South Elgin's Reisner headed to Navy
South Elgin kicker David Reisner's first collegiate kickoff could very well take place in Dublin, Ireland.
That's where the football team from the U.S. Naval Academy will square off with Notre Dame in the Emerald Isle Classic on Sept. 1. Reisner, an 18-year-old Bartlett resident, gave his verbal commitment to kick for Navy Thursday night.
"I would love to kick off in the Navy-Notre Dame game," Reisner said. "That would be awesome. I'm working hard right now to make that happen."
Reisner's family has a history in the armed services. His grandfather was a Navy Lieutenant, his aunt is a Navy Captain, his cousin is a U.S. Marine and his cousin's wife is also in the Navy.
Ranked No. 20 at his position nationally by ESPN, Reisner made his final decision after visiting the Annapolis, Md., campus last weekend.
"I want to make my family proud by doing something to benefit our country," said Reisner, who intends to study quantitative economics. "I think I can succeed academically, and the leadership skills I learn in the Navy will help me in business after college.
"Leadership and integrity are things you need to lead men into battle. Those values of courage and commitment are something I want to be a part of. The brotherhood they have, it's a great group of guys and it's something I feel right about."
Reisner has connected on field goals from as far as 57 yards in elite camps. He was named to the all-Upstate Eight Valley team last fall after averaging 56.4 yards on 43 kickoffs, the vast majority of them touchbacks. He hit 5-of-9 field goal attempts with a long of 35 yards and was successful on 24 of 25 point-after tries.
Reisner opted for the scholarship from Navy over preferred walk-on possibilities at Illinois, California and Auburn. He had planned to visit Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois and Missouri State before Thursday's decision.
"It's definitely a great feeling," Reisner said of knowing his future course. "It's been such a long process. I want to thank my dad (David, Sr.) for everything he's done, for traveling with me around the country and taking me to all those camps. Without him I wouldn't be where I am."
Perry to St. Joseph's: South Elgin baseball player Andrew Perry has given his commitment to play for Division-II St. Joseph's College (Ind.).
A Bartlett resident, Perry was recruited to play catcher for the Pumas of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. He is slated to catch full-time for the Storm this spring, his natural position, after serving as an effective pitcher in 2011.
"I fell in love with St. Joseph's as soon as I visited there," said Perry, who plays travel baseball for the Elgin Express. "It's a great academic institution. They have two closers this year, but I may get a shot to close the year after that."
Perry finished his junior season with a 3-2 record, 5 saves and a .95 ERA. He notched 44 strikeouts against just 11 walks in 362/3 innings and was named Daily Herald All-Area honorable mention.
Manning commits: Huntley senior Elizabeth "Eli" Manning will play college volleyball at the University of Minnesota-Crookston. The setter gave her commitment to the Division-II Golden Eagles of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
A Daily Herald All-Area selection last fall, the two-year varsity starter finished the season with 842 assists in 37 matches for a team that went 31-8 and advanced to a sectional title match. Manning led the Red Raiders with 37 aces.