Blackwell nets CCIW soccer honor
Elmhurst senior goalkeeper Britt Blackwell was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin soccer player of the year, and three of his teammates were also named to the all-conference first team.
Joining Blackwell on the first team were freshman forward Jon Brehm, senior midfielder Tom Hunka and sophomore forward Jake Pahr. Senior defender Andrew Smith was named to the all-CCIW second team.
Blackwell, who was a second-team selection last year, closed out the season with an 0.83 goals-against average. He recorded 101 saves and posted 9 shutouts. In CCIW play he yielded only 4 goals in 7 games and he had a 0.59 goals-against average. In his career, Blackwell had 428 saves, and 17 shutouts.
"Britt exemplified and was the epitome of hard work and dedication," said Elmhurst coach Dave Di Tomasso. "He turned in one exceptional performance after another. We are very proud to have had him as a Bluejay for four years."
Brehm led the team with 14 goals and 36 total-points while sharing the team-lead in assists with 8.
Hunka was the Bluejays' playmaker, leading the offense after switching over from forward in the off-season. He closed out his career as Elmhurst's all-time leader in total points with 52.
Pahr finished the season second in goals scored with 13 and total points with 34.
Smith was the leader of a defense that surrendered only 17 goals in 21 games as the Bluejays went 14-5-2 overall and 6-1 for second-place in the CCIW.
Wheaton: Senior forward Strider Elass (Wheaton Warrenville South) has been named all-CCIW first team. It's the fourth time Elass has received all-CCIW recognition.
He led the team with 11 goals and 9 assists overall, scoring 3 goals in 5 CCIW matches, including the game-winner against Carthage in the tournament semifinals.
Sophomore forward Matt Swartz, junior midfielder Ben Theimer and senior defender Mack Rogers were also named to the first team.
Junior Joel DeLass was a second-team selection.
Cross country: The Thunder men's cross country team finished sixth and the women finished seventh at the Division III Midwest Regionals last Saturday. Seniors Brandon Mull and Matt Field both qualified for the national championships next weekend in Northfield, Minn. Lisa Baumert qualified for next weekend's women's meet.
Women's soccer: The undefeated Wheaton women's soccer team (23-0) advanced to this week's four-team sectional with a 7-1 win over St. Scholastica last Saturday. Taryne Lee (Wheaton Academy) recorded her 26th goal of the season to set a news school single-season record for goals and total points (61).
The Thunder will host this weekend's four-team sectional, opening against Wartburg at 5 p.m. on Friday.
North Central: The men's cross country team finished third at the NCAA III Midwest Regional meet last Saturday with 118 points and secured a berth at the NCAA championships.
Freshman Michael Spain led the Cardinals with a 10th-place finish in 24.42. Ryan Carrigan, finished second on the team and 18th overall, while Brian Lesiewicz was 27th, Nate Hird was 28th and Kyle Brady (Wheaton Warrenville South) rounded out the top five North Central runners in 35th place.
"These student-athletes have a tremendous sense of maturity that is unusual for a team this young," said North Central coach Al Carius. "It says so much about their character and dedication that these young men have come so far so fast."
Football: North Central will open the NCAA Division III Playoffs at Franklin College (Ind.) at noon Saturday.
The Cardinals (8-2) earned their third straight appearance in the playoffs by winning the CCIW championship last Saturday with a 56-10 over Carthage.
North Central place kicker Anthony Bognanno was a perfect 7-for-7 in extra points to earn the CCIW special teams player of the week honors.
Benedictine: Senior women's soccer player Kiera Vizza has once again been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 5 first team.
Because she was selected to the first team by the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA), Vizza goes on for consideration for the Academic All-American ballot.
She was a first team Academic All-America choice last year, the first time a Benedictine female student-athlete has been given that award by CoSIDA.
Vizza majors in chemistry.
DuPage: Jakub Gerlach has been named the Region IV Defensive Soccer Player of the Year.
"Jake is definitely a Division I talent," said College of DuPage assistant coach Willie Fajkus.
Edson Sepulveda and Don Cook were named to the All-Region IV second team and all three players were selected to the all-conference team in the North Central Community College Conference.
The Chaps finished with an 11-8-4 record.