Barrington Youth Football event will honor Colin Barth

There was no doubt about Colin Barth's dedication to the Barrington Youth Football program.

Barth continued coaching even after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2007.

"He fought so hard to beat it," said BYF board member Frank Geraldi. "He battled hard."

Barth was still attending games in the fall before losing his battle in January at the much-too-early age of 37. He left behind his wife Julie and four children.

But what he did for other kids in Barrington hasn't been forgotten. On Friday, Feb. 27, Barrington Youth Football will hold a Comedy Relief Show from 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m. at Stonegate Banquet Center in Hoffman Estates.

Half of the proceeds will go to scholarships to help players from struggling families and to supplement expenses for field use. The other half will go to the Colin Barth Family Fund.

Barth started coaching in the flag football program with his son Hayden and moved up to coach in the lightweight division.

"He had a real love for the game and couldn't keep himself away," Geraldi said. "He was very, very dedicated to the program and the kids and loved to be out there coaching kids.

"You could see he was at his best when he was out there with the kids."

The Comedy Relief Show on Feb. 27 costs $50 and you must be at least 21 years of age to attend.

Cocktails start at 6:30 p.m. with a buffet dinner at 7:30. The show starts at 8:30 with Jimmy McHugh's Chicago Comedy All-Stars, including Tim Walkoe, Dobie Maxwell and Sonya White.

Stonegate is located at 2401 W. Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates. Tickets must be purchased in advance, which can be done on the BYF Web site at barringtonbroncos.net.

Basketball

Ashley Berggren is about to receive one of the highest honors for an Illinois basketball player.

The former Barrington star in volleyball, basketball and softball and the all-time leading scorer for the Fighting Illini women's program with 2,089 points will have her No. 32 jersey raised to the Assembly Hall rafters before the Feb. 22 game with Penn State.

Berggren is the first Illinois women's player to receive the honor of having her jersey hang alongside 30 of the top men's players in school history.

"It's an incredible honor to be recognized for my efforts and accomplishments as a women's basketball player," Berggren said on the Illinois Web site. "The foundation of my achievements lies in the love and support of my family, teammates, coaches and Illinois fans.

"In the future I look forward to sharing such an honor with more well-deserving women."

Berggren played for Illinois from 1994-98 and is the program's only three-time all-Big Ten selection.

Berggren was the Big Ten player of the year as a junior when she led Illinois to a Big Ten title and the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

As a senior she earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor and was an Associated Press third team All-America selection as Illinois returned to the Sweet Sixteen.

Berggren has spent the last six years in Colorado working as a special-education teacher, coach, ski instructor and business owner. She plans to move back to the Chicago area to teach and coach.

•Melissa Gorski (Buffalo Grove) of Monmouth College was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V team. The senior English major who leads the team in scoring and assists and is second in rebounding was named to the college division first team.

Track and field

Cornell University freshman Molly Glantz (Barrington) set a freshman school indoor record in the 600 meters with a winning time of 1:34.1 in an 11-team meet at Penn State. Glantz was also on a third-place 1,600 relay that ran the 10th-best time in school history (3:44.03).

•Minnesota junior Amy Laskowske (Palatine) ran a school record 16:26.51 in the 5,000 to finish third at the Iowa Classic. Laskowske broke a nine-year old record by more than three seconds and shattered her previous best in the event by 30 seconds.

•Mat Smoody (Palatine) ran a 3:03 leadoff leg in the 1,200 to help Illinois State's distance medley team finish fourth (9:52.63) in the Iowa State Classic. Brianna Officer (Palatine) was part of a women's fifth-place distance medley (11:45.93) and 1,600 relay that ran a season-best 3:48.56 in the meet.

• Senior Laura Pearson (Schaumburg) and junior Julia Hiett (Warren) were pat

were part of a winning distance medley relay team (12:21.63) that shattered a five-year-old Carthage College record by more than 32 seconds in the Chicagoland Indoor Track and Field Championship.

Sophomore Shacuána Gaines (Warren) took second in the 400 (1:01.18).

•University of Chicago sophomore Arthur Baptist (Prospect) won the mile in a personal-best 4.21.12 at the Chicagoland Indoor meet.

Swimming and diving

Katie Mroz (Libertyville) earned all-University Athletic Association honors (top three finish) and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships in three events for Emory University in the UAA Championship meet at the University of Chicago.

Mroz had lifetime-best times as she was second in the 500-yard freestyle (4:59.49) and third in the 200 free (1:53.29). She was also part of an 800 free relay team which set a UAA and pool record.

•Illinois State junior Katelyn Prorok (Hersey) was named Missouri Valley Conference diver of the year after winning the 1-meter board and taking second on the 3-meter board. Prorok was MVC diver of the week five times.

Volleyball

Janice Johnson (Grayslake Central) was chosen as Illinois College's 2008 Player of the Year. Illinois College coach Chad Nelson said Johnson was selected for her excellence on and off the court.

The junior defensive specialist had 95 digs but also provided valuable leadership as the Lady Blues were 13-16.

•Sarah Sulentic (Conant), a sophomore at St. Norbert, was named second-team all-Midwest Conference. St. Norbert won the conference title and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Sulentic was also chosen by her coaches to represent the team on St. Norbert's Student Athletic Advisory Council. She was named to the 2008 fall semester dean's list, which requires a minimum 3.5 grade point average.

Officiating

David Kessler of Des Plaines and Peter Stavropoulos of Vernon Hills were among 18 officials from around the state selected as IHSA Officials of the Year.

Kessler was chosen for boys volleyball and Stavopoulos for boys soccer. Carlin Nalley, the father of Palatine head boys track and field coach John Nalley, was also chosen for that sport.

One official is chosen from each IHSA sport and will be nominated for a national officiating award by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

•Ed Curtin will hold a boys varsity three-person mechanics camp for officials at the Buffalo Grove Shootout on June 18-20. There will be a three-hour classroom session and each official works six games in two days.

Cost is $80 in advance ($85 at the door). For information call Curtin at (847) 991-3144 or FAX to (847) 934-5961.

Sports Notes can be sent by e-mail to mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com or by FAX to (847) 427-1173.