Libertyville boys cross country steps up for Drozdz family

Each year the Libertyville boys cross country team raises money for charities which are chosen by the team members.

This year, several athletes made the suggestion of donating to the “Remembering Gabby Drozdz” fund.

The team contacted Lake Zurich coach JB Hanson, who in turn contacted the Drozdz family.

“We were very moved that Gabby’s family came to the meet to accept the donation,” said Wildcats coach Mark Buesing. “It’s hard to imagine what they are going through,”

The Gabby Drozdz Fund (gabbydrozdz.com) was started in honor of Lake Zurich teen Gabriella Drozdz, who was killed in a hit and run accident on July 22 across from Lake Zurich High School.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lake Zurich police at (847) 438-2349 or Illinois Crime Stoppers at illinoiscrimestoppers.org. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.

Women’s cross country

Hilary Halford (Carmel) placed 12th out of 300 runners at the Illinois Collegiate & University Championships at Illinois State University.

Halford set a school record and was the first non-division one finisher. St Francis finished 10th out of 32 teams.

Tennis

Senior Dennis Nevolo (Warren) was named the Illinois “Athlete of the Week” after posting a 4-0 singles record. He was also named “Most Outstanding Player” of the Olympia Fields Country Club Fighting Illini Invitational.

Nevolo turned in victories over three nationally-ranked opponents, No. 20 Alex Musialek of Kentucky (4-6, 6-4, 6-3), No. 26 Carlos Cueto of California (6-4, 6-0) and No. 45 Nick Andrews of California (6-4, 6-3)

It was his first weekly award of the season and the sixth of his career. The last tennis player to earn the men’s “Athlete of the Week” was Johnny Hamui on March 8.

Women’s volleyball

Carthage senior setter Drewann Pancratz (Schaumburg) was named a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Volleyball Player of the Week.

Pancratz was named to the all-tournament team as Carthage went 4-0 at the Trinity (Texas) National Invitational.

The Lady Reds picked up wins against Trinity (Texas) (3-1), St. Thomas (Minn.) (3-0), Southwestern (Texas) (3-0) and Texas Lutheran (3-0). Pancratz averaged 10.31 assists per game, 3.08 digs per game and 1.62 kills per game in the 4 wins.

Women’s cross country

North Central senior Kayla Bingham (Barrington) finished 23rd at the Illinois Intercollegiate Meet at Illinois State, helping the team to a seventh-place finish.

North Central senior Amy Schwent (Hoffman Estates) finished 71st in the meet.

Men’s golf

Northern Illinois freshman Nick Schiavi (Barrington) shot 75, 76, and 75 to place second on his team and 33rd overall in the 15-team, 83-player field of the St. Mary’s Invitational in Seaside California.

Football

Five former Prospect offensive linemen were starters in Division 1 football two weekends ago.

They are Marcus Zusevics, a second year starter/fifth-year senior at right tackle for Iowa; Nick Carlson, a three-year Wyoming starter at center who is a redshirt junior; Matt Kennedy, a fourth-year junior at Miami (Ohio) playing left tackle; Zach Lewis, a freshman right tackle at Miami (Ohio) and Peyton Eckert, a freshman at Indiana.

Matt Huene, a freshman at Purdue who went to the Air Force prep academy last year, is also a D-I lineman. Former Knight Eric Hedstrom was an offensive lineman for Purdue.

All seven played for offensive line coach Steve Polley and former Prospect head coach and current Lake Zurich assistant coach Brent Pearlman.

Ÿ Millikin quarterback Matt Holmes (Wheeling) had a 15-yard TD run and passed for 187 yards in a 27-15 win at Hope College. He also rushed for 41 yards.

Palatine Hall of Fame

Former Palatine boys basketball coach Ed Molitor will be introduced as one of the members of the Palatine High School Sports Hall of Fame on Friday. Joining him will be Annie Hernandez, Fred Miller and Nicole Pauly; they’ll be honored prior to the start of Friday’s varsity football game against visiting Barrington. A pregame reception will be held at 6 p.m. in the north end of the stadium.

Ed Molitor: Throughout his 42-year coaching career, Molitor influenced his staff, the city of Palatine, the Mid-Suburban League and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. With an emphasis on discipline and defense, Molitor amassed over 500 wins and led his teams to two MSL division championships, one MSL conference championship, five regional championships and back-to-back sectional championships.

Annie Hernandez: Hernandez began her career at Palatine in 1977 as a student supervisor. In 1986 she was appointed athletic director Chic Anderson’s secretary, a position she held for the next 25 years. She worked under four different ADs and each one would tell you that she was the one who ran that office. She played the role of mother, disciplinarian, confidant and even coach. She poured her heart and soul into Palatine athletics and she made sure all those who stepped foot in that office did the same.

Fred Miller: Miller has left his footprint in cross country and track and field at Palatine. At one time he held the school records in the 800 meters and 880-yard run. An all-conference runner in track and cross country, Miller helped his teams to MSL championships in 1971 and 1972. After a successful running career at the University of Illinois and Eastern Illinois University, he returned to PHS as a coach and physical education teacher. He led his teams to three second-place state trophies, one fifth-place finish, three MSL division championships and two MSL conference championships.

Nicole Pauly: Pauly graduated in 2006 as one of the most accomplished two-sport athletes in school history. In basketball, she helped establish the school record for wins in 2005 and 2006. She was a three-time all-conference and two-time all-area selection and was nominated as a McDonald’s All-American in 2006. At Northwestern, she started all 215 games of her career and led the Wildcats to a third-place finish at the 2008 College World Series. She then became the fourth Palatine athlete to compete professionally, playing for the Chicago Bandits in 2010 and the Akron Racers this summer.

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