Warren’s Nevolo nets tennis accolades at Illinois
Warren High School’s 2006 Illinois state singles champion is still swinging away in his senior year at Illinois.
Dennis Nevolo showed why he is one of the top players in the nation with a stellar performance during the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kick-Off Weekend.
Nevolo earned “Big Ten Athlete of the Week” honors as he took down two nationally-ranked opponents during the two-day event in Atlanta and clinched an Illini victory over No. 19 Georgia Tech.
Nevolo, who is ranked second in the nation, posted straight-set wins at the No. 1 spot on back-to-back days, capturing a convincing 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 9 Kevin King of Georgia Tech which secured a 4-3 victory for the Illini.
The 2011 All-American also claimed a 6-4, 6-1 win over No. 30 Jose Hernandez of North Carolina.
The award marks Nevolo’s seventh career weekly accolade and his second of the season.
Women’s basketball
Jamie Swanson (Grant) of Wisconsin-Whitewater was named the “Wal-Mart Player of the Week” for her performances against 12th-ranked Stevens Point and 14th-ranked Eau Claire.
Swanson scored 12 points (shooting 4-for-8 from the field) and recorded an assist, rebound, and steal in an 80-58 loss at Stevens Point.
She scored 9 points with 4 rebounds and a steal in a 61-41 win over Eau Claire.
Men’s gymnastics
Penn State’s Craig Hernandez (Libertyville) was named “Freshman of the Week” when he won the pommel horse title (15.650) to lead the No. 4 Nittany Lions to the team crown at the West Point Open. His score was the best on pommel in the nation this season and tied a Penn State record.
He helped the Nittany Lions win their 14th straight West Point Open and earned his first weekly honor.
Hernandez trained with the Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center under coach Kelly Crumbly. He was the Junior Olympic pommel horse champion in 2007, 2008, and 2011 and a member of the junior national team in 2008.
Women’s soccer
Marquette junior Rachel Brown (Lake Zurich) was named to the second team of the NSCAA Scholar All-Central Region Team.
Brown, a double major in accounting and finance with a 3.61 grade-point average, started in all 22 games. She totaled 4 points on a goal and 2 assists.
Women’s swimming
Junior Emma Regnier (Grayslake North) was part of the Augustana’s 400 freestyle relay that took fourth in 3:59.48 at the Monmouth quadrangular.
Men’s basketballAugustana junior center Brandon Kunz (Lake Zurich) had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds in a 43-41 loss at North Central.
Illinois Magic
The Illinois Magic announced its spring travel basketball tryouts. Visit the website for tryout and program information at www.magicbball.org. Email info@martydellobasketball.com for all questions about the Illinois Magic AAU Basketball Club, which has been in operation for 12 years.
Women#146;s track
Mandy Streu (Rolling Meadows) threw the shot put 48 feet, three-quarters inch at the Jim Green Invite representing St. Ambrose College. She ranks No. 1 in the NAIA.
Men#146;s basketball
Lakeland senior Eric Vandivier (Prospect) finished with 10 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in a 101-92 win over Benedictine in a Northern Athletics Conference South Division contest.
Vandivier iced the game for the Muskies when he converted 4 free throws to increase the lead to 10 points with 17 seconds left.
Football
MIT freshman Justin Wallace (Fremd) was named #147;Offensive Rookie of the Year#148; for the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference as an NCAA Division III North all-star.
It marks the first time that a MIT football player has earned the honor.
Wallace, who was also named the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Boyd Division of the New England Football Conference, led the Engineers in rushing with 981 yards and gained 109.0 yards per game.
He rushed for 100 yards four times, with a high of 190 in MIT#146;s 23-0 win over Nichols. Finishing fourth in the NEFC in rushing, he led all freshmen nationally in Division III in yards per game.
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