Molitor's career will receive spotlight at Palatine's tribute
Does the name Ron Finfrock ring a bell?
That's today's sports trivia question.
You have to go back to the 1975-76 basketball season to find the coach who held the Palatine High School varsity job before Ed Molitor.
Finfrock filled the Pirates' varsity position from 1970-76.
That's why Molitor's retirement after 32 distinguished years as head basketball coach is big news and deserves the special tribute planned by the school on Friday, Feb. 8.
Scheduled for the last home conference game against Barrington, the Molitor tribute will include former players at approximately 7 p.m. immediately following the sophomore game and before the varsity tip-off.
There will be a one-hour reception after the varsity game in the cafeteria for students, players and friends of the program.
In addition, a second reception will be held at Emmet's Restaurant in downtown Palatine (110 N. Brockway), starting at approximately 10 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Molitor, who recently won his milestone 500th game, was the head coach at Marist (1969-76) before coming to Palatine. He started as an assistant at the old DePaul Academy in 1966.
If you have any questions on the tribute plans, e-mail Matt May at MMAY@d211.org or call 847-755-1703.
Basketball
Ed Curtin plans ahead. Six months ahead.
Curtin has released information on his summer basketball officiating clinics at Schaumburg and Niles North high schools.
Conducted by Curtin, the two-man camps at Schaumburg to improve skills and mechanics will be held June 11-12, June 18-19 and June 25-26.
All games will be played in the evening with the first session at 5-7:15 p.m. and the second session at 7:15-9:45 p.m.
Officials work six games minimum at a sophomore boys skill level. They will receive written critiques.
The camps are open to men and women. They will be IHSA certified.
There will be a three-hour classroom on Tuesday, June 10 from 6-9 p.m.
Fee is $70 in advance and $80 at the door.
For more information or to reserve a date at Schaumburg, call Curtin at 847-991-3144 or fax 847-934-5861. Specify which camp you will be attending.
The Niles North Shootout is a three-person mechanics camp at the boys varsity level for July 10-12.
Conducted by Curtin, the clinicians will be Fred Allman, Jim Bernardi, John Katzler, Mark Leffler and Randy Steen.
The three-hour classroom on Thursday, July 10 will be held from 6-9 p.m.
Games are scheduled for Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12.
Officials will work a minimum of six games with afternoon and evening sessions.
The clinic satisfies the IHSA certification requirement.
Fee is $70 in advance and $80 at the door.
For information, contact Curtin at 847-991-3144 or fax to 847-934-5861.
• Senior guard Beth Lucas (Hersey) of No. 20 Lake Forest College scored 15 points, was 4-for-4 from 3-point range and had 3 steals in a win over Monmouth College.
In a victory at Grinnell, Lucas scored 14 points with 4 assists and 6 rebounds.
• Melissa Gorski (Buffalo Grove) of Monmouth College scored 22 points and had 4 assists, 3 blocks and 3 steals against Illinois College. She played all 40 minutes.
Football
Anthony Castonzo (Lake Zurich) of Boston College has picked up another major honor. The 6-foot-7, 262-pound freshman offensive lineman has been named to the Freshman All-America Team selected by the Football Writers Association of America and AON Insurance.
Swimming
Katie Mroz (Libertyville) of Emory University (Atlanta, Ga.) has qualified for the Division III NCAA National Championships in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke and part of the 400-yard freestyle relay. Each of her times placed her among the top 13 recorded throughout the country as recorded by the NCAA.
The national championships will be held at Miami of Ohio in March.
Emory is ranked No. 2 in the nation.
• Sara Hlavin (St. Viator) of Augustana College won the 1,000 freestyle (12:33.05) and 100 butterfly (1:11.33) against Monmouth. Also collecting a win was Katie Rowland (Libertyville) in the 200 individual medley (2:29.84).
Softball
Molly Meyer (Elk Grove) has been named one of the captains for 2008 at the University of Dayton.
Track and field
Suzy Turner (Palatine) of Illinois State University won the mile in 5:14.55 and was second in the 3,000-meter run (10:35.5) against Indiana State. Also from Palatine, Brianna Officer was second in the 400 (59.58) and Michelle Brunk took second in the 800 (2:16.81).
In other meets involving Palatine graduates, Carly Bates of Bowling Green was first in the 800 meters (2:21.19) in the six-team BGSU Challenge, Katlin Millin of Marquette was second in the 400 meters (59.90) in the Wisconsin Badger Track Classic and Ginny MacFabe of DePaul was third in the weight throw (55-05.75) at the Purdue Invitational.
Wrestling
Derrick Pousson (Round Lake) of Augustana College placed fifth at 133 pounds at the North Central Invitational.
Also from Round Lake, Josh Terrell of the University of Dubuque went 4-0 at the Knox College Duals.
Coaching clinics
The American Sport Education Program (ASEP) will hold coaching clinics in Arlington Heights on Feb. 2 (LaQuinta Inn) and in Willowbrook (Velocity Sports Performance) on Feb. 16.
ASEP is the IHSA required training for non-faculty coaches and for anyone interested in becoming certified to coach middle or high school athletics.
For registration or more information, contact Jeff Kyle at (217) 586-4799 or e-mail to thekyles@mchsi.com.