Leo’s Class of 2020 saw college preparation disrupted by the COVID pandemic, but adjustments gradually were made and plans finalized.
The sports year came to an abrupt end when Gov. Pritzker ordered all state schools closed in mid-March, but Eastern Illinois University will be the beneficiary of some of Leo’s top athletic talent, landing both football/track star Tobias Sample and track standout Dorian Woods.
Jordan Anderson, a honors graduate and National Honor Society member who qualified for the IHSA state wrestling meet, will attend Wheeling University in West Virginia on a wrestling scholarship.
The Drumgoole brothers, valedictorian Kevin and salutatorian Kaleb, are headed for Indiana State in Terre Haute, IN. Basketball standout Kendale Anderson will attend Highland Community College in Freeport, IL., while teammate Tim Howard is bound for Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Sample won the Lawless Award as Chicago Catholic League Red Division Player of the Year in football. A standout running back, he was forced to play much of the season at quarterback because of injuries. He also qualified for the IHSA state track meet in the sprints and sprint relays his sophomore and junior years. Sample intends to play both sports at Eastern when athletic competition resumes.
Eastern recruited Woods as a track athlete after he qualified for the IHSA meet in the long jump, sprints and sprint relays as a junior. He may try to walk on to the basketball team.
A three-year starter at Leo, Kendale Anderson helped the Lions to a 62-27 record over that span, registering 14 double-doubles as a senior. He made the all-tournament team at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds in four games, including 30 and 13 in a semifinal victory over Hyde Park. At Highland he’ll be reunited with older brother DaChaun, who averaged eight points and nine rebounds as a Highland freshman after helping Leo to regional, sectional and Catholic League titles in his three seasons, achieving All-State recognition as a senior.
Howard played two years at Leo after transferring in from Bogan, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds as a senior and making the all-tournament team at the Quincy Thanksgiving Tournament.