Monday, March 26, 2012
Josh Bartelstein's high school injuries didn't stop him from becoming a star Giant.
Cornell University basketball player Chris Wroblewski still wonders what kind of basketball career Josh Bartelstein would have had if injuries didn't slow down the former Highland Park star. "I felt he was unlucky with dealing with those injuries," Wroblewski said. Now it's true Bartelstein did have a hamstring problem during his junior year at Highland Park High School (2006-07). And his sophomore season was lost to a broken ankle. "I had two screws in my ankle," Bartelstein said. "At the time it was awful. I wish I could have redshirted." You might think this player would have hung his head a little. Not Bartelstein. In many ways he was the perfect teammate. "He never got down," Wroblewski said. "I never saw him pout. He had the best …
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Former Giant puts golf clubs away to pursue a local business.
It's not like Mark Sider was born with a golf club in his hands. He didn't even pick up the game until he was a teenager. But from the early 1990s to 2009, golf was a huge part of his life.Then he got an idea while working on his golf game in Arizona. "I was doing a lot of yoga," Sider said. "I was eating healthy. I didn't drink Gatorade. I tried Coconut Water but I didn't like the taste." So he formulated a sport drink highlighting coconut water. Now back in Highland Park, Sider, and his brother Jon, are owners of the Greater>Than Company, which produces an all-natural drink that contains coconut water. "I think my Glory Days are still ahead of me," Sider said. "We are having success. It's my full-time job. It's seven days a week. I don't…
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Defense holds Maine East scoreless for more than 12 minutes to open the game.
Everything went right for the Highland Park boys’ basketball team as it dominated visiting Maine East 60-27 Friday night. Executing its trademark zone defense nearly to perfection and shooting 60 percent from three-point range, the Giants improved its record to 9-8 for the season. The Giants held the Blue Demons scoreless throughout the first quarter, leading 26-0. Maine East didn't dent the scoreboard until there was 3:43 left in the second period, as Highland Park seemed to constantly double team the opposing player with the ball. Highland Park coach Paul Harris could not remember a time his team held an opponent scoreless for a quarter and a half. “We use the sides (of the court) as another defender,” said Giant guard Tyler Max. “…
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The Giants finish the game on a 14-0 run to improve to 2-2 in CSL North play.
Friday’s match up between the Maine West Warriors and Highland Park Giants was a key game for positioning in the CSL North conference. Maine West came into the game at 3-1 in conference and Highland Park was 1-2. Glenbrook North started 3-0, so neither team could afford to lose any more ground. Highland Park used a big fourth quarter to grab a key road win 38-26. “It was an important win for us,” Highland Park head coach Paul Harris said. “Anytime you win on the road is a really good accomplishment.” The teams played with a sense of urgency, especially defensively. Highland Park did not score until the 2:40 mark in the first quarter, but Maine West only scored two points during that timespan. After one quarter, Highland Park led narrowly 7…
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Highland Park High School's basketball, boys swim teams show potential for memorable seasons.
As someone who has witnessed many a girls basketball game from the stands of Highland Park High School, I will bring it up one last time. There were plenty of teams in the past that did not win very often. And that's putting it mildly. That's why it is refreshing to see the emergence of the Lady Giants as a formidable opponent. I remember hearing whispers that some young girl was headed to Highland Park to help turn the fortunes around. Well, she's arrived, and her name is Lena Munzer. When she burst upon the scene a year ago as a freshman, she soon found a solid foundation in place. As 2011 begins, it's not too late to put down some New Year's resolutions for the girls and boys basketball teams and the school's swim team. When we last…
Sunday, December 26, 2010
After 0-2 start, Highland Park boys win two straight at the Elgin Tournament.
When a basketball game ends, it's natural to look at a key basket down the stretch that changed the lead and say that it was the biggest bucket of the game. Sometimes, it's a basket that happens early in the game or in the flow with a lead already established that tells the tale better. That was the case in Highland Park's 44-34 win over Dundee-Crown to wrap up play at the Elgin Tournament Thursday morning. A three-pointer from Layne Gierke that beat the first quarter buzzer and a Gierke jumper at the end of the first half kept the Giants in control. They never trailed in the game. "What we did at the end of the first quarter, and at the end of the second quarter, hitting shots, executing, running some offense, getting the last shot and …
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Stern's 13 points lead early-morning win at Elgin Tournament.
Highland Park's boys basketball team is struggling through injuries and illness and Willowbrook's is working through an extremely young lineup and a first-year coach. Add in a difficult 8:45 a.m. tip-off for Wednesday's Elgin Tournament game, and you've got a game between two underdog teams, struggling for a victory. "Our mindset had to be that we both have teams going through some injuries and some other things, so who's going to be more ready to go?" Highland Park coach Paul Harris said. "Who's going to be more desperate for a win?" As it turns out, his Giants answered the bell. Highland Park jumped to a 15-3 lead to start the game and put it away with a 17-0 run in the third quarter en route to a 57-29 win. "I thought we did a great job…
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Down two starters, Highland Park beaten on the boards in 43-34 loss at Elgin Holiday Tournament.
Highland Park's boys basketball team knew Batavia had a big team, but even the Giants were surprised at what awaited them on the second day of the Elgin Holiday Tournament on Tuesday. The Giants were outrebounded by an astounding 41-16 as they fell to Batavia, 43-34. "I thought the first half, that caught us off guard a little bit," Highland Park coach Paul Harris said. "We knew they were big, but when you play against them, you see how physical they are. They definitely exposed some things with us on the glass." Despite Batavia's size advantage, the Giants (4-7) started the second half strong and cut the lead to one, 26-25, early in the third quarter. "I was feeling good," Harris said. "I really liked how we came out to start the third …
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Glenbrook North's size was too much for Highland Park to handle in a 40-27 home loss on Friday night.
It certainly wasn't pretty, but Glenbrook North used its size and length to take down Highland Park, 40-27, in a CSL North showdown Friday night. Spartans' center, Peter Szostak, collected a double-double, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds while shooting guard, Tommy Hanrahan, scored nine of his 11 points in the first quarter, as Glenbrook North (8-0, 3-0) handed the Giant's their second conference loss of the season. Highland Park forced 13 turnovers, but was out-rebounded, 25-18, and never found its rhythm offensively against the much larger Spartans. "They do a really nice job of not fouling and playing strong shooter-defense," said Giants' head coach Paul Harris. "Their size makes it extremely tough for people to shoot over them…
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Cole Stern hits eight fourth quarter points as Highland Park rally falls short.
The Final Score: Niles North 37, Highland Park 33 Giants' Star Performer: Cole Stern scored 12 points to lead the Giants' attack and positioned himself to grab key rebounds against taller defenders. Other Notable Scout Performances: Highland Park's defense kept the Giants in the game "giving us the tempo we were looking for," according to Coach Paul Harris. Who's Next: The Giants entertain Lake Zurich at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday). The Bottom Line: Highland Park failed to score for the final seven minutes of the second quarter and the first two minutes of the third while the Vikings built a 10 point lead.
Bryce Robertson
5:13 pm on Friday, December 31, 2010
It's a high school tournament invite that brings teams from all over the suburbs. Held every year. more ›