Schools

L-W North Set to Kick Off Boys Soccer State Tournament

Hundreds of players and spectators will descend on the school and Frankfort this weekend for the competition, and officials are ready.

This weekend, Frankfort becomes the epicenter for high school soccer in Illinois, as plays host to the Class 2A/3A boys soccer state tournament.

"We're excited by it. It's a challenge," said L-W North Principal Mike Gardner.

The school was chosen by the Illinois High School Association in February to be the site for the tournament through 2015, taking over for North Central College in Naperville, which has hosted the tournament since 2001. It was a yearlong process to put together a proposal to the IHSA that was spearheaded by North's athletics director, Matt Lyke, Gardner said.

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"It's an honor," Gardner added. "Not only do we represent the Lincoln-Way community and the high school, but also Frankfort. It's a lot of exposure for us, and we're happy to help out the IHSA."

Find out what's happening in Frankfortwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Although the actual tournament is being run by the IHSA, North officials have been in charge of setting up the facilities, preparing the school and stadium for an influx of hundreds of players and spectators. 

"We want to make sure our place is spiffed up and spotless, so we've done that," Gardner said. "As a member of the IHSA board of directors, I have a little bit of a background on what needs to be done, so we have an advantage."

School officials aren't the only ones looking forward to the surge of people coming to the area. 

"We expect it to have a positive impact on the economy in the area," said Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland. "It's certainly a benefit to the people in the area."

Holland also said he plans to attend the tournament at some time this weekend.

I can tell you that when I ask people why they move to this area, they say it's for the schools," he added. "The schools are a very important part of the Frankfort community, and we want to support them anyway we can."

Boys Soccer State Tournament

CLASS 2A

  • Peoria (Notre Dame) vs. Chicago (Mather), 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4
  • Chatham (Glenwood) vs. Aurora (Marmion Academy), 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4
  • Loser of Match 1 vs. Loser of Match 2, 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5
  • Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2, 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5

CLASS 3A

  • Naperville (Central) vs. Palatine (Fremd), 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4
  • Gurnee (Warren) vs. Berwyn-Cicero (Morton), 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4
  • Loser of Match 1 vs. Loser of Match 2, 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5
  • Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2, 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5


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