Pair of Marmion grads making impact in the trenches
A couple of Marmion cohorts are starring on the NCAA Division I collegiate gridiron.
Luke Juriga has started all seven games this season at offensive guard for the Western Michigan football team.
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound junior was a 2017 all-MAC second-team selection where he played and started all 12 games, helping the Broncos to a 21st ranking in the nation in rushing at 224.8 yards per game as seven different players rushed for 26 touchdowns.
Juriga also is a stalwart in the classroom where he was an academic all-MAC selection as a sophomore and found a spot on the MAC distinguished scholar-athlete docket.
In addition to Juriga, Marmion alum Weston Kramer is active at his defensive tackle position for the Northern Illinois University football team.
Kramer, a sophomore, has played in all 7 games for the Huskies (4-3, 4-0) and has registered 18 total tackles thus far, including 8 solos. He has 3 tackles for loss (11 yards in total losses) and has 1 quarterback sack to his credit to go with 1 pass breakup and 1 pass deflection.
Locals at Whitewater: Dundee-Crown graduate Payton DeLuga continues to be a key presence for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's soccer team.
DeLuga, a senior defender, has played in 16 contests for the Warhawks this season and has registered 1 goal on 16 shots, while playing 1,452 minutes in those 16 games (15 games of 90 or more minutes).
DeLuga is coming off a junior season where she was a United Soccer Coaches third-team All-Americna selection and a second-team USC scholar all-American. She led the Warhawks in minutes played at 1,881 and played every minute in 14 matches and every minute in the postseason, including two WIAC tournament contests and one NCAA Division I tournament match.
DeLuga is not the only Fox Valley-area athlete dotting the Warhawks' roster. St. Charles North product Elli Wahlberg is a junior forward, while fellow North alum Katy Kusswurm is a sophomore defender and yet another North Stars product, Isabella Falco, is a freshman defender.
Wahlberg has 1 goal and 1 assist this season, while Kusswurm has an assist and has played 1,175 minutes. Falco has seen action in 3 games thus far.
Crystal Lake South hardball commits: Crystal Lake South baseball coach Brian Bogda reports outfielder Kyle Hetherington has committed to continue his career on the diamond at Rend Lake Community College, while infielder-outfielder-pitcher Beiker Fuentes is headed to Wabash Valley College.
"I am very excited for Kyle and his future at the next level," the coach said. "Kyle puts in a ton of time in the weight room and working on his game in the off-season months. His work ethic is unmatched. I couldn't be happier for him."
Hetherington will end up being a three-year varsity player at South and was part of the 2017 state-championship team as well as the 2018 team that made the summer state Elite 8.
"I appreciate Kyle's leadership and dedication to our program," Bogda continued. "I am looking forward to working with Kyle his senior season this spring."
Fuentes follows his brother Brian's path to college.
"Beiker is a multi-talented player who saw time both in the infield and outfield in 2018. He also pitched several innings for us in 2018. Beiker has the tools with his quickness, soft hands and strong arm. We are looking for big things out of him in the 2019 season."
Yager at Tennessee: Former Rosary standout swimmer Alexis Yager is readying for her sophomore season on the University of Tennessee swimming and diving team.
Yager, the Illinois state record-holder in numerous events, scored in her two individual events at least year's SEC meet. She was 14th in the 200 breast in 2:11.02 and 16th in the 400 IM in 4:12.58. Yager opened her career last year at the annual meet at UNC Wilmington with two victories in the 200 breaststroke (2:19.04) and the 200 IM (2:05.71). She recorded five wins in dual meets in her first college foray.
Smith at Army: Former Huntley running standout Keegan Smith is now a junior on the Army men's cross-country team.
Smith saw action in the recent Navy Star Meet that covered an 8K layout in Annapolis, Maryland. Smith finished 13th overall with a time of 25:42.58 and finished ninth among Army runners.
Off at College wants your help: Send information and/or statistics on Fox Valley-area athletes playing collegiately to Mike Miazga at mjm890@gmail.com. Fall sports submissions are encouraged.