Bauch honored to be taking over Conant softball program

While at Conant High School, Allie Bauch was a standout shortstop for hall of fame softball coach Cathyann Smith.

This spring, Bauch will take over the program for Smith, who stepped down following last season.

"It is truly an honor," said Bauch, who also starred at the University of Illinois and played with the Chicago Bandits. "I owe a lot of my story and career to coach Smith. She gave me so much confidence on the field and so much support off the field. She was always looking for ways to help me reach my goals and dreams, even if it meant going out of her way. I hope to have the same impact on athletes that she had on me."

Bauch knew she wanted to be a high school coach immediately after leaving Smith's successful program.

"I just loved the atmosphere of high school and all that it allows students to do," she said. " Through my career in high school and travel, I also had tremendous influence from coaches such as Cathyann Smith, Kelly Wolff, Frank Hill, Dan Travers and Peggy Scholten. They all taught me so many things that prepared me for life beyond high school."

That's what drew Bauch to return to her alma mater where she was a three-sport student-athlete who combined for 10 varsity letters and four Captain Stars during participation in basketball, softball and volleyball.

A three-time Daily Herald all-area selection (2010, 2011, 2012), Bauch helped lead the Cougars softball team to back-to-back MSL championships. As a senior she batted .393 with 11 doubles and 44 runs.

"I wanted to provided a platform to teach young athletes how to be successful," she said. " I also loved the game and everything it brings out in an athlete so being able to give back to the game that did me so much makes it that much better."

Bauch was one of the finest shortstops to play at Coannt and then a top notch infielder at Illinois where she majored in mathematics and minored in secondary education.

She now works in the math department at Conant and was an assistant to Smith last spring.

"My goals as the new coach will be to maintain the culture and competitive aspect that Conant softball has had in the conference and postseason under coach Smith," Bauch added. "I look forward to using my experience from college and professional softball to teach girls lessons about determination, commitment, time-management, and what is needed to win. I want to instill upon them the confidence and desire to pursue whatever goals they have established for themselves whether that be academically or athletically. I am very excited to be in this role and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead."

Women's tennis

Wheaton College freshman Sara Magnuson (Hersey), a math and economics major, was selected as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Women's 'Tennis Player of the Week'.

She went 6-0 against CCIW competition including 3-0 at No. 2 singles, and 3-0 at No. 2 doubles with partner Nicole Freeman.

Magnuson and Freeman defeated North Central (8-3), Illinois Wesleyan (8-3) and North Park (8-2). Magnuson's singles wins came against North Central's Hannah Hougland (6-4, 7-5), Illinois Wesleyan's Anna Cooper (6-0, 6-0) and North Park's Linnea Love (6-0, 6-1).

Wrestling

Former Prospect wrestling coach Gary McMorrow, whose teams won 204 dual meets, will be one of the guest speakers at Prospect High School's 50th high school reunion this Friday and Saturday.

McMorrow was the 1968 class president at Prospect and then went on to have a distinguished teaching, counseling and coaching career after graduating from Western Illinois University.

In 2014, he was inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Hall of Fame.

McMorrow worked at Hersey High School from 1972 to 1983 as a Cooperative Work Training teacher and coordinator and assistant wrestling coach. During his 11 years there, he was sophomore coach for Tom Porter, an IWCOA Hall of Fame coach, and 10 years as freshman coach for another Hall of Fame coach, Rick Mann.

In 1983, McMorrow became head coach at his alma mater and served as a guidance counselor for nine years. He returned to the CWT classroom for the next 16 years.

In May 1994, he was named an "Outstanding Contributor to Education" by High School District 214 for the 1993-94 school year. McMorrow retired from teaching in 2008 and remained as head coach through the year.

His teams won the Mid-Suburban League East Division title in 2007 and overall conference championship in 2005 and 2007. For both years, he was named MSL East Division Coach of the Year. His 1992 team wrestled in the dual team regional final and his 2007 team won the school's first and only regional title. McMorrow had 16 state qualifiers, seven state placers and two trips to the Grand March. In 2009, Matt Boggess won the 140-pound Class 3A state championship to become McMorrow and Prospect's first state wrestling champ also this being McMorrow's last match as varsity head coach for Prospect. McMorrow is a substitute teacher working nearly 100 days a year at Prospect where he's known as "G-Mac", a nickname given to him years ago by an assistant coach. He lives in Arlington Heights with his wife Pamela and has four adult children and three grandchildren.

For more reunion information or registration: https://phsknights1968.wordpress.com or call Barb Hjelm Turnbaugh, 847-708-7617.

Men's golf

Oakton freshman Nzelu Miatha (Schaumburg), who owns a 76.5 average, is one of three all conference performer for the Owls, who open as the No. 10 seed in the regional tournament with the goal of advancing to the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship, May 21-24, 2019, at the Swan Lake Golf Resort in Plymouth, Indiana.

Oakton concluded its season with a third-place finish in its home match against Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference foes, cementing a second-place finish in the ISCC in advance of the NJCAA Region IV Tournament.

Women's cross country

Lewis College's Abby Tripp (Conant), Vanessa Peinado (Hoffman Estates) and Gaby Sanchez (Rolling Meadows) were top performers for the Flyers when they finished 23rd (604 points) at the 28 school conference crossover. Tripp was the top runner for the Flyers, running a time of 23:03.50. Peindao was clocked in 25:06.90 and Sanchez in 25:20.80.

Men's soccer

Lewis College's Konrad Malinoski (Wheeling) scored a goal in each half to give the Flyers a 2-0 win at Bellarmine. It was his second goal of the season as the Flyers raised their record to 3-5-3 and 2-4-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Flyers goalkeeper Edgar Avila (Scahumburg) stopped all four shots by Bellarmine.

Football

Augustana junior Bobby Jarosz (Prospect) is averaging 6.8 yards per carry while teammate and sophomore safety John Kappel (Wheeling) has 27 with an

interception and a fumble recovery.

Women's soccer

Augustana senior Abby Wendell (Hersey) has recorded an assist in six consecutive matches to lead the Vikings.