Winter sports heat up at Willowbrook

It might be the winter season for sports, but Willowbrook athletics is certainly heating up! Our Warriors continue to perform well, and below are highlights from the season.

Bowling: Under first-year head coach Bill Eufrasio, the Lady Warriors have seen an influx in numbers to the program. The Lady Warriors have continually finished in the upper half of their tournaments and look to do well at the Regional competition this weekend. This is the first year of Regional competition for girls bowling. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) added this round to the season, which takes place before the Sectional and State meets.

Boys Basketball: With the graduation of close to 85 percent of the scoring last year, this season has been a learning process for the Boys Basketball Team. The sophomore team highlighted the season with its Christmas Tournament victory at the Westmont Invitational. The varsity team has faced a highly challenging schedule this season. The boys gave top-ranked Proviso East everything Proviso East could handle in a visit to Maywood a few weeks back, but fell just a bit short. The young Warriors will continue to battle through their tough Conference schedule and will look to improve.

Wrestling: The Wrestling Team at all levels has faced it all this year. From dealing with the weather to sickness, the boys have been resilient. The future is bright on the mat for the young Warriors. Sophomore Matt Rowland is 37-2, and he will lead the Warriors into the toughest Regional in the state this weekend at Glenbard East. This season also will be the last go around for longtime head coach Bryan Murphy. Murphy and the Willowbrook seniors were honored Jan. 24 during Senior Night. About 75 alumni returned to congratulate Murphy on all of his success and to thank him for all of his hard work and dedication.

Girls Gymnastics: After a tough early season schedule, the Lady Warriors have turned it on down the stretch. Senior Cassidy McFarlane finished in 3rd place in the West Suburban Gold Conference All-Around on Jan. 31. The ladies will look to continue their run of success!

Boys Swimming: The Boys Swim Team will swim this weekend in the West Suburban Gold Conference meet at Downers Grove South. The boys, led by senior Randall Aldridge, will look to get hot at the right time. With the Sectional meet just a couple of weeks away, coach Kirk Ziemke is sure to have the boys ready!

Girls Basketball: Last, but certainly not least, the Lady Warriors clinched the outright West Suburban Gold Conference Championship on Feb. 4 with a 1-point win at Downers Grove South. The Lady Warriors have improved to 21-3, and they will move into Regional play in the upcoming weeks. The team will look to bring home a Regional title and advance to the Addison Trail Sectional.

Way to go, Warriors!