College achievers: From A to, uh, T
So many local high school graduates are doing great things in college that we've got to spread the wealth, i.e., salute them in brief.
Augustana junior Ellen Adams (Glenbard West) was an NCAA Division III All-Academic pick in women's cross country. The Vikings co-captain was Augie's first finisher in all nine of its meets.
The long-legged stride of 6-foot-6 Randall Babb (Wheaton Warrenville South) helped Notre Dame to a second-place finish at the Big East Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. The freshman earned all-conference honors by running sub-1:58 splits in the distance medley relay and 3,200 relay.
Andy Bax (Waubonsie Valley), a Carthage College senior, won the 50-yard freestyle at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin swim meet with a meet and school record of 20.84 seconds. Bax anchored record-setting 200 free and 200 medley relays and led off a 400 free relay that set conference, school and pool records.
At the same meet Bax's former Warriors teammate, Illinois Wesleyan junior Michael Kozak, set CCIW and school records in the 100 butterfly and the 200 butterfly. He was voted most valuable swimmer at the meet, and both he and Bax qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships.
Carthage College junior Buzzy Brown (Neuqua Valley) has six long jump victories in nine indoor invites. His most recent win was March 6 at Carthage's "Last Chance" meet, qualifying him to compete this weekend at the Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.
Others joining Buzzy at nationals include St. Loras' Chris Buresh (St. Francis, high jump), University of Chicago's Kristin Constantine (Waubonsie, weight throw), and North Central College athletes Brandye Jackson (Willowbrook, 55 hurdles), Rachel Secrest (Wheaton North, pole vault), Melissa Savino (Naperville North, pentathlon) and 2009 CCIW Indoor man of the meet Kyle Brady (WW South, 5,000).
For a fourth straight year Southern Illinois University's Kelly Dvorak (Downers Grove South) earned all-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) honors, competing individually in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley. Joined on first-team all-conference for the first time by younger sister Samantha, Kelly was also an MVC Scholar-Athlete and was among the conference's Good Neighbor Award recipients.
North Central College wrestler Jason Fitzenreider (Wheaton North), earned Scholar All-American standing from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. The sociology and criminal justice major won the CCIW title at 149 pounds.
Southern Illinois basketball player Bryan Mullins (Downers South) is now the MVC's defensive player of the year two years running. The senior guard is the second player in MVC history to record 500 career assists and 250 career steals.
Allison Nelson (Neuqua Valley), a Wisconsin-Whitewater All-America sophomore gymnast, helped the Warhawks to their second straight National Collegiate Gymnastics Championship, to be held March 21-22. Whitewater was No. 1 in the nation Feb. 23-March 6. Nelson is ranked among the top 10 nationally in her specialty, the vault.
Outstanding athlete Casey Short (Naperville Central), a 2008 high school soccer All-America now at Florida State, is among 18 Americans competing at the 10 Nations Tournament in LaManga, Spain, through Saturday. Short, a midfielder, assisted on the winning goal March 9 in a 3-2 win over Norway.
Cardinal Stritch University junior forward Trey Triplett (Lisle) recently earned his third straight all-conference honor in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. He led the Wolves with 19.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Triplett recorded 9 double-doubles and helped Stritch to a 22-8 record and a berth in the CCAC Championship.
(Asides: Joining Triplett as all-conference was Stritch teammate and Geneva grad Brandon D'Amico, whose father is former Lisle boys coach Mark D'Amico. Also, the Trinity Christian team that beat Cardinal Stritch for the CCAC title got 12 points from former Timothy Christian star Jonathan.)
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doberhelman@dailyherald.com