Nick Krisman, a three-sport St. Joseph-Ogden standout and a member of the Heartland College baseball team, fires a pitch at Franzen Field during their quarterfinal playoff game in Gifford on August 2, 2008. Krisman earned the win after Royal beat Gifford-Flatville in a exciting, nine-inning affair, 11-10.
Illustrious - Showcases and the stories behind Illinois’ most iconic high school gyms
CHICAGO - On a quiet Saturday afternoon in January 2012, at the Oak Park-River Forest field house, a simple thought refused to leave Vincent Johnson alone.
Covering a girls basketball game for the Oak Leaves, Johnson found himself looking beyond the box score and into the bones of the building itself. The space was overwhelming in the best way. Big. Empty. Striking. The field house - massive, architectural, overwhelming in character - was alive with echoes. The gym itself demanded his attention.
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