The Varsity

The Varsity

No one covers North Shore prep sports like we do, and we take it even further in The Varsity, where our hosts use a four-quarter format to give you the latest news, stats and scores, as well as their takes. They also chat with a special guest in have fun along the way.

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    A State Title Celebration, then Pivot to Hoops in Episode 151

    The Ramblers are your back-to-back state champions for the first time in program history and only second time in Class 8A history. That deserves a worthy celebration podcast-style. We talk how they pulled it off and recap the special season.
    And then, we must move forward. It’s basketball season and we take a look at the local hardwood.

    November 30, 2023
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    State Championship Primer: Loyola-Lincoln-Way East

    Loyola Academy football is trying to win back-to-back state championships for the first time in program history, and Lincoln-Way East is out for revenge — times 3.
    We talk you through the players, the story lines, the key matchups and more in preparation for Saturday night’s showdown.

    November 24, 2023
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    Ramblers Back In Semis, Diving champ and a team runnerup in Episode 149

    It’s been blowout after blowout so far this postseason for Loyola football, and we talk about if York can put up a fight or if the Ramblers are destined for state. We also recap the state swim/dive championships, where a Loyola diver brought home a state title and the Trevians put together a trophy-winning performance.

    November 16, 2023
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    Twice the Championship Fun, Ramblers roll to Round 3 in Episode 148

    The Champs Are Here! Winnetka soccer is legit — add two state championships as evidence. Both New Trier and North Shore Country Day earned state titles over the weekend and we recap and celebrate how they did it and give you a exclusive interview with NT coach Matt Ravenscraft.
    And there’s plenty more. Cross-country state finishes, HP football’s special season concludes, Loyola football rolls on and prepares for St. Ignatius.

    November 9, 2023
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    Giants Win A Big One, LA Rolls in Episode 147

    Highland Park’s big season continued in the postseason as the team’s fifth straight win was also a long time coming. We talk about their special season and hear from coach Anthony Kopp. Plus, Loyola takes care of its first-round opponent, and we run down some soccer, volleyball, cross-country and more.

    November 2, 2023
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    Ramblers’ Huge W, Tennis Champs, Much More in Episode 146

    As you probably already heard, Loyola-Mount Carmel was legit! Another CCL classic with the Ramblers holding on to complete their perfect regular season and nab the league title. We go through what we saw from the sidelines.
    Plus — so much more — Trevs football ends strong, NT tennis is a champion, NCSD soccer wins sectional and on and on!

    October 26, 2023
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    High 5 for the Giants, Game of the Year (LA-MC) Preview in Episode 145

    We high-five (pun intended) the Highland Park Giants for getting a crucial and elusive fifth win and essentially punching their postseason ticket. Coach Anthony Kopp (2nd quarter) tells us how it feels.
    We also recap sectional tennis and playoff soccer before spending plenty of time on the upcoming game of the season: 8-0 Loyola vs. 8-0 Mount Carmel. What and who to look out for and our predictions in the fourth quarter.

    October 19, 2023
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    3 Teams, 3 Wins, Plus Flag Football’s Rise in Episode 144

    It’s a Victory Pod with New Trier, Highland Park and Loyola all picking up W’s in Week 7. The 4-3 Giants secured the biggest win in comeback fashion, but New Trier got a much-needed victory and Loyola got a strange blowout victory. We talk all about those games, plus preview Week 8 and chat about the increase in girls flag football in our area and statewide.

    October 11, 2023
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    NT’s Disastrous Finish, Inside Maine South Scandal in Episode 143

    Another tough ending for the Trevians has major season consequences and we talk about how it happened and how the Trevians got to 1-5. We also talk about Michal’s reporting on the Maine South out-of-district scandal and how the district still isn’t answering a lot of questions.
    We also talk state golf and preview Week 7 and where our three teams stand.

    October 5, 2023
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    HP Goes For It, NT Goes Wrong Way in Episode 142

    Our three local teams played three very different football games over the weekend, and we dive in, from the Giants’ gutsy call to the Ramblers’ shutout to the Trevians’ bummer night.
    We also talk golf and the New Trier boys squad’s impressive performance at the regional that coach Pete Drevline tells us all about.

    September 28, 2023
North Shore News Week

North Shore News Week

Editor in Chief Joe Coughlin and Senior Editor Martin Carlino discuss the week in news on the North Shore, breaking down the why and how of the biggest headlines and giving you an inside look at our strategy in reporting on them.

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    ‘High’ West Nile risk, the Pickleball revolution and more in Episode 49

    The latest local report on the West Nile virus show a “high” risk of infections for humans — the highest it’s been in years. We also go through a couple local festivals before discussing the exponential growth of pickleball in the area and what local officials are doing about it.

    September 3, 2021
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    Church bus stolen, restrictions at Glencoe concert and more in Episode 47

    In this week’s top headlines, a bus that was recently purchased to transport senior citizens to church is stolen from a church parking lot and Glencoe officials announce COVID restrictions to its big concert featuring OAR. Plus, the story of Paws for Patrick and how it helps those enduring mental illness.

    August 21, 2021
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    New Trier announces its safety plan, and the curious case of all those Wilmette lawn signs in Ep. 46

    Joe and Marty break down New Trier High School’s COVID-19 mitigation plan for the 2021-22 school year to open the show. In our down the shore segment, we talk over some potential big changes at a notable park in Kenilworth and delve into who’s behind all those “Keep Gillson Green” lawn signs in Wilmette. We close out the show with a recap of a special afternoon on the golf course — all in the name of support for The Record.

    August 13, 2021
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    Face masks for the fall and a small Winnetka road with a long history in Ep. 45

    Local schools are beginning to confirm their plans for COVID-19 mitigation measures to start the 2021-22 school year following a mandate from Illinois’ top lawmaker. Joe and Marty discuss how the governor’s mask mandate will alter school district’s plans for the upcoming year. We detail a fun local story out of Winnetka, where a small road through New Trier’s campus has a long history — but not an accurate one. Our featured feature segment highlights The Record’s inaugural Youth in Journalism workshop that concluded last week.

    August 6, 2021
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    Township sees COVID surge due to Delta variant, Wilmette Village Board shows support for cannabis sales in Ep. 44

    Joe and Marty break down the latest local COVID-19 data, which is trending in the wrong direction due to the Delta variant of the virus. Our weekly down the shore segment is Wilmette-heavy, as we cover a new downtown eatery slated to open this fall and the village board’s budding support for allowing cannabis sales. Our featured feature segment highlights something local officials have never seen before.

    July 30, 2021
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    In with a new restaurant and out with a big name in Glencoe and more park board mysteries in Ep. 43

    Editorial Intern Alayne Trinko returns for another episode as the trio of hosts break down plans for a new restaurant coming to downtown Glencoe. Alayne, Marty and Joe also discuss the resignation of the longtime Writers Theatre director Michael Halberstam, another conundrum on the Wilmette Park Board and a local’s chance at Olympic glory.

    July 22, 2021
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    Drama at the Wilmette Theatre, changes at Winnetka Metra station, new dining additions in Episode 42

    Hosts Joe and Marty are joined by editorial intern Alayne Trinko, who makes her debut on North Shore News Week. The trio discusses the recent departure of four top leaders at the Wilmette Theatre. In this week’s Down the Shore segment, the team covers upcoming changes at the Winnetka Metra station, zoning disputes in Glencoe, budget discussions in Wilmette and more.

    July 15, 2021
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    Remembering former Township Supervisor Dr. Alan Goldberg, Fourth of July fun in Episode 41

    Joe and Marty pay tribute to the late Dr. Alan Goldberg, who served New Trier Township for decades. The hosts also recap Fourth of July festivities around the township, talk over a new summer treat in Glencoe and update listeners on the latest local news.

    July 9, 2021
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    Glencoe’s downtown dilemma, local environmentalist creates a buzz in Winnetka in episode 40

    Managing Editor Megan Bernard’s return to the podcast was so nice we did it twice. Megan joins the podcast once again alongside Marty to talk over a “complicated” issue in downtown Glencoe. Marty and Meg make their way through other North Shore news including an 11-year-old Winnetka resident ‘bee’ing the change she wants to see and a former Village President hoping to promote unity through a new book.

    July 2, 2021
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    Botanic Garden plants the seeds for change, something special brewin’ in Wilmette in Episode 39

    Managing Editor Megan Bernard makes her triumphant return to North Shore News Week in a jam-packed episode. Acting host Marty Carlino and Megan detail some big changes coming to the Chicago Botanic Garden and break the news on a big-name act coming to Glencoe.

    June 24, 2021