Category: News
UPS Indefinitely Grounds All Its MD-11’s – 9% Of Firm’s Fleet Out For Peak Delivery Season
UPS Indefinitely Grounds All Its MD-11’s – 9% Of Firm’s Fleet Out For Peak Delivery Season
UPS will have to manage the peak package delivery season of the year with 9% of its air fleet sitting idle, after the firm announced it will indefinitely ground all its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo jets in the wake of a spectacular disaster in Louisville on Nov. 4 that took 14 lives.
“Regarding the MD-11 fleet, Boeing’s ongoing evaluation shows that inspections and potential repairs will be more extensive than initially expected,” wrote UPS Airlines President Bill Moore in a memo to employees obtained by AP. Boeing became the manufacturer of the three-engine MD-11 cargo jets after a 1997 merger with McDonnell Douglas. The move follows a catastrophic failure that saw the left engine detach from the wing of a UPS MD-11 taking off in Louisville.
There are 109 MD-11 still in service — all of them with package carriers. They comprise 9% of the UPS fleet compared to 4% of FedEx’s. Anticipating an FAA directive, UPS, Fedex and other companies grounded their MD-11’s after the horrific crash in Louisville earlier this month. A UPS spokesperson said the firm will compensate for the the lost idle resources by activating contingency plans, adding that UPS “will take the time needed to ensure that every aircraft is safe.” It was originally hoped that the FAA-mandated inspection-and-repair process would take weeks, but now it’s expected to consume months.
WATCH: Dash cam video shows UPS plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky pic.twitter.com/dZdpus1fxu
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) November 5, 2025
Depending on mounting expenses of that undertaking, the disaster may well seal the fate of the jets, which were first unveiled in 1984, initially serving as passenger liners. The jets’ service record in that capacity includes a terrible disaster that’s disturbingly similar to what just unfolded in Louisville: In 1979, an American Airlines MD-11 crashed after taking off from Chicago O’Hare. Just like the plane that crashed on Nov. 4, the American Airlines MD-11 lost its left engine during takeoff. All 271 people aboard the plane were killed, along with two on the ground.
Last week, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board released frame-by-frame images showing the left engine of the UPS MD-11F freighter separating from the aircraft in Louisville. NTSB’s preliminary report showed the left engine (No. 1) and entire pylon assembly tore away from the wing immediately after rotation — the act of raising the nose of the jet at takeoff — igniting into a massive fireball.
With the wing on fire, the air freighter managed only about 30 feet above ground level before losing lift. It cleared the blast fence on Runway 17 Right at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, but struck the roof of a UPS warehouse with its left main gear, then crashed into a nearby industrial park. All three crew members were killed, along with 11 people on the ground.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 11/28/2025 – 10:00
Escuela militar antiimperialista creada por Evo Morales pasa a ser cuartel ecológico en Bolivia
Por CARLOS VALDEZ
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — La Escuela Militar Antiimperialista que Irán financió en Bolivia durante el gobierno izquierdista de Evo Morales pasará a ser un cuartel ecológico contra incendios forestales, anunció el presidente centroderechista Rodrigo Paz a menos de un mes de asumir el cargo.
Morales (2006-2019 ) fundó esa escuela en 2016 con el apoyo de Irán y Venezuela como parte de la Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América (ALBA) para impartir una formación “antiimperialista” a militares de ese bloque creado en 2004 por los entonces presidentes Fidel Castro de Cuba y el venezolano Hugo Chávez.
La visita del entonces ministro iraní de Defensa, Ahmad Vahidi, a esa escuela en 2011 desató un roce diplomático con Argentina que obligó al gobierno de Morales a expulsar a Vahidi, quien tenía una orden de captura internacional como coautor ideológico del atentado en 1994 a la sede en Buenos Aires de la Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) que dejó 85 muertos.
“Estas instalaciones van a ser de utilidad para nuestras Fuerzas Armadas no desde una visión ideológica sino de servicio a la patria”, dijo Paz durante una visita el jueves en la tarde a la escuela situada en una zona rural al norte de la ciudad de Santa Cruz, en el oriente del país.
Agregó que “servirán para proteger nuestras áreas naturales y reservorios”, sobre todo de incendios forestales que cada año golpean al oriente boliviano.
La escuela, adonde acudían oficiales bolivianos para recibir charlas de geopolítica antiimperialista y cuya asistencia era un requisito para el ascenso de grado, fue cerrada a principios de 2020 por la entonces presidenta interina Jeanine Añez tras la renuncia de Morales y pasó a llamarse Héroes de Ñancahuazú en recuerdo de los militares bolivianos que acabaron con la vida del mítico guerrillero Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Estuvo cerrada y era custodiada por soldados durante la gestión del presidente izquierdista Luis Arce (2020-2025).
Bolivia e Irán han mantuvieron relaciones cercanas durante los gobiernos de Morales y Arce. Teherán donó un hospital en la ciudad de El Alto y firmó acuerdos de cooperación en defensa que no lograron concretarse.
En coincidencia con la nueva orientación política del gobierno de Paz, el ejército de Bolivia también restableció desde el viernes su anterior diseño en su página oficial y eliminó símbolos como la bandera indigenista que Morales había creado.
Putin Says US Plan Could Be ‘Basis’ For Ukraine Deal
Putin Says US Plan Could Be ‘Basis’ For Ukraine Deal
Authored by Dave DeCamp via Antiwar.com,
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday spoke favorably about the US’s initial 28-point draft for a potential peace deal in Ukraine, saying it could serve as the “basis” for a future agreement, though he said work still needs to be done to turn it into a concrete plan.
“In general, we agree that this could be the basis for future agreements,” Putin told reporters during a visit to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
“However, it would be inappropriate for me to speak now of any final versions, as these do not exist.”
The initial US draft was altered during talks between US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva, but the exact changes are unclear.
Putin said that he understood that the officials “decided among themselves that all these 28 points should be divided into four separate components. All of this was passed on to us.”
Putin speaking to journalists in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on November 27, 2025 (Kremlin photo)
Putin said that it was clear the US was taking some Russian positions “into account” but that more discussions were needed.
“There are, unquestionably, areas where we need to sit down and engage in serious discussions on specific points, and all such matters must be framed in proper diplomatic language,” he said.
The Russian leader also said it was “ridiculous” that Russia was being asked to commit to not attacking Europe since it has no plans to do so.
“We never had any such intentions. But if they want to have it formalized, let’s do it, no problem,” he said.
While speaking positively about the US proposal, Putin also said it was pointless to sign agreements with the Ukrainian government, which he said was not legitimate because of the lack of elections in Ukraine. The initial US plan called for elections within 100 days of the deal’s signing.
“Signing documents with the Ukrainian leadership is pointless. I have emphasized this on many occasions. I believe that the Ukrainian authorities made a fundamental and strategic mistake when they succumbed to the fear of participating in the presidential elections. As a result, the president lost his legitimate status,” Putin said.
Putin also made clear that if Ukraine doesn’t cede territory, he was content with continuing the war.
“If they don’t withdraw, we will achieve this through military means,” he said.
Putin also confirmed that President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will be traveling to Moscow next week to discuss the deal.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 11/28/2025 – 09:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-says-us-plan-could-be-basis-ukraine-deal
National Guard shooting suspect to face first-degree murder charge
Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, said the suspected gunman in the shooting of two National Guard members will be charged with first-degree murder after the death of a guardsman.
“There are certainly many more charges to come, but we are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree,” Pirro said in an interview Friday morning on Fox News.
US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, originally from Webster Springs, West Virginia, died after being shot Wednesday in an attack near the White House. Pirro said the other guard member, US Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.
Federal authorities have identified the suspected shooter as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who previously worked with US forces and the CIA in Afghanistan before he arrived in the US in 2021. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Thursday that she would seek the death penalty for Lakanwal if either of the shooting victims died.
The shooting has led the administration to move to further crack down on immigration, with President Donald Trump saying late Thursday that he would halt admissions from developing nations and revoke citizenship from some naturalized migrants, though he did not offer details on what countries would be targeted or how he would implement those plans.
The White House has already moved to halt Afghan immigration proceedings and ordered reviews for those admitted into the US.
Authorities are treating the shootings as a terror case but have not publicly described the suspect’s motive. Lakanwal lived in Washington state with his wife and children. Law enforcement officials have said he drove to the nation’s capital with the intent of carrying out the attack.
“We are hoping that the more information we can get, and the more investigation that is going on, 24/7 now, around the clock in Washington, the more we will find out about what actually happened in terms of this individual, even being in this country and being in a position to ambush and shoot down an innocent young woman,” Pirro said Friday.
Asked about a potential motive, Pirro said only that it was still a “fluid situation” and that the investigation was ongoing.
“As you well know there are a great deal of people working, as I said, around the clock, trying to put together exactly what was going on,” she added.
Elgin News Digest: Six ECC employees set to receive NISOD Excellence Awards; former concert promoter to speak at Gail Borden library
Six ECC employees set to receive NISOD Excellence Awards
Elgin Community College has selected six employees to receive the 2026 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Awards.
The awards recognize outstanding faculty, staff and administrators who work at community and technical colleges, according to a news release.
ECC award recipients are Brian Bohr, instructor, Communication Studies; Kathleen DeMars, assistant professor, Adult Basic Education; John Mravik, professor, English; Brittany Mylott, academic advisor; Justin Robertson, dean of Communications & Behavioral Sciences; and Cathy Taylor, dean of Sustainability, Business, and Career Technologies.
They have been invited to represent ECC next year at the League for Innovation in the Community College’s 29th annual Innovations Conference in Indianapolis or at the NISOD Conference: Advancing Community College Student Engagement in Austin, Texas.
Former concert promoter to speak at Gail Borden library
Former concert promoter and author Phil Brakefield will join Elgin Public Museum coordinator Sharry Blazier in sharing stories and presenting live music during a program at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin.
Brakefield will share memories of working with Jimi Hendrix, Frank Sinatra, Glen Campbell, Donovan and other music stars and he and Blazier will sing a few songs. Brakefield also will sign copies of his book, “Life, Dogs and Rock ‘N Roll,” following the program.
To register to attend, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/14630640.
A $1,823 grant from the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board will allow Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin to digitize and preserve Elgin’s dairy-related history. (Gail Borden Public Library)
State grant to fund library preservation of Elgin’s dairy history
Gail Borden Public Library has been awarded a $1,823 grant from the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board to digitize and preserve the dairy-related history of Elgin.
The project will digitally preserve The Elgin Dairy Reports and historical documents from 1892 to 1903 detailing the city’s dairy heritage, according to a news release. It’s expected to take six to 12 months to complete.
The Elgin project is part of a statewide initiative to digitize, preserve and expand access to archival materials that document Illinois’ cultural heritage, according to the release.
“There is immense historical value in preserving these original documents,” Angel Flores, the library’s director of information and digital services, said in the release.
“These volumes are extremely fragile. This grant ensures that the remarkable story of Elgin’s dairy era — a pivotal piece of Elgin’s identity — will not only be preserved, but also be freely accessible online to any student, genealogist or curious resident, no matter where they live.”
During the late 19th century, Elgin was widely known as the “Butter Capital of the World,” serving as the center of a dairy industry that included more than two hundred cheese and butter factories in the surrounding area. The Elgin Dairy Report provided market information on prices for butter, cheese and eggs as well as community announcements and local advertisements.
Anderson Humane offers food pantry for animals in need
During a time when many families may be forced to give up their pets due to financial strain, Anderson Humane in South Elgin wants residents to know it offers a pet food pantry to help people feed their animals.
“Providing programs and services like our Pet Food Pantry recognizes the importance of the human-animal bond and the well-being of both pets and their owners,” Dean Daubert, Anderson’s president/CEO, said in a news release.
The pet food pantry is open daily during operating hours at Anderson’s adoption center, 1000 S. La Fox Road, the news release said. No appointment or donation is required to receive food pantry assistance. Supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis and one visit per household per month is permitted.
Community members who want to support the program can make a financial contribution or donate pet supplies directly to Anderson Humane. For more information, go to ahconnects.org.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/elgin-ecc-library-grant-nisod-dairy-anderson-pantry/
Advierten sobre llegada de cientos de niños sin sus familias a campamentos de refugiados en Sudán
Por FATMA KHALED
EL CAIRO (AP) — Cientos de niños han llegado a un campamento de refugiados sin sus familias luego que miles de personas huyeron de la violencia en la ciudad sudanesa de el-Fasher en el último mes, y cada día llegan más niños desconectados de sus familias, advirtieron diversas organizaciones.
La ONU informó que más de 100.000 personas huyeron de el-Fasher en el oeste de Darfur a partir de finales de octubre, cuando las Fuerzas de Apoyo Rápido (FAR) paramilitares retomaron el control de el-Fasher del ejército sudanés.
UNICEF registró la llegada de 354 niños sin familiares directos a un campamento de refugiados en Tawila, a unos 70 kilómetros (43 millas) al oeste de el-Fasher, entre el 26 de octubre y el 22 de noviembre. Sus padres desaparecieron, fueron detenidos o asesinados en el camino, de acuerdo con personal de algunas ONG.
UNICEF, la agencia de protección infantil de Naciones Unidas, indicó el viernes que 84 niños se reencontraron con sus familias el mes pasado, principalmente en Tawila, donde muchas organizaciones internacionales de ayuda están brindando asistencia a la población afectada por los combates en el-Fasher, la capital de Darfur del Norte tomada por las FAR el mes pasado.
El Consejo Noruego para Refugiados (NRC, por sus siglas en inglés) informó que al menos 400 niños han llegado a Tawila sin sus padres. Algunos llegaron al campamento con la ayuda de familiares lejanos, vecinos y extraños que no querían dejarlos solos en el desierto o en el-Fasher, detalló el jueves Mathilde Vu, gerente de defensa del NRC.
“Muchos niños llegaron con claras señales de hambre, extremadamente delgados. Están muy huesudos y deshidratados”, dijo, agregando que algunos muestran angustia psicológica, incluyendo inquietud, mutismo o retraimiento, llanto constante, describiendo pesadillas o involucrándose en peleas.
El último desplazamiento masivo comenzó cuando las FAR dejaron cientos de muertos en el-Fasher, que era el último bastión del ejército sudanés. La guerra entre las FAR y el ejército comenzó en 2023, cuando estallaron tensiones entre los dos exaliados que debían supervisar una transición democrática tras un levantamiento en 2019.
La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) afirmó que los combates han matado al menos a 40.000 personas y desplazado a 12 millones. Sin embargo, los grupos de ayuda dicen que el verdadero número de muertos podría ser muchas veces mayor.
Sheldon Yett, representante de UNICEF en Sudán, describió a los niños que llegan al campamento como “desconcertados, desnutridos y deshidratados”.
“El problema es que la violencia extrema que muchos de estos niños presenciaron es simplemente asombrosa para mí. Ver a sus madres desaparecer y, en algunos casos, la ejecución de miembros de su familia. Es simplemente más allá de cualquier cosa que haya escuchado”, dijo Yett el viernes.
Aunque los niños han recibido apoyo psicológico de los trabajadores de ayuda, algunos todavía duermen en el suelo y apenas tienen una comida al día, indicó Vu, del NRC.
“La gente tiene hambre, sed, necesita educación, necesita atención médica, necesita apoyo psicosocial y debemos dárselo ahora y no esperar a que llegue la paz a Sudán”, dijo Vu.
Las FAR están compuestas en gran parte por combatientes de la milicia árabe Janjaweed, acusada de llevar a cabo una campaña genocida respaldada por el gobierno en Darfur en la década de 2000, en la que murieron alrededor de 300.000 personas.
A principios de este mes, las FAR acordaron una tregua humanitaria propuesta por un grupo mediador liderado por Estados Unidos, pero el ejército de Sudán ha declarado que las FAR deben retirarse completamente de las áreas civiles y desarmarse.
El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, ha dicho que pretende ejercer presión para poner fin a la guerra de Sudán después que el príncipe heredero saudí Mohammed bin Salman le pidió intervenir.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Naperville Police Arrests for Nov. 22-24
The following items were taken from Naperville police reports and press releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt:
A 29-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on three warrants at 12:57 p.m. Nov. 22 in the 1800 block of Centre Point Circle.
An 18-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of street racing and speeding 35 mph or more above the posted limit at 11:35 p.m. Nov. 22 at Route 59 and Leverenz Road.
A 45-year-old man from Warrenville was arrested on a warrant and on charges of disobeying a stop sign, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving on a suspended license, driving without a registration and transportation or possession of open alcohol by a driver at 2:28 a.m. Nov. 23 at South Main Street and West Chicago Avenue.
A 19-year-old man from Chicago was arrested on charges of theft not exceeding $500 and criminal trespass to a building at 8:54 p.m. Nov. 23 in the 3000 block of South Sacramento Avenue in Chicago.
A 19-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on a charge of speeding 35 mph or more over the posted limit at 11:31 p.m. Nov. 23 at North Mill Street and West Ogden Avenue.
A 22-year-old man from Aurora was arrested on a warrant and on a charge of unlawful resistance or obstruction of an officer at 7:09 p.m. Nov. 24 in the 0 to 100 block of Fort Hill Drive.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/naperville-police-arrests-blotter-november-5/
Naperville North’s Gabriel Hill, a ‘self-made’ star, is the 2025 Naperville Sun Football Player of the Year
One would have to rise pretty early in the morning to witness the work Naperville North senior defensive lineman Gabriel Hill does in order to shine under the lights on Friday nights.
On a typical school day, the 6-foot-2, 290-pound Indiana recruit is up before dawn to begin a routine that has helped him become one of the best players in the state.
“I work out until about 6 to 6:20, then shower and eat and go to school, go to practice,” Hill said. “Then I come home and study and then go back for strength training.”
Hill used to do most of his training after school, but his uncle Eric, a former high school basketball player, encouraged him to switch it up.
“He works out early in the morning,” Hill said. “He said, ‘You should try working out early in the morning.’ I started this year, and I just kind of liked it. It helps me mentally wake up for the day.”
The new routine is just the latest incarnation of a work ethic that Hill, the 2025 Naperville Sun Football Player of the Year, has displayed since his earliest days in football. It often goes overlooked due to his imposing physical size.
Naperville North’s Gabriel Hill, top, tackles Lockport’s Christopher Miller in the backfield for a loss during a Southwest Valley Blue Conference game in Naperville on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (Sean King / Naperville Sun)
Naperville North senior safety Griffin Jurjovec has played with Hill since they were in first grade.
“He’s always been that big,” Jurjovec said. “Probably in first grade he was almost the size of my dad. But his great work ethic is what sets him apart and makes him the man that he is now.
“He’s always working overtime — working out, eating properly, getting his body in the right condition. He’s always lifting, always with the trainer, stretching.”
Naperville North coach Sean Drendel said he hasn’t had to motivate Hill.
“He’s a relentless worker, and he’s self-made,” Drendel said. “He’s done a tremendous amount to get himself in this position. Any accolades he gets, he deserves.”
During his three-year varsity career, Hill became the most dominant defensive lineman in Naperville North history. As a senior, he had 52 tackles, 20 for loss, eight pass breakups, five sacks, two fumble recoveries, two blocked extra-point attempts, a blocked punt, a forced fumble and an interception, and he was named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association’s Class 8A all-state team.
Hill finished his career with 173 tackles, 64 for loss, 21 sacks, 19 hurries, 12 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, four blocked kicks and three fumble recoveries. He ranks 20th on the Illinois High School Association’s career sacks list and holds all of the Huskies’ records for defensive linemen.
“He is a fierce competitor,” Drendel said. “He has a tremendous love for Naperville North, and this year he was a tremendous leader. He was probably our hardest worker.
“So you wrap all those things up with the type of talent he has, you end up with probably one of the best that’s ever played at Naperville North.”
Naperville North’s Gabriel Hill (8) reacts after sacking Oswego quarterback Drew Kleinhans during a game in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs in Oswego on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (Mark Black / Naperville Sun)
That is saying a lot considering seven Huskies have played in the NFL.
“I’ve watched all of them, and in his time at Naperville North, (Hill) has done more than probably anyone,” Drendel said.
For all of Hill’s momentum-switching plays and impressive physical feats on the field, he’d like history to remember his high school career in simple terms.
“I would say my legacy would probably be a football player who works hard and puts everything on the line for myself and my teammates and my coaches and just enjoyed the game,” he said.
Hill added that he’s most proud of his leadership abilities. He has become more vocal and a role model for the younger kids.
Next, he will head to Bloomington, Indiana, to play football in the Big Ten.
“Being able to play college football is definitely something I’m very proud of,” he said. “That’s a goal I’ve had since I was in eighth grade. That’s when I started working out because I wanted to play on varsity and then college.”
Those workouts will continue.
“A lot of it will be keeping a mentally sharp perspective on my career and my future,” Hill said. “I feel like a lot of the best players like the Aaron Donalds, the DeVonta Smiths, have a really good routine of working out, staying in shape, watching a lot of film, taking care of their bodies.
“So I think as long as I continue to take care of myself and push myself physically, I’ll get the result I want.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
“Are You Stupid?”: Watch Trump Blast Leftist Media Over Biden Immigration Debacle
“Are You Stupid?”: Watch Trump Blast Leftist Media Over Biden Immigration Debacle
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
President Trump refused to play the games of the leftist media Thursday, at one point going off on a reporter, labelling them a “stupid person.”
The reporter asked Trump “Why are you blaming Biden?! [for the DC National Guard attack]”
TRUMP responded, “Are you a STUPID PERSON?” adding, “Because they LET HIM IN,” referring to the Afghan national suspect.
“Are you STUPID? They came on a plane with thousands who shouldn’t be here,” Trump continued, adding “And you’re just asking questions ’cause you’re a stupid person!”
“And there’s a law passed where it’s almost IMPOSSIBLE to get them out. You can’t get them out once they get in!” Trump further blasted.
🚨 HOLY CRAP! President Trump goes BERSERK on the fake news 🔥🔥
“Why are you blaming Biden?! [for the DC National Guard attack]”
TRUMP: “Are you a STUPID PERSON?”
“Because they LET HIM IN. Are you STUPID? They came on a plane with THOUSANDS who shouldn’t be here. And you’re… pic.twitter.com/5ucQBNjbLr
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 28, 2025
As we earlier highlighted, somewhere in the region of 85 THOUSAND Afghans entered the U.S. under Biden, with a basically non-existent vetting process.
Earlier in the briefing, the President had to deliver the awful news that 20 year old U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom of Summersville, West Virginia has passed away after the horrific attack.
🚨 NOW – PRESIDENT TRUMP: “We have no greater national security priority than ensuring that we have full control over the people that enter and remain in our country. For the most part, WE DON’T WANT THEM!”
SEND THEM BACK. ALL. pic.twitter.com/qqsiGg7O2g
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 27, 2025
Trump further urged, “We have no greater national security priority than ensuring that we have full control over the people that enter and remain in our country. For the most part, we don’t want them.”
Tyler Durden
Fri, 11/28/2025 – 09:05
Christian Gavin transferred to Andrean with great expectations. Together, they’re fulfilling that promise.
Andrean’s season is going precisely as Christian Gavin envisioned.
Gavin transferred from Lake Central following the first semester of his junior year, not long after the 59ers lost to Adams Central in a Class 2A semistate last November.
“As soon as I came here, I already knew the standard, what was the main goal, and that was beat Adams Central and make it to state,” he said. “It started as soon as I got here — the lifting, the goals, all the hard work.”
All that work paid off when Gavin and the 59ers defeated defending state champion Adams Central, which was ranked No. 1 in the 2A coaches poll, in a semistate last week. No. 4 Andrean (12-1) will play No. 2 Brownstown Central (14-0) in the 2A state championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday.
“It’s an unreal feeling, for sure,” Gavin said. “My first time coming this far, it just feels great.”
But Gavin knows this isn’t the first time for the 59ers, who will be playing in their third state championship game in five seasons and will be seeking their fourth state title.
“I knew it’s a good culture to be around,” he said. “I thought it would be a good fit for me, this team and this program.
“You have to show that you want to be here. You have to show that you want to put in the work. It really wasn’t a hard transition because I knew what I was looking for. I wanted that extra motivation, that extra push.”
Gavin has delivered in his only season for the 59ers. The 6-foot, 225-pound senior outside linebacker has a team-high 97 tackles, a team-high 16 tackles for loss, three sacks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
“He’s been great since arriving on campus,” Andrean coach Chris Skinner said. “He’s bought into what we’re doing. We first saw that in the weight room with his work ethic and his dedication to it. We saw it early in the summer, just with the way we were teaching him and the way he was absorbing what we were doing. We were asking him to play a different position than he had played previously. He played mostly as a defensive end, and we thought he had a lot of potential off the ball as an outside linebacker. That was a little new for him — and obviously learning our system, the little intricacies of how to be successful as an outside linebacker.
“But all of that is to say, we could tell early on that he was extremely motivated and willing to learn and ask questions. His athletic ability, his speed and power, probably flashes. But you have to play with technique, and what we’ve seen throughout the season is a continual improvement on the technique side that allows him to play with that power and speed.”
Gavin, who started for two seasons at Lake Central, embraced the position change.
“I low-key prefer the outside backer,” he said. “Being more in space, you can just see the field and just move to the ball and just play.
“I have a high motor, just flowing and flying around, just having fun. Just being able to pressure the QB when I’m blitzing and don’t give him a lot of time in the pocket. If I’m bringing that pressure, that QB is going to know I’m coming.”
Senior outside linebacker Christian Gavin has 97 tackles and 16 tackles for loss for Andrean, which will play Brownstown Central in the Class 2A state championship game on Saturday. (Michael Osipoff / Post-Tribune)
Andrean junior inside linebacker Ethan Reyna appreciates Gavin’s presence.
“Christian is an impact player, and it’s so great to have him on our defense,” Reyna said. “He plays with crazy intensity and violence on every snap. He’s a player you definitely want on your side and not the other team. He’s also an awesome teammate, and it’s been great building a bond with him on and off the field.”
Andrean sophomore inside linebacker Vinny Zsuppon feels the same way.
“Christian is an outstanding football player and person,” Zsuppon said. “He’s a great person to be around, and it’s very fun to be out there on the field with him on Friday nights. I’m very glad he transferred to Andrean, and I’d say he really loves it here.”
Gavin played basketball at Lake Central during his freshman year. He was going to play again as a sophomore, but he suffered a dislocated right kneecap and partially torn patella tendon in the regular-season finale of football season. He intends to play basketball for Andrean.
Gavin’s future is in football, however.
“There’s scholarship football ahead of him,” Skinner said. “The exact level, that’s something we’ll have to figure out in the offseason, talking to schools. But he’s put a lot of really good stuff on film to show college coaches what he’s capable of doing.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/28/football-2a-state-final-andrean-christian-gavin/
