Austin Lempera Loved and Honored at Funeral
Friends shared anecdotes and memories of a genuine and caring young man.
Lincoln Way Central Football
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Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
The Lincoln-Way Community Says 'Good-Bye" to Austin Lempera
The death of Lincoln-Way Central football player, 16-year-old Austin Lempera, wrenched the hearts of many at his funeral Saturday at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Frankfort.
The tragic death of Lincoln-Way Central's football player, 16-year-old Austin Lempera of New Lenox put a damper on traditional Thanksgiving Day celebrations. The funeral for Lempera, who died Nov. 19 of an apparent heart attack while working out in the basement of his family's home, was crowded with mourners young and old. The mass was held at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Frankfort. At the earlier prayer service at Kurtz-Goodale Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, somber-looking family members, friends and students huddled close as they attempted grapple with the loss of a friend known for making people laugh. His girlfriend of 14 months, Cassidy Cozen, a junior at Lincoln-Way Central High School, will miss him terribly. Reflecting …
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Sunday, September 30, 2012
Lincoln-Way Central Homecoming Court and Pep Rally
A rousing hoot and holler is another part of the homecoming week of celebration at Lincoln-Way Central High School.
The Lincoln-Way Central Homecoming Week Pep Rally Friday was an exciting event for all 2,031 members of the entire student body. The Homecoming King , Queen and Court were announced at the end of Friday’s festivities which included many fun activities, events, and videos featuring teachers, students, and school administrators, all with the theme of “Hollywood Homecoming.” Lincoln-Way Central Homecoming King is Timothy Nagel and Queen is Ellen Shepherd. Both are seniors. “I always wanted to be King, this makes my senior year very exciting,” stated Timothy Nagel. Central Homecoming Queen Ellen Shepherd said, “It feels so special. I love being part of Lincoln-Way Central. This makes it that much better.” The 2012 LWC Homecoming Court …
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Friday, September 21, 2012
Get the Latest New Lenox HS Football News
This weekend, Providence hosts St. Rita, Lincoln-Way West hosts Lincoln-Way North and Central plays at Lockport.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Watch Live Tonight: L-W Central vs. Homewood-Flossmoor
Can't make it to the conference opener between the Knights and the Vikings? Watch the live stream here.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
L-W East Grad Gettis Picked by Redskins in NFL Draft
Former Lincoln-Way East football standout Adam Gettis was picked in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday by the Washington Redskins.
His old high school football coach said it best. “I think RG3 just got a new personal body guard,” Lincoln-Way East’s Rob Zvonar said after the Washington Redskins picked Adam Gettis in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon. Gettis, 6 feet 2 and 293 pounds, is an offensive guard who played three years at Lincoln-Way East (2004-2006) and then went on to win the Hayden Fry “Extra Heartbeat” Award as a senior at the Iowa. Gettis earned second-team All-Big Ten honors while helping the Hawkeyes post a 7-6 record. His college career ended with a thud: Iowa dropped a 31-14 decision to Oklahoma in the Insight Bowl. His pro career began with the phone ringing and his closest friends and family hooting and hollering in the …
Jim Giglio
4:06 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
Incredible young man from an Incredible family ! He has the desire,ability and character to have a long productive NFL career , Congrats to the Gettis Family ! more ›
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Patriots Linebacker Ninkovich Makes 'Super' Impression in His Old Neighborhood
Patriots linebacker and former New Lenox resident Rob Ninkovich connected with his nephew, Cameron, and many others at Spencer Pointe Elementary School by agreeing to help with a classroom project.
In Kirsten Frankovich’s third-grade class at Spencer Pointe Elementary School, he already is recognized as a Super hero. And Rob Ninkovich has yet to play in his first Super Bowl. Ninkovich, a former resident of New Lenox and graduate of Lincoln-Way Central High School, connected with the children in Frankovich’s class through his nephew, Cameron Thornton, an 8-year-old fan of the New England Patriots. Thornton’s uncle Rob is an outside linebacker who has climbed from the NFL’s scrap heap into the limelight. In Boston, he is revered by folks in much the same fashion as Bears fans worship Brian Urlacher for his playmaking abilities on defense. But that’s nothing compared to the reaction Ninkovich gets when he walks into a classroom filled …
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Glory Days
University of Miami Football Placekicker Jake Wieclaw Showed His Stuff at Early Age
Where did he get his start? A tryout with New Lenox Mustangs paved way for Jake Wieclaw's success, first at Lincoln-Way Central and now at the University of Miami.
During his 16 years as the coach of the New Lenox Mustangs 10-year-old football team, Pat Athans always would give the players a chance to kick field goals before the start of each season. Only one was ever successful. “Jake (Wieclaw) was the first player to kick a field goal for me, and he was the last one,” said Athans, whose final season with the Mustangs was last season. “It’s hard to find a kid at that age that can kick. He kicked a 26-yard field goal and I said, ‘Well, the rest of you guys better find something else to do because we have our kicker.’ It’s pretty cool to see what he’s doing now.” After a record-setting career at Lincoln-Way Central, Wieclaw is currently the starting place-kicker for the University of Miami football …
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Sgt. USMC
11:36 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
That kid could make it to the NFL. I know the Eagles are looking for a kicker right about now. more ›
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Glory Days
Lincoln-Way Central Graduate Wieclaw Making Most of Opportunity to Kick Football for Miami Hurricanes
Reliving the Glory Days: After record-setting high school career with the Knights, Jake Wieclaw is now the starting placekicker for the Miami Hurricanes. He dreams of one day playing in the NFL.
After successfully kicking his first collegiate field goal Sept. 5 against Maryland, University of Miami junior placekicker Jake Wieclaw couldn’t help but think about his first attempt at Lincoln-Way Central. Wieclaw booted a pressure-packed 30-yard field goal to give the Hurricanes a 24-23 lead with 4:01 remaining in the fourth quarter. Maryland, however, scored nine points in the final 1:39 to pull out a 32-24 victory and spoil Wieclaw’s heroic moment. “Believe it or not, it reminded me of high school,” said the 2007 Lincoln-Way Central graduate. “My second game ever as a freshman we were in a similar situation. We were in field-goal range and they sent me out there with a minute to go. I made the kick, but Andrew ended up throwing a …
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Lauren Traut
11:30 am on Wednesday, October 5, 2011
I know you didn't mean to leave Champaign off the list, FELLOW ILLINI. more ›
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Watch: Middle Schoolers Battle Rain and Blowout to Support L-W Central Football
Kids of all ages came out to support the Lincoln-Way Central football team on Friday night and had a good time despite a lopsided loss and precipitation.
The stands were jam-packed for the beginning of Friday's football game between Homewood-Flossmoor and Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox. A steady rain that began in the second quarter sent some fans to the exits, but with Lincoln-Way Central only trailing Homewood-Flossmoor 14-0, most stuck around to see if the underdog Knights could have a game to remember. The rain would stop and start again, while the Vikings offense seemed to speed up. H-F scored three quick touchdowns in the third quarter to jump ahead 35-0 and turn a relatively close first-half contest into a third-quarter rout. The Vikings notched a 42-7 victory. While the stands slowly emptied, the open area adjacent to the south end zone was jammed with kids of all ages. And, …
Patricia
10:37 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Either way... There is no such thing as making a mistake anymore or more importantly for the 17 year olds +... Who are struggling with addiction or issues at home.. Putting their pic in here is doing WHAT exactly? Embarrassing them so they don't do it again??? No. That certainly doesn't work. It just gives people time to speculate, judge & gossip. Which makes these "young adults" have the … more ›