New Lenox School District 122 took time during its June 17 board meeting to celebrate the outstanding achievements of its junior high athletes at the 2025 IESA State Track and Field meet.

Student-athletes from both Martino Junior High and Liberty Junior High were recognized for their top-place finishes. Martino’s seventh-grade girls’ team had a particularly strong showing, finishing in fifth place out of 215 schools statewide.

A highlight of the meet was Martino’s Hailey Kaatz, who was crowned State Champion in the shot put.

The Martino 4×400 relay team of Fiona Galligan, Aubrey Sudkamp, Claire Dughetti, and Ava Zartler not only placed third but also broke the seventh and eighth-grade school records in the event.

Other top finishers from Martino included:

• Fiona Galligan, who also placed seventh in the long jump.

• Ava Zartler, who placed seventh in the 1600-meter run.

• The 4×200 relay team of Fiona Galligan, Ruby Kimble, Samantha Bonarek, Aubrey Sudkamp, and Kristen Freeman, which placed fourth.

From Liberty Junior High, three athletes earned state recognition:

• Violet McCann placed second in shot put.

• Reagan Muldoon placed fourth in the 100-meter dash.

• Paulina Pajerski placed seventh in the discus.

Superintendent Dr. Lori Motsch and the board congratulated the students on their success.