Continuation From Print: Top Prospect Sports Moments

In our December 11, 2019 issue of the prospector, I wrote what I believe was the top five moments of the decade. It was initially a top ten list but we changed it for some spacing, so here is my numbers six through 10 with some honorable mentions and videos of the moments.

#10. Football ends playoff drought

Prospect football has been through a playoff drought this decade, as their last playoff game (and home playoff game) was in 2012. However, in the 2018 season, Prospect made it back to the playoffs with first year head coach Dan Debouef. They had a winning record of 5-4, but lost to Glenbard East, 40-14, in the first round of the playoffs. In Debouef’s second year coaching, the Knights made it back to the playoffs with a 7-2 record and had a home playoff game. Prospect won that game 55-53 against Dekalb High School, but went on to lose in an away game to Rolling Meadows, 26-14.

“[The seniors] took that next step. Last year we got in [to the playoffs], this year we got in and won, and next year we’re going to look to build on that,” Debouef said.

#9. Boys’ basketball beats Barrington in conference championship

The Prospect boys’ basketball team faced off against Barrington in the MSL championship game on Feb. 21, 2018. Prospect came out on top, beating Barrington 54-44. This was also their first title since 2011. Senior David Swedura helped Prospect out greatly, as he scored 19 points and hit the 1,000th point of his career in the third quarter.

“It is a really special win,” Camardella said in an interview with the prospector from 2018. “And they’re a lot of players that have played in this game and haven’t been able to bring it home, just really really proud of this team with this victory tonight.”

#8. Riedy’s 500th win

During the 2019 season, boys’ volleyball coach Mike Riedy got his 500th career-win against Conant in the MSL Crossover on May 14, 2019. These wins are a combination of boys and girls (as he used to coach girls’ volleyball). Riedy started coaching in 1995 and stopped coaching girls in 2015 after Laura Gerber took over. Prior to this game, the team wore tattoo sleeves for warmups that looked like Riedy’s tattoos, and after the game, Riedy was joined by many alumni to celebrate his accomplishment. To prove how big of an accomplishment this was, only five other IHSA coaches have done this.

“When you look at the state records there are some pretty impressive names up at the top,” Riedy said in an interview with the Daily Herald. “I never thought my name would be included with them.”

#7. Dana Liva wins state for diving

Senior Dana Liva took home the state trophy in the 2014-15 season for diving. Liva was also a sectional champion earning a score of 507.30 that qualified her for state. This was also a terrific score, as she had the fourth highest qualifying score overall. Liva went on to win state by a mark of 464.5, and she also holds one of the top scores for IHSA girls’ swim and dive meets. The next closest score to hers was 456.6.

“There is nothing like it,” Liva said. “I couldn’t believe I won. I had worked so hard for so long with winning state being the end goal and it’s the best feeling.”

#6. Quentin Schaffer places 12th in Nike’s national meet

In 2013, former boys’ cross country runner Quentin Schaffer placed 12th in Nike’s National meet in Portland, Oregon. To get there he qualified at the NXR (Nike’s regional cross country meet) and he placed fourth. He also placed second in the state, with a time of 14:14, and was second team all American. Not many runners get chosen for this meet as five runners from each region get chosen, this is not including teams.

“He’s one of the best runners we’ve had in our history,” boys’ cross country cross Mike Stokes said.

Videos of moments

Mack buzzer beater: