THE Varsity Voices: High School Sports Talk

THE Varsity Voices
  • 4.9 (9)
  • Football
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 4d ago

    Chicago Catholic League Football 2026: Orange & Green Division Preview

    Our 2026 Chicago Catholic League Football preseason division previews conclude with the Orange and Green Divisions! 🏈 ORANGE DIVISIONCarmel Catholic • Fenwick • Providence Catholic • Saint Ignatius 🏈 GREEN DIVISIONMontini Catholic • Nazareth Academy • St. Francis • St. Rita Joe and Dan break down all eight teams heading into the 2026 Illinois high school football season. Who are the players to watch? Which games could define the season? Which teams will exceed expectations — and who comes out on top in two very intriguing CCL divisions? We cover: • Team-by-team preseason outlooks• Key players to watch• Biggest games on the schedule• Over/Under win predictions• Bold predictions• Orange & Green Division contenders• Our picks for how each division shakes out The Green Division is especially loaded. Montini enters 2026 after winning back-to-back IHSA state championships, while Nazareth, St. Francis and St. Rita make this one of the most intriguing four-team divisions in the Chicago Catholic League. And in the Orange, Carmel, Fenwick, Providence and Saint Ignatius each enter the season with something to prove. This is the final stop on our preseason tour. Next up — the predictions become results and Friday night football is back! Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for Chicago Catholic League football coverage throughout the 2026 season. Who wins the Orange and Green Divisions? Follow THE Varsity Voices on Spotify for Chicago Catholic League football coverage throughout the 2026 season.#ChicagoCatholicLeague #CCLFootball #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #IHSAFootball #HighSchoolFootball

    Chicago Catholic League Football 2026: Orange & Green Division Preview

  2. Aug 7

    2026 Chicago Catholic League Football Blue & White Division Preview | Predictions, Key Games & Bold Picks

    The countdown to kickoff continues! In this episode of THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk, Joe and Dan preview two of the most intriguing divisions in Illinois high school football—the Blue Division and White Division of the Chicago Catholic League. The Blue Division features perennial state powers: 🏈 Mount Carmel🏈 Brother Rice🏈 Marist🏈 Loyola Academy The White Division may be the league's most competitive race featuring: 🏈 DePaul Prep🏈 Joliet Catholic Academy🏈 IC Catholic Prep🏈 St. Laurence During this episode we discuss: ✅ Key players to watch✅ Biggest storylines entering the season✅ Must-watch games✅ Over/Under win predictions✅ Bold predictions for every team✅ Which programs are poised to surprise the Chicago Catholic League this season Who wins the Blue? Who emerges from the White? Which bold prediction will actually come true? Join the conversation and let us know your predictions in the comments! Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices Media Network for year-round coverage of Chicago Catholic League football and Illinois high school sports including interviews with coaches, players and athletic directors, recruiting news, rankings and in-depth analysis. #ChicagoCatholicLeague #CCLFootball #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #VarsityVoices#HighSchoolFootball

    2026 Chicago Catholic League Football Blue & White Division Preview | Predictions, Key Games & Bold Picks

  3. Jul 31

    Chicago Catholic League Football 2026 Preview | Red & Purple Division Predictions, Players & Key Games

    The countdown to kickoff continues! In this episode of THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk, Joe and Dan preview two more divisions in one of the nation's premier high school football conferences—the Chicago Catholic League Red and Purple Divisions. We break down each team's outlook for the 2026 season, discuss impact players, analyze the biggest games on the schedule, make our over/under win predictions, and finish with our bold predictions that we'll revisit once the season begins. 🏈 Red Division• Leo Catholic• Saint Viator• De La Salle Institute• Marian Catholic 🏈 Purple Division• Benet Academy• Notre Dame College Prep• Marmion Academy• Saint Patrick ✔ Team-by-team breakdowns✔ Key returning players✔ Biggest games on each schedule✔ Over/Under win predictions✔ Bold predictions✔ Season storylines to watch Which team will exceed expectations?Who wins each division?Which prediction do you think we'll regret? Leave your predictions in the comments! Subscribe for weekly coverage of Chicago Catholic League Football and Illinois High School Football, including game previews, interviews with coaches and players, rankings, recruiting, and in-depth analysis throughout the season. #ChicagoCatholicLeague #CCLFootball #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #HighSchoolFootball #IHSAFootball #ChicagoFootball #FootballPodcast #BenetAcademy #NotreDameCollegePrep #MarmionAcademy #SaintPatrick #LeoCatholic #SaintViator #DeLaSalleInstitute #MarianCatholic #VarsityVoices #HighSchoolSports #FootballPredictions

    Chicago Catholic League Football 2026 Preview | Red & Purple Division Predictions, Players & Key Games

  4. Jul 29

    Benet Academy Head Coach Joe Cabay | Building a GCAC Flag Football Championship Program

    Welcome to the very first episode of THE Varsity Voices Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Flag Football Podcast! To kick off our inaugural season, we're joined by Benet Academy Head Coach Joe Cabay to discuss the exciting growth of girls high school flag football in Illinois and what fans can expect from the Redwings this season. Coach Cabay shares insights on: 🏈 How Benet Academy is building its flag football program 🏈 What makes girls flag football unique and exciting 🏈 The skills that separate great flag football players 🏈 Team culture, player development, and coaching philosophy 🏈 Expectations for the upcoming GCAC season 🏈 Why the future of girls flag football has never been brighter Whether you're a player, parent, coach, alumni, or simply interested in the fastest-growing high school sport in America, this conversation is the perfect introduction to the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Flag Football Podcast. THE Varsity Voices is your home for comprehensive Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) Flag Football coverage, including interviews with coaches and players, game previews, rankings, analysis, and weekly recaps. Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices Media Network for weekly interviews, team previews, player spotlights, game analysis, rankings, and coverage throughout the GCAC flag football season. #GCAC #GirlsFlagFootball #BenetAcademy #IllinoisHighSchoolSports #VarsityVoices #FlagFootball

    Benet Academy Head Coach Joe Cabay | Building a GCAC Flag Football Championship Program

  5. Jul 24

    Chicago Catholic League Mascot Draft | Which CCL Mascots Reign Supreme?

    Who has the best mascot in the Chicago Catholic League? Is a Corsair tougher than a Viking? Could a Spartan take down a Crusader? Does a Hilltopper automatically win because they're already standing at the top of the hill? And what exactly is a Caravan anyway? In this offseason episode of THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk, Joe and Dan take a fun and unique look at all 24 Chicago Catholic League school mascots. We dive into the history and meaning behind each mascot before putting them to the ultimate test. In this episode, we: Explore the origins and meanings of all 24 CCL mascotsConduct our Chicago Catholic League Mascot DraftRank the toughest, coolest, and most unique mascotsDebate which mascot would dominate in a Battle RoyaleDiscuss which mascot best represents Chicago Catholic League footballHave a little fun with one of the greatest high school sports conferences in the countryWhether you're a Crusader, Caravan, Hilltopper, Corsair, Viking, Spartan, Bronco, or Shamrock, there's something for every Chicago Catholic League fan in this one. Let us know in the comments: Which CCL mascot would you draft first?Who wins the Mascot Battle Royale?Which mascot has the best history?Which mascot deserves a redesign?Subscribe for weekly coverage of Chicago Catholic League football and high school sports throughout Illinois. #ChicagoCatholicLeague #CCLFootball #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #HighSchoolFootball #THEVarsityVoices

    Chicago Catholic League Mascot Draft | Which CCL Mascots Reign Supreme?

  6. Jul 17

    Dear Dan: Hot Takes on High School Sports | Transfers, NIL, Parents & Recruiting

    What happens when you hand a former high school football coach a microphone and don't tell him the questions beforehand? In this episode of Dear Dan, Joe puts Dan on the hot seat with hard-hitting questions, controversial topics, and a few lighter moments that every parent, coach, player, and high school sports fan can relate to. From transfers and NIL to recruiting, youth sports, club athletics, and the future of high school sports, Dan gives his unfiltered opinions and doesn't always play it safe. Topics include: Has high school sports become pay-to-play?Are parents helping or hurting their athletes?Is sports specialization doing more harm than good?What trends in high school sports concern Dan the most?What changes would he make tomorrow if he could?Plus several rapid-fire questions and hot takes that are sure to spark conversation.Do you agree with Dan's answers? Let us know in the comments! Subscribe and follow THE Varsity Voices for weekly conversations covering high school sports, recruiting, coaching, athletes, and the issues shaping today's game. #HighSchoolSports #HighSchoolFootball #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #Recruiting #NIL #YouthSports #StudentAthletes

    Dear Dan: Hot Takes on High School Sports | Transfers, NIL, Parents & Recruiting

  7. Jul 10

    Has Youth Sports Become an Arms Race? | The Hidden Cost of Athlete Development

    Youth soccer has long been criticized as a "pay-to-play" sport, with some arguing that talented athletes are overlooked simply because their families can't afford club teams, travel, private coaching, and showcase events. But is soccer really the only sport facing this issue? In this episode of THE Varsity Voices, Joe and Dan Freveletti take a deeper look at how youth sports in America have evolved. From football's growing 7-on-7 culture to private position coaches, recruiting camps, strength training, nutrition programs, highlight videos, and social media branding, today's athletes have more development opportunities than ever before—but are those opportunities becoming expectations? Has youth sports quietly become an arms race? Are college recruiters finding the best athletes... or simply the athletes with the greatest exposure? As a former high school football coach, Dan shares his perspective on how athlete development has changed over the years and whether financial resources are creating a wider gap between equally talented players. Topics include: The rise of pay-to-play youth sportsSoccer's development model vs. footballThe growth of 7-on-7 footballRecruiting camps and athlete exposurePrivate coaching and year-round trainingThe hidden costs of athlete developmentTalent vs. opportunityHow NIL and the changing sports landscape may be influencing youth athleticsCan we ensure every talented athlete has the opportunity to reach their full potential?Whether you're a coach, parent, athlete, or sports fan, this episode explores one of the biggest questions facing youth sports today. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Has youth sports become an arms race, or are these investments simply part of helping young athletes reach their potential? Join the conversation in the comments.

    Has Youth Sports Become an Arms Race? | The Hidden Cost of Athlete Development

  8. Jul 3

    Chicago Catholic League Football 2026 Preview | Every Team's First Two Games, Bold Predictions & Biggest Storylines

    The road to the Chicago Catholic League championship begins long before conference play. In this episode of THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk, Joe and Dan break down the first two non-conference games for every team in all six CCL divisions. Rather than simply reviewing schedules, we ask the questions every Chicago Catholic League football fan is asking before kickoff: 🏈 Which teams face the toughest opening stretch? 🏈 Who has the best chance to start the season 2-0? 🏈 Which coaching staffs scheduled the smartest? 🏈 Which matchups are must-watch games? 🏈 Where could the biggest upset happen? 🏈 What storylines will everyone be talking about after the first two weeks? From powerhouse programs to potential surprise teams, we offer our predictions, debate the schedules, and preview what could shape the 2026 IHSA football season before conference play even begins. If you're a fan of Chicago Catholic League football, Illinois high school football, recruiting, coaching strategy, and preseason predictions, this episode is for you. 🎙️ Subscribe for weekly coverage of the Chicago Catholic League throughout the 2026 football season, including game previews, recaps, rankings, player spotlights, coach interviews, and breaking news.

    Chicago Catholic League Football 2026 Preview | Every Team's First Two Games, Bold Predictions & Biggest Storylines
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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.

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