IESA Headlines

Former IESA Athletes Achieve Success

IESA would like to congratulate the following four former IESA athletes on their recent success:

Alec Peters--Washington Middle School

After graduating from Washington High School and attending Valparaiso University Alec was recently selected as the 54th overall pick in the NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. Way back in 7th and 8th grade, Alec played in the IESA state basketball finals. Click here for recaps of his IESA 7th grade and 8th grade state basketball championship experience.

Emily Grove--Pontiac JHS

Grove came in clutch in a third-place jump off in the pole vault with a vault of 15'1" at the U.S. National Championships to advance to the 2017 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in London, England. But before she achieved international success in pole vault, back in 2007 as an 8th grader, she finished 18th in the pole vault at the IESA state track and field meet clearing 7'6" . Click here to see the results when Emily was an 8th grader participating in IESA.

Dani Bunch--Mahomet-Seymour

Bunch produced a huge personal record to finish second and now ranks second in the world in the women’s shot put after her throw of 64 feet, 5-1/2 inches which was nearly two feet beyond her previous best at the USA Track and Field Championships recently held at Sacramento, Calif. She will now head to the World Championships in London. Way back in 2005, Bunch was throwing for Mahomet-Seymour JHS and won the 8th grade shot put event with a toss of 35 feet, 8-3/4 inches. Click here to see the results when Dani was an 8th grader participating in the IESA state track and field meet.

Bunch won the event by defeating Brittany Smith from Oak Park Julian. Smith has continued her excellence in the shot put event as she holds all of the throwing records for Illinois State University. Click here to see related story on Smith.

Mike Foltynewicz--Minooka JHS

On June 30, the Atlanta Braves pitcher took a no-hitter into the 8th inning before giving up one hit and one run in a 3-1 win over the Oakland A's. After a slow start, his record as of July 6 is now 7-5 as the Braves have won their last six games in which Foltynewicz started. Long before his success in the major leagues, Mike was dominating the IESA state baseball finals. Click here to see the recap of the 2005 finals in which he led Minooka JHS to the title.