Mroz excels in senior year at Emory
While attending Libertyville High School, Katie Mroz was an all-state swimmer.
Now in her final season in college, she has made a name for herself nationally at the Division III level.
The Emory University senior has qualified once again for the NCAA Division III national championships by recording ‘A' cuts in both the 100-yard (1:04.22) and 200-yard breaststrokes (2:19.54) at the 17th Annual Miami of Ohio Invitational.
Mroz's time in the 100-yard breaststroke was over four seconds faster than her previous lifetime best and the third fastest recorded at the D-III level this year.
She also earned a ‘B' cut and will compete at nationals in the 200-yard freestyle (1:53.43).
Last spring, Mroz earned All-America honors in three events at the national meet and finished second overall in the 200-yard breaststroke as the Eagles were crowned national champions for the third time in the last six years.
Mroz was recently recognized as a scholar All-American for the second time by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America for her performance both in the pool and the classroom.
She has also been captain of the Emory squad for the 2010-11 season. Emory is currently ranked No. 1 at the D-III level by the CSCAA.
Men's soccer
Central College senior forward Brett McKenzie (Antioch) received second-team all-North region recognition from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Earlier tabbed as the Iowa Conference MVP, a first in the program's history, McKenzie was a three-time league pick.
He was selected the conference's offensive player of the week twice (Sept. 13, Oct. 25) and led the league in goals with 11 and game-winning goals with five.
McKenzie closed his Central career setting a record in game-winning goals with 15. He was second in shots (240), second in shots on goal (114) and third in goals (38).
The Dutch compiled a 13-5 overall record, going 5-3 in conference play. Central advanced to the conference tournament for the ninth straight year under coach Garry Laidlaw.
Marathon
Former Stevenson cross country runner Brian Grudowski finished 39th among the men in his first attempt at the New York City Marathon in 2:29.20 on Nov. 7.
Grudowski, who was clocked in 2:29.20, is an elite runner who competed in the Boston Marathon.
He also ran cross country at Southern Illinois and graduated from Eastern Illinois with a degree in English and physical education.
Grudowski works in Denver, Colorado, at the Runner's Roost, a store which sells running shoes and clothing. He would like to pursue a teaching career in physical education in Denver.
Fundraisers
On Dec. 3, players from the Libertyville girls basketball program partnered with Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding starving children hungry in body and spirit.
The Wildcats basketball players spent time at a packing event at Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake to help pack as many as two million meals to be distributed to starving children globally.
Ÿ The Libertyville High School cheerleaders donated over 50 toys to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. This contribution from the cheerleaders will directly benefit families at the holidays.
The toy collection was part of the freshmen, junior varsity and varsity team holiday gathering.
300 milestone
Barrington girls basketball coach Babbi Barreiro, who was honored as the District 6 co-coach of the 2009-10 season, won the 300th game of her 18-year career last week against Huntley.
“Three hundred wins is a reflection of both success and longevity as a coach,” said Barrington athletic director Mike Obsuszt who presented Barreiro the game ball after the 53-30 victory. “What it doesn't reflect though is the fact that Babbi has had such a positive impact on the lives of the hundreds of players she has coached over the years. That is what makes her such a special coach.”
Barreiro, an Elk Grove High and Indiana University graduate, has won nine regional titles, five MSL division crowns, two MSL titles and one sectional.
She has the most wins in Barrington school history for boys or girls basketball.
Football
Co-team captains of the 2010 North Park football team Sam Lialios (Buffalo Grove) and Nick Pantaleo (Hoffman Estates) played in the 2010 Division 3 Senior Classic in Salem, Va. on Dec 3.
The classic brought together an All-Star selection of Division 3 players from 238 schools in a North vs. South format.
Lialios and Pantaleo played for the North team and helped lead the North to a 26-18 victory over the South team.
Pantaleo had 1 knocked down pass, 4 tackles, a 25-yard kick return and a 50-yard interception return.
Lialios, a tight end-wide receiver, has led North Park in team receptions for the last three years. He is a CCIW Academic all-conference student-athlete.
He had 1 reception for 10 yards and 3 carries for 2 yards and he played tight end and fullback in the Senior Classic.
Pantaleo, who ranked third in the CCIW for total tackles (86) and sixth in passes defended (9) earned his second straight All-CCIW honor this past season. Pantaleo is also a CCIW academic all-conference student-athlete.
Ÿ Tony Baratti (Prospect), a senior linebacker for Beloit, has been named to the D3Football.com All-West Region Team.
Baratti, a three-time First Team All-Midwest Conference selection, was the MWC's Co-Defensive Player of the Year this season.
He led the MWC in tackles with 110, the third season he topped the century mark, and was second in tackles for loss with 15.5. He finished his career at Beloit as the program's all-time leader in tackles with 434. He was also named Beloit's MVP for the third straight season.
#376; Please e-mail Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.