wear regular school clothes,” Brandys said with a laugh. Brandys’ decision to pass on the pleaded plaid skirts in favor of Sandburg couldn’t have worked out much better. While Mother McAuley remains the state’s premier girls volleyball program with 13 state championships, Brandys got to be part of history. She led Sandburg to its only state crown in 1998. “It was a tough decision to make,” said the now 30-year-old …

After the University of Georgia women’s softball team fell just short of its third straight trip to the College World Series, Lincoln-Way East graduate Alisa Goler wasn’t sure how she was going to deal with the pain from her collegiate career concluding. Playing for the Chicago Bandits helped her cope. Just six days after the Bulldogs lost their best-of-three series to Baylor in the Super Regional, Goler was making her professional debut June 4. “I’m happy it worked out like this,” said Goler, who was selected in the third round of the 2011 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft with the 12th …

While watching the Women’s Softball College World Series on television with her father as a child, Alisa Goler made a bold proclamation for a 7-year-old. “I told my dad that I was going to play there one day,” said Goler, a Frankfort native and 2007 Lincoln-Way East graduate. Goler backed up her prediction and is in the midst of a remarkable softball career. She’s currently in her first season with the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch league after an All-American career at the University of Georgia where she experienced two trips to the World Series. Goler’s journey to the …

Katie Meader is used to winning. She played a key role in the Lockport softball program winning its first state championship in 1997 when she was known as Katie Blackmore and contributed to the Whiteford Sharks earning a summer national championship in 1998. That winning mentality has carried over in her current role as the head coach of the Lincoln-Way East softball team the past four seasons. “I think any coach or player should start the season with the goal of getting to state,” said Meader, a 1999 Lockport graduate. “If you fall short of the goal, it’s difficult to digest. Only one team …

Longtime Andrew baseball coach Frank Ganser never once wavered in his belief that he would be in charge of one of the most respected programs in the state. Even when the Thunderbolts finished 2-15 in their first season back in 1979, his optimism couldn’t have been higher. “To be perfectly honest, I always thought Andrew was going to be one of the best baseball programs around,” Ganser said. “I knew what I wanted to do and was confident. I was around a lot of great coaches, and I liked certain things each of them did. I took the best of what I liked from each and used it myself, plus I had my …

Whenever Brittany Kaim hears one of her younger sisters complain about a tough day at soccer practice or being a little banged up, she generally shrugs her shoulders. “I tell them to cherish every minute they’re out there playing,” said Kaim, a 2006 Stagg High School graduate. “Once you’re done, you’re done and you will never get to play again and you will miss it.” Kaim speaks from a painful experience. Playing soccer since she was 5, including a history-making career at Stagg, Kaim tore her anterior cruciate ligament and missed all but two games her senior season at the University of …

Mark Donahue remembers how excited he was when Brother Rice earned the right to play St. Laurence in the Chicago Catholic League championship game at Soldier Field on Thanksgiving Day in 1972. Donahue’s excitement was tempered a bit, however, when conference Player of the Year, Kevin King, stole the show. “He kicked our butts,” said Donahue, who was a standout two-way performer for the Crusaders’ football team. “I still remember the headline in the Sun-Times after they beat us: King for a Day. He was awesome and was a fabulous running back. I played defense, too, and apparently my skills were…

When Lisa Leonard thinks back to her Evergreen Park High School softball days, there are some memories that still make her laugh. “We didn’t have full uniforms or anything, we just wore jeans and T-shirts,” said Leonard, a 1976 graduate. “We didn’t have a lot of equipment, and we had to bring our own bats and balls. Women’s sports were not a big deal back then. We just all really loved playing softball.” Leonard has no complaints about her high school career when it comes to sports and has Marilyn Wax to thank for the opportunities she enjoyed. Wax, a member of both the Illinois Girls Coaches…

When current Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald was in junior high school, his older sister Jacki used to get him out of class early to go watch Sandburg playoff football games. “Back then, they had Wednesday afternoon first-round playoff games,” Pat Fitzgerald said. “My sister took me to go watch the Eagles play. My goal and dream was always to play Friday night football at Sandburg. Growing up, I couldn’t wait to play at Sandburg. Once I got there, it lived up to all my expectations.” Tagging along with his older sister was nothing new for Fitzgerald. “I’m six years older than him, …

Barbara June Schaaf’s accomplishments as an athlete seem almost endless. The 1983 Chicago Christian graduate, who now lives in Frankfort, was a four-year, three-sport standout for the Knights. She was a member of Chicago Christian’s Class A state champion basketball team in 1981 and was the school’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1983. Schaaf went on to become a two-time NCAA All-American basketball player and one-time All-American softball player at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. Despite all her achievements through the years, being an Olympian never crossed her mind growing up…

When Tom Pukstys was a senior at Stagg High School in 1986, he told a harmless fib that ultimately set in motion his career path. “I really wanted to get into a national championship track meet at York High School,” Pukstys said. “I lied and said I had a big meet when I was in Lithuania so I could compete even though I never did. I knew I had the skills to do well, it was a half hour from my house and that was the biggest meet going on at the time.” Pukstys not only managed to finagle his way into the meet, but took first place in the javelin. That day was when thoughts of actually becoming …