Columnists

Caitlin Schumacher’s versatility on the volleyball court always has served her well.

Jacobs boys basketball coach Jim Hinkle took his recent good news with his usual sense of humor.

I checked the mailbox and was pleased to find a letter from loyal reader John Janecke of Wonder Lake. Janecke and I have sparred on a few issues, but we always are open to each other’s point of view. I enjoy Janecke’s letters because they are well written and well thought out.

Are we watching a quarterback with great potential be ruined by an inept system?

The Fox Valley Conference has done itself more than proud during the IHSA football playoffs, and it’s far from done.

Two months ago, 12-year-old Nick Miller was flying around the ice and making things happen for the Leafs Hockey Club Bantam hockey team.

Around the Northwest Herald office, many years ago, we started referring to the first weekend in November as “Super Saturday.”

Crystal Lake Babe Ruth Baseball League recently awarded Eric Humpa and Scott Taege the league’s 2009 Sportsmanship Award.

CHICAGO – At least Tommie Harris came out swinging.

Cary-Grove football coach Bruce Kay wasn’t overly concerned last offseason when five of the Trojans’ starters on the offensive line (including the tight end) graduated.

They represented opposite ends of the high school sports spectrum.

CHICAGO – The Bears and United Airlines missed out on a great promotional opportunity Sunday.

Wow! This exceptionally wacky Northern Illinois weather has kept an awful lot of outdoorsmen inside the comfort of their abodes lately.

Crystal Lake Central’s Chris Alvarez is following in his brother Ryan’s footsteps … in more ways than one.

In baseball parlance, Kevin Kaczmarski’s list of colleges in which he was most interested sprayed to all fields.

Sometimes five different people can watch an NFL game and come up with five different turning points or reasons that one team won and another lost.

In 2004, the 2,600-acre Hennepin and Hopper Lakes Project, located along the Illinois River south of Hennepin opened for fishing. The project was started by a company called the Wetlands Initiative as a private fishing operation.

Deer hunting

Crystal Lake Central senior pitcher Connor Sadzeck didn’t feel as though a lot of college coaches knew his name before last summer.

Hampshire graduate Cassie Osiecki knew she was getting close to history.

Hampshire could bring the Fox Valley Conference membership to an even number in two years.

Marian Central will experience what it’s like to be an NFL team with a first-round playoff bye this week.

I recently received a news release that said a company, which shall remain unnamed, offers “a full line of camo lingerie, swimwear and loungewear for women in both Naked North Pink and Mossy Oak Break Up.” Is this how women are supposed to fit into the world of hunting? By donning sexy apparel for the amusement and pleasure of their macho, he-man, hunting male companions?

This one hurts more than last year.

Cary-South.

How about a little good news?

With an undefeated season, the Chicago Magic North 14U boys soccer team qualified for the Super Y-League North American Finals Nov. 19-24 in Tampa, Fla.

Dixie O’Hara, it seemed, always would be there.

Cary-Grove senior Abbey Heredia kept looking at schools after her initial college visit to Jacksonville State (Ala.), but no other school had the same pull.

I sneaked out this past week to give southern Wisconsin’s Silver Lake a try with guide Darrell Baker and a friend, Ron Ellis of Zion.

Anyone who attended Wood­stock’s thrilling 32-29 football victory against Johnsburg on Friday will call the finish one of the wildest that they’ve ever witnessed.

The words “comfortable lead” had not fit the Bears in their first three games, all of which went down to the final minute with the outcome in doubt.

The face that was Prairie Ridge baseball has returned.

Cary-Grove volleyball coach Patti Langanis watched Karen Whitehouse grow from a 13-year-old attending Trojans’ summer camps to one of the best players in her program to Eastern Illinois University’s career kills leader.

The Crystal Lake Tidal Waves 11-and-under girls softball team qualified for a berth in a 2010 USSSA World Series in July.

Alden-Hebron football coach John Lalor marvels at the differences in his two sons.

The Bears might be the luckiest 2-1 team in the NFL.

When Jim Forner was asked to change positions for his senior season of college football, he didn’t flinch.

Perhaps the most intriguing schedule for any area football team belongs to Marian Central.