Krzysko’s career arc leads Arkansas
Barrington junior Loren Krzysko has decided to take her powerful bat to the University of Arkansas.
The Razorbacks will be getting the all-time leading home run hitter in Fillies history.
Krzysko becomes the seventh Barrington softball player to commit during or prior to early signing period since it was applied in 1982.
She is the 20th Filly to earn a Division I opportunity since coach Perry Peterson took over the program in 1993.
Krzysko belted 10 homers this season and has 24 for her career.
“Loren has the best work ethic in our program and will be a tremendous influence on the new Fillies who step on the varsity diamond next season,” Peterson said.
“From the moment she joined the varsity as a freshman, I always believed she had the skills to compete at the highest level.”
Krzysko will be the first Barrington softball player to compete in the Southeastern Conference.
“I know Loren is up to the challenge,” Peterson added.
Krzysko has been a real challenge for area pitchers.
She hit .362 this season, leading the team with a .685 slugging percentage and 49 runs.
Krzysko visited Arkansas in February for a camp and then went back to the school with her family during spring break.
“When I went there it felt like home,” she said. “It is absolutely beautiful there and it’s a great school where I felt comfortable for both academics and softball.”
The Razorbacks were 29-28 this season and earned a berth in the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2009.
“It has a great uprising softball team and all the players and coaches were extremely positive, which is the attitude they preach, ‘Feed the Positive Hog,’ ” Krzysko added. “I knew the first time I went there that I could see myself going to school there and playing softball.”
Krzysko will study landscape architecture.
“The school is in the south, and I really love the south,” she added. “It’s a great softball program with great coaches and players and I’m really excited to play there.
“I have dreamed about playing Division I softball ever since I was little. I knew if I worked hard enough I could do it. And I’ve always wanted to go to a program which had a great football team so I could have that big college experience.”
Krzysko said she has been inspired by many different people to reach the Division I talent level.
“My hitting instructor Kim Wendland attended the University of Georgia and she led the SEC in hitting for two years,” Krzysko said. “She was an awesome player and I always looked up to her and how she hit. Also, I always have looked up to Albert Pujols, He is a great player and I’ve always wanted to be able to hit like him.
“I have been very lucky to have incredible coaches and great teammates,” she added. “My dad (Chris) has been there for me since day one. Coach Peterson and our high school coaches are constantly pushing our entire team to be our best as softball players and competitors. Coach (Cray) Allen (Krzsyko’s fall and winter coach from the Northern ICE) is another person who inspires me to always expect more from myself. I am very fortunate to have so many great coaches and teammates in my life and I’m excited to see that continue at Arkansas.”
Boys lacrosse
Palatine senior Austin Marrison has commited to Augustana lacrosse program of coach Kyle Hart.
A 6-foot midfielder, Marrison was a three-year varsity performer for Palatine coach Heath McFaul. He was the Pirates’ leading goal scorer as a junior and earned first team All-Mid-Suburban Conference honors. He was a second team all-conference selection this season.
Marrison also started at point guard for two years on coach Eric Millstone’s basketball team and he qualified for state in the Country Financial Three-Point Showdown as a senior.
He plans an education-related major at Augustana and will be joining a program that completed its first season of intercollegiate competition in 2012 with an 8-6 record and ranked third in the nation defensively.
Basketball camp
The Elite Academic Athletes Showcase is being held at the Lake Barrington Field House on Wednesday, July 11 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
It is for basketball players in high school who are sophomores, junior or seniors. Cost is $150 per player.
The Elite Academic Athletes Showcase provides athletes an extra opportunity to perform in front of highly-regarded academic universities.
For more information contact Elite Academic Athletes at info@eliteacademicathltes.info. You can also visit www.eliteacademicathletes, or call (847) 260-8119.
Men’s track and field
Augustana senior Mike Tisza (Hersey) was named to the Academic All-District first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Tisza was a two-time winner of the Jack Swartz Award in the CCIW for a combination of athletic prowess and academic excellence. He qualified for the NCAA Division III national meet in cross country in the fall of 2011 and was named the team’s MVP. He served as team captain in cross country in both 2010 and 2011 and was captain in track and field in 2012.
Tisza won the 5,000 at the CCIW meet in 2011 and this past spring he took third in the 10,000 and fifth in the 5,000 at the conference meet.
Triathlon
Illinois freshman Kendall Cox (Palatine) placed 59th out of 164 competitors in the Open Division of the 2012 National Collegiate Triathlon Championships in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He completed the challenging Olympic distance course (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run) in 2:32:38.
Ÿ Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.