Libertyville treat: Messmer to sing Friday night
Libertyville might not need the public address system tonight when the national anthem is sung before the Wildcats' season-opening football game against visiting Barrington.
That's because Wayne Messmer, the guy who will be holding the microphone, possesses such a booming voice that no amplification is required.
No high school knows how to throw a varsity football party better than Libertyville, and the Wildcats have struck again.
The school that was one of the first in Lake County to install artificial grass in its stadium, hauled in a Jumbotron for a game last season and has sported more alternative jerseys than most NFL teams has secured the services of renowned vocalist Messmer to belt out the anthem.
Libertyville will be honoring past and current players who have served or are currently serving in the military. The home team will be wearing cool, camouflage jerseys to honor their military guests.
I'm guessing some American flags will be waving in the stadium as Messmer sings.
Ferrell runs for “Coach Kuz”:Libertyville assistant football coach and all-around good guy Sean Ferrell will be running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 9. He's seeking donations that will go to the American Cancer Society's determination team in honor of Wildcats head coach Randy Kuceyeski.#8220;Coach Kuz#8221; has been battling cancer since the spring.#8220;In life, we have one opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others,#8221; Ferrell wrote in his #8216;Cure For Kuz' letter that he's distributing. #8220;This run will honor Kuz making a difference in my life and helping me grow as an educator, coach and man.#8221;To donate, you can write a check payable to the American Cancer Society and get it in the hands of Ferrell at the high school.Or, you can go online and visit determination.acsevents.org, type in Ferrell's name and follow the step-by-step directions. You can also visit Ferrell's page directly at main.acsevents.org/goto/seanferrell. The site will specifically and easily walk you through the donation process.The (coaches') kids can play:Little Anthony Monken isn't so little anymore. Monken, the oldest son of Vernon Hills football coach Tony Monken, who used to roam the sidelines during his dad's games, now stands 6 feet and is a quarterback on Libertyville's sophomore team.Tony Monken's varsity roster includes Dylan McNamara. The junior running back/inside linebacker is the son of Stevenson coach Bill McNamara.Warren senior wide receiver Mitch Munda is the son of former Grayslake Central coach Mike Munda.Getting their kicks:We know Grayslake North senior Katie Lahera is tough. She's a girl playing her second season of varsity football, after all, kicking off and booting PATs for the Knights.She's also got a heart.At practice this week, Lahera was helping junior kicker Justin Guzman, who's hearing impaired.#8220;Katie is taking him under her wing a little bit,#8221; Knights coach Steve Wood said. #8220;Our goal is to get him 1-2 kicks in a game.#8221;Guzman kicked a PAT in the Knights' scrimmage last Friday night.jaguilar@dailyherald.com