So far, the 2022 section of this academic year has brought on some notable sports headlines.

Here is a quick recap of the year through December.

Hot Start, Cold Finish on the Gridiron

After a sizzling 3-0 start, the Marian Catholic Spartans appeared to lose their flame on the football field. 

Most of the games that they lost were close. The Spartans seemed to be always one step away from getting the ‘W.’ 

It’s clear that the season was disappointing, because as Head Coach Lopez told The Spartan Star early in the year, the goals was to make the playoffs. 

Still, the team pushed through injuries to show their fight and Spartan Spirit. 

The first three losses after our 3-0 start were by a touchdown or less, being one step away like this is extremely frustrating for coaching and players. 

The team ended the season with a 4-6 record.

Mistakes that were made seem correctable. Here’s to being optimistic next Fall. 

Kasperan Cruises to State

The Marian Catholic Men’s Cross Country 2022 Season resulted in one of its members going to the state meet: Daniel Kasperan.

Led by the Sophomore standout, the men’s team recently added to their winning regular season with strong performances at their conference meet and in regional competition.

Kasperan’s second place finish overall helped the Spartans place third on Saturday, Oct. 22, IHSA Regionals at Morris. The sophomore runner also placed second at the ESCC meet the prior weekend on Sunday, October 16. 

Kasperan’s time of 15:04.49 on Oct. 29 put him in third place in the IHSA 2A Metamora Sectional, qualifying for a trip to the IHSA State Meet on Nov. 5 in Peoria. 

Kasperan’s third place finish was the highest individual sectional finish in school history. 

On Saturday, Nov. 5th, Daniel Kasperan timed 16:15.24 for three miles at Detweiller Park in Peoria to capture 28th place in the IHSA 3A state meet.

Could the next two years provide two more tries at the state championship? 

We’ll be cheering on.

Dynamic Duo Take Court

Seniors Jaidyn Bush and Clare Smith, the top doubles duo within the Marian Catholic Girls Tennis team took their talent to the state meet.  

The Spartan Varsity Women’s Tennis team has a roster that currently consists of many different players who come from various backgrounds. 

The Bush/Smith qualified for state after winning at the IHSA Marian Sectional (16 points) where they placed 3rd overall. 

Womens Volleyball Serve their way to Sectionals

Marian Catholic Women’s Volleyball 2022 Season saw the Lady Spartans making it to sectionals. 

In late October, Lady Spartans advanced to the championship match of the Morris IHSA 3A Regional with a 25-18, 25-13 victory over Hinsdale South on Tuesday. The Spartans (11-20) then took on third-seeded Morris for the regional title Oct. 27. 

Marian Catholic toppled No. 3 Morris Thursday in the championship match of the Morris IHSA 3A regional, 25-18, 25-21. 

Next, the Spartans (12-20) then played second-seeded Joliet Catholic in a match on Monday, Oct. 31 at the Joliet Catholic Sectional semifinals. 

But for a second straight year, Joliet Catholic proved to be a postseason nemesis for Marian Catholic, as the Angels eliminated the Spartans in the JCA IHSA 3A Sectional semis, 21-25, 25-21, 25-20. 

On both occasions, JCA avenged earlier ESCC regular-season setbacks. The Spartans concluded the campaign of the season 12-21.