THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008
Prospect Track Confident Going Into Sectional
Boys track and field teams will try to make a season's worth of work pay off this afternoon (Friday) as local squads compete in sectional action across the area.
Among those teams expected to have a solid representation at state next weekend is Prospect. The Knights have been strong all year and finished a solid second place in the MSL in last week's conference meet.
Coach Mike Kamadula doesn't expect any huge surprises this weekend, positive or negative, but he does believe the team should have a lot of athletes moving on to state.
The Knights will compete in the Palatine sectional along with other local Journal-area schools Hersey, St. Viator, Buffalo Grove, Maine West, Elk Grove, Conant, Palatine, Fremd, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling.
Palatine was the one team to beat Prospect in the MSL and should have a large showing as well.
But the Knights have been led by some standout athletes all year and that shouldn't change this weekend.
Among those expected to have a great shot at advancing to state are Pat Ziegenfuss in both hurdle races, Matt Kennedy in the shot put and discuss, Pat Mack in the long jump, Matt Babicz in the discuss, Chris Hayek in the distance races as well as the 3200m relay team.
Kamadula said seniors like Ziegenfuss and Kennedy will even be eyeing state medals while some of the younger guys should get great experience for the coming years.
"It's huge to be able to go junior year," Kamadula said. "It motivates them for their senior season."
Over at Maine West, coach Andy Trotter said the team has lacked those few outstanding athletes to help lead the Warriors.
He said the sectional is especially tough and said the best chances for a state qualifier could come from Juan Chavez in the 400m or relay teams ib the 4 x 400 or 4 x 800.
"The kids have worked hard and made a lot of progress this season but it's been a struggle," Trotter said of this year's team.
The rest of the Journal-area will be found at the Deerfield sectional, which includes Glenbrook South, Notre Dame, Maine East, Maine South and Niles West among others. Both meets will begin at 4:30 p.m. with prelims.
But it will the Lions seniors who live to play another day and they plan on making it even farther than Saturday.
"I think they (Fremd) are going to have their hands full," Donnelly said.
In other regional action Wednesday:
At the Lake Zurich regional, No. 3 Hersey moved on to the title game with a 3-0 win over No. 14 Wauconda.
Jackie Drees put the first goal in off a Sarah Stoltzner cross; Kristen Gierman added a free kick goal and Eileen Zydek scored off a Chelsea Santora corner to give the Huskies their win.
They will now play today (Friday) at 5 p.m. vs. No. 10 Lake Zurich.
At Elk Grove, the host Grens used two goals from Rachael Sloan to top Streamwood, 5-2.
Elk Grove will take on No. 1 seed Maine South, who rolled past Maine East 9-0 Wednesday. That title game kicks off at 3 p.m. today.
Maine West's season came to an end as the Warriors fell 4-0 to Hoffman Estates in the Lake Park regional semifinal.
Finally, at Jacobs, Rolling Meadows knocked off Burlington Central 2-0 and will take on No. 3 Huntley for the regional championship at 7 p.m. Saturday. Taylor Fritz and Alex Partipilo had the Mustang goals.