By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Kathy Jones** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p55926411 ** MOKENA—The most exhilarating part of carrying the ball is being chased by a defender who has no chance of ever catching up. For any running back, that is just pure thrill and elation, running free
By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Kathy Jones** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p92819024 ** MOKENA— The most unsentimental of games provides the harshest personal lessons. The Jr Celtics 7U team faced something it had never done before, and the leap from one year to the next rarely felt so
By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Kathy Jones ** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p210725312 ** MOKENA— Young players have a natural and intuitive talent for picking up what they see watching others. The Jr Celtics 6U team almost dreams about doing something positive and fun. Then they go about
By Ed Muniz- Photos by Kathy Jones ** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p45655770 ** Plainfield- The Playoffs… The Second Season! In team sports, goals are set at the beginning of every season. Every team has a fresh start and hopes are high at the onset. Among the goals set by every team
By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Gary Larsen ** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p22698068 ** CHICAGO—One of the most liberating actions of the game is the wide receiver who moves freely in space and waits patiently for his opportunity. As the leading outside threat of the Jr Celtics 9U team, Ryan Ripoli
By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Gary Larsen **Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p201714435 ** CHICAGO—If quarterback is both the most privileged and demanding position, Michael Brown is certain to leave his mark on the game. “My favorite part about playing the position is calling my own plays, and passing the ball,” he
By Ed Muniz- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill ** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p402062770 ** Mother Nature did not cooperate with the Mokena Jr. Celtics last home games of the Chicagoland Pop warner season. Hosting three games on October 14, the Opponents would not be the only adversary the Jr. Celtics would have
By Miles Toogo-Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill ** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p379729943 ** Coming into week 8 of the Chicagoland Pop Warner schedule, Coach Gavin McCarron and his 8U Jr. Celtics players hoped the playoffs would be in their near future. At 5-2, their overall standings seemed to favor a berth in
By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Gary Larsen ** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p85943912 ** CHICAGO—The scene was almost unsettling for a Jr Celtics 13U thrust into the most unfamiliar of possibilities. A team that has performed on the most privileged national stages, and taken on all comers, revealing a dazzling collection
By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Gary Larsen ** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p348776637 ** CHICAGO—The worst thing that comes out of losing are the self-doubts and questioning of talent or motivation. The Jr Celtics 12U team went through the whole range of emotions—frustration, anger, confusion—about the conditions of their recent two-game
