Former Wildcat Mroz to make national splash
Former Libertyville swimmer Katie Mroz will be busy this spring for Emory University.
Thanks to her fine performance at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational, the junior qualified for the NCAA Division III national championships to be held at the University of Minnesota in the spring.
Mroz recorded three provisional "B" marks at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational.
The All-American recorded her times in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.84 and fourth fastest in D-III this year), 500 freestyle (5:06.52) and 200 freestyle (1:53.96).
The Emory women, ranked second nationally in D-III, finished third in a 10-team field trailing only host school Miami (Ohio) University and Florida Gulf Coast University - both Division I schools.
But Emory finished ahead of other D-I programs including the University of Illinois and Cincinnati.
In the off-season, Mroz is a member of the local Cats Aquatic Swim Team.
Men's soccer
Central College senior midfielder Erik Lundgren (Stevenson) received the Most Inspirational Player Award for his team.
• Calvin College senior Alex McKenzie (Antioch) was named to the All-Central Region first team. McKenzie is eligible for NSCAA Division III All-America consideration.
Football
North Central College junior defensive tackle Robert Champion (Wauconda) was named to the third team of the 2009 NCAA Division III All-North Region team.
The Cardinals finished 8-2 overall and tied for the CCIW Championship with an in-conference record of 6-1.
Champion, also a first team All-CCIW selection, ranked third on the North Central defense in tackles (40) this season, leading the team in tackles for loss (12.5) and quarterback sacks (6.5).
He led the CCIW in sacks per game and was second in tackles for loss per game.
Women's basketball
Emory University senior Whitney Martin (Barrington) has been selected by the University Athletic Association as women's basketball co-player of the week following her efforts in a pair of games.
It marks the first time in the career of the 2006 Daily Herald Female Athlete of the Year that she has won the award.
The 6-foot Martin averaged 15.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in helping the Eagles to a 1-1 mark. She totaled 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in a 98-87 loss at the (Sewanee) University of the South last Monday before turning in a solid effort against the University of Rochester that saw her lead the team with a career-high 19 points in a 60-50 triumph.
Martin sank 6 of 10 from the floor and 6 free throws en route to notching her fourth straight and sixth double-figure scoring effort of the campaign.
In addition, Martin paced the squad with 9 rebounds, the fifth time this year that she had either led the team or shared honors in that department.
In the two contests combined, she shot 66.7 percent from the floor (12-for-18).
Over the first seven games, Martin ranks as the team's leading scorer (13.7 ppg) and rebounder (8.1 rpg) and stands fifth and third, respectively, in those categories among UAA players. In addition, she has connected on 46.8 percent from the field, second on the squad and 10th in the league.
Men's basketball
Elmhurst College senior guard Chris Childs (Barrington) started five of the Bluejays' first six games.
He came off the bench in the season opener at Hamline (St. Paul, Minn,) and scored 21 points with 6 of 6 free throws.
In his last game against Fontbonne (St. Louis, Mo.), Childs scored 17 points, converting 7 of 7 field goals,
He is averaging 12 points and leads the team in assists (15) and free-throw percentage (86 percent).
Fundraiser
For the second consecutive year, the Illinois High School Association and member-school basketball teams throughout the state will participate in the military family fundraiser "Free Throws For Heroes."
In addition, the 2010 season will also feature a second charitable initiative, "Free Throws For The Fight," which will help Illinois cancer patients.
The Charity Stripe will once again sponsor the statewide events with both Free Throws For Heroes and Free Throws For The Fight scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
On that day, IHSA boys and girls basketball team members are encouraged to shoot 50 free throws each to raise money for either or both causes.
Participants will solicit pledges from their families and communities for each free throw made and the money raised will be given to help military families and/or those afflicted by cancer in Illinois.
In the program's inaugural season in 2009, a total fo 96 IHSA member high schools participated in "Free Throws For Heroes," helping raise $82,170 for Illinois military families in need.
The Suburban Basketball Officials also donated their game checks for the evening, totaling an additional $825 dollars.
Funds are being used for rehabilitation equipment, handicap accessibility, mortgage/utility payments, job/career training, returning troop family reunions and more.
• Please e-mail items to jleusch@dailyherald.com