Featured Story Championing our Student Athletes
Building Confident Competitors on the Field and on the Mat

Taking to the Turf Across Generations

When the IHSA Board of Directors approved girls flag football as an official IHSA sport in February 2024, the Mighty Macs were thrilled to add the sport to its growing program. Forty eight student athletes participated on the JV and varsity teams for the inaugural season. Many Mighty Macs had never played flag football before, but were eager for a chance to learn something new. 

The teams held their own against schools which had previously sponsored club teams, fearlessly facing off against those who might have more experience in the game - and coming off the field with many victories to their name.

With our new turf field as their home, the student athletes spent many days together in the sun - and rain - as they learned the game and found balance as a team. The varsity team, a majority of which were juniors last season, really gained momentum the longer they played together, gaining most of their wins in the second half of their season. The JV team finished their season with a nearly even win/lose ratio, proving their might as a team. And with so many returning players for the 2025 season, we’re excited to see what the future holds for the program.

With the addition of flag football at the high school level, 12 of the Catholic grammar schools in the area introduced the sport to their junior high students. McAuley was thrilled to welcome their Southside Catholic Conference to our campus, hosting games every Sunday throughout their spring season on our new turf field. It has been incredible to see how our investment in the turf field provides equitable facilities, resources and opportunities for the young women in our community to grow in their capabilities and confidence, even before they become Mighty Macs themselves.

Congratulations to the conference winners, and a MIGHTY congrats on an awesome inaugural season to all teams who participated! We can't wait to see you next year!

The Mighty Mac Spirit

We have designed a destination environment at Mother McAuley, where every girl has the freedom to choose their own journey. With 50+ clubs and organizations that tailor to specific interests, hobbies, academic success, and more, students have the opportunity to explore and tap into their strengths. With an ever-changing student body, we are continually evaluating our programs and listening to our students so we can meet them where they are. 

As they find their voice and are assured it matters, and as they are encouraged to stand up for themselves and claim their space, something magical happens.

This was the case when Maggie Zuber ‘25 championed the need for a McAuley wrestling team - and spectacularly  succeeded. Her Mighty Mac spirit led to the introduction of wrestling for the 2024-2025 winter season.

“I got started in wrestling during COVID when I was getting too bored stuck at home,” Maggie shares. “My dad made my twin sister, Maeve ‘25 and me, go to outdoor wrestling workouts hosted by Beat the Streets Chicago (BTSChicago) at Vittum Park. I had never wrestled before but the workouts were so much fun and challenging, and I wanted to try the sport out for real. Also, my brother had wrestled his whole life and I always loved watching the practices and competitions so it made sense that I gave it a try.”

Maggie fell in love with the sport. “I love the community the sport brings and how everyone has so much care to give. I also really love how challenging it can be, the feeling you get after accomplishing a hard practice is like no other.”

As Maggie headed into her freshman year at Mother McAuley,  she knew there was no wrestling team. But she also recognized that this sense of community within the sport was one where Mighty Macs like her could find belonging and an exciting new challenge to face. With this in mind, she met with the athletic director, and worked with her to set up a meeting to gauge interest among other students in a wrestling team. When only  a handful showed up, the idea of a team was set aside.

But Maggie didn’t let this stop her. “I didn’t have an actual school coach or a team with me, but my freshman year I competed for McAuley at sectionals. I think I was able to do this because of the Mighty Mac spirit that you get when you attend McAuley.”

In 2023, Maggie met Samantha Barrientos, a new wrestling coach at BTSChicago. “[Maggie] mentioned to me that she attends an all-girls high school that doesn’t have an official team,” Samantha shares. “She informed me of her goals and the obstacles she’s faced, so I reached out to the athletic director and in 2024, Maggie had me as an official coach for her at McAuley.

“Maggie was her own advocate,” Samantha continues. “When [the sport] was announced, Maggie and her twin sister Maeve recruited multiple girls to come out for the wrestling team. I was shocked when I walked in on the first day of practice to see so many girls eager to learn, as well as try something new.”

The team had 13 athletes on the roster, with Maggie and Maeve leading the way as experienced wrestlers and the sole seniors on the team.

“Words cannot describe how lovely it was to be able to have a team behind me cheering for me as I wrestled in tournaments and duals for my high school after so long being by myself.” Maggie shares. “Ending my time at McAuley knowing that I had left a full team of wrestlers who actually loved the sport and had the same spark that it gave me was an amazing feeling.”

Their coach, Samantha, was excited to see the progress of the team. “As the season continued, we retained the majority of the team and individually they learned something about themselves - they can do hard things (mentally and physically), not see the results they want right away and get back up to try again. Holly Rowan ‘27 found the most success by becoming an IHSA sectional qualifier her first year in wrestling. Maggie Zuber found herself in the IHSA State Finals after being a two-time state qualifier. A pivotal moment not only for her but for Mother McAuley.”

Maggie was proud to head to state with a team supporting her, and with a goal in mind.

“Going to state was a great experience. I had gone sophomore year and junior year, but fell short of my goals both times. This year was different. I had a goal and I was going to reach it,” she shares. “It was the goal that I told my coach at the very start of the season: I am going to be on that podium. I trained non-stop from August until the tournament in March. This year was also different in that I was able to get multiple competitions under my belt before the state series and this gave me confidence that I lacked years prior. I was able to finish off my McAuley wrestling career as a state runner-up, which gave McAuley their first ever medal in IHSA state women’s wrestling.”

With a medal under our belt in our inaugural year, and the potential for so many returning wrestlers for the 2025-2026 season, we’re excited to see what the future holds for Mighty Mac wrestling!