Lenahan commits to Maryville basketball future in arch-rival St. Louis
At the age of 6, Erin Lenahan and her family went on a vacation to St. Louis.
She remembers seeing "this huge arch" on her visit but with time limitations, she and her family did not take the tour which allows a view of up to 30 miles in the observation deck.
Lenahan will soon have plenty of time to take that tour.
And when she looks down, she'll probably able to see a glimpse of the campus where she will spend her collegiate days playing Division II basketball.
Lenahan committed to Maryville University in St. Louis on Aug. 28.
Little did she know, at the age of 6, she would one day return to St. Louis for her skills as a basketball player.
At the time, she was only thinking about her footwork - as an Irish dancer. She hadn't even picked up a basketball.
"I didn't have the body type for the Irish dancing," Lenahan said. "You have to have short legs for the footwork. My brothers (Neil and Ryan) always played basketball so my mom (Eileen) said why not try playing basketball."
Mom's suggestion turned out perfect as Lenahan has made herself one of the top players in the Mid-Suburban League.
"Erin's athleticism is lights out, as far as driving to the basket and finishing, " said Fremd girls basketball coach Dave Yates. "Erin is heading for a breakout year. She has accepted a limited role the last couple of years due to the talent we have had, and I think she is ready to explode on the scene."
The St. Louis coaching staff discovered Lenahan at exposure camps while she was playing for her Midwest Elite team.
Being a Cubs fans, Erin made a fun bet with her future coaches on the postseason National League division series with the St. Louis Cardinals. "When the Cardinals lost the series, they had to wear Cubs jerseys and they sent me photos," Erin said with a laugh. "I really enjoy the coaching staff there and everything was really comforting."
For now, she is looking for forward to contributing to Fremd's success.
"I want to go back downstate," she said. "I feel like we have a good season ahead of us."
And Lenahan should have a good future ahead in college, as well, where she plans to study physical therapy.
Women's swimming
In her first collegiate meet, Washington College freshman Julia Portmann (Fremd) won the 1000 freestyle against Franklin & Marshall, becoming the team's sixth-fastest swimmer in school history with a time of 10:54.07.
Portmann also won the 100 butterfly in 1:03.01 and was second in the 200 butterfly in 2:18.23. She led off the winning 200 freestyle relay which posted a first-place time of 1:42.49.
She followed that performance up with another strong meet against Gettysburg College on Nov. 7. Portmann won the 200 freestyle in 1:56.85 to become the Shorewomen's sixth-fastest swimmer ever in that event. She later won the 500 freestyle in 5:17.93 to become the Shorewomen's eighth-fastest swimmer ever in that event. Portmann also led off the Shorewomen's winning 400 freestyle relay, which closed out the meet with a first-place time of 3:42.77.
Portmann was named the "Shorewoman of the Week" as the top female student-athlete at the college.
Water skiing
Wheeling High School graduates Amber and Brandon Kirchens are members of the Aquanut Water Show ski team which won the 2015 national championships in Rockford this August.
It was the first time in 31 years the team won the championship.
The Kirchens have been members for 20 years
There are 26 teams in the state of Wisconsin and 15 compete in nationals.
For more information check out. www.aquanutwatershows.com.
Men's hockey
Miami of Ohio senior goalkeeper Ryan McKay of Palatine was named 'Goaltender of the Week' for the National College Hockey Association. McKay posted a .929 save percentage and a 2.03 GAA in a split at St. Lawrence, pitching a 26-save shutout on and making 26 more saves in a loss. He helped Miami go 9-for-9 on the penalty kill in the two-game series.
Sugar Bowl bound
The Schaumburg High School marching band has been invited by WorldStrides OnStage programs to perform at the Sugar Bowl.
The Saxons will join marching bands from across the country in the halftime show
Under the direction of Vinnie Inendino, the Saxons marching band will travel to New Orleans where it will rehearse with the mass band and learn from nationally acclaimed adjudicators.
In their free time, they will take in the sights of New Orleans.
Vinnie Inendino has been teaching for six years and will lead the Schaumburg students to New Orleans. Inendino has traveled with WorldStrides two times before.
To learn how you can help Schaumburg High School's fundraising efforts, contact Vinnie Inendino at vinendino@d211.org.
The Saxon Marching Band (SMB) is the largest student organization at Schaumburg High School, comprised of approximately 250 woodwind, brass, percussion, and guard members.
The SMB performs at all home football games and the Schaumburg Septemberfest Parade. The organization also performs annually at local university high school band days, as well as other Chicagoland parades such as the Columbus Day Parade in downtown Chicago.
Men's soccer
Loyola junior Kirill Likhovid (Buffalo Grove), who started in every game that he has appeared in, was named an Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley Conference selection.
Women's Cross Country
Notre Dame senior Karen Lesiewicz (Schaumburg) finished 16th in an all-conference and personal best time of 20:38 in the 6,000 meters at the ACC Conference Meet helping the Irish Dame to a third- place finish. She then finished 27th in the Great Lakes Regional as the Irish took second place and advance to the nationals Nov. 20 in Louisville, Kent.
• Illinois State senior Haley Goers (Hoffman Estates) finished sixth (all-conference personal best time of 17:17) in the 5,000 meters at the Missouri Valley Conference meet to help the Rebirds to a third-place finish.
• Illinois senior Brit Petrey (Schaumburg) finished 28th (personal best time of 20:55) in the 6,000 meters at the Big Ten Conference meet.
• Lewis junior Mollie Dalton (Conant) placed 34th overall with a time of 22:07.82 at the 6K NCAA Midwest Regional, hosted by Southern Indiana and the Evansville Sports Corporation, at the Angel Mounds Cross Country Course. It was the second time in three years Lewis advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships as the Flyers took third place.
• North Central College junior Amanda Cortese (Hersey) was the Cardinals' second finisher (27th place with a time of 22:08.3) when they placed seventh in the 40-team NCAA Division III Midwest Region Championship at Saukie Golf Course.
Men's cross country
Butler senior Erik Peterson (Barrington) finished third in an all-conference and personal best time of 22:50 in the 8,000 meters at the Big East Conference Meet, helping Butler to a fourth-place finish. He also placed fifth in the Great Lakes Regional with a personal best time of 30:31 in the 10,000 meters, advancing to nationals on Nov. 20 in Louisville, Kent. In the same regional, Butler sophomore Billy Thomas (Hoffman Estates) finished 22nd in a personal best time of 24:23.
• Missouri senior Dan Roe (Buffalo Grove) finished in 36th place in a personal best time of 24:39 in the 8,000 meters at the SEC Conference Meet, helping Missouri to a sixth-place finish.
• Iowa senior Anthony Gregorio (Palatine) finished 46th in a personal best time of 24:33 in the 8,000 meters at the Big 10 Conference Meet.
• Augustana senior Ethan Koch (Prospect) was 31st with a time of 24:56.1 at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Saukie Golf Course. Koch and the Vikings earned a spot in the 32-team NCAA Division III National Championship field to be held on Nov. 21 in Oshkosh, Wis.
Men's soccer
North Central senior midfielder Joey Faleni (Schaumburg) was named second team all-College of Wisconsin and Illinois all-conference, He had played in all 20 games and led the team with 13 shots on goal. He had 1 goal and 2 assists.
Men's swimming
Lewis freshman Colin Williams (Elk Grove) was a member of the winning 200 free relay team (1:28.06) as the Flyers (5-1) topped the Findlay Oilers 113-92 on the campus of Hillsdale College.
Rugby
The Northwest Woodsmen and Arlington Stallions rugby clubs will host the seventh annual Turkey Bowl to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Saturday, Nov. 28.
The touch rugby game is co-ed, all ages, and open to the public. All donations made at the event, as well as proceeds from T-shirt sales, will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
"This is a fun day for rugby players of all skill level to come out and support this important cause simply by playing the game we love" said event organizer Lou Raymond. "This devastating disease has touched the lives of people we love and we are honored to be able to use this event to help raise awareness and provide some of the funds necessary for the fight against leukemia and other blood related cancers."
The game will take place at Recreation Park in Arlington Heights (121 N. Douglas Avenue) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Teams will be formed by age, experience and ability depending on attendance. Non-players are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Following the game, guests are invited to stay for a hot dog social. Registration for this event takes place at 10 a.m.
Games start at 10:30 a.m. and the hot dog social begins at 2:30 p.m. For more information, check the event website at http://www.woodsmenrugby.com/Turkeybowl.
35th Turkey Trot
Pre-registration for the 35th annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning at Harper College is being accepted through 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The event will include a 2-mile run at 8 a.m. and a 5-mile run at 9 a.m. The Drumstick Dash fun run for children ages 10 years and under will be held at 10 a.m.
In honor of the 35th anniversary of this long-standing community event, Turkey Trot will be enhanced by a variety of contests and special opportunities in 2015, both before and during Thanksgiving morning.
Turkey Trot registration can be completed online or the registration form can be downloaded from the Palatine Park District website, palatineparks.org.
• Please submit Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.