Lake County HOF announces its Class of 2018
The Lake County High School Sports Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2018.
The newest members are the following:
Rudy Basovsky
Born and raised in North Chicago, he graduated from North Chicago Community High School in 1958. He received a B.A. in education from Adams State University in Alamosa, Colo., and masters of education from Utah State University in Logan, Utah ... taught school in Colorado, at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, and North Chicago at the high school and middle school (1972-2000) ... coached football and baseball at Bishop Gorman High, Cameron University and North Chicago Community High School ... coached National Baseball Congress semipro baseball ... officiated basketball in Illinois for 40 years and Special Olympics basketball for 10 years.
Howard Conkling
Coached more than 60 seasons in football, basketball and baseball at Round Lake High School ... former varsity head coach for baseball and girls basketball teams ... teams coached were a representation of him and athletes he coached represented his beliefs in competition and sportsmanship ... epitome of "Panther Pride," serving as the best example of it for more than 30 years as a teacher, coach and friend ... founder and chairman of Round Lake High School Athletic Hall of Fame. His historical research and efforts lead to the inductions of over 60 individuals and teams ... succumbed to cancer in summer of 2017.
Mark Deady
Former Olympian graduated from Stevenson High School in 1985 after four-year varsity career in cross country and three-year varsity career in track and field ... Stevenson's "Big Gun" award for track and field in 1984 and 1985 ... state champion in 1,600-meter run as senior and state runner-up in 1,600 run as junior ... member of 1,600 relay that finished eighth in state as senior ... winning time in 1,600 run in 1985 was meet record that stood for 23 years ... all-state academic in track and field as junior and senior ... ran at Indiana University, where he was a three-time all-American, two-time Big Ten champion ... USA track and field national champion in1988 in 1,500 meters ... ran in 1988 Seoul Olympics in 1,500-meter run.
Karl Jennrich
Started coaching and teaching career in 1973, teaching physical education and coaching both football and wrestling ... graduated from Antioch Community High School in 1968 and competed at Monmouth College. During his three years on the Monmouth, varsity football team lost only four games ... student taught at Libertyville High School in 1972 before being hired to serve his entire teaching career the following year ... as assistant football coach, Wildcats won 8 North Suburban Conference championships and made state playoffs 13 years. LHS was Class 7A state runner-up in 2003 and won the Class 7A state championship in 2004 ... served as the offensive coordinator for more than 20 years at LHS ... coached two years at Johnsburg High School and is coaching fifth season at Grayslake North High School ... served 21 years as an underlevel wrestling coach at LHS, while also being responsible for developing weight room and physical education weight training classes.
Erin (Poss) Thompson
Graduated from Antioch Community High School in 2010 after stellar career in cross county and track and field ... all-state academic, three-time cross country state medalist, four-time state track and field medalist ... competed cross country and track and field at Drake University.
Mark Thompson
Began football officiating career while a student at Illinois State University ... became licensed by the IHSA in 1978 and refereed high school football for the next 40 years ... assigned to his first postseason game in 1990 and worked as the back judge in three state championship games: 2001 (6A), 2004 (4A) and 2007 (8A) ... hired by the Continental Indoor Football League in 2008 and worked in league for eight seasons ... assigned to the CIFL championship game in 2009 and was named official of the year ... also officiated semipro football from 2007-2015 and worked the Mid States Football League championship game in 2007 ... joined Northern Officials Association in 1980 and served as organization's football president in 2002 and 2003 ... received George Young Award in 1998 and official of the year award in 2002 ... retired from teaching after 33 years at Antioch Community High School.
• Inductees will be honored during the 2018-19 school year at high school sporting events, starting Friday, when Howard Conkling will be recognized in between the underlevel and varsity football games at Round Lake. Rudy Basovsky will be honored on Oct. 5 at halftime of North Chicago's homecoming football game.
Karl Jennrich will receive his recognition at Libertyville on Sept. 21 between the preliminary and varsity football games. Mark Thompson will be honored at the Northern Officials Association banquet on April 24, 2019.
The other inductees will be honored on dates yet to be determined.