Palatine's Hall of Fame expands

The rain was persistent at Palatine's homecoming football game a few weeks ago.

But the adverse weather hardly put a damper on the night's extra festivities.

It was 1999 when athletic director Jerry Dobbs started a Hall of Fame night to introduce the most recent inductees. He called upon longtime Pirates basketball coach Ed Molitor to serve as the master of ceremonies.

Now retired and living in Michigan City, Ind., Molitor made the trip to town to handle the chores for the tenth straight year.

The 2009 inductees Claudia Becque-Johnston and Keri Nelson Krause were honored at a reception in the north end zone.

The duo was then introduced by Molitor as they walked across the 50-yard line while he read their accomplishments before the game.

Their line sketch plaques will be on display in the gymnasium hallway, along with the other thirty-nine previous inductees.

• Becque-Johnston, the school's 1994 Female of the Athlete, came into high school with no previous running experience but made quite an impact once she committed herself to the cross country and track programs.

After being on the swim team her freshman year, Becque-Johnston joined the cross country team her sophomore year and helped lead the Pirates to MSL, regional, sectional and state championships.

She finished her high school cross country career as a part of three MSL championship teams, three regional and sectional championship teams, a state championship team and state runner-up team.

Individually, Becque-Johnston qualified for the state meet in cross country all three years, finishing ninth her sophomore year, sixth her junior year, and fifth her senior year.

She also led her track and field teams to three state trophies and set the school record in the 3200 meter run her senior year.

After a successful collegiate career at Marquette University, Becque-Johnston recently qualified for the Olympic trials marathon after finishing 98th at the Boston Marathon last April.

• Nelson-Krause came into Palatine as an accomplished soccer player and it didn't take long for her to make an impact once she got here.

After her freshman season in 1991 in which she was one of the top freshmen in the state, she built on that success by being a member of numerous all-state teams throughout her four-year school career.

Nelson-Krause was the honorary captain of the Daily Herald's all-area team her senior year.

Her individual play was a major factor in her team's success from 1991-1994, culminating with a third-place finish her senior year.

Nelson-Krause was captain of the team in 1993 and 1994 and voted team MVP in 1994. She finished her high school career by setting the school scoring record.

Nelson was also very successful on the travel circuit, being a member of six State Cups, four regional and two national championship teams.

During her high school career and many years after, Nelson-Krause gave back to the game of soccer.

Whether it was working for various park districts or assisting at soccer camps, Nelson-Krause was always connected to the game and strived to give younger kids the same opportunities she had.

Women's tennis

Senior Ingrid Stensvaag (Palatine) of the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, went 2-0 on the week, defeating Emily Bostwick from Oshkosh with 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2 singles, and winning 6-0, 6-0 over Kathryn Hendee of Wisconsin Lutheran. In doubles, Stensvaag and Annie Smith went 2-0 with an 8-2 win over Braasch and Tornow from Oshkosh and an 8-0 win over Glasel and Georgson of Wisconsin Lutheran.

Football

Carthage wide receiver Jeff Koeneman (Fremd) had one of the best games of his standout career as the Red Men held off Elmhurst 45-38 in a CCIW shootout before a crowd of 2,530 at Langhorst Field.

Koeneman finished with 13 receptions for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns, upping his career marks to 203 catches and 2,419 yards - both school records.

"That's why I think he's the best receiver in the league," Carthage coach Tim Rucks said told reporters. "I don't think that's a secret to anyone who coaches in this league.

"That's why he's an MVP-type player - you come through for your team when they need you."

Also in the game, Joe Busse (Fremd) had 1 sack for a 9 yard loss, 1 interception, 3 solo and 3 assists tackles.

Brian Hipchen (Fremd) collected 8 solo tackles and 1 interception and Jake Smith (Fremd) scored 2 TDs.

• Freshman Jimmy Norris (Fremd) is one of two freshman on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater team and has had playing time in every game this fall as a right guard.

• Jason Ford (Fremd) is a tight end for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Basketball

The Buffalo Grove High School Girls Feeder Program is hosting tryouts on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Buffalo Grove High School. The times are as follows: 5th grade (noon to 1 p.m.); 6th grade: 1 to 2 p.m.;7th grade: 2 to 3 p.m.; 8th grade (3 to 4 p.m.) Please contact Pat Dudle at patrick.dudle@d214.org with any questions.

Women's soccer

Millikin's Tanya Romano (Fremd) was named a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women's Soccer Player of the Week.

Romano, a junior defender, helped anchor a Millikin defense that tallied 2 shutouts in the week, including a 4-0 win over Central on October 1, and a 1-0 win over North Central on October 3.

Volleyball

Cornell College senior Kristin Paczosa (Buffalo Grove) is the female recipient of the Paul Maaske Award, which recognizes the male and female athletes, who in their academic junior year, lettered in two or more sports and accumulated the highest grade point average.

Paczosa, who carries a 3.48 cumulative GPA, is a fourth-year volleyball letter winner and three-year basketball letter winner. She was on the dean's list in the spring of 2008 and 2009.

She is vice president of SAAC (student-athlete advisory committee). Paczosa is in Mortar Board (a senior honor society) and also a member of Health Profession Society and ACTION. On the court, Paczosa has earned all-conference honors in both volleyball and basketball.

Baseball

The Rockford RiverHawks announced that Jason James (Buffalo Grove), a three-time Frontier League All-Star, has signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago Cubs. This year, James hit a team-record .374 to win the league batting crown and hit a career-best 14 home runs with 48 RBI. Along the way, he had a league-record 40-game hitting streak.

Please email brief items to jleusch@dailyherald.com