Misinformation is the scourge of productive discussion and debate — even more so during election season.
With local elections approaching, the Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane, is welcoming information experts and community leaders to address the topic at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, with the event Fact, Fiction or Opinion?: How to Become a Well-Informed Voter and Citizen.
“For over a century, the League of Women Voters has promoted civic education and participation; however, effective citizen participation is only possible with access to reliable information,” said Debbie De Palma, of the LWV Glenview-Glencoe. “In today’s media landscape, it can be challenging to separate fact from fiction. This panel discussion aims to equip attendees with the skills to discern the truthfulness of the news they encounter to be better prepared to make informed decisions in the voting booth and at public meetings.
“The League believes a well-informed citizenry is essential for a healthy democracy.
The in-person event will be held in the library’s auditorium and also streamed live on YouTube. Those who register will receive a link to the live stream closer to the event.
Complementing programs will be offered by the Glencoe and Glenview libraries later in 2023.
“Nothing is more powerful than a properly informed electorate,” Coughlin said. “Unfortunately, too many people and groups are reckless and dishonest with the information they release — and releasing information is simpler than ever. It is difficult to know what to believe, but there are ways to identify credible news and ways to spot irresponsible and fake reporting.”
The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.
Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.
Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.
Every swimmer has a strategy, but before his 100-yard butterfly race in the state championships, New Trier junior Aidan Musick tweaked his.
“He was aggressive at the front of the race,” Trevians coach Josh Runkle said. “He said before (the race), “I’m going to push this first 50 and see what happens.'”
Good call.
Musick darted out to an early lead and held on to win the state title with a swim of 47.75 seconds to highlight New Trier’s second-place team finish Saturday, Feb. 25, at FMC Natatorium in Westmont.
It was the first state title for Musick, who finished ninth in the event a year ago.
“This one I just sent it, picked up my tempo,” he said. “And the last 25 (yards) I just put my head down and raced, and it worked out. … It feels super great.”
New Trier’s runnerup result marked the Trevians’ return to trophy territory after a three-season drought: fifth place in 2022, 10th place in 2020 and sixth place in 2019 (no state meet in 2021). Prior to that, New Trier collected 12 state trophies (top 3), including eight championships, between 2004 and 2018.
Trevians junior Charlie Bufton races to a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley.
“This was a fun weekend,” Runkle said. “I watched the (New Trier) girls in the fall when they won it and was amazed. I felt like it was a total team effort. I think this was very much the same. All the kids stepped up.”
Led by Musick, who also placed third in the 200 free, New Trier collected medals in seven events, including six top-six finishes. Junior Charlie Bufton placed fourth in the 200 individual medley, senior Max Lestina placed sixth in the 50 free, senior Wyatt Wellehan was fifth in the diving competition (476.5 points), Stuart Timmerman and Bufton went 10-12 in the 100 breaststroke, and the Trevians were top 4 in all three relays: fourth in 200 medley (Bufton, Timmerman, Drennan Deveraj, Lestina), third in 200 free (Musick, Brady Baxter, Augustus Noreuil, Lestina) and second in 400 free (Graham Wilson, Lestina, George Angelov, Musick).
The Trevians impressive Saturday was for all intents and purposes a race to second place, as juggernaut Hinsdale Central (253 points) dominated the competition with more than 100 points more than New Trier (135).
The Red Devils won five event and set state records in all three relays: 1:29.4 in 200 medley, 1:21.26 in 200 free relay and 2:59.61 in 400 free relay. Central broke New Trier records in two of those races: the medley and 400 free relays.
“I’m not sure they aren’t the best team to come out,” Runkle said of Hinsdale Central. “They set three relay records in one shot. It was tough to see those (New Trier records) fall, but that’s what records are for. They are meant to be broken. It gives everyone something to chase.”
Stevenson (122.5), Highland Park (89) and Maine South (68) rounded out the top five.
State champ Obochi leads Giants to best team finish since 1959
Kevin Obochi stands atop the podium after his state-championship swim in the 50-yard freestyle.
Highland Park finished one place out of trophy contention, but the Giants had more than enough to celebrate Saturday in Westmont.
The Giants recorded five top-five finishes, and senior Kevin Obochi became the first Highland Park state champion in 37 years (Bill Merkle, 100 back in 1986) with his victory in the 50 free (20.34 seconds).
Giants coach Tim Sirois said Obochi, who came into the finals seeded second in the 50 free, thrives in high-leverage swims and “exploded off the wall” on the turn to surge into the lead in the final 25 yards.
“He’s always been a big pressure-situation kid,” Sirois said. “He enjoys it. It’s hard to tell — he has a good poker face — but he has always stepped up in big situations.”
Obochi picked up three other medals, claiming third in the 100 fly and leading off for the second-place 200 free relay (Obochi, Ilya Rivkin, David Daniels, Danny Castle) and fifth-place 400 free relay (Obochi, Aron Fridman, Daniels, Castle).
Highland Park’s Noam Kulbak in the diving competition, in which he took second.
Aside from medaling in both relays, junior Danny Castle added a 12th-place finish in the 50 free, and diver Noam Kulbak was runnerup in the diving competition and Alex Bradshaw was 12th.
“I was hoping to come in first, but I am happy with second,” Kulbak said. “I love facing this competition, against really good guys.”
He added, “I set up all my hardest dives (for Saturday), so if I hit them it will pay off significantly. I hit two of them.”
The Giants’ result was their best team finish in more than 60 years (4th place in 1959) — not a bad way to end a storied career like Sirois’.
Following more than 20 years coaching and teaching, Sirois is retiring from Highland Park High School after this school year.
Danny Castle, of Highland Park, takes off in the 50 free.
“I could not have asked for a better group for my last year coaching,” he said. “There has not been one issue. They take care of each other … medals and everything else aside. It’s just been the best.
“It’s been a very emotional year for me. I think about what life’s going to be like without what is the most special part of my day, which is being on the pool deck.”
Loyola Academy advanced a handful of entries to the state finals. Sophomore Gus Koh scored in the finals by placing 11th in the 100 backstroke. Koh was also part of the 11th place 200 medley relay, which also featured Max Rice, Velizar Filipov and Carter Tiv.
The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.
Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.
Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.
Harlee Hiller didn’t join the Loyola wrestling program to win a state title.
But when the opportunity presented itself, the sophomore didn’t shy away from it.
A week after Massey Odiotti became the program’s first state champ at the boys individual state finals, Hiller became the second with a dominant performance in the second IHSA girls state tournament Friday-Saturday, Feb. 24-25, at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.
Hiller (32-5) pinned her first three opponents before beating Anna-Jonesboro sophomore Zoee Sadler 8-1 in Saturday’s 105-pound title bout.
It’s the second state medal for Hiller, who took third at 105 a year ago in her debut season as a wrestler.
But it’s hardly her first time in the spotlight. She has international experience in judo, which calmed her nerves during crunch time in wrestling matches.
“I feel like just going into tournaments, knowing that I’ve been in the big lights before and I’m ready — it’s helped a lot,” Hiller said.
Harlee Hiller tosses her championship-match opponent Anna-Jonesboro’s Zoee Sadler during her 8-1 win Saturday
What also helps is that the two sports’ skill sets are complementary. But that wasn’t the only reason she decided to join the Ramblers last season.
“I just really wanted to be part of a high school team,” Hiller said. “And knowing that I could do my throws in wrestling, I thought that (going out for wrestling) was a great idea.”
It sure looks that way, as she has two more years to add to her collection of state hardware.
Last year’s sudden-victory loss in the semifinals remained front of mind for this season.
“I feel like that really motivated me,” Hiller said. “I had regrets in that match. I didn’t go as hard as I possibly could.
“So in (this year’s) I just knew I had to leave everything on the mat and win or lose, just have no regrets.”
Loyola coach Matt Collum had no regrets either.
“She wrestled awesome,” he said. “She wrestled hard, but she also wrestled smart too. She didn’t force things.”
Winning runs in the family, of course. Hiller’s mom, Wendy Amonte Hiller, has coached Northwestern women’s lacrosse to seven NCAA titles, and her dad, Scott, is an assistant coach for the Wildcats.
“Yeah, it’s awesome,” Hiller said. “My parents are always motivating me and they’re great coaches.”
She’s following in their footsteps, too. Practice starts Monday for Hiller and the rest of her Loyola lacrosse teammates. But for the weekend at least, she and the Ramblers could bask in another milestone to cap a season full of them.
The Loyola boys set program records for sectional qualifiers, state qualifiers and state finalists in addition to getting their first individual champ.
“Hopefully it improves the program as a whole,” Collum said of all the success. “I’d like to have our guys down here for team state next year. That’s always the goal — winning team state titles. And getting more and more individual titles and more medals.”
New Trier’s Jillian Giller wins her opening match in the state championships on Friday, Feb. 24, in Bloomington.
Loyola senior Alexia Vasilopoulos (120) also traveled to Bloomington to compete in the finals. Vasilopoulos (12-5) won her opening match by pin (2 minutes 27 seconds) before dropping her next two
New Trier and Highland Park high schools also had representation at the girls state finals. Trevians sophomore Jillian Giller (25-11) wrestled at 140 pounds and bested her first opponent with a first-period pin before dropping her second match in overtime and her wrestleback by minor decision, 14-12.
Giants junior Clara Ugaz (17-11) competed at 135 and did not advance to Day 2.
The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.
Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.
Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.
