THE Varsity Voices: High School Sports Talk

Youth soccer has long been criticized as a "pay-to-play" sport, with some arguing that talented athletes are overlooked simply because their families can't afford club teams, travel, private coaching, and showcase events. But is soccer really the only sport facing this issue? In this episode of THE Varsity Voices , Joe and Dan Freveletti take a deeper look at how youth sports in Amer...

The road to the Chicago Catholic League championship begins long before conference play. In this episode of THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk , Joe and Dan break down the first two non-conference games for every team in all six CCL divisions. Rather than simply reviewing schedules, we ask the questions every Chicago Catholic League football fan is asking before kickoff: 🏈 Wh...

The NCAA has approved one of the most significant changes to college athletic eligibility in decades. Beginning with future student-athletes, the new 5-for-5 eligibility model will replace the traditional "4 seasons in 5 years" system, changing how athletes, parents, coaches, and recruiters think about the path from high school to college sports. But will it actually change behavior? In...

Girls flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in America, and THE Varsity Voices is excited to announce the launch of our newest podcast dedicated to covering the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC). In this episode, we discuss why girls flag football is experiencing tremendous growth, what makes the sport unique, and the key factors that separate good teams from championship cont...

DePaul Prep enters a new era of football, and we're joined by the man leading the Rams into the future. In this episode of THE Varsity Voices: High School Sports Talk, Joe and Dan Freveletti sit down with new DePaul Prep Head Football Coach Nick Bizzieri to discuss his journey to becoming the head coach, his vision for the Rams program, lessons learned from coaching in the Chicago Catholic Lea...

Are high school sports beginning to resemble college athletics? In this episode of THE Varsity Voices: High School Sports Talk, Joe and Dan discuss two of the biggest trends reshaping high school athletics today. First, we examine the growing practice of student-athletes reclassifying their graduation year and even repeating 8th grade before entering high school. Is this a legitimate developmental...

Who are the next stars of the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division? In this episode of Future Dawgs: Who's Next?, Joe and Dan Freveletti break down the top underclassmen, rising stars, and future impact players from the Chicago Catholic League's Blue Division featuring Loyola Academy, Mount Carmel, Brother Rice, and Marist. The Blue Division is loaded with championship programs, elite tal...

In this episode of THE Varsity Voices Podcast, Joe and Dan Freveletti are joined by Daily Herald reporter Kevin Schmit to discuss one of the biggest issues facing Illinois high school sports today: competitive balance between public and private schools. The IHSA recently formed a committee to study competitive balance across Illinois athletics, sparking major conversations involving: transfers and...

The Future Dawgs series continues as THE Varsity Voices Media Network breaks down the Chicago Catholic League Red Division heading into the upcoming Illinois high school football season. In this episode, we spotlight the programs, players, storylines, and future impact athletes from Marian Catholic, Leo Catholic, De La Salle Institute, and Saint Viator. Which teams are building momentum? Which und...

The Future Dawgs series continues as THE Varsity Voices breaks down the Purple Division inside the Chicago Catholic League. In this episode, Joe and Dan Freveletti take a deep dive into the rising talent, breakout candidates, young impact players and future stars from: Benet Academy Marmion Academy Saint Patrick High School Notre Dame College Prep (Niles) Which underclassmen are ready to emerge? W...

In this episode of Future Dawgs: Who’s Next? , we break down the Orange Division of the Chicago Catholic League (CCL) and highlight the next wave of Illinois high school football prospects you need to know. The CCL continues to be one of the premier conferences in the country, and the Orange Division—featuring **Carmel Catholic High School, Fenwick High School, Saint Ignatius College Prep, and Pro...

The Chicago Catholic League is already heating up and we’re not even in season yet. In this episode of THE Varsity Voices: High School Sports Talk , we break down two major coaching developments that could have a ripple effect across the CCL: John Holocek returns to Loyola Academy, bringing experience, credibility, and a familiar presence back to one of the league’s premier programs. What does his...

On this episode of THE Varsity Voices: High School Sports Talk , we sit down with Providence Catholic Head Football Coach Tyler Plantz to break down one of the most respected programs in the Chicago Catholic League. We dive into what it takes to build and sustain a winning culture at Providence Catholic, how the Celtics compete week-to-week in one of the toughest conferences in Illinois, and what...

The recruiting decision is in—and one of the top quarterbacks in Illinois has made his move. Montini quarterback Israel Abrams joins THE Varsity Voices to break down his commitment to the University of Miami , including the moment he knew, what separated Miami from the rest, and what it was like announcing his decision live on the Pat McAfee Show . This is more than just a commitment story—this is...

Who are the next breakout stars in the Chicago Catholic League? In this episode of Future Dawgs: Who’s Next , we spotlight the rising talent in the CCL White Division , featuring IC Catholic Prep, Joliet Catholic Academy, DePaul Prep, and St. Laurence . These are the players who may not be household names yet — but they’re on the verge. From under-the-radar prospects to young athletes ready to tak...

Welcome to Future Dawgs: Who’s Next? – CCL Green Division , presented by THE Varsity Voices: High School Sports Talk . In this episode, we break down the next wave of talent in one of the best high school football conferences in the country—the Chicago Catholic League . Everyone knows the stars… but who are the players about to become those names? We take a deep dive into the CCL Green Division —i...

We sit down with former Benet Academy head football coach Pat New for a real conversation about the current state of high school football. This isn’t an interview—it’s a deep dive into what actually matters in building a winning program, how the game has evolved, and what parents and players need to understand about recruiting, development, and long-term success. Coach New shares insights on: – Wh...

In this episode of THE Varsity Voices Podcast , Joe and Dan sit down with Mike Heffernan , head football coach at Elmhurst University , to discuss what it takes for high school players to compete at the Division III college football level . Coach Heffernan shares insight into recruiting, player development, and the transition from high school football to college football in the highly competitive...

In this episode of Varsity Voices, Joe and Dan dive into thepassionate world of high school sports, exploring online hot takes, recruitment realities, program turnarounds, and the emotional pulse of communities. Discover the insights behind the comments and the importance of respectful dialogue to preserve the integrity and growth of high school athletics.

Welcome to another edition of Quick Hits from THE Varsity Voices Media Network — where we bring you fast takes, big topics, and no filler on high school sports and the Chicago Catholic League. In this episode, Joe and Dan dive into: 🏈 The rumor surrounding Mount Carmel head coach Jordan Lynch and the Northern Illinois University head coaching job 🔥 Recent commitments from CCL players? 🏆 High Sc...

High school sports are changing — and fast. In this special episode of THE Varsity Voices Media Network , we sit down with Dr. Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), to discuss the most important issues shaping the student-athlete experience today. We dive into: • The rise in transfers and whether we’re heading toward a “transfer po...

What are players, parents, and coaches really saying about high school football right now? In this episode of THE Varsity Voices Media Network, Joe and Dan dive into real online discussions from Reddit, TikTok and high school football message boards to explore the most talked-about issues in high school athletics today. Topics include: How high school athletes are trying to get noticed by college...

Name, Image, and Likeness — better known as NIL — is changing the landscape of high school sports faster than ever. But what does NIL really mean for student-athletes and their families? In this episode of THE Varsity Voices Podcast , we sit down with Dr. Scott Grant , one of the nation’s leading voices in high school NIL education and personal branding. Dr. Grant is a former high school teacher,...

In this special edition of THE Varsity Voices Podcast, we flip the script for a brand-new segment: Jo Knows . Instead of asking the questions, Joe is in the hot seat as co-host Dan leads a wide-ranging conversation about the present and future of high school football — with a deep focus on the Chicago Catholic League and the changing landscape of Illinois high school sports. This episode dives int...

In this special Dear Dan episode of THE Varsity Voices Podcast , Joe sits down with Dan for a mailbag-style conversation inspired by the classic Dear Abby format — but built for the world of high school sports. This episode dives deep into the questions parents, players, coaches, and fans are actually asking about today’s high school football landscape — from recruiting and development, to transfe...