Callie Pekosh of Glenbrook South (right) moves the ball upcourt during last week’s action against New Trier. PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRACY ALLEN
Three-sport athletes aren’t extinct.
They’re just harder to find these days.
It’s especially tough to find one of Callie Pekosh’s caliber.
The versatile senior, a two-year starter on Glenbrook South girls basketball team, has a unique skill set. This past fall Pekosh performed well enough to be named to the Illinois Field Hockey All-Star Team. Last spring, she made the all-CSL South soccer team.
“She’s the same player in all three of her sports,” noted GBS head basketball coach Steve Weissenstein. “She’s the steady influence on all three of her teams.”
Pekosh also is an inspiration — to diabetics everywhere.
The disease isn’t about to keep her from performing in the athletic arena. She couldn’t care less about a level playing field.
“Callie does an incredible job of managing it,” said Weissenstein. “She’s decided that it’s just not going to prevent her from playing sports.
“She’s such a great example to kids [with diabetes],” the coach added. “She’s just a fantastic kid.”
Pekosh’s infectious smile is real. And so is her determination.
Roadblocks and barriers don’t detour her.
“It’s something that I have to deal with 24/7, but I’m not going to let it stop me,” said Pekosh.
“I just love competition,” she added. “If I could play four sports [at the high school level], I would.”
No doubt, Pekosh has the ability to play at least one of her sports at the next level. But, to the chagrin of her parents, she has decided to wrap up her competitive sports career following the soccer season this spring.
She simply says it’s time.
In the meanwhile, Pekosh is ready to make the most of her opportunities. She was plenty good in Glenbrook South’s 48-43 victory over visiting Maine South on Dec. 9.
She helped the Titans improve to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the CSL South by tossing in a career-high 12 points.
In order to hold off a stubborn Maine South squad (6-4, 1-2), the Titans needed a second scoring source. And they got that from Pekosh. She scored nine of her 12 points in the second half, including a huge three-pointer with 5:26 left to play.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence in Callie’s ability to score,” said GBS star Weinman, who led all scorers with 27 points. “She worked really hard in the offseason. She’s really improved. She makes her baskets, when we need them the most.”
“With teams keying on Carie, we need to have someone step up,” said Weissenstein. “Her 12 points tonight made a difference.”
Pekosh has the ability to meld her sports. She did just that on GBS’s second possession of the third quarter, when she took the ball from the left wing and zigzagged her way to the hoop for a layup.
Soccer, say hello to basketball.
“I like the way she can weave right through the defense,” said Weinman, a University of Denver recruit who is averaging 25 points per game this winter.
Driving and threading defenders is what Pekosh does best.
“It’s all about splitting the gap,” said Pekosh, a two-year starter at midfield for the Titans soccer team. “If I find an opening, I’m going to take it.
“I’ve never been the best three-pointer shooter,” she added. “I’m more confident taking the ball to the basket. I like driving.”
Pekosh also knows her role on this team. She triggers most inbounds play, helps to break the press and hits the boards hard on a consistent basis. She had three rebounds and three steals while committing only one turnover against Maine South.
Feeding the ball to Weinman is Job One.
“She’s our star,” said Pekosh.
One of Pekosh’s best moments in the Maine South game came early in the fourth quarter, when she did one of those sideway hesitations moves to create a little space for herself. She eventually kicked the ball out to Weinman, who drilled in a 16-footer.
Two possessions later, Pekosh set up teammate Makayla Stadler for an easy layup.
“Callie is such a smart player,” said Weissenstein.
Callie is pure inspiration.
Notable: Carrying her team is what Carie Weinman does. The stellar senior guard found herself in familiar scoring territory in Glenbrook South’s 48-43 win over Maine South. The University of Denver recruit tallied 27 points. She had a pretty amazing second quarter, scoring all 12 of her team’s points in those eight minutes. Her three-pointer with 1:01 left put the Titans ahead at intermission, 23-22. She finished the game with five three-pointers. Putting up big numbers has been the norm with Weinman. She has scored 23 points or more in four of her last five games, including 23 in a 51-42 win over visiting New Trier on Dec. 6, 26 in a 59-44 setback to Fremd on Dec. 3 and 24 in a 46-40 win over Vernon Hills on Nov. 29. In the five-game set at the Mundelein Thanksgiving Tournament, Weinman averaged 25 points per game.