Sports
Illinois High School Sports: IHSA Honors 4 Media Veterans
Joliet, IL – A familiar voice in Will County high school sports is receiving statewide recognition, as longtime WJOL broadcaster Scott Slocum has been named a recipient of the Illinois High School Ass
By Tessa Morgan · 2026-09-22T09:42:01.292Z
Joliet, IL – A familiar voice in Will County high school sports is receiving statewide recognition, as longtime WJOL broadcaster Scott Slocum has been named a recipient of the Illinois High School Association's Distinguished Media Service Award.
According to the IHSA, Slocum is one of four members of the award's 2026 27 class, joining Millie Lange, Dave Rigg and the late Jim "Teck" Teckenbrock. The honor recognizes longtime media members who have covered Illinois high school sports and activities while maintaining perspective on the amateur events they report on.
Slocum began his broadcasting career at WJOL in Joliet in 1988 as a sports reporter and later became the station's sports director. He also worked at Chicago's WBBM Newsradio 780 from 1995 through 1999 before becoming WJOL's program director and morning show host in 1999.
His career has included radio and television coverage of high school athletics, including IHSA girls basketball and volleyball state finals. Slocum has also been part of broadcasts involving 18 state football championships won by Joliet Catholic and Providence.
Beyond broadcasting, Slocum created several local high school tournaments, including the WJOL Boys Thanksgiving Classic, WJOL Girls Basketball Classic, Don Ladas Memorial Baseball Tournament and WJOL Softball Tourney.
Slocum will receive the award Dec. 18 at Joliet West High School during the Joliet West and Joliet Central varsity girls and boys basketball doubleheader. The presentation is scheduled to follow the girls game at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Lange will become the award's first female recipient, while Teckenbrock, who died in 2025, will become its first posthumous honoree.
Each recipient will be recognized at a high school event during the 2026 27 school year