Fremd's Sahli ready to taste success at Carroll

Michael Sahli found one of those hidden perks that doesn't show up on slick brochures during his visit to Carroll University.

"There's a Mexican restaurant behind the football field that's awesome," the Fremd senior said.

But good eating isn't why Sahli, an all-conference middle linebacker for the Vikings, decided to make Carroll his future football-playing home.

And realistically, Sahli was looking at his long-term future when he made his ultimate decision to attend the school in suburban Milwaukee.

"The physical therapy program fit what I was looking for," said Sahli, who has a 3.74 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and scored 26 on the ACT. "I can move directly into their doctor's program and I don't need to re-apply for grad school.

"I loved the campus and the area and I was looking more for the major first and football second. It worked out really well and seemed like a good fit in every way."

And that does include successful football after Sahli helped Fremd extend its historic Mid-Suburban League streaks of success to 16 playoff appearances and eight Mid-Suburban West titles.

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Sahli will be joining a Carroll program that has gone 7-3 overall and 6-3 in the Midwest Conference in two of the last three seasons. Carroll finished second last year to Division III playoff qualifier St. Norbert.

Elmhurst College, North Central and Mount Union (Ohio) were among the others schools which interested Sahli.

"It kind of clicked," Sahli said of his post-holiday commitment to Carroll. "They said I'd have a good chance of getting early playing time somewhere. The program is on the way up."

Sahli said he has also done some shadowing of what goes on at Barrington Orthopedic Specialists to get a better idea of his future. He also hopes to become certified in strength and conditioning.

"I knew I wanted to work with athletes somehow in that area," Sahli said.

Calacci to Wheaton: Barrington senior wide receiver Taylor Calacci has committed to Wheaton College for football and track and field. Calacci caught 12 passes for 146 yards as the Broncos made the Class 8A playoffs and last spring ran on their Class 3A state-qualifying 800-meter relay.