42 | February 22, 2018 | The orland park prairie Sports opprairie.com Sports Briefs Orland Parker scores for Northern Illinois men’s basketball game against Toledo Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team erased a 12-point halftime deficit before recetly falling late at Toledo 82-77 at Savage Arena. Anastasios Demogerontas, of Orland Park, made a layup in the effort. Attack Volleyball Club announces tryout schedule The Attack Volleyball Club recently announced the girls club volleyball tryout schedule for the upcoming Attack Volleyball Club 2018 spring season. Tryouts are to be held Sunday, Feb. 25, at Franklin Loebe Center in Orland Park. Tryout times are: 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. for 11U-14U - 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information and to register for the upcoming tryouts, visit www.attack volleyballclub.net. Compiled by Editor Bill Jones, bill@opprairie.com. Athlete of the Week 10 Questions with Natalie Stavropoulos Natalie Stavropoulos is a junior at Sandburg and was one of the top players on the Eagles girls basketball team this season. This Week In … Eagles Varsity Athletics Wrestling ■Feb. ■ 24 - IHSA State Quarterfinals (Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington), 11 a.m.* (*if necessary) ■Feb. ■ 24 - IHSA State Semifinals (Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington), 2 p.m.* ■Feb. ■ 24 HSA State Finals (Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington), 6 p.m.* Boys Swimming ■Feb. ■ 23-24 - at IHSA State Finals (Evanston JOIN POSA PALOS ORLAND SWIM ASSOCIATION REGISTRATION IS NOW <strong>OP</strong>EN for the Palos Orland Swim Team. TRYOUTS March 12-15th SPRING SEASON starts April 9th Township) Boys Basketball ■Feb. ■ 27 - at Reavis Regional Semifinal, 7:30 p.m. Boys Track and Field ■Feb. ■ 24 - at Joliet West Invite, 9 a.m. Girls Track and Field ■Feb. ■ 24 - at Homewood-Flossmoor Invite, 9 a.m. POSA is a year-round competitive swim team for ages 5-18. Practices are held at Carl Sandburg High School. Registration, practice schedule, fees and questions: www.posaeagles.org or email posainfo@posaeagles.org The basketball season just finished. How would you say the season went? It would have been nice to win more games, record-wise, but otherwise I enjoyed the season. I just liked getting close to my teammates and making a lot of friendships. What do you and your teammates have to do to make next season a better? I think everyone has to work individually on themselves. I think if we can do better offensively, that will lead to more wins. How did you get involved playing basketball? It’s always been around with my family. My older sister Victoria Stavropoulos played at Sandburg [graduating in 2016] and currently plays at Georgia Southern. We always had a competition to see who’s better. Plus, my uncle Konstantine Stavropoulos played overseas. Do you play any other sports? No. I used to track and field, but not in high school, only in junior high. Now, I play basketball year-round. What is it about basketball that makes it the sport for you? The competition and the physicality of it. I’m a more physical player, so I like that contact aspect of it. What was your favorite game this season? It was definitely the game that Morgan [McAuliffe] came back from the ACL tear. We were really hyped up and glad to have her back. What do you do to get yourself ready Julie McMann/22nd Century Media before a game? I like to listen to music. My favorite is “Go Flex” by Post Malone. Then, I also take a few minutes before each game to really think a lot to myself and what I have to do. What have you learned from Sandburg girls basketball coach Nick Fotopoulos? He’s made a huge impact on me. He’s taught me to become a controlled player and to use my ability to better my game. Do you plan to play basketball in college? I really hope so. I’m undecided on where I’d like to go, but I’d probably like to stay close to home. What’s the best thing about being an athlete at Sandburg? It’s definitely our coaches. One of coach Fotopoulos’ sayings is, “It’s a great day to be an Eagle.” Also, knowing our school is capable of winning a state championship impacts us. Interview By Freelance Reporter Randy Whalen
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