Free Press Advocate

Catbackers set for annual Summer Bash

Published by admin on Tue, 08/01/2017 - 6:27pm

    Another Summer Bash is on the horizon for the Wilmington Catbacker Football Club, and this year’s annual fundraiser will be held at the Wilmington Moose Lodge Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 19.
    The Summer Bash falls one week before the Wildcats open their season hosting Ottawa on  that Friday. It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Catbackers and a great way for Wildcat fans to follow the team.
    Catbackers president Mike Imhof is looking forward to another season of supporting the team that instills much pride for the school and community.

Bobcats, Miners and Comets: Oh my!

Published by admin on Tue, 07/25/2017 - 7:17pm

    The youth football season is here, at least for the Coal City Miners, Braidwood Junior Comets and Wilmington Bobcats who all started practices this week.
    Coal City and Braidwood kicked off their first practices on Monday, while Wilmington started on Tuesday.
    All three teams decided to leave the Illinois Valley Youth Football League (IVY League) this year, and will participate in a league this year that replicates the high school I-8 Conference.

CFD Strongmen (and woman) lift over 6 tons

Published by admin on Tue, 07/25/2017 - 7:14pm

    An early morning rain moved the first two events in the Catfish Days strongman competition indoors, but that didn’t put a damper on the lifters, as they put up huge numbers this year.
    Ten competitors traveled to Wilmington to compete in the seventh annual event, as the deadlift and benchpress were held inside Water Street Fitness. After those two events, and after it got dry outside, the competitors moved outdoors to participate in the farmer’s carry and stone over the bar.

Volleyball players get down ‘n dirty during Catfish Days

Published by admin on Tue, 07/25/2017 - 7:13pm

    Sticking with Catfish Days tradition, the annual mud volleyball tournament kicked off with a bit of rain. While the rain added some water to the pit, it didn’t  damper the spirit of the tournament as Kinky Sets earned their third title.
    This was the 16th year of the Catfish Days mud volleyball tournament as 20 teams squared off at Tuffy’s Lounge and Patio for the eighth straight year.

Wildcats best powerlifting mark from a year ago

Published by admin on Tue, 07/18/2017 - 6:32pm

    Wilmington hosted the annual I-8 Powerlifting meet Friday, but the  only team to attend were the Wildcats. Coal City dropped out last minute due to a schedule conflict.
    That didn’t put a damper on the Wilmington powerlifters as they ended up lifting 8,795 pounds, 25 more than last year.
    Other highlights included three different individuals award winners, and one participant setting a new I-8 record.

Wildcats may be the only show for I-8 powerlifting

Published by admin on Tue, 07/11/2017 - 5:14pm

    The I-8 Powerlifting meet won’t be much of a team competition as only one team is committed to attending Friday’s event.
    “It kind of looks like it will just be Wilmington,” said Larry Readman, Wilmington’s powerlifting coach. “Jeff Reents talked to the new football coach in Coal City (Dan Hutchings), who asked if Reents really wanted to keep the powerlifting going.”
    Wilmington wanted to continue the meet so  the coaches tried to agree on a date.

Anglers net $1,800 in tagged fish during a year for big fish

Published by admin on Tue, 07/11/2017 - 5:13pm

    The weather cooperated this past week, as the Kankakee River Fishing Derby came to a close on Sunday.
    Fishing results were improved over last year with six tagged fish getting caught (four in 2016), but it still was below par compared to the long-term average (eight per year). That didn’t stop registered anglers from competing.
    “This is my third year being involved directly with the derby, and it was by far the best one,” said Ken Munjoy, one of the organizers. “The weather cooperated, the water level cooperated, and there were a lot of people out fishing.”

Test your strength during Catfish Days

Published by admin on Tue, 07/11/2017 - 5:13pm

    The 6th annual Catfish Days Strong Man competition which will be held at Saturday, July 22 at the Water Street Fitness center, 315 N. Water St., is open for registration.
    Entry fees are $60, with all of the proceeds going to help Our Caring Closet, a Wilmington charity.
    Event organizer Larry Readman will take entries up to the day of the event, admitting that the final week before the event is usually busier with sign-ups.

Little leaguers ready to compete in Summerfest Tournament

Published by admin on Mon, 07/03/2017 - 6:57pm

    Starting on Monday, area Little League teams will be back in Braidwood to compete in the fourth annual Summerfest Tournament.
    The tournament, which is hosted by the Braidwood Baseball and Softball Association, started in 2014 and has grown to one of the best times to showcase local talent.
    “We will have the home run derby, and we will also have our first games of the tournament that night,” said Jerry Curl, BBSA president.
    The home run derby will start at 5 p.m. on the Braidwood fields, with registration opening an hour prior.

Contractor comes back for more repairs to Wildcat stadium

Published by admin on Mon, 07/03/2017 - 6:56pm

    It took a year longer than planned, but by Aug. 25 when the football fans show up for the first home game of the season, the grandstands will be complete.
    Last summer, construction crews started work on the concrete stadium which was built in 1955. They patched cracks in the concrete, tuckpointed the outside blocks, and went underneath the bleachers to repair its foundation.
    The construction company also ground out a lot of the large cracks and patched them with grout, removed some sections of concrete, and replaced those as well.