Chicago Sun-Times: All posts by Michael O'Brien

CPS settles lawsuit with former Phillips basketball coach Paris Martin

2025-07-15T08:34:37.556-05:00

Chicago Public Schools has settled a federal lawsuit brought by former Phillips basketball coach Paris Martin.

Martin sued CPS, Phillips Academy and several Phillips staff members, including Principal Rashad Talley and Athletic Director James Talley last July.

Martin led Phillips to the Class 2A state championship in 2024. It was the school’s first basketball title in 49 years. He claimed CPS never paid him in his two years as coach. Phillips then fired Martin two weeks after he sued.

Martin told the Sun-Times on Monday that the settlement is for an undisclosed amount.

“Pursuant to the agreement, the District compensated Mr. Martin for all of his documented out-of-pocket expenses arising from the Wendell Phillips Academy High School basketball program,” a CPS spokesperson told the Sun-Times on Monday.

Martin’s lawsuit sought ‘‘compensatory damages in the amount the court deems just and fair’’ and $1 million for ‘‘mental anguish, anxiety and depression due to the harassment and discrimination he suffered at the hand of CPS.’’

Martin, who was not an employee at the school, said he was due a stipend of nearly $7,500 for each season he coached.

‘‘It’s more than that,’’ Martin said in 2024. ‘‘I’m doing this for the kids, not for the money. But someone else is taking that money. I’m paying my own money for meals for the kids and uniforms and shoes. [Phillips] keeps telling me there isn’t anything in the budget.’’

The previous Phillips AD and principal hired Martin.

According to CPS, Martin is now eligible to be hired by the district but will have to undergo a background check the same as any new hire or volunteer.

Martin has his eye on a couple of open jobs in the suburbs, but says his heart is still in Chicago.

“I was born and raised at 43rd and State Street,” Martin said. “Ideally, I’d want to go back to CPS. I’m a big fan of Chicago. This was never CPS’s fault. It was the people in the [Phillips] administration. They didn’t care about nothing with the kids, anything.”

Talley remains the principal at Phillips, and Daniels is still the athletic director. Keyon Joiner, a former star player at Phillips and assistant coach under Martin, is now the basketball coach.

“[CPS] apologized for everything that went wrong,” Martin said. “But there were no lies told in my story. I want that out there.”

Four of Phillips’ starters could have returned to defend the state title, but after Martin was fired, they all transferred to other schools. Amari Edwards helped lead Kenwood to the city title. Lawrence Horton left for a prep school in Canada. Claude Mpouma transferred to Mount Carmel and Phoenix Childs transferred to Perspectives-Leadership.

Martin spent the winter in the stands instead of on the bench, watching his former players succeed.

“It was very challenging at the beginning,” Martin said. “But prayer and just going through and being who I am carried me over the top. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to build what we had at Phillips, and it was tough to just lose it so quickly.”

Joliet's Jeremiah Fears selected by Pelicans with No. 7 pick in NBA Draft

2025-06-25T19:55:56.43-05:00

Joliet native Jeremiah Fears was selected No. 7 in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Pelicans on Wednesday. It’s the highest a local player has been picked since Young’s Jahlil Okafor was drafted by the 76ers with the No. 3 pick in 2015.

Fears didn’t receive the early attention from national evaluators that some players enjoy.

Despite older brother Jeremy Fears Jr.’s rise to national prominence, Jeremiah went under the radar all the way while skipping his senior year of high school and heading to college at Oklahoma.

But the locals always knew. The Sun-Times was there for Jeremiah Fears’ high school debut in downstate Washington. Joliet West lost to St. Louis Vashon 61-59. The Tigers started four more experienced players, but it was Fears who took the potential game-winning three at the buzzer. He missed that crucial shot but finished with 17 points, four rebounds and four steals.

Joliet West’s Jeremiah Fears (2) attempts a last-second three with the Tigers down by two against Vashon in 2021.

Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

“He exudes confidence and toughness,” Tigers coach Jeremy Kreiger said after the game. “He led us in scoring in his first high school game. He embraced stepping up to take the game-winner, then came into the locker room and apologized to his teammates for missing it.”

Fears left Joliet West after his sophomore season and was off to prep school, playing one year at Compass in Arizona. Initially, the plan was to finish high school and head to Illinois for the 2025-26 season. That changed in July, when Fears decommitted from the Illini, reclassified to the Class of 2025 and committed to Oklahoma. Fears was only rated as a four-star recruit out of Compass.

Rivals had him 44th in the country, 247Sports 64th and ESPN 40th.

Joliet West’s Jeremiah Fears (2) drives toward the basket in 2023.

Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Fears came off the bench his first few games at Oklahoma this past season but quickly emerged as one of the best players in the country. He averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists, shot 43% from the field and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.

Fears was a dangerous shooter during his two years at Joliet West. His three-pointer has been up and down since high school, but he has grown to 6-4 and shot well at the NBA Draft Combine a few weeks ago.

He signed a shoe-endorsement deal with Adidas just before the draft Wednesday.

Only three Joliet natives have played in the NBA: George Mikan, Ed Mikan and Roger Powell Jr.

Josh Holst's complete-game gem leads Libertyville to the Class 4A state title

2025-06-14T22:22:03.122-05:00

Two generations of Libertyville baseball players came very close to winning state championships. The Wildcats lost one-run title games in 2013 and 1976. The current team knows those years by heart. They know the story of the games and even some of the players.

“My trainer was on the 2013 team,” Libertyville senior Cole Lockwood said. “Libertyville baseball is still close to the hearts of so many older guys. It will really mean something to a lot of people when we come home with this.”

Senior lefty Josh Holst, an Air Force recruit, was spectacular in the Class 4A championship on Saturday in Joliet. He threw all seven innings and allowed one run and two hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.

Libertyville beat McHenry 4-1 to win the school’s first baseball state title.

“This whole team gave everything that had all year,” Wildcats coach Matt Thompson said. “Every single one of them was ready. Every single one was committed and playing for each other. That was great to see.”

The team grew up playing together through youth baseball and entered this season focused on finally bringing a state title to Libertyville.

“We’ve been playing together our whole lives,” Lockwood said. “This has been four years in the making for me and all the guys. It is such an amazing moment to get what you have been craving for four years.”

The Libertyville baseball team poses for a photo with the championship trophy after winning the IHSA Class 4A state championship game against McHenry at Duly Health and Care Field.

Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Throughout the weekend of games, starting pitchers struggled early. Pressure, nerves, and the large stadium make that first inning difficult. Holst tore through the top of McHenry’s talented lineup with a 1-2-3 inning. The Warriors (35-5) didn’t manage a hit until the fourth inning.

“Tonight both of my off-speed pitches were the best they’ve been all season,” Holst said. “I knew they were a great team and they have some really, really good hitters at the top of the order. So if I was able to keep them off balance I knew we were going to win.”

Lockwood tripled to lead off the game for Libertyville (36-4). Holst knocked him in with grounder to second to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead and they never trailed.

Holst had a hit, a walk and three RBI. Carson Holmes added two hits for Libertyville.

“[Holst] is unbelievable,” Lockwood said. “I could not say enough good stuff about him. He has the mindset that he’s better than you. And he was today, it showed.”

McHenry is a talented but very young team. Freshman center fielder Carver Cohn and sophomore third baseman Kaden Wasniewski are top 20 players in the country in their classes. Sophomore Landon Clements, the second baseman, hits second.

The Warriors cut Libertyville’s lead to 2-1 on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Maness in the fourth inning. But they only managed two baserunners the rest of the way.

“We started 16-0, in stride right from the get-go,” Thompson said. “We lost a couple in the middle and then got going again. We had some close games in the playoffs but we knew we were in good shape to win it all.”

Holst struck out the final batter of the game, threw his glove in the air and soaked in the celebration.

“Ending on a strike swinging—I wouldn’t want it anyway else,” Holst said. “And I wouldn’t want to play this game with anyone else but my guys.”

Libertyville beats McHenry 4-1 to win the Class 4A state championship.

It is the first title for the Wildcats. pic.twitter.com/GhFYFYx6DZ
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) June 15, 2025

St. Laurence beats Benet to win the Class 3A state championship

2025-06-14T17:16:21.096-05:00

St. Laurence’s Daniel Coyle was one of the standout players at the state finals this weekend in Joliet and it had nothing to do with his hitting or pitching. He’s an eye-opening defender at third base, sure-handed and aggressive.

It turns out that’s why Coyle hasn’t pitched a ton this season. Heading into the Class 3A state championship game against Benet he had thrown just 17 innings.

“It’s hard to take Dan off of third base because he’s so good,” Vikings coach Pete Lotus said. “But ultimately the guy on the mound is the most important.”

Coyle flashed his glove early in the game, drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and closed out St. Laurence’s 8-5 state title win with three innings of relief pitching.

“I’m always on my toes ready for the next situation,” Coyle said. “I love it. I live for this type of stuff. It just feels so good to bring one home finally.”

Coyle gave up one run and one hit in three innings. He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

“It’s his toughness,” Lotus said. “Dan just kept making pitches. He did such a good job getting out of the [fifth inning], stranding a man on third base was huge to keep it a tie game.”

Coyle had two hits, two RBI and scored a run. Every Viking in the lineup managed at least one hit. Connor Marino, Adrian Perez, Ben Geary and Orlando Vazquez all had two hits. Enrique Villanueva contributed a sacrifice fly in the third inning and a crucial RBI single in the seventh.

“I knew Benet was a pretty good team and we needed some insurance runs there,” Villanueva said. “This feels amazing. It truly does. This state title means the world to all of us.”

Junior John Strzechowski learned he was starting the state championship game on the way back to the hotel after the semifinal win against Triad.

“The nerves going through my body were insane,” Strzechowski said. “But my dad told me to turn my nerves into excitement. That’s what I did. After the first inning, I settled down and the team had my back.”

Strzechowski pitched four innings and allowed four earned runs and five hits. He struck out three and walked two.

“I’ve known [Strzechowski] a long time,” Lotus said. “In these types of games, you need someone that is going to be able to withstand the highs and lows and John is that type of kid and that’s why we gave him the ball.”

Sophomore Quinn Rooney, the offensive hero for Benet (27-13) in the semifinals, homered to right field in the fourth inning. It was the only home run in the first six games of the finals.

“Congratulations to St. Laurence,” Benet coach Jorge Acosta said. “It was just a fun game, back and forth. We battled back and had some opportunities. It was a really good high school baseball game.

“This has been over a decade in the making. We have had some really good teams over the years that didn’t have a chance to get here for one reason or another. Hopefully, this is a stepping stone for our team to become regulars and get a chance to win a state title.”

It’s the first state championship for St. Laurence (37-5).

“Some tears came out of my eyes after that last out,” Strzechowski said. “It is just unbelievable.”

St. Laurence beats Benet 8-5 to win the Class 3A state championship.

It is the first state title for the Vikings pic.twitter.com/Ua4SPq8iUl
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) June 14, 2025

Dominant starters Brandon Shannon and Chase Lockwood send McHenry and Libertyville to 4A state title game

2025-06-13T23:12:05.399-05:00

McHenry advanced to the IHSA baseball state finals in Joliet in 2022. The Warriors lost two games by a combined score of 26-4 and headed home. Most fans around the state probably figured that was a nice, one-season run for the Fox River town of 27,000 up near the Wisconsin border.

But that may just have been the beginning of a special run. McHenry is 87-27 over the past three seasons and will play Libertyville in the Class 4A state championship on Saturday at Duly Health and Care Field.

Louisville recruit Brandon Shannon led the way in a 4-1 victory against favored Brother Rice on Friday in the Class 4A semifinals.

The 6-3 senior threw 111 pitches to earn the win. He allowed one run and four hits over six innings with eight strikeouts and three walks.

Shannon, who throws in the mid 90's, was a little shaky early, giving up two walks and a single to the first four batters. But he found his footing after that and held the Crusaders to their lowest offensive output of the season.

“I’m not very good at that starting right off the gate,” Shannon said. “It always takes me like two innings, I don’t know why. I just take a deep breath and calm my nerves, that’s at all.”

Senior Zachary Readdy came in and shut the door in the seventh, allowing just one hit to earn the save.

“We wanted to get as many outs as we could with [Shannon],” McHenry coach Brian Rockweiler said. “We were going to take him out after the fifth [when he hit 100 pitches] but he wanted it.”

Win or lose in the title game on Saturday, the future is bright for the Warriors. A freshman and two sophomores lead McHenry's lineup .

Freshman center fielder Carver Cohn and sophomore third baseman Kaden Wasniewski are top 20 players in the country in their classes. Sophomore Landon Clements, the second baseman, hits second.

Cohn scored two runs, stole a base and had a key bunt hit in the sixth. Clements scored a run, reached base twice and stole a base.

Wasniewski delivered the biggest moment of the game when he singled to right with two out and two on in the sixth to give the Warriors (36-4-1) a 4-1 lead and a vital cushion heading into the seventh.

“It is so hard to win,” Rockweiler said. “There are a lot of good coaches and good teams and good players that never get here. We did it. We have one more tomorrow.”

McHenry will take on Libertyville (35-4), which knocked off Normal 2-1 in eight innings in the first semifinal.

Carson Holmes’ single to right field in the top of the eighth knocked in catcher Quinn Schambow to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Libertyville’s Trevor Wallace (5) catches the ball in the outfield during the IHSA Class 4A semifinal game against Normal.

Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Then starting pitcher Chase Lockwood emerged from the dugout to finish what he started. The 6-2 junior earned the win with a complete game. He allowed no earned runs and five hits over eight innings with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Lockwood knew early on Friday that he had his best stuff.

“I threw my first pitch in the pen and knew these hitters didn’t stand a chance,” Lockwood said.

Clutch sophomores Quinn Rooney and Jimmy Benson lift Benet and St. Laurence into the 3A state title game

2025-06-13T18:05:47.613-05:00

Sophomore Quinn Rooney was a star Little League pitcher in Hinsdale, and his arm initially earned him a spot on Benet’s varsity baseball team.

Rooney pitched eight innings this season, but he’s made his mark on the best team in school history with clutch hitting. The 6-5, 190-pound lefty has come through in several big moments and he came through again on Friday at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet.

“I just try to stay loose the whole time,” Rooney said. “It is just like any other moment. I have the support of my whole team and all of Benet. It is great.”

Rooney ripped a two-run triple to right field in the top of the seventh to break open a tie game. It ignited a five-run inning and the Redwings knocked off Cary-Grove 11-6 to earn a spot in the Class 3A state championship on Saturday.

“[Cary-Grove pitcher Jacob Duvall] gave me a couple of curveballs in the beginning of the at bat,” Rooney said. “[The triple] a fastball pretty much down the middle and I took my chance on it and hit it hard.”

IHSA baseball Class 3A/4A state finals schedule and scores

Benet starting pitcher Jake Rifenburg allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings but was battling a solid rain early in the game.

“In the beginning, I had to adjust to my curveball a little bit,” Rifenburg said. “I couldn’t get the grip I wanted. It was a grind today but I did everything I could to try and put us in a position to win.”

Second baseman Nathan Cerocke had three hits for the Redwings (27-12). Rooney and shortstop Ethan Mendez added two hits and center fielder Josh Gugora knocked in two runs and scored two.

Benet, which has never played in or won the state championship game, will face St. Laurence for the title on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Vikings knocked off Triad 11-6 in the first semifinal.

Benet’s Ethan Mendez celebrates after scoring against Cary-Grove in the Class 3A semifinals.

Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

St. Laurence also leaned on a sophomore to win. Jimmy Benson, a 6-8 lefty, turned out to be the perfect starting pitcher for the matchup against Triad.

The Trojans have six left-handed batters in their starting lineup.

“Those are our guys,” Triad coach Jesse Bugger said. “We didn’t alternate lineups or do any platoon system all year. We figured we would run into a left-hander at some point. Tough matchups are going to happen at this stage.”

Benson pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. He struck out six and walked three.

“It was fun,” Benson said. “I was waiting for this moment. I want to pitch in the biggest game possible for us. I like the feeling of pitching in big games, the adrenaline and all that.”

Mickey Lotus had three hits for St. Laurence (36-5), which has also never won a title. The Vikings lost to Montini in the 2019 Class 3A championship game.

“We’ve always been kind of scrappy hitters,” Lotus said. We have [star center field Cory Les, a Louisville recruit] but we don’t have anybody that can hit the ball like crazy. We made [Triad starting pitcher Evan Uhl] work.”

Connor Marino led St. Laurence offensively with two hits and four RBI. Adrian Perez and Danny Donovan each had two hits and two runs.

“[Donovan’s] game is so eclectic,” Vikings coach Pete Lotus said. “He can hit for average and power. He runs and then he comes through in big situations. I’m not surprised at all because he’s been doing it all year.”

IHSA baseball Class 3A/4A state finals schedule and scores

2025-06-13T13:27:46.137-05:00

Saturday, June 10
at Duly Health and Care Field, Joliet

Class 3A
Title: St. Laurence 8, Benet 5
Third place: Triad 3, Cary-Grove 1

Class 4A
Title: Libertyville 4, McHenry 1
Third place: Normal 7, Brother Rice 2

Friday, June 7
at Duly Health and Care Field, Joliet

Class 3A
Semifinals
St. Laurence 11, Triad 6
Benet 11, Cary-Grove 6

Class 4A
Semifinals
Libertyville 2, Normal 1, 8 inn.
McHenry 4, Brother Rice 1

The Stinson and Patterson brothers lead Kenwood to the city title

2025-05-23T00:49:26.013-05:00

Fraternal twins Evan and Brandon Stinson have played baseball with Jonathan Patterson Jr. for almost a decade: from Little League to travel baseball and now at Kenwood. The three seniors were joined by Jonathan’s brother, sophomore Josiah Patterson, on the Broncos’ varsity this season.

Kenwood coach Romey Bracey says having so many family members on his team is great: “They don’t fight with each other and they have a bond.”

The Stinsons and Pattersons teamed up to bring another city title to Kenwood on Thursday at UIC's Curtis Granderson Stadium.

Brandon Stinson had the Broncos' championship dreams on his shoulders with two out and the score tied in the top of the seventh.

“I’ve been in big situations before,” Stinson said. “And [Lane] knew I’d been hot all day. The first pitch curveball I saw, I knew I was swinging. I stayed back and did what I do.”

Stinson drove a single into left field, knocking in the go-ahead run from second base.

“It felt like a barrel,” Stinson said. “It felt amazing. I love playing in front of people. There is no better feeling.”

Josiah Patterson shut down Lane in the bottom of the seventh and Kenwood earned a 10-9 win and the Public League baseball title.

“When I finally get home and sit in bed I’ll take it all in,” Stinson said. “We finally did it. It’s always us against Lane and to win it feels great.”

Patterson pitched the final three innings. He allowed four runs in the sixth inning as Lane (24-10) tied the game at nine.

“It was very nerve-wracking,” Patterson said. “All the hype was on Lane’s side in the sixth inning. The energy from my team [helped in the seventh]. They picked me up and my mindset changed.”

Brandon Stinson was 5 for 5 with two runs scored and a RBI. Evan Stinson started the game for the Broncos (17-6-1). He allowed five runs and five hits in four innings.

Kenwood scored six runs in the first inning and led 8-2 after two innings. Lane was hampered by sloppy defense and starting pitcher Charles Lust, a sophomore, was pulled in the first inning after eight batters.

Kenwood players pose for a photo with principal Karen Calloway and the city championship trophy after beating Lane at UIC’s Curtis Granderson Stadium.

Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Freshman Dodger Friedrich steadied the ship for Lane, pitching the final 5 1/3 innings and holding the Broncos to just one run until Stinson’s game-winning hit in the seventh.

“We knew [Lane] was going to hit,” Stinson said. “They are a good club. We knew they would come back so we stayed ready. We wanted this one.”

Senior Phillip Thigpen had three hits, two runs and a RBI for Kenwood. Senior Lance Moon contributed three hits and two RBI for the Broncos. Jonathan Patterson Jr. had one hit, scored a run and made the biggest defensive play of the game.

With the bases loaded and one out in the third Patterson made a sensational diving catch, got up and threw to second for an inning-ending double play.

“I knew I had to make the play,” Patterson said. “I ran full speed, dove and put my body on the line.”

Lane tied the game on Miles Mazanowski’s two-run single to left field in the sixth. Lane beat Kenwood 5-3 in the championship game last year at Wrigley Field.

This year it was the Broncos’ turn to celebrate.

“This is everything,” Evan Stinson said. “We’ll be talking about this with our kids, how we went out with a bang with this big win.”

Kenwood beats Lane 10-9 to win the city title. pic.twitter.com/GzTcfWXRVu
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) May 23, 2025

Kenwood sophomore Devin Cleveland transfers to La Lumiere, a prep school in Indiana

2025-05-15T10:28:42.057-05:00

Another star sophomore boys basketball player is leaving the state.

Devin Cleveland, a 6-3 guard who’s ranked No. 25 in the national Class of 2027 by 247sports.com and No. 15 by ESPN, will transfer from Kenwood to La Lumiere, a prep school in Indiana, for his junior year.

He led Kenwood to its first city championship in February.

“We had talked about leaving last year, and we decided to come back,” said Cleveland’s father, Fred Cleveland Sr. “He wanted to do one more year at Kenwood. It worked out good.”

Cleveland, a Sun-Times area and all-city selection, averaged 21 points and led the Broncos to the Class 4A supersectionals this past season. He already has college scholarship offers from Arizona State, DePaul, Hampton, Illinois, Illinois State, Michigan, NIU and WIU.

He announced the move to La Lumiere Thursday morning on X.

This makes two highly regarded sophomores in the last month who are planning to transfer out of Illinois. Bolingbrook’s Davion Thompson, the Sun-Times Player of the Year, announced he will play at Compass Prep school in Missouri next season.

Jaxson Davis, who led Warren to a second-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament in March, is the biggest sophomore star left in the area.

Cleveland Sr., who was born and raised on the South Side, said that 25 years ago, his son would have stayed in Chicago for his entire high school career. He’s worried the transfers will continue unless there
are changes made to the high school basketball scene.

“Chicago basketball has to do better,” the elder Cleveland said. “Kenwood was going to get some transfers, but if you bring a kid to Kenwood and the IHSA says he can’t play, then what is he going to do?”

He added: “I wanted [Devin] to be tested more, and he wanted to be tested more. Times are changing. No. 1, the [IHSA] needs to mind their business. Kids are going to transfer.

‘‘You see what is going on in college. Kids are going to go where they want to go. It shouldn’t be a problem. Certain schools get penalized for transfers and others don’t. What is that about?”

Next Chapter….. #LALU🔵🩶 pic.twitter.com/fDpk8KIdPS
— Devin Cleveland (@DevinClev2) May 15, 2025

Coaching changes

It isn’t just players on the move. Jamere Dismukes stepped down as Homewood-Flossmoor’s coach after a successful three-year stint that included winning the Class 4A state title in 2024. And Conte Stamas, who coached Brother Rice to a second-place finish in Class 3A this past season, is moving on from the Crusaders.

East Suburban Catholic Conference will merge with the CCL and GCAC in 2026

2025-05-05T11:07:29.653-05:00

The East Suburban Catholic Conference, which was established in 1974, will cease to exist after one more school year.

The ESCC will merge with the Chicago Catholic League and the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference in the 2026-27 school year.

“Both leagues are extremely competitive,” Thomas Schergen, the principal of De La Salle, said in a statement. “With the addition of these tradition-rich East Suburban Catholic institutions, we have set our respective conferences on a continued path of success, and continue to strengthen these premier Catholic athletic organizations."

The ESCC and CCL joined forces in football in 2019 and the large, combined conference has been a success.

Benet, Carmel, Joliet Catholic, Marian Catholic, Marist, Nazareth, Notre Dame, St. Patrick and St. Viator will join the CCL and GCAC in 2026-27. Marmion is transitioning to co-ed and will also join the GCAC that school year. The additions raise the GCAC total to 24 schools and the CCL total to 26 schools.

“The ESCC’s legacy of academic and athletic success, as well as our standards for competitive excellence, alignclosely with the heritage of the Chicago Catholic League and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference,” said Dan Tully, the principal at Notre Dame. "Bringing our schools together will expand competitive opportunities based on geography and parity, while also maintaining long-standing rivalries for the benefit of our communities, teams, and student-athletes. As faith-based institutions, we strive to offer a comprehensive educational experience, along with high-quality co-curricular programming."

The merger will allow many natural rivalries such as Brother Rice vs. Marist and Joliet Catholic vs. Providence to become conference games.

The Chicago Catholic League has been around since 1912 and the GCAC since 1974.

The new CCL

Aurora Central Catholic
Benet
Brother Rice
Carmel
De La Salle
DePaul Prep
Fenwick
IC Catholic
Joliet Catholic
Leo
Loyola
Marian Catholic
Marist
Marmion
Montini
Mount Carmel
Nazareth
Notre Dame
Providence
St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis
St. Ignatius
St. Laurence
St. Patrick
St. Rita
St. Viator
*Providence St. Mel is as associate member for boys basketball only.

The new GCAC

Aurora Central Catholic
Benet
Carmel
De La Salle
DePaul Prep
Fenwick
IC Catholic
Joliet Catholic
Loyola
Marian Catholic
Marist
Marmion
Montini
Mother McAuley
Nazareth
Providence
Resurrection
Rosary
St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis
St. Ignatius
St. Laurence
St. Viator
Trinity