High school news and notes

Updated: September 15, 2011 7:51PM

Wrestling expands

The Illinois High School Association board of directors voted this week to expand the number of qualifiers for the individual state wrestling tournament’s two smaller classes and to add a third day to the tourney schedule. The new format will send 16 wrestlers to state at each weight in all three classes. Previously, Class 3A had 16 qualifiers per weight, while Class 2A and 1A had 12 each, and the tournament was staged on a Friday and Saturday. The changes will be in effect for the 2012 state tournament, which runs Feb. 16-18 at Assembly Hall in Champaign.

Moving on

Orr senior CJ Jones, one of the top players in the state’s 2012 class, has transferred to St. Thomas More, a prep school in Connecticut. Jones has made an oral commitment to Manhattan.

Swim legend dies

William “Dobbie” Burton, who coached Evanston to five boys swimming state titles during a 38-year career, died on Sept. 9. He was 92.

Evanston renamed its pool last March to honor Burton, whose teams won 25 state trophies and produced an Olympic medalist in Dick Hanley.

Future Tiger

St. Joseph High senior Reggie Johnson gave an oral commitment to Tennessee State earlier this month. Johnson and the Chargers are expected to be one of the Catholic League’s strongest squads. Sophomore Paul Turner and 6-8 junior AJ Patty earned raves over the summer.

Fall hoops

There is some high school basketball action on tap this month, as Larry Butler’s Illinois Spot-Lite Fall Showcase will take place on Sunday at the Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center in Glen Ellyn, with games from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Mac Irvin’s Back to School Jam is Sept. 24-25 at Riverside-Brookfield High School.

New gig

Conte Stamas was recently named head basketball coach at Morton College. Stamas previously coached at Lyons and Evanston and was an assistant coach at at Xavier University in Cincinnati Ohio.

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