DiPrima wraps up standout softball career
After a standout softball career at Northwestern University, former Buffalo Grove standout Andrea DiPrima was invited to try out for the Chicago Bandits professional team.
But with regrets, she declined - because she had already been accepted into a graduate program at the University of Illinois, where she will begin her studies in Champaign beginning June 14.
"I will forever be indebted to this sport," said DiPrima, who was once again named to the dean's list. "When I reflect on my softball career, the first word that comes to mind is grateful. Grateful for my loving and supportive family, for all the lifelong friendships formed throughout the years, for my coaches and mentors, for the amazing places this sport has taken me and for an incredible education."
DiPrima leaves the Northwestern softball program with her name ranking high in five career offensive categories.
She is tenth in walks, ninth in slugging percentage, fourth in on-base percentage, fourth in batting average and third in doubles.
This spring she enjoyed her best season - .391 batting average, .503 on-base percentage and a .660 slugging percentage.
She also had a career-best 17-game hitting streak with 6 home runs and 18 RBI in that stretch, reaching base safely in 26 straight games.
During the past couple years, the Northwestern softball team has set a number of team offensive records, and DiPrima contributed to those team marks as well.
She earned her second All-Big Ten second-team selection and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region second-team selection. She also played in the NCAA regional playoffs in three of her four years at Northwestern.
DiPrima has received Academic All-Big Ten honors every year she was eligible to receive them. She also received Big Ten Distinguished Scholar last year. That honor will not be announced until July for this season.
"Softball is challenging because it involves a lot of failure," DiPrima said. "The best hitters in the game will only hit the ball three or four times per 10 at-bats. Learning how to handle that failure has without a doubt shaped me into the person I am today. This game has made me a more mentally tough individual - and that's something that carries over into all aspects of life.
"I will always miss putting on the uniform and competing, but I am also excited to start the next chapter of my life."
Softball
University of Illinois junior second baseman Allie Bauch (Conant) was named to the 2015 Capital One Academic All-America® First Team. A first-team All-Big Ten and second team NFCA All-Region Selection, Bauch is the first Illini softball player in program history to garner this prestigious well-rounded award.
Guth new Yale coach
Former Buffalo Grove standout Allison Guth, who helped lead the Bison to the Class AA 2000 state girls basketball championship, is the new head coach of Yale women's basketball.
Guth was a former Yale assistant coach who went on to help Northwestern earn its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 18 years.
She becomes the tenth coach in the 43-year history of the program.
She coached at Yale from 2010 to 2012 and then served as an assistant and recruiting coordinator for the Wildcats, who went 23-9 and 12-6 in the Big Ten.
Guth takes over a team that went 13-15 last season and finished tied for third (7-7) in the Ivy League.
"I couldn't be more enthusiastic about my opportunity to lead Yale women's basketball," she said on the school's website. "Yale is an incredibly special institution in that it provides a world class experience academically, athletically and socially.
"I am proud to represent a university that stands for everything that is good and right in college athletics."
With 10-plus seasons of coaching experience, Guth has a reputation as a strong recruiter. She secured one of the top recruiting classes in the country for the 2012-13 Wildcats, one that ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 22 in all of Division I.
Men's tennis
Augustana freshman Eric Pohl (Fremd) earned a win at No. 1 doubles in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament in Kenosha as the Vikings finished in the CCIW with a 4-2 record.
Men's track
North Central senior Dan Lowry (Rolling Meadows) had indoor season bests of 48 feet, 0.75 inches in shot put and 50-10 in weight throw this season. He was named the CCIW field event athlete of the week in February after a first-place effort in weight throw at the Cardinal Classic.
He placed eighth in shot put and ninth in the weight throw at CCIW indoor championships.
• Illinois sophomore Dave Kendziera (Prospect) finished second in the 400-meter hurdles (50.42) and seventh in the 110 hurdles (13.78) and also ran a leg on the winning 4x400 relay as the Illini captured the Big Ten outdoor track and field championship.
Football
Dartmouth senior co-captain Stephen Dazzo (Prospect) was the recipient of the John M. Manley '40 Award for demonstrating the most improvement through his effort in the weight room. The free safety was named to the All-Ivy second team for a second straight year by recording 36 tackles, an interception and 2 pass break-ups.
Rugby
The Arlington Stallions achieved their best finish in Rugby Illinois Tier One 15-a-Side championship play by defeating perennial powerhouse and multiple state champion Brother Rice 31-15 to earn a third-place finish. Illinois All-State prop forward and man-of-the-match Spencer Krueger (Hersey) scored two first half tries to overcome a 5-0 Brother Rice lead that the Stallions never gave up.
"This was an example of a team captain putting the team on his back and not allowing them to let up until the job was done," said club president Vinnie Lapiana. "It was a great performance by an outstanding player." Additional tries were scores by centers Jon Toriumi (Buffalo Grove), Zach Kaminski (Prospect) and Alex Gountanis (Prospect).
"In addition to what our team leaders did, we also got outstanding performances from five freshmen and five sophomores," said varsity coach Paul Bergman. "For young players to perform with such poise against an opponent like Brother Rice bodes very well for our future."
Willis Goodwin (Rolling Meadows), Brennan Keane and Brandon Onori (both of Prospect) all played major minutes and played significant roles in the landmark win.
It was the Stallions first victory against the south side school program in their ten year history.
The Stallions will now turn their attention to defending their 2014 State Championship in Rugby Illinois Olympic (seven-a-side) Style play this June and July.
Fremd camps
Fremd High School's fifth annual youth multi-sports camp will be held June 15 to June 25.
In unison with Inverness Park District, Fremd coaches Jim Weaver, Dave Yates, Steve Keller and Jason Jetel give instruction in their respective sports over eight days to Boys and Girls entering first through fourth grades.
The goal is to give a strong basis in fundamental skills in a fun training environment. All ability levels are welcome. The camp runs Monday through Thursday during June 15 to 18 and June 22-25.
Campers may choose all three camps: basketball, baseball/softball, and soccer or sign up for individual camps.
For more information please email Dave Yates dyates@d211.org.
• The Fremd girls basketball program will run two camps this summer. The fifth through eighth-grade sessions are June 15 to June 25th (Monday-Thursday) at Fremd High School. Coach Dave Yates of Fremd, a four-time MSL West Coach of the Year and former Arizona boys high school basketball coach of the year, will conduct. The camp is to improve basketball skills and develop fundamentals through instruction, drills, and scrimmages. Camps are open to all students regardless of ability level. For more information: dyates@d211.org
• Fremd boys basketball coaches Bob Widlowski and Dave Yates will be hosting their ninth annual shooting camp for fourth through eighth graders at Fremd High School. The camp will take place July 6 to July 16 (Mon-Thur) and is open to any player who wants to become a better shooter. The following topics will be taught: proper footwork, proper form, developing a quick release, developing better accuracy, shooting off the pass, shooting off the dribble while learning different shooting workouts and drills. The skills will be taught in both group and individual instructional settings. Campers will be broken into two groups: advanced and beginners. For more information: dyates@d211.org
Wrestling
Conant senior wrestler Thomas Lunney will continue his career at Augustana for Eric Juergens' Viking program.
Lunney earned seven varsity letters in three sports at Conant. A four-year letter winner in Coach Chad Hay's Cougar wrestling program, he posted a 9-3 record as a senior, before an injury cut his season short. As a junior, he went 18-4 and won the Mid-Suburban League 120-pound championship.
He was a two-year letter winner for coach Jason Franco in soccer and also lettered in coach John Powers' track & field program at Conant.
Thomas plans to study business administration with a concentration on marketing.
He joins a program that claimed its 37th CCIW title in 2014 and has produced eight individual national championships and 50 All-America selections.
Men's lacrosse
Carthage senior defensive middle Joe Divizio (Hoffman Estates) was named second-team all-College of Wisconsin and Illinois. He played in all 21 games, scoring 4 goals with 1 assist, 15 ground balls and 5 caused turnovers.
Women's tennis
Augustana sophomore Dana Goggin (Buffalo Grove) claimed the 'Most Valuable Player' award following a historic season for the Augustana women's tennis team. The Vikings set a new school record for victories in a single season and also qualified for the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the first time in school history.
Goggin was named as the team's MVP and the entire squad shared the 'Hardest Worker' award for coach Jon Miedema. Goggin finished the 2014-15 season with a sparkling 29-6 overall record while playing at No. 2 singles. The 29 victories are the second-highest single season in Augustana history. The record was actually set this year by Goggin's freshman teammate Mollie Magee (from Overland Park, Kan.), who went 30-12 at No. 3 singles.
Goggin also went 29-9 in doubles play, giving her a total of 58-15 in combined action this year. She was also a first team all-conference selection in the fall.
She was joined on the first team by her sophomore sister Lauren Goggin (Buffalo Grove), who went 27-10 at No. 1 singles. Dana Goggin has a career record of 44-17 in singles and 44-22 in doubles heading into 2015-16. Her combined career mark is 88-39.
The Vikings finished the season with a 24-9 overall record, breaking the previous school record set in 2010-11.
Arlington Heights Legion
Tryouts for the Arlington Heights American Legion baseball team will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Recreation Park in Arlington Heights 4 p.m. To be eligible, players must be born in 1996 or later.
High school players from St. Viator, Hersey and Prospect must live in Arlington Heights. Rolling Meadows and Buffalo Grove players are all eligible.
For further information call, Lloyd Meyer at (847) 255-6481.
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