Conference and Region Champs Holding Tryouts Aug. 1-5

PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College men's soccer program is holding tryouts starting Monday, August 1 for those interested in playing for the fall 2016 team.

Below is a list of the tryout dates/times:

Date	Time
Monday, August 1	10 AM-12:30 PM
Tuesday, August 2	10 AM-12:30 PM
Wednesday, August 3	10 AM-12:30 PM
Thursday, August 3	10 AM-12:30 PM
Friday, August 5	10 AM-12:30 PM

Following the tryout on Friday, August 5, the team will be finalized by head coach Dan Klaus and assistant coach Tom Wang.

All interested student-athletes will need a current physical and must have it completed prior to tryouts. The paperwork can be picked up in the Athletics office in M Building (M219) or found here:  Athletic Physical Packet Student Checklists. Interested student-athletes can also fill out the Prospective Athlete Form.

The Harper College men's soccer team will hold tryouts beginning Monday, August 1. 

Please contact head coach Dan Klaus (dklaus@harpercollege.edu or 847-927-0974) for more information.

Under Klaus' direction, the Harper program has been extremely successful. In 2015, the Hawks finished with an 11-4-3 overall record and went 8-1-1 in North Central Community College Conference (N4C) play to win the conference regular season title outright. More importantly, they went 3-0 in the Region IV Tournament, including wins over defending Region IV Champion Rock Valley College in the Region IV Semifinals and Joliet Junior College in the Region IV Championship, to become the 2015 Region IV Champions. Six Harper College men's soccer players were named to either an All-Region or All-Conference team. Finally, Niko Mihalopoulos was selected as a Second Team All-American, becoming the first Hawks men's soccer player since Matt Polovin in 1993 to win the award.

In 2014, the Hawks finished with an 8-6-2 record and finished runner-up to Rock Valley College in the Region IV Tournament. Six players were named to either the All-Region or All-Conference team.

This year, the team opens regular season play on August 17 against Waubonsee Community College at 5 PM on the campus of Harper College.

Barajas Honored as Male Athlete of the Year

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper men's track and field student-athlete Juan Barajas (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Schaumburg) capped off his Harper College athletic career in the spring of 2015 in impressive fashion. Barajas was a national champion in the 5k and placed second in the 10k at nationals to complete his long list of accolades. Barajas can add one final accomplishment to his career, as he has been selected the 2015-16 Harper College Male Athlete of the Year.

Barajas is the 2015-16 Harper College Male Athlete of the Year (Photo Courtesy of Digital Sports Photography, Herkimer, NY)

"His success is a result of countless hours of training and commitment to both his running and his academics," said Harper head track and field coach Renee Zellner. "Juan is both humble and kind and has been a positive role model for the sport. He clearly deserves this very special honor."

At the 2015 NJCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship, Barajas won the 5k by nearly 15 seconds over his nearest challenger, and his second place finish in the 10k was also worthy of All-American distinction.  At the end of the season, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recognized him as the Central Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year.

Over the summer, Barajas committed to continue his running career at Eastern Illinois University and has nearly completed his first full year there.

Barajas also did well in the classroom throughout his time at Harper College as he earned N4C Academic All-Conference honors as a member of both the track and field and cross country teams.

In the fall of 2014, Barajas captured the individual title at the 2014 DIII Men's Cross Country National Championship and helped the Hawks to their fourth straight national title in men's cross country. He also won the Region IV Championship individual title.

During his freshman track and field season, Barajas was an All-American in both the 5k and 10k, placing second in both races. During the fall of 2013, he was an All-American at cross country nationals as the Hawks won their third consecutive national title in men's cross country. He was also the Region IV Runner of the Year and a Harper College Athlete of the Week.

Kloss Honored as Female Athlete of the Year

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper College women's track and field student-athlete Leah Kloss (Grayslake, Ill. /Grayslake Central) had an extremely impressive spring 2015 season for the Hawks as she was a national champ in three different events at the national meet. For her efforts, she has been named the 2015-16 Harper College Female Athlete of the Year.

Kloss (Harper singlet, in the lead) was honored as the 2015-16 Harper College Female Athlete of the Year. (Photo Courtesy of Digital Sports Photography, Herkimer, NY)

"Leah is an exceptional athlete. She has the ability to learn and excel in new skills quickly. She is highly competitive and works hard to improve her fitness and technique," said Harper head track and field coach Renee Zellner.

Kloss displayed her versatility throughout the spring of 2015, culminating in a very successful all-around performance at the 2015 NJCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship. She won both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at nationals and was also a member of the Hawks' 4x100 meter relay team that won a national title and set a school record. At the conclusion of the spring season, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recognized her as both the Central Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year and Central Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year.

She also placed fourth in the nation in the long jump, fifth in the hammer throw, and fifth in the javelin. Aided by a large number of points from Kloss in the various events, the Hawks secured a third place finish as a team at nationals.

Kloss was also recognized as a N4C Academic All-Conference student-athlete during the spring semester.

Showing her perseverance and versatility in the spring of 2016, she won the hammer throw, placed second in the javelin (All-American), and was a member of the 4x100m relay team that set a new school record at the 2016 NJCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship. She also anchored the fourth place 4x400m relay team. She was also recognized as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Central Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year for a second straight year.

"Not only is she talented, but she is humble and an excellent role model for both female and male athletes. Leah is an ideal student-athlete to achieve this prestigious honor," Zellner said.

Kramolisch Emerges as Top Hitter

PALATINE, Ill. – Coming into the 2016 Harper College baseball season, Paul Kramolisch (/Bolingbrook) was expected to be a key part of the Hawks' pitching staff. However, his success at the plate was pretty unexpected.

Kramolisch made the most of his opportunity as a hitter and emerged as the Hawks' top hitter while also serving as a reliable option in multiple positions in the infield. He also held his own on the mound and finished with the lowest ERA on the team. For these reasons, Kramolisch is being recognized as the 10^th Harper College Athlete of the Week for the 2015-16 school year.

Kramolisch is the 10th Harper College Athlete of the Week for the 2015-16 school year. (Jim Cummins)

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound freshman hit a team-best .309 (17-for-55) in 28 games. Kramolisch was also tied-second on the team in RBIs (8) and led the team in on-base percentage at .387. One of his most impressive games came at Rock Valley College on March 29. In game one, he was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI, stolen base, and run scored. Later in the season against Rock Valley (April 16), Kramolisch was 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored in the first game of a doubleheader in Palatine.

In the field, he rotated between several infield spots and only committed six errors on 110 total chances for a .945 fielding percentage. He recorded 30 assists and 74 putouts and also helped turn four double plays.

On the mound, Kramolisch made seven appearances (five starts) and threw 23 1/3 innings (fourth on team). The righty posted a solid 3.86 ERA, best on the team, struck out 15 batters, and threw two complete games.

Hayes Lands Job as Boomers PA Announcer

Schaumburg Boomers Website
Daily Herald Article

PALATINE, Ill. – Current Harper College Student Athlete Success Center Coordinator/Athletics Program Assistant Steve Hayes, who also serves as the Public Address (PA) Announcer for Hawks home contests during the school year, will be taking on a new role this summer. Hayes recently auditioned for and accepted the position of PA Announcer for the Schaumburg Boomers Professional Baseball Team.

Hayes was recently named the PA Announcer for the Schaumburg Boomers Professional Baseball Team. (Bill Smith)

Hayes will be the PA Announcer for Schaumburg Boomers home baseball games that run from late May-early September. The Boomers play in the independent Frontier League.

Hayes has a wealth of experience in PA announcing that began in 1999. He has announced baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, wrestling, cross country, and football events at all levels from pee-wee to the NJCAA Division III level. He is currently the announcer for baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball home games at Harper.

Hayes graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Communication from Marquette University and worked in radio and television in Milwaukee.

He says he is looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of another great season for the two-time Frontier League champion Boomers.

"There's no such thing as a bad day at the ballpark," Hayes said. "I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Boomers organization."

Harper Softball Takes Interim Tag off Scott Plaza

PALATINE, Ill. – After meeting with Harper College Interim Head Softball Coach Scott Plaza, Director of Athletics and Fitness Doug Spiwak removed the interim tag from Plaza's title and officially made him the Head Coach last week.

After a season of coaching the Harper College softball team on an interim basis, Scott Plaza is now officially the Head Coach of the Hawks. (Tracy Timberlake)

"Scott was an instant success with the student-athletes. He and his assistant coach, Sean Stochl, created a positive learning environment that is consistent with the Athletics' Mission. I saw growth and development on the team. The team genuinely appeared to be enjoying their experience," Spiwak said. "Scott was able to take players with varying levels of experience and put together a cohesive team. The decision was Scott's as to whether he wanted to continue after his first year of coaching softball. He did not hesitate when the position was officially offered to him. I am looking forward to seeing what the team looks like next year as he has already signed some excellent players.

In Plaza's first year as softball coach, the Hawks saw substantial growth from their group of players. He also coached an All-Region and All-Conference player in Jordan Dallmann (Roselle, Ill. /Lake Park). Dallmann was named to the NJCAA Region IV Division III Softball First Team, and she was voted Second Team All-Conference for the North Central Community College Conference (N4C).

As Plaza gears up his second season and first full school year of coaching, he has already began to build a strong base for the program with the current group as well as several recruits who have signed their NJCAA National Letters of Intent.

Scott Plaza and Sean Stochl worked well together in their first seasons as softball coaches. (Tracy Timberlake)

"I'm excited to have my first season under my belt, and it was a great learning experience," Plaza said. I'm planning to take those experiences along with a great group of returners to keep moving forward and build the program for success. It will be a lot of fun to see the Harper softball program progress in the near future."

Commencement Showcases Accomplishments of Harper Hawks

Harper College Graduation Ceremony Video
Graduation Photos                                                                
Daily Herald Article

PALATINE, Ill. – Around 650 Harper College students took part in the 2016 Harper College commencement ceremony on Saturday afternoon at the college's new outdoor pavilion, and approximately 3,500 spectators attended the ceremony. About 20 Hawks student-athletes walked in graduation, and many others received their degrees as well from the college.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle delivered the commencement speech to graduates, and Harper College President Dr. Kenneth Ender introduced Preckwinkle.

The Harper Hawk and new student trustee Eric DeBold pose for a picture at Harper College's commencement ceremony. (Nick Wenzel)

Harper College Director of Athletics and Fitness Doug Spiwak was at the commencement to witness Hawks student-athletes walk across the stage and receive their diplomas.

"I tell our student-athletes to always "keep an eye on the prize." Our goal is to have every athlete leave Harper with a degree or certificate. Seeing the student-athletes receive their diplomas is one of the most reward aspects of my job," Spiwak said. "When they walk up to the stage wearing a silver stole that has the Harper Hawk logo along with the words "Student Athlete", I know that they have received an excellent education and the full support of the athletics program. These are the feature leaders of our community."

Harper College student-athlete Emily Butler, who played softball for two years (2015, 2016) for the Hawks, took part in commencement and received her Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree. Butler, who will continue her education and softball career at Elmhurst College in the fall, applauded the new venue and reflected on her Harper experience.
 

 

"The ceremony was really beautiful and scenic. It was an amazing experience to be the first class to be able to be under the pavilion. The faculty and staff at Harper helped me get what I needed and got me on the right path," she said.

Emily Butler and her family enjoyed graduation day at Harper College.

New Harper College student trustee Eric DeBold, who was sworn into the position in April, was a firsthand witness to the reactions of graduates. DeBold was in the last seat on stage as graduates passed by upon receiving their diplomas.

"Everyone's time at Harper was summed up in their expressions in the very moment after getting their degree. It was the most authentic moment, and I got to see it happen for the entire graduating class," DeBold said.

Gutt and Kloss Exhibit Excellence in Track and Field

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper College women's track and field athletes Ali Gutt (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) and Leah Kloss (Grayslake, Ill. /Grayslake Central) showed consistency throughout the season and excelled at the 2016 NJCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship. The pair, who were recognized with numerous postseason awards, won a combined three national titles and scored big points in numerous events at the national meet to help the team to a third place showing, can now lay claim to being Harper's first-ever Harper College Female Co-Athletes of the Week.

Gutt had an extremely impressive freshman season as she was a two-time national champion, winning at both 800 meters and 1500 meters. In the 800m, she ran a national meet record and school record 2:16.85 to win by almost four seconds. In the 1500m, Gutt blitzed the 14-runner field with a time of 4:52.91 to win by over five seconds. She also helped the 4x800m relay team score six points with a third place finish in 10:43.35.

Prior to the national meet, she was named the Central Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). After nationals, Gutt was voted as the USTFCCCA Women's National Track Athlete of the Year.

"Ali is an exceptional athlete. Her times demonstrate that commitment to her training results in success," said Harper head track and field coach Renee Zellner. "Coach (Jim) Macnider is able to bring out the best in the distance crew. I look forward to watching Ali continue to improve her times this fall and during the track and field season. Not only is she talented, but she is a great support for her teammates."

Kloss capped off her sophomore season with a national title in the hammer throw. Her best throw of 43.19m (141'8") gave her a dominating win in the event. Kloss took second place (All-American) in the javelin throw as well.

She also placed third in the shot put, fourth in the 100-meter dash, and seventh in the 200-meter dash. In the relays, Kloss was a part of a 4x100m relay team that placed third and set a school record in 49.58 seconds. She also anchored the 4x400m relay group that took fourth in 4:15.10. At the 2016 Harper College Spring Sports Banquet, Kloss was named Team MVP by her peers.

Similarly to Gutt, Kloss' efforts were noted by the USTFCCCA as she was tabbed the Central Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year for a second straight season. Earlier this month, Kloss received the top honor for a female athlete as she was named the 2015-16 Harper College Female Athlete of the Year.

In the spring of 2015, she won three national titles (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay) at the 2015 NJCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship and set school records in both the 200m and 4x100m relay. At the end of the 2015 track and field season, she was recognized as both the Central Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year and Central Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year. Kloss also scored points in the long jump, hammer, and javelin in helping the team place third overall at the meet.

Gutt (left) and Kloss (right) are the first-ever Harper College Female Co-Athletes of the Week. (Photos Courtesy of Jim Cummins and Digital Sports Photography, Herkimer, NY)

Academically, she was honored as a N4C Academic All-Conference student-athlete during the spring semester.  

"Leah is an outstanding athlete. She is multi-talented and able to excel in a variety of events. She can sprint, hurdle, jump, and throw, which demonstrates her versatility," Zellner said. "Leah enjoys the challenge of learning a new event, and it does not take long for frustration to turn into success. I see Leah taking on the challenge of competing in the heptathlon in the future. Leah has been a bright star in my coaching career, and I look forward to watching her continued success academically and athletically."

Gutt will now gear up for the fall 2016 cross country season. Last fall, she was an All-American, placing second at the 2015 NJCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championship. As a team, the Hawks finished runner-up for the second consecutive season. She also won the individual title at the Region IV Championship hosted at Harper College. 

Kloss will finish up classes at Harper College and continue to train. She has several schools interested in her and will make her final decision in the near future.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Skinner, Becker Wrap Up Successful Collegiate Careers

PALATINE, Ill. – Former Harper College baseball players Andrew Skinner and Kurt Becker wrapped up their collegiate baseball careers with outstanding senior seasons. Skinner finished his playing career at NAIA school Missouri Valley College, and Becker played at NCAA Division II school Lewis University for the last two years.

Skinner, who played for the Hawks in 2012 and 2013, had an impressive spring 2016 season for the Missouri Valley Vikings. He was named a 2016 Heart of America Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference selection at the designated hitter position. Skinner hit .341 and led the team in slugging percentage (.635), home runs (11), doubles (13), and triples (2). The senior also led the conference in RBIs (68) and RBIs per game (1.33) while playing in 50 games. 

During his junior year, Skinner hit a team-best .380 with six homers, 33 RBIs, a .595 slugging percentage, . 445 on-base percentage (OBP) and 46 hits and 38 games. He was selected Second Team All-Conference in 2015. The Vikings posted a 57-45 record in Skinner's two seasons on the team.

The Chicago native was a Second Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Region selection as a sophomore in 2013 for the Hawks. Skinner hit .331 with team highs in homers (3), RBIs (31), and stolen bases (13) in 39 games. 

Academically, Skinner will continue to finish up classes in the nursing program before graduating from Missouri Valley College. 

Former Harper baseball player Andrew Skinner (left) and Kurt Becker (right) both just wrapped up their collegiate baseball careers. (Photo Courtesy of Missouri Valley College and Steve Woltmann)

Becker, who played for the Hawks in 2013 and 2014 and was named the 2014-15 Harper College Male Athlete of the Year, also finished his college career on a high note. The senior third baseman started 46 of 47 games and hit .362 (third on team) with five homers, 31 RBIs, seven doubles, four triples (most on team), a .546 slugging percentage, and a .439 OBP. 

As a junior, he started 42 games and hit .305 with four home runs and 30 RBIs. Becker was also the recipient of the Br. David Delahanty Award, given to Lewis student-athletes for academic excellence, and named to the Academic All-GLVC Team. 

The Palatine, Illinois native had an outstanding two-year career at Harper. As a freshman, he hit .377 with two homers, 28 RBIs, 14 doubles, and three triples in 37 games and was named a Second Team All-Region Selection as well as Team MVP. 

His sophomore season (2013) smashed all expectations. He hit an outstanding .494 with three homers, 30 RBIs, 15 doubles, four triples, 14 steals, a .531 OBP, a .694 slugging percentage and also had a 24-game hitting streak and was named a 2014 NJCAA DIII Baseball Second Team All-American, the first Hawks baseball All-American since 1997. 

On top of that, Becker also earned NJCAA Div. III Player of the Week, N4C Conference MVP, First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, Harper College Athlete of the Week, and Team MVP honors. He also was a strong student at Harper, earning N4C Academic All-Conference honors both years while also being a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He also helped out in the community as a little league coach and flag football team coach. 

Reflecting back on his Harper experience, Becker fondly remembers a few things.

"Going to Harper and being at home for two years was nice. The weights and conditioning helped me as a baseball player," he said. "I'm going to be friends with some of the guys for a while. Those friendships are fun."

This upcoming fall, he'll be student teaching at Lake Park High School in Roselle as a math teacher before officially graduating from Lewis University.

Women’s Soccer Practices Begin August 1

PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College women's soccer program will begin practicing for the fall 2016 season on Monday, August 1 at 2 PM. 

All-interested student-athletes will need a current physical and must have it completed prior to practicing. The paperwork can be picked up in the Athletics office in M Building (M219) or found here: Athletic Physical Packet Student Checklists Interested student-athletes can also fill out the Prospective Athlete Form. 

Please contact head coach Dwayne Cruz (dwayne@ahaces.com or 224-381-2832) for more information.

The Harper College women's soccer team starts practicing Monday, August 1. (Jim Cummins)

The Hawks finished with a 10-8 record in 2015 and had five All-Region and All-Conference players. Harper advanced to the Region IV Championship with a thrilling overtime win over defending champ Rock Valley College and finished runner-up to College of DuPage. This year, the Hawks start regular season play on August 31 at home against Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Former Football Coach Tim Hatfield Passes Away

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper College athletics mourns the passing of former football coach Tim Hatfield. Hatfield was an assistant coach for the Hawks from 1991-1996.

During this time, the Hawks participated in the RC Cola Bowl five times (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996), winning in both 1991 and 1996.

"I am truly saddened by Tim's passing. He was a friend and one of the best coaches I have ever worked with. Tim dedicated himself to the athletes and the program. He spent countless hours preparing scouting reports, practice schedules and game plans. The athletes performed to the best of their abilities because Tim prepared them to be their best," said Harper College Director of Athletics and Fitness Doug Spiwak. "He loved the game of football and the athletes that played for him. He brought a level of intensity to the game that drove the team to win. He balanced his work ethic with his good nature and humor. Tim was a friend as well as a mentor to the athletes. I am honored to have known and worked with Tim." 

Tim Hatfield was a football coach for Harper College from 1991-1996.

Hatfield was born on May 30, 1958 in Riverview, Michigan and died on June 2, 2016 in Fox River Grove, Illinois. Memorial visitation will be Friday, June 17 from 3 PM until 9 PM at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. (Rte. 176), Crystal Lake, IL 60014. Interment will be private.

Cole and Smith Sign with Harper Baseball

Kayson Smith (left, sitting down) and Zach Cole (right, sitting down) with assistant coach Isaac Valdez (back left) and head coach Cliff Brown (back right). (Bill Smith

PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College baseball program added two players to its 2016 recruiting class recently as Zach Cole and Kayson Smith signed their NJCAA Letters of Intent to play for the Hawks and head coach Cliff Brown next season.

Cole, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound middle infielder, attended Cherokee High School in Canton, Georgia and played for coach Jason McDaniel. A two-year varsity player, he was a 2016 Southeast Honorable Mention and 2016 MVP. In 2015, he was an All-Region player and Underclass Honorable Mention.

Cole is looking forward to his chance to play for Harper College and plans to major in Secondary Education.

"Harper is a whole different environment, and I look forward to experiencing this," he said. "Coach (Cliff) Brown and Coach Isaac (Valdez) are giving me an opportunity to play and continue my career in baseball."

Smith (left) and Cole (right) with their families on signing day. (Bill Smith)

Smith, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder who can play third base and first base, attended Pope High School/Performance Learning Center. Smith and Cole were teammates on the East Cobb Nationals Baseball team for the last three years.

He is eager for the chance to play at Harper while completing his core classes.

"I feel like Harper would be a great baseball experience, and I will be able to advance more as a player," Smith said. "It's also an opportunity for me to complete my core classes and start my college baseball career."

Burnett Signs with Peru State College

Burnett Bio
Burnett Stats
Peru State Men's Basketball

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper College men's basketball player showed off his incredible basketball skill in one season for the Hawks. Burnett recently signed to continue his basketball career at Peru State College in Nebraska.

Burnett will play for the Bobcats, members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Heart of America Athletic Conference. Peru State is coached by Eric Behrens, who was hired as the Men's Basketball coach in April 2014. Under Behrens' direction, the Bobcats made the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship tournament, the first time the program had done so since the 1996-97 season.

Burnett, a native of Joliet and graduate of Joliet West High School who spent time at Illinois Valley Community College prior to coming to Harper, was impressed with the Peru Sate program as a whole.

"He (coach Eric Behrens) was just an awesome coach, and when I went on my visit, the players worked hard at everything they did. I felt like I already had a connection with the coach," Burnett said.

The 6-foot-3 guard/forward started all 31 games for the Hawks and averaged a team-high 19.0 PPG to go along with 6.0 RPG. Burnett rarely left the court, as his 37.4 minutes per game was second-most in the nation. He shot a solid 45.9 percent (209-of-455) from the field in the 2015-16 season and 73.6 percent (120-of-163) from the free throw line. He finished the season on a high note as he averaged 25 points per game over his final four contests and was recognized as the Harper College Athlete of the Week.

Burnett was recognized as a NJCAA Region IV Division III Men's Basketball Player of the Week on two occasions this season (Nov. 30, Jan. 18).

Burnett is continuing his college basketball career at Peru State College in Nebraska. (Jim Cummins)

He is finishing up his associate degree at Harper College this summer and plans to study business at Peru State. One day, he plans to start his own basketball company for kids and young adults.

"I want to be able to teach them everything they need to know to become a complete player," Burnett said.

Reflecting on his year at Harper, Burnett speaks fondly of his athletic and academic experience.

"I enjoyed playing basketball, of course, and just enjoying experiencing new knowledge because it will help me grow as a person," Burnett said. "I also learned that everyone there is willing to help you succeed and want to see you do great in the future."

Gatlin Signs with Presentation College

Marcus Gatlin is continuing his college basketball career at Presentation College in South Dakota. (Marcus Gatlin)

Gatlin Bio
Gatlin Stats
Presentation Men's Basketball

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper College men's basketball player Marcus Gatlin (Chicago, Ill./Curie) blossomed into an outstanding player in his sophomore season for the Hawks. His successes on the court and in the classroom paid off, as he recently signed to continue his basketball career at Presentation College in South Dakota.

Gatlin will play for the Saints, members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and North Star Athletic Association. Presentation is coached by Jeremy Reigle, who has been the head coach for six years.

Gatlin, a native of Chicago and graduate of Curie High School, was drawn to Presentation College for a couple of reasons.

"What made me sign with Presentation College was the vibe I picked up right away from the South Dakota area and also the coaching staff. We laughed and shared smiles most importantly," Gatlin said. "Coach Reigle is a very determined man. I thought he was honest with me from day one, and that was my main choice of picking his school."

As a sophomore for Harper, Gatlin's list of accomplishments is rather lengthy. He was the NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball National Player of the Week, three-time NJCAA Region IV Division III Men's Basketball Player of the Week, a Second Team All-N4C selection, and a Harper College Athlete of the Week.

The 5-foot-9 point guard started all 31 games for the Hawks and averaged 18.0 PPG (second on team), 6.3 RPG (first on team), and 5.5 APG while averaging 36.9 minutes per game (fourth in nation). Gatlin shot 73.1 percent (179-of-245) from the foul line and was second in the country with 179 makes from the free throw line. 

As a freshman, he appeared in all 31 games (22 starts) and averaged 7.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 2.6 APG. Gatlin improved as the season went along and averaged 8.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 2.9 APG in 14 league games. On Feb. 16, 2015, he earned NJCAA Region IV Div. III Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors for the first time.

Off the court, Gatlin maintained a 3.2 GPA at Harper and plans to study exercise science at Presentation because of his love and passion for sports.

"I love the fact that sports can teach you a lot of things in life, such as hard work, patience, determination, and how to become a leader," he said.

Looking back at his time as a Harper Hawk, he says he has learned many valuable life lessons.

"Harper has taught me a lot. Coming to this college has made me look at life differently in a good way. It also made me mature enough to the point where I can thrive in the real world," Gatlin said. "Harper made me realize people are really watching you each and every day and look up to you as well. Lastly, Harper has made me become who I am today within two years. It's crazy, but it's the truth."

Chaparrals Take Two From Hawks

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. – The Harper College baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader at conference rival College of DuPage on Tuesday afternoon.  The Chaparrals took game one, 10-0, and won game two, 7-2.

The Hawks (0-11, 0-8 N4C) and Chaparrals were scoreless through four innings of game one thanks to solid pitching from starters Christian Poulsen (Schaumburg, Ill. /Schaumburg) (Harper) and Colin Brauer (COD).  But in the bottom of the fifth inning, COD capitalized on three Hawks errors, had seven hits, and sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning, scoring 10 runs to close out the game. 

Harper managed just two hits in the game, both off the bat of freshman first baseman Nick Kouzios (Crystal Lake, Ill. /Prairie Ridge). Poulsen (0-4) ultimately surrendered four earned runs on nine hits while striking out two in 4 2/3 innings. Brauer (2-0) scattered the two hits, walked one, and struck out four in five scoreless frames.

Poulsen pitched respectably in game one and had an RBI triple in game two at College of DuPage. (Dion Martorano, Journal & Topics Sports)

The Hawks trailed 1-0 through two innings of game two before they took the lead with a two-run inning. Kouzios drew a walk, and David Dugger (Matteson, Ill. /Rich Central) knocked him in with a two-out double to the gap in left center. Poulsen drove Dugger home with a triple of his own to put Harper ahead. 

COD scored once in the third and three times in the fourth off Harper starter Travis Lindquist (Madison, Wis. /James Madison Memorial ) (0-3) to take a 5-2 lead. The Chaparrals scored two more runs in the fifth inning and got solid pitching the rest of the way from starter Tyler Zunkel (1-0) and relief man Austin Loehman. The Hawks' Lindquist surrendered five earned runs on eight hits and struck out four in 5 2/3 innings while the Chaparrals got 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts from Zunkel.

The Hawks are scheduled to play their first home games on Thursday afternoon against McHenry County College (15-8). First pitch is set for 2 PM on the campus of Harper College.

Harper Athletics Takes Part in Spring Open House

 

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper College athletics had a strong presence at the Spring Open House on Saturday morning in the Wojcik Conference Center.

Prospective students turned out in large numbers for the open house from 9 AM-12 PM. The Harper College athletic department was represented by Student Athlete Success Center Coordinator/ Athletics Program Assistant Steve Hayes, who was pleased with the attendance and interactions he had with students and their parents.

The Harper Hawk and Steve Hayes pose for a photo at Saturday morning's Spring Open House. (Heidi Brown)

"I was able to make direct contact with probably 50 students, 25 of whom were kind enough to put their information on the contact sheet. So we've got some follow-up potential," Hayes said.

Of those students, there was a wide range of interest in Harper College athletics, including in track and field, volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, water polo club, and interest in being a team manager. A majority of those students were in-district students.

Prospective students were given contact information, the latest Harper College Athletics Brochure, and a Harper Hawks sticker at the athletics table. Also, the Harper Hawk mascot was in attendance to greet students and was available for photo opportunities.

Athletics was located in room W214 along with other Student Support Services at Harper College that included: Academic Advising & Counseling, Academic Centers/Success Services, Tutoring & Writing Center, Access and Disability Services, Career Development Center, Center for New Students & Orientation, Dual Credit, Job Placement Resource Center, One Million Degrees, One Stop (Financial Aid/Registration), Office of Student Involvement, and Phi Theta Kappa/Honors Program/First Year Seminar/Learning Communities.

Gatlin Voted All-N4C Second Team

N4C Postseason Awards
Gatlin Bio
Gatlin Stats

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper College men's basketball player Marcus Gatlin (Chicago, Ill./Curie) added one more accomplishment to his already impressive sophomore season as a Hawk. The point guard was recently voted North Central Community College Conference (N4C) Second Team All-Conference.

Gatlin was recently named Second Team All-Conference. (Jim Cummins)

"I am incredibly proud of this honor that has been awarded to him. To be voted All-Conference by the coaches of the N4C is a tremendous accomplishment," said Harper head coach Justin Welke.

The 5-foot-9 point started all 31 games for the Hawks and  averaged 18.0 PPG (second on team), 6.3 RPG (first on team), and 5.5 APG while averaging 36.9 minutes a game (fourth in nation). Gatlin shot 73.1 percent (179-of-245) from the free throw line and was second in the nation with the 179 makes from the foul line.

In 14 conference games, he averaged 20.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 5.1 APG while playing 38.6 MPG. He scored a career-high 33 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out eight assists in a Feb. 10 game at College of DuPage and scored 17 or more points in 10 of 14 league games.

"Our conference is arguably the strongest in the entire nation, so for Marcus to be considered one of the top players in the conference is a true testament to the caliber of player that he is," Welke said. "Add this award to his accomplishments in the classroom and the character that he has displayed, and you have one heck of a great young man destined for greatness."

Harper Bats Lead Team to First Win

DES PLAINES, Ill. – The Harper College softball team had an unbelievable day at the plate in a doubleheader at Oakton Community College on Sunday afternoon. After a heartbreaking 11-10 loss in game one to the Owls, the Hawks rebounded for a 14-9 victory, their first win of 2016.

The Hawks (1-9) had 35 hits in 77 at bats in the two games (.455 team average) and did not strike out at all in either game. 

In game one, Harper scored six runs in the third inning to take a 7-2 lead. Jordan Dallmann (Roselle, Ill. /Lake Park) hit her first homer, a solo shot, and Danielle Reptowski (Hanover Park, Ill./Schaumburg) had an RBI triple in that frame. The Hawks added to the lead in the fourth inning with RBI singles by Isabelle McGuinnis (Arlington Heights, Ill. /Hersey) and Kristen Serviss (Huntley, Ill./Huntley) to make it 9-2. 

The Owls' big inning came in the fifth inning. They sent 10 batters to the plate and scored seven runs, capped off by a two-out grand slam by pitcher Atorena Michael. They took a 10-9 lead on a sixth inning homer from Emily Bernath. 

The Hawks did not give up when they trailed by one in the seventh inning. Shortstop Sandra Portogallo (Elk Grove Village, Ill. /Conant) smacked a two-out RBI triple to tie the game at 10-10. However, in the bottom half of the inning, Bernath had a walkoff RBI single to give the Owls the victory. 

Harper got two hits apiece from McGuinnis, Serviss, Jill Hoffman (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey), and Courtney Russ (Lake Zurich, Ill. /Lake Zurich). Emily Butler (Prospect Heights, Ill./Hersey) was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Dallmans was 4-for-5 with three runs scored and was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

The Hawks had 35 hits in two games at Oakton CC on Sunday afternoon. (Jim Cummins)

The Hawks came out swinging again in game two. Dallmans's RBI triple in the first inning put the Hawks up 1-0. Oakton tied the game with a homer in the bottom half of the inning, but Harper kept scoring with one in the second, two in the third, and three in the fourth. The Hawks led 7-5 after four innings. 

In the fifth inning, Harper sent 10 to the plate and scored five runs, highlighted by Dallmann's two-run double. The Hawks led 12-5 into the sixth inning, but Oakton got back in the game with four runs. But in the top of the seventh, Dallmann continued her monster game by socking a two-run homer to push the Harper lead to 14-9. The sophomore was an incredible 4-for-4 with a double, two triples, a homer, six RBIs, four runs scored, and six RBIs. The catcher also recorded 10 putouts. 

McGuinnis (1-8) shut down the Owl attack in the bottom half of the seventh to preserve the Hawks' first victory. She struck out eight batters and only walked one in seven innings of work. 

Portogallo also had an impressive game two, going 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and five runs scored. Butler and McGuinnis each had two hits and two RBIs, and Hoffman had another two-hit performance. 

Next up Harper is a trip to Madison College on Tuesday afternoon. The Hawks and WolfPack (17-12, 5-2 N4C) play a doubleheader at the Madison College Softball Complex starting at 3 PM. 

Unpredictable Weather Causes Baseball Cancellations

Updated Schedule

PALATINE, Ill. – Due to the unpredictable Chicago weather, the Harper College baseball team was unable to get in any games over the weekend and also had its games scheduled for today postponed. 

The weather forced the cancellation of all Harper baseball games over a four-day stretch. (Dion Martorano, Journal & Topics Sports)

The Hawks were scheduled to play Triton College at home on Friday afternoon, but those games were moved back to Saturday due to weather. The weather on Saturday once again caused a postponement of the games against Triton to Monday. However, due to unplayable field conditions and the frigid temperatures today, the games were once again cancelled. The makeup date for those games will be Monday, April 25. 

On Sunday, the Hawks were also unable to play Moraine Valley Community College. No makeup date has been announced yet.

Harper will be back on the diamond on Tuesday afternoon at College of DuPage (19-4, 5-1 N4C). First pitch of game one is set for 2 PM.

McCabe Swinging Confidently in Second Year

McCabe Bio
McCabe Stats

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper College softball player Jessica McCabe (Itasca, Ill. /Prospect ) is one two returning players from last year's team. As a sophomore, McCabe has elevated her play and leads the team in several offensive categories, including batting average. For this reason, she is the eighth Harper College Athlete of the Week for the 2015-16 school year.

McCabe's improvement from last year to now has been impressive. As a freshman in 2015, she recorded 11 hits, 16 runs, three doubles, one triple, one stolen base, 12 walks and 12 RBIs. In just eight games so far this season, McCabe already has 10 hits in just 22 at bats for a team-high .455 average.

She also is tied for the team lead in runs (4), doubles (1), stolen bases (1) and is second in both triples (1) and RBIs (4) while holding a .591 slugging percentage. The Hawks opened the season with six games at the Dome at the Ballpark in Rosemont, and the outfielder had at least a hit in five of those games.

She was 3-for-4 with an RBI and stolen base against College of DuPage March 5 and 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs against Prairie State College later that day.  In the two games the Hawks have played outside to date, McCabe recorded hits in each contest and scored a run.

McCabe is the eighth Harper College Athlete of the Week for the 2015-16 school year. (Kevin Tiongson)

For McCabe, the biggest factor to her success this season has been confidence.

"I'm confident at the plate and not worried about missing," she said. "I'm focusing on making every swing a 100% good swing."

Defensively, she has not been tested too much in the outfield yet this season, but she does have two assists to her credit already.

McCabe is majoring in marketing and will finish up her Associate of Arts degree over the summer. She plans on transferring to Western Michigan University in the fall.

"This will probably be my last year, so I want to go out with a bang and make my last year a good year. I have that responsibility to be a team leader and help lead the team," McCabe said. "We need to focus on being positive and never giving up. We need to have that energy and drive throughout the whole game."

Baseball Drops Doubleheader at Rock Valley

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Harper College baseball team lost two games to conference opponent Rock Valley College on Tuesday afternoon.

The Hawks (0-8, 0-6 N4C) lost 13-2 in five innings in game one. The Golden Eagles (9-11, 3-3 N4C) led 8-0 after two innings before Harper scored twice in the third inning to cut into the lead. Paul Kramolisch (/Bolingbrook) doubled home B.J. Wingerter (Prospect Heights, Ill. /Hersey), and he later scored on an RBI groundout from Justin Reaves (Chicago, Ill. /De La Salle).

Rock Valley responded with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a commanding 11-run lead. Starter Jason Fidder pitched scoreless fourth and fifth innings to close out the game. He gave up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts in five innings. Harper starter Christian Poulsen(Schaumburg, Ill. /Schaumburg) (0-3) lasted just two innings, giving up eight runs (two earned) on six hits.

The Hawks lost two games at Rock Valley College on Tuesday afternoon. (Jim Cummins)

In game two, the Hawks had a season-high eight hits, but it wasn't enough as they lost 6-3. Trailing 5-0 through five innings, Harper mounted a comeback and cut the deficit to three runs. The Hawks loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh inning but could not convert.

Poulsen had a standout day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a run scored. Wingerter, Paul Kramolisch (/Bolingbrook), David Dugger (Matteson, Ill. /Rich Central), Nick Kouzios (Crystal Lake, Ill. /Prairie Ridge), and Jeremiah Mack (/Westinghouse) all recorded a hit. Kouzios drove in two runs with a single in the sixth inning, and Reaves had the other RBI. Adam Kowalski (Arlington Heights, Ill. /Buffalo Grove) (0-1) threw six innings for the Hawks. He gave up four earned runs on eleven hits and struck out three.

The Hawks will play at Oakton Community College (10-6) on Wednesday. Originally scheduled to be a doubleheader, the two teams will now play a single nine-inning game beginning at 2 PM in Des Plaines.

Hawks Shut Down by Madison

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MADISON, Wis. – The Harper College baseball team struggled at the plate and in the field on Saturday afternoon against N4C foe Madison College. The Hawks failed to score a run in either game, committed nine total errors, and lost by the scores of 7-0 and 14-0.

David Dugger (Matteson, Ill. /Rich Central) provided a spark offensively in the first game, as he was 2-for-3 with a triple. Christian Poulsen(Schaumburg, Ill. /Schaumburg) and Nick Leone (Elmhurst, Ill. /York) had the other hits for the Hawks (0-6, 0-4 N4C). Harper had a hard time solving Madison starter Brandon Parr, who threw a complete game and struck out five batters.

The WolfPack (7-8-1, 2-0 N4C) scored three runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to take command. Bryce Plate was 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs in the game.

The Hawks struggled at the plate in game two as well, going a combined 3-for-16 as a team. B.J. Wingerter (Prospect Heights, Ill. /Hersey), Paul Kramolisch (/Bolingbrook), and Branden Davis (/Rich East) each had singles. The WolfPack's Alec Haluzak (3-0) pitched four scoreless innings to earn the win.

Madison capitalized on eight Harper errors and a big day at the plate from right fielder Chris Lund (3-for-4, six RBIs). Seven of the 14 runs surrendered by Harper pitchers Clint O'Neal (Farmer City, Ill./Blue Ridge) and Eddy Valenzuela (Melose Park, Ill. /West Leyden) were unearned. O'Neal (0-1) last just 2 2/3 innings, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on five hits and five walks while striking out two.

The Hawks return to conference play on Tuesday with an N4C doubleheader at Rock Valley College (7-11, 1-3 N4C). First pitch of game one is set for 2 PM in Rockford.