Former Conant AD Washington Bush enters Hall of Fame
It's been three years since Washington Bush retired after serving as the athletic director at Conant High School for 15 years.
“I still call him for stuff,” said current Conant AT John Kane. “He's a wealth of knowledge.”
And now Bush is a Hall of Fame member.
Bush was inducted into the Illinois Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame at its state conference April 30 in Peoria.
Bush served the IADA in a variety of capacities, including 10 years as a test administrator, six as an instructor and five as a business manager. He was also a mentor, assistant golf chairman, assistant conference chair and chair.
Bush received the IADA outstanding Athletic Director award in 1998 and was named the IADA Athletic Director of the Year in 2007. He served on the IHSA Sportsmanship committee, the IHSA Legislative Commission and the IHSA Strategic Plan Committee on Finances.
He served and presented for the MIAAA National Conference and was awarded the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association's Administrator of the Year honors in 2002.
“Washington Bush was one of the finest athletic directors of his era,” said Wheeling assistant principal for student activities Steve May. “He had the respect and admiration of his entire coaching staff at Conant and the community.
“When your team went to compete at Conant, you knew they would be treated to a first-class event. Washington was there to greet you and make sure things ran smoothly. When you thought of Conant athletics, you thought of Washington Bush.”
In his years as AD, Conant hosted state series in many events, including the girls state soccer finals. Bush also volunteered his time at the boys state volleyball finals, the girls gymnastics state meet, the boys state track meet and the state wrestling meet.
He was also a member of the Northern Illinois Sporting Officiating Committee and he served as the president of the Mid-Suburban League and its Board of Control. He also was a liaison for the MSL in wrestling, swimming and water polo.
Outside of athletics, Bush was a member of the United Way Board, the big Brother/Big Sister program and a volunteer with the Special Olympics.
Women's golfWashington University (St. Louis) sophomore Melanie Walsh (Prospect) was named the NCAA Division III Elite 88 winner at the 2011 NCAA Division III championship banquet in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
The Elite 88, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 88 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 88 championships.
#8220;The whole team is excited about Melanie winning such a prestigious award,#8221; said third-year head coach Sean Curtis. #8220;She really exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete and continues to impress here at the national championship. We couldn't be happier for Melanie and her family.#8221;
Walsh, an English major with a 4.0 grade-point average (GPA), has seen action in all 10 tournaments and is third on the team and 113th in NCAA Division III with an 84.88 average. She placed second at the Illinois College Invitational after firing a first-round 78 and a season-low 77 in the second round. Walsh has recorded a 90 or lower in 14 of 16 rounds this season.
Softball
Senior Kailey Kassner (Conant) is the designated hitter for Memphis, which has earned a berth in the College World Series for the first time in the program's six-year history.
Kassner is in the top five for Memphis in six hitting categories, including on-base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs, walks, hit by pitches and RBI.
#376; Carthage sophomore pitcher Krystina Leazer (Elk Grove) was named to the first team of the 2011 All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin team.
She is 19-9 with a 2.31 earned run average and 7.3 strikeouts and 1.1 walks per 9 innings. Leazer was also named CCIW Pitcher of the Year.
#376; Wisconsin-Whitewater sophomore outfielder Amanda Mertes (Elk Grove) earned a spot on the 2011 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first team.
Mertes batted .404 and led UW-W with 28 runs scored and 17 stolen bases in 18 attempts. She was third in the league in batting average, eighth in runs scored, 10th in on base percentage and the league leader in stolen bases.
Elk Grove Boosters
The Elk Grove High School Athletic Boosters are having their third annual garage sale/flea market on Saturday at the high school in the back parking lot from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission and parking is free. There will be over 40 vendors and concessions. The rain date is Sunday
Women's volleyball
Kyrsten Becker (Rolling Meadows) has been hired as a graduate assistant for the woman's volleyball program at Morehead State University in Kentucky. She will be Director of Operations as well as an assistant coach, while receiving her masters in education.
Becker graduated from the University of St. Francis with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a minor in secondary education. She also graduated summa cum laude.
Men's track
Eastern Illinois University senior Patrick Tortorici (Conant) won the Ohio Valley Conference championship in the 400 hurdles at Murray State in 51.95, the seventh-best time in EIU history.
He also anchored the winning 4 x 400 relay team (3:16.23). Tortorici hopes to qualify to run in the NCAA regional championship to be held at the University of Oregon in June.
Basketball camps
Barrington boys basketball coach Bryan Tucker is running basketball camps in June for boys entering fourth through eighth grade. Shooting fundamentals, skills and a variety of contests will be featured. The first camp begins June 13. Information and registration is online through the Barrington Park District.
#376; Please e-mail Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.