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Brewster to compete in 100K in early April

Former Grayslake Central all-stater and NCAA qualifier while at Davidson College, Will Brewster is far from slowing down.

He recently competed in the United States 50k Road National Championship in Caumsett Park, N.Y.

With spots on Team USA on the line, Brewster aggressively ran for the national title.

After 15k into the race, Brewster owned a lead that stretched almost 90 seconds.

He continued to lead the race by a wide margin until he was overcome with illness at 35k and ended up fading to fourth place.

Nonetheless, Brewster will still be in consideration when the USATF finalizes its World Championship roster.

Brewster will have one more shot at punching the automatic birth on the U.S. Team when he tackles the United States 100k Road National Championship in Madison, Wis., on April 7.

Women's track

Carthage senior Mia Bennett (Lakes) stole the show for the Lady Reds when she won the NCAA Division III Women's Indoor Track & Field Weight Throw National Championship in Birmingham, Ala., with a toss of 18.01m.

Bennett's historic toss marked the Lady Reds' fifth individual national championship, and the 19th overall in school history.

"Mia is a phenomenal athlete and has worked very hard over the last four years," said Lady Reds coach Stephanie Domin on the school's website. "To have this outcome is amazing and a true testament to her dedication. We are very proud of all her accomplishments over her career but this certainly takes the cake."

Bennett, who was placed in the second flight with teammate Elizabeth Willis, opened her six throws with a foul on her first attempt. She battled back with a 17.62m and 17.73m on her next two attempts to secure a third-place standing and a spot in the finals.

Bennett's fourth toss of 17.71m kept her in third place before she secured the national championship with the 18.01m on her fifth throw.

Bennett's national championship also landed her Indoor all-American honors for the second time in her career, and the 27th time in program history.

Softball

Wisconsin-Oshkosh pitcher Claire Petrus (Hawthorn Woods/Carmel Catholic) was honored as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference top pitcher for her efforts in games held Feb. 26-March 4.

The sophomore right-hander compiled a 3-0 record with a 3.21 ERA in 24 innings pitched at the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic. She completed all three games she started, including an eight-inning performance in the Titans' 4-3, 8-inning win over Wittenberg University on March 4. She allowed 7 hits to the Tigers while striking out three batters.

Petrus also pitched all 7 innings in the Titans' 10-5 win over Messiah College (Pa.) on March 2, and all 5 innings during Oshkosh's 12-3 victory over DePauw University on March 3. She allowed 10 hits to Messiah and just 3 to DePauw.

Men's basketball

Villanova junior guard Jalen Brunson (Stevenson) was selected as the USA Today National Player of the Year.

Brunson joins the late Paul Arizin as Wildcats to be named National Player of the Year by a major publication or organization. Arizin was the choice of The Sporting News and The Helms Foundation at the conclusion of his senior season of 1949-50.

Brunson is also the United States Basketball Writers Association's District II Player of the Year, and his coach, Jay Wright, is the District II Coach of the Year.

Brunson tied his career-high with 31 points to help lead the Wildcats to a 76-66 overtime victory over Providence on Saturday night in the Big East championship game. The win gives the Wildcats (30-4 overall) their second consecutive conference tourney crown and third in the last four seasons. It is the fourth in program history.

Baseball

Augustana senior center fielder Matt Loeffl (Grayslake Central) has one of the team's 2 triples this season and is batting .353 for the Vikings who opened the season by winning six of eight games in Florida.

Fellow senior Vinny Rotunno (Lakes) is 1-1 on the mound with a 5.25 ERA in two starts. He shares the team lead for most strikeouts in game (13).

Wrestling

North Central sophomore Justin Mitchell (Wauconda), a sophomore and member of the wrestling team, recently finished his season. He wrestled in the 125-pound weight class for the Cardinals. Mitchell went 13-12 overall, including 5 wins by decisions and one pin. North Central finished the season 12-2 overall and 4-0 against College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opponents.

Men's track

Augustana senior Kyle Hucker (Wauconda) was named to the All-Midwest Region team by the United States Track & Field/Cross County Coaches Association.

In order to be named All-Region, an athlete must either be ranked in the top-5 of an individual event in the region according to final TFRRS data or be part of a top-3 relay team.

Hucker was part of the Vikings 4x400 relay that recorded their fastest time of the season at the Wartburg Invitational on March 4 with a time of 3:17:42.

Men's volleyball

Augustana freshman setter Ryan Hirschel (Libertyville) has team highs of 591 assists and 24 service aces for the Vikings through 18 matches of their first season in program history.

Men's tennis

Augustana sophomore Scott Daluga (Libertyville) and his No. 3 doubles partner freshman Caio DeRezende (Sao Paulo, Brazil) won 8-2 over Adrian's Jeff Sophiea and Kevin Hernandez as the Vikings completed their spring trip to Florida with a 7-2 win.

Men's hockey

Minnesota State freshman defenseman Connor Mackey of Tower Lakes was named to the Western College Hockey Association All-Rookie Team. He has played in all 36 games for the Mavericks, registering 4 goals and 8 assists his first season of college hockey.

Men's lacrosse

Augustana junior Brian Hinsberger (Lake Zurich) caused 2 turnovers in the Vikings' first win of the season, 10-6 over Hendrix College.

Please email items to jleusch@dailyherald.com

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