College Achievers: Conant graduate Starkey has a striking college debut for Nebraska

Abigail Starkey of Conant High School, a freshman on the No. 2-ranked University of Nebraska women’s bowling team, earned MVP honors in her first college tournament.

She helped the Cornhuskers win a second consecutive title at the annual Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic Oct. 17-19 at Youngstown State in Ohio, the defending national champion.

A right-handed bowler from Schaumburg, “Abby” Starkey entered the competition in the championship matches on the third day of the tournament and helped Nebraska win all three matches in the baker format, 3-0 over Arkansas State, Walsh College and Jacksonville State, the No. 1 team in the country.

Nebraska, which trailed Jacksonville State entering the third day of the tournament, went 12-1 at the classic, Starkey contributing to a 211.2 average over 13 matches.

Starkey had visited Jacksonville State when she was considering college programs (as well as current No. 3 Vanderbilt), but in January 2024 told the Daily Herald she had bonded with Nebraska’s coaching staff which includes assistant Julia Bond, a former Illinois High School Association champion with Waubonsie Valley.

Using Poplar Creek Bowl in Hoffman Estates as her home bowling center before college, Starkey is a three-time PBA Junior champion and a two-time Junior Team USA selection, most recently earning that honor in July.

Another golf dynasty

A week ago we noted that the Aurora University men’s golf team won the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference title for a ninth year in a row. Also due recognition was the Spartans women’s golf team, which won the NACC title for the 10th time in 11 years, Oct. 6 at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago. Senior Michelle Beggs (Aurora Central Catholic) helped Aurora set a single-round record at an NACC event in the third round, and she tied for fifth overall.

Here’s the kicker

It’s been a couple weeks, but the honor should not go unnoticed here. Northwestern kicker Jack Olsen (Wheaton Warrenville South) earned Big Ten Conference special teams player of the week after the Wildcats’ 22-21 victory over Penn State on Oct. 11. He was 3 of 3 on field goals of 27, 34 and 41 yards, and added an extra point in Northwestern’s first victory in University Park since 2014. A graduate student who has averaged at least 10 points a game each of the last three seasons, the IHSA record-holder’s 29 field goals now rank No. 10 at Northwestern. Olsen has converted all 57 extra-point attempts, tying him for the Wildcats’ all-time lead at 100%.

Here’s the punter

Sam Worthington (Lake Zurich), the sophomore punter for Illinois Wesleyan’s football team, made the D3football.com Team of the Week on Oct. 21 for his booming punts in a 49-27 win at Millikin on Oct. 18. Worthington averaged 50.7 yards on 3 punts, including a 71-yarder, and pinned the Big Blue inside its own 20-yard line once. Worthington’s 71-yarder is tied for fifth all time at Wesleyan and was the Titans’ longest since 2014.