Claim OwnershipTHE Varsity Voices: High School Sports Talk
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© THE Varsity Voices
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In depth discussions and inside information on different topics pertaining to high school sports in Illinois and across the country, high school football and the Chicago Catholic League.
96 Episodes
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Week 1 of the 2025 Chicago Catholic League football season is officially in the books, and what a way to kick things off. From statement wins to nail-biting finishes, we saw it all this weekend. In our Week 1 Recap episode, We’ll take you through the biggest storylines, standout performances, and early impressions of who’s looking strong out of the gate. Whether your team pulled off a huge victory or is regrouping for Week 2, we’ve got you covered right here. Plus, we let you know who our is the winner of Zuko's Dawg of the Week!
We are back with our first Prognosticus episode of the 2025 season! The wait is over—CCL football is back, and it’s time to put some predictions on the line. We break down the biggest matchups, spotlight the teams with the most to prove, and give you our take on who’s primed to make a statement in Week One. Some picks may feel bold, others may seem obvious—but that’s the beauty of Prognosticus. The only certainty? Once kickoff happens, the game has a way of writing its own script. We dive in and set the stage for an unforgettable opening week of Chicago Catholic League football!
THE Varsity Voices shines the spotlight on the Chicago Catholic League football, kicking off our season preview in a different way. Instead of just running through each division team by team, we’re diving into the big questions and storylines that will define this year in the CCL. From new head coaches trying to make their mark, to teams with the most to prove, bold non-conference schedules, and even who might shock us—for better or worse. We’ll talk division favorites, potential undefeated runs, national recognition, and of course, who might be our very first Zuko's Dawg of the Week. If you love CCL football, this is the conversation that sets the stage for the season ahead.
In this CCL Player Shoutout episode, we’re spotlighting one of the Chicago Catholic League’s standouts, Tommy Thies from Fenwick High School. Tune in as we talk about his journey, his impact on the field, and what drives him as a student-athlete. Don’t miss this inside look at one of the league’s top talents!
Ian Campbell, Joliet Catholic football DE/TE and Navy commit, joins us in this episode to talk about the history and aura of being a Hilltopper as well as the demands of playing in the Chicago Catholic League and the drive for winning State Championships!
We sit down with Trae Taylor, the dynamic quarterback for Carmel Catholic High School and Nebraska commit, to talk football, leadership, and what it takes to command an offense under Friday night lights. Trae shares insights on his offseason grind, how he prepares mentally and physically for each game, and the mindset that fuels his success on the field.
THE Varsity Voices, heads into the trenches with St. Francis High School OL/DL, Brady Hill. Known for his relentless work ethic and physical dominance up front, Brady has been a key force in protecting his quarterback and opening lanes for the ground game. We’ll talk about his journey in football, the mindset it takes to win in the trenches, and what drives him to keep pushing for excellence on and off the field.
THE Varsity Voices, sits down with one of the Chicago Catholic League’s most exciting talents—Brother Rice quarterback CJ Gray. From leading clutch drives under Friday night lights to committing to play for the Army Black Knights, CJ shares the mindset, preparation, and leadership it takes to succeed on and off the field. We break down his biggest moments, his recruiting journey, and what’s ahead for the 2025 season and the next steps in his football career.
In this episode, we welcome one of the Chicago Catholic League’s premier quarterbacks — Steven Armbruster from St. Rita High School who has been lighting up the stat sheet and showing leadership week after week. In this conversation, we go beyond the numbers and talk about what it really takes to lead a football program, how he prepares for the big moments, and what’s ahead in his journey — both on and off the field.
In this episode, Coach Mike Passarella reflects on the DePaul Prep Rams' journey to winning the state championship and discusses the challenges and opportunities ahead for the upcoming season. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus amidst external distractions, building a strong team culture, and the invaluable lessons learned from a special senior class. Coach Passarella also shares insights on innovative practice strategies, the significance of accountability, and the goal of establishing DePaul Prep as a prominent name in Illinois high school football.
We sit down with Chicago Catholic League powerhouse program St. Rita head football coach Martin Hopkins. He talks about the tradition of the storied program at St. Rita and the goals for the football program in 2025.
We have a discussion with head football coach for Marmion Academy Adam Guerra and talk Chicago Catholic League and Marmion football for 2025.
We interview Mike Bukovsky, head football coach for the 2025 state champions Montini Broncos and he brings along three of his top players for the 2026 season, Izzy Abrams, Isaac Alexander and Angelo DeSensi.
We take a look back at our first year of episodes and talk about some of the key and pivotal moments in our evolution as a podcast about the Chicago Catholic League football teams and other topics related to the important issues facing high school sports today.
Joe Knows — where Dan throws the questions at Joe to hear his take on the hot topics, the issues, and sometimes the stuff nobody wants to say out loud regarding high school sports and Chicago Catholic League football.
Steve Soucie, Shaw Media's Managing Editor and Illinois high school football analyst/Guru, joins the podcast to discuss Illinois high school football.
We interview head football coach for Benet Academy, Pat New. Coach New talks about the resurgence of Benet Academy football, the players we should be on the look out for, and the challenges of competing in the Chicago Catholic League.
In our inaugural episode of the Chicago Catholic League football player spotlight, we interview Luke Doyle, star and standout wide receiver from Benet Academy.
In this episode of THE Varsity Voices, we’re flipping the format and handing the mic to Dan, for our special segment we like to call… Dear Dan.This is where we throw out the questions—raw, real, and sometimes ridiculous—and Dan gives it to us straight. Whether it’s Chicago Catholic League football topics, NIL deals, transfer rules, or just who’s got the best stadium nachos, you’ll hear what he really thinks. No scripts, no sugarcoating. Just Dan, doing what Dan does best, calling it how he sees it!
Where is high school sports headed considering NIL, transfer issues, right to play and other factors? Plus, what kind of pressure are high school sports administrators and coaches under considering today's environment. Are they ready, do they need to make some changes...listen in and find out our thoughts.
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