Harper track teams continue to gain national acclaim
The Harper men’s and women’s track and field teams continue to shine a season after earning national championships.
The men occupy the top spot in the most recent NJCAA Division III poll, while the Hawks women are ranked No. 3.
Harper won nine events in last weekend’s Elite JJ Championship, a meet which included the Hawks and Region IV foes College of DuPage and Oakton Community College.
Isaac Jean-Paul (Warren) and Robert Douglas led the way for the Harper men, as both won a pair of gold medals.
Jean-Paul won the high jump and long jump; Douglas won the 110 high hurdles and 400 high hurdles.
The Hawks have three runners currently ranked first or second nationally in events.
Pablo Ramirez (Conant), who recently signed letter of intent to join the program at Eastern Illinois next year, is ranked No. 1 in two events.
Ryan Wojdyla (Palatine) is ranked second in the 10,000 meters and has also qualified for the national meet in the 5,000 and 1,500.
Chris Spudic (Prospect) is the top-ranked athlete in the steeplechase, and Andre Barnes (Prospect) set a school record (48.41) in the 400 earlier this season.
Ÿ The Hawks’ women’s team was dominant in the throwing ring at the Elite JJ. Brittany Walls (Palatine) swept the discus and shot put and was named Most Valuable women’s field athlete. Erica Ogunleye (Hoffman Estates) won the hammer throw, and Jazmin Calep took first in the 400 meters.
“I do not know when Harper will see this caliber of athletes again,” Harper coach Renee Zellner said via email.
Men’s basketball: Sophomores Shonnon Barfield and Jordan Mack have earned second team all-conference honors. Barfield missed the first half of the 2011-2012 season, but averaged 15.1 points in North Central Community College Conference play.
Mack, who returned to the team after sitting out the previous season on medical redshirt, averaged 8 and 4.1 rebounds.
Mack and women’s basketball player Mitshi Ishioka were awarded Harper’s Academic Award.
Baseball: And up and down season continues for the Harper baseball team 15-19 (3-3).
The Hawks recently took 2 of 3 from rival College of DuPage. The Hawks have generally played well at home, but they’ve struggled to a 6-11 record on the road.
The Hawks played four games this week, including Tuesday’s 10-2 victory over NCAA Division III member North Central College.
After Wednesday’s 18-8 thrashing of Morton College, Harper was not as fortunate Thursday. Despite out-hitting Oakton 9-8, the Hawks suffered a 7-4 loss.
The team concludes the week with a game Saturday against Joliet Junior College. The last time the teams met was April 10; Joliet won 12-4 and earned career win No. 900 for coach Wayne L. King.
The Hawks are getting some solid contributions on the mound. Sophomore Scott Plaza (Prospect) has pitched 521⁄3 innings this season, putting him ninth among NJCAA Division III pitchers. He’s has had good control this season, walking just five batters while throwing 6 complete games.
Ryan Busse (Hersey) and Aurora University transfer Greg Fox share the team lead in wins with 4.
Nick Spagnola (Dundee-Crown) is hitting .538 since being moved to the leadoff spot in Brown’s batting order April 11.
Spagnola is the team leader in three categories — home runs, runs scored and stolen bases. Connor McHugh (Schaumburg) leads the Hawks in average, on-base percentage and RBI.