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Hamann excited to be taking on new golf challenge at Prospect

For the past 15 years, followers of this Sports Notes column have read about the many female golfers from Prospect High School who have gone on to play at the collegiate level.

The hall of fame coach who sent 30 of them to the next level now hopes to do more of the same on the boys side.

Prospect girls golf coach Jim Hamann has decided to take over the boys golf program which has been superbly orchestrated by the retiring Tom Martindale.

"After discussing this with my family, I have decided to take on a new challenge as the head boys golf coach at Prospect," Hamann said. "This decision was a very difficult one for me to make, but I am excited for the new chapter in my life, a new challenge."

He certainly met the challenge of the girls job that he took over in 2004.

Hamann led the Knights to 12 East division championships, seven Mid-Suburban League crowns, a Class AA state runner-up trophy and two AA state championship trophies.

"I am so proud of all of our current players, alumni players and all parents," he said. "The positive culture, fun, hard work, and success has been a team effort for the last 15 years between coaches, players, and parents."

Hamann said he is grateful to the assistance he received from coaches Tim Casper, Rebecca Schilz, Jim Wills and John Elliott Jr. over the years.

"I thank them for all of their hard work, passion, and contributions to all of the fun that the girls have had," Hamann said

"There is no better culture than Prospect girls golf. I am so proud to have been the head coach at Prospect for the past 14 years and I thank everyone for making things such a positive experience for everyone.

Hamann told the girls that he won't be far away and that they can reach out to him whenever they need anything

"I'll be happy to help the girls meet their goals," he said. "I am not going anywhere and I believe that the girls (and parents) are going to be very happy with the new situation," Hamann said. "I told the girls that I have a vision for Prospect moving forward that they will like. Prospect golf is going to be great.

"We have many fun things in the works. I will work closely with the new girls coach and we will continue to make Prospect golf something very special to be part of."

Ace in the hole

Maine West softball coach Jim Dvorak will have former Valparaiso and Fremd golfer Kelly Voight as his assistant this spring.

She was a four-time Mid-Suburban League all-conference selection at Fremd and as a senior in 2010 she became the first Viking to qualify for the state championship.

Area fans will also remember she was a standout third baseman for hall of fame coach Jim Weaver.

"Kelly's knowledge and skills have already made an impression on the players," said Dvorak, who is beginning his third season as the Warriors' head softball coach.

Women's basketball

Carthage junior Maggie Berigan (Hersey) scored 11 points in the Lady Reds' final win of the season, 61-53, over Elmhurst College in the quarterfinals of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament. The Lady Reds concluded their 2018-19 campaign with a 17-10 record and 10-6 in the CCIW.

• Alabama-Birmingham senior Deanna Kuzmanic scored a near triple-double in a 70-55 victory over Charlotte in the quarterfinals of the C-USA championships. Kuzmanic finished with 7 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and 9 assists for the Blazers, who have strung together consecutive 25-plus win seasons for the first time in program history.

Kuzmanic ended the postseason tourney with 18 points (7-for-7 free throws) in a 75-65 loss to Middle Tennessee in the semifinals.

The Blazers are 25-6 and finished in a tie for third place in the C-USA Tournament after finishing in second place in the regular-season standings.

Football

Prospect senior Jimmy Martin, who quarterbacked the Knights to their first playoff appearance since 2011, signed a letter of intent to play for Northern Michigan University. He was one of 28 players who were part of 2019 signing class for the Wildcats and one of 13 from Illinois. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound signal caller was named Mid-Suburban League all-conference and all-area honorable mention.

Men's basketball

Prospect senior Jon Kreidler, who helped lead the Knights to a third straight Mid-Suburban East crown this winter, has committed to play basketball at Loras College in DuBuque, IA. The 6-foot-4 senior forward averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He scored 26 points in the MSL title game on 8-of-8 shooting including three 3-pointers against Fremd.

Kriedler was named to the all-tournament team at the Wheeling Hardwood Classic. He shot 71 percent on 2-point field goals this year.

"Jon is, hands down, the most efficient offensive player I ever had the opportunity to coach," Prospect coach John Camardella said. "He worked tirelessly on his game and was a big reason why we were able to have some success these past two years."

Girls basketball

During a three-year stretch from 1985 to 1988, Maine West's girls basketball team went 94-6 including a 35-0 state championship team in 1988. Over the past three years, the Warriors have gone 95-6 including a 35-0 state championship this year.

One man was on the bench for both incredible runs - assistant coach Jerry Stonequist. Since the early 1980s, Stonequist has been the assistant coach for the late hall of famer Derril Kipp and current coach Kim de Marigny.

And just because the basketball seasons has ended doesn't mean Stonequist will be away from Maine West athletics.

Just head over to the softball diamond and you'll find him assisting in head coach Jim Dvorak's program.

"Jerry is returning to the frosh/soph team to teach fundamentals and build the team for coming years," Dvorak said of the retired Chippewa Middle School (Des Plaines) teacher.

• Also achieving a rare feat as an assistant to de Maringy was Lance Newman. He now has won Class 4A state titles as an assistant coach twice in four years. Newman was an assistant in the Stevenson boys program when the Jalen Brunson-led Patriots won the 2015 state crown.

Women's lacrosse

Augustana's Emily Lucnik (Schaumburg) found the net twice in less than a minute late in the Vikings' 12-11 overtime loss to visiting Wittenberg.

Baseball

Augustana junior Chris Refka (Palatine) is 1-0 with a 3.43 ERA. His 21 innings are a team high for the 9-2-1 Vikings.

• Lewis College's Brandon Post (Elk Grove) led the Flyers' offensive attack in a 7-1 triumph over Missouri-St. Louis with 3 hits in 3 at-bats 2 walks, 2 runs and 2 RBI.

Send sports notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com

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