Community sports news

Athletic program changes at Trinity

The naming of women’s soccer coach Josh Lenarz as interim athletics director was one of several recent changes enacted within the Trinity Christian College sports department.

Lenarz, who will continue to lead the Lady Trolls soccer squad, is filling the position vacated by Jeff Raymond after six years. Lenarz, now in his 12th year at the school, was assistant athletics director for the past four.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the interim athletics director,” Lenarz said. “We have a wonderful staff that is ready to serve our student-athletes and the Trinity community.

“It is a very exciting time in athletics as the new gym and outdoor athletic complex are in full construction mode. The Lord continues to bless Trinity Christian College and we have a lot to be thankful for.”

Moving over into Lenarz’s old spot is men’s basketball coach Kevin Lubbers.

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New faces will guide three of Trinity’s sports teams in the 2010- 11 school year. Longtime track assistant Bob Brickman will assume leadership of that program, which previously operated under Raymond.

“Bob has already played a critical role with the growth and success of our track program,” Lenarz said. “He will do a wonderful job as he transitions into the role of head coach.”

Brickman, who also heads up the Trolls’ two cross country squads, spent seven years as an assistant to Raymond.

“I am truly blessed to be able to take over the track team here at Trinity,” Brickman said. “I have been with the program since its inception, and I am ready to step up and lead the program going into the future.”

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Baseball boss Jason Huisman will drop down to assistant-coaching duties next spring while handing control of the program over to his brother, Justin, who has been a Trinity assistant for the past two seasons.

“It’s been a blessing to coach under my brother Jason for the past two years here,” Justin Huisman said. “We began a process to take this program to another level, on and off the field, and it’s my goal to continue that process. Trinity has always held a special place in the hearts of the Huisman family, and it’s an honor to play my part in the bright future here.”

“[Justin] has a deep knowledge and understanding of the game, and that is matched with his strong love for the Lord,” Lenarz said. “He is a man of character and is the perfect person to lead our baseball team.”

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LaToshia Burrell, who played basketball at both Coe and Warburg colleges, will take over as Lady Trolls hoops coach this winter. She replaces Liz Metcalfe, who stepped down after five years at the helm.

Burrell, an Iowa native, most recently coached at Trinity Prep School in Orlando, Fla. She has also coached at Warburg and for the Orlando Saints AAU team. In addition to her coaching, Burrell will be an assistant professor of physical education at Trinity.

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Missy Bolhuis, who coached with interim status during the 2010 softball season, will return to the post in a full-time capacity next spring.

SXU men’s cross country team adds five new members

Entering his seventh season at the helm of St. Xavier University’s men’s cross country team, coach Ed McAllister has had some talented student-athletes and successful teams, including a national- qualifying squad in 2005.

However, the recruiting class that he brings in for the 2010 season may be his most talented group yet, and McAllister is anxious to get to work with his new squad. Making up the 2010 recruiting class are incoming freshmen Brian Corcoran (Brother Rice), Chris Sarna (Stagg), Shane Kenney, Chris Shellenberger and Izak Velasquez.

“To say that I’m excited about this cross country freshman class would be an understatement,” McAllister said. “This is, far and away, the finest recruiting class that I have ever had here at St. Xavier. I strongly believe that all five runners will have an immediate impact on this team’s success.

“Brian is outstanding in every sense of the word and is one of the best distance runners in Brother Rice’s storied history. Shane had a stellar prep career at traditional powerhouse Chesterton (Ind.), and the fact that he medaled at the state track meet in his first season of track competition shows that his talents are wide and varied.

“I believe that Chris Sarna is just starting to develop as a runner, but he was a state finalist at the IHSA meet last season, which demonstrates his competitiveness. I think Chris Shellenberger is a real ‘diamond in the rough’ because while he had a solid high school career, I truly believe he will perform even better in the collegiate ranks.

“Izak is a fine runner whose talents have just started to be unleashed. His success as a prep [athlete] last year provided just a glimpse of his potential.”

Wade to host annual camp at Richards in August

NBA star Dwyane Wade will host his annual basketball camp at Richards Aug. 5-7. Sessions will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. each day.

The D-Wade Skills Academy is open to youngsters aged 8-17, and includes personalized instruction, a camp T-shirt, an autographed photo with Wade and a daily lunch. The curriculum includes individual stations focused on offensive and defensive skills; practice sessions that teach team concepts on offense and defense; chalkboard and film study sessions with Wade and his coaches; training sessions designed to show players how to boost fitness levels specifically for basketball; and a skills tournament.

The cost of the camp is $250. To register a child, parents need to complete a registration form, which they can access at www. wadebasketball.com.

Rippit softball teams triumphant

The Palos Rippit 16U Black fast-pitch softball team won six of seven tournament games to capture the USSSA Illinois Class “A” championship and the Rippit 14U squad claimed a tourney title in Mattoon.

Leading the Rippit 16U contingent were Ashley Rea, Caroline Usher, Hannah Jenkins, Chris Gannon and Teresa Ziebarth, all of whom garnered at least seven hits in tournament play. Rea and Jenny Vanek both excelled on defense, with each girl registering 18 putouts.

Pacing the pitching effort was Alyssa Arway, who threw two shutouts while earning three victories. Jenkins bagged two wins and tossed a shutout, while Ellen Schmidke made three relief appearances and logged one triumph.

Arway, Jenkins, Rea and Gannon were chosen for the all-tourney team.

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The Rippit 14U squad outscored its opposition by a 3-to-1 margin en route to finishing first at the ninth annual Mattoon Pride Tournament. The championship secured for Rippit a spot in the NSA “A” World Series, which be played in Huntsville, N.C.

Christian’s Kamp chosen for U.S. Youth Olympic team

Orland Park resident Madison Kamp, a senior-to-be at Chicago Christian, has been chosen as one of 12 athletes who’ll play for the U.S. Youth Olympic volleyball team in Singapore beginning Aug. 14.

Kamp, who helped the Lady Knights take second place at state in 2009, was an all-state honorable mention as a junior. She also plays for the Ultimate Volleyball Club in Frankfort.

Eighty-two athletes will compete in a total of 18 sports for the U.S. at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. A total of more than 3,600 athletes representing 205 countries are expected to take part in the 12-day event.

SXU’s Kropp named to College Fanz’s NAIA ‘Super Six’

St. Xavier University senior quarterback Anthony Kropp was one of a half-dozen NAIA football players nationwide to be named to College Fanz Sports Network’s NAIA Super Six when the names were announced in conjunction with the release of its 2010 NAIA Football Preview magazine.

Last season, Kropp completed 62 percent of his passes (326- for-527) for 4,425 yards and 43 touchdowns. He also rushed for 107 yards and six touchdowns to help lead the Cougars to 13 straight wins before they suffered a loss to eventual national champion University of Sioux Falls in the national semifinals.

In addition, College Fanz Sports Network also listed SXU senior wide receiver Mike Maher as one of a handful of players to watch in 2010 around the NAIA in its “Super Six” article.

Cheerleader camp at Richards a hit

Heather Bergman, who coached Richards’ cheerleading team to IHSA tournament berths the past two years, recently helped younger cheerleaders at a camp conducted at the school.

Bergman and her Bulldogs cheerleaders ran a clinic for elementary school students, where the youngsters were taught basic choreography, teamwork and cheers. They concluded the camp by performing for their parents.

Fourteen local caddies awarded Evans Scholarships

Fourteen caddies representing five local high schools were among the 84 individuals awarded Chick Evans Caddie Scholarships for this fall.

Evans Scholars are caddies who were selected on the basis of four criteria: strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. The selected students will attend a university where the Chick Evans Foundation owns and operates an Evans Scholarship

House, including Northwestern University, University of Illinois, Indiana University and Marquette University. The Evans Scholarship is valued at an estimated $70,000 over four years.

Currently, more than 850 caddies are enrolled in colleges across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 9,000 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by famed Chicago amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr.

Among this year’s local recipients are Marist’s Martin Bentley (Ridge Country Club), Elizabeth Healy (Beverly Country Club), Ryan Kraft (Calumet Country Club) and Amanda Zubricki of Palos Heights (Midlothian Country Club); Brother Rice’s Connor Healey, an Evergreen Park resident (Ridge Country Club), Brett Rimkus (Edgewood Valley Country Club) and Joseph Sullivan (Beverly Country Club); St. Laurence’s Nicholas Gawel (Butler National Golf Club) and Eduardo Gomez (Conway Farms Golf Club); Mother McAuley’s Colleen Healy (LaGrange Country Club), Giselle Martinez (Beverly Country Club) and Tara McQuillan of Evergreen Park (Beverly Country Club); and Sandburg’s Brett McGowan of Orland Park (Crystal Tree Golf & Country Club) and Niall Varley (Midlothian Country Club).

“These young men and women have excelled in academics and in service to their schools and communities,” said John Kaczkowski, president and CEO of the Western Golf Association, which administers the Evans Scholarship program “We welcome them to the Evans Scholars family and look forward to their continued success as college students.”

“The Evans Scholarship is truly a life-changing opportunity for the deserving young men and women who will now be able to realize their dream of earning a college education,” said Jeff Harrison, vice president of education for the Evans Scholars Foundation.

Blackhawks’ Celebrity-Am coming to Cog Hill

The inaugural Chicago Blackhawks Celebrity-Am, part of this year’s BMW Championship week, will be held on Labor Day at 9 a.m. at Cog Hill’s famed Dubsdread course in Lemont.

“With the Chicago Blackhawks winning the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, we thought it would be appropriate to bring some of their stars out to Cog Hill before the start of our championship, the third PGA Tour playoff event for the FedExCup,” said Vince Pellegrino, Western Golf Association’s vice president of tournaments.

“The Blackhawks have generated a lot of enthusiasm and pride for Chicago sports fans, and we welcome this unique opportunity to salute their championship while bringing some added excitement to Cog Hill.”

The Celebrity-Am will feature both current and former Blackhawks players, as well as media celebrities. Teams of one celebrity and three amateurs will begin their rounds with a shotgun start.

All proceeds from the BMW Championship, including the Celebrity- Am, will be donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation, which has provided full tuition and housing college scholarships to more than 10,000 deserving men and women caddies since 1930.

Tickets to the Blackhawks Celebrity- Am event are $10, which includes free parking. Children 16 and under will be admitted free of charge. Chicago Blackhawks season ticket holders will be admitted to the event for free and also will receive discounted tickets to the BMW Championship for the duration of tournament week.

For tickets to the event or to reserve playing positions in it, contact the BMW Championship office at (847) 724-4600. For more information, visit: www.BMWChampionshipUSA. com.

Palos Rippit to hold softball tryouts

Palos Rippit will conduct tryouts for the 2011 season on five dates in August.

Tryouts for the 12U and 14U teams will be held Wednesday, Aug. 4, from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 7, from 9-11 a.m. Tryouts for the 16U and 18U squads will take place Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 6-8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 14, fro, 9-11 a.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m.-noon. All tryouts will be conducted at Shepard.

For a registration form, visit www.eteamz.com/RippitFastpitch. For more information, call Norm Bilek at 828-2201.

This is part of the July 29, 2010 online edition of The Regional.

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