Hall honors Hill; Griggs continues to impress in hockey

When you devote your time to helping young people develop in sports, you don't expect actual awards.

The awards come from watching those athletes mature at practice and in games.

However, it's still nice when it does happen.

The Illinois division of the National Softball Hall of Fame will host its inaugural Hall of Fame induction banquet on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 6-10 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Bradley, Ill.

Frank Hill of Schaumburg will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as an organizer and coach. He has been a coach with the Schaumburg Sluggers since 1992 and coached at Hoffman Estates High School for six years.

Hill's 18-and-under Slugger team was the National Softball Association (NSA) national runner-up in 2003.

"There are many people out there who have made significant contributions to the sports of NSA amateur slow-pitch softball, fast-pitch softball and BPA (Baseball Players Association) baseball," said Gerry Grund, Illinois NSA State Director.

"Our Illinois directors felt there was a need to recognize their outstanding efforts and example."

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door, which includes dinner, desert and drinks. Tickets are limited.

For more information, call (815) 932-4536 or e-mail illinoisnsa@comcast.net.

Hockey

Johnny Griggs (Barrington) plays for the Dubuque ThunderBirds Jr. A team (18-0-1), and he is the No. 1 goalie in the Central States Hockey League. He holds a 1.81 goals-against average with .932 save percentage.

Griggs rejoined the team after completing a three-day tryout with the Tier 1 Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League.

Griggs was one of the ThunderBirds' biggest stars last season during their run to the Hurster Cup playoff championship and a berth in the national semifinals.

Football

Todd Burkoth (Buffalo Grove) of Winona (Minn.) State University was named first team all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tight end. Winona finished 10-2 overall with a 9-0 record in the league.

• The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) honored six area products on its all-conference football team.

Tight end Bryan Bergman (Elk Grove) of Carthage and linebacker Nick Nickolich (Libertyville) of Illinois Wesleyan were first-team selections.

Second-team spots went to linebackers Nate Hughes (Antioch) of Carthage and Dan Souder (Elk Grove) of Illinois Wesleyan, wide receiver Jeff Koeneman (Fremd) of Carthage and offensive specialist Tim Podulka (Elk Grove) of Augustana.

• Six area grads were recognized by the Midwest Conference.

Tim Paulsen (Maine West) of Lake Forest College was a first-team choice in the defensive line at nose guard, Dan Carter (St. Viator) of Lake Forest was named as a first-team wide receiver and Jon Kosrow (Conant) of Carroll College earned a second-team spot as a defensive specialist.

Paulsen is the last of three brothers to play at Lake Forest. There was a Paulsen playing for 10 consecutive years and 101 games.

Gaining honorable mention were Tony Baratti (Prospect) of Beloit College at linebacker, Dan Barmantje (Rolling Meadows) of Carroll College in the offensive line and Ed Kidd (Buffalo Grove) of Lake Forest in the defensive backfield.

• Sophomore offensive lineman Adrian Kibiersza (Maine West) of Aurora University was named to the first team in the Illinois-Badger Conference.

• Eric Jensen (Hersey), cornerback at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, had 12 tackles against UW-River Falls and 6 against UW-Whitewater.

Basketball

Jonny Reibel (Hoffman Estates) of Rollins College opened the season with 24 points, 8 assists and 4 steals against Southeastern University, and he added 13 points against Puerto Rico-Bayamon. Craig Reichel (Schaumburg) had 11 points and a game-high 7 rebounds against Puerto Rico.

• The Daily Herald area had six graduates on the floor in the same college game.

Melissa Gorski (Buffalo Grove) scored 21 points and pulled down 6 rebounds as Monmouth College beat Cornell 70-67, a team that featured another former Bison Kristin Paczosa (4 points, 4 rebounds), Charlotte Milas (Rolling Meadows, 6 points, 4 rebounds), Alison Andrews (Jacobs, 4 points, 4 rebounds), and from Warren, Denise (5 points, 2 rebounds) and Melanie Duplessis(16 points, 5 rebounds).

• Gabrielle Cottrell (Prospect) of Manhattan College collected 18 points against Fordham and 17 against Pennsylvania.

• The Buffalo Grove Girls Feeder Basketball Program will hold tryouts on Sunday, Dec. 2 in the main gym at Buffalo Grove High School.

Tryouts are for the fifth-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders who will be attending Buffalo Grove.

Tryouts will begin at 4 p.m. for 5th grade, 5 p.m. for 6th grade, 6 p.m. for 8th grade and 7 p.m. for 7th grade.

For additional details, contact Tom McGowan at 773-617-9795.

• The Wheeling Jr. Wildcat basketball tryouts will be held on Sunday, Dec. 2 in the main gym at Wheeling. Tryouts are for 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade boys living in the Wheeling High School attendance area.

8th grade -- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

7th grade -- 12:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

6th grade -- 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. (5th-graders are welcome to try out).

Arrive at least 15 minutes early to register. One parent/guardian needs to attend the tryout for each player.

Any questions can be directed to Tim Hart at (847) 808-0851 or Rick Schwind at (847) 459-3838.

Soccer

Jackie Peterson (Schaumburg) and Paige Land (Barrington) of Carthage College and Keri Hess (Schaumburg) of Augustana were named to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin all-conference first team.

• Stephen Brust (Hersey) scored the only goal in the 89th minute to give Bradley a 1-0 win over Creighton in the Missouri Valley Conference title game.

• It was an impressive fall for the Blenner sisters.

Megan Blenner (St. Viator) of Carroll College finished her season as the leading goal scorer (12) in helping Carroll set a new Midwest Conference record for wins in a season. Kelly Blenner (St. Viator) completed her first year at Western Michigan University as its leading goal scorer, also sharing the lead in points, shot percentage and game-winning goals.

• Bryan Fulton (Hersey) of Concordia University was named to the Northern Athletics Conference All-Rookie team. He had 5 goals as a true freshman.

• Senior Cindi Brenner (Barrington) of Drake University was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete team.

Volleyball

Jenny Peterson (Hersey) of Taylor University (Upland, Ind.) was named to the Mid-Central Conference second team.

• Meghan Voelz (Elk Grove), OH at Missouri (St. Joseph) Western State University, is second on the team in kills and digs (2.58 per game).

• Marissa Mortensen (Elk Grove) of East Tennessee State University (Johnson City) has split time as setter/DS and is first in assists and service aces and second in digs (2.45 per game).