Coleman sprints to another record; Solverson honored

They're not on stage very long, but sprinters supply some of the most crowd-pleasing moments in any track and field meet.

Fans want to know who's the fastest kid on the block -- or out of the blocks in this case.

For a few seconds every meet, Keli Coleman (Carmel) has become a featured performer on the college scene.

Coleman of Augustana College set a field house record in the 55-meter dash (7.22) against Wartburg and then established a school record (7.14) at the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational.

Coleman, who lives in Grayslake, also qualified for the NCAA Division III national meet with her 7.14. The meet will be held March 14-15 at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio.

In the 55, she ran 7.21 in the preliminary round, the second fastest time heading into the final. Then she hit the 7.14 that broke her won school record of 7.15.

For good measure, Coleman finished third in the 200 with a 26.28.

• Junior Breck Fresen (Stevenson) of Carnegie Mellon University won the 3,000 meters (8:37.36) in the Bucknell Winter Classic.

Basketball

Johanna Solverson (Lake Zurich) of Iowa was named co-player of the week in the Big Ten after helping the Hawkeyes gain sole possession of first place. She netted her 1,000th career point with 18 against Michigan State, adding a season-high 8 assists, and then scored 16 points against Penn State with a game-high 7 rebounds.

• Jonny Reibel (Hoffman Estates) of Rollins College (Winter Park, Fla.) is one of 15 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award that honors the nation's top point guard. The voting is going on now at www.cousyaward.com.

The final group includes 11 guards in Division I, 2 in Division II (including Reibel) and 2 in Division III.

In action against Saint Leo, Reibel had 19 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.

• Melissa Gorski (Buffalo Grove) of Monmouth College had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists against Lawrence and 14 points and 5 rebounds against Carroll.

Avon Township

Avon Township Youth Baseball and Softball is currently having open registration for the 2008 season.

The ages for boys are 6-15 and for girls 6-18.

The first walk-in registration was held last Saturday at the Round Lake Sports Center on Hook Road. The second walk-in at Round Lake is set for Saturday, March 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Registration dates at the Round Lake Area Park District on Hart Road are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You also can sign up at www.atyb.org.

To guarantee a spot on a team, you should register by March 1.

Swimming

Taylor Pechauer (Antioch) of Carroll College was named men's swimmer of the week in the Midwest Conference. He won two individual events and placed third in another in the Wisconsin Private College Championships. His victories came in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.58) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:17.45).

• Sara Hlavin (St. Viator) of Augustana College won the 400 individual medley (5:12.19) in a meet with Principia and Millikin.

Hockey

Jeff DeFrancesca (Prospect) of the University of Wisconsin-Stout is one of eight finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented by BNY Mellon Wealth Management.

The award is presented to college hockey's finest citizen, male or female, who competes with both intensity and civility, respecting the rules of the game on and off the ice, and gives back to the community to enrich both their own lives and those to whom they reach out.

"He has been involved in 20-plus activities here in town, on campus or in his community," said DeFrancesca's coach Terry Watkins. "Raising money for cancer, raising money for kids without parents, helping causes dealing with violence against women, kids with learning disabilities -- it's just one thing after another he is involved in.

"It's unbelievable what this kid does."

Each finalist will be interviewed by a selection committee, and the 13th annual recipient of the award will be named at the NCAA Division I Frozen Four on Friday, April 11 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

Soccer clinic

The Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) will host a clinic on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-16 at Glenbrook South High School that will feature Jeff Tipping, NSCAA Director of Coaching Education and Development.

The clinic is open to any youth, club or high school soccer coach.

Friday's classroom and field sessions will run from 7-9 p.m., followed by a social at Boggie's Restaurant in Mt. Prospect.

Saturday's field sessions will run from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by an IHSA soccer rules interpretation meeting.

For more information/registration, go to IHSSCA.com or contact IHSSCA president Norm Hillner at (847) 217-0080.

Football

Freshman offensive tackle and starter Anthony Castonzo (Lake Zurich) of Boston College was named to the all-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Team.

Football clinic

Stanford University head football coach Jim Harbaugh and new Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill will headline the Chicago Catholic League Coaches Association's annual Midwest Football Clinic on Saturday, Feb. 23.

The clinic will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fenwick High School, 505 W. Washington Boulevard, Oak Park.

The scheduled lineup also includes Mike Hankwitz of Northwestern on Northwestern defensive philosophy (9-9:55 a.m.), Eric Wolford of Illinois on offensive line drills (10-10:55 a.m.), Harbaugh on quarterback play and identifying player positions (11-11:55 a.m.), Kill on introduction to the new NIU offense (12:45-1:40 p.m.) and Dave Profitt of Lake Zurich High School on 3-5-3 defense (1:45-2:45 p.m.).

Continental breakfast and lunch are included.

Pre-registration fee is $35 for one coach, $65 for two coaches and $30 per coach for three or more from the same staff.

Registration at the door is $40 with no staff rates.

For information, call Joe DiCanio at (708) 386-0127 ext. 156 or e-mail jdicanio@fenwickfriars.com.

Badminton

Shannon Pohl (Prospect) is the No. 2 badminton singles player in America.

Only one player from each country goes to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Pohl is currently living and training full time in Denmark at the International Badminton Academy. She received a grant from the William E. Simon Olympic Endowment for the Support of Athletes in financial need.

The final push for the 2008 Olympics is on, and the costly qualification process involves competing in over 30 international tournaments.

Although her sponsorship money has been depleted, Pohl is intent on continuing her Olympic dream.

Corporate as well as individual sponsors would be welcome.

Checks of any size can be made out to Shannon Pohl and sent along with any corporate sponsor ideas to 417 S. Banbury Road, Arlington Heights, IL. 60005. She also can be sponsored through her Web site at www.shannonpohl.com.