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38 | March 26, 2020 | the new lenox patriot sports newlenoxpatriotdaily.com Athletes, coaches wait and hope for a spring season 6 STEVE MILLAR, Sports Editor Ben Gerl has been looking forward to his senior season for a long time. Now, the Lincoln-Way West pitcher is unsure if it will ever happen. “It’s tough, especially as a one-sport athlete,” he said. “Ever since the summer season ended, I’ve been working my butt off for the last seven months just to have one more shot as a senior to prove that Lincoln-Way West can open some eyes. The feeling that we might not get that opportunity, it’s really tough.” With spring sports suspended as schools have been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gerl and all other athletes across the area and in wait-and-see mode, hoping they will get a chance to play in April or May. “Nobody knows what the future holds, but hopefully we do get to play a little bit of our season,” Gerl said. “We’re trying to stay fundamentally sound, so when the time comes, we’ll be ready to go.” Gerl said he and some of his teammates have been getting together in small groups of five or less to get some practice in. “We’ll message on a group chat, see who can make it, then have a few guys getting together, hitting some ground balls, doing infield practice, all that kind of stuff.” Not being able to keep his regular throwing routine is a challenge for Gerl. “I’m trying to keep my arm strong,” he said. “It’s not consistent because it’s hard to get someone to catch for me, but I’ll just do the best I can.” Lincoln-Way Central softball coach Jeff Tarala said it is tough for coaches to be apart from their players for so long. “We took team pictures on Saturday [March 14], and it was kind of sad,” Tarala said. “A lot of the girls were like, ‘Hopefully we’ll see you in a month.’ You get so connected with them all. We spend an incredible amount of time with each other. We’re sad to have to separate like that.” Players and coaches say they are trying to remain hopeful that there will be competition at some point. “I feel awful for the seniors,” Tarala said. “I really hope there is at least something, whether it’s a shortened season or just a playoffs or tournament format.” Lincoln-Way West athletic director Ted Robbins said all the Lincoln-Way district athletic directors are in a “holding pattern.” They have not yet canceled games beyond the start of April, except in cases where the scheduled opponent has mandated a longer shutdown. “We’ll adapt and move when we get further information,” he said. “That’s where we’re at, I think like everybody. “Everybody’s been great about it, though. They all understand this is a bigger situation than high school athletics. It’s a worldwide issue. The athletes, especially the seniors, are disappointed, of course, but they have been fantastic in dealing with this.” Gerl said he is hoping for the best, but prepared mentally to deal with whatever happens next. “We’re just hoping this all over blows over in a few weeks, but we know that may not be the case,” he said. “We want everyone to be safe. We’re just going with the flow.” Softball New leaders want chance to guide Knights 6 STEVE MILLAR, Sports Editor If and when the high school softball season begins, so will a new era for Lincoln-Way Central softball. Amanda Weyh and Ashley Platek, the two-way stars who led the Knights with their pitching and their bats throughout terrific high school careers, have graduated. But Central returns many key pieces from last season’s 32-3 team, and all the pieces seem to be in place for another successful season. “They were a really big part of our team,” senior first baseman/shortstop Torince Muczynski said of last year’s seniors. “It’s definitely weird without them. But it’s definitely time for other people to step up. “A lot of us have high expectations. We’ll just try to prove ourselves.” The Knights’ lineup is filled with Division I recruits, led by a core group of seniors that includes Muczynski (Western Illinois), shortstop/catcher Sydney Grein (Ohio), infielder Jenna Deang (Cleveland State) and outfielder Gianna Niemeier (North Florida). Junior third baseman Carly Alvers (DePaul) and junior outfielder Sydra Seville (Creighton) are both high-level recruits. “Obviously we had some big losses from last year’s team, but we think we have girls ready to fill those roles,” Central coach Jeff Tarala said. “We have eight or nine girls who got a lot of playing time last year.” Alvers, a force in the Knights’ lineup from Day 1 of her high school career, hit .475 last season with seven home runs and 42 RBI. “I was always like the youngest on the team, but now being a junior I feel like I have more responsibility to step up and be a leader,” she said. “I’m pretty confident going into this year. After last year, I just hope we are able to go farther.” Muczynski hit .366 last season and drove in 30 runs. This year, she won’t be lurking in the shadows of any older players. “I think I’m definitely more of a leader this year,” she said. “I wasn’t as vocal before. But I know it’s time to step up and lead the way.” Grein, who hit .333 with four home runs last season, said the Knights have Top returning players for Lincoln-Way Central’s softball team include (left to right) Jenna Deang, Sydney Grein, Lyndsey Grein, Torince Muczynski and Carly Alvers. STEVE MILLAR/22ND CENTURY MEDIA a nice mix of players with different strengths and a strong blend of power, contact and speed. “Everyone steps up in their positions and in their own way, because everyone has something different to offer,” she said. “It’s really awesome to see. “I have a lot of confidence in our team. I’m just really excited for how the season is going to go. We lost some great players, but we still have a lot of good players.” Central relied heavily on Weyh in the circle late last season, but for a good portion of the year, the Knights had a fourpronged pitching attack that was virtually unhittable. Olivia Flinn and Lyndsey Grein – Sydney’s sister - were a part of that pitching staff, and they will now be looked at to lead the way in the circle. Flinn, a senior Olivet Nazarene recruit, went 5-1 with a 1.28 ERA last season. Lyndsey Grein, a sophomore, was 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA as a freshman. Senior Allison Twohig will also factor in. “Getting that experience, it definitely set the tone and the expectations that coach Tarala and the team has for us,” Lyndsey Grein said. “It’s better now coming into this year knowing what I need to do on the mound. “Last year, Amanda Weyh and Ashley Platek were both amazing pitchers. It was great seeing how they worked with the team and worked on the mound. It was really cool to witness their success, and I learned a lot from them.”
newlenoxpatriotdaily.com sports the new lenox patriot | March 26, 2020 | 39 fastbreak 22ND CENTURY MEDIA FILE PHOTO 1st and 3 THREE FEATS FROM THE GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD SEASON 1. Rachel Baumgartner The LW Central senior broke the school record in the 800 meters (2 minutes, 31.84 seconds). 2. Emerson Colins The LW West sophomore broke the school record in the 55 hurdles, winning the LW Central Indoor Classic in 9.2 seconds on March 7. 3. Sam Spencer The Providence senior and defending state pole vault champion broke the state record in the event, vaulting 13 feet, 5.5 inches March 5 at the Steelmen Shuffle. Spencer eager to compete after record-breaking indoor season RANDY WHALEN Freelance Reporter With the coronavirus postponing or pushing back numerous things, the Providence girls track and field team is hoping the outdoor season gets started. Especially senior Sam Spencer. Spencer, last season’s Class 2A pole vault state champion, already did something this indoor season that had never been done before in Illinois. She broke the girls pole vault state record for any class. That came March 5 at the Joliet Central Steelmen Shuffle, where Spencer had a vault of 13 feet, 5.5 inches. That broke the previous record, which was 13-5 by Emily Grove from Pontiac in 2011. Locally, Lincoln- Way East standout Julia Junkroski had a vault of 13-2 in 2015, which is now fourth on the list. “It was the best feeling,” Spencer said of breaking the record. “Just when you get over the bar and you know you’ve cleared it on the way down, it is great.” Her previous indoor record was 12-9. “I won the state last year with a height of 12- 6,” Spencer said. “But my previous high was 13-1 in the outdoor season. [At the Steelmen Shuffle], after I did 13-5.5, I tried it at 13-7 and came really close. But I was tired after that, so I said, ‘That’s enough.’” Providence coach Tom Lenahan knows he’s blessed to have someone like Spencer, who is committed to the University of Minnesota. “She’s amazing, she’s the best pole vaulter in the state,” Lenahan said. “She’s also one of the top sprinters in the state. She’s qualified in the 200-meter dash for state every year and she’s anchored our [800] relay which placed in the state last year and has the school record. She does whatever we ask of her. She’s someone that comes around only once in a coach’s career.” Spencer certainly is. But at the moment she’s also without a way to do the event that she’s best at. It’s not like there is a way to pole vault in one’s back yard. So what is Spencer doing during the time with no competition? “I don’t know if I can pole vault at the school,” Spencer said. “I know we can’t have an organized practice. So anything I do is by myself. I still have to figure it out, it’s crazy. I’ve been doing my running workouts and trying to stay consistent with stuff.” Lenahan believes she can do that. “She played volleyball through her junior year,” he said. “So she wasn’t always pole vaulting then. Defending state champion Sam Spencer, seen competing at state last season, broke the state record for pole vault during the indoor season. 22ND CENTURY MEDIA FILE PHOTO She’s fast and she’s strong. She’s the type of athlete with a work ethic that she will be able to overcome any time off.” Still, Spencer is hoping to be back at it sooner than later. She said she has not taken a long break from pole vault recently. “I played volleyball at Providence through my junior year, so a little bit then,” she said. “But not last year. I’m hoping that everything will go smoothly when I get back to it.” The first scheduled Providence outdoor meet is a local one, the Lincoln- Way Central Invitational on April 11. If that does happen, the Celtics are certainly more than Spencer when it comes to top performers. They are excepting big things this season in a number of events. First off is their 800 relay team that placed ninth in the state last season. Everyone is back with that foursome being juniors Teresa Topolski and Kendall Dickason, along with seniors Sarah Kerfin and Spencer. The Celtics are also optimistic about their 400 relay team, which is Kerfin, Spencer, Topolski, and junior Kate Stead. There are also high hopes in the 1,600 relay, which is Dickason, Kerfin, Stead, and 6 Topolski. Senior Kate Rost and junior Gabby Yaccino will also be looked to in the discus and shot put. “We expect big things from them,” Lenahan said of his relays and throwers. “We’re young everywhere else but improving. Now, like everyone else, we are playing the waiting game.” In the meantime, Spencer will be ready if and when the season resumes this spring. “I’m just staying in shape, working out and preparing for the best and to get another state title,” she said. “I’m hoping for the best and hoping that everyone stays safe.” LISTEN UP “It’s tough, especially as a one-sport athlete. Ever since the summer season ended, I’ve been working my butt off for the last seven months just to have one more shot as a senior to prove that Lincoln-Way West can open some eyes. The feeling that we might not get that opportunity, it’s really tough.” Ben Gerl – LW West senior pitcher, on spring sports being suspended what2watch Scheduling decisions • Will spring sports resume as April begins, be further postponed, or will the season be canceled entirely? Index 37 – Team 22 Boys Basketball 36 – Athlete of the Week FASTBREAK is compiled by Sports Editor Steve Millar at s.millar@22ndcm.com.
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