Senior citizens get freebie at Libertyville
Anyone over 65 years old can watch high school boys basketball at no cost on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at Libertyville High School.
The Wildcats will host “Senior Citizen” night at the Libertyville-Lake Zurich boys basketball game that night.
The sophomore game will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity contest at 7 p.m.
This will be an opportunity for senior citizens (65 and over) in the area to watch a high school boys basketball game for free.
Scott Schwerman with the Junior Wildcats has contacted local retirement homes in the area (Spring Meadow and Winchester) to help promote this event for their residents.
Also, Libertyville boys basketball players and students are encouraged to invite their neighbors and/or grandparents to the game. There will be special seating and wheelchair space available at the game.
Men's baseball
Among the Stetson baseball signing class for 2010 is Stevenson pitcher Ike Greenspon.
A 5-foot-10 senior who lives in Long Grove, Greenspon helped lead the Patriots to a 34-4 record and a third-place finish in the state tourney last June.
In 25 innings pitched, he struck out 30 batters, walked five, allowed just 6 hits and did not surrender an earned run.
Greenspon, an honor roll student at Stevenson, was also recruited by Duke, Lehigh, Bucknell and Davidson.
“Ike competes on the mound and commands the strike zone,” said Hatters coach Peter Dunn. “He has a good arm with a fastball ranging from 87-90 and throws a downer curveball. He comes from a great high school in an area of Illinois that continues to produce quality students and baseball players.
“I am very pleased with this year's entire recruiting class,” he added. “This is an athletic and versatile class with a very high ceiling.”
Men's soccer
Nick Janus (Lake Zurich) was selected to the 2010 Big Ten all-freshman team.
Janus is a former Sockers FC Academy player and All-State forward for Lake Zurich High School. He plays midfield for the University of Wisconsin, playing in all 19 games this season and starting 14 games. Janus logged over 1500 minutes play time this fall, and accumulated 5 points on 1 goal and 3 assists for the Badgers.
Ÿ Central College senior forward Brett McKenzie (Antioch) earned all-region and all-conference recognition as well as team honors for the 2010 season. A four-time letter winner, McKenzie received NSCAA second-team all-North Region honors. A three-time Iowa Conference pick, McKenzie was a first-team selection this season. He was also named the league's Most Valuable Player, a first in the program's history.
The Dutch captain received the team's MVP Award for the second year in a row and was named the conference's offensive player of the week twice (Sept. 13, Oct. 25).
McKenzie started 16 games and scored a team-high 11 goals, including five game-winners and one penalty kick. He also contributed three assists, recording 25 points on the season.
In his Central career, McKenzie set a new school record in game-winning goals with 15. He is second in shots attempted (240), second in shots on goal (114), third in goals (38), third in penalty kicks made (3) and fourth in points (88),
Central compiled a 13-5 overall record, with a 5-3 Iowa Conference mark good for fourth in the league. The team earned a seed in the conference tournament for the ninth straight year under coach Garry Laidlaw.
The Dutch also tied the school record for most goals in a game with 10 and set school records for fewest opponent shots on goal allowed in a game with zero and fewest opponent shots allowed in a season with 165.
Ÿ Senior Matt Stieve (Maine West) was honored for his stellar play after helping the New York University men's soccer team to a record-breaking 2010 campaign.
A team captain, Stieve was named first-team all-University Athletic Association after a tremendous season in goal. The senior played in all 18 games, starting 17.
He recorded the second-lowest goals-against average (0.52) in school history, the second-most shutouts (9), and third-most wins (11). Stieve also played all 754:40 in goal during the Violets' school-record-breaking streak of consecutive shutout minutes.
With Stieve as its primary goalkeeper, NYU broke the school records for goals-against average (0.47) and shutouts (12) and finished 11th in Division III in goals-against average. In addition, Stieve did not allow a goal in UAA play, helping NYU become the first team in Association history to accomplish the feat over the course of the seven UAA games.
Women's volleyball
The Gurnee Park District offers a women's volleyball program on Monday evenings starting January 10. This is an open recreational type volleyball program for ladies age 21 years and up. The program meets on Mondays at the Hunt Club Park Community Center from 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. For more information or to register for this program visit gurneeparkdistrict.com
Women's soccer
Western Illinois senior defender Jenny Green (Palatine) finished her final season and collegiate career as a two-time team MVP and three-time all conference performer.
She was the first WIU athlete to be named Summit League defensive player of the year. She was also named by Top Drawer Soccer magazine as the top soccer athlete in the conference for 2010.
Academically, Green was a 3 time Summit League all academic team member, WIU Student/Provost award winner, 2 time coSIDA/ESPN All District selection and one of 30 national semifinalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS award.
The Lowe's award is given annually to an NCAA Division I women's soccer student-athlete who shows excellence in four areas; community, classroom, character and competition.
Green is on track to graduate from Western Illinois with a 3.92 GPA in special education.