Lake County Gazette

Mokena Junior High School’s baseball team secured second place at the IESA State Baseball Tournament, marking the highest finish in school history. The Meteors ended their season with a record of 13 wins and 5 losses, including multiple championship titles.

Player Jayson Weaver commented on the season, stating, “Our team had to push and preserve through all the struggles and ended in a great finish.”

Coach James Schmidt expressed his pride in the players: "I am very proud of the young men on this team. The 8 returning players led the way with their work ethic at practice and some new additions made us even stronger. There were many exciting highlights this season including winning the conference tournament championship. But perhaps the best part about this team was their togetherness and their competitive drive. It was a great season and one we will remember for a long time.”

At the state tournament, Mokena won its first game against Channahon with a late comeback, scoring two doubles and a home run in the final inning to secure a 5-3 victory. The following day, they defeated Edwardsville-Lincoln by mercy rule after six innings with a score of 13-3, advancing them to the championship game.

In the final match against Bloomington Evans, Mokena lost 4-7 but received individual second-place medals and brought home a large trophy during an awards ceremony.

“We played as a team all seven innings in every game, it was a great season,” said player Griffin Cunningham.

The Meteors’ achievements included winning Des Plaines Valley Conference Baseball Tournament as well as Regional and Sectional Championships.

Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Kiki Panos shared: “We are so proud of our boys! What an incredible season for our baseball team! The Meteors brought home Des Plaines Valley Conference Baseball Tournament, Regional, and Sectional Championships, and finished as State Runner-Up, an achievement that reflects their talent, dedication, and teamwork. A huge shoutout to Coach Schmidt, whose leadership and guidance played a vital role in the team's success. His hard work and commitment to these young athletes truly paid off. Congratulations to the entire team for an unforgettable season. Way to go, Meteors!”

Player Caden Gabalewicz added about Coach Schmidt: “What a great year we had with this team. We battled every game and played our tails off. I don’t know where we would be without our coach, Coach Schmidt. Coach always encouraged us and believed we were the best team out there. We didn’t just play for ourselves, but for him as well.”

Mokena Junior High School is part of Mokena School District 159, which also includes Mokena Elementary School and Mokena Intermediate School within Will County.

According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education, Mokena School District 159 employs 97 teachers who earn an average salary of $61,802; most are women (85 percent), while men make up nearly 15 percent of staff members; no teacher has more than ten absences per school year.

Demographically,the district is composed primarily of White students (85 percent), followed by Hispanic (7.7 percent), Black (2.7 percent), and Asian (2.1 percent) students.

Spending per student totaled $23,197 in 2020 across all schools in District 159, amounting to over $35 million.