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Stoczynski family stays busy

Two years ago, former Hoffman Estates “Female Athlete of the Year” Angela Stocyznski wrapped up her track and field career at Eastern Illinois.

But that didn't mean her parents Ed and Mary Stoczynski no longer had a special rooting interest in the collegiate ranks.

Their son Scott, the 2007 Hoffman “Male Athlete of the Year,” is currently a senior defensive lineman for the North Dakota State football team.

And when he graduates, Ed and Mary will probably have one more child playing at the next level.

Their youngest daughter, Becca, is a senior at Hoffman Estates and top attacker for the volleyball team as well as a basketball player.

“She's a work in progress,” Mary said. “We can't wait to see what the future holds for her.”

As for Scott, his future is likely headed into law enforcement. But for now, he is holding court on the football field.

Stoczynski began his senior season at North Dakota State with 3 tackles, a tackle for a loss and 2 assists in a 42-6 victory over Lafayette.

The 6-foot-2½, 255-pounder collected 3 tackles in North Dakota State's 56-3 win over St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday in Fargo.

Early in the game, Scott recovered a fumble on the Bison 3. Two plays later, Sam Ojuri (Barrington) ran 95 yards for a TD. Ojuri finished with 165 yards on 12 carries.

Stoczynski will split time between defensive end and defensive tackle this year for the 2-0 Bison, who are ranked 11th in the FCS poll.

Stoczynski was the only two-way player (linebacker and tight end) his senior year for Hoffman Estates football coach Bill Helzer.

“Just playing defense in college was a big change,” he said. “It seemed a lot easier on the field when you weren't going through so many reps.”

Plus, Stoczynski is plenty busy off the field.

This week he is beginning the second part of an internship with the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The first session was earlier this summer.

“I don't know what will happen football-wise in the future so I am getting experience already for law enforcement,” said Scott, who is majoring in criminal justice.

Scott also enjoys hearing reports on how his younger sister Becca is doing on the volleyball floor.

“She and I would always play basketball in the driveway when were younger,” Scott said. “I try to take some credit for making her the player she is. I wouldn't take it easy on her. Sometimes we'd get into tussles. It happens. It toughened her up. I've seen her play basketball in high school.”

Scott was a three-year varsity football and lacrosse player and National Honor Society student at Hoffman and also competed in the Illinois Shriners all-star football game in 2007.

Angela was on the Hoffman varsity volleyball team and track and field for three years. She won the Illinois Prep Top Times (indoor state) meet in 2005 in the shot put.

Women's golf

Former Class AA state champion Kris Yoo (Conant) of Wisconsin is on the list of Big Ten Women's Golfers to Watch. Yoo won the state title in 2009.

Women's Soccer

Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and Philadelphia Independence midfielder Jen Buczkowski was named to the Women's Professional Soccer's Best XI of 2011.

The Elk Grove Village native and Notre Dame product started and played in 18 regular-season matches for Philadelphia. She capped her 2011 season with an appearance in the WPS championship against the title-winning Western New York Flash.

Named by Gatorade as the 2003 Illinois player of the year, Buczkowski played three seasons at Elk Grove before focusing on national team duty. Her 190 career points at Elk Grove (69 goals, 52 assists) included leading the team in scoring each season from 2000-2002). She earned all-state honors in 2002 while serving two seasons as a team captain.

Women's volleyball

Millikin started its season by going 4-0 in the Oneonta State Tournament in New York.

In a 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 27-29, 15-9 victory over Pacific University (Oregon), Sara Travis (Schaumburg) had 5 blocks.

Prospect boosters

The Prospect High School Athletic Booster Club is sponsoring its 14th annual golf outing. The event will be held on Sunday, Oct. 9 at the Mt. Prospect Golf Club. This year's event will continue the club's campaign to raise funds for the Gattas Stadium Turf Project and many other ongoing projects.

Any donations are welcome.he Prospect Athletic Booster Club is a nonprofit organization. Any questions should be directed to Tom Ziegenfuss at (847) 641-1468 or at Tomziegenfuss@aol.com.

Positive Coaching Alliance

PCA-Chicago, a Chapter of the national nonprofit Positive Coaching Alliance, has named six Chicago-area high school student-athletes as winners of the organization's Triple-Impact Competitor® Scholarships presented by Deloitte LLP and Thrive Foundation for Youth.

Among the winners is Thomas Hauert of Palatine High School.

At the Sept. 7 event at US Cellular Field, Hauert received a $1,000 college scholarship for best exemplifying PCA's model of the Triple Impact Competitor: Personal Mastery, making oneself better; Leadership, making one's teammates better; and Honoring the Game, making the game better.

The awards dinner featured special guest Jarrett Payton, a former football standout at St. Viator High School and the University of Miami and son of Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton.

Among the 30 student-athlete finalists were Rose Silviera of Palatine High School and Christopher Hoffman of Lakes High School in Lake Villa.

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