December 12, 2006
By Bob Frisk
Assistant Managing Editor/Sports
DailyHerald.com
Posted Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Gaining admission to college can be a daunting experience for any high school student.
The task is even more complicated for athletes.
Only 5 percent of boys and girls who participate in interscholastic sports will go on to compete in college at some level - Division I, II, III, NAIA or junior college.
Of that figure, only eight-10ths of 1 percent will receive fully funded scholarships.
Success requires a solid plan, and young athletes and their parents have an enormous advantage over their competition if they are familiar with the recruiting process.
Bob Chmiel, who is the recruiting analyst and educational speaker for the National Collegiate Scouting Association, wants to help.
Chmiel will give educational recruiting talks to student-athletes, families and high school coaches, starting on Dec. 22 at 9 a.m. at the Bartlett Community Center, 700 S. Bartlett Road.
There also are speeches planned for Aurora Christian High School (2255 Sullivan Road) at 9 a.m. on Dec. 23 and at the Libertyville Sports Complex (1950 Tempel Drive) at 9 a.m. on Dec. 29.
Chmiel, who has experience in the football operations at both Notre Dame and Michigan, will talk about the importance of setting athletic and academic goals, seeking opportunities at all college levels and some tips on finding the best college based on student athletes' academic and athletic abilities.
For more information, contact Kimberly Eberl at keberl@ncsasports.org or at (773) 771-6807.
Football
Junior offensive guard Derek Blanchard (Lake Zurich) of Mount Union College (Alliance, Ohio) was named to the Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference team and also to the D3football.com 2006 All-North Region first team.
Blanchard and his Mount Union teammates will play the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday for the Division III National Championship. The game will be carried on ESPN at 3 p.m.
- Offensive lineman James Randall (Vernon Hills) will play for Western Michigan University in the International Bowl on Jan. 6 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. This is the first bowl game to be played outside the United States since 1937. Western Michigan finished the regular season with an 8-4 overall record and 6-2 mark in the Mid-American Conference.
Basketball
Senior Kelly True (Libertyville) of the University of Illinois at Chicago hit the winning basket with three seconds left in overtime in an 81-80 victory over Eastern Illinois. She intercepted the inbounds pass to preserve the win.
- Kayla Ming (Grayslake) is leading the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in shooting from behind the arc through seven games (53 percent), and she had 18 points (four 3-pointers) in a win over St. Xavier University. She is averaging 10 points per game.
- Ashley Aarf (Grant) of Converse College (Spartanburg, S.C.) had 5 steals in a victory over Limestone College of Gaffney, S.C.
- Melissa Gorski (Buffalo Grove) had a big week for Monmouth (Ill.) College. She scored 17 points against Grinnell, 20 against Augustana and 19 against DePauw.
Basketball reunion
All former Buffalo Grove High School boys basketball players are invited to the Buffalo Grove/Rolling Meadows varsity game on Thursday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
The Bison alumni will be recognized by coach Ryan O'Connor. RSVP to O'Connor at (847) 718-4133.
Postgame "analysis" will be held at The Village Tavern, Buffalo Grove Golf Course, with the first beverage courtesy of proprietor Dan Sronkoski.
Soccer
Junior forward Lissa Coby (Grant) of Saint Xavier University was named to the 2006 National Soccer Coaches Association of American NAIA All-Region VII first team and player of the year. She finished the season with team highs of 18 goals, 18 assists and 54 points.
This is the third time Coby has earned first team all-region honors, but the first time she was named player of the year.
- Sydney Bobo (Warren) was a key defender for 19-6-1 Indiana Wesleyan (Marion, Ind.) that won the Mid-Central Conference regular-season and tourney championships.
- Juniors Petar Tomicic (Buffalo Grove) and Kurt Albrecht (Buffalo Grove) of Augustana College were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas Division III All-North Central Region team. Tomicic was a second-team selection and Albrecht made the third team.
Volleyball clinic
Buffalo Grove High School's boys and girls volleyball clinic for grades 6-8 will be held from noon-3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, and Wednesday, Dec. 27.
The cost is $5 for one day and $10 for both. Register at the door.
For information, call Marianne Mendoza at (847) 718-4198 or e-mail m.mendoza@d214.org.
Swimming
Taylor Pechauer (Antioch) of Carroll College was named performer of the week in the Midwest Conference for the second time. At the Augustana Invitational, he finished first in three individual events - 200 IM (2:07.11), 100 breaststroke (1:00.99) and 200 breaststroke (2:18.85).
Water polo
Stevenson High School graduates Jeff Lessman and Damon Smith, who were on the Patriots' 2004 state runner-up team, earned all-conference recognition for Kansas. Lessman was named to the second team and Smith made first team.
Water polo is a club sport and co-ed, and Kansas is in the Great Plaines Division.
Lessman is president and captain of the team, and Smith is one of the coaches.
Charity event
Bearly Active Promotions, founded by Dennis McKinnon of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears, will hold a fund-raiser in Palatine on Dec. 19 for the Irv Kupcinet Purple Heart Foundation, supporting America's war veterans.
The event will be held at the Brockway Chophouse in Palatine.
You will be able to meet McKinnon, donate a toy for a child of a veteran, get autographs and buy $50 raffle tickets for many prizes that include a 20x14 framed and matted autographed Brian Urlacher photo, athletic club memberships, case of steaks, wine, dinners, etc.
The grand prize is a 2006 Pontiac G6 Coupe, courtesy of Grossinger Autoplex.
The event is free to the public, but only those who purchase raffle tickets are eligible to win a prize. Raffle tickets are going fast.
For more information and to order tickets, e-mail McKinnon at sirsilky85@hotmail.com.
