Drake's the place for Conant's Klosowicz

Conant senior running back Kyle Klosowicz attracted more attention from opposing defenses as his breakout all-area football season progressed.

It also brought Klosowicz his share of college attention. And he made his decision to play for Drake after making a weekend visit to the Des Moines, Iowa campus.

"They're just really big on team and it seemed like an atmosphere I wanted to be in the next four or five years," Klosowicz said. "It seems like the right level of football, too."

The 6-foot, 174-pound Klosowicz just missed Conant's single-season record for rushing yards with 1,479, set the single-game mark with 288 yards and finished with 16 touchdowns. He also had interest from Division II University of Indianapolis, Hillsdale and Upper Iowa and NAIA school St. Ambrose.

But everything at Drake, which is a non-scholarship Division I-AA program, appealed to Klosowicz. He has a 3.6 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, scored 25 on the ACT and wants to study business.

"That's part of the reason I wanted to go there so much," Klosowicz said. "Looking at where I would be when I graduate from college was real huge for me."

A strong base of Mid-Suburban League players at Drake also had an impact on Klosowicz. During his weekend visit he roomed with Cody Seeger and met Cam Good, who were all-area players two years ago at Barrington.

And a likely position change to a receiver or "J-back" combination receiver-running back-tight end didn't bother Klosowicz. He played slot receiver as a Conant junior.

"It was always something I had my mind on," Klosowicz said of playing college football. "My junior year I didn't have the season I wanted to have but I came into senior year planning to do really well."

Sotos to Carroll: Conant boys basketball senior guard Christian Sotos has verbally committed to play for Carroll University in Wisconsin. The 6-foot Sotos leads the Cougars in scoring at 13.1 points a game and has hit 30 3-pointers.

"Christian will have an immediate impact on our program, and his versatility will allow him to see the floor early in his career," said Carroll coach David Buchanan in an e-mail. "We think his best days are ahead of him as he continues to get stronger and develop his complete game."