Boys Track
Two of the Northwest Herald All-Area first team cross country runners will be running on scholarships next year.
HUNTLEY – Huntley senior Marcus Popenfoose, one of the top throwers in area track and field history, is headed to Auburn University.
Cary-Grove senior Phil Fairleigh has had Duke in his blood all his life.
Most sports fans have been watching a game and thought, “Well, geez, I could make that play.”
Evan Jager enjoyed a rare opportunity to visit his family and friends in the Algonquin area last week.
When the Big 12 Conference and Collegiate Baseball magazine took notice of outfielder Nick Martini’s impressive freshman season at Kansas State, the Prairie Ridge graduate was not too surprised.
Huntley junior Marcus Popenfoose already had a pretty good day going May 22 at the IHSA Class 3A Hononegah Sectional Track and Field Meet with decisive titles in the shot put and discus.
Northwest Herald
Like all successful coaches, Dave D’Angelo knows how to borrow ideas.
Former Jacobs runner Evan Jager took seventh place in the Bowerman Mile on Sunday at the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix in Eugene, Ore.
CHARLESTON – Huntley junior Marcus Popenfoose, with two state runner-up medals draped around his neck, saw two fellow Fox Valley Conference competitors on the infield Saturday at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium.
CHARLESTON – Everything was riding on Kyle Wismer’s third attempt in the Class 2A long jump.
CHARLESTON – Huntley junior Marcus Popenfoose unleashed his career-best discus throw of 199 feet, 8 inches and flashed a satisfied smile knowing, at least temporarily, he owned the state meet record.
CHARLESTON – Runners tend to develop close relationships that practically transcend competition.
Harvard’s Cody Kramer left nothing to chance Thursday at the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Meet.
Athletes of the week
ELGIN – An emotionally draining week for Alden-Hebron baseball coach Ken Winkelman and the Giants ended in uplifting fashion Saturday in the IHSA Class 1A Westminster Christian Regional.
GRAYSLAKE – The Crystal Lake Central boys track and field team finished second at the IHSA Class 2A Grayslake Central Sectional on Friday, and Belvidere North handily captured first place.
ROCKTON – This year, Huntley’s boys track team got to take a victory lap.
CHARLESTON – Huntley junior Amy Fanella shed a few tears late Friday afternoon, the most disappointing day in what had been a terrific track and field season.
If Huntley boys track coach Jim Rolando ever needs to find his core group of sprinters, he knows right where to look – in the weight room.
Athletes of the week
CRYSTAL LAKE – McHenry alleviated any drama about which team was going to win the Fox Valley Conference Track and Field Meet championship.
STILLMAN VALLEY – Richmond-Burton boys track coach Paul Zelle has an appropriate tag for junior Ian Sanchez.
Out of respect for a remarkable string of six consecutive Fox Valley Conference titles, McHenry boys track and field coach Dave D’Angelo said he considered Jacobs again to be the team to beat.
McHENRY – The key moment of a comeback win is not necessarily when the game-winning hit occurs.
Northwest Herald Boys Track and Field Honor Roll
Boys Athlete
WHEATON – The Marian Central baseball team kept its Suburban Catholic Conference title hopes alive with a 5-1 victory Tuesday against St. Francis.
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD HONOR ROLL
CARY– Cary-Grove senior Matt Nelsen continued his undefeated season with a four-hit shutout for in the Trojans’ 4-0 win against Crystal Lake South in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division play.
HUNTLEY – Zach Liebman continued his undefeated season for Huntley on Saturday with a complete-game victory against Burlington Central.
CRYSTAL LAKE – At the beginning of the season, Marshall Happ’s goal was to set the Woodstock school record in the 1,600-meter run. Now he’s got to decide whether he wants to run the 800 at the state meet.
Athlete of the week
HARVARD – Miguel Flores swept the shot put (40 feet, 91⁄2 inches) and discus (142-0) events for Harvard’s track team as it won its own quadrangular meet Tuesday with 104 points.
CRYSTAL LAKE – James Vazquez and Gavin Meyer were catalysts for the Crystal Lake South baseball team Monday in the Gators’ 12-8 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division victory against McHenry.
Finding words to properly describe Marcus Popenfoose’s discus throws is difficult.
CARY – In the matter of a few moments, McHenry’s lead in the McHenry County Boys Track and Field Meet had gone from comfortable to tenuous.
Boys Athlete
CRYSTAL LAKE – The Fox Valley Conference Fox Division softball opener between Prairie Ridge and Johnsburg shaped up as a pitchers’ duel Thursday, and two of the area’s top pitchers did not disappoint.
LOMBARD – Marian
CRYSTAL LAKE – People around the world celebrated Earth Day on Wednesday.
WINNEBAGO – Mattie McGuire pitched a no-hitter for the Marengo softball team Monday, and the Indians beat Winnebago, 6-0, in a Big Northern Conference crossover.
WOODSTOCK – Marian Central’s baseball team outscored Aurora Central Catholic by 14 runs collectively in a Suburban Catholic Conference doubleheader sweep Saturday.
Boys Athlete
Melinda Esplin formed a tight bond with Sandra Nirva through their years of playing soccer together.
CARY – To grasp the magnitude of Huntley junior Marcus Popenfoose’s winning discus throw, consider this: Cary-Grove’s Ryan Psenka almost threw an IHSA Class 3A state-qualifying standard and finished second by 40 feet.
JOHNSBURG – Jerad Grundy continued his strong spring for Johnsburg on Saturday. The senior pitcher struck out 13 and allowed one hit in seven innings for the Skyhawks in a 6-0 non-conference win against Harvard.
CARY – Cary-Grove junior shortstop Chris Waylock homered and drove in three runs as the Trojans rolled past Buffalo Grove, 17-1, in their non-conference baseball game Wednesday.
HOFFMAN ESTATES – Cary-Grove pitcher Corey Bruns threw six shutout innings as the Trojans beat Conant, 10-0, in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday.
