Ex-Wheeling wrestlers succeed nationally

Former Wheeling state champion wrestlers Max Nowry and Luke Smith continued to have success on a national stage this summer.

Nowry finished fourth at 121 pounds at the U.S. Greco-Roman World Team Trials in June in Oklahoma City. Nowry, who won the 2008 Class AA title at 103 and was third in 2007, is training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Smith took third at the U.S. Junior National Greco-Roman Tournament on July 18-19 in Fargo, N.D. Smith beat six opponents to earn All-American honors.

Smith, who will wrestle at Central Michigan University, won last season’s 3A title at 140, was second at 135 in 2010 and third at 125 in 2009.

Mark Leonhard Alumni Game: The Mark Leonhard Alumni Baseball Game is at noon Saturday at Alexian Field in Schaumburg.

All Hersey, Arlington American Legion and Tulsa alums are invited to attend the game to honor Leonhard. The three-sport star died May 25 in Indianapolis.

The cost to play is $50 and includes a T-shirt, visor, meal ticket for a postgame cookout. A portion of the proceeds will be used to help Leonhard’s four children.

Connie Mack baseball league expands: Don Wallace, the president of the Suburban Chicago Connie Mack Baseball League, announced it will expand from six to eight teams for the 2012 season.

Northbrook and Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park will join the league next season. Northbrook will be coached by Glenbrook North head coach and former Elk Grove standout Dominic Savino.

Teams in the league will play each other twice and the top two teams will advance to the state championship tournament in mid-July in Ottawa.

Palatine won the inaugural league title this summer and went 2-2 at the state tourney.

Rugby: The Arlington Stallions Rugby Club will have a high school players meeting on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. at Gators Wing Shack (1719 N. Rand Road) in Palatine.

The meeting is for returning club members and any interested athletes who wish to compete at the high school level during the spring 2012 competitive season. The purpose of the meeting will be off-season preparation and competitive goals as the club contemplates a move to the highest tier of competition in the Illinois Youth Rugby Association (IYRA).

At the high school level, the Stallions field frosh/soph, junior varsity and varsity sides.

This past spring, the varsity side defeated St. Rita (Chicago) 35-5 to place third in IYRA state championship competition.

For more information, visit www.arlingtonstallionsrugby.com.