Paul achieves in classroom at Illinois
Former Warren all-area basketball standout Brandon Paul isn’t all about performing on the court.
He also likes to excel in the classroom.
The Illini shooting guard and 2009 Illinois Mr. Basketball has been named to the Big Ten All-Academic Team.
To be eligible for an Academic All-Big Ten selection, student-athletes must be letter winners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
Paul played in all 34 games for Illinois this season, starting in 10 and averaging 22.4 minutes.
He was fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.0 points and led the Illini in steals (1.1 pg).
Paul also was second in assists (2.1 pg) and fifth in rebounds (3.1 pg).
He reached double figures 13 times, including three 20-point games, and led the team in scoring five times.
Paul scored a career-high 23 points, including 9-for-10 shooting from the free throw line against Purdue on Feb. 13.
Softball
Indiana Tech sophomore Sam Berrios (Warren) was named the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference “Pitcher of the Week” earlier this season after winning three consecutive games and saving one in Clermont, Fla.
Berrios (10-1) recently threw a complete game to defeat Aquinas College 3-1 for her 10th win.
She has thrown 72.1 innings for the Warriors (24-7) and owns 1.06 ERA for Indiana Tech, which is located in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Women’s tennis
Two former area players helped Saint Mary (South Bend) take a decisive 7-2 conference win against MIAA foe Olivet at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.
At No. 6 singles, Mary Therese Lee (Libertyville) had several aces as she made quick work of her opponent with a 6-0, 6-1 triumph.
Lee and partner Franca Peluso (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) won at No. 2 doubles.
The No. 1 doubles duo of Margaret Boden (Lake Zurich) and Jillian Hurley battled back from a deficit and pulled to within 7-5, playing multiple deuces before falling 8-5 to Olivet.
Breast Cancer awareness
This Friday, the Leyden girls softball program is hosting a “Striking Out Breast Cancer” hitting derby.
Every five dollars donated will get you five swings at the plate, and just by participating you will have a chance to win a variety of prizes (from Leyden wear to restaurant vouchers, gift cards and sports memorabilia).
The hitting derby will begin at 3:30 p.m. on the varsity softball field at the east campus. There will be music and food.
Women’s bowling
Whitewater senior and women’s bowling team member Ashley Keclik (Fremd) was one of 27 student-athletes recognized for her outstanding performance academically as well as athletically at a special luncheon.
She is majoring in early childhood education with a minor in coaching and has a cumulative GPA of 3.285.
Keclik made the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and was selected to the National Tenpin Coaches Association All-Academic Team in 2009-10. She has had term honors for three semesters. Ashley won the Fright Night Invite in 2008 and was a member of the team that qualified for the USBC Collegiate Team Championship in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
She has participated in Make a Difference Day, Reading with the Warhawks, helped with the Food Drive for Whitewater Food Pantry, spent time as a nursing home volunteer, and worked with the service learning project.
Keclik has also been a bowling camp counselor and coached Saturday morning bowling leagues. She was a volunteer co-coordinator for the early childhood conference.
Men’s track and field
North Central senior Michael Spain (Schaumburg) clocked the nation’s fastest time in the 10,000-meter, winning the event in an automatic qualifying time of 29:37.82 at the First Chance Invitational hosted by the Cardinals.
Ÿ University of Chicago senior Arthur Baptist (Prospect) placed second in the 10,000-meter run at the 20-team Chicagoland Championship Meet held at the Ted Haydon Track in Hyde Park. Baptist#146;s time of 31.08 minutes was a Division III national qualifying time.Rugby
The Arlington Stallions Rugby Club began its 2011 varsity season with a 47-0 win over the Schaumburg/Palatine Barbarians.
The game highlighted strong performances from both first year players and four-year veterans of the Stallions program who took up the game while in middle school.
In the opening minute of play, Kalvin Booker (Buffalo Grove) ran through the Barbarian mid-field defense to set up the day#146;s first try by John Maevski (Conant).
From that point, the hard running of Booker and fellow senior Keith Jones (Buffalo Grove HS) set the table for Junior All- American scrum-half Kevin Lydon and senior fly-half Tyler Carolin to control the flow of play and distribute multiple tries (rugby#146;s version of a touchdown) to outside backs Gino Prestia (Conant), Andrew Collins (Hersey), David Hogan (Rolling Meadows) and senior forward Tom Devona (Rolling Meadows).
Ÿ Please e-mail Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.