Leonard loves opportunity to join Butler soccer program
Palatine resident Eric Leonard will be studying in a new state this fall.
It has put him in a very satisfying state of mind.
The Fremd soccer standout has signed a letter to play for Butler University in Indianapolis.
"Attending Butler is a dream come true," said Leonard, a two-time all-conference selection. "I can not wait to be a part of an academic institution with a great coaching staff, a team of skilled and hardworking players and a top engineering program."
Leonard is one off five freshmen recruits along with one transfer who will join the roster of Bulldogs coach Paul Snape next fall. The six newcomers represent four different states and the Republic of Cyprus.
Leonard plans on majoring at Biomedical Engineering at Butler.
In high school, he has also been a major player for the Chicago Sockers Development Academy where he currently serves as a captain.
"The first thing that you notice about Eric is his passion for life and soccer," Snape said. "He is a born leader and someone who has the rare ability to consistently motivate his teammates to push beyond their perceived limits."
Leonard is a versatile player on the field.
"He possesses the technique and tactical acumen to play in several positions without a drop off in performance levels," Snape said. "He has always been the heart and soul of any team that he has played for. His work rate is phenomenal and he loves the physical side of the game.
"He also understands that to become to a successful soccer player you need to dedicate your time and efforts into improving your strengths and weaknesses. Eric is the ultimate team player who loves to win."
Leonard also dedicates plenty of time to the classroom.
He has been on High Honor Roll each semester at Fremd School and is a current member of the National Honor Society.
His volunteer work includes, but is not limited to, Relay For Life, PADS, Feed My Starving Children and Food Rescue.
Men's tennis
Wheaton College senior Ryan Kreis (Fremd) was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Men's Tennis Player of the Week. Kreis posted a 3-0 record at number-one singles for the Thunder.
He earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Ben Shklyar of UW-Whitewater, the ninth-ranked player in the ITA's Central Region for Division III.
He followed that with a 7-5, 6-2 win against Bobby Brooks and a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Lake Forest's Anthony Warren.
Then on Saturday, Kreis paired with teammate Josh Ward at No. 1 doubles to earn wins against UW-Oshkosh (s8-5) and Lake Forest (8-3).
The duo dropped an 8-6 decision to the regionally-ranked number-one doubles team from UW-Whitewater on Saturday.
Kreis is 7-1 in singles play this season, including his 3-0 record last week.
He has teamed with Ward at No. 1 doubles for a 7-2 record this season.
In his two seasons at Wheaton, Kreis has compiled a 26-3 record in singles competition. In 2013 he earned all-American recognition, posting a 19-2 record for the Thunder. He has a 24-5 record in doubles competition in his time at Wheaton.
Men's hockey
Franklin Pierce freshman forward Aaron Blaker of Rolling Meadows has been named to the Northeast-10 Conference All-Rookie Team.
Blaker played in 22 of the team's 24 games during his first season in Rindge.
Along the way, he scored 5 goals, including a pair of power-play markers, and added 7 assists to total 12 points.
Twice he scored the game-winning goal, including in his most-productive outing of the season, when he scored twice and added an assist for a 3-point day at Assumption.
After being held off the scoresheet through the season's first half, all 12 of his points came in the second half's 14 games, including a five-game point streak (4-4-8) from Jan. 18 through Feb. 1.
Baker was a two-time selection as Northeast-10 Rookie of the Week.
He ranked sixth among in scoring among freshmen in the Northeast-10 in freshmen scoring. He was one of only nine freshmen in the league to top 10 points on the season.
Men's soccer
Millikin sophomore Zach Solorio (Elk Grove), a sophomore on the men's soccer team majoring in marketing, was named to the 2013 Fall Sports CCIW Academic All-Conference team.
Men's lacrosse
Beloit sophomore Jake Pritscher (Conant) scored the winning goal for the Bucs (2-0) in their season opener and he added 6 goals in their second game against Fontbonne in St. Louis.
Pritscher was the all-time leading scorer at Conant where he played four years and was a three-time all-conference selection and all-stater.
In his freshman year at Beloit, Pritscher was second on the team with goals scored and he scored the first goal in program history when Beloit fielded its first team in the 2012-13 season.
Men's track
Augustana swept the top five places in the 3000 event at the University of Dubuque's Spartan Invitational at the A.Y. McDonald Indoor Track.
Winning the 3000 was Vikings sophomore Ethan Koch (Prospect) with a time of 8:46.20. The Vikings scored 181 points to win the meet.
• Carthage sophomore Mark Balmes (Hersey) was second in the shot put (52 feet, 1 inch) at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin indoor track and field championship in Bloomington, Ill.
Women's track
Augustana's Becca Sund was part of the winning distance medley relay team that recorded a time of 12:30.23 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Indoor Track and Field Championship in Bloomington, Ill.
Men's basketball
Washington University (St. Louis) senior guard Alan Aboona (St. Viator) scored 25 points and dished out 8 assists in an 86-73 triumph over the University of Chicago in the final game of the regular season. Aboona connected on four 3-point baskets and was 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
He became the 22nd player in school history to score 1,000 points after converting a pair of free throws with 3:57 left in the game.
With the win, the No. 3 Bears improved to 23-2, running their winning streak to 18 games and securing a second undefeated season in the University Athletic Association conference.
Arlington Stallions
Tony Lapiana (Fremd) and Spencer Krueger (Hersey) of the Arlington Stallions Rugby Club have been named to the 2014 Illinois All-State team's Great Britain Tour.
Departing on July 23, the squad will play four games in England and Wales. "This is a great opportunity for not only these two players, but their home clubs as well," said Stallions coach Paul Bergman "When your club's leading players get a chance to play against the kind of competition our boys will see this summer, they bring valuable experience back to their teammates that cannot be duplicated in domestic matches."
Lou Raymond, the Illinois All-State U17 coach, added how pleased he was that the two Stallions have joined the tour.
"Tony and Spencer come to us well trained and have the attitude and work ethic required to be successful," Raymond said. "Tony's experience, cerebral approach to the game and defensive tenacity always raises the performance of those around him.
"And Spencer, while only a sophomore, is already bigger and stronger than most of his peers on the pitch. He plays with great intensity and total fearlessness. We are looking forward to seeing him make great strides with this touring opportunity."
The selection process for this tour began in December and will continue through the Illinois competitive season, due to kick off during the first week in April.
The majority of the squad has been selected, with a few final choices set to be determined by the State Championship on Memorial Day.
For more information about rugby in this area, go to www.arlingtonstallionsrugby.com or www.palatinepioneers.org.
Triathlon
University of Illinois senior Lauren Frisbie (Hersey) and junior Kendall Cox (Palatine) have qualified to compete in the 2014 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships.
They qualified as part of the Illini Triathlon Club Team based on points accumulated in races during the 2013 season and will race at the Olympic distance (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run).
The team will travel to Tempe, Ariz., to race in the championships on April 5.
• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.