District 214 holding special recognition for National Girls & Women in Sports Day
This February is the 33rd anniversary of the annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day, a national observance celebrating the extraordinary achievements of women and girls in sports.
Prospect girls athletic director Rebecca Schilz and Elk Grove girls AD Jackie Randall are hardly letting it slip by without notice.
They have planned a recognition day for Saturday, Feb. 2.
District 214 athletes and parents are invited for a National Girls & Women's in Sports Summit held in the auditorium at Forest View Educational Center from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Keynote speakers will be University of Florida head volleyball coach Mary Wise and University of Chicago Professor and psychologist Raquel Prewitt-White.
"As an athletic department, we are asking our female athletic programs make every attempt to be a part of this event," Schilz said. "We are very excited for the lineup of speakers as well as panel members (former 214 students who also were college athletes or currently working in athletics)."
Those members include Kiley Walsh (Prospect), Diamond Boyd (Elk Grove), Amanda Brown (Northwestern University, Athletic Department, Assistant Director of Career Enhancement and Employer Relations), Laura Joya (Wheeling High School), Natalie Curtis (Hersey High School), Jackie Kemph (Rolling Meadows High School) and Lindsey Hamma (Buffalo Grove High School).
This year's NGWSD theme is tagged #LeadHerForward, to honor the many ways that sports push girls and women to achieve excellence and realize their boundless potential.
"Our young athletes come with passion, dedication, and an ever so vulnerable thirst for feedback to improve at their craft," Schilz said. "Through this event, we hope to continue to inspire them of the importance of work ethic and perseverance while acknowledging all of the positive character traits that are a result of being an athlete."
All current District 214 female student-athletes and coaches are invited to attend. You can reach out to moderators Jackie Randall, jacquelyn.randall@D214.org or Rebecca Schilz, rebecca.schilz@d214.org with questions.
RSVP to the event here: http://bit.ly/D214womeninsports
Men's basketball
Bucknell sophomore Jimmy Sotos (Conant) hit the game-winning layup with 1.2 seconds remaining as the Bison edged Lehigh 85-83 in a battle of Patriot League leaders.
Sotos collected 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals as Bucknell (11-7, 5-1) took sole possession of first place in the conference.
• Lake Forest senior forward Danny Sotos (Conant) had 17 points on 8-for-14 shooting and 7 rebounds in a 63-62 last second loss to St. Norbert.
He also had 17 points in an 87-83 loss to Monmouth College.
Baseball
Hoffman Estates resident and former USA Baseball National Team Coach/International Sports Group Baseball Peter Caliendo will be inducted into the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame on Jan. 26.
Caliendo won three gold and three silver medals in the Pan Am games as coach and general manager.
The annual induction will be held at the 58th IHSBCA Coaches Clinic at the Westin in Lombard Yorktown Center.
Caliendo's experience and expertise in the development of baseball skills for both players and coaches started with the development of youth coaching at the legendary Mickey Owen Baseball
He served as Director of Baseball Operations and coach for the Schaumburg Flyers. During his tenure, over 26 players signed with major league organizations.
The Flyers appeared in the playoffs in their opening season. He also served as Player Procurement Director for the North Shore Spirit in the independent Northeast League, putting together the full roster of 22 players that went on to the Northeast League Championship Series.
For all details about the dinner contact Brian Wujcik at brian.wujcik@chsd218.org
Streepy commits
Palatine senior Jess Streepy, who took sixth place in the pole vault (11 feet, 3 inches) at the Class 3A state meet last spring, is headed to compete in Champaign.
Streepy announced her commitment to the University of Illinois women's track and field team via Twitter.
Streepy's leap of 11-3 at the state meet tied her personal best mark.
She overcame a shoulder injury last year to secure her first state medal.
"It's definitely been tough this season," Streepy told the Daily Herald after the meet. "But to pull through in the end is really special."
Womens' track
North Central sophomore Kelsey McLaurin (Barrington) was selected as a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's track and field Athlete of the Week.
The sociology major won both the long jump and triple jump during the Cardinal Opener.
She jumped 11.57 meters (37-11½) in the triple jump, which currently ranks first in the CCIW and fourth on the Division III national list.
Her mark of 5.19 meters (17-½ in the long jump was a personal best that ranks fourth in the CCIW.
McLaurin also ran on the winning 4x400-meter relay (4:00.91, a converted time).
Men's swimming
Carthage sophomore Nick Seroni (Fremd) was selected as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Men's Swimmer of the Week.
A computer science major, Seroni won two events while helping lead the Red Men to a 178-96 dual-meet win over Augustana.
He achieved a lifetime best in the 500-yard freestyle (4:55.82), and took first in the 50-yard butterfly (23.50). Seroni rounded out his performance with his best unrested 50-yard freestyle time (22.68) during the 200-yard freestyle relay.
• Lewis' Colin Williams (Elk Grove) was part of the 400 medley relay team that took second with a time of 3:27.89 when the 25th-ranked Flyers split with Olivet Nazarene and Chicago on Friday at the University of Chicago Triangular Meet in Chicago.
• Email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com