Meet a potpourri of student-athletes doing right thing

On Wednesday, Geneva graduate and Northern Illinois University sophomore Lauren Wicinski was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association all-American list. She was a Third Team selection, the first Huskie to be named to one of the top three teams.

Following last year’s AVCA honorable-mention award as a freshman, Wicinski became the first NIU and Mid-American Conference women’s player to receive all-American status twice in a career.

Batavia graduate Kristin Hoffman, a senior setter at NIU, earned AVCA honorable mention. Hoffman and Wicinski became the first teammates in NIU and MAC history to earn all-American status.

Kelsey Robinson, a Tennessee sophomore out of St. Francis, earned Second Team honors.

Catching up with ... Jackie Cardona

Aurora Central Catholic girls basketball coach Mark Fitzgerald called senior guard Jackie Cardona “a wonderful kid” who has “meant the world to this program.” As a statistical reflection of the three-year starting guard#146;s value, Cardona#146;s 17 points Tuesday against IMSA gave her 910 over a four-year varsity career. As Cardona averages more than 10 points a game, Andrea Taylor#146;s program record of 1,044 points is well within reach. The 2010-11 co-MVP of the Suburban Christian Gold, Cardona has won MVP awards at college camps at both Tennessee and Kentucky. She used to play volleyball and is deciding whether to be a soccer goalie again in the spring. She#146;s lived in the same Aurora house her whole life. Her two older brothers, Jose and Daniel, each attended Marmion, which given the rivalry with ACC must provide lively dinnertime conversation. Q: Just a little over 100 points away from the school scoring record, eh?

A: I think it#146;d be fun to break the record here at Central.

Q: What do you like most about basketball?

A: I love the dribbling. I like passes, like the quick, nice passes. I think it#146;s very competitive sometimes, so I think it#146;s fun to really challenge yourself. And basketball#146;s always come pretty easy to me. I guess I really love it.

Q: What#146;s your favorite location to shoot the ball?

A: I like to shoot from the elbows (free-throw line extended), and like the short corner (baseline) shots. I#146;ve always been able to make the baseline shots easier than the front-side shots, which is kind of weird.

Q: What do you consider your biggest achievement in basketball?

A: It would probably have to be the (2011) regional game against Rosary.

Q: How did that feel?

A: I seemed like I was really ready for it and all the shots I was taking were just dropping. It felt pretty good to win, and we had a lot of seniors that year, I was close to them. It was nice to have a regional championship, and they deserved it, too. It was nice to help my team out for the win.

Q: On the other hand, what was your low point?

A: It was probably from this year, actually, against Montini (on Monday). I missed all my free throws, basically. I couldn#146;t get going.

Q: What#146;s the best coaching advice you#146;ve received?

A: It would probably be from my dad (Jose). He told me to always play 100 percent because if you don#146;t play 100 percent you don#146;t know what you could have done. And to shoot the shots. If you don#146;t take a shot it#146;s almost like you missed a shot because you#146;re not taking a chance. He said it#146;ll affect my team in the long run.

Q: Now for something different. If you could change anything in school, what would it be?

A: I don#146;t know, because I actually really like our school. Maybe no uniform.

Q: Tell us a couple of your interests.

A: I love to bake. I#146;m really into history and architecture. I thought about being an architect, but it was going to take eight years, so I decided not to.

Q: What are your goals off the basketball court?

A: To get into college, get a good job and maybe start a family of my own someday.

Q: Nice. And on the court this season?

A: To not lose any more games, to hopefully make it to state, to try to get my 1,000-point goal and just so our team can have a lot of fun this year. Play together and have fun and win.

#145;Pitch with the Pros#146;

That#146;s the title of a baseball program Marmion Academy is hosting from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 18.

Marmion pitching coach Bill Copp, a one-time Aurora Central left-handed pitcher who reached the Triple-A level in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system before one too many orthopedic dates with Dr. James Andrews, has assembled a crack staff of pitchers to work with youngsters from fifth-grade through high school age.

Lefty Casey Crosby, the former Kaneland Knight now pitching in the Detroit Tigers farm system, is one of them.

Another is Minooka#146;s Mike Foltynewitz, a hard-throwing right-hander who was a Houston Astros#146; first-round draft pick in 2010.

Copp, now in his fourth year at Marmion after three seasons with Batavia, worked with both Crosby and Foltynewitz both privately and with the Illinois Sparks ballclub.

#147;Pitch with the Pros#148; will also welcome Stan Zielinski, the Chicago Cubs#146; area scouting supervisor, who will address what scouts are looking for in pitching talent. The young Crosby and Foltynewitz will break down all aspects of pitching for the kids in attendance, who should bring their gloves and wear caps and baseball apparel.

The cost of the session, with autographs to follow, is $40. For info and to reserve a spot, call Copp at (630) 546-3304 or email at (love this address) soreleft1.bc@gmail.com.

Bonus

Brian Casey figured a $2,000 to $3,000 donation to St. Jude#146;s Children#146;s Hospital would be a success.

He wasn#146;t counting on more than $13,000.

Yet $13,328 was the amount printed on the oversized Publishers Clearinghouse-style facsimile check Aurora Central Catholic students presented at center court during halftime of Saturday#146;s boys basketball game against Marmion.

The donation was the culmination of ACC#146;s Team Up for St. Jude#146;s effort jointly executed by the Chargers football, cheerleading and dance programs.

On Oct. 13, they were asked to write letters to family and friends asking for support of St. Jude#146;s. Casey, the varsity football coach, said there was 100 percent participation by each of the three groups. More than 3,700 letters went out.

Leaders of the drive included cheerleader Lauren Buchner; Dance Team members Kaylee Hoffner, Nicole Dillenburg and Emily Perez; and football players Joe Cisneros, Steven Amoni, Kyle Clechenko, Brian Bohr and Nick Holzer.

When the amount of the donation was tabulated #8212; though money still could be trickling in #8212; Casey said his jaw figuratively hit the floor.

Here is a person who asked for donations to St. Jude#146;s in lieu of wedding gifts. He was influenced toward the Memphis-based hospital and cancer research facility by his father, a longtime supporter.

#147;I believe in the organization, I believe in the mission,#148; Casey said. #147;No person is turned away, for not having insurance, for not being able to pay, which I think is pretty astounding.#148;

doberhelman@dailyherald.com