Top 2023-24 moments in boys prep sports
After presenting last week the area’s top 10 girls prep sports moments of the 2023-24 school year, it’s time to look at the top boys moments.
We’ve narrowed the moments to state titles and a couple wild cards. They’re listed below in chronological order.
1. Oct. 7, Bloomington
No team titles are won by the area at Prairie Vista Golf Course, but it’s a strong tournament for local individuals.
Marmion’s Regan Konen wins the Class 2A title by shooting 70-71, good enough to edge Sacred Heart-Griffin’s Cal Johnson by a single stroke. Conant’s Nicolas Simon also wins by a stroke to claim the 3A championship.
2. Nov. 4, Peoria
It’s a brilliant day for Downers Grove North’s Class 3A cross country team at Detweiler Park.
The Trojans bury the rest of the field with a score of 79 — 46 points ahead of second-place Plainfield North. It’s the program’s second title overall and first since 2017.
Philip Cupial finishes seventh, three spots ahead of teammate Grant Schroder and six ahead of Ryan Eddington. Zach Bender and Will Surratt also place in the top 30, followed by Caden Weber and Isaac Moss.
Hinsdale Central’s Aden Bandukwala wins the 3A race by more than four seconds.
3. Nov. 4, Hoffman Estates
Crystal Lake South goalkeeper Chris Slawek makes a huge save in the waning seconds to preserve the Gators’ 2-1 victory over Peoria Notre Dame in the Class 2A soccer final.
Crystal Lake South breaks out to a 2-0 lead — thanks to goals from Nico Velasco and Nick Prus — before the Irish put the pressure on with a goal in the 58th minute.
The Gators win the program’s second title and first since 2018.
4. Nov. 25, Normal
It’s a familiar spot for Cary-Grove’s football team, in the title game against East St. Louis.
Two years after a stunning win over the Flyers, the Trojans do it again. They stage a 19-play, 71-yard drive that chews up nearly 11 minutes. They cap it on Logan Abrams’ 2-yard touchdown run with 1:19 left in the game to reclaim the lead.
P.J. Weaver’s interception seals the 23-20 victory for Cary-Grove. It’s the program’s fourth state title and third since 2018.
5. Feb. 17, Champaign
Montini and IC Catholic Prep each come away with two state titles in the Class 2A individual wrestling meet. Allen Woo wins at 106 pounds and David Mayora at 150 for the Broncos. Deven Casey wins at 120 and Michael Calcagno at 215 for the Knights.
Matty Jens at 175 earns the area’s fifth 2A title for Grayslake Central.
Eight area wrestlers win 3A championships: Warren’s Caleb Noble (106) and Aaron Stewart (147), Marmion’s Nicholas Garcia (113) and Zach Stewart (138), St. Charles East’s Ben Davino (132) and Jayden Colon (144), Glenbard West’s Collin Carrigan at 165, and Prospect’s Jaxon Penovich at 190.
6. Feb. 24, Westmont
Hinsdale Central dominates the action in the FMC Natatorium, winning the program’s 20th state title with 338 points. That’s 128 points ahead of second-place New Trier.
The Red Devils’ Joshua Bey wins four state titles including as a part of two of the team’s three championship relays. West Chicago’s Brady Johnson wins a pair of state titles while Schaumburg’s Szymon Mieczkowski and Neuqua Valley’s Alex Parkinson are also champions.
7. March 8, Champaign
The day doesn’t go as planned for Palatine’s basketball team, which falls to Normal Community in the Class 4A semifinals and then to New Trier in the third-place game.
But there’s no denying history for the program. The Pirates, who end the season 28-10 led by Connor May, reach the final four for the first time after beating Warren in the supersectional.
8. May 25, Palatine
Hinsdale Central wins another state title, this time for the 29th time on the tennis court. Alex Kotarski leads the charge with a runner-up finish in singles, but Hersey’s Mitch Sheldon steals the show with a 6-3, 6-3 victory in the final.
9. May 25, Charleston
No team state titles, but area individuals clean up on the track and in the field. Eight Class 3A competitors win state titles, and Downers North wins the 3200-meter relay. Two athletes win Class 2A titles.
10. June 11, Bloomington
The IHSA Board of Directors announces a shot clock will be implemented in varsity basketball starting in the 2026-27 season.
After years of discussion, and after testing shot clocks in shootouts and regular-season tournaments, the historic change is coming soon to a basketball court near you.