Wheeling's Godlewski makes a splash at South Dakota
Theresa Godlewski, who broke three Wheeling High School girls swimming records and five pool records at opponents' pools in her senior prep season, didn't miss a beat in the start of her collegiate career.
Godlewski had a terrific freshman year at the University of South Dakota.
She ended as a major contributor to the Coyotes' third-place finish at the Summit Conference meet.
Godlewski couldn't feel more at home in her new environment.
"I suppose the most surprising thing is how much of a family my team is to me," she said. "I don't know anyone within hundreds of miles of me, so to have a second family out here is pretty special to me.
"What also surprised me was despite being on a team this big, where I could easily have been just one of the numbers, our coach and teammates really make every person feel as if they belong."
Godlewski showed she belongs in the pool too,
She broke USD's school records in the 100 backstroke (57.39) and 200-backstroke (2:01.83) at the conference meet. And she was part of the 200 medley relay school record by swimming the 50 free leg.
Earlier in the season, Godlewski set the 100 and 200 back school records.
She scored the most points (96) for her team at the 10-team Minnesota Invite in December.
"It is a whole new experience being on a college team," Godlewski added. "There is more team unity, as we are all there to better ourselves and each other as well."
The practice schedules and expectations out of the pool have been more rigorous than Godlewski has ever experienced.
"But it is extremely enjoyable to have so many teammates going through the same struggles as you so that's really neat," she said. "It's been a lot of fun being successful as a freshman. The best part is coming in and contributing to the team's success and feeling as if you are an asset."
Krueger commits
Hersey senior Spencer Krueger has committed to Ohio State University to play rugby.
He also recently received the Burlsworth Character Award for which he was nominated by Hersey football coach Joe Pardun.
It is a national award recognizing outstanding character and sportsmanship in high school football players.
It honors a student-athlete in their senior year who gives 100 percent on the field and is a moral example to their team.
Pardun nominated Krueger because of his tremendous work ethic and dedication.
Students selected for the award were presented with a Burlsworth Award certificate and a copy of the book "Through the Eyes of a Champion, The Brandon Burlsworth Story." Additionally, Krueger, Pardun and Hersey High School will all be featured in the credits of a major motion picture movie premiering this summer called "Greater."
The award has been given out to Arkansas high schools the last 10 years. This is the first year it went nationwide.
The award honors Brandon Burlsworth, who is considered the greatest walk-on of all time.
He became the first Arkansas Razorback football player to complete a master's degree before playing his final game. Burlsworth was the 63rd overall pick of the 1999 NFL draft, selected by the Indianapolis Colts.
Unfortunately, Brandon was tragically killed in an automobile accident 11 days after the draft.
The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation lives on in his memory, encouraging the honoree to continue on his path of excellence, and inspiring others to follow his lead.
• Arlington Stallions coach Paul Bergman won the mentor category at the Arlington Heights Hearts of Gold Awards dinner.
Women's hockey
Johnson & Wales University goaltender Kami Weiner (Elk Grove Village) was named goaltender of the year in the Colonial Hockey Conference.
Weiner, who prepped at Lake Forest Academy, was also selected as first team All-Conference and to the All-Rookie Team.
With the regular season complete, Weiner leads the country and is ranked second on the NCAA Division III single-season charts with 1,154 saves. She is 27 saves short of the record set by Castleton's Vanessa Carter in 2006. In addition, her 1,430:34 minutes ranks fourth in the NCAA.
This season she has a .920 save percentage, which ranks fifth in the conference, and a 4.24 goals-against average. Weiner recorded a pair of shutouts against Daniel Webster and Salem State. Overall, she's posted eight games where she has limited opponents to 3 goals or less.
Men's lacrosse
For the second time in his career, Illinois Wesleyan sophomore midfielder Nick Winter (St. Viator) was named men's lacrosse offensive player of the week in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Winter opened the 2016 season with 3 goals on 8 shots and 2 assists during a 20-14 loss to Aurora. He added 3 ground balls against the Spartans, who came into the season as the defending Midwest Lacrosse Conference champion.
Winter was previously named offensive player of the week in the CCIW on March 30 of last season for his play against Cornell and Hope.
Men's basketball
Illinois senior Mike LaTulip (Prospect) was one of three Illini honored on senior night before Sunday's game against Minnesota.
LaTulip is in his fourth year with the Fighting Illini program.
While still participating in daily practice, he elected to sit out from game competition this season in order to retain his final year of eligibility as a graduate transfer.
A preferred walk-on, LaTulip played in 44 games over the last three seasons, totaling 56 points and 14 rebounds.
He set his career high in scoring with 9 points last season against Austin Peay. LaTulip is majoring in communication.
Men's track
Concordia-Chicago's Joe Duszynski (Maine West) was honored as an athlete of the week by the school.
Duszynski set a lifetime best mark in the 35-pound weight throw with a 40 feet, 10¼ inches and added a season's best of 36-11½ in the shot put at the University of Chicago's Margaret Bradley Invitational.
"Joe has been working very hard, and it is great to see things coming together for him at this point of the season," said CUC head coach Phil Kopinski in a school news release.
• Augustana sophomore Josh Yamamoto (Fremd) was part of the 4x400 relay that took first place (CCIW record time of 3:16.53) at the College Conference of Illinois and Illinois championships in Naperville.
The Vikings won their first conference crown.
Vikings senior Ethan Koch (Prospect) placed third (8:28.40) in the 3,000, and sophomore Evan Murphy (Buffalo Grove) placed fourth in the triple jump with a leap of 44-8.
Men's swimming
UW-Stevens Point's Andrew King (Fremd) was part of the 200 free relay team that set a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet record with a time of 1:21.47, which is also ahead of last year's NCAA invite time. The event championship is the sixth straight for the Pointers and third for King.
Women's basketball
Alabama-Birmingham freshman Deanna Kuzmanic (Wheeling) scored a team-high 19 points, 1 shy of her career best, in a 77-72 overtime loss to Middle Tennessee.
• Carthage sophomore Morgan Harris (Hersey) was an unanimous first team selection to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin all-conference team.
Millikin senior Alyssa Saklak (Schaumburg) received second-team CCIW all-conference honors.
• Oakton freshman captain Mallory Gonzalez (Prospect) captured a spot on the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference second team.
"Mallory is an excellent athlete with an extremely high basketball IQ and court awareness," said Oakton women's head coach Melissa Rauschenberg.
Women's track
Augustana freshman Ashley Talken (Wheeling) finished fifth after clearing 10 feet in the pole vault at the Spartan Invitational in Dubuque, Iowa.
Women's softball
Maryville University senior Alex Flasch (St. Viator) led the Saints to a 6-2 record on their southern spring trip.
Flasch has a team-high 3 home runs and 7 RBI while hitting .435.
Youth girls basketball
The Teammsl Girls Spring League will be held at Harper Community College from March 29 to April 28 at 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Any girls from grades third through ninth interested in learning the fundamentals of basketball are welcome.
Teammsl is run by local coaches who are committed to helping young players develop the proper fundamentals of basketball through muscle memory.
Cost is $295. Register prior to March 7 and receive a 20 percent loyalty discount. Contact Matt May at mmay@teammsl.com for details. www, Teammsl.com.
• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com