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36 | May 2, 2019 | the orland Park Prairie sports <strong>OP</strong>Prairie.com AREA SPORTS ROUNDUP Eagles’ 3,200 streak could be in trouble JEFF VORVA, Sports Editor Long distance running is still alive and well at Sandburg High School, but the Eagles’ 3,200-meter relay streak at state could be in jeopardy. Boys track coach Joe Nemeth and distance coach John O’Malley have some decisions to make between now and mid- May, when the Illinois High School Association begins sectional action. The Eagles own one of the most impressive runs in the state in the 3,200 relay with seven straight Top 4 finishes, including state championships in 2015, 2016 and last year. The team set a state record at 7 minutes, 37.36 seconds in 2016. During the 18-team Pete Struck Eagle Classic at Sandburg on Friday, April 26, the 3,200 team finished sixth with an 8:51.13. Junior twins Ben and Will Giblin did not participate in that event, but the distance stars finished first and second in the individual 3,200 run, with times of 9:37.22 and 3:37.59, respectively. Seven of the Top 12 runners in that event were from Sandburg. Nico Calderon claimed third in the 1,600, while Sam Rodriguez was 10th. If the coaches decide to spread the talent out in the postseason to maximize point potential, the lofty expectations of the 3,200 relay event may suffer. If they stack the 3,200 relay, it could weaken some of the individual events. “We’ll see what happens,” O’Malley said. “We’ve had some injuries that hurt our depth. If this turns out to be the end [of the streak], it was a great run.” The Eagles could pick up some valuable postseason points in the field events, as senior Omar Hasan took first in the discus (136 feet, 4 inches) and shot put (49-06.25) on Friday. Two Orland Park runners from Marist had big meets at the Struck event as Brian Ferguson took second in the 400 (49.82), and Tommy Leonard was fifth in the 1,600 (4:26.70) Ex-Eagles at Penn Relays Notre Dame has not won a long-distance relay championship at the historic Penn Relays since 1943, but the Irish team was less than a second away from doing it on Friday, April 26. The team, which has Sandburg grad Dylan Jacobs running one of the legs, took third in the distance medley with a 9:47.94 and was nipped by champion Wisconsin (9:47.19) and Indiana (9:47.93). Taking fourth was Miami (Ohio) with a 9:48.82, as former Sandburg star Sean Torpy was on that squad. Burden, Ducks lose to Banana Slugs The University of California Santa Clara Banana Slugs knocked off the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks 25-20, 25-23, 25-21 in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Sandburg twins Ben (left) and Will Giblin finished first and second in the 3,200-meter run at the Pete Struck Eagle Classic on Friday, April 26, in Orland Park. JEFF VORVA/22ND CENTURY MEDIA men’s volleyball tournament on Friday, April 26, in New Jersey. Sandburg graduate Grant Burden had 37 assists and 15 digs in the match for the Ducks. Quick hits Hitter David Vales made the All-Tournament team, as the Sandburg boys volleyball team took eighth at the Lincoln-Way East Tournament, which ended Saturday, April 27. … The Sandburg girls soccer team beat Downers Grove South in the consolation round of the Naperville North Tournament on Thursday, April 25, as Maddie Manzke had two goals while Arienne Monteclar and Alyssa Palacios had one goal each. Sandburg senior Kaylynn Murray took third place in first singles at the SouthWest Suburban Conference Blue meet. FOOTBALL Rave on! Boykin taken by Baltimore in third round JEFF VORVA, Sports Editor Miles Boykin opted not to have an NFL watch party. Instead, it was more of a private party he and his family spent Friday night, April 26, at Buffalo Wild Wings in Orland Park watching the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft. It turned out to be somewhat of a surprise party. At 10:03 p.m., as the third round was winding down, the world found out that the Tinley Park native and Providence Catholic High School and Notre Dame wide receiver was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens with the 93rd overall pick. A few minutes before that, his phone buzzed. “A scout called me,” said Boykin, a mainstay on two Orland Park travel basketball teams growing up. “I was watching at the restaurant with my family. It was the coolest feeling I ever had in my life. My phone started ringing. Everyone at the table looked at me. It’s awesome. When you see that stuff on TV, you never imagine it’s you and having all your dreams coming true.’’ The surprise element came twofold. First, Baltimore was not No looking back: Tinley Park native Miles Boykin was taken in the third round of the NFL draft by Baltimore. JEFF VORVA/22ND CENTURY MEDIA one of the places he visited in recent weeks, making pro-day rounds. Second, the Ravens already used their first-round pick the day before on a hotshot receiver, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown from Oklahoma. Brown was the 25th overall pick in the draft and the first wide receiver. Baltimore seemingly filled that hole and did not appear to be in the market for another young wide receiver for quarterback Lamar Jackson to heave passes to. Yet, the Ravens traded three picks to move up to snag the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Boykin. “You never truly know who is going to pick you,” he said. “People tell you that you are going to go here or you are going to go there. But at the end of the day, it’s really a surprise for everybody. “To me [trading up] just shows they have all the faith in the world in me. I’m definitely going to show they made the right decision, and I’m extremely blessed to be in this situation.” Boykin, who helped Providence win the Class 7A championship in 2014, nabbed a team-high 59 passes for 872 yards and eight touchdowns for the Fighting Irish last season. If he gets into his first NFL game, he will be the third Providence player to hit that plateau. Linebacker Pete Bercich played for Minnesota from 1995-2000, and guard Eric Steinbach played with Cincinnati and Cleveland from 2003-2011.
<strong>OP</strong>Prairie.com SPORTS the orland park prairie | May 2, 2019 | 37 Stavropoulos finds a home at North Central Injured basketball star is one of 39 Sandburg senior athletes honored JEFF VORVA, Sports Editor When Sandburg’s Natalie Stavropoulos had her senior girls basketball season end early with a torn left ACL and meniscus in November, she vowed she would return and play college basketball. But would there be a team that would take a chance on her? There was. Stavropoulos was one of 39 Sandburg seniors who committed to colleges for athletics honored in a ceremony on April 24. She is heading to North Central College in Naperville to play for the Division III Cardinals, which finished 7-18 last season. “I have had such an awesome experience at Carl Sandburg High School and am excited for my new beginning at North Central,” she said. “After an intense but enjoyable recruitment process, it feels amazing to find a place to call home for the next four years. I am so grateful for the coaches that see my potential despite my injury and cannot wait to further my education and get Twins Kevin (left) and Marvin Agwomoh are heading to Benedictine College in Lisle. Both are to play men’s basketball, and Marvin also is to run track. back on the court.” She credited her physical therapist, Steve Keegan, and the staff at Athletico Physical Therapy for their work getting the knee back in shape. “I have just started running this past week and am on track to be cleared in July,” she said. “I owe them and every coach that has helped me along this journey the biggest thank you.” Eagles coach Nick Fotopoulos was crestfallen when his star guard suffered the injury and is glad there appears to be a happy ending. “I am proud of Natalie for the hard work, perseverance, and the way she handled adversity throughout the course of our season and after,” he said. “She is close to getting back on the court and is well deserving of playing collegiate basketball at North Central College. It speaks to her abilities and the type of person she is and will continue to be. It is a great fit for her, and I look forward to seeing her playing soon.” In boys basketball, twins Marvin and Kevin Agwomoh were crossing their fingers that they could continue their playing careers at the same college. They found that opportunity at Benedictine University. The men’s team finished 13- 12. Marvin also plans to run track at the Lisle Division III school. A look at where the other 36 honored athletes are going. Natalie Stavropoulos committed to North Central College in girls basketball, even though most of her senior season at Sandburg was wiped out because of a knee injury. PHOTOS BY JEFF VORVA/22ND CENTURY MEDIA Football: Mohammed Abuzir (North Central), Mark Fassler (Illinois Wesleyan), Zachary Fortier (North Central), Joshua Hearvin (North Central), Alex Hirschfield (Dayton), Ricky Maziarka (North Central), Nicholas Jandura (University of St. Francis), Ben Starcevich (Dennison) and Tyler Villa (Illinois Wesleyan). Baseball: Brian Adams (Wisconsin-Oshkosh), Ryan Leland (Ball State), Marc Moll (Benedictine), Scott Richards (Moraine Valley Community College), Ian Sanders (Kankakee Community College), Tommy Windt (Joliet Junior College) and Will Wirt (Truman State) Girls basketball: Destiny Antoine (Carthage). Boys swimming: Peter Bukiri (Colorado School of Mines) and Jacob Simonek (Carthage). Girls track and field: Ameerah Brown (North Park). Girls volleyball: Rachel DeFries (Truman State), Evi Makris (Illinois Wesleyan) and Erica Staunton (Northeastern). Boys volleyball: Cameron Petrusevski (Springfield). Softball: Brianna Dvorak (Wisconsin Lutheran), Ally Sporleder (North Central) and Irene Travis (Missouri-St. Louis). Girls golf: Hannah Kilbane (Butler). Boys soccer: Colin Kroll (Loras). Girls soccer: Maddie Manzke (Millikin), Marissa Nugent (Tiffin) and Abby Palumbo (Governors State). Girls tennis: Anna Loureiro (United States Military Academy). Girls lacrosse: Kourtney Lynch (Loras). Wrestling: Patrick Nolan (Michigan). Girls cross country: Cassandra Pichardo (Olivet Nazarene). THIS WEEK IN SANDBURG VARSITY ATHLETICS BASEBALL ■ ■May 2 – at Marist, 4:30 p.m. ■ ■May 6 – hosts Lockport, 4:30 p.m. ■ ■May 8 – at Lockport, 4:30 p.m. BOYS TENNIS ■ ■May 2 – hosts Andrew, 4:30 p.m. BOYS TRACK AND FIELD ■ ■May 3 – at Lockport-Bill Jackson Invite, 5 p.m. ■ ■May 9 – at SWSC Conference-Bolingbrook, 5 p.m. BOYS VOLLEYBALL ■ ■May 7 – hosts Homewood- Flossmoor, 6 p.m. ■ ■May 8 – hosts Lincoln- Way West, 6 p.m. BOYS WATER POLO ■ ■May 2 – at Lincoln-Way East, 5 p.m. BOYS LACROSSE ■ ■May 8 – hosts Minooka at Andrew, 6:15 p.m. GIRLS BADMINTON ■ ■May 2 - IHSA Sectionals, TBA GIRLS SOCCER ■ ■May 4 – at Homewood- Flossmoor, 12 p.m. ■ ■May 7 – hosts Lincoln- Way West, 6:15 p.m. SOFTBALL ■ ■May 6 – hosts Bolingbrook, 4:30 p.m. ■ ■May 8 – at Lincoln-Way East, 4:30 p.m. GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD ■ ■May 2 – at SWSC Division Meet, 4:30 p.m. ■ ■May 3 – at SWSC Conference, 4:30 p.m. GIRLS WATER POLO ■ ■May 2 – hosts Lincoln- Way East, 5 p.m. GIRLS LACROSSE ■ ■May 2 – hosts Fremd, 7 p.m. ■ ■May 8 – at Lockport, 6 p.m.
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