Sabatello impressing with Purdue
Danny Sabatello enjoyed one of the finest weeks of his collegiate wrestling career and received accolades from the Big Ten.
The former Stevenson wrestler, now a 133-pound competitor for Purdue, was named the conference's co-wrestler of the week.
Sabatello posted a 7-4 decision over No. 12 Matt Manley of Missouri at the Journeymen/ASICS Northeast Duals. He defeated David White of Binghampton (9-3) and Michael Hayes of Old Dominion (6-4) to go 3-0 at the meet.
He has won 11 straight matches.
In high school, Sabatello was a three-time state placewinner for St. Viator and Stevenson, where he graduated with a career record of 152-19.
He took fourth place at the IHSA Class 3A state tournament as a sophomore for Viator and is one of only four students to place at the state final for the Lions.
At Stevenson, Sabatello won back-to-back Illinois 3A Championships at 119 and 125 pounds. He became the first state champion in Patriots school history, going 41-0 as a senior. He finished as the No. 12-ranked 125-pounder in the nation on InterMat.
Women's volleyball
Libertyville senior middle blocker Alex Basler recently signed her letter of intent to play volleyball for Cornell University.
"Alex is the core weapon on this 2014 team that has exceeded all expectations out there," coach Greg Loika said after this past fall when Basler helped lead the Wildcats to a state finals appearance.
Basler had a .474 hitting percentage and led the Wildcats with 276 kills, 74 blocks and 33 serving aces.
Basketball fundraiser
Lake Forest High School is hosting a boys-girls basketball doubleheader on Wednesday to benefit Lexie Johnson in support of coach Steve Johnson and his family. The girls game vs. Mundelein is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and boys against Lake Zurich at 7 p.m.
T-Shirts will be sold during lunch periods on Wednesday (and at the game if any are left) for $10 each and 2 for $15.
There will also be a 50/50 raffle at the game.
All proceeds from this event will go directly to the family of Steve Johnson as his daughter fights Lymphoma.
For Lexie's story and to support the Johnson family, visit LETTISTRONG.BLOGSPOT.COM.
Women's track
Lewis senior Amy Polhemus (Lake Zurich) was part of the Flyers' runner-up and NCAA provisional setting 4x400 relay (3:53.59) at the season-opening GVSU Early Bird, hosted by Grand Valley State, at the Kelly Family Sports Center.
Flyers junior Amber Cook (Warren) captured the triple jump title with a leap of 35-9½ (10.91m).
Women's volleyball
Carthage College junior setter Karen Chin (Mundelein) has been named to the 2014 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin/Jack Swartz all-academic fall team.
Chin was named American Volleyball Coaches Association second-team All-America, as well as first-team All-CCIW for the second-straight year and CCIW "Co-Women's Volleyball Player of the Year."
A graphic design major with a 3.57 cumulative GPA, Chin has been named to the Carthage dean's list on three occasions.
Coaching position
Libertyville High School has a couple of openings for assistant coach positions for girls lacrosse. Interested candidates should contact Libertyville athletic director - Briant Kelly at briant.kelly@d128.org, 847-327-7063. Online applications can also be accepted at d128.org.
Award winner
When talking about Steve May, Wheeling girls athletic director Don Rowley quickly points out how well respected the school's assistant/principal of students activities is by his peers.
That will be quite evident on Dec, 16 when May is honored in National Harbor, Maryland, during the banquet at the 45th annual National Athletic Directors Conference.
May is one of ten individuals who has made outstanding contributions to interscholastic athletics.
The ten have been named recipients of the 2014 Distinguished Service Awards given by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
Rowley will make the trip to Maryland in honor of May and expects to be joined by many other local athletic directors.
"Steve deserves this," Rowley said. "He is so well-respected among his peers. He is a great problem solver and a great communicator as well."
For almost 30 years, May has been contributing to the success and achievements of students in the Chicago suburbs.
"With all the stuff he has to do every day, it just amazes me how he gets it done," said Wheeling girls water coach Bob Savitt. "And he always has our backs. He is a very wise administrator. He is a very smart man."
May, a graduate of Palatine High School, taught English and coached for a year at Crystal Lake Central High School.
He then spent the next eight years at Winston Park Junior High School in Palatine where he was the girls and boys basketball and wrestling coach. In 1996, he became the dean of students and coached basketball at Prospect.
• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.