The Varsity

The Varsity

No one covers North Shore prep sports like we do, and we take it even further in The Varsity, where our hosts use a four-quarter format to give you the latest news, stats and scores, as well as their takes. They also chat with a special guest in have fun along the way.

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    Ramblers Keep Dancing, Wrestling Firsts, Galvan Amazes — Episode 201

    It was a make or break week on the hardwood, and two teams remain from our area: Loyola and Loyola. The boys will play for the sectional on Friday, while the girls are headed back to the state finals thanks to two dominant efforts over the past week — in one of them, star Aubrey Galvan went bananas.
    We also recap New Trier boys season that ended Friday, and special state performances from local wrestlers and swimmers.

    March 6, 2025
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    State finalists and a Champ, hardwood heartbreak — Episode 200

    Local wrestlers and gymnasts put it on the line at state with one coming home as a champion. We talk in through, plus get into playoff hoops as it heats up. New Trier-GBS girls go into overtime, Ramblers ramble on and the boys are just getting started.

    February 27, 2025
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    Gymnasts Stick It at Sectional, Postseason Hoops Look-Ahead — Episode 199

    New Trier gymnastics’ sectional performance leads the discussion, and junior Elena Scarano joins in the second quarter to chat about her big-time beam routine. Plus, led by a Loyola defending champ, a group of local wrestlers are headed to state; we forecast a big girls basketball weekend; and look further head to the boys basketball postseason.

    February 20, 2025
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    Trevs’ Tough Times, Galvan’s 40 Piece — Episode 198

    Dramatic basketball season is underway for our local teams. We talk about a difficult stretch for New Trier boys hoops, which is playing without star Chris Kirkpatrick, and a record-breaking afternoon for Aubrey Galvan in a huge win for the Ramblers.
    There’s so much more: the final home game for Trevians legendary coach Teri Rodgers, and wrestling and gymnastics regionals

    February 14, 2025
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    NT’s Pre-Playoff Challenges, LA’s 40-piece — Episode 197

    New Trier basketball’s recent losses and an injury add some challenges before the postseason begins. For Loyola boys, two all-time performances on one night have the Ramblers feeling pretty good. Plus, girls hoops, girls wrestling, gymnastics and more.

    February 6, 2025
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    Giant-killing Loyola and NT girls, Wrestling league champs — Episode 196

    We talk about a nice week for our local hoops teams: Loyola boys and New Trier girls hoops bested highly ranked opponents and are trending up; Trevians star Chris Kirkpatrick put up big numbers in his team’s wins; Highland Park boys and girls took care of their business; and Ramblers girls aren’t messing around.
    We also talk wrestling and league championships and preview an important week ahead for NT hoops.

    January 31, 2025
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    NT-Kenwood tussle, Ramblers make statement — Episode 195

    We’re talking a lot of hoops! New Trier boys basketball welcomed Kenwood for an MLK showdown that did not disappoint. Despite the narrow loss, how are the Trevians feeling and can they lock up the league race?
    The Loyola girls took care of potent Fremd in dominant fashion, putting the state on notice, and Loyola boys’ mixed week leads to a few questions.
    And then there’s bowling, hockey and wrestling. We brief you on the latest.

    January 23, 2025
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    Trevs Gymnasts Taking Off, Big Hoops Weekend — Episode 194

    New Trier gymnastics keep going higher and higher, proven with a first-place finish at a big meet in Lake Forest and a dual win on senior night. How far can the Trevians go this season?
    We have wrestling and hoops updates as well, and we preview a big MLK Jr. weekend on the courts with New Trier and Loyola boys and girls all with big matchups on tap.

    January 16, 2025
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    Holiday Hoops Recap, Most Exciting Teams in Second Half — Episode 193

    The second half of high school basketball is getting underway, and we return to breakdown the always-exciting holiday-hoops events — who showed up and who slowed down. We also look ahead to the second half and talk the most interesting storylines, teams and players.

    January 9, 2025
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    Hoops Fastbreak: Who’s Up and Down Early On — Episode 192

    We take you across our coverage area to talk hoops, covering New Trier, Loyola and Highland Park boys and girls. What they all bring to the table and where may they stumble this season? Plus, Trevs gymnastics has a squad, Loyola wrestling is just getting going, and XC star Ben Crane can finally take a break

    December 19, 2024
North Shore News Week

North Shore News Week

Editor in Chief Joe Coughlin and Senior Editor Martin Carlino discuss the week in news on the North Shore, breaking down the why and how of the biggest headlines and giving you an inside look at our strategy in reporting on them.

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    ‘High’ West Nile risk, the Pickleball revolution and more in Episode 49

    The latest local report on the West Nile virus show a “high” risk of infections for humans — the highest it’s been in years. We also go through a couple local festivals before discussing the exponential growth of pickleball in the area and what local officials are doing about it.

    September 3, 2021
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    Church bus stolen, restrictions at Glencoe concert and more in Episode 47

    In this week’s top headlines, a bus that was recently purchased to transport senior citizens to church is stolen from a church parking lot and Glencoe officials announce COVID restrictions to its big concert featuring OAR. Plus, the story of Paws for Patrick and how it helps those enduring mental illness.

    August 21, 2021
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    New Trier announces its safety plan, and the curious case of all those Wilmette lawn signs in Ep. 46

    Joe and Marty break down New Trier High School’s COVID-19 mitigation plan for the 2021-22 school year to open the show. In our down the shore segment, we talk over some potential big changes at a notable park in Kenilworth and delve into who’s behind all those “Keep Gillson Green” lawn signs in Wilmette. We close out the show with a recap of a special afternoon on the golf course — all in the name of support for The Record.

    August 13, 2021
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    Face masks for the fall and a small Winnetka road with a long history in Ep. 45

    Local schools are beginning to confirm their plans for COVID-19 mitigation measures to start the 2021-22 school year following a mandate from Illinois’ top lawmaker. Joe and Marty discuss how the governor’s mask mandate will alter school district’s plans for the upcoming year. We detail a fun local story out of Winnetka, where a small road through New Trier’s campus has a long history — but not an accurate one. Our featured feature segment highlights The Record’s inaugural Youth in Journalism workshop that concluded last week.

    August 6, 2021
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    Township sees COVID surge due to Delta variant, Wilmette Village Board shows support for cannabis sales in Ep. 44

    Joe and Marty break down the latest local COVID-19 data, which is trending in the wrong direction due to the Delta variant of the virus. Our weekly down the shore segment is Wilmette-heavy, as we cover a new downtown eatery slated to open this fall and the village board’s budding support for allowing cannabis sales. Our featured feature segment highlights something local officials have never seen before.

    July 30, 2021
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    In with a new restaurant and out with a big name in Glencoe and more park board mysteries in Ep. 43

    Editorial Intern Alayne Trinko returns for another episode as the trio of hosts break down plans for a new restaurant coming to downtown Glencoe. Alayne, Marty and Joe also discuss the resignation of the longtime Writers Theatre director Michael Halberstam, another conundrum on the Wilmette Park Board and a local’s chance at Olympic glory.

    July 22, 2021
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    Drama at the Wilmette Theatre, changes at Winnetka Metra station, new dining additions in Episode 42

    Hosts Joe and Marty are joined by editorial intern Alayne Trinko, who makes her debut on North Shore News Week. The trio discusses the recent departure of four top leaders at the Wilmette Theatre. In this week’s Down the Shore segment, the team covers upcoming changes at the Winnetka Metra station, zoning disputes in Glencoe, budget discussions in Wilmette and more.

    July 15, 2021
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    Remembering former Township Supervisor Dr. Alan Goldberg, Fourth of July fun in Episode 41

    Joe and Marty pay tribute to the late Dr. Alan Goldberg, who served New Trier Township for decades. The hosts also recap Fourth of July festivities around the township, talk over a new summer treat in Glencoe and update listeners on the latest local news.

    July 9, 2021
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    Glencoe’s downtown dilemma, local environmentalist creates a buzz in Winnetka in episode 40

    Managing Editor Megan Bernard’s return to the podcast was so nice we did it twice. Megan joins the podcast once again alongside Marty to talk over a “complicated” issue in downtown Glencoe. Marty and Meg make their way through other North Shore news including an 11-year-old Winnetka resident ‘bee’ing the change she wants to see and a former Village President hoping to promote unity through a new book.

    July 2, 2021
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    Botanic Garden plants the seeds for change, something special brewin’ in Wilmette in Episode 39

    Managing Editor Megan Bernard makes her triumphant return to North Shore News Week in a jam-packed episode. Acting host Marty Carlino and Megan detail some big changes coming to the Chicago Botanic Garden and break the news on a big-name act coming to Glencoe.

    June 24, 2021