Elmhurst’s Lester heading to Syracuse

Success at the college level can often be a double-edged sword. The more a team wins, the more difficult it becomes to keep a coaching staff in place.

This is a lesson that the Elmhurst College football team is learning the hard way. Tim Lester announced Monday that he is stepping down, reportedly to accept a job as quarterbacks coach at Division I Syracuse University.

A former Wheaton Warrenville South quarterback who played at Western Michigan, Lester had been coach at Elmhurst since 2008 but started with the team as offensive coordinator in 2002. In each of his five years as coach of the Bluejays, the team improved its record, and his final season was record-setting. The 2012 campaign saw Elmhurst win a share of the CCIW title for the first time in 32 years and reach the playoffs for the first time in program history, even winning its first-round game.

Wheaton: Coach Kent Madsen knows it#146;s not important that his Wheaton women#146;s basketball team isn#146;t ranked nationally right now, but if the 12-2 Thunder keeps up at the pace it is on it won#146;t take much longer.The Thunder goes back to the hardwood Wednesday against North Park at home, and Madsen said the key to winning will be the same it has been all year, consistent defense. Madsen expects the defense to be forced to extend out against a strong 3-point shooting team.The offense will also have a familiar feel to it. Four-year starter and leading scorer Brooke Olson (Wheaton North) has been a catalyst for Wheaton all year, averaging 15.8 points a game. Madsen said he has come to expect Olson to be able to find her own shots, many times off the dribble. Even with Olson#146;s impressive numbers, the Thunder offense has remained balanced. In its win Saturday against Millikin, three Thunder players scored double-digit points. Madsen said it is that balance, both offensively and defensively, that will help the Thunder leave with a victory.Benedictine: The Eagles men#146;s basketball team won in dominating fashion Tuesday night at home against Concordia. While the offense saw consistent and even scoring, the story of the night came on the defensive end for the Eagles. In addition to holding Concordia under 50 points with a shooting percentage of just 28 percent, only one player scored double-digit points for the Cougars.After racing out to a 21-point halftime lead, Benedictine won 78-47.The first half saw the Eagles go on a 19-3 run with 12 points coming from sophomore Tim McGinty. Of the 15 players to play for Benedictine, 13 scored. McGinty finished tied as the leading scorer, with Jamison Montgomery scoring 12 points off the bench.