Emerich in his element in Mobile

Swirling winds and tough greens were no problem for Joe Emerich the last three days.

The Illinois State junior and Palatine graduate tamed the Magnolia Grove Golf Club in Mobile, Ala., as he won his first college title in the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate tournament.

Emerich shot a 1-under par 215 (74-68-73) to win by 4 shots and lead ISU to third place in the 16-team field. It was Emerich's second top-three finish at ISU.

"Joe played outstanding golf the entire week," said ISU head coach Ray Kralis in a news release. "Joe was not only physically ready, but mentally ready to play great golf this week."

Emerich's second-round 68 was the lowest of the tournament and his lowest of the season.

Basketball

Kristin Hecht finally got her shot this year to start for the Kentucky Christian University women's basketball team.

The 6-foot junior from Mundelein didn't waste the opportunity. Hecht was named the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association II national tournament MVP as the Lady Knights won their 12th national title with a 70-62 win over Southwestern Christian University.

Hecht scored 10 points in the title game and finished the season as the team's leading scorer at 13.1 points a game. She also averaged 7.9 rebounds.

"Hecht has been tremendous for us this year," said Kentucky Christian coach Ron Arnett, who won his 11th title to pass UCLA's John Wooden for the most championships by any college basketball coach at any level, said in a news release. "I am very proud of Hecht and what she has accomplished this year."

Hecht also was named the MVP of the Mideast Region tournament.

•Billy Hubly (Elk Grove), a freshman at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, was an honorable mention selection on the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference all-conference team. In CCAC play, Hubly averaged 12 points a game and hit 51 percent of his 3-pointers and 88 percent of his free throws.

•Monmouth College senior Melissa Gorski (Buffalo Grove) was named to the D3hoops.com All-Central Region third team. She ended her career as the fourth-leading scorer in Monmouth history.

•Mike Small will hold four basketball camps in the area for boys and girls from first to eighth grade. The first is a shooting camp April 28-31 at St. Alphonsus in Wheeling.

Small will also hold fundamental camps July 20-24 at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, July 27-31 at Rosemont School in Rosemont and Aug. 3-7 at St. Alphonsus.

For information and registration forms go to mike-small.com or call (847) 635-8437.

Swimming

Katie Mroz (Libertyville) earned all-America honors in three events to help Emory University finish second at the NCAA Division III national championships.

Mroz was part of the winning 800 freestyle relay which set an NCAA record (7:21.05), finished ninth in the 200 breaststroke in a school-record 2:18.43 and was 13th in the 200 free in a personal-best 1:51.73.

•Senior Mike Huffman (Palatine) won seven medals for Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. Huffman set a school record in the 100 backstroke and led four record-setting relay teams.

•Emily Molzahn (Barrington) was part of the Colorado State 200-yard free relay which took fourth in the Mountain West Championships. The time of 1:32.09 broke a 15-year-old school record set by a group led by six-time Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken.

Molzahn also hit USA Swimming national qualifying times in the 50 free (23.6), 100 fly (56.73) and 100 free (51.77).

Ice skating

Junior Samantha Rinella (Prospect) and sophomores Kelly Critchfield (Fremd) and Kelly Smith (Barrington) helped the Miami University (Ohio) synchronized skating senior team capture the national championship at the 2009 U.S. National Synchronized Skating Championships on March 5-7.

The senior team will represent the United States in the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Zagreb, Croatia on April 2-4.

The Miami collegiate team won its fifth straight national title and included junior Kristi King (Buffalo Grove) and sophomores Lauren Leonard (Fremd) and Amanda Zanotelli (Stevenson).

Baseball

Junior Jordin Hood (Lake Zurich) became the third Northern Illinois baseball player this season to earn a Mid-American Conference weekly award as he was chosen as the West Division Player of the Week after a three-game sweep of Buffalo.

Hood went 5-for-10 with 5 RBI, 4 runs, 3 doubles, a triple and 2 walks. He had a 1.000 slugging percentage and .667 on-base percentage to earn the honor for the second time in his career.

"I'm very happy for him to get this recognition," said NIU coach Ed Mathey. "He has probably been our most consistent hitter and has played every position we have asked him to play and has done a good job."

Hood extended his hitting streak to 15 games in the sweep of Buffalo. He leads NIU in nine offensive categories - including average (.419), RBI (21), doubles (10) and steals (7).

•Southern Illinois senior Mark Kelly (Hoffman Estates) was one of 44 catchers named to the Johnny Bench Award watch list. The award is given to the top NCAA Division I catcher and the list will be narrowed down to 10 semifinalists in mid-May.

Softball

Sophomore pitcher Kylie Lythberg (Prospect) has helped lead Central College in Iowa to its best start in seven years.

Lythberg is 6-0 with a 1.67 ERA. In 372/3 innings she has 37 strikeouts and has allowed only 3 walks and 29 hits.

Tennis

Sophomore Tricia Sapio (Barrington) leads the Augustana women's team with 13 singles victories.

Lacrosse

Mary Handrahan (Lake Zurich) had 5 goals and 3 assists for Trine University in a 19-12 win over Oberlin. Trine, in Angola, Ind., is in its second season of lacrosse.

Track and field

Indiana State junior Lauren Martin (Conant) earned NCAA all-America indoor honors after tying for 15th in the triple jump at 41 feet, 7 inches.

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