Locals shine at all-star track meet
Some of Illinois’ biggest stars in high school track and field shined brightly in the 13th annual Senior All-Star Meet on June 11 at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Most Valuable Performer honors went to Lake Park throwing standout Jermaine Kline for the men and to Bartlett’s Alyssa Schneider for the women. The meet features top seniors from Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Kline won the men’s shot put with a meet record 67 feet, 3 inches and won the discus at 185-10. Schneider won the 1,600 meters in a meet-record 4:55.64.
Kline’s brother Jeremy was second in both throwing events and Fremd’s Brian Bobek was sixth in the shot (56-4).
St. Viator’s Justin Johnson won the 110-meter high hurdles (14.01) and was on the first-place 440 hurdle shuttle relay. Prospect’s Nick Batcha took first in the 200 (21.49), ran on the winning 400 relay and was third in the 100.
Prospect’s Kellan Strobel ran on the winning 3,200 relay (7:55.89) along with West Chicago’s Gunnar Sterne. Prospect’s Andre Barnes and Cary-Grove’s Anthony Golowach ran on the third-place 1,600 relay.
Hoffman Estates’ Precious Ogunleye took second in the women’s shot put (42-0) and third in the discus (136-7).
The meet will be held at the University of St. Francis in Joliet the next three years.
Sotos courts big honors: Conant graduate Tommy Sotos was one of three University of Chicago players selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court.
The NABC recognizes college basketball student-athletes who excelled in academics during the most recent season.
Majoring in political science, Sotos started 18 of 25 contests and scored 6.8 points per game with 42 three-point field goals.
To qualify for the NABC Honors Court, players must be a junior or senior academically, possess a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20, and have matriculated at least one year at their NCAA Division I, II, or III, or NAIA institution.
Leazer to Augustana: Emily Leazer, a two-sport standout from St. Viator, will continue her volleyball career at Augustana College.
The 5-foot-11 outside hitter wrapped up a tremendous career for the Lions this year. She was a team captain and MVP for coach Charlie Curtin’s squad, earning All-East Suburban Catholic Conference and all-area honors for the third consecutive year.
Leazer recorded a school-record 96 service aces her senior season and ended up as the school’s career record holder with 207. She also set school records for kills and digs in a career with 773 and 737, respectively.
Leazer was also a two-year letterwinner in basketball and helped the Lions to a regional championship as a junior.
McDonald becomes a General: Schaumburg all-area basketball player Javon McDonald will continue playing at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.
The 5-foot-11 McDonald averaged 15.3 points a game and helped the Saxons to consecutive Class 4A sectional championship games after playing his first two years at Elgin Academy.
Division III Washington and Lee was 14-13 last year for its fourth straight winning seasons after 17 consecutive losing finishes. Bartlett graduate Larry Whitaker was a freshman last year and was fifth on the team in scoring (6.7 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.3).
Lythberg helps make Division III softball history: Prospect grad Kiley Lythberg had an unusual way of helping Central College (Iowa) coach George Wares reach the most victories in Division III softball history.
In an NCAA regional game, Lythberg’s two-out bunt double drove in the go-ahead run from second base in the eighth inning as Central beat Wisconsin-Whitewater 5-2. Lythberg pushed the ball past the pitcher and the charging second baseman and into the outfield grass.
Lythberg also got the victory to improve to 19-6. Wares now has 909 career victories as Central lost in the regional final.
Pancratz stays at Tennessee: Former Schaumburg basketball star Mark Pancratz was hired by new Tennessee men’s head coach Cuonzo Martin to be the program’s coordinator of video scouting. Pancratz had been part of the program for five years under Bruce Pearl, who was fired in March.
Pancratz, who led Schaumburg to the 2001 Class AA state title, will oversee all of the staff’s video editing needs, assist with on-campus recruiting and direct the men’s basketball camp.