Von Steuben seniors enter great unknown after prep careers end
By Karl Bullock With looks of dejection on their faces, members of the Von Steuben boys’ basketball team shook hands, grabbed their gym bags, and walked quietly off the court and into the visiting locker room. Their goals before the season had been lofty: a conference title, a playoff berth and ultimately to compete for […]
The path least taken
By Karl Bullock As a scrawny 15-year-old freshman in 2013, Rafael Cruz Jr. sauntered up to Von Steuben basketball coach Marvin Williams with confidence. “I told him I was going to play varsity, and he just laughed at me,” Cruz said as he stretched his arms out on his living room couch with a slight […]
Athletic trainers play vital role in high school sports
By Karl Bullock Walking along the campus of New Trier High School in 2000, Dale Grooms looked in awe at the scenery. Standing a foot from the sideline of the football field were four trees, a potential hazard for student-athletes during competition. A cause for concern, at least for an athletic trainer. When an injury […]
Order on the court: Referees remain calm in a crowd of noise
By Karl Bullock They walked out of the Von Steuben gym on Friday night, already an afterthought in the minds of spectators. Ken Vasser is just fine with that. On this night, audacious shouts of disagreement travel through the air directed at the black-and-white striped jerseys of Vasser and his fellow official as they dealt […]