McGovern itching to help Maine West's softball program
When Mike McGovern retired from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 2001, he was 62 years old and one of the winningest softball coaches in the country.
Fourteen years later, he still has that desire to win and coach.
Maine West High School in Des Plaines has given him the opportunity to explore it further.
McGovern was named the Warriors softball coach earlier this year and can't wait to get started.
"I've always loved coaching," said McGovern, who recently worked as assistant in the Evanston High School softball program. "It just gets in your blood. Once you're a coach, it's hard not to always coach. A lot of guys retire, but then all of a sudden find that itch again."
The 73-year-old McGovern said getting back as head coach was always in the back of his mind once he retired from UIC, where he won more than 560 games with a winning percentage of .720.
His teams appeared in five NCAA regional championships and tied the NCAA record for wins in a season with 67 in 1999.
"I think it (coaching) mentally keeps you stimulated," McGovern said. "When you are with younger people, you just look out and don't think of any age aspect. You're in that high-energy group."
One of his UIC players is the current Hersey softball coach, Molly Freeman, a onetime standout athlete at Fremd High School.
The former Maine West coach, Amy Gonzales, was a teammate of Freeman's at Illinois-Chicago.
"Amy has been winning regionals here," McGovern said. "I have some big shoes to fill.
"I understand we have some quality players returning (at Maine West). Sometimes a new coach comes in and the shelf is bare. At least we are not in that situation. We've got some experienced kids."
McGovern played basketball and baseball at Lane Tech High School and football at the University of Illinois-Navy Pier, where he also threw the shot put for the track and field team.
He coached football and volleyball at Illinois-Chicago before taking over the softball program. McGovern was an assistant professor in sports management at Illinois-Chicago.
After retiring from the school, he spent the next ten years as an athletic director at Marian Central Catholic in Woodstock and Notre Dame High School for girls in Chicago.
"I wanted to stay in sports, so I was able to be an assistant at Evanston High School," McGovern said. "When the Maine West job opened, I applied.
"The key is that it's got to be fun for the kids and the staff. That's what it is all about."
Men's basketball
Wisconsin-Parkside guard Jimmy Gavin (Prospect) led the Rangers with 25 points in a 68-67 overtime loss to Drury University.
Gavin collected his fifth straight game of at least 20 points, making 5 three-pointers and hitting 8-of-14 from the field.
The Rangers are seeded second in the NCAA Division II Tournament and will face Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division rival and seventh-seed Lewis on Saturday at Bellarmine University's Knights Hall in Louisville, Kent.
Baseball
Lewis junior Kurt Becker (Palatine) went 4-of-6 with 2 RBI and 1 run in a 14-7 win over Findlay in Florida.
Lewis freshman Ethan Bloom (Hoffman Estates) belted knocked a 2-2 pitch to right field for a 2-run double that gave the Flyers (4-4) their final 2 runs in a 7-5 comeback win over Wayne State (Neb.).
Men's hockey
Oswego State junior Brandon Adams of Prospect Heights scored both of the Lakers' goals in a 2-0 win over Buffalo State.
In his first game back in two weeks, Adams made an immediate impact.
Late in the first period, he tallied his first goal beating a defender with pure speed and slipped it past the Buffalo State goaltender. Adams struck again in the second period, when his wrist shot from a tough angle that hit the post and in.
Women's tennis
Augustana sophomore Dana Goggin (Buffalo Grove) is 20-2 and her twin sister Lauren Goggin (Buffalo Grove) is 19-4.
The Goggin twins are 19-5 while playing at No. 1 doubles.
Augustana (15-3) is currently ranked 16th in the region.
Men's track
Lewis junior Andre Barnes (Prospect) qualified for the March 13-14 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 400-meter dash.
He currently sits fourth in the Midwest region and sixth overall in NCAA Division II with a school-record time of 47.67.
Barnes won the 400-meter dash title at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Indoor Championships with a time of 49.14. He was a USTFCCCA All-Region selection in both the 200- and 400-meter dashes.
• Wisconsin-Platteville's Matt Smaga (Fremd) placed in the 5,000 and just missed placing in the 3,000-meter at the WIAC Indoor Track and Field championships. He ran a time of 8:40 in the 3,000 and placed ninth.
Men's tennis
Lewis freshman Alan Fijalkowski (Buffalo Grove) was a winner and singles and doubles as the Flyers (4-0) claimed an 8-1 nonconference victory over Ave Maria at the AMU Tennis Facility.
Women's track
MIT freshman Liz Cox (Palatine) helped her team to victory in the New England DIII Indoor Track & Field championships.
Cox ran the opening 1,200-meter leg (3:45) of the Distance Medley Relay, giving her team a lead it would not relinquish on the way to setting a new track record of 12:14.35 at Smith College.
MIT is ranked number one in the current U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll for the first time in school history.
• University of Chicago freshman Cassidy McPherson (Palatine) placed seventh in the 800 in a season-best 2:19.78 at the University Athletic Association Conference Championship meet. Her team scored 154 points to win the seven-team women's meet.
Lotzers in top 16
Wisconsin-Whitewater siblings Margaret (Buffalo Grove, class of 2013) and Kevin (Buffalo Grove, class of 2014) Lotzer both finished top 16 in the Wisconsin and Illinois Athletic Conference swimming meets with personal best times.
Margaret Lotzer finished fourth in the 500 free and the mile and sixth in the 200 free. She was the anchor in the first-place 800 free relay, which set a new school record by four seconds. She was awarded all-conference honors.
Men's Lacrosse
Augustana junior Jonathan Bryk (Fremd) is tied for the team lead in assists with 3. Bryk is second in ground balls with 15.
Barrington boosters
Barrington High School Principal Steve McWilliams will be honored at the Barrington High School Baseball Booster Club Fundraiser March 14, 2015 at Pinstripes in the South Barrington Arboretum.
McWilliams will be awarded the 2015 Robert Brandt Memorial Award.
"Principal McWilliams is and has always been an ardent supporter of the baseball program," said Booster President John Sciaccotta. "Along with the coaching staff, he has helped to ensure our student athletes focus on academic excellence, high performance, and sportsmanship."
The banquet is the major annual fundraiser for the baseball booster group. All proceeds from the event will go toward field renovations and upgrades, as well as equipment and training needs.
In addition to the recognition program, the night will include pizza, a live and silent auction, and bocce.
Banquet tickets for the evening are $50 per person and should be ordered by March 6 for the event to be held March 14 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Pinstripes in South Barrington. For more information and to order tickets or donate to the silent auction, please visit the BHS Baseball Booster Club website at www.bhsbaseballboosterclub.org.
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