Edge of Your Seat Podcast

For most people, Covid-19 has been a tough time. But not Mendota native Troy Bauer. During the pandemic, he got married, had his first child, accepted a dream job, and capped it off by winning the Illinois Valley Men's Golf Championship. Wonder what else can happen for Bauer as Covid-19 isn't gone yet... Intro: Tons of high school sports, IHSA Esports, AP Preseason Football Poll

Zoey Zeller, 16 in California, had a unique opportunity this summer as she swam in the USA Olympic Trials! She qualified at 14 but because of Covid-19 she didn't get her chance to swim with some of the best in the world until this summer. Intro: School and sports are back, Michael Hermosillo, J.A. Happ, CM Punk, Reigns/Cena

Harry Wilmot's rapping style is authentic, personal, and his lyrics are about what's important to him. So, he kept it 100 percent true by keeping his first name as his rap moniker. The L-P alumn joins us to talk about everything music. Intro: Illinois Valley Men's Golf Championship, Olympics, Big Brother, Bring it Back: The Beach Boys 'The Beach Boys Today"

Send a text to the wrong brother? No worries, have both Ty and Trez Rybarczyk on the show!!! They talk about their baseball careers as Ty is going into his junior year with University of Illinois and Trez pitched for the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp before his freshman year at Southwestern Illinois College. Intro: Olympics, NBA signings, Lox & Dipset

If you went to an Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp game, the kiddos probably had their photo taken with SouthClaw Sam, or at least gave him a claw-five. One of the people in the Sam suit is Devin Masters, a Putnam County graduate who is not new to mascotting and pumping up a crowd. Intro: Olympics, Bulls making big moves, Sox/Cubs

There is something crazy cool happening in Ottawa this summer...Chess and Checkers in the Park. Eleanor Hasty (13) wanted something to do during the pandemic where she could meet new people, stay safe and play two games she loves. You're invited. Intro: Ex Cubs hit home runs hit in the first game with new teams, Bulls land Lanzo Ball, Alex Caruso and are going after more, NBA Draft. Olympics

We Are Raising Men's 50-yard Challenge isn't really a test for 11-year old Finn Sessler. The Mendota resident is helping the elderly and disabled by mowing their yards. In turn, he is also helping his family and earning cool rewards such as T-shirts. Skee Hartman, general manager at Schimmer Mendota Ford, joins EOYS in the intro to talk about the crazy movement in sports over the last two days as...

Leaving Seneca High School with a bang is an understatement of what Brooklyn Giertz accomplished her senior year. Giertz was an all-state selection in basketball, helped the Fighting Irish own the volleyball court, and she won four medals at the IHSA state track meet. Intro: Olympics, Is anything else but gold losing?, Deshaun Watson, ESPN/Big 12 spat, Covid-19 back in sports?

Birds were chirping as Seneca boys and girls track and field coach Terry Maxwell relived the amazing season the Fighting Irish wrapped up at the IHSA State Meet at Eastern Illinois University. Maxwell also shares excitement about taking over as the football team's head coach. Intro: Olympics, Cleveland Guardians

Indian Creek just graduated an athlete, Cam Russell, who was the definition of a Jack of all trades in five sports for the Timberwolves. Russell speaks about the forever-lasting memories he made during his senior year.

Joe Piekarz has had quite a career as the former Triple-A pitcher for the Oakland A's organization coached the Indian Creek boys basketball team for 15 years, including a 35-1 season right before Covid-19. Now, he is off to Marmion Academy in Aurora to get a taste of the Chicago Catholic League. Intro: Bucks are NBA Champs, Texas & Oklahoma want to be in SEC, college athletes making money, Bobby B...

After winning regionals at Newark and Hall, Brian Holman coached the Seneca softball team to regional hardware this past season. Holman discusses his journey with no stone unturned. He also tells EOYS he has been named the girls basketball coach. Mind blown moment: Holman is not going to use his Illinois Valley famous 2-3 zone defense. Intro: Big Brother, Dave, Biz Markie, U.S. men's soccer, Colin...

If striking out batters is the name of the game, Seneca's now graduated Maggie Carpenter is the player of the game. After a fantastic freshman year, Carpenter had to sit out two seasons before she could turn into one of the best softball pitchers in Illinois. Intro: NBA Finals Game 5, MLB All-Star festivities, Conor McGregor

When you can hear the happiness in a voice when someone is talking about their career, friends, family, and passions, you know they've enjoyed life. You'll be able to hear it in John Mason, too. Mason, 80, talks about his career highs and moves as he spent 56 consecutive years as a coach at different levels of numerous sports. He was on the sideline right up until Covid and a diagnosis of Stage 4...

Jake Reinhardt has been on a special baseball ride. After graduating from Princeton in 2016, he has played five years of college ball and is now in West Virginia playing in the MLB Draft League. Jake joins EOYS to share his wild, awesome journey. Intro: Cubs can't win, Sox can't stay healthy, NBA Finals just begin, NHL Stanley Cup almost a wrap

After a fantastic regular season, the La Salle-Peru softball team struggled in the postseason. The regional final loss doesn't take away from one of the best seasons La Salle-Peru's now graduated Alexia Michael and coach Randy Huebbe ever had. Intro: NBA Finals, EOYS Movie Rank Em

The IWCOA State Tournament, which took place this past weekend, featured one female wrestler. Her name is Shea Reisel, a junior from Somonauk. She joins us to chat everything wrestling, including competing in boys tournaments and her Bobcat accomplishments. Intro: NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup, IWCOA State Tournament, Bring it Back: Sheryl Crow

The Princeton football team defeated everyone in their path this past season to finish No. 2 on the Class 3A AP poll with a 6-0 record. Three men behind the success join EOYS in QB Tyler Gibson (30:17), coach Ryan Pearson (40:49), and RB/LB Ronde Worrels (1:05.23). Intro: Wrestling sectionals, softball all-state picks, basketball all-star game rosters, NBA postseason

Let's start with soundbites from Princeton girls soccer coach David Gray and Wheaton Academy's Eva De Souza and Amy Alexander after the Class 1A Mendota Super-Sectional. Guest is Annawan-Wethersfield star Coltin Quagliano who led the Titans to a 15-1 basketball record, a 5-1 football season, and a Sectional title in baseball. All three sports brought home Lincoln Trail Conference championships. Th...

La Salle-Peru football had its first undefeated season since 1968 and finished with a No. 9 ranking on the Class 5A Associated Press Poll. Cavaliers coach Jose Medina and now-graduated David Narkis and Tyler Hartman talk about the magical season. The intro is IHSA postseason dominated with talk of baseball, softball, girls soccer, boys tennis, and girls and boys track and field.

Salute to Sgt. Doug Burcham, who recently retired from the Spring Valley Police Department after 29 1/2 years of service. He has a lot of stories to tell about being a cop and a marine. Marquette baseball coach Todd Hopkins spoke with us after the Class 2A Regional Final victory over Hall, Crusaders senior Grant Waldron was modest about his GRAND SlAM, and Hall coach Tom Keegan chats about his tea...

Loaded episode!!! Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimps coach Jon Jakiemic (58:33) tells us about the new collegiate baseball Prospect League team in Peru. Why are they here? Do they plan to stick around? Who is Southclaw Sam? What's a Claw Chip. What is a Pistol Shrimp? Hall graduate, Black Hawk student/athlete and member of the Pistol Shrimp, Chance Resetich (1:40.09), chats about his baseball journey...

The Mendota volleyball team had plenty to be happy with this past season, including the play of senior Ella Massey and her three classmates, and first-year coach Nicci Gibson. Intro: IHSA state tournaments are back, Girls soccer sectionals, NBA Playoffs

Mike Freeman had to wait 365 days between the day Fieldcrest hired him and his first game as the head coach of the Knights' football team. Once the season started, the team played like it never missed a day. Intro: High school action, NBA Playoffs

Chawn Huffaker has been in classrooms and the sidelines for what seems like forever. Things are about to change as he is changing lanes from education. Intro: Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State Team, NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs, Billboard Music Awards