Boston College honors Lake Zurich's Castonzo
Former Lake Zurich standout Anthony Castonzo received the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Boston College football player.
The Eagles senior left tackle received the Scanlan Award at the team's annual Scanlan Awards Banquet this past Sunday afternoon at the Sheraton Needham.
The Scanlan Award is presented to the senior football player who excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
Castonzo tied a Boston College record with his 53rd consecutive start at Syracuse.
He has started every game on the offensive line since his true freshman campaign.
The team captain anchors the line that has helped running back Montel Harris become the ACC's leading rusher.
A biochemistry major who hopes to conduct cancer research some day, Castonzo will be honored as a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete at the NFF's awards dinner in New York City.
For the second straight season, he was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference football first team.
Fundaiser
A fundraiser for Antioch Spanish teacher Sarah Menoni will be held when the Sequoits host Lakes in girls and boys basketball games Friday.
Ms. Menoni is currently battling leukemia. All proceeds from the concession stands and program sales, along with the sale of a souvenir contest t-shirt, will go to help defray the costs of Ms. Menoni's treatments.
The varsity girls' game begins at 6 p.m. followed by the boys' varsity game at 7:30 p.m.
Travel Lacrosse
The Vernon Hills Cougars Youth Athletic Association is participating in the inaugural season of the Northwest Chicago Youth Lacrosse Federation (NWCYLF). Registration forms are now being accepted for this competitive travel lacrosse program.
Lacrosse is open to boys and girls in grades second through eighth for the 2011 spring season. While this is a competitive travel program, no experience is necessary and all skill levels are welcome.
All equipment, except lacrosse stick and cleats, are provided for via the registration fees. Home games and practices will be on local fields within Vernon Hills.
For more information, including a registration form, please visit www.vhcyaa.org. This program is compatible with other spring sports.
Walk-in registration will Thursday, Dec. 16 from 6 p.m. t 8 p.m. at the VHCYAA (740 Corporate Woods Parkway) in Vernon Hills.
Coaching clinic
Non-teachers who would like to coach on the high school level can attend one of the following American Sports Education Program certification coaching clinics: Saturday, Jan. 8 at Oakton College in Des Plaines or Saturday, Feb. 19 at Illinois Math & Science Academy in Aurora.
For more information call 847-635-8437 or go to www.mike-small.com.
Football
Defensive end Scott Stoczynski (Hoffman Estates) started for North Dakota State University in its 42-17 upset win at Montana State University in the FCS Division 1 second-round playoffs. The Bison defense is ranked ninth in the nation and first in the Missouri Valley in scoring defense at 17 PPG.
NDSU travels to Cheney, Washington, to play No. 1 ranked Eastern Washington University on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
The Missouri Valley started three teams in the field and 9-4 NDSU (904) is the lone representative remaining.
Ÿ Senior Michael Egebrecht (Buffalo Grove), a three-year captain at Concordia/Chicago, was selected to the first team of the Northern Athletics Conference League for the third year in a row. He ended his career being named an NAC All-American.
In 39 games, Egebrecht had 175 receptions (school record) for 2,580 yards (40 short of the school record) and 21 touchdowns (two short of the school record).
Women's volleyball
Penn State coach Russ Rose (Fremd) was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Guiding Penn State to its eighth straight Big Ten title and 14th overall, Rose was named Coach of the Year by for the fourth straight season and 10th overall by conference coaches.
He earned the honor from the media for the sixth straight year and 12th overall.
The Nittany Lions finished the 2010 season 26-5, including a 16-4 mark in conference play.
Ÿ Michigan senior setter Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington) was one of nine unanimous choices to the 2010 All-Big Ten team.
Zimmerman became the program leader in assists against Iowa on Sept. 24, 2010 and finished her career with 5,873. She was the 2009-10 Michigan Female Athlete of the Year and the Lowe's Senior CLASS candidate.
Ÿ Memphis sophomore outside hitter Altrese Hawkins (Hoffman Estates) is featured on the cover of the December 2010 edition of COBRA Volleyball Magazine for being named to the publication's All-Southeast Regional squad.
Hawkins had a standout season in 2010, leading Memphis and ranking in the top-10 in Conference USA with 483 kills, 3.96 kills per set, 525 points and 4.30 points per set.
She ranked 41st nationally in kills per set and 67th nationally in points per set. Hawkins ranked 12th in the league with a team-best .305 attack percentage.
Women's basketball
Area basketball fans will likely remember the player wearing No. 22 for Buffalo Grove's girls basketball team a few years ago.
While her jersey now sports a slightly higher number (23), Ellen Ayoub's collegiate career numbers have gone up as well this season.
The Loyola junior is leading the Ramblers with 14 points and 6 rebounds in what could be a breakout season for the former Bison.
“I'm more comfortable with the speed of the game,” said Ayoub, who also wore No. 23 while playing for Thomas Middle School before she got to Buffalo Grove. “I'm just getting more playing time, too. That's probably why my numbers are going up.”
In college, Ayoub has stepped into the role of a No. 4 (forward) after playing more of an outside No. 2 guard spot in high school for Hall of Fame BG coach Tom Dineen.
“It was something I had to adjust to,” she said. “I still get to play outside but they (Loyola coaches) have totally helped me with my inside game, which I really never had.”
Ÿ Please e-mail Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.