Barthel eager for the challenge at Hersey

Julia Barthel has been an assistant to Hersey girls basketball coach Mary Fendley for the past 15 seasons.

Now, she will play a big role assisting all the girls sports teams at Hersey.

Barthel has been named the school’s girls athletic director. She follows Patti Kennedy, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

“Athletics has always given me a competitive drive and purpose to challenge myself and others to be their best,” Barthel said. “I have been blessed to have the opportunity to coach basketball for 15 years with Mary Fendley and share that drive with our incredibly talented young athletes.

“As the athletic director, I will have the opportunity to build and develop such opportunities for young athletes and coaches in a variety of sports.”

Barthel was a multi-sport athlete herself, starting four years for Elk Grove’s girl basketball team in the early 1990s and playing three years on the Grens’ varsity volleyball team.

A Daily Herald all-area selection, she went on to play college basketball at Winona State University where she had a double major in elementary education and special education

“I look forward to embracing the changes and challenges of girls athletics in the upcoming years,” Barthel said. “I want girls to be involved in multiple sports, grow as athletes as well as individuals and confidently leave high school with a firm foundation in physical and mental health. Athletics provides those opportunities every day for our kids.”

Barthel has received a Behavior Disorder endorsement and master’s degree in educational leadership and is working on a second master’s degree in counseling.

She served as an assistant coach for one year in the Winona State University basketball program after graduating college.

Barthel spent seven years teaching at the Lutheran General Hospital alternative program for students with emotional and behavioral challenges and she started the Self Contained Behavior Disorder Program at Hersey.

“Growing up with a mother in a leadership role (vice president of clinical operations at Lutheran General Hospital before retiring five years ago), I was taught that settling for anything less than your absolute best was unacceptable,” Barthel said. “She has always been my role model and rock to challenge me to better myself both professionally and personally.

“She exemplifies professionalism through a caring heart and strong convictions.”

Barthel is excited to start her new position.

“It is a privilege to say you are a member of the Hersey staff,” she added. “But it’s an honor to have this opportunity to find a new challenge within this building that already has a firm foundation in girls athletics.

“Leadership is a privilege and those of us privileged to hold the role of leader ought to do it well.”

Sports Notes Trivia

Congratulations to Rolling Meadows junior guard Jackie Kemph, who was named last week the ‘Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year’ for girls basketball.

Name the only other Mid-Suburban League girl to win that award.

Bonus points: Name the two Maine West girls to also earn that basketball honor.

Job well done

Congratulations to Stevenson boys basketball coach Pat Ambrose and his Patriots, who took home the second-place trophy in the Class 4A state tournament last weekend.

In somewhat of a rarity, there are now two head basketball coaches at Stevenson who have participated in a state basketball title game.

Patriots girls basketball coach Tom Dineen directed Buffalo Grove to the 2000 Class AA girls basketball crown.

Speaking of state titles ...

High school boys basketball fans might have noticed something different about the appearance of four-time state boys champion Proviso East in last weekend’s IHSA Class 4A finals.

The Pirates’ traditional short sleeve jersey was replaced by the common sleeveless jersey.

But apparently this is the only time it will it happen.

Broadcasters during Saturday’s third-place game between Proviso East and Edwardsville indicated that a clerical error while ordering resulted in the wrong type of jersey. They said the short sleeves should be back for next season.

Right on target

If you read Friday’s sports section, you received the winner of all eight games played in the Class 3A and 4A tournaments in Peoria.

The Daily Herald’s Marty Maciaszek correctly picked the winner of all four games (two semifinals, third place and championship) in each class.

Simeon won the 4A crown while Morgan Park was best in 3A.

Sister Symmetry

Former Wheeling girls basketball coach Rachel Bauer, who was also a standout basketball player at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, had to be a proud mother over the weekend.

On consecutive days, her daughters each contributed to their teams winning third straight conference championships.

Ÿ Navy junior forward Audrey Bauer (Lake Zurich) collected 8 points, 4 assist and 2 steals for the Midshipmen in a 72-52 victory over Holy Cross in the Patriot League title game.

Navy (21-11) became the second team to win three consecutive Patriot League championships. Holy Cross captured four in a row from 1998-2001.

Ÿ Wisconsin-Green bay senior Lydia Bauer (Lake Zurich)scored 6 points with 3 rebounds and 1 steal as the Phoenix defeated Loyola 54-38 for its third-straight Horizon League tournament title.

Men’s gymnastics

Purdue gymnast Jeff Wronkiewicz (Fremd) placed fifth in all-around, fourth on pommel horse, and first on parallel bars at the University of Illinois Illini Gymnastics Invite.

Men’s hockey

Miami freshman Ryan McKay was been named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association “Gongshow Goaltender of the Month” for February.

McKay, a native of Palatine, appeared in five games in February, posting a 4-1-0 record with one shutout, helping the RedHawks to a 6-2-0 record on the month. His 1.20 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage led all goaltenders in the nation for February, as he allowed just six goals and made 148 saves.

Women’s basketball

Carthage College junior guard Stephanie Kuzmanic (Wheeling) was named “D3hoops.com” honorable mention All-America as well as first-team All-Central Region.

Men’s baseball

Oakton Community College sophomore infielder Connor Skoczynski (Maine West) leads the Raiders (7-3) with his .556 batting average, which ranks 16th in NJCAA Division II.

Women’s hockey

Minnesota senior defenseman Megan Bozek, a native ofBuffalo Grove and Stevenson graduate, was named one of the three Gophers to be Top-3 finalists for the 2013 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.

It is the first time that the Top-3 finalists all represent the same university.

The 2013 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be awarded on March 23, at the McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis.

As a team captain for the Golden Gophers, Bozek anchors a defense that is first in the NCAA in goals allowed per game (0.81). She ranks seventh in the NCAA in assists with 34 and second among defensemen.

Additionally, Bozek currently has 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists), second among the nation’s blue liners, and has 17 multi-point games to her credit in 36 games played.

Bozek spends significant time volunteering in the community, with more than 200 hours logged to assist groups such as HopeKids, Feed My Starving Children, Amplatz Children’s Hospital and local elementary schools.

Trivia answer

Buffalo Grove senior Michele Ratay, in 1992, was the only other Mid-Suburban League girls basketball player to be named Illinois’ ‘Gatorade Player of the Year.’

Maine West seniors Nancy Kennelly (1988) and Dawn Vana (1998) also won the award.

Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.