Hoppe, Fagan winning combination

College of Central Florida women's softball coach Kevin Fagan won two super bowls as a defensive lineman for the San Fransisco 49ers, and a national championship with the University of Miami in 1983.

One of his recruits for his class of 2019 also knows something about championships.

Barrington senior pitcher Caroline Hoppe has been a part of a Mid-Suburban League conference title, three regional crowns, a sectional crown, and she also played in the IHSA state finals last spring when the Fillies took third place with their dramatic 7-6 comeback victory over Marist.

While watching college softball games as a child, she decided her goal would be to play at that level.

And it all worked out when she recently made her commitment to a program that has an astounding 163-29 record (61-11 conference record) in Fagan's three seasons. He is a two-time coach of the year in the Mid-Florida Conference.

Fagan's Patriot's held the NJCAA Division I No. 1 ranking for six consecutive weeks during the 2016 season. They were also ranked No. 1 in the state of Florida for 10 straight weeks.

"I looked into the program after they saw me play last summer in Colorado while pitching on my Barrington Hurricanes 18U travel team," Hoppe said. " Over the summer, I was able to visit the school and talk with a former player about the program. She had a lot of nice things to say about the school and I think that they have a lot of great things to offer to me as a student and an athlete."

Hoppe began playing softball because her mom played the sport as a child.

"I played a lot of sports when I was little, so at the time it was just another sport," Hoppe said. "I didn't know I would continue softball for so long. Throughout my career, my dad (Brian) has been the one who inspired me to reach my goals. He always encourages me to get better and puts in extra hours with me to practice."

While she is excited to be in Ocala, Fla., a year from now, she is also looking forward to helping her Fillies this spring. Hoppe finished last season with a 5-0 win/loss pitching record, 1.71 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 28⅔ innings pitched.

"I'm just focused on training," she said. "And getting better for the spring season."

"Caroline just continues to progress each year," said Barrington hall of fame coach Perry Peterson who will begin his 26th season next spring. "We look forward to how she will help the Fillies succeed in the upcoming spring."

Women's swimming

University of Findlay freshman Sarah Miles took first place in the 200-yard backstroke in a recent dual meet at the University of Indianapolis. Miles, who attended Hoffman Estates High School and swam for the Palatine Park District, won in 2:08.62, coming from behind in the final 50 yards to win the race. She was fourth in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:59.66. Miles also led off an Oilers 400 medley relay, turning in a split of 59.8 seconds on the backstroke leg.

Women's golf

Illinois State senior Kiley Walsh (Prospect) finished the fall season being named co-golfer of the week in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Walsh tied for second at the MVC Fall Preview. Her three-round score of 224 came from a first-round 80 before back-to-back even-par 72's to close the tournament.

For this season, through five tournaments, Walsh is averaging 75 strokes per round, which is the third-best scoring average in the MVC.

Walsh's 72 (32-40) in third and final round earned her a tie for second place at the par-72, 7,200-yard Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kansas.

Illinois State ended its fall season with a final-round score of 314 on Tuesday, to finish in eighth place with a three-round score of 938 (318-306-314). Host Wichita State won the preview with a 907 (304-294-309), edging out Northern Iowa in a playoff hole.

Men's golf

For the second straight year, Oakton Community College sophomore Stephen Bukielski (Schaumburg) qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Men's Golf Championship, May 21-24 at Glenlakes Golf Club, Foley, Ala.

Bukielski qualified for nationals with his performance at the NJCAA Region IV Tournament at Senica's Oak Ridge Golf Club in La Salle. During the rainy and windy conditions, Bukielski gutted out a 77 average to finish seventh overall.

"The conditions were extremely challenging," Bukielski said in the school's news release. "I knew I just had to play as well as possible and plug through the elements. I've played in bad weather before, and one time in high school I played a tournament in snow."

"Gritty and grindy are the words that best describe Steve's performance," said Oakton coach Louis Walker. "Steve and the other golfers had to play the whole tournament during winds of over 25 mph. Those are not easy conditions to play in with such huge stakes on the line."

Bukielski is hoping to build upon his performance in the 2017 national tournament in Mesa, Ariz.

"Last year when the tournament was held in Arizona, I finished in the middle of the pack," says Bukielski. "Now that this is my second time around, I have more confidence and want to represent Oakton well. In 2017, I was out there pressing myself. This year, I plan on playing my best while having fun."

Oakton sophomore Chris Blaha (Conant) may also earn a berth to nationals as a second alternate.

Women's Soccer

Kalyssa "Kiki" Van Zanten of Buffalo Grove is one of three Eclipse Select Soccer Club players headed to a U-17 Women's national team camp starting which runs through Saturday.

The U-17 age group, led by head coach Mark Carr, is training concurrently with a U-18 WNT group. The U-17s are attempting to qualify for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay.

In mid-July, Van Zanten represented the U.S. in the U-16 CFA International Women's Youth Football Tournament in Weifang, China. The USA finished runner-up ahead of third-place Japan and fourth-place Canada.

Women's cross country

Lewis College sophomore Gaby Sanchez (Rolling Meadows) came in 57th after crossing the line in 24:27.51 as the Flyers took fifth place at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship wth 160 points.

Football

Augustana senior end Grant Burke (Hersey) has a team-high 8 tackles for loss.

Women's tennis

Millikin's Madeline Delano (Buffalo Grove) and her doubles partner Morgan Bettner were the first to get a win at No. 3 doubles (8-1) when the Big Blue pulled off a win over 5-1 Illinois Wesleyan at the Fairview Tennis Center in Decatur.

In singles play, Delano wasted no time at all and won her match at No. 6 singles 6-1, 6-0 to give the Big Blue their fourth point of the day.

The win improved the Big Blue to 8-6 in dual matches for the fall season and 4-4 in CCIW play.

Men's soccer

Lewis College senior Michael Leet (Prospect) was 13th (25:19.88) when the Flyers finished second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship meet earning 43 points in the 8k.

Hersey tryouts

The Hersey Girls Feeder Basketball tryouts will be held this Sunday and Nov. 5) at Hersey High School.

All girls from fifth to eighth grade who live in the Hersey attendance area are invited to try out.

Times on both dates: 4 p.m. for eighth grade, 5 p.m. for seventh grade, 6 p.m. for sixth grade and 7 p.m. for fifth grad. You should arrive 15 minutes early to register and bring your own basketball. For questions: contact sjs@4scp.com.

Wheeling feeder

The Wheeling High School Feeder boys basketball tryouts are this Sunday and Sunday, Nov. 5 in the main gym at the high school.

Fifth and sixth graders are from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Seventh and eighth graders are from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Attendance at both tryouts is recommended. Arrive 15 minutes early to register. For more information, contact juniorcats5678@gmail.com