Schuette shows way as Warren wins own invite

There was no place like home for the Warren volleyball team on Saturday.

The Blue Devils won their own invitational by sweeping Prospect in the championship match 25-19, 25-14.

To get to the title game, Warren (12-2 overall, 5-0 in the tourney) outlasted Oak Forest 25, 12, 18-25, 25-21.

Ryan Schuette led the Blue Devils with 37 kills on the day. He also had 6 blocks and 5 aces.

Warren also got 29 kills from Tyler Schwede and 23 kills from Mike McGowan. McGowan added a team-high 15 blocks.

Girls water polo

Stevenson wins title: Stevenson snagged the Lake County girls water polo tournament title by going a perfect 3-0 in pool play and then defeating Mundelein in the championship game on Saturday, 11-0.

Host Vernon Hills took third place honors by edging Barrington, 7-6.

Melanie Lecaroz led the way for the Cougars with 3 points. Vernon Hills also got 2 key goals from Kelly Steininger.

Meanwhile, Colleen Grimes made 13 saves in goal for Vernon Hills.

Boys tennis

Lakes wins title: Lakes took first place at the Niles West tournament, thanks to a victory in doubles action and a couple of second place finishes in singles play.

The No. 1 doubles team of Charlie Scupham and Justin Shea swept all three of its matches -- against teams from Niles North, Notre Dame and Niles West.

The two had their best match in a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Niles West in which they attacked the net from start to finish.

Meanwhile, No. 1 singles player Andrew Yopp took second after finishing 2-1 on the day. He had his best match in a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Izzi Balase of Schaumburg.

No. 2 singles player Randall Haylock also took second for Lakes. His best match came in a 4-6, 7-6, 10-4 win over Justin Witkowski of St. Patrick.

Girls track

At Buffalo Grove: Neuqua Valley's girls track team took a hit with four of last year's state qualifiers missing Saturday's competition because of spring break.

But the Wildcats didn't miss a beat on a delightful early spring afternoon, winning four events en route to securing the title at the Buffalo Grove Invite with 145 points.

Lake Park won five events and captured second place with 120 points, followed by Cary-Grove (112), Fremd (87), Carmel (81.33), Buffalo Grove (68.33) and Stevenson (67.33).

Carmel sophomore Shannon Howell took first in the 300 low hurdles (49.40) and second in the 100 high hurdles (16.3).

"I just wanted to finish strong," said Howell, who took control of the 300 lows at the corner. "The curve was the last chance to gain some ground before the wind hit you in the straight away."

MaryBeth Berg took second in the 400 (1:03.5); Hilary Halford picked up second in the 800 (2:24.3); and Alison Thumel added a second-place medal in the long jump (14-11) for the Corsairs.

Nicole LaMantia had a pair of photo finishes in securing first place for host Buffalo Grove in both the 400 relay (51.5) and 1,600 relay (10:08.8).

LaMantia combined with Emily Lueck, Lillie Blackmon, and Sam Wellbank to win the 400 relay.

Erin McGrath joined LaMantia, Blackmon, and Wellbank for the victory in the 1,600 relay.

"It's such a rush of adrenaline," said LaMantia of her close victories. "That's when everything really pays right at that moment. It's only when you have a second left … that's what makes the difference."

Freshman Sarah Peluse added a victory for the Bison in the 3,200 (11:48.10), and Blackmon added a second place in the 100 (12.8).

Senior Annamarie Cassata took first in the discus (118-01) for Stevenson, hitting her winning mark on the final throw.

"Usually I get a little bit better each throw," said Cassata a two-time state qualifier who won a ninth-place medal her sophomore year in the discus. "I was concentrating on keeping my long pull and my focal point."

Cassata also took second in the shot put (33-8.25), and the Patriots added a second place in the 800 relay (1:52.4).

Kim Tarnoff added a second place for Stevenson in the 3,200 (11:52.9).

Among the missing for Neuqua Valley were Monika Jakutyte, who placed ninth in the high jump at state last year; Krista Stillson who was third in the triple jump at last week's Top Times indoor state meet; and Kristin Morrison, eighth in the triple jump at the indoor state meet.

Even coach Gretchen Parejko was missing.

But that didn't slow down a deep and talented Wildcats team that finished second by 1 point to Waubonsie Valley last year in the Upstate Eight Conference.

"Our depth is one of our strengths," said assistant coach Wayne Hartman, whose Wildcats picked up 3 second-place medals and 5 third-place medals. "We're confident we can get the job done when others are out. It's everybody filling the gaps and stepping up."

For senior thrower and two-time state medalist Katie Vuckovich, it was business as usual.

Vuckovich secured first place in the shot put (40-01), hitting the winning mark on her first attempt.

But she wasn't satisfied.

"Placing first is great," said Vuckovich who took third in state as a sophomore and fifth as a junior. "But when you get to state or a big meet, 40-0 is not going to get me too far. But it's early and I'm still working on my technique."

-- Michael Eaken

Boys track

At Cary-Grove: Usuall,y a strong cross country team equates to an outstanding distance group during the spring track season.

That is certainly the case for Cary-Grove.

Winning the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs along with the 3,200 relay, the Trojans scored 101 points to finish second at their own Al Bohrer Invitational.

First-year school Belvidere North placed first with a score of 118.

"We have a very good distance group, which trains hard all year round," said Cary-Grove coach Layne Holter. "This is a great group. Phillip and Bill Roth ran very well and our 3,200 relay team ran a good time."

Round Lake finished sixth with a score of 36.5 points.

The Panthers' top performer was Jim Pisarski, who was second in the triple jump.

Wauconda, led by a first-place effort from Garrett Dorsey, placed seventh with 23 points.

Dorsey won the 400 in a time of 50.70.

"I ran pretty good today, but I am not peaking yet," said Dorsey. "I want to run my best later in the season in the big meets. The weather was nice and my muscles were really loose."

-- Dave Hess