UPDATE: Mother McAuley's Kelly Clarke is Patch MVP

Mother McAuley volleyball standout Kelly Clarke outpolled nine others in voting for Southland Patch's MVP, Oct. 29-Nov. 4. She is now eilgible for Patch Athlete of the Month honors.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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The Sports Report

College and the Olympics: Best of Both Worlds for Verzbicas

Former Sandburg standout Lukas Verzbicas following a smart path in pursuit of his Olympic dream.

When the news broke about former Palos Heights resident and Sandburg cross country standout Lukas Verzbicas’ decision to leave the University of Oregon midway through his freshman year, I was concerned. My concerns were alleviated when I learned Verzbicas will enroll at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs as he turns from a career in distance running to the pursuit of his dream of making the U.S. Olympic triathlon team. Stay in school. The message is one worth repeating to young men and women, no matter how gifted they might be in endeavors outside the classroom. Think of it like this: How many 18-year-old phenoms turn down full-ride college scholarships after they are drafted by a major league baseball team, only to fizzle out …

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UPDATE: Fans Select Patch Athlete of the Week Winner

Jeremy Esparza's 28-yard field goal turned Evergreen Park into a winner in a second-round Class 4A football game vs. Rock Island Alleman. Fans voted him a winner in balloting for Patch Athlete of the Week, Oct. 31-Nov. 5.

Jeremy Esparza defeated five others in balloting for Patch Athlete of the Week. He is now eligible for November Athlete of the Month recognition. The nominees for Southland Patch Athlete of the Week, Oct. 31-Nov. 5, were: Amber Clay, sophomore, volleyball outside hitter, Marian Catholic. Clay totaled 17 kills in two matches as Marian Catholic defeated Illiana Christian (25-21, 25-23) and Chicago Payton (25-18, 25-13) to advance to the Class 3A state semifinals. Jeremy Esparza, junior, football placekicker, Evergreen Park. Esparza kicked two field goals, including a 28-yarder with 7.5 seconds left to cap Evergreen Park’s 19-18 victory over Rock Island Alleman in the second round of the Class 4A football playoffs. Pat McMahon, junior, boys …

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Ron Kremer

9:08 am on Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Do you think Salis will lead Marist to the Class 4A state championship?   more ›

In Good Company: Sandburg Grad Bob Hicks Impressed By Lukas Verzbicas

Hicks credits the sport of running for his current career as a veterinarian in Florida.

Having starred at Sandburg during the same time legendary distance runners Tom Graves and Craig Virgin were dominating the cross country scene in Illinois, Bob Hicks is not easily impressed. Following what recent Sandburg graduate Lukas Verzbicas has accomplished, however, is impossible to ignore. “It’s neat watching what Lukas is doing,” Hicks said. “I always thought Tom Graves was the toughest mental and physical runner, but the times Lukas is throwing out there are unreal.” Verzbicas, who graduated in May and will compete at the University of Oregon, was the winner of the Gatorade national cross country runner of the year award the past two seasons. He won two straight state cross country championships. He defended his state …

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