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Paul steps away from softball post at Buffalo Grove

Jamie Paul, who coached Buffalo Grove's softball team to four winning seasons and two Mid-Suburban East crowns over the past five seasons, has resigned from her position.

"It was an extremely difficult decision, but with the new addition to my family (her son was born June 23), I feel it is time for me to step down.," said Paul, who won 76 games overall and 45 in the MSL East. "It would be difficult to give my family and my team divided time and effort as they each deserve for me to be fully devoted."

Paul, who served as an assistant coach to Laura Stock in 2010, called it an amazing experience watching her athletes grow as players and people at Buffalo Grove High School.

"I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent with my players each year," she said. "The Bison are my second family. I have really enjoyed working with the administration, staff, and fellow coaches at Buffalo Grove. They have been an amazing and supportive community to work with these past six years."

Following a standout career at Willowbrook High School, Paul continued her softball career at Eastern Illinois University, where she played for two years.

In addition to her playing and coaching history, she has been involved in community softball with the Lisle Slammers and as an instructor of private softball lessons.

"I have played the game since I was very young," Paul said. "The game has always been a positive experience for me in so many ways. Coaching has been no different. It has been very rewarding to share what I have learned throughout the years with such a great group of players. I will very much miss coaching the sport I love. "

"I have truly enjoyed coaching each and every girl. I think the world of this team, and although I am very sad to go I am so proud to have known my players and had the privilege of coaching them."

Schoffstall signs: Fremd senior Zack Schoffstall has signed to play soccer at Carthage College in Kenosha.

An all-area selection last fall, Schoffstall scored 3 goals in the Vikings' 4-0 win over Streamwood in the Class 3A third-place game. He also helped lead Fremd to the Mid-Suburban League championship.

Schoffstall was a three-year varsity member and two-year starter who scored 22 career goals with 34 assists.

He was also an all-conference basketball player last winter.

Lacrosse success: The St. Viator boys lacrosse team has left to take part in the National High School Lacrosse Showcase in Baltimore, where it will have the chance to play against top-ranked high school teams in front of college coaches from around the country.

"We will be playing against some of the most successful and storied lacrosse programs in the country," said Lions coach Bill Sanford, who led the team to a conference title in the East Suburban Catholic Conference and fourth place in the state tourney in May.

St. Viator is one of only three teams from Illinois to be invited to the showcase. In all, 54 teams are gathering in Baltimore, representing 17 states, Washington D.C. and Canada.

"This is a big step for our program's development," Sanford said. "It's similar to the trip we took over spring break to California, as well as the all-Catholic tournament we played in from 2011 to 2013, but this tournament is on a much bigger platform."

Earlier this spring, St. Viator's lacrosse team drew attention for its efforts off the field.

In May, the team was inducted into the Sports Faith Hall of Fame, led by Patrick McCaskey, president of its advisory board and senior director of special projects for the Chicago Bears.

Organization leaders pointed to the team's support of 9-year-old Dylan Full, inducting him last year as their youngest team member, and including him whenever possible, as he recovers from a brain tumor.

Dylan will not be with the team in Baltimore but 23 players will be on the roster, including nine seniors, four juniors and 10 sophomores. The schedule includes games against Gilman (MD), Highland Park (TX), La Salle College High School (Philadelphia) and Canandaigua (N.Y.), and that's just in pool play.

This is the third year of the lacrosse showcase tournament.

Coaches from prominent Baltimore high schools developed the event, and annually it draws close to 70 college coaches from across the country and from all NCAA playing levels.

"Many of our players are interested in playing collegiate lacrosse," Sanford added. "So this is a great platform for them to be evaluated at the same time and in a unique setting."

Jablonski honored: Recent Wisconsin-Whitewater graduate and standout softball player Jo Jablonski (Palatine) will represent her college and Division III athletics as a nominee for NCAA 'Woman of the Year'.

The award, in its 25th year, is designed to honor graduating female student-athletes who have excelled academically, and athletically, and have distinguished themselves in service and leadership. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics manages the nomination process and serves as the selection committee for the award.

Of the 480 nominees in 2015, 207 participate at the Division I level, 93 in Division II and 180 are Division III student-athletes.

Jablonski was a four-year staple in the Warhawk lineup. A three-year starter at third base, Jablonski transitioned to shortstop for her senior season. Regardless of the position, Jablonski excelled defensively and in the batter's box. She led Whitewater to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Titles in 2014 and 2015, WIAC Tournament Championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and three straight NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.

This season, Jablonski led the Warhawks in numerous offensive categories including batting average (.422), slugging percentage (. 741), on base percentage (. 515), home runs (10), and total bases (100). Jablonski added 57 hits, 39 runs batted in, 2 triples and drew 25 walks in 2015, all second-best on the team.

Jablonski has written her name in the Whitewater and WIAC record books in multiple categories over the course of her career including home runs in a game, home runs in a season, walks in a season, career walks and career home runs.

In the classroom, Jablonski capped her career with Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.

The two-time First Team Academic All-District pick graduated summa cum laude with a degree in elementary education and a minor in Spanish education in May. She boasts a 3.88 grade-point average and became the 14th Warhawk to be selected as the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete of the Year for softball.

Jablonski was named UW-Whitewater's Female Student-Athlete of the Year and also earned NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete, WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, Chancellor Scholar Athlete honors and recognition on the Dean's list.

Off the field, Jablonski continued to serve her community and distinguish herself as a leader on campus and in the community. As member of Sigma Alpha Lambda honor society, Jablonski took part in community cleanup.

A four-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Jablonski was named Vice President in 2013-14 and served as the SAAC President during the 2014-15 academic year. As a member of SAAC,

Jablonski organized a canned food drive and participated in W3 Wellness Day, a community outreach program. She added international community service to her resume in the fall of 2014 after volunteering at an assisted living center in Ecuador as part of a study abroad program.

She also took time to participate in Reading with the Warhawks (reading to local children) and Make A Difference Day (a campus and community cleanup program).

Additionally, Jablonski played an integral role in the implementation of the pilot program for the Warhawk Leadership Academy and was the student representative on the search and screen committee for UW-Whitewater's Director of Athletics. Jablonski stayed active in aiding her fellow students as a Peer Mentor in 2013, a member and participant of a UW-Whitewater Learning Community and as a tutor for three years in the UW-Whitewater tutoring center.

The selection committee will narrow the list down to 30, the top 10 from each division before announcing the top nine finalists in September.

The 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the annual award ceremony October 18 in Indianapolis. The top 30 honorees will also be celebrated at the ceremony.

Women's volleyball: Kaylie Jacobson (Hersey) of Mt. Prospect has indicated she plans to attend Millikin University to play volleyball for Big Blue coach Debbie Kiick. She plans to study Sports Medicine at Millikin.

"Kaylie has a great stature for volleyball and is a hard worker who can play both middle and right side hitter for us," Kiick said. "We are looking forward to helping her develop and contribute to the Big Blue."

Jacobson was a four-year varsity letter winner in volleyball at Hersey playing middle and right side hitter.

As a senior, Jacobson helped her team to a 31-6 record averaging 1.40 kills, 2.53 digs and 1.48 blocks per game. She earned an All-Academic Senior Athlete Award.

Tennis coach wanted: Elk Grove High School is looking for an girls tennis assistant coach for the fall 2015 season, which begins Aug. 12 and runs through mid-October. Candidates should contact Robert Murphy at robert.murphy@d214.org.

On track: The 12th annual Palatine Park District track and field night will be held Wednesday, July 15 at Palatine High School.

Check-in begins at 5:20 p.m., with events scheduled to wrap up by 8:15 p.m. Events are available to all age ranges, from 6-and-under all the way through 60-plus.

Registration is free for the 6-and-under 50-meter dash, $1 for other events in the 6-and-under age group and $3 for everyone else. Registration is only available at the high school on the day of the event.

Events offered included long jump, shot put, high jump, triple jump, 50 dash, 110 hurdles, 100 dash, 400 dash, 800 run, 1,600 run and 400 relay.

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