Ruppert does his deal with SIU-Edwardsville
Last July, Joey Ruppert attended the college prospect soccer camp at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.
While at the camp, the Libertyville senior found that he liked the surrounding campus and the school’s business program.
Recently, Ruppert had some business to do with Edwardsville.
He signed a letter of intent to play soccer in the Division I program.
“I really liked the soccer facilities there,” Ruppert said. “They have a great soccer-only stadium and they are always in the top 20 in the nation for attendance in D-I.”
Ruppert also liked the program’s competition.
The Cougars play in the Missouri Valley Conference and next year they will face three teams that were in the top ten in the country including 2010 national champion Akron and 2011 national semifinalist Creighton.
Ruppert was the forward for Libertyville’s state runner-up and in 2010. His team also won the Pepsi Showdown in 2011 and was runner-up in 2010.
The all-area selection scored 28 career goals with 20 assists.
He was named all-sectional in 2010 and 2011.
Women’s track
Augustana junior Sarahbeth Jones (Warren) won the mile run (5:13.09) at the Augustana Invitational.
Senior Sarah Johnson (Grayslake North) finished third with a time of 11:09.02 in the 300 meter run and sophomore Kelsey Moon (Mundelein) was fourth in the 800 in a time of 2:34.81.
Women’s soccer
Greg Charvat has been the varsity girls soccer coach at Schaumburg High School since 1994.
But this will be the first in his 15 seasons he will send three Division I players onto the pitch.
Three Saxon seniors have signed letters of intent with major programs.
Moving on to the next level will be Allie Schmalz (Texas), Brooke Schocker (Northern Kentucky) and Teagan Eberle (South Dakota).
Allie Schmalz: The two-time all-area selection and four-year starter won regional championships the last two seasons with Schaumburg and has been starter for 10 years with Sockers FC, winning state cup championships in 2010 and 2011.
“Allie is a tenacious marking back with excellent speed and a great understanding of the game,” Charvat said. “She can attack out of the back and is excellent at attacking the ball in the air as well. She will be a great defender for Texas.”
Brooke Schocker: Schocker holds the fifth-best career shutout total (15) in Schaumburg history as well as fifth-best season goal-against average (0.71) and career (1.00). She helped the Saxons to the last two regional championships.
“I picked NKU because of my major (photography and graphic design) and the class sizes,” Schocker said. “But I’m not going lie, they have an amazing soccer-only stadium. That’s what sold me.”
Schocker has been on the varsity since her freshman year.
“She is an extremely talented goalkeeper.” Charvat said. “Last year, Brooke had a .88 goals against average and helped lead us to a record of 18-3-2. She will be a great addition to the Northern Kentucky program.”
Teagan Eberle Eberle had 5 goals and 11 assists last season as an attacking midfielder for the Saxons.
“Teagan is an extremely smart player who is highly-skilled and makes good decisions with the ball,” Charvat said. “We are looking forward to Teagan having a great senior year.”
“I selected South Dakota because it felt like home,’ said Eberle, who plans on studying marketing. “Not only does the school have a great athletic program, but they also have great opportunities academically.”
She played for the Sockers FC Chicago for six years.
Her teams were Illinois State Cup Champions in 2010 and 2011 and fourth in the U.S. Youth Soccer national championships in 2011.
Eberle has played on two regional championship teams at Schaumburg and was an IHSA All Academic athlete in 2011.
Men’s track
North Central’s Dionte Hackler (Schaumburg) placed third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.64. Heckler was also on the winning 4x400m relay team with Dan Benton, Mustapha Olaoye, and Jon Varon. They crossed the tape in a time of 3:20.83. Both finishes helped the Cardinals to a third-place finish in the Squig Converse Invitational in Whitewater, Wis.
Girls basketball
Bob Scaparino will be inducted into the IHSA Hall of Fame this spring for his stellar career as a boys and girls basketball coach. His most recent success came this winter as the Hersey freshman ‘B” coach who guided his team to a 21-0 record.
Men’s basketball
Augustana’s Brian DeSimone (Buffalo Grove) was honored prior to the game for “Senior Night” and then went out and scored 8 points with 3 assists in a 71-61 win over Elmhurst as the Vikings improved to 18-5 and 8-4 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.
Women’s track
Freshman Stephanie Burbidge (Palatine) was part of Agustana’s winning 4x800 relay that won the Augustana Invitational.
Freshman Veronica Bertillotti (Prospect) was part of the 4x200 relay team that also picked up a win (1:55.93.)
Senior Amber Gruber (Rolling Meadows) was fourth in the weight throw with a 40-3¼ and was fifth in the shot put with a 31-1¼.
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