Gearing meshes with Tennessee Tech
Abi Gearing is only a junior at Libertyville High School.
But she already knows where she will be playing college soccer in 2013.
Gearing, a member of Eclipse Select team, has announced her commitment to join the Tennessee Tech women’s program.
“It’s really exciting,” Gearing said. “I met coach (Daniel) Brizard at a camp last summer in Tennessee, just talking to him — not about Tennessee Tech, but about recruiting in general.
“He said he was trying to not necessarily find as many girls as possible but to find girls who could make a difference and had qualities as he rebuilt the team. It sounded really cool.”
Brizard took over the program in 2010. His Ohio Valley Conference team clearly in a transition phase as this past year’s squad consisted of only two seniors and has room to improve from a play-making and offensive aspect.
Gearing chose Tennessee Tech over Cornell, Georgetown and Belmont, which is joining the OVC for the 2012 fall season.
Current Tennessee Tech midfielder Emily Homan of Naperville and formerly of Eclipse Select, will not be with the program by the time Gearing is on board. But the two did connect during a visit as Gearing gained perspective about the program.
“One of the times I was visiting in the cafeteria with her,” Gearing said. “We talked about Eclipse. I asked about the school. She mentioned some of the things that Daniel is trying to do, and he reminds us of the coaches through Eclipse and that competitive attitude.”
Gearing has been with Eclipse Select since the U-12 age group.
“It’s been a great atmosphere out there at practices and games,” Gearing said. “It’s always competitive and you’re fighting for spots, while at the same time playing together. The coaches have made me the player I am today. Having (Eclipse Select President) Rory Dames as a coach, I can’t really imagine anything else. They’ve given me confidence and have taken the time to help me out individually.”
She hopes that environment has prepared her to make a seamless transition heading into Tennessee Tech.
“The mentality they have driven into us to year-after-year be a competitive player and fight to be the best, that’s hard to teach people,” Gearing said. “Eclipse Select has driven that into our heads to have the right mentality going into college.”
Baseball
Carthage senior pitcher Eric Rohe (Mundelein) was named a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Week.
Rohe picked up a pair of wins in conference play for the Red Men.
He pitched a complete game during a 7-0 victory over North Park, allowing just three singles while walking none and striking out three. And he picked off three base runners at first.
Rohe also went six innings in a 15-5 win over Illinois Wesleyan.
Ÿ Junior Scott Firth (Stevenson) has been the best reliever on the Clemson University baseball team this season.
The right-hander is 3-0 with a 0.80 earned run average and 30 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched over 14 relief appearances. Firth, who was drafted in the 36th round by the Baltimore Orioles after his senior season at Stevenson in 2009, is expected to be selected again in the Major League Baseball draft in June.
Our very own
Daily Herald sports writer Marty Maciaszek will also be inducted in the IBCA Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Marty has covered a total of 12 boys basketball state tournaments, the first two with the Peoria Journal Star and the most recent 10 with the Daily Herald. A career highlight for Maciaszek was covering Schaumburg’s 2000-01 championship over Thornwood for the Class AA crown.
Others being inducted are Warren coach Chuck Ramsey, Mike Bailey of St. Patrick (a Mount Prospect resident), Todd Sutton of Neuqua Valley, retired Downers Grove South coach Paul Runyon, Naperville Central’s Andy Nussbaum, Downers Grove South’s Bryan Mullins, Bob Scarpino (Wheeling, Hersey, St. Edward), St. Viator’s Joe Majkowski, Hoffman Estates’ Bill Wandro and officials Steve Scholten and Peter King.
Men’s tennis
Ross Putterman (Stevenson) was one of four Washington University athletes to earn University Athletic Association athlete-of-the-week honors. Putterman, a member of the men’s tennis team, picked up the honor after going 2-0 for the Bears’ No. 17-ranked squad.
Football
Defensive tackle Peter Bulandr (Stevenson) was one of two North Central College athletes recognized recently with Merle Chapman leadership awards from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
National title for Lee
Senior Katie Lee (Buffalo Grove) was one the of the top defenders for Marquette’s women’s basketball club team when it won the national championship game over Delaware Blue Hens in Raleigh, N.C.
The Blue Hens built an 18-5 lead with 6:16 remaining in the first half but Marquette was able to close the gap to 22-16 by halftime. Lee made some key steals to help invite the comeback.
The experience of playing in a postseason tournament was hardly new for Lee, who was a member of the Buffalo Grove girls basketball team which took fourth place in the 2008 IHSA state finals.
And no one will forget Lee’s softball abilities, which included one of the all-time finest catchers in the Mid-Suburban League history when she leapt over the center field fence to take away a home run from Elk Grove.
Lee has been selected to receive a 2012 Outstanding Student Leadership Award for her contribution to recreation, health and wellness, honoring her work with the MU Women’s Club Basketball.
She has served as president and organized their two teams (Gold and Blue) and the coaching staff for the past two years. Lee set up schedules, transportation/hotel logistics, and helped Marquette host tournaments and fund raise.
For the last two years, one of the teams was successful in earning a berth the national tournament.
Lee will graduate in May with a degree in athletic training but will continue her doctorate program in physical therapy.
Ÿ Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.