SPOTLIGHT ON JT CENTRAL
SPOTLIGHT ON JOLIET CENTRAL ALUMNI
’66 Lynne Thigpen* Tony Award-winning actress / TV credits: “All My
Children,” “The District,” “Where in the World is
Carmen Santiago:/ Movies credits: “Tootsie,”
“Bicentennial Man,” “Random Hearts” / Broadway stage: “An American Daughter”
’72 Warren Dorris President of Rainbow PUSH Coalition / Joliet
City Councilman /Manufacturing Manager Caterpillar
’72 Mary Ann Grabavoy Miss Teen America / TV personality and newswoman
’72 John Randich Principal Joliet Central High School
’81 Lewis Reed President of the Board of Aldermen, City of St. Louis
(first African American elected to this position)/
Chairman of the St. Louis Port Authority
’73 Steven Rodby Professional musician / winner of nine Grammy awards
member of Pat Metheny Band
’76 Dr. Alan Larson Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Rehabilitation/
Assistant Professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas
’83 Trina Shoemaker Recording engineer / ’98 winner of two Grammy
awards for her work on Sheryl Crow’s CD “The Globe Sessions”making her first woman to win a Grammy for engineering / Nominated for Grammy for the second time for Crow’s ’03 album “C/Mon, C’Mon”
’85 David Range Professional musician, vocalist, composer, recording
artist with gospel duo Ekklesia
’85 Ken Strickland Deputy Washington Bureau Chief for NBC News / Recipient of prestigious Peabody Award / Emmy
winning former White House reporter & producer.
’86 Wendy Carlson Professional actress/stage & television appearing with
McCay Burt Reynolds Productions/ Alphabet Soup Productions/The Philip Lynch Theater/Wardrobe
mistress & dresser for major Broadway productions
on national tours
’97 Scott Adams Professional Sports Mascot / Chicago Bears Mascot aka
Staley DaBear
’00 Dr. Michele Meade Doctor of Pharmacy
JT CENTRAL INDUCTEES
TO THE JOLIET AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
2003 Hall of Fame Class Jesse Barfield ‘77
2006 Hall of Fame Class Roger Powell, Sr. ‘72
Chris Prieboy Quigley-Strle ‘79
JOLIET CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES
NAMED AMONG “100 ATHLETES OF THE CENTURY”
CENTENNIAL YEAR OF 2001
CLASS ATHLETE ACHIEVEMENT
’85 Joei Bales ’84 2nd in state wrestling
’85 State Champion wrestling
’70 Mike Barden All-State football / ’70 State heavyweight
champion wrestler / University of California wrestling and football
’77 Jesse Barfield Baseball / basketball / Major League ballplayer
with Toronto Blue Jays & New York Yankees /
Batting coach with Seattle Mariners
’86 American League home run champion
’75 Phil Bauer All-State football 1st team / baseball
Triple A Ball with the White Sox organization
’95 Gary Bell All-State basketball
’87 Alfredo Contreras All-State Soccer / H.S. All-American
’66 Al Crusoe Triple sport athlete / basketball / football /
track / Bradley University basketball
’66 Marv Evans Triple sport athlete/basketball/track
football
’89 Sharron Evans State Champion 100m hurdles / 2nd
in state 100m hurdles / 7th in state
long jump
’86 Terri Hibner Named one of top 50 volleyball players
in Chicago area / All-Conference /
Syracuse University volleyball
‘00 Mary Jaszcak All-State softball 1st team / State Champions
Named state Pitcher of the Year
Scholarship / 4th in state badminton
’71 Jeff Jones ’70 & ’71 All-State basketball 1st Team
’70- & ’71 Illini Eight All-Conference
team / named to All-Star team by Chicago
Tribune & Daily News
’77 Mike Jones All-State basketball 1st team
’73 Augie Juricic All-State baseball 1st team / H.S. All-American
Minor league ball /Chicago Cubs organization
’74 Greg Maxey ’72 4th in state wrestling
’73 2nd in state wrestling
’74 State Champion wrestling
’93 Jacob Mooney All-State soccer
’00 Katie O’Connell All-State softball 1st team / State Champions
University of Illinois 2nd baseman
’99 Eric Parker All-State football / H.S. All-American
University of Tennessee football
’87 Mike Poloskey ’86 5th in state discus / ’86 3rd in state
wrestling / ’87 6th in state shot put
Big Ten football U of I
’72 Roger Powell, Sr. ‘71/’72 All-State basketball 1st team
Illinois State University basketball
‘00 Roger Powell, Jr. All-State basketball 1st team / Big Ten basketball
University of Illinois
’79 Chris Prieboy Three-time All-State / 1st team All-Conference
basketball /softball/ volleyball All-State and 1st team All-Conference
’97 Dawn Scheuber All-State softball 1st team / Illinois Girl Athlete
of the Year / Illinois Softball Player of the Year
4th in state discus
’99 Brandon Sing All-State Baseball / Most home runs /basketball
Minor League Ballplayer Chicago Cubs organization
’00 Heather Suca All-State Softball 1st team / State Champions
Indiana University starting 2nd baseman
’88 Annette Travica '87 & ’88 All-State Softball
’79 Mark Trizzino ’78 State Champion wrestling
’79 State Champion wrestling
’76 Scott Trizzino ’75 State Champion wrestling
’76 State Champion wrestling
’92 Adam Villalobos All-State & All-Midwest soccer
Special mention:
“The Diamond Gems” – 5 MVPs and Sun Times Player of the Year, Mary Jaszczak, and shortstop, Colleen Schuster, lifted the Steelmen to a 4-0 victory over Moline in the 2000 Class AA Softball title game. Coach Dale O’Connell’s team was 35-2 and Jasczczak 28-1 with 24 shutouts. Team members Kelly Brumund, Serena Cruz, Katie O’Connell, Maribel Olivas, Elene Planensak, Kristina Saxon and Carissa Schwartz all contributed to claiming the state championship softball crown.