Halls open for all-time greats

MaryAnne Kelley Elzen was one of the best gymnasts in Illinois high school history at Fremd.

Jim deRivera was one of the premier girls softball coaches in area history at Mundelein.

Mel Timmons was one of the Chicago area's top ambassadors for tennis.

All three of them have been recognized for the contributions to their sports with hall of fame inductions.

•Kelley Elzen was inducted into the Minnesota Gymnastics Foundation Hall of Fame in January. She was a member of four state title teams at Fremd, won three all-around titles and had the first perfect 10 in IHSA history on vault in 1996 and floor exercise in 1998.

Kelley Elzen went to the University of Minnesota and was a three-time NCAA all-America, Big Ten Gymnast of the Year in 2002 and the school's MVP three times. She still holds the school's floor exercise record with a score of 9.975.

Some of the coaches most influential in Kelley Elzen's success were Leonard Isaacs at the American Academy of Gymnastics in Wheeling, Larry Petrillo at Fremd and Jim and Meg Stephenson at Minnesota.

Kelley Elzen now lives in suburban Minneapolis and married former all-America wrestler Owen Elzen. They have two daughters, Madelyn and Reese, and MaryAnne still does some floor exercise choreography.

•Mundelein's softball program took off under deRivera's leadership. He was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Association softball Hall of Fame on Saturday in Bloomington.

Under deRivera, the Mustangs won three regional titles, had five straight 20-win seasons. He led the program to its first state finals appearance with an Elite Eight trip in 1989.

•Timmons will be inducted into the Chicago Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Rosewood Banquets in Rosemont.

It's part of the 20th Annual Evening of Champions banquet and fundraiser to benefit Chicago District junior tennis programs.

Timmons was the long-time coordinator of the Paddock Publications Tennis Tournament. He was also a frequent contributor to the Daily Herald on the local tennis scene.

Timmons will join some pretty good company in the Chicago Tennis Hall of Fame, which includes Billie Jean King, Andrea Jaeger, Marty Riessen and Katrina Adams.

For more banquet information go to chicago.usta.com or call (847) 803-2382.

Baseball

Left-hander Ryan Copeland (Elk Grove) got his junior season at Illinois State off to a strong start. The all-Missouri Valley Conference preseason team pick threw a complete-game 4-hitter with 5 strikeouts in a 5-1 victory at Belmont.

Southern Illinois catcher Mark Kelly (Hoffman Estates) also made the preseason all-MVC team.

•A strong local contingent led Valparaiso to its first 2-0 start in 12 years with a double-header sweep at Morehead State.

The Crusaders won 6-5 in Game 1 as Ryan O'Gara (Buffalo Grove) went 3-for-5 and scored the first run.

They completed the sweep 8-5 as Kyle Gaedele (Rolling Meadows) hit his first collegiate homer and Steve Godawa (Buffalo Grove) got the save. Freshman Ryan Shober (Fremd) started at shortstop in both games and played solid defense.

Basketball

Monmouth College senior Melissa Gorski (Buffalo Grove) has been named as one of 10 women's finalists for the prestigious Jostens Trophy. The Player of the Year is based on academic excellence, community/campus service and athletic performance.

Gorski finished her career as Monmouth's fourth-leading scorer (1,273 points) and third in assists (312). This year she averaged 16 points and 8.5 rebounds a game.

Gorski, an English major, has been named to the ESPN the Magazine All-Academic District V first team. She has done volunteer work for Special Olympics, Relay for Life and St. Jude Children's Hospital.

With former BG coach Tom Dineen and his wife Chris on hand, Gorski finished her college career as she scored 24 points and had 8 rebounds, 6 steals and 5 assists against Grinnell.

Swimming and diving

Sophomore Erin Lynch (Lake Zurich) qualified for the Division II national meet in Houston and helped Grand Valley State win its first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.

Lynch finished third and qualified for nationals with a third-place finish in the 400 IM (4:37.65). She also qualified in the 200 free (1:55.13) and is part of the third-place 800 free relay that set a school record.

•Carthage College sophomore Bob Pellican (Hersey) took third in the 200 backstroke (1:57.02) in the CCIW Swimming Championship.

•For Augustana in the CCIW meet, Rob Emerson (Libertyville) was second in 3-meter diving and fourth in 1-meter diving, sophomore Tanya Walter (Prospect) was fourth in 1-meter diving and junior Sara Hlavin (St. Viator) was on the fourth-place 800 relay.

Track and field

Mat Smoody (Palatine) continued an impressive start to his college career as he won the mile in 4:20.58 at Eastern Illinois' Friday Night Special Meet.

"I think that Mat ran the mile with sheer determination," said ISU coach Elvis Forde. "He gave a strong effort, but I think that since he joined us in the middle of the year he will have much more success in the outdoor season."

Junior Morgan Schaefer (Rolling Meadows) highlighted the women's effort with personal-bests in the long jump (fifth at 18-3) and shot put (33-3). Schaefer will compete in the pentathlon at this weekend's Missouri Valley Conference Championshps.

•Carthage sophomore Stephanie Moy (Maine West) won the pole vault in a school-record and NCAA Division III provisional qualifying 11 feet-33/4 inches at the University of Chicago's Margaret Bradley Invitational.

Shacuana Gaines (Warren) won the triple jump (36-01/4) and Laura Pearson (Schaumburg) was second in the 3,000 run (10:39.83).

•Keli Coleman (Carmel) won the 55 meters in her fastest time this year (7.15) and was second in the 200 (26.51) ofr Augustana in a double-dual with Wisconsin-LaCrosse and Winona State.

Paula Neiweem (Warren) took second in the weight toss (49-113/4).

The Augustana men's team is ranked fifth in the nation in Division III. It won seven events at the non-scoring Univeristy of Dubuque Open and got fifth-place finishes in the 800 in 1:58.67 from Matt Fulton (Hersey) and in the 55 hurdles (8.37).

•Junior Adrian Kibiersza (Maine West) of Aurora University won the shot put at 51-53/4 at the University of Chicago's Margaret Bradley Invitational.

Kibiersza improved his NCAA provisional qualifying mark to ninth.

Wrestling

Junior Vinny Sapienza (Libertyville) finished third at 197 pounds to help North Central College finish third in the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Championships. Sapienza went 4-1 in the tournament with two technical falls, a major decision and a 12-5 win to take third.

•Wisconsin-Whitewater junior Austin Bautista (Des Plaines/Maine East) won his second straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title. Bautista is the top-ranked Division III wrestler at 141 pounds with a 36-1 record and he finished seventh in the nation last year.

Sports Notes items should be sent via e-mail to mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com or by FAX to (847) 427-1173.