Windy City Ram Classic set
to celebrate 20th championship game
Title throwdown features Lockport-Shepard regional final rematch
By Steve Millar
Reavis started the Windy City Ram Classic in 2002 with four teams. Then-soccer coach and current athletic director Bob Morack spearheaded the tournament, which expanded over the years and eventually settled on a 32-team field.
The event has become a staple of soccer in the south suburbs and beyond. Its first round is the ultimate sign that the season is here.
Now the signature tournament, which has been contested annually except for the 2020 season due to COVID-19, is celebrating its 20th edition.
Morack has been the tournament director for the entire history of both the boys tournament and the girls tournament, which started in 2013.
“It’s been awesome,” Morack said. “We slowly moved it up to eight teams, then 16, then 32. Some of these teams have been in it since we first moved to 32 teams. It’s great to see them in it every year. I’m thankful for the schools that host, for the amazing staff at our school that supports us with this.
“There’s a lot on our coaches. When you’re playing in the Final Four and then hosting the tournament, that’s not an easy thing. It’s been awesome, though.”
Lockport (4-0-0) and Shepard (4-1-0) will meet in the championship game at 7 p.m. Thursday at Reavis. The Porters won the event in both 2019 and 2021.
It’s a rematch of the 2021 Class 3A Lockport Regional final, when the Porters beat the Astros 2-0 on their way to a third place finish at state.
“It’s a revenge game,” Shepard midfielder Aidan Breslin said. “They ended our last season year in the biggest moment. We know the stakes are high this year.”
Breslin and Zach Soltysiak scored in the Astros' 2-0 semifinal win over the host Rams. Lockport outlasted St. Laurence 3-2 in overtime behind goals from Nathan Blazewski and Dominic Williams, with Sean Flannery providing the game-winner in extra time.
Lockport coach Chris Beal, who said he believes the Windy City Ram Classic success has helped lead to season-long success for his teams in recent years, hopes the Porters can make it a pandemic delayed three-peat.
“We have to establish our rhythm,” Beal said. “When we move the ball and get behind teams, we’re very good. We just have to do that more consistently. Defensively, we need to work on our shape. If we can play our game and be more consistent, I think we’re going to be a very tough team to beat.”
Reavis (3-1-0) and St. Laurence (3-2-0) will play in the third-place game at 5:30 p.m.
The doubleheader will cap an exciting two weeks of games in the Ram Classic. The tournament utilizes various host sites for the first two rounds and for consolation games over the final two rounds.
On Saturday, all 32 teams came together at Reavis, where 20 games were played.
“We try to make a regional-type feel with the different hosts,” Morack said. “We’re able to bring all 32 teams here for that Saturday and play 20 games. It’s a good vibe that day. I know people appreciate coming here and having fun and having it be organized.
“There are so many coaches who will reach out and say this tournament was a great start to their year. You get to play a lot of games and learn a lot about your team, and that’s what I like about it.”
to celebrate 20th championship game
Title throwdown features Lockport-Shepard regional final rematch
By Steve Millar
Reavis started the Windy City Ram Classic in 2002 with four teams. Then-soccer coach and current athletic director Bob Morack spearheaded the tournament, which expanded over the years and eventually settled on a 32-team field.
The event has become a staple of soccer in the south suburbs and beyond. Its first round is the ultimate sign that the season is here.
Now the signature tournament, which has been contested annually except for the 2020 season due to COVID-19, is celebrating its 20th edition.
Morack has been the tournament director for the entire history of both the boys tournament and the girls tournament, which started in 2013.
“It’s been awesome,” Morack said. “We slowly moved it up to eight teams, then 16, then 32. Some of these teams have been in it since we first moved to 32 teams. It’s great to see them in it every year. I’m thankful for the schools that host, for the amazing staff at our school that supports us with this.
“There’s a lot on our coaches. When you’re playing in the Final Four and then hosting the tournament, that’s not an easy thing. It’s been awesome, though.”
Lockport (4-0-0) and Shepard (4-1-0) will meet in the championship game at 7 p.m. Thursday at Reavis. The Porters won the event in both 2019 and 2021.
It’s a rematch of the 2021 Class 3A Lockport Regional final, when the Porters beat the Astros 2-0 on their way to a third place finish at state.
“It’s a revenge game,” Shepard midfielder Aidan Breslin said. “They ended our last season year in the biggest moment. We know the stakes are high this year.”
Breslin and Zach Soltysiak scored in the Astros' 2-0 semifinal win over the host Rams. Lockport outlasted St. Laurence 3-2 in overtime behind goals from Nathan Blazewski and Dominic Williams, with Sean Flannery providing the game-winner in extra time.
Lockport coach Chris Beal, who said he believes the Windy City Ram Classic success has helped lead to season-long success for his teams in recent years, hopes the Porters can make it a pandemic delayed three-peat.
“We have to establish our rhythm,” Beal said. “When we move the ball and get behind teams, we’re very good. We just have to do that more consistently. Defensively, we need to work on our shape. If we can play our game and be more consistent, I think we’re going to be a very tough team to beat.”
Reavis (3-1-0) and St. Laurence (3-2-0) will play in the third-place game at 5:30 p.m.
The doubleheader will cap an exciting two weeks of games in the Ram Classic. The tournament utilizes various host sites for the first two rounds and for consolation games over the final two rounds.
On Saturday, all 32 teams came together at Reavis, where 20 games were played.
“We try to make a regional-type feel with the different hosts,” Morack said. “We’re able to bring all 32 teams here for that Saturday and play 20 games. It’s a good vibe that day. I know people appreciate coming here and having fun and having it be organized.
“There are so many coaches who will reach out and say this tournament was a great start to their year. You get to play a lot of games and learn a lot about your team, and that’s what I like about it.”