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Sports

Vikings Sports Roundup: Fishing Takes Home Sectional Title

Baseball went 3-1 during the last week and volleyball got an important win in conference.

Bass Fishing: For Niles North and its bass fishing team, all it took was one fish to capture a sectional championship.

Despite cold weather, Jeff Wu pulled in the only fish -- a bass weighing 1 lb-4 ounces – out of all participants in the sectional at Skokie lagoons and Niles North’s advanced one boat to the IHSA state championships on May 6 and 7 at Carlyle Lake. Michael Lochner, who was fishing in the same boat as Wu, will also participate in the state finals.

The feat is made more impressive considering the adversity Niles North has overcome to even have a bass fishing program at the high school.

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“We have to rely on people to lend us their boats because we don’t have a boat here at Niles North,” coach Carol Herlocker said. “We’re trying to raise a little bit of money, but that’s difficult.”

Without a boat, Niles North is forced to practice fishing from shore, something Herlocker says is vastly different compared to boat fishing. Although the team tries to do more fishing in the fall, the cold temperatures allowed Niles North only two practices this spring.

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Nonetheless, Wu’s single bass beat out 12 teams, including Loyola, New Trier and Fenwick.

And Carlyle Lake should provide a better fishing environment.

“It was a difficult time anywhere except [southern Illinois] where the temperature was a lot warmer,” Herlocker said.

Baseball: Niles North went 3-1 last week, including a two-game sweep of CSL North rival Maine East to start off 2-0 in conference.

Alex Warda continues to lead the Vikings offense, hitting two home runs – including a grand slam – in Saturday’s two victories. Clark Fox went 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and a triple in the Vikings’ 12-5 victory over Maine East on Saturday.

On April 21, the Vikings’ Andy Granato earned the win, pitching 4-2/3 innings and allowing only two hits in Niles North’s 8-2 win against Maine East.

Niles West edged the Vikings on April 25 dropping the Vikings to 11-10 on the year.

Girls Soccer: Competing in the Glenbrook Cup last weekend, Niles North went 1-2-1 in their four games. After losing a 2-1 decision to Crystal Lake South last Thursday, the Vikings beat University High, 2-1, and played Kenosha Bradford (Wis.) to a 0-0 tie in pool play. Niles North lost a 1-0 decision to CSL foe Glenbrook South in their final game Saturday night.

Boys Volleyball: Niles North (14-9, 3-0 CSL North) rallied for a big three-game victory over Glenbrook North on Tuesday. It was the Vikings’ first victory against the Spartans in 14 years. After losing the first game 25-14, the Vikings took the second game, 25-18, and pulled out the victory with a thrilling third set, 28-26.

The victory put Niles North at the top of the CSL North and gives them the upper hand in trying to unseat the defending champion Spartans.

Last weekend the volleyball team went 4-1 at the Downers Grove South Invitational, losing only to Downers Grove South.

SCOREBOARD WATCHING

Softball:

Libertyville 8, Niles North 7 on April 25

Niles North 24, Maine East 0 on April 21

Boys Gymnastics:

Niles North – 6th place (127.8 points) at Niles North John Cress Invite on April 21

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