Present and Past Lake County Olympians and Where to Watch the Beijing Games 2022
By: Jonathan Jones 02/01/2022
John Williams' "Olympic Fanfare" is playing on everyone's Spotify right now as the best Lake County Olympians head to Beijing in February.
The Olympic games are packed with Prairie State dwellers. According to the Chicago Tribune, since 1896, Illinois residents have taken home over 250 Olympic gold, silver or bronze medals. The City of Lake Forest leads the pack for our fair county with 18 medal recipients historically.
Everyone is ready to see some dramatic stories in the Olympics. We've never seen a back-to-back Olympics like this, with Beijing kicking off this week and Tokyo last summer. The Tokyo Olympics were supposed to occur in 2020, but since COVID-19 struck, the summer games moved to - how they phrased - 2020NE Olympic Games.
While you're in town, there are plenty of places, Lake County Libation Trail partners, restaurants and more showing the games. Also, February is Lake County Libation Trail Month/Check In Challenge. Continue scrolling to see where you can watch the Beijing games.
Guests who “Check-In” at five or more locations between Feb. 1-28 will be eligible for a drawing, where 50 people will win a new Libation Trail Roster Shirt. The long-sleeved 100% cotton shirt lists all the Libation Trail partner locations to visit this year. Once 50 names are drawn after March 1, winners who respond to email notification with their name and mailing address within seven days will be awarded a shirt to wear proudly.
- SCAN the QR code, TEXT “CHEERS” to 224.706.1133 or visit Experience.VisitLakeCounty.org.
- Sign up for the Libation Trail Passport and opt-in for location services and prompts.
- CHECK-IN at five or more participating locations between Feb. 1-28 to be entered to WIN.
- 50 eligible entrants will win the new Libation Trail Roster Shirt, a sought-after souvenir for adventurous libation connoisseurs.
Here is a rundown of your Lake County Olympians competing in the Beijing games. Cheer on your fellow of Land of Lincolners as they go for the gold and grab a drink and/or grub at one of Lake County's venues to watch Team USA!
Lake Winter Olympians
Megan Bozek
Hometown: Buffalo Grove Event: Ice Hockey
Fun Facts: The Stevenson High School alum has a rap sheet where she has won at every level. Bozek played for Team Illinois, advancing to the USA Hockey Girls National Championship each season. As a senior in high school, she was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Hockey Under 18 Team in 2009. After graduating, and recording a Patriot Hall of Fame placement, Bozek took her talents to Minneapolis where she was an integral piece of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAA National Championship in 2013. This is Bozek's second trip to Winter Olympics as the defender also nabbed a silver medal during the Sochi Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Bozek is also a six-time medalist (four golds and two silver in the World Championship sector. The returning Olympic medalist also competes at the pro level for the KRS Vanke Rays in the Zhenskaya Hockey League in Eurasia.
Jason Brown
Hometown: Highland Park Event: Figure Skating
Fun Facts: Brown punched his second trip to the winter Olympics after a stellar international season placing first in the Finlandia Trophy, second in Skate Canada International and third in the Internationaux de France. Brown also placed fourth in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Brown won a bronze medal in the team event in 2014 at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, becoming one of the youngest male figure skating medalists. The Highland Park High School alum trains at the Skokie Valley Skating Club in Skokie and also trained at Centennial Ice Arena in his hometown. Brown just missed registering a bronze finish in Sochi as well.
Hilary Knight
Hometown: Lake Forest Event: Ice Hockey
Raised in Lake Forest, Knight is one of the most decorated Olympians on this list. Competing in her fourth-straight games, Knight has totaled six goals and 11 assists in 15 Olympic games. Two of the six were during the gold medal game in Pyeongchang that helped the United States capture their second title in team history. Knight also assisted her University of Wisconsin Badgers place second in the NCAA Championships in 2008, and become national champs in 2009. Knight took home two silvers during the Vancouver games in 2010 and the Sochi games in 2014.
Kevin Bickner
Hometown: Wauconda Event: Ski Jumping
Fun Facts: Born in Lake Forest, the Waucondan dweller tallies his second-consecutive Winter Olympics after qualifying for Pyeongchang in 2018. Bickner finished in 18th place at the PyeongChang games, but it was the best placing by a U.S. man in almost two decades. Bickner however holds the U.S. ski distance record at 244.5 meters. On Christmas Day, Bickner notched took first overall at the U.S. Olympic Team Ski Jumping Trials.
Casey Larson
Hometown: Barrington Event: Ski Jumping
Fun Facts: Larson is making his second appearance, after earning an Olympic berth in Pyeongchang in 2018. Larson trains out of Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, as does teammate and Olympic first-timer Patrick Gasienica of Chicago. Larson finished ninth with the team and among the top-40 in the normal hill event. He also left South Korea with the distinction of being the 100,000th male Olympian. He competed alongside Bickner and their team finished ninth overall at Pyeongchang. Larson's sister, Cara also competes on the U.S. Ski Jumping National Team.
Lake County Summer Olympians
Laura Zeng
Hometown: Libertyville Events: Rhythmic Individual Gymnastics
Fun Facts: Zeng, who trains in North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center in Highland Park, finished no. 1 at the 2021 USA Gymnastics Championship. Zeng, who is going for a second in the Olympics, finished 11th overall in the 2016 Rio edition. Zeng notched top finishes on the hoop, ball and ribbon. Zeng became the first U.S. rhythmic gymnast to win a medal at an Olympic or Youth Olympic Games. She's also the second rhythmic athlete ever to sweep all five Pan Am Games medals in 2015. Laura graduated from Libertyville High School in 2018.
Nefeli Papadakis
Hometown: Gurnee Events: Judo
Fun Facts: According to the Daily Herald, Papadakis was part of the 2017 Warren High School graduating class in her hometown and has been competing in the sport since she was four years old. She has trained in the Gurnee Judo Club near Viking Middle School. She competes at the 78-kilogram class and is ranked no. 30 in the world. The Papadakis family has had its own dojo in Waukegan.
Felicia Stancil
Hometown: Lake Villa Event: BMX
Fun Facts: This is the first year BMX is an event in the Olympics. Stancil graduated from Grayslake North in 2013. She started riding two-wheelers when she was just four years old. Post Lake County days, she attended Marian University in Indianapolis, and finished in second in the 2019 world cup series rankings for BMX. Stancil won her first world title in the Netherlands at just age nine.
Illinois Winter Olympians
Jesse Compher Hometown: Northbrook Event: Ice Hockey
Patrick Gasienica Hometown: Chicago Event: Ski Jumping
Ethan Cepuran Hometown: Glen Elyn Event: Long Track Speed Skating
Kendall Coyne Hometown: Palos Heights Event: Ice Hockey
Savannah Harmon Hometown: Downers Grove Event: Ice Hockey
Austin Kleba Hometown: Long Track Speedskating Event: Campton Hills
Alexa Knierim Hometown: Addison Event: Figure Skating (Pairs)
Emery Lehman Hometown: Oak Park Event: Long Track Speedskating
Abbey Murphy Hometown: Evergreen Park Event: Ice Hockey
Illinois Summer Olympians
Zach Lavine Hometown: Chicago Event: Basketball
Darryl Sullivan Hometown: Marion Event: Track & Field - High Jump
Maggie Shea Hometown: Wilmette Event: Sailing
David Kendziera Hometown: Prospect Event: Track & Field - 400m Hurdles.
Tamyra Mensah-Stock Hometown: Chicago Event: Wrestling
Olivia Smolgia Hometown: Glenview Event: Swimming - 100m Backstroke
Joe Berenyi Hometown: Aurora Event: Cycling
Gwen Berry Hometown: Carbondale when in college/born in Centerville Event: Track & Field - Hammer Throw
Michelle Barsch-Hackley Hometown: Champaign Event: Volleyball
Tori Franklin Hometown: Evanston Event: Track & Field - Triple Jump
Kelsey Card Hometown: Carlinville Event: Track & Field - Discus
Thomas Jaeschke Hometown: Wheaton Event: Volleyball
Zach Ziemek Hometown: Itasca Event: Decathlon
Kevin McDowell Hometown: Geneva Event: Triathlon
Alex Diab Hometown: Champaign Event: Gymnastics
Past Notable Lake County Olympians
Tamika Catchings Hometown: Lincolnshire Event: Basketball Olympics: Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 Four-time Gold Medalist
Matt Grevers Hometown: Lake Forest Event: Swimming Olympics: Beijing 2008, London 2012 Four-time Gold Medalist, two-time silver medalist
Cliff Gray Hometown: Lake Forest Event: Bobsled Olympics: St. Moritz 1928 and Lake Placid 1932 Two-time Gold Medalist
Chris Thorpe Hometown: Waukegan Event: Luge Olympics: Nagano 1998 and Salt Lake City 2002 Silver Medalist and Bronze Medalist
Shawn Marion Hometown: Waukegan Event: Basketball Olympics: Athens 2004 Bronze Medalist
Charlie Houchin Hometown: Lake Forest Event: Swimming Olympics: London 2012 Gold Medalist
Michael Jordan Hometown: Highland Park Event: Basketball Olympics: Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992 Two-Time Gold Medalist
Ken Henry Hometown: Lake Bluff Event: Speed Skating Olympics: Olso 1952 Gold Medalist
Scottie Pippen Hometown: Highland Park Event: Basketball Olympics: Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Two-time Gold Medalist
Conor Dwyer Practices in: Lake Forest Event: Swimming Olympics: London 2012 and Rio 2016 Two-time Gold Medalist and a Bronze Medalist
Bradie Tennell Hometown: Carpentersville Training Facility: Buffalo Grove Event: Figure Skating Olympics: Pyeongchang Bronze Medalist
Mason Phelps Hometown: Lake Forest Event: Golf Olympics: St. Louis 1904 Gold Medalist
Daniel Dennis Hometown: Fox Lake Event: Wrestling Olympics: Rio 2016
Northern Lake County Venues to Watch the Beijing Games
129 Center Cut 129 Center St., Grayslake
Bailey's Pub 2723 Sheridan Rd., Zion
Black Lung Brewing 2217 N. Illinois Route 83, Round Lake Beach
Bill’s Pub North 18945 W. Washington St., Third Lake
Cafe Pomigliano 160 E. Cook Ave., Libertyville
Casa Bonita Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar 633 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
The Chocolate Sanctuary 5101 Washington St., Gurnee
Chrissoula’s Restaurant 602 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
El Puerto Mexican Restaurant 200 N. Forest Ave., Fox Lake
Fatmans 36309 N. U.S. Route 41, Gurnee
Giordano’s Pizza Gurnee 7105 Grand Ave., Gurnee
Green Town Tavern 110 S. Genesee St., Waukegan
Harbor Brewing Co. 811 Sheridan Rd., Winthrop Harbor
Harbor Brewing Co. Lake Villa 136 Cedar Ave., Lake Villa
Jimmy's Charhouse 1413 Peterson Rd., Libertyville
Lakehouse Lake Villa 850 Tower Dr., Lake Villa
Light the Lamp Brewery 2 S. Lake St., Grayslake
The Lodge of Antioch 899 Main St., Antioch
Lumberjaxe Axe Lounge 216 Peterson Rd., Libertyville
Main Street Social 608 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
Mickey Finn’s Brewery 345 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
Nightshade and Dark's Pandemonium Brewing Co. 216 W. Clayton St., Waukegan
Only Child Brewing Company 130 Tri-State Prkwy., Suite 124, Gurnee
Oppidan Spirits 220 W. Clayton St., Lot C, Waukegan
O’Toole’s of Libertyville 412 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
O’Toole’s Lake Villa 10 W. Grand Ave., Lake Villa
Port of Blarney 27843 W. Grass Lake Rd., Antioch
Primo Italian American Cuisine 720 Milwaukee Ave., Gurnee
Salutos Pizza & Pasta 7680 Grand Ave., Gurnee
The Shanty Restaurant 38985 N. U.S. Highway 41, Wadsworth
Timothy O’Tooles’s Pub Gurnee 5572 Grand Ave., Gurnee
The Vine Martini & Wine Bar 101 Center St., Grayslake
Win Win Restaurant & Bar 30 N. Genesee St., Waukegan
Zümbier Brewery 3232 W. Monroe St., Waukegan
Southern Lake County Venues to Watch the Beijing Games
28 Mile Distillery 454 Sheridan Rd., Highwood
Beelow's Steakhouse 763 S. Rand Rd., Lake Zurich
Big Bowl Chinese and Thai 215 Parkway Dr., Lincolnshire
Bill’s Pizza & Pub 624 S. Lake St., Mundelein
Bluegrass Restaurant 2636 Old Deerfield Rd., Highland Park
Bosacki’s Brewery 610 E. Hawley St., Mundelein
Buffalo Creek Brewing Co. 360 Historical Ln., Long Grove
Cadwell's Grille at Embassy Suites Deerfield 1445 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield
Chessie’s Restaurant 200 Applebee St., Barrington
Claim Company 506 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills
Copper Fiddle Distillery 532 W. Route 22, Lake Zurich
Disotto Italian Restaurant 310 Green Bay Rd., Highwood
Dover Strait Seafood House 89 E. U.S. Highway 45, Mundelein
Half Day Brewing Co. 200 Village Green, Lincolnshire
Jameson's Charhouse 151 E. Townline Rd., Vernon Hills
Jaxx Bistro at Hyatt Regency 1750 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield
Liquid Love Brewing Co. 1310 Busch Pkwy., Buffalo Grove
Kuma’s Corner 925 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills
Maggiano’s Little Italy 307 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills
Mambo Italiano 748 S. Butterfield Rd., Mundelein
Oaken Bistro and Bar inside The Forester 200 N. Field Dr., Lake Forest
Park Street Street Craft Kitchen and Bar 14 E. Park St., Mundelein
Parkway Grill at Chicago Marriott Suites 2 Parkway North, Deerfield
Ravinia Brewing Company 582 Roger Williams Ave., Highland Park
Roaring Table Brewing Co. 739 W. Illinois Route 22, Lake Zurich
Scotty’s on Sheridan 810 Sheridan Rd., Highwood
Scotty’s on 21 700 N. Milwaukee Ave. #132, Vernon Hills
Side Lot Brewery 110 Slocum Lake Rd., Wauconda
Slyce Coal Fired Pizza Co., Highwood 254 Green Bay Rd., Highwood
Slyce Coal Fired Pizza Co. Vernon Hills 913 Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills
Slyce Coal Fired Pizza Co. Wauconda 127 N. Main St., Wauconda
Tighthead Brewery 161 N. Archer Ave., Mundelein
The Village Tavern 135 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove
WhirlyBall 285 Center Dr., Vernon Hills
Wildfire Steak, Chops & Seafood 235 Parkway Dr., Lincolnshire
Wild Onion Brewery 22221 N. Pepper Rd., Barrington
Wright’s Brew & Bistro 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire
Zin GastroPub 583 N. Rand Rd., Lake Zurich
To try and flex your own winter Olympic skills as we watch the Beijing games, click here. To see what else is going on and where else to go in the land of lakes, continue here. Click here to learn more about Lake County Libation Trail month.
