Nowinski spreads the word on concussion issues
Former Hersey High School football and basketball star Chris Nowinski will be holding two local events Tuesday related to his pursuit of educating people on the long-lasting effects of concussions and other brain traumas.
Nowinski, the president of The Sports Legacy Institute, will hold a Sports Concussion Clinic for coaches, parents, athletes and medical professionals from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. at his alma mater in Arlington Heights. Admission is free.
From 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Nowinski will be part of a cocktail fundraiser at Bristol Court in Mount Prospect to honor the memory of former NHL star Reggie Fleming, who helped the Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup.
Fleming, considered one of the toughest hockey players of his era, died last July. He donated his brain to the SLI Brain Bank for research and in December was the first hockey player diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease caused by repetitive concussive and sub-concussive brain injuries that can only be diagnosed post-mortem.
The event to recognize Fleming and family's contribution to medical research costs $75 and there will be a silent auction. For more information go to http://slireggie.eventbrite.com.
Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer is scheduled to attend both events Tuesday. Hillenmeyer is one of 20 NFL players who have recently pledged to donate their brains to SLI after their death.
Nowinski was also a football standout at Harvard and became a professional wrestler before his career was ended in 2003 by a concussion.
Buffalo Grove youth baseball fundraiser: The Buffalo Grove Bulldogs, a baseball team of 14-year-olds, will hold an all-day benefit for military families June 19 at Alexian Field in Schaumburg.
The Bulldogs, Algonquin Hawks, Vernon Hills Cougars and Lake County Lightning Black will play games from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the home of the Schaumburg Flyers. Cost is $3 with families showing an active military ID admitted for free as proceeds will benefit the National Military Family Association.
There will be concessions, children's activities by Stevenson High School's Students Helping Soldiers Club, a home-run hitting contest for adults, a sports memorabilia silent auction and a 50-50 raffle.
Donations can also be made to the Buffalo Grove Bulldogs, in care of Amy Millman, 2003 Olive Hill Drive, Buffalo Grove 60089. Two years ago the Bulldogs raised money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation during a tournament in Orlando.
Wheeling feeder football: Registration for the newly created Wheeling Jr. Wildcats youth feeder football program will be held June 26. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wheeling Park District Community Center at 333 W. Dundee Road.
Fifth through eighth graders are eligible to play and an annual fee of $300 and goes toward equipment, league fees and officials. All players who register for the 2010 season receive a free T-shirt.
The coaching staff will be made up of local community members and will include parents and former Wheeling football players. For more information or registration forms go to jrwildcats.com.
High five for Conant boys hoops: Conant achieved a rarity when Taylor Peterson committed to Wisconsin-River Falls to play basketball. Last year's entire starting five will be playing in college.
Christian Sotos will be playing at Carroll College and Nate Rummel will be at North Park College. Garett Gatz and Andrew Spangler plan to play at Harper College.
College commitments: Elk Grove senior football players Brett Lesniak and Brandon Datavs are going to remain teammates. They committed to Wisconsin-Platteville.
Maine West cornerback Carl Marella committed to play at Millikin. Marella had 24 tackles and 3 pass breakups as a senior after missing his junior year with a broken collarbone.
Connie Kulczycki, a forward who was part of St. Viator's run to a second-place state finish in Class 2A girls soccer, will play at Augustana.
Fremd soccer camps: Fremd boys and girls soccer coach Steve Keller will hold camps at the high school through the Inverness Park District.
The camp for first through fourth grade will be Monday through Thursday with the boys from 10:15-11:15 a.m. and the girls from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $75.
The camp for fifth through eighth grade boys and girls will be June 21-24 from 1:30-4 p.m. and costs $100.
For more information contact Keller at (847) 687-6001 or at skeller@d211.org.