Nowinski addresses athletic concussions

Former Hersey High School football and basketball star Chris Nowinski is returning home August 26 to speak about problem of concussions suffered by athletes.

Nowinski will be speaking at 7 p.m. at Hersey's Ken Carter Gymnasium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the public is invited.

Nowinski is the author of the book "Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis" and has started The Sports Legacy Institute, which has been instrumental in researching the effects of concussions.

The former WWE professional wrestler suffered a concussion during a match in 2003. Nowinski, who played football at Harvard, discovered he had played through undiagnosed concussions in his athletic career that resulted in permanent brain damage.

Play Ball USA travel tryouts: Tryouts for the 2010 season for the Illinois Indians, a Play Ball USA affiliated travel baseball team, will be held Saturday and Sunday at Oakton College in Des Plaines. Tryouts begin at 8 a.m. with 10 a.m. sessions to follow.

Players ages 10-18 are eligible. Tryout times vary by age group and are available at illinoisindiansbaseball.com.

For more information call (847) 375-0840.

Basketball coaching clinic: Byron High School will host a coaching clinic from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Sept. 19. Coaches who will be speaking and doing on-court demonstrations are Rockton Hononegah's Mike Miller (ball press defense), Moline's Ryan Webber (man-to-man defense), Loyola University's Jim Whitesell (offense and defense), Lake Forest College's Chris Conger (motion offense) and Northern Illinois assistant Sundance Wicks (individual development).

The cost is $30 by Sept. 17 and $35 at the door. Participants will receive a notebook and there will be door prizes.

For more information contact Byron girls basketball coach Wade Heisler at heislew@byron.ogle.k12.il.us.