Wheeling grad Hanson-Tuntland boasts eclectice resumé
When she was an all-Atlantic Coast Conference volleyball player for North Carolina, Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland also found time for other campus-run activities.
She was part of the dance company, two choirs and a modeling troupe.
Now she has added painting to her impressive resume that includes a degree in broadcast journalism.
“I needed something else to fill my time other than volleyball,” she said of her college days. “I get bored very easily. I like to find things that make me happy.”
Hanson-Tuntland and her Katrineholm professional volleyball team made their fans very happy last month by winning the gold medal in the Swedish Elite Division.
After eight months in the province of Sodermanland, Hanson-Tuntland is back home for the summer, where she will weigh her options for the next pro volleyball season.
“I’ve had some offers from other countries,” she said. “I am in contract negotiations and will have to decide where I want to play.”
For now, she plans to do some traveling.
“It was awesome winning the gold in Sweden,” Hanson-Tuntland said. “The stands were packed, and packed with paying supporters, who each dropped 100 crowns ($18) to watch women’s court volleyball.
“And they loved it, men and women, hundreds cheering.”
Hanson-Tuntland even wrote a blog in English to help American and British fans read about her life in Sweden on the team’s website.
She grew up in Sweden for the first nine years of her life before moving to Prospect Heights and playing for Wheeling High School from 2002-05.
At Wheeling, Hanson-Tuntland was coached by Rita Runyard and assistant Ben Chin.
“Mr. Chin helped me get involved with Sports Performance and then I was able to get a scholarship to North Carolina,” she said.
Her college photo hangs in the hallways at Wheeling.
“I hope to start a trend,” she said. “I hope I can get the ball rolling and more people believe they can go further than what society normally expects. If you have a specific desire, there are always opportunities and hopefully more people can get their chances.”
In high school, Hanson-Tuntland said she never dreamed of one day playing professionally in the country where she grew up.
“But I did think it would be cool to play for the Swedish national team, and I still have an opportunity for that because of my Swedish roots,” she said. “It’s in the works. I’m trying to get dual citizenship and playing for the national team would be cool.”
Women’s softball
Emory freshman pitcher Lena Brottman (Fremd) is one of five Eagles to earn first-team All-University Athletic Association honors.
She has played a key role on this year’s squad that has compiled a record of 40-2-1 along with a No. 2 national ranking among NCAA Division III programs.
Brottman has bolstered the mound corps with a 16-1 record along with a UAA-leading ERA of 1.17 that ranks nationally among the top 20.
Brottman has struck out 98 batters, 11th on Emory’s seasonal list, including a personal high of 10 against Huntingdon College on April 5.
Ÿ University of Chicago sophomore pitcher Kim Cygan (Barrington) was selected as the University Athletic Association’s athlete of the week for softball.
Cygan, 8-6 with a 2.56 ERA, threw 15 scoreless innings over 4 appearances for the Maroons.
Booster Club
The Prospect Knights Athletic Boosters will be hosting their 13th annual Memorial Day 5K race and two-mile walk on Monday, May 30, at 8:30 a.m. If you cannot make the race/walk and want to support the event, you may do so. Early signups assist in planning, and same-day signups are welcome.
Marine Corps
The 23rd annual Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation golf tournament will be held Aug. 8, at the Boulder Ridge Country Club in Lake in the Hills.
Since 1962, the foundation has provided over $60 million in scholarships for the children of Marine and Navy corpsmen. For more information, please contact Doug Raupp or Bob Steger at (847) 516-3773 or MCSF.org/Chicago Golf.
Women’s track
Notre Dame sophomore Rebecca Tracy (Barrington) finished second in the 1,500-meter run (4:20.38) at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. Tracy finished first in the 800 (personal-best 2:09.70) at the Gina Relays in Hillsdale, Mich.
Men’s track and field
Iowa sophomore Jeff Thode (Conant) finished second in the seeded 1,500 run (3:46.15) at the Drake Relays.
Women’s swimming
Maine West seniors Casey Cullen and Jen Rey have signed national letters of intent. Cullen will swim at Youngstown State and Rey will dive at West Virginia. Rey was all-conference for three years and all-state with a seventh-place finish as a senior. Cullen was all-conference for four years and a conference champion in the 100-butterfly.
Baseball
Knox College first-year outfielder Erik Smoy (Hoffman Estates) became the second player to win the Prairie Fire Performer of the Week Award during the spring season.
He went 3-for-6 with a home run, 4 RBI, 4 walks and 4 runs scored to help the Prairie Fire defeat the Fighting Scots 7-6 and 14-4. Smoy reached base four times with a pair of hits and 2 walks while scoring a run in a come-from-behind win in Game 1 and added a grand slam in Game 2 with 2 walks and 3 runs. Hitting in the No. 2 spot in the order, Smoy has a .600 on-base percentage and leads the team in runs scored (16) and walks (14).
Ÿ Concordia Chicago junior catcher Nick Skala (St. Viator) leads the team with a .432 batting average. He was named the NAC student-athlete of the week for the second consecutive week as he hit .607 (17-for-28) with 2 homers and 10 RBI.
Ÿ Please e-mail Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.