Wilner excels at Maccabiah Games
Mike Wilner, a 2011 Stevenson graduate from Buffalo Grove who is a member of the University of Illinois men’s gymnastics team, won the still rings competition at the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv, Israel last week.
Wilner’s effort helped Team USA win the gold over Israel. His 15.45 was easily the day’s top score on still rings.
Football
University of Iowa running back Mark Weisman (Stevenson) has been named to the 2013 Doak Walker Award watch list.
Despite missing time due to injuries, the 6-foot, 236-pound Weisman rushed for a team-best 815 yards and 8 touchdowns in 10 games a year ago. He also caught 15 balls for 90 yards and a score. His 5.1 yards per carry tied for second among Big Ten running backs last season. Weisman’s 81.5 rushing average ranks fourth among Big Ten running backs returning in 2013.
Weisman rushed for 113 yards and 3 scores against Northern Iowa and a career-best 217 yards and 3 touchdowns vs. Central Michigan in back-to-back games last season. The 217 yards tie for the eighth-best rushing total in Iowa single-game history. Weisman combined to rush for 330 yards and 6 TDs in those two contests.
Iowa opens its 2013 season on Aug. 31 when it hosts Northern Illinois at 2:30 p.m. in Kinnick Stadium.
Girls soccer
Libertyville High School has named Andy Bitta as its new girls soccer head coach, pending approval by the board of education, athletic director Briant Kelly said. Bitta has been the LHS boys soccer head coach for the past six years and was previously the head coach for the girls soccer program from 1981-1999. His Wildcats won the IHSA state championship in 1991.