'Whitt' has Grayslake Central coaching company on his big day
He is known to Grayslake Central students as “Coach Whitt.”
For the past five seasons, he has been on the sidelines helping direct young athletes for the Grayslake Central football team.
But General Charles Whittington, Jr. is much more than an assistant football coach.
He was recently presented with his second star at the 29th Infantry's Change of Command Ceremony.
“Coach Whitt is a great man and well-deserving of such a notable position,” said Nick Goshe, a Life Fitness teacher at Grayslake Central and former Rams head football coach who also took part in the ceremony at Fort Belvoir, Va.
Women's cross country
Southern Illinois' Kelley Gallagher (Vernon Hills) took the 19th spot in a field of 222 in the University Division at the Bradley Cross Country Classic.
Gallagher ran the 6K Peoria course in 21:43 and was the second Saluki to cross the finish. At the halfway point she was 27th, where she gained momentum and picked off 12 runners the second half of the race.
Southern Illinois finished third out of 23 teams with just 1 point separating them from the second-place team.
Women's soccer
Eclipse Select Soccer Club defender Ginny McGowan of Lake Forest has been named to the U.S. U-18 Women's National Team, which will meet from Oct. 21-28 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.
McGowan will join 23 other players called in by U.S. Soccer Women's Technical Director April Heinrichs.
As part of the training, the team will face the Women's Premier Soccer League's San Diego SeaLions on Saturday, Oct. 27.
This marks McGowan's first call-up to the U.S. U-18 Women's National Team. She was named to multiple U.S. U-15 camps over the past year.
McGowan has already committed to play for Notre Dame starting in 2014.
Ÿ After netting a pair of overtime wins over Dayton and Xavier, Butler sophomore defender Kelly Mahoney (Buffalo Grove) was honored as the Women's Soccer Atlantic 10 player of the week.
“Not only did Kelly help anchor a defense that earned its 6th shutout of the year, but she also came up with two timely goals on the weekend,” said Butler coach Tari St. John on the Butler athletics website.
With Butler down 1-0, Mahoney scored at the 12:02 against Dayton on Friday night. The goal was her second of the season and helped BU to a 3-2 overtime win over the Flyers. Mahoney then found the net in the 98th minute to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 overtime win over Xavier. Mahoney was also honored as player of the week by College Sports Madness.
Feeder basketball
The Warren Jr. Lady Blue Devils basketball program is holding girls' travel basketball tryouts for girls in grades 5th — 8th who reside in the WTHS District 121. Tryouts will be on Tuesday, Oct. 23 and Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 7-9 p.m. at Warren's Almond Campus. There is no fee to tryout, but a parent must register his or her daughter at the school on the night of the tryouts.
For additional information regarding this program contact Ron Dorsey at (847) 599-3758.
Hall of Fame
Perry Peterson calls coaching softball at Barrington High School an amazing opportunity.
He sure has had an amazing run.
Only 43 years old, Peterson will be inducted into the Illinois Coaches Association Hall of Fame in February of 2013.
Peterson, whose 619-150 record in 21 years ranks him eighth on the all-time Illinois list for most wins, is the youngest coach to reach the hall.
The only other Mid-Suburban League coaches to reach the hall are Barrington's Pam Devins (1969 to 1992) and current Elk Grove coach Ken Grams, who started in 1980.
“Pam initiated a wonderful program,” said Peterson who has been the IHSA Sectional Coach of the Year in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2010. “And we have tried our best to create an unparalleled experience moving forward with the girls and their families.”
Peterson has won an unprecedented 9 MSL titles, 11 division crowns, 13 regionals, 6 sectionals and 5 supersectionals.
He has guided the Fillies to six appearances in the state finals, bringing back five trophies to Barrington High School.
Two were runner-up hardware in 2007 and 2008, two were third place (2004 and 20O5) and one fourth (1993) in Peterson's first year at Barrington. In 1992, he won 16 games at St. Viator.
“The single most contributing factor to our long-standing success are the players themselves,” said Peterson, who has steered 20 girls off to Division I athletics. “They put forth the effort and dedication to keep the Fillies at a championship level. We are blessed to have a committed coaching staff that has mentored our teams for many years and that continuity really makes a difference.”
Men's soccer
Former Fremd all-state goalkeeper and Liberty sophomore Scott Sutarik registered two 1-0 shutouts for Liberty University against Big South Conference rival Campbell and American University.
Sutarik registered a collegiate career-high eight saves against Campbell.
Sutarik ended his freshman season last year at Liberty ranked No. 7 for all Division I goalies.
Ÿ Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.