Pohl needs help in Olympic bid; DeFrancesca honored

The pursuit of the Olympic dream continues, but it needs your help.

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 hopes to continue her Olympic dream after 13 years of dedication to the sport.

Corporate as well as individual sponsors of any size would be welcome.

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

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 head 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 winner will be named at the NCAA Division I Frozen Four on Friday, April 11 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

Basketball

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.

• 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 game-high 7 rebounds.

• Gabrielle Cottrell (Prospect) of Manhattan College scored a team-high 16 points against Loyola of Maryland. She's hitting .425 from 3-point territory (54-127) and .929 at the foul line (52-56).

• Beth Lucas (Hersey) of Lake Forest led all players with 5 assists and 5 steals and also contributed 9 points against Knox College.

• Madelyn McGuinnis (Hersey) of Hamilton College (Clinton, N.Y.) had a career-high 15 rebounds to go with 8 points and 4 assists in an overtime victory over St. Lawrence. She followed up the next day against Clarkson College with a career-high 8 blocked shots along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

• 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.

• Sean Dwyer (Hersey) scored 10 points to help Illinois Wesleyan knock off Elmhurst College. He's had six starts since returning from an injury.

Track and field

In the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational, freshman Arthur Baptist (Prospect) of the University of Chicago won the 5,000-meter run (15:35.36), and Dan Leonard (Fremd) of Augustana College won at 3,000 meters (8:48.39).

• Senior Suzy Turner and freshman Michelle Brunk, both Palatine grads, set personal bests in the mile at the Meyo Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind., crossing the line in 4:58.39 and 5:02.62.

• Carthage College's Stephanie Moy (Maine West) won the pole vault (10-6) at the Metzger Invitational.

Swimming

Chris Trella (Maine West) of Carthage was named swimmer of the week in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. He anchored winning relays in the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 800 freestyle at the Wisconsin Private College Championships. Bob Pellican (Hersey) of Carthage won the 200 backstroke (2:02.94).

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

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 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.

Baseball

Mark Kelly (Hoffman Estates) of Southern Illinois has been named catcher on the preseason all-Missouri Valley Conference team.

Softball

Kat Krause (Hersey) of Loyola University Chicago hit 2 home runs against host Nevada Las Vegas in the Sportco Spring Kick-Off Classic. She has the school-record 28 career home runs and is only 10 RBI short of that school mark of 89.

Weightlifting

Natalie Friend, a freshman at Northwestern University who trains at the Windy City Weightlifting Club in Buffalo Grove, won the USA Weightlifting National Junior Championships in the 69 kg class. She will compete next at the National Collegiate Weightlifting Championships in Reno, Nev., and then hopes to represent the United States in the World University Championships in Greece.

Friend also has qualified to represent the United States this summer in the Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Cali Columbia.