UPDATE: Marist's Nic Weishar is Patch MVP

Marist football standout Nic Weishar outpolled nine others in voting for the Southland's Patch MVP, Oct. 8-14. He is now eligible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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UPDATE: Oak Lawn's Becky Bradshaw is Patch MVP

Oak Lawn's Becky Bradshaw came up big for the Spartans at the Tinley Park tournament. And she also came up big in voting for Patch's MVP, Sept. 24-30. Bradshaw is now eligible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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UPDATE: Oak Lawn's Rachel Kestian is Patch MVP.

Oak Lawn's Rachel Kestian was distributing the wealth in the Spartans' straight-sets victory over Hillcrest. She outpolled 11 others in fan balloting for Patch MVP, Aug. 26-Sept. 1. Kestian is now eligible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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Carrie Underwood

9:49 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012

@david It's called opinion. It's what one does on these boards, you little control freak. Nowhere was there a gender-superiority connotation.   more ›

Glory Days

Marist Principal Larry Tucker Enjoying Success of Athletic Program

What is he doing now? Working at his alma mater has been rewarding for former Marist basketball standout Larry Tucker.

When Marist principal Larry Tucker witnesses the success the athletic program has had in recent seasons, he admits to being a little jealous. Marist’s girls volleyball team reached the state quarterfinals for the first time in November, while the boys and girls basketball teams are currently area-ranked, the boys volleyball team captured the state championship during the 2009-2010 season and the football team finished as state runners-up in 2010. “We didn’t get to go down state when I was in high school,” said Tucker, who was a star basketball player at Marist. “I always envy those kids.” Tucker has been Marist’s principal since 1998. Returning to his alma mater was a dream-come true for the 1979 graduate, who had basketball coaching …

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L-W West's Dangles Voted Patch Athlete of the Week

Lincoln-Way West junior running back Nick Dangles carried the load for the Warriors in a 28-20 football victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais. His fans carried the load for him in voting for Patch's Athlete of the Week.

If there was ever a doubt about the strength of the relationship between Lincoln-Way West junior running back Nick Dangles and the big boys throwing blocks for him in the trenches, then offensive lineman Jake Benson’s comments should put that notion to bed. “He’s been our workhorse all season, and once again he carried us,” Benson said after Dangles rushed for 148 yards and scored two touchdowns in Lincoln-Way West’s 28-20 football victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais. Dangles scored on runs of 3 and 75 yards before exiting in the fourth quarter with an injury. His performance helped the Warriors (7-2, 6-1) wrap up a share of the Southwest Suburban Red Conference championship in their regular-season finale. He is honored today as the Patch …

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Your Turn: Vote for Patch Athlete of the Week

Please helps us choose our Southland Patch Athlete of the Week, Oct. 17-24. The contenders: Dan Caddigan, Brother Rice; Nick Dangles, L-W West; Alec Melone, Sandburg; Adesuwa Osabuohein, Homewood-Flossmoor; Dena Waldier, L-W North; Ian Woodworth, Marist.

The nominees for Southland Patch Athlete of the Week, Oct. 17-24: Dan Caddigan, senior, boys cross country, Brother Rice. Caddigan ripped off a time of 15:16 for 2.97 miles and placed first in the Class 3A Marist Regional at Midlothian Meadows Forest Preserve. He led the Crusaders to a second-place finish with a team total of 57 points, one back of regional champ Sandburg. Nick Dangles, junior, football running back, Lincoln-Way West. Dangles rushed for 148 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns before leaving with an injury in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 28-20 victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais. His performance helped Lincoln-Way West gain a share of the Southwest Suburban Red Conference championship. Alec Melone, senior, …

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Patch Power Rankings: No. 2 H-F Goes on the Road to Face Sandburg in Football Showdown

Homewood-Flossmoor has climbed back to No. 2 in the weekly Patch Power Rankings heading into a Southwest Suburban Blue matchup at Sandburg tonight. Lincoln-Way West is a newcomer in the top five.

1. Lincoln-Way East (8-0): Lincoln-Way East looks to cap perfect regular season, build momentum for playoffs. Last week: No. 1. Saturday: at Joliet West, noon. 2. Homewood-Flossmoor (6-2): In six wins, Homewood-Flossmoor has outscored its opponents 312-22. Last week: No. 3. Tonight: at Sandburg, 7:30. 3. Marist (6-2): Sophomore wideout Nic Weishar picks up scholarship offer from Illinois. Last Week: Unranked. Tonight: vs. Joliet Catholic Academy, 7:30. 4. Lincoln-Way West (6-2): Lincoln-Way West can clinch at least a tie for the Southwest Suburban Red title with a win in regular-season finale. Last Week: Unranked. Tonight: vs. Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:30. 5. Sandburg (5-3): Sandburg, with five wins, is in good shape to qualify for the IHSA …

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Tinley Park Debuts in Weekly Patch Football Poll at No. 5

Titans climb into the football Power Rankings for the first time, take their 4-0 record on the road for a showdown at Lemont on Friday night. Meanwhile, No. 1 Lincoln-Way East plays host to No. 2 Sandburg in the Griffins' homecoming game.

1. Lincoln-Way East (4-0): The Griffins find themselves in another 1 vs. 2 Patch poll matchup. Believe me, it never gets old. Last week: No. 1. Tonight: vs. Sandburg, 7:30. 2. Sandburg (4-0): The Eagles scored a late touchdown to beat Lincoln-Way Central. They’ll need to start earlier to make hay on the occasion of Lincoln-Way East’s homecoming. Last week: No. 4. Tonight: at Lincoln-Way East, 7:30. 3. Homewood-Flossmoor (3-1): After failing to protect the ball and suffering their first loss, the Vikings will found out what they’re made of as they cross the season’s midway point and face another unbeaten. Last week: No. 2. Tonight: vs. Bolingbrook, 7:30. 4. Brother Rice (3-1): Just when it looked like the Crusaders were rolling, their …

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Entrenched? L-W East Holds No. 1 Slot in Weekly Patch Football Poll

Blake Winkler's fast start helps Griffins roar out of the gate. H-F and Sandburg still have some questions to answer heading into play in Week 2 of the high school football season.

1. Lincoln-Way East: Blake Winkler earned Frankfort/Mokena Athlete of the Week honors after completing 12-of-23 for 214 yards and three touchdowns in Lincoln-Way East's 45-14 victory over Edwardsville. And he only played half the game. Last week: No. 1. Tonight: vs. Dunbar, 7:30 p.m. 2. Homewood-Flossmoor: Two plays, two touchdowns, too easy? Homewood-Flossmoor rolled to a 76-6 victory over Chicago Senn. But what did the Vikings find out about themselves? Well, maybe they have another good back in the making. Taje Smith rushed for 79 yards on six carries. He scored four touchdowns. Last week: No. 2. Tonight: vs. Deerfield, 7 p.m. 3. Sandburg: The Eagles turned two turnovers into 14 points and came up with a goal-line stand in a 17-10 …

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