Wheeling preps for Hall of Fame foursome
If you want to see the latest inductees for the Wheeling Sports Hall of Fame, the school’s gymnasium on Saturday night is the place to be.
At halftime of the Wildcats’ boys basketball game with visiting Prospect, the four latest selections will be introduced to the crowd.
The game begins at 6 p.m. and a reception will follow.
Here is a brief profile on the inductees’ contributions to Wheeling High School.
Michael Burke Jr.: Burke Jr. was one of the finest all-around athletes in the history of Wheeling. He is the only athlete to earn 12 varsity letters since the school opened in 1966. He also achieved straight A’s in his classes.
Burke was a four-time letter winner in cross-country, wrestling, and track and field.
He was a four-time MSL all conference cross country runner and a four-time state qualifier.
In 2000, he was a member of the state’s runner-up team. His 2001 team was the MSL and regional champion.
In wrestling, Burke was a four-time MSL place winner and a two-time sectional qualifier. He was a regional champion in 2003. He was also part of the 2002 and 2003 MSL East Division champions and 2001 and 2003 regional champions.
In track and field, Burke was a 2003 state qualifier in the 3200 meter run. He was also the District 214 Lester Award winner and named to the 2002-2003 IHSA All-Academic Team and went on to graduate from Notre Dame.
His father, Michael Sr., has been a long time teacher and coach at Wheeling High School.
Burke’s brother Ben and sisters Kristen and Amy are also graduates of Wheeling High School.
Mike lives in Los Angeles where he works in the television and movie industry. He has also served as the Illinois Athletic Directors Association awards video production director for three years.
Alice Doyle: Doyle was an outstanding cross country and track athlete who was a member of three cross country state championship teams in 1983, ’84 and ’86. She was also a four-time all-state runner in cross-country.
Doyle finished third in 1983, fourth in ’84, second in ’85 and fifth in ’86. She was also a member of state track and field runner-up teams in 1985, ’86, and ’87.
Doyle was an eight-time state medalist in track, including two second-place finishes in the 800-meter run, two fourth-place finishes in the 3,200, a third- and fourth -place finish in the 1,600 and two second-place finishes in the 3,200 relay. Her cross country and track teams also won numerous MSL championships, along with IHSA regional and sectional championships.
After graduating as the valedictorian of her class, Doyle attended Virginia on a track and cross country scholarship.
She was a four-year varsity athlete and a three-year captain of the cross-country team, graduating with a degree in chemistry.
Doyle was an academic All-ACC and dean’s list member. She received the University Lawn Resident honor given to students for unselfish service to the university and achievements in their respective activity and athletic fields.
Doyle currently works for the University National Oceanographic Laboratory Office. She is married to Eric Hutt and has a 2-year old daughter, Lila.
Pete Fischbach: Fischbach is the father of Wheeling soccer. As Wheeling’s first boys coach in the sport, he laid the foundation for the program that exists today.
Fischbach spent 12 years as the boys Head coach and 20 as an assistant coach at Wheeling after being the head coach.
As head coach, his teams won the first Mid-Suburban Soccer Bowl in 1977 and placed second in 1981. He posted over 200 wins and helped establish Wheeling’s soccer program in the MSL and the state.
He taught science at Wheeling for 32 years. Besides his coaching duties, he was also a very visible supporter of the entire Wheeling Athletic program and very involved in charity work.
Through his initiatives, Fischbach helped form what is now the Interact With Africa Club. His efforts helped collect money, clothing, and food for the needy in Africa.
He often helped deliver goods to Africa to help the poverty-stricken there. While there, Fischbach found time to coach soccer as part of the relief effort.
Pete Ogilvie: Ogilvie has been an assistant coach for more than 40 years at Wheeling High School, working every level of baseball during that time, most recently serving as varsity assistant since 2001. Ogilvie also served as the freshman soccer coach for five years.
In addition to coaching, he has been the voice of the Wildcats, announcing Wildcats football since 1975. He has also served as the announcer for a majority of soccer games, indoor track meets and other events. Additionally, Ogilvie has served as the official timer for all home girls and boys basketball games. He has been the only official timer to work the prestigious Hardwood Classic Holiday Basketball Tournament at Wheeling High School.
Outside of his contributions to the athletic program, he has been heavily involved as a staff member at Wheeling. He taught physics in the science department for 36 years and started the AP Physics course.
Ogilvie originated the Physics Phor Parents program, receiving the “Principal’s Award” and was a three-time recipient of the “Outstanding Contributions to Education” Award.
He also ran the winter intramural basketball program at Wheeling since the mid 1970s. Since 1975 Pete has been married to Adonna, also a retired Wheeling staff member. They have four children (Alex, Peter, Jean and Teddy) and two grandchildren. Two of his sons, Peter and Teddy, played Division I baseball for Notre Dame and Creighton, respectively. Ogilvie continues to be a strong presence at Wheeling and great ambassador for the school.
Premier Basketball League
Former Wheeling standout Chris McClellan scored 14 points for Bloomington as the two-time defending champion Flex won its season opener 110-89 over the visiting Indianapolis Diesels on Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
Men’s basketball
Senior guard Alan Aboona (St. Viator) had 18 points and 7 assists for No. 7-ranked Washington University as the Bears opened University Athletic Association play with an 80-69 win over the University of Chicago at the WU Field House in St. Louis.
Aboona was 5-of-7 from the field and made 7 of 8 free throws.
Teammate Chris Klimek (Fremd) had 10 points and 7 rebounds as the Bears improved to 10-2.
Women’s soccer
North Central College senior midfielder Rachel Houp (Barrington)was recently honored on the 2013-2014 Fall Academic All-College of Illinois-Wisconsin team.
Houp played in 14 games this past season. She started in 12 and finished with 8 shots on goal.
Football
North Central defensive back Richard Zirngibl, graduate of Buffalo Grove High School, earned Academic All-CCIW honors for the Fall 2013 season. Zirngibl, a sophomore, played in all 14 games at safety, earning a start against North Park.
He recorded 37 tackles (26 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss. Zirngibl also intercepted a pass and broke up five others while recording a season-high 6 tackles on two occasions.
Men’s track
Augustana freshman AJ Wright (Buffalo Grove) finished second in the shot put at 39-1¼ when the Vikings began their 2014 in the Augie Opener held jointly in the PepsiCo
Center and the Carver Center on the Augustana campus.
Relay For Life
On Jan. 18, the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Mt. Prospect/Wheeling will hold its kickoff event at Wheeling High School during the Wheeling-Prospect sophomore and varsity basketball games from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
A kickoff event will also be held at Prospect High School on Feb. 7 during the Prospect-Wheeling sophomore and varsity basketball games from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Registration will be available for teams and individuals for this year’s Relay For Life event, which will be held May 16-17 at Prospect High School.
There will also be raffle prizes and a 50-50 raffle.
Relay For Life is the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. For more information contact Dave Jacobson, Prospect High School Service Learning Coordinator, at (847) 718-5230 or david.jacobson@d214.org.
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus/Council 6481 will be conducting its annual Free Throw Contest on Monday, Jan 20. The contest is for the grammar schools in the area and will be held at St. Emily Catholic School in Mt. Prospect.
Ÿ Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.