Allen opts out as Harper's softball coach

The Harper athletic department got a jolt Wednesday as Cray Allen announced his resignation as the school's softball coach.

The Hawks had incremental success over Allen's three seasons, including a Region IV runner-up finish last spring.

Despite Allen's relatively short tenure with the school, Harper athletic director Doug Spiwak was pleased with the results.

"Cray had done a great job with the program," Spiwak said.

Under Allen, Raegan Fingerman and Sara Markelonis were able to showcase their skills. Both are now applying lessons learned Wisconsin-Parkside.

"I enjoyed working with him," said Spiwak, who added that the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

Stroud emerges: Harper's Jackie Stroud is starting to make people notice her exploits on the basketball cout.

Stroud, along with Milwaukee Area Technical College's Benetta Lindsey-Jones, were named the NJCAA Region IV, Division III women's basketball players of the week.

Against Moraine Valley Community College, Stroud, a freshman guard, scored a career-high 23 points and had 8 rebounds in 37 minutes. On Tuesday the Hawks (2-6) handled Oakton Community College 54-21.

Mat men: At the 44th Annual Wisconsin Open last week at Wisconsin-Parkside, five Harper College wrestlers finished in the top 10. Leading the way was 157-pounder John Makey, who finished third. At 125 pounds, the Hawks had a pair of top-10 finishes as Zach McCullough placed fourth and Ian Mullen fifth.

At 141, Jimmy Knapp took fifth place and at 174, Joe Oweina was sixth.