Wheeling's Rohwedder excited for opportunity at Illinois State

Adrienne Rohwedder left her signature on the Hickory Point Golf Club in Decatur in the last round of her high school career two weeks ago.

The Wheeling senior shot the best front nine of the day with a sizzling 32, that helped pave the way for her to achieve her first state medal in three trips to the Class 2A state finals.

It was quite an ending for Rohwedder, who will have a new beginning next year.

Rohwedder will become the first female golfer from Wheeling to golf at the Division I level when she wears the colors of Illinois State.

She will be the second player from the Mid-Suburban East to golf in Normal this decade.

Prospect graduate Kiley Walsh capped a standout career last May as a Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete first teamer who had the top scoring average on the team, and the 11th-highest in the MVC.

"I just liked the campus at Illinois State and I felt at home," said Rohwedder, who began her career at Wheeling as a sophomore after being home schooled.

She took up golf at the age of four and has been competing in Illinois Junior Golf Association tournaments since the age of eight.

"My dad played as a kid and he got my brother into it," she said. "I watched him play a lot through his childhood and then I got interested and started playing competitively."

Rohwedder couldn't have been more delighted that she decided to join the high school team as a sophomore.

"It was nice going to a public school because I met more friends there," she said. "And my favorite thing was the competitiveness of playing golf with my team against other teams."

Rohwedder plans to study structural engineering at Illinois State.

"I was in a class that taught engineering my sophomore year," she said. "I got an A and I really liked it. I could see myself doing it in the future."

Wildcats coach Peggy Ellsworth sees a bright future for Rohwedder.

"With her skills and mental toughness, Adrienne will flourish at the college level," Ellsworth said. "I can't say enough good things about her as a golfer, competitor and person. I know she is very excited about playing golf for ISU."

Football

Washington University (St. Louis, MO) junior Johnny Davidson (Barrington) was selected as a CCIW Player of the Week.

The punter/quarterback, a finance major, totaled nine punts for 356 yards (39.6 average) in a win over Wheaton.

Three of Davidson's punts landed inside the 20-yard line as the Bears picked up their fourth-straight win and first against a ranked opponent this season.

Men's golf

Freshman Nzelu Maitha (Schaumburg) has become the fourth golfer in five years from Oakton Community College to represent the Owls in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Men's Golf Championship. The event will be from May 21-24, 2019 at the Swan Lake Golf Resort in Plymouth, IN.

Maitha earned his ticket to the Hoosier State by finishing as one of the top six individual golfers at the NJCAA Region IV Tournament at Senica's Oak Ridge Golf Club in LaSalle in early October when he posted a 76 average to finish fifth overall.

"I came through with a top performance when it counted," said Maitha in an Oakton news release. "I knew I had the ability and just made every shot count. It was a surreal moment to qualify for nationals with my family there."

Owls head coach Louis Walker, now in his 11th year at Oakton, was proud of Maitha and his entire team.

"This just continues the tradition with Oakton golf," Walker says. "It's all extremely positive and puts the school in a positive light with another young man making it to the national stage. This success is a testament to the players who worked hard all season." 


Maitha also was named all-region and cemented his place in Oakton history becoming the fourth player in the past 11 years to complete the "trifecta" of being named to the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference All-Conference Team, NJCAA Region IV Tournament All-Region Team and qualifying for nationals in the same season.

"Earning these milestones is a testament to all the hard work I've put in over the last 10 years," Maitha said. "My goal is to always keep improving and to be the best I can on the course."

Men's soccer

Augustana junior Daniel Artman (Schaumburg) had a big assist in the Vikings' 1-0 overtime win over Illinois Wesleyan.

Artman placed his long free kick in front of teammate Salah Aghlaf near the top of the circle and Aghlaf executed a perfect bicycle kick over the head of the IWU keeper and into the net.

The Vikings improved to 4-7 on the season and 2-2 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.

• Augustana junior Jeremy Klaber of Buffalo Grove has played 954 minutes in goal and is 3-7 with a 1.70 goals against average and a save percentage of .731.

Men's swimming

Lewis University senior Colin Williams (Elk Grove) was part of the Flyer's 400-yard medley relay which took second place (3:31.15) in a dual-meet loss to visiting Grand Valley 130.5-74.5.

Women's cross country

Lewis' Abby Tripp (Conant) placed fourth and Gaby Sanchez (Rolling Meadows) was 20th when the Flyers finished third with 84 points at the Festival Fiasco hosted by Southern Indiana in Evansville, IN.

Lewis coach James Kearney also said that Vanessa MacLeod (Hoffman Estates) ran a huge race.

"She topped her personal record by nearly 2:30," Kearney said.

Conant softball clinic

Conant's softball program is running clinics Oct. 20 (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) and Nov. 10 (9 a.m. to noon) for any athletes between second and eighth grade in the main gym at the high school. The athlete does not have to be a future Cougar or have any softball experience. For more information, you can email Conant head softball coach Allie Bauch at bauch@d211.org

Wheeling feeder

The Wheeling High School Feeder basketball tryouts for boys are Sunday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 4 in the main gym at Wheeling High School. Fifth and sixth graders are from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and seventh and eighth graders 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Attendance at both tryouts is recommended. Please arrive

15 minutes early to register. Questions, please contact juniorcats5678@gmail.com.

Women's tennis

Millikin's Madeline Delano (Buffalo Grove) teamed with Alena Hinch to win 8-3 over host Carroll University at No. 3 doubles as the Big Blue concluded its fall regular season with a 5-4 loss.

The Big Blue's Katie Cooper (Prospect) teamed with Danielle Beard to win 9-7 at No. 2 doubles.

Women's soccer

Augustana senior Abby Wendell (Hersey) has a team-best 6 assists.