IHSA plans week devoted to showcasing school activities

Participation in activities is a valuable part of the overall high school experience.

Young people learn lifelong lessons as important as those taught in the classroom.

The cost can be a small percentage of the school budget, and the public often has a lack of interest unless it's a high-profile activity.

The case needs to be made for all the school activities.

That's why the Illinois High School Association has designated Oct. 14-20 as Activities Week. The IHSA wants to highlight the importance of participation in school interscholastic programs and recognize individuals for their efforts in helping students learn the requisite skills to become productive citizens.

"The scope and reach of interscholastic programs extend far beyond wins and losses," said Marty Hickman, IHSA Executive Director, "and this week affords schools the opportunity to say thanks to all those in their schools, communities and elsewhere who help contribute in their own way to development of students in Illinois."

The week will be set up this way with each school determining their own participation:

Sunday, Oct. 14 -- Be A Sport Day.

Monday, Oct. 15 -- Fine Arts Activities Day.

Tuesday, Oct. 16 -- Officials Day.

Wednesday, Oct. 17 -- Youth Health Awareness Day.

Thursday, Oct. 18 -- Coaches Day.

Friday, Oct. 19 -- Fan Appreciation Day.

Saturday, Oct. 20 -- Community Service Day.

Football

Tim Podulka (Elk Grove) of Augustana College was named offensive player of the week in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). In a victory over Wisconsin-Platteville, Podulka accounted for 257 yards. He returned 5 punts for 33 yards and 5 kickoffs for 126 yards. He caught 1 pass for 41 yards, rushed eight times for 48 yards and completed 2 passes for 9 yards.

• Chris Kudyba (Elk Grove) of Elmhurst College completed 22 of 32 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown against Olivet College. Jake Mobley (Schaumburg) had 7 tackles, tied a school record with 3 quarterback sacks and was named the CCIW defensive player of the week.

• Tom Nelson (Hersey) of Illinois State intercepted 2 more passes Saturday in the game with Missouri and has 6 for his career.

• Jeff Koeneman (Fremd) pulled in a 25-yard scoring pass in Carthage's 35-28 victory over Whittier.

Help wanted

Wheeling High School is looking for the phone number or e-mail address of graduate Kristin Stoudt. This is in relation to the second Wheeling Athletic Hall of Fame class. If anyone knows her, a relative or friend, please contact Steve May, assistant principal for student activities, at the high school at (847) 718-7018 or by e-mail at steve.may@d214.org.

Hockey

The Fremd High School JV and varsity hockey clubs have signed up as one team to participate in the 29th annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes on Sunday, Oct. 14, at Busse Woods near Schaumburg. Each player has a goal of raising $100, which may add up to over $3,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

For Walk details, call (312) 670-0313.

Soccer

Sophomore Liz Holby (Fremd) of Indiana University scored a goal in the 86th minute to give the Hoosiers a 2-1 win over Ball State. She added another goal Sunday in a 4-0 victory over Evansville.

• Danny Zwerling (Maine West, Oakton Community College) is playing for the Chicago Fire Reserves in Major League Soccer. The Reserves are part of the MLS Reserve Division, a league that strives to develop the stars of tomorrow in a professional and competitive atmosphere.

• Jordan Gyuricza (St. Viator) of No. 12 North Park was named player of the week in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. He scored a goal and notched 2 assists in a 3-1 win over Concordia (Wis.) and another goal in a 2-0 victory over Wartburg College.

• Jackie Peterson (Schaumburg) of Carthage scored her seventh goal of the season in a 3-0 win over the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. She had 2 assists in a 2-1 win over St. Ambrose and collected her eighth and ninth goals as Carthage upset No. 16 Chicago 3-2.

Cross country

Redshirt sophomore Jay Renaud (Prospect) finished seventh for the University of Iowa and 11th overall (26:23) in the 8K at the Hawkeye Invite in Iowa City.

• Freshman Mike Spain (Schaumburg) was the top runner for North Central College and 13th overall in the Intercollegiate Championships that included Division I schools. He ran the 8K in 25:13.

• Dan Leonard (Fremd) was the top finisher for Augustana College with a third (25:42) over 8,000 meters in the Brissman/Lundeen Invitational.

Volleyball

North Central senior and middle hitter/blocker Diana Range (Elk Grove) recorded 25 kills and 10 blocks to help her team win the Wheaton College Invitational. She ranks second in the conference in blocks and hitting percentage.

Golf

Meredith Robinson (Barrington) of Illinois College was named Midwest Conference performer of the week for the second time. She shot a 77 in the Illinois Wesleyan Classic and has shot three rounds of 81 this season.

• Mark Dolphin (Schaumburg) of Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa) fired a low round of 73 and took first in the Loras Fall Invite. The sophomore is coming off a freshman year in which he was named to the all-conference team for a top-10 finish in the Iowa Conference.

Softball camp

Plans are under way for the 2008 Shark Pitcher/Catcher Open House and Exposure Camp.

The open house is set for Sunday, Jan. 6, at Lockport High School, 1333 East 7th Street, Lockport. Check-in time will be no later than 10 a.m., with the exposure portion from 11-1:30 p.m.

High school softball pitchers and catchers are invited to the camp. College coaches will be in attendance and will receive academic and personal data on each player.

The camp is open to freshmen through juniors in classes 2009-11. You also must have a minimum GPA 2.5 (of 4.0).

Fifty-four pitchers and 54 catchers will be registered. Each will be assigned a number on a shirt, provided by the organizers, and they will be working out in groups of nine for three rotations each of seven-minute intervals.

Players will be radar timed at the site. The catchers' overhand throwing speed and glove speed and throws to second base will be recorded as well as the pitchers' underhand throwing speeds.

All the information will be forwarded to college coaches.

The cost is $150 per player, and proceeds will be used for the Derald Whiteford Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Stone City Building Fund.

For information, contact Don and Carol Hinck at Jan2008ExpCamp@yahoo.com.