The ability to boot an accurate kick with a soccer ball or football is a valuable skill, so when a senior Thunder football captain suggested she take a shot at kicking for the varsity football team, Addi Rishling took him up on it. It didn’t hurt that the suggestion came from her best friend. A […]
On May 5, Marian Central Catholic High School announced that Liam Kirwan, a 2013 graduate of the school, would take over as head coach of the football program for the 2022 season. Shortly after, Kirwan sat down for an interview with The Woodstock Independent. Looking back at his Marian football career, Liam Kirwan does not […]
Liam Kirwan, a graduate and former football player at Marian Central Catholic High School, has been named head coach of the Hurricanes football team. School athletic director Curtis Price said Kirwan’s hiring would enable the school to have a football coach also be a member of the faculty as a physical education teacher. The hiring […]
Woodstock native and longtime Thunder assistant coach Matthew Polnow has been chosen to lead the Woodstock North High School football program starting with the 2022 season. The hiring was approved Tuesday night by the Board of Education of Woodstock School District 200. Polnow, 39, has been an assistant coach on both offense and defense for […]
Even in the state of Wisconsin, Woodstock graduate Michael Purkey found his Illinois gridiron hookup. The sophomore quarterback found it not once, not twice, not three times, but a total of four times in Concordia University-Wisconsin’s 39-28 loss to the Aurora University Spartans. The CU-Wisconsin signal caller completed 19-of-34 passes for 352 yards. Four of […]
A victory would have made it much better for Michael Purkey as well as Concordia University-Wisconsin. The Woodstock graduate earned his first start in the 41-21 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran College. He completed 24-of-40 passes for 298 yards, passed for two touchdowns, and was intercepted only once. “Even though we did not get the victory, […]
The Thunder spirit was alive and well, but the undefeated Morris Redskins proved too much for the Thunder, who lost their home opener 56-12. The Redskins scored early and often, totalling 14 unanswered points on two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter of the game Friday. In the second quarter, Morris ran for another touchdown, […]
Woodstock North High School sophomore Chris Carreno was a major contributor in the Thunder’s 31-28 win over Harvard. He had one interception, one fumble recovery, one assist, and five solo tackles. Keep up the awesome work Chris, Thunder Nation is proud of you!
Week two of football found all teams playing away, at venues other than the host-team schools. The unusual spring season has prompted some teams to seek alternatives to allow proper ground preparation, especially for natural turf fields. WNHS Woodstock North traveled to Harlem High School in Machesney Park to play Harvard. North came out on […]
Jacob Schmitt went from Woodstock North, to the University of Wisconsin-Stout as a football walk-on, to the scout team player of the year in two years and, finally, to Saturday gridiron games and a position on the field. As a senior, he played in all 10 games and finished with 39 total tackles. Of his […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
