Volleyball, swim teams in the pink
Female athletes are as competitive as they get. Also as compassionate. A slew of upcoming volleyball matches illustrates the duality.
When on Aug. 29 the Illinois High School Association announced this state's effort toward the "Volley for the Cure" fundraising initiative, originated in Ohio, there were six host schools involved including St. Francis and Hinsdale South.
By Sept. 23, 72 matches statewide had lined up to serve proceeds to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. The matches started on Sept. 2 and will run through Oct. 23.
Costs vary from place to place, but the general idea is to purchase a pink "Volley for the Cure" T-shirt (around $10) at the location or in advance. Some sites may have other fundraising activities going on.
Willowbrook and host Glenbard West kick off the local effort at 6 p.m., Sept. 29.
At this point other Volley for the Cure matches include: Montini at Aurora Central, Oct. 1; Glenbard East at West Chicago, Oct. 2; Downers Grove North at York, Oct. 7; Rosary at Immaculate Conception, Oct. 15; and Yorkville at Glenbard South, Oct. 16.
Also: West Chicago at Naperville Central, Oct. 16; IC at St. Francis, Oct. 20; and Hinsdale Central at Hinsdale South, Oct. 23.
Not to be outdone, there are two local girls swimming events benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
On Oct. 2, Waubonsie Valley comes to Neuqua Valley for a dual meet; Wheaton co-op and host Naperville Central will hold a similar event Oct. 7.
At these meets the swimmers and divers will be wearing pink caps to show their support. To raise money there will be pink T-shirts sold, bake sales and the like.
The altruism is catching. IHSA assistant executive director Matt Troha was informed that Glenbard North's entire 85-piece marching band, as well as Panthers cheerleaders and poms, will be decked out in pink for the Oct. 3 football game against West Chicago.
Of course. The Pink Panthers.
$CLASS=breakhead$Into the homestretch
Waubonsie Valley standout track athlete Shakeia Pinnick, a six-time all-stater and the nation's No. 1 heptathlete of her senior class, is nearing the tape in deciding where she'll be running in college.
According to Deidre Pinnick, her mother, more than 100 schools have contacted Shakeia.
In an e-mail, Deidre wrote, "While it has been an honor for her to be recruited by so many, it has also made it very difficult to choose a school."
Shakeia has narrowed her choices to seven colleges that have offered full scholarships: Arkansas, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Michigan, LSU, Texas A&M and Oregon.
One of the country's top five overall recruits with particular prowess in hurdles and middle-distance sprints, Pinnick plans to narrow the list to five by the end of October. After campus visits in November and December the goal is to make a verbal commitment around the Christmas holidays.
"Coaches called from Beijing to continue the recruiting process," Deidre Pinnick wrote. "Many called during the Olympic Trials saying they know she will be there in 2012."
$CLASS=breakhead$This just in
Between plays of the sophomore football game between Neuqua Valley-Waubonsie Valley at North Central College, Neuqua teacher and varsity baseball coach Robin Renner - he works the clock at Neuqua games - said early indications for speakers at his annual "Opportunity Through Baseball" dinner/auction are Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins and current Cub Reed Johnson. Renner will have more info later.
He also noted that the Wildcats baseball team has been invited to participate in the GMAC Classic in Baton Rouge, La. Held over the 2009 Easter weekend, Neuqua is among eight teams nationwide who will come into the invite to play eight more from Louisiana.
doberhelman@dailyherald.com