High School Sports Spotlight for Jan. 16, 2012
January 16, 2012 11:45AM
Josh Arnold, Reavis wrestling.
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Updated: February 17, 2012 8:09AM
This week we shine the spotlight on: Kevin Kuchta, of Homewood-Flossmoor swimming; Cori McVeagh, of Reavis bowling; Sarah Mussallem, of Stagg gymnastics; and Josh Arnold, of Reavis wrestling.
Kevin Kuchta
School: H-F
Sport: Swimming
Year: Junior
While Kuchta loves what he does as a swimmer, the junior doesn’t recommend the sport for those who aren’t willing to commit.
“(Swimming) is a lot of work, and the practices are a lot harder than any other sport I’ve done,” Kuchta said. “I’ve played football and baseball, and those practices were fun compared to this. At first, my parents just wanted me to learn how to swim, but I really came to like it.”
— Tim O’Brien
Cori McVeagh
School: Reavis
Sport: Bowling
Year: Senior
McVeagh helped Reavis advance to the state finals last season and has become the Rams’ leader this year. She’s still a relative newcomer, though.
“I’ve only really been bowling for three years,” she said. “My game is definitely improving as I go on.”
McVeagh, who also runs cross country for Reavis, has a hard time picking her favorite thing about bowling.
“Oh, gosh, I like so many things about bowling,” she said.
— Steve Millar
Sarah Mussallem
School: Stagg
Sport: Gymnastics
Year: Senior
A gymnastics practitioner for more than 15 years, it’s no surprise “Moose,” as her teammates call her, was a state qualifier for the Sandburg-Stagg co-op last season in vault. Unfortunately, the meet didn’t go as planned.
“I wasn’t able to compete because I tore ligaments in my ankle during warmups,” she said. “I’m working hard to get back to state, and if things go well, hopefully, I can place this time around.”
— Logan Malloy
Josh Arnold
School: Reavis
Sport: Wrestling
Year: Senior
Arnold wrestled at 103 pounds last season for the Rams. He was expecting to compete at a similar weight this season but his plans had an unexpected change.
“I’ve always been tall and slim, but I hit massive growth spurt over summer break. Now I’m wrestling at 126 pounds,” he said. “I still can compete strength wise, but I feel like I’ve got some extra speed in this division.”
Arnold took first at 126 at Glenbard West’s eight-team invitational Jan. 7.
— Logan Malloy
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