Schropp's passion for football pays off; Pancratz honored

More than 50,000 adult players, coaches and team administrators participate annually at semi-pro football levels across the country.

They play for the love of the game and whatever local recognition they can attain. They want to prove they're still capable of being active in the sport they played and enjoyed as youth, in high school and in college.

The American Football Association (AFA) understands the need to recognize this passion for the game, and it has announced the Class of 2008 for the AFA Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame. They will be honored Dec. 11-13 in Sarasota, Fla.

Although he didn't play at a high school in this area, Jerry Schropp now calls Elk Grove his home, and he will be enshrined in Florida. He's also an assistant coach at St. Francis High School in Wheaton and coaches Queen of the Rosary.

Schropp, who was a star at Chicago Schurz in the late 1940s and is in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame, also played at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Lake Forest College. He played with the Chicago Hornets, Elmhurst Travelers, Chicago Bulls and Joliet Explorers in earning the all-star status that led to his AFA Hall of Fame selection. He played on four championship teams.

Volleyball

Freshman setter Drewann Pancratz (Schaumburg) of Carthage College was named player of the week in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. She was named to the all-tournament team at the Wisconsin-La Crosse Tournament, averaging 8.40 assists as the Lady Reds finished 2-2. She is averaging 7.23 assists this season.

Katie Lundgren (Stevenson) is a junior libero for Carthage College, the country's No. 7-ranked team (23-3) and No. 1 in the Midwest region.

• Dena Feiger (Stevenson) is a junior setter for the Tufts University team (24-2) that is ranked No. 1 in the New England region. She was named to the all-tournament team in the Hall of Fame event at Smith College in Northampton, Mass.

• Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland (Wheeling), junior middle for the University of North Carolina, had 11 kills and 5 blocks against Georgia Tech.

• Amy Reynolds (Schaumburg) of McHenry County College was named to the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference All-Tournament Team.

Soccer

Sophomore forward Brett McKenzie (Antioch) of Central College (Pella, Iowa) was named player of the week in the Iowa Conference. He is the team's leading scorer with 8 goals and 3 assists.

Freshman Tom Slusher (Prospect) of Beloit College scored an unassisted goal in a 3-0 Midwest Conference victory over Monmouth College.

• Scott Wallner (Buffalo Grove) scored Augustana College's final goal of the season in a game against Loras College.

Cross country

Amy Laskowske (Palatine) of Minnesota earned second-team all-Big Ten honors by placing 14th in the Big Ten meet. She was the No. 3 runner for team champion Minnesota.

• Kat Bednarski (Maine West) of Elmhurst placed second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's championships. Kerry Devitt (Carmel) of Illinois Wesleyan was 3rd, Laura Pearson (Schaumburg)) of Carthage took 7th and Sarah Ahn (Hoffman Estates) of North Central was 10th. They all earned all-conference recognition.

In the men's competition, Michael Spain (Schaumburg) of North Central was 2nd, Sean Carlson (Buffalo Grove) of North Central was 4th, John Lancaster (Palatine) of North Central was 7th, and Billy Wisser (Hersey) of Augustana was 12th. They received all-conference status.

• Michelle Brunk (Palatine) of Illinois State placed 10th overall and was ISU's top runner in the Missouri Valley meet to earn all-conference honors.

• Arthur Baptist (Prospect), sophomore at the University of Chicago, placed 11th in the 78-runner field at the University Athletic Association meet in Conyers, Ga. He earned second-team all-UAA honors.

• Carly (Bates) Wells (Palatine) was Bowling Green's No. 3 runner and 21st overall in the Mid-American Conference meet.

Colleen Donovan (Carmel) of Loyola University Chicago placed a team-best second out of 89 runners to help the Ramblers win the Horizon League championship. She received all-league honors.

Golf

Joe Emerich (Palatine) of Illinois State shot 74-73-74 at the Sam H. Hall Intercollegiate in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Tennis

Sophomore Tricia Sapio (Barrington) led Augustana College with 12 singles victories for the season. She took third in No. 4 singles at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meet.

Swimming

Freshman Sarah Sohn (Prospect) of Hope College won two events against Alma College, the 200 fly in 2:11.98 and 500 free in 5:18.98.

Basketball

Rolling Meadows' Junior Mustangs will conduct tryouts for the girls' 5th grade and boys' and girls' 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade feeder basketball teams on two dates at Rolling Meadows High School ­- Saturday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7.

All 5th-grade girls and 6th- , 7th- , and 8th-grade boys and girls in the Rolling Meadows High School attendance area are encouraged to attend.

The 5th-6th tryouts will be from 5-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 and 10:30 a.m.-12 noon on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The 7th-grade tryouts will be from 6:30-7:45 p.m.. on Dec. 6 and noon-1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The 8th-grade tryouts will be from 7:45-9 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 1:30-3 p.m. on Sunday.

For more details, contact Tom Conlin at (847) 670-8933 or Mike Grady at (630) 971-2294.

• The Elk Grove Boys Feeder Basketball League will hold tryouts on Sunday, Nov. 30 and Sunday, Dec. 7 from 4-6 p.m. in the Elk Grove High School gym. The league is for 6th-, 7th, and 8th-grade boys currently attending Grove Jr. High or Friendship Jr. High and are in the Elk Grove High School district.

For more information, contact Bob Kraus at r_kraus@sbcglobal.net or visit the Web site at www.leaguelineup.com/boysfeederbasketball.

• The St. Viator High School Junior Lions Boys Basketball Feeder Team has scheduled tryouts for Nov. 16 and Nov. 22 at the school.

Sunday, Nov. 16 - 8th grade, 9-10:30 a.m.; 7th grade, 10-11:30 a.m; 6th grade, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 22 - 8th grade, 3-4:30 p.m.; 7th grade, 1-2:30 p.m.; 6th grade, 2-3:30 p.m.

The group encourages tryouts on both days, but it is mandatory to attend at least one session. Enter Boler Multipurpose Athletic Center in the back (South) parking lot.

All boys who may attend St. Viator are eligible. Boys making the Junior Lions will play in every regular season game they are scheduled to attend.

Practices begin in December and games begin in January. The reason runs until late March.

For questions, contact Joe Rooney, director of the program, at (630) 202-0302 or literal121@juno.com.

Wrestling

The Jr. Cougar Wrestling Club will hold registration/information night on Monday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Conant High School wrestling room. Participants include all 1st- through 8th-grade students.

Practices will begin on Nov. 17 and will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Conant wrestling room.

Cost of the club is $160, and that includes uniform, tournament fees and USA wrestling/insurance card. All participants will need a copy of their birth certificate.

For more information, contact Brad Bessemer at (847) 844-7493 or go to www.jrcougars.com.

bfrisk@dailyherald.com