Make way for another collegiate Morway
Add another Division I player to the Morway household.
Kara Morway, a junior at Lakes, has made a commitment to play soccer for Illinois State.
Morway’s older sister Kecia is a sophomore defender for Notre Dame.
Kara, an Eclipse Select Soccer Club defender from Lake Villa, narrowed her search to Illinois State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Morway’s older brother attends Illinois State, but it took another visit with former Eclipse Select player and current Illinois State freshman Gabbi McArtor to help solidify Morway’s choice.
“I visited there a couple months ago and liked it, but I was just not ready to make a decision,” Morway said. “But I got to stay with Gabi and I could tell right then and there that I wanted to go there. I loved it.”
Morway joins an ISU side that has been the clear-cut front-runner in the Missouri Valley Conference under head coach Drew Roff.
Since leading the program in 2007, Roff has taken the Redbirds to four MVC regular-season championships in five previous seasons.
When Morway arrives on campus, she hopes to have a legitimate opportunity to play immediately.
“From what it sounds like I should have a chance to play right away,” Morway said. “Probably at center back, which I’ve played for a long time. This past year or so I’ve been at outside back, but either is fine with me. (Roff) likes to have the center backs in the attack, as well.”
Roff’s team is coming off a 2011 season where the offense took the limelight, posting a staggering 56 goals in 19 regular-season games to help earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. But the defense also was integral on both sides of the ball, allowing only 22 goals to opponents and helping contribute in the ISU attack.
“He shared that with me in a meeting, that he likes his defense spreading out and playing from the back really well,” Morway said. “The center backs are in a position to take the ball up to the forwards so someone will cover back.”
Morway said her older sister also provided some perspective about playing at the next level.
Kecia, also an Eclipse Select product, had a dream start to her college campaign by winning the NCAA College Cup in her 2010 freshman season with the Irish.
“Kecia helped me during the whole process,” Kara said. “I’d talk to her about it and she would give me tips on what to look for, what would make me happy and suit me best.”
Kara plays for Eclipse Select’s highly competitive U-17 Elite Clubs National League team.
“When I came here, I honestly was not that competitive,” Morway said. “They’ve literally helped me in so many ways and made me a lot tougher and competitive and improved my skills. No other coaches care like Rory Dames (Eclipse Select president) and Mike Nesci (Eclipse director of soccer). Their motivation and just the overall feeling of all the teams, the environment has helped me and has helped us bond together as a team.”
Women’s track
Sophomore Hilary Halford (Carmel) added to a historic showing by the University of St. Francis at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships when she became the first Saint to earn NAIA All-America honors in an individual event by placing in the finals of the 800 meters.
Halford ran a 2:18.31 to place eighth in the 800.
One day earlier, Halford joined teammates her teammates in gaining all-America status by placing sixth in the finals of the 4x800 meter relay.
Baseball
Buffalo Grove senior Jimmy Pinakidis has verbally committed at Division II Upper Iowa in Fayette, Iowa. Upper Iowa competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Pinakidis made the sophomore team at BG his freshman year, and was moved to varsity at the end of his freshman year for the playoffs.
Pinakidis, a leadoff hitter and outfielder, is a two-year starter at BG. Over the last two seasons, he has scored 61 runs with 43 RBI, 67 hits, 28 walks, 4 home runs, and 22 stolen bases. He has a 4.40 GPA
Pinakidis was an all-conference selection last year in the Mid-Suburban League.
Men’s track
Freshman Nick Batcha (Prospect) completed his indoor season at Ohio State with best times of 6.94 in the 60-meter dash and 21.86 in the 200 meters.
Ÿ Oakton’s Martin Chavez, Kenny Alferes and Haider Sheikh competed at the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships March 2-3, at Eastern Illinois University. All are graduates of Maine West.
Martin finished 13th in the nation in the 1,000-meter run (2:36.57) and 19th in the 800-meter run (2:01.87). Kenny completed the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:43.98 to capture 19th place, and Haider secured 30th in the 1,000-meter run (2:44.64).
Lacrosse
Carthage senior Michelle Tumberger (St. Viator) was named a Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference “Player of the Week”.
Tumberger combined for 11 ground balls in the Lady Reds’ two games. She finished with 10 in the win against Birmingham-Southern to open the season.
Ÿ Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.