Long career does not go unnoticed
When Joe Fedinec started Benet's cross country program there was much more country to cross.
Fedinec's athletes went from running farm roads in his late 1950s coaching youth to navigating suburban streets upon his retirement after the 2003 track season.
Some things don't change. If you can coach, you can coach, and three halls of fame have confirmed the former Benet leader's mettle.
"I got the trifecta, as they say," Fedinec said Wednesday about his 2001 induction into the Benedictine University Hall of Fame, his 2003 Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall induction and, on March 6, induction into the East Suburban Catholic Conference Hall of Fame.
It's the 34-year-old ESCC's third Hall of Fame ceremony. Fedinec follows prior Benet honorees Ron Baumgartner and Denise (Boylan) Egner when it gets under way at the Crystal Sky Banquet Hall in McCook.
"I am humbled and honored to be inducted," Fedinec said. "There are hundreds of coaches who've spent all their lives who didn't get the recognition they perhaps should have."
His life is now spent full time with his wife of 43 years, Eileen, often babysitting their seven grandchildren.
He enjoys the work of proteges Kevin Renicker, with the Benet boys cross country program, and boys track coach Pat Marshall, who in 1992 helped Benet set an ESCC record in the 1,600 relay under Fedinec.
Perhaps we'll see one of them inducted in, say, 2052 -- though tenures as long as Fedinec's are in short supply.
"I'm sure a lot of the younger generation are not lasting as long as I lasted," he said. "Even though they say your first 25-year period is the longest. After that you get used to it."
Up to his old tricks
Neuqua Valley senior Chris Derrick, the Gatorade national boys cross country runner of the year, set new school and meet records in the 3,200-meter run last Saturday at the Proviso West Invitational.
According to the DyeStat track Web site, Derrick's time of 9 minutes, 3.1 seconds ranks third in the country.
Go on. Eat.
Wrestling season is over, a bittersweet time for many.
The sweet part is food, a hot commodity for people who've starved themselves since November.
Glenbard East's Wrestling Boosters have the ideal solution -- a pancake breakfast!
The fundraiser for Rams wrestling will be held from 7 a.m.-11 a.m. Saturday at the school cafeteria, 1014 S. Main St., Lombard. Cost is $4 or $3 for kids under 12.
Watch your hands and fingers near those hungry wrestlers. You don't want to come out of it missing something.
Blue-and-gold steel on ice
The Wheaton West Wild -- a hockey team comprised of players from Wheaton North, West Chicago and Wheaton Academy -- has reached the quarterfinals of the Blackhawk Cup, Illinois' state tournament for prep hockey.
Ryan Roman, Bobby Gryfinski, Shane Smith, Mike Coduto and Alex Ozols scored with goalie Ben Barclay staunch in net in a 5-1 win Feb. 22 over Lincoln-Way Central to reach the quarterfinals.
The Wild will play Geneva at 10 a.m. March 8 at the Edge in Bensenville.
Speaking of hockey, Naperville Central senior Bryan Lorenz and Hinsdale South teammates Neil Kindt and Zach Yurchak were named to the 2008 Amateur Hockey Association Illinois All-State Team.
What's up…
…Cootie Leeberg
The daughter of Hall of Fame baseball coach Bill Leeberg and the former Julia Westerkamp -- names ingrained in Montini athletic history -- Cootie is about as close to Broncos royalty as it gets. Co-captain and off-guard on Montini's state-bound girls basketball team, the friendly senior has no problem with her deep maroon-and-gold lineage and the recognition it brings: "It's fun."
Your given name is Laura Anne Leeberg. How did you pick up the "Cootie"?
"When I was born my mom said I was so cute, I was her little 'cutie baby.' My brother (K.C.), who was 3 at the time, said I was so cute I was a little 'cootie baby.' And it stuck."
Ever take any flak for your nickname?
"At first, a lot of adults are like, 'Are you serious?' I'm, like, yes… . Half my family doesn't know my real name."
Can you give us the breakdown of the 2-1-2 zone defense?
"That's usually when we want to match up pretty close to their offense. So the two guards match up with their two guards, and then the bottom two people match up with who they have (down low). Then the one person who's left usually guards the post, who's inside."
Your mother was a cheerleader in high school and a Luvabull after that. Do you have a warm spot for cheerleaders?
"I don't mind them. I don't think they're, like, 'girly' or anything. They're just there, I guess."
Your parents are divorced. How has that shaped you?
"I've become more independent, I guess. You don't get as much attention so you learn to be more independent and more on your own -- which will help you more later in life, which is good."
What's your favorite basketball movie?
"I'd probably say 'Coach Carter.' "
Are there any superstitions you'll bring with you for Friday's Class 3A semifinals?
"Right before we go to the huddle with our coach before warmups, we all get in a huddle and one of our teammates, Mallory Sosnovich, says this little saying. It's stuck with us and it's taken us this far."