Bulandr tackles national acclaim at North Central

Three North Central football players were selected to the 2011 NCAA Division III All-America Teams, as selected by D3football.com.

And one of them is Stevenson High School’s very own Peter Bulandr.

The senior from Long Grove was one of two defensive tackles named to the All-America First Team.

Bulandr was the 2011 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-North Region selection.

He ranked first on the team and second in the CCIW in quarterback sacks (7.5). He was a two-time D3football.com Team of the Week selection and was one of 10 nationwide finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, the premier individual award in Division III football.

North Central finished the season with an overall record of 10-2, winning their sixth straight CCIW championship and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Senior Kyle Fiedorowicz (Johnsburg) and junior Josh Mitchell (Bloomington) were the other honorees for North Central, which now claims 22 All-Americans in the program’s history.

Ÿ Senior Teddy Schell (Barrington) received Indiana’s Academic Excellence Award with Adam Replogle and Greg Heban and served as the team’s holder on field goals and extra points for the third straight year.

The Hoosiers did not miss an extra point (102-of-102) and connected on 45-of-62 field goals (72.6 percent) over Schell’s three seasons as the holder.

Those numbers were produced by two different kickers and two different long snappers.

But Schell was the only holder all three years.

In 2011, IU made all 30 extra points and was 13-of-16 field goal (81.3) attempts. The Hoosiers attempted one pass on a fake field goal against Virginia.

Schell was also an Academic All-Big Ten selection for the third straight season. He was a three time letterman and played in 36 straight games.

Schell achieved these honors while carrying a double major in English and Philosophy with a business minor. He was only one of two academic all big ten selections for the IU philosophy department and one of three IU English majors so honored.

Men’s soccer

Carthage senior defender Zak Khoshbin (Lake Zurich) was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America third-team All-Central Region.

In addition, the two were named NSCAA first-team All-Wisconsin, as was junior midfielder/forward Billy Hamilton (St. Viator) who scored 4 goals with 5 assists). Sophomore defender Mike Heika (Fremd), who collected 4 goals and 4 assists, was named third-team all-state.

Softball

College coaches were all set to take a look at Megan Keegan this past summer after her impressive junior season for Elk Grove coach Ken Grams.

However, on her first day of summer softball (June 10) Keegan suffered an ACL injury while playing for the Lemont Rockers in Naperville.

“I had a bunch of schools who were going to come and watch me, but after I got injured, I didn’t know If I’d get to play anywhere in college.”

Working as diligently on the computer as she does on the softball field, Keegan sent out some emails during the time she was rehabbing.

“I wanted to see if anyone still was looking for a player in the 2012 recruiting class,” she said.

Fortunately for Keegan, the University of North Dakota was receptive.

While still not fully recovered to play the field, Keegan was able to hit by October and coaches from North Dakota traveled to see her bat in a St. Louis tournament.

The Fighting Sioux liked what they saw, made an offer, and Keegan made a commitment.

She is one of two Grenadiers with a Division I future. Classmate Dani Goranson has committed to Michigan State.

“A bunch of coaches told them (North Dakota) about me so they came and watched me hit,” Keegan said. “My video I sent out helped, too. Even though I couldn’t play the field at the time, all that mattered to them was my hitting.”

What they will see later is that Keegan can field and throw, too — nearly anywhere on the field.

Keegan played five different positions last spring for Grams (right field, catcher, third base, first base and left field).

“And she played each one well,” Grams said.

The all-area selection also led the Grens with 9 home runs and 36 RBI while batting .347.

She will be one of seven returning starters this spring for the Mid-Suburban East defending champs.

“Not being able to show her wares this summer after the surgery put a little damper on things,” Grams said. “I didn’t know where things would lead but thank goodness enough people kept her in mind. There were a handful of them and this (North Dakota) was one of them. Megan went up there to visit this fall. She felt welcome and that she could fit in.”

Ÿ Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.