Harper wrestlers have high hopes
The defending NJCAA champion Harper College wrestling team traveled to its second meet of the season at a four-year school last week, as the Hawks traveled to East Lansing, Mich.
Harper is currently ranked No. 4 in the NJCAA poll.
With three members from last year’s squad competing at the Division I level, coach Dan Loprieno said, “I am probably more proud of those kids who graduated and got a scholarship than the championship.”
Loprieno called Saturday’s meet “a rough weekend,” but added, “when you go up to Michigan State, what else do you expect?”
The Hawks started the season at NCAA Division III Loras University.
Harper welcomes back five All-Americans from last year’s squad, the most Loprieno has ever had return as sophomores.
Loprieno called Harper’s early season schedule “harder than our national tournament.”
He likes the future of his team, saying “I got a bunch of stalllions. You got to break them before they can preform for you.”
Fine finishes: The Harper College men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the NJCAA national meet on Saturday at Sunken Meadow State Park in New York.
The women’s team finished fifth.
“For our women to end up fifth was fantastic” said Harper coach Paul Paynter.
The Hawks where paced by Janet Franco (Schaumburg), who ran the 5k course in 22:47.60. Franco finished 32nd overall. Behind Franco was Chelsea McPherson, who had been battling injuries all season. She finished in 34th in 22:50.50.
Not everything went as the Hawks coaching staff had hoped. Melanie Mayer sprained an ankle Friday before the race in a training session on the hilly, rocky course. Meyer was heathy enough to go on race day and finished as the Hawks’ fourth runner in 24:07.70.
The men had a little bit more individual success. The Hawks placed three runners in the top 30: Ryan Wojdyla (Palatine, sixth), Chris Hoffman (Hoffman Estates, 16th) and Steve Heer (Rolling Meadows, 25th).
Wojdyla’s finish was good enough to earn him second team All-American honors.
“I was really pleased and surprised with Ryan Wojdyla,” Paynter said.
Paynter also praised Chris Hoffman, who had been his lead runner all season, saying, “The kid has been good for me.”
Paynter summed up the meet this way for both teams: “What was cool is that I had some good stuff happen.”
Men’s basketball: The Harper men’s basketball team won a pair of games last week to stay perfect this season and improve to 5-0.
On Saturday, the Hawks defeated Olive-Harvey 69-60 as Wes Wilcox (Lake Park) scored a team-high 19 points.
“We are making it hard for people to run their offense,” Harper coach Tony Amarino said Wednesday.
The Hawks continued their success Tuesday with a 90-76 victory over host Moraine Valley, which Amarino characterized as a good team effort.
Against Moraine Valey, freshman Kemill Long (Hoffman Estates) scored a team-high 37 points. Tommy Childs (South Elgin) made a solid contribution off the bench because Fred Dover (Conant) was plagued by foul trouble.
“We aren’t tricking anyone, we are just getting after it,” Amarino said.
On Saturday, the Hawks welcome Kishwaukee Community College to the Sports and Wellness Center for a 3 p.m. tipoff.
“If we play the way we’ve been playing, we can beat any (team on the schedule),” Amarino said.
After having an MRI performed on Friday, forward Avery Roche will have his knee scoped on Tuesday. Depending on the extent of the damage, the coaching staff will know how long they will be with out the 6-foot-6, 240-pound forward.