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Lussow enters coaching stretch run at Hersey

To understand why Fred Lussow has been a coaching success in the northwest suburbs for 50 years, all you have to do is listen to Hersey assistant principal John Novak.

"Fred Lussow is all about kids," Novak says. "Athletes respond to him because of his knowledge of the sport and his true desire to help them improve. He understands that athletics is about education, and helps kids to learn how to push limits and be successful."

That formula proved to be quite the success for the Illinois football Hall of Fame coach whose career will clear its final hurdle when the Hersey boys track and field season ends this spring.

Lussow, who retired from District 214 as a physical education teacher in 2004, coaches the throwing events for the track and field squad.

"Fred's ability to maintain a high level of energy and enthusiasm over a period of 50 years, never changed," said Hersey associate principal Ron Kiolbasa, who was Lussow's quarterback for his famed Forest View football team that was second in the 1985 Class 5A state football tournament. "His willingness to stay current with teaching and coaching techniques has afforded him this lengthy and successful career."

Lussow graduated in 1961 from Prospect High School where he was an all-conference in football (two years), basketball (two years) and baseball (one year).

He played football at Indiana University, starting in 17 consecutive games.

Lussow taught high school for two years in Indiana before joining the Wheeling High School staff in 1967.

He coached football (as the head coach), along with basketball and track at Forest View High school from 1968 to 1986.

The Falcons made the state semifinals in 1978 and were second in 1985. Lussow was named 'Coach of the Year' both times.

From 1986 to 1994 he was the football head coach at Rolling Meadows. He was also a track and field coach, serving as the head coach for two years. He also coached basketball.

Lussow was Meadows' first football head coach to take a team to the state playoffs and win a playoff game.

From 1994 to 2004, he was a football, basketball and track coach at Hersey.

Lussow has coached 25 state qualifiers in track and field. Nine made it to the state finals, and five medaled.

"Fred has been a great inspiration to me and many others he has come in contact with," Kiolbasa added. "I can honestly say he was a role model for me and the reason I chose education and coaching as a career path."

Kiolbasa stressed that Lussow never played favorites.

"And he saw potential in all of his students," he added. "He would push hard but only because he knew what could be realized or accomplished."

Kiolbasa has also coached on the college and high school level.

"I can honestly say I have never played for or coached with a better in-game strategist," Kiolbasa said. "Fred knew how to put together a game plan and then be able to make the necessary adjustments throughout the course of a game without hesitation.

"His creativity and willingness to gamble at the appropriate times in a game is unmatched, in my opinion."

McSorley commits

Buffalo Grove senior Tommy McSorley has announced he will play football for coach Steve Bell at Augustana College in Rock Island.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound wide receiver and strong safety, was a three-year letter winner for Bison coach Mike DiMatteo.

He recorded 30 tackles last fall and caught 14 passes for 151 yards.

McSorley had a season-high 5 receptions in a 27-21 win over Schaumburg. He also returned kickoffs and punts as well.

He also lettered for coach Jeff Grybash's baseball program and competed in basketball.

An AP and Illinois State Scholar and a seven semester honor roll member at Buffalo Grove, McSorley plans to major in business administration.

McSorley joins a Viking program that has won four NCAA Division III national championships, 21 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin titles and has produced 22 CCIW players of the year along with 32 Academic All-America selections.

Bell, who will be in his first season, was 112-44 record in 15 years at Monmouth College.

Men's lacrosse

Rutgers senior Brian Goss (St. Viator) earned the Big Ten Conference Sportsmanship Award.

The team captain started all 15 games this season and scored 21 goals and had 2 assists.

Goss recorded a hat trick in a win over Ohio State. He scored a career-high 5 goals while grabbing 3 ground balls in a win against NJIT.

He also had a hat trick and collected 3 ground balls in win over Wagner.

For his four years as a Scarlet Knight, Goss played in every game (57 consecutive) and started in all but two.

Baseball

University of Chicago senior Andrew VanWazer (Buffalo Grove) finished up his career with a .295 batting average this spring and AAU academic recognition. He also pitched a complete game at Elmhurst in April. He earned a degree in economics and will be working for JP Morgan in wealth management after graduation.

Men's golf

Miami University sophomore Greg Conrad (Barrington) finished tied for 22nd at 10-over par at the Mid-American Conference championship.

The RedHawks shot a final round of two-over par 290 to finish the event at eight-over par. Miami led the tournament wire-to-wire and won by 8 strokes (eight-over 290 score). It is the first MAC Championship for Miami since 1996.

Men's basketball

Elk Grove senior Tyler Ingebrigtsen will play basketball at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis. He was a three-year varsity player for the Grens and an all-area team choice this past season.

His father Kyle and mother Michelle (Heidlauf) were also all-conference basketball players at Elk Grove.

Softball

North Central junior pitcher Andrea Starr (Elk Grove) was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lake Region First-Team.

She ended the season with a .354 batting average with 35 hits, 7 doubles and 4 home runs. She collected 25 RBI and scored 18 runs. On the defensive side, Starr went 20-7 overall with a 1.83 ERA in 168⅔ innings pitched this season. She is fifth all-time for wins, currently holding 46, along with being fourth in strikeouts with 232 and fifth in shutouts with 13 so far in her career.

Men's swimming

Michigan State junior Ian Rodriguez (Buffalo Grove) claimed the Puerto Rican title in the 100-meter backstroke in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Rodriguez posted a winning time of 57.26 at the Puerto Rican International Open.

"It means a lot to represent my family in the birthplace of our family tree," Rodriguez said. "It's an experience that I'll never forget and the best has yet to come."

Rodriguez also competed in the 100 breaststroke, where he posted a time of 1:07.10. He hopes to impress the Olympic committee with currently having the two fastest Puerto Rican times.

"I feel great for him," said Spartans coach Matt Gianiodis. "It was an incredible experience for him and for him to win is even cooler. I think this provides real motivation for him through the summer and next year."

Rodriguez set the third-fastest time in school history this season in the 100-yard backstroke. He clocked in a time of 48.41 at the Big Ten Championships in Iowa City, Iowa on Feb. 25.

TEAMMSL BASKETBALL CAMP

Teammsl Basketball, a local program run by current and former high school coaches that focuses on improving individual skill sets of players and fundamentals, will be held from July 13 to July 27 for boys and girls.

The camp is at Harper Community College and is limited to first 65 registered players. Go to www.Teammsl.com for camp details and registration or contact Coach May directly at 847-370-4931 or email mmay@teammsl.com

Northwest Flag Football

Former Chicago Bear and Dallas Cowboy Super Bowl Champion Jim Schwantz, former Palatine football coach Tyler Donnelly and current Conant coach Tony Spizzirri will direct the Northwest Flag Football League Summer Football Camp.

You can learn the fundamentals of passing, catching, route running and special teams. In addition, games will be played and all players will play every position. It is open to any player grades second through seventh. The camp will be divided into two divisions based on age and ability.

Sessions will take place from July 13 to 24.

Go to www.nwffl.org for camp details and registration or contact N.W.F.F. L directly at 847-370-4931 or email info@nwffl.org

Naughton/Pancratz Camp

The Naughton/Pancratz Youth Girls Academy will be held from Aug. 3 to 7 and focus on the basic fundamentals of volleyball and basketball. It will be led by former collegiate athletes and head varsity coaches, Deirdre Naughton (basketball at Conant) and Drewann Pancratz (volleyball at Conant).

The camp will emphasize skill development, game play and fun. You can register online at parkfun.com.

Rugby

In an Illinois Tier One quarterfinal match, the seventh-seeded Arlington Stallions overcame a 23-7 halftime deficit to eliminate No. 2 Neuqua Valley Wildcats 33-26 in Naperville.

After several first half defensive lapses, the Stallions regained their composure at halftime and played a controlled and patient second half which allowed them to put up 3 tries in the final ten minutes of play.

It was capped by the match decider, a 40-meter break by center Zach Kaminski (Prospect) with a minute remaining to break a 26-26 tie.

Other Stallions try scorers were Spencer Krueger (Hersey), Ben Hischman (Stevenson), Alex Gountanis (Prospect) and Aiden Williams (Prospect).

"The Stallions had worked toward this end for some time," said coach Paul Bergman. "We have focused our development on flair, pace, consistency and conditioning.

"Up until now, we have struggled to get all those things right in the same game. They did and their timing couldn't have been better."

The Stallions will play East Division Champion and No. 3 seed New Trier on Thursday for the chance to play for the Illinois Rugby state championship in Rockford on Memorial Day. Match details can be found at www.arlingtonstallionsrugby.com.

• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.

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