Editor’s note: The following is a press release issued by Plainfield School District 202:

Twenty-one Plainfield South and East high school students won regional awards in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.  

District 202’s Regional winners are:

PSHS

• Danielle Cervelli (Silver Key for one entry)
• Kimberly Chadwick (Silver Key for one entry)
• Lauren Colantone (Honorable Mention for one entry)
• Michael Fazio (Honorable Mention for one entry)
• Audrey Folk (Silver Key for one entry)
• Marissa Gardley (Silver Key for one entry)
• Tyler Hays (Gold Keys for two entries)
• Zach Hir (Honorable Mention for one entry)
• Nick Markese (Honorable Mention for one entry)
• Megan McDonough (Silver Key for one entry)
• Amanda Pappas (Honorable Mention for one entry)
• Richard Pokracki (Honorable Mention for one entry)
• Leslie Salinas (Honorable Mention for one entry)
• Kailey Schergen (Honorable Mention for one entry)
• Shannon Smith (Gold Keys for three entries)
• Felicia Soto (Honorable Mention for one entry)
• Cory Stover (Honorable Mention for three entries)
• Victoria Zloch (Gold Key for one entry; Silver Keys for eight entries; Honorable Mention for one entry) 

PEHS

• Cynthia Alvarez-Manzo (Gold Key for one entry)
• Jessica Nowicki (Honorable Mention for one entry
• Jake Runnion (Honorable Mention for one entry) 

“Gold Key” works from Alvaraz-Manzo, Hays, Smith and Zloch will now be considered for national-level recognition. The top entries at the national level will be displayed this summer at the Art.Write.Now NYC Exhibition in New York City as part of a special celebration at Carnegie Hall.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards allows seventh through 12^th grade students to submit works of art or writing in 28 categories for the chance to win scholarships and have their work published or exhibited by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. 

The contest is sponsored by the Scholastic book company. Entries are judged by renowned artists and writers. To date, more than nine million student writers and artists have been recognized and more than $25 million in scholarships have been awarded since 1923.

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Editor’s note: The following is a press release issued by District 202:

Baseball has taken Plainfield South High School’s Phil Bodine all over the world. 

Now, it’s taking him to the Hall of Fame. 

Bodine, the Cougars’ Varsity Baseball head coach has been inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. He will be honored at a ceremony and dinner on January 26, 2013.

The prestigious award recognizes “those who have provided selfless efforts and long standing commitments to improve Illinois High School baseball,” according to a statement from the IHSBCA. 

Bodine, who is in his 23^rd year coaching and also teaches physical education certainly meets that requirement.

He coached and taught at Mendota and York high schools before coming to PSHS in 2009. Bodine’s teams have compiled a record of 470-285, including a record of 81-57 at PSHS. 

In his career, 15 of Bodine’s 22 teams have won 20 or more games out of a schedule of about 30. His teams have won four Regional titles and four Sectional titles. Bodine-coached teams reached the Elite Eight in 2000, took third place in state in 2003 and were state runner-up in 1996.

Bodine has won the IHSBCA North Coach of The Year Award three times. He worked with the USA Baseball National team as a scout, assistant coach and head coach from 2000-200. In that span Team USA won four gold and three silver medals. 

The Hall of Fame honor is long overdue, said PSHS Principal David Travis. 

“Coach Bodine puts in countless hours of service towards our Cougar baseball program,” Travis said. “Perhaps the greatest testament I could share about Coach Bodine is that regardless of a particular player’s given talent or role with the team, he gives each athlete his very best,” he said.

PSHS Athletic Director Bob Yanello agreed.

“There is no one better at teaching athletes both the physical and mental aspects of the game.  He takes pride in how we play the game, but more importantly, how we present ourselves as a first class program,” Yanello said. “His relentless work ethic and commitment to the sport has earned him this honor.” 

Bodine was completely surprised when a former player called to tell him he’d been inducted. 

“To me, this is an award you may think about at the end of your career, so when it happens you’re totally blown away and excited,” he said. The recognition is extra special because he’s being inducted with several other coaches who he admires personally and professionally, he added.

“This is a testament to all the kids who have played for me over the years, who have done all the good work, and buy into what we do,” Bodine said.

To paraphrase the old “Saturday Night Live” skit, baseball has been very, very good to Bodine.

“The game can give you so much. It’s given me a lot in my life. I’ve traveled to Mexico, Venezuela, all over the United States. It’s given me so much joy over the years,” he said.

Yet, the greatest reward still comes – 23 years later – from the satisfaction of seeing hard work pay off, Bodine said. 

“If you’re around the game and you put your heart and soul into the game, it’ll give so much back to you, as with anything in life,” he added.

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Every week, Plainfield Patch profiles a home for sale in our community.

Address: 16032 S. Selfridge Circle, Plainfield

Cost: $295,000

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 2 full, 1 partial

Square footage: 3,000

Lot size: n/a

Built: 2007

Agent’s description: “This Custom Home has it all! Open floor plan with 4 bedrooms + 1st floor den. Home boasts dual staircases, 9ft ceilings and gleaming hardwood flooring. Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, 42in cabinets, SS appliances and butlers pantry. Spacious family room with fireplace. Large master bedroom suite with private luxury bath. Jack and Jill bath. 2nd floor laundry. Full basement with rough in for future bath.”

Agent: Karen Leakakos-Goros

Provided by: Coldwell Banker

Source: trulia.com

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A former Plainfield South High School custodian was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison Friday for transporting and possessing child pornography.

Anthony Skoien, 48, formerly of Joliet, pleaded guilty to the charges in February, admitting he used his computer and a file sharing network to move photos and videos from among thousands in his collection, according to a release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Chicago.

Undercover law enforcement officials were able to download materials directly from Skoien’s computer network. They obtained at least 111 computer files containing child pornography that depicted children engaged in sexual conduct, including sadistic and masochistic acts, the release said.

Skoien was arrested in August 2010, at which time he was working for Plainfield School District 202.

FBI agents searched Skoien’s Joliet home on a warrant and seized a desktop computer, two hard drives, floppy discs, and zip discs with more than 7,500 videos and photos of child pornography. The National Center of Missing & Exploited Children’s child victim identification program was able to identify nearly 5,750 children in the images, the release said.

In the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, Skoien was also fined $20,000 and will serve 15 years’ supervised release following the completion of his prison term, of which he must serve a minimum of 85 percent.

The prison term breaks down into five-year consecutive terms for each of the three counts to which he pleaded guilty: two counts of transporting child pornography and one of possessing illegal images.

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Although Oswego High School came away with a 50-21 Southwest Prairie Conference wrestling victory over Plainfield South Thursday in Oswego, the Cougars started the season 3-0 for the first time in school history.

“I can’t be mad at any of my guys,” Plainfield South coach Jason Acevedo said. “We’ve shown a lot of experience and maturity so far this year. I’m proud of every one of these guys up and down the lineup. We’ve never been 3-0 before.”

Plainfield South beat Plano 39-33, Mendota 73-6 and Elgin St. Edward via forfeit before beginning league dual action Thursday at Oswego.

Just five matches went the distance. Of those, Oswego won just two of them.

“There were overtimes, matches that went both ways, so the score was not indicative of how close of a battle or of how exciting this dual was,” Acevedo said. “Both teams gave it everything they had.”

Plainfield South also wrestled without sectional qualifier Jacob Meeder, who is still a week away from returning from a broken hand.

“Jake will be at 160 (pounds),” Acevedo said. “He’s cut a little bit this year and his body fat means he could go down to 152, but we’re going to keep him at 160.”

Plainfield North’s Nick Wolf (285) and Nick DiNardo (152) each won by a pin, but it wasn’t nearly enough in a 55-12 SPC dual loss to Minooka (5-1).

The Indians are ranked No. 4 in the state by www.illinoismatmen.com.
Plainfield East started the SPC dual season with a 48-19 loss to Oswego East.

Zach Costello (126), Nick Laboy (152) and Matt Yates (285) were victorious for the Bengals, who are under first-year coach Clinton Polz.

Plainfield Central, which is ranked No. 9 in the state, was strong at the middle and upper weights during a 54-13 Southwest Prairie Conference road win over Romeoville Thursday in Romeoville.

Plainfield Central (3-0, 2-0 in the SPC) posted wins from 145 through 285 pounds.

Posting pins were Mike Marro at 152, Kyle Ledbetter at 160, Wendell Davidston at 170. Nana Aikins at 182, Jordan Ellingwood at 195, Greg Cameron at 220 and Mike Farr at 285.

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A convicted sex offender was arrested Tuesday for twice going to Plainfield South High School to pick up his girlfriend’s son, in violation of laws that restrict sex offenders from being in or near schools.

John P. Bitakis, 39, of 7512 Townsend Blvd., Plainfield, was charged with two counts of being a sex offender in a school zone after the school notified police that he had been at the school on Oct. 27 and Nov. 3, according to a story in the Joliet Herald News. School officials found Bitakis on the list of sex offenders and contacted police.

Bitakis was convicted of having sexual relationships with two girls, ages 13 and 15, in 1995 and 1996, the story said.

To read the complete Herald News story, click here.

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Shortly after their performances Class 3A state cross country championship, Plainfield South and Plainfield East high schools talked of making it an annual event.

Plainfield South placed 20th and Plainfield East took 22nd Saturday afternoon in Peoria’ Detweiller Park.

“We have five out of our top seven back next year with state-race experience,” Plainfield South coach Jason Crowe said. “We want to start making this an annual tradition for Plainfield South cross country.”

“Everybody but Niko (Petrusich) and Nick (Quiroz) are back next year,” Plainfield East coach Rich Gatz said of the Bengals’ two seniors. “We have five of the seven guys back. It’s a good young team coming back. We’re excited about it.”

Gatz was also excited to see Petrusich lead the Bengals in the state race.

Petrusich, a four-year runner, took 90th place in 15:31 in his second and last state appearance.

“How about Niko today?” Gatz said. “It was great to see him finish his career this way. He ran real well today, he led us and I’m going to miss Nick and Niko. I’ve had those guys since freshmen year.”

Freshman Joe Suarez, who was the Bengals’ top runner most of the season, took 105th in 15:36. He was the second freshman to finish the race.

“This was awesome,” Gatz said. “There was no stress today. We told them to have fun and enjoy the experience. We didn’t have any team goals except continue to run as a pack. Our Nos. 1 through 5 finished 29 second apart. Our top five guys all ran under 16 minutes. I’m happy with that.”

“We had a good team pack, they worked together and our top five guys all finished under 16 minutes,” Plainfield South coach Jason Crowe said.

Senior Tyler Ryan was the first Cougar in the chute, taking 61st in 15:21. It was also his second and last state performance.

He is one of just two seniors who raced Saturday for the Cougars.

“Sophomore Dan Lathrop has a bright future ahead of him and sophomore Misael Tobias ran well today,” Crowe said.

In the girls race, Plainfield Central’s Grace Lawrence took 104th in 18:34. The senior ran her best time of the year in her first and last state race.

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Paybacks aren’t pretty.

Plainfield South High School earned vindication and a playoff spot by beating Plainfield North 27-7 during the regular-season finale for both teams Friday at South.

A year ago, host Plainfield North beat Plainfield South to keep the Cougars from a 9-0 season and undefeated conference championship.

This time around, the Cougars improved to 5-4 and put themselves in position to qualify for the state playoffs with 40 playoff points.

Last year, the cutoff to qualify for the playoffs was 39 points, which was the highest total since the state went to eight classes. Playoff points equal opponents wins. Pairings will be released by the Illinois High School Association Saturday night.

“I don’t know,” Plainfield South coach Ken Bublitz said when asked if he thought Plainfield South earned a playoff spot. “We’ll have to see what happens. We’re real excited for the kids. Our kids put a great week in this week and we’ll see what happens tomorrow night.”

What happened Friday was one of the Cougars’ best defensive efforts of the season and another stellar performance by Dantrell Wright.

The senior receiver had 16 carries for 174 yards and three touchdowns and caught four passes for 54 yards and another score. His scoring runs were from 64, 55 and 7 yards.

“When he gets to the second level, there’s a good chance he’s going to score,” Bublitz said. “I thought the guys up front did a great job tonight creating some things for him.”

“I followed our blockers, got in the open field and turned on the jets,” Wright said. “This was the best blocking we’ve had all year. Coach has been pushing those guys. They have been running sprints after practice, working hard in the weight room and we’re in the playoffs.”

Defensively, Plainfield North (4-5, 3-4 in the SPC) did not run a play inside the Cougar 20. The Tigers also failed to advance to the playoffs after making it the previous two seasons.

“They made a couple of big plays in the first half and grabbed the momentum,” Plainfield North coach Tim Kane said. “We didn’t move the ball very effectively in the first half. We played a little more physical in the second half. We just didn’t play well enough and their kids played some good football tonight.”

“Our kids came out and played hard tonight,” Bublitz said. “They really wanted to win and we prepared hard this week. I felt like we had to play a top-notch game to come out on top and for the most part, we did that.”

Wright ran 64 yards for a score to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead with 1:04 left in the first quarter. Clifton Garrett’s interception set up a 28-yard touchdown pass from Austin Howarth to Wright, which gave the hosts a 14-0 lead with 7:51 left in the second quarter.

“In the first half, our defense was lights out,” Bublitz said. “I was really pleased with the way we defended tonight.”

Wright found pay dirt from 55 and 7 yards, the second coming after a roughing the passer penalty on Plainfield North, to give Plainfield South a 27-0 lead after three quarters.

Plainfield North’s Jay Roberts, who rushed for 178 yards, ran 35 yards for a score with 11:43 to play in the fourth quarter to break the shutout.

Both teams combined for 27 penalties for more than 300 yards.

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All four Plainfield School District 202 boys and girls prep teams took away something from the Southwest Prairie Conference cross country meet Saturday in Oswego.

It was a learning experience for the Plainfield South boys and a coming out race for the Plainfield Central girls.

The Cougars took second to six-time championship Minooka, 42-53, in the boys race.

The Wildcat girls took third place, their highest placing in a conference meet since 2006.

“Our hat’s off to Minooka and its program,” Plainfield South boys coach Jason Crowe said. “They are raising the standard in the conference every year and that’s a good thing. Plainfield East did great today, so it’s great to see this conference becoming more and more competiive.”

Upstart Plainfield East was missed two of its top runners, but still managed to take fourth with 71 points. Plainfield Central placed sixth (158 points) and Plainfield North was seventh (217).

“Today was a learning experience for our guys,” Crowe said. “We’ll got back to the drawing board after today. We’re a little disappointed with the second-place finish.”

Sophomore Dan Lathrop led the Cougars by taking fifth in 15:47. Tyler Ryan was seventh (15:51) and Cody Dyer posted a top-10 finish, taking ninth (15:57).

Joseph Suarez of Plainfield East took sixth in 15:49 and Jake Runnion was eighth in 15:54.

Plainfield Central’s lone all-conference runner was Brad Anderson, who took 14th in 16:13. 

Minooka placed five runners in the top 16 to score 42 points and win its sixth straight league championship.

“The goals are to advance to the sectional and state and those two goals are still out there for us,” Crowe said. “We’ve got two weeks to get ready for the sectional and that’s what we’re focusing on right now.”

Plainfield Central’s triumphant trio of Grace Lawrence (third in 18:58), Emily Wihnanek (sisth in 19:15) and Nicole Pease (seventh in 19:19) propelled the Wildcats, who scored 68 points, just three back of champion Oswego.

Jackie Aremka’s eighth-place finish in 21:06 led Plainfield North, which took fifth (109).

Plainfield East placed sixth (147) and Plainfield South (168) came in seventh. Anissa Rodriguez was the Cougars’ lone all-SPC performer, taking 14th in 21:42.

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Plainfield South High School’s Austin Howarth and Joshua Harris ruined Plainfield East’s senior night Friday.

Howarth enjoyed his best game under center and Harris burst onto the scene by scoring three second-half touchdowns during the Cougars’ 32-13 Southwest Prairie Conference victory.

The victory puts Plainfield South a win away from state-playoff consideration. The Cougars host Plainfield North Friday. Both teams are 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the SPC.

Plainfield East dropped to 2-6, 2-4.

“We got some really important contribution from all phases,” Plainfield South coach Ken Bublitz said. “I’m real glad for the kids that they have a chance to get in with a win next week.”

Howarth missed just two passes in the second half and finished the night 19 of 24 for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Harris ran seven times for 75 yards, which included a 62-yard touchdown run on the Cougars’ first drive of the second half.

It came after the Cougar defense stopped Plainfield East four times from the 2-yard line in the final minute of the first half.

“That defensive stand at the end of the first half was huge,” Bublitz said. “Then, we scored on our first possession. Those were two huge sequences. That set the tone for the rest of the game.”

Harris caught three passes for 91 yards, including touchdown receptions of 46 and 40 yards.

“Our offensive line stepped up tonight,” said Harris, a sophomore. “They were blitzing, which opened up the pass game more so we could do whatever we wanted.”

Dantrell Wright and Howarth ran for 1-yard scores in the second quarter to give the visitors a 12-0 lead at the intermission.

On the third play of the second half, Harris caught a 62-yard touchdown pass from Howarth to give Plainfield South a 20-0 lead with 10:45 to play
in the third quarter.

“He’s a guy some teams forget about,” Bublitz said. “Not any more. He’s a nice compliment (to Dantrell Wright). Josh has a lot of quickness, made some big catches, big runs and made some big contributions for us.”

Plainfield East’s Myles Walters returned the ensuing kick for a touchdown, but it was called back because of an illegal block penalty.

That didn’t deter the Bengals. Shekeal Taylor, who ran for 218 yards, scored from 4 yards out to cut the lead to 20-6.

Aris Irizarry’s forced fumble and recovery on the Cougars’ next drive gave the Bengals the ball at the Cougar 41.

Plainfield East receiver Adrian Simbulan made a one-handed catch of a Robert Zamora pass on the next play and turned it into a 41-yard
touchdown.

Ryan Cohen’s point-after made it 20-13 with 7:08 to play in the third quarter.

Plainfield South’s next drive ended with a 46-yard pass play from Howarth to Harris. They hooked up midway through the fourth quarter from 40 yards away, as well.

After going 4 of 7 for 64 yards in the first half, Howarth completed 15 of 17 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns over the final two quarters.

He did not throw an interception during the second and third quarters.

“He was consistent, he was on the money, we gave him some time and he made the throws he had to make, which was key,” Bublitz said.

Wright caught seven passes for a team-leading 94 yards for the Cougars.

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