Chaires Invigorates Hawks in Second Half of Season

PALATINE, Ill. – Perhaps the biggest compliment you can pay a young and talented college runner is that she has untapped potential. Those were the words used by Harper cross country coach Jim Macnider to describe Stephanie Chaires (Palatine, Ill./Christian Liberty), the top runner for the women's team.

After missing most of the early part of the season due to injury, Chaires is peaking at the right time. Named Runner of the Year at the Div. III level after her performance in the Region IV meet this past Saturday, she can add another award to her list of accomplishments as the eighth Harper College Athlete of the Week for the 2013-14 school year.

A First Team All-Region selection for the soccer team, Chaires ran for the track and field team in the spring. She ran a leg of the 4x800m relay team that won a national title, was a member of the 4x400m relay team that took fifth place and also captured fourth place individually in the 1500m.

Chaires ultimately decided to give up soccer for cross country because she says she's a better runner than soccer player. Despite missing the team's first three meets due to a foot injury, she has come on strong, placing as Harper's top runner in the last three meets.

"It was a little bit difficult coming back with only a little more than a month till nationals, but I knew with coach Macnider's training, I'd get back in no time," Chaires said. "Coach Macnider and Coach (Eric) Wallor are truly the best coaches I have ever had."

The Hawks run tomorrow morning at nationals in Northfield, Mass. Macnider credits Chaires for reenergizing the team.

"She should be our No. 1 runner at nationals, and I believe she can finish in the top 15," Macnider said. "Certainly this will give us a shot at finishing in the top five as a team."

Macnider also acknowledged the psychological boost she provides for the team.

 "She is very encouraging to her teammates, works very hard in practice and is a great example for them," he said.

Chaires believes her team has a shot at finishing in the top three considering the strides they've made throughout the year. The nutrition major and N4C Academic All-Conference athlete is hoping her running opens up doors for scholarships down the road.

"I love the sports program here at Harper," she said. "When I transfer, I hope to keep running. I am keeping my options open."

Wrestling Ready to Tackle 2013-14 Season

Sophomore Blake Santi is the leader of the Harper team this year and will wrestle at 149 pounds. (Jim Cummins)

PALATINE, Ill. – After weeks of grueling practices on the mats and training in the weight room, the time has finally come for the Harper College wrestling team. The Hawks will begin to display their strength and skill in competition tomorrow as they travel to Dubuque, Iowa for the Loras Open to begin their 2013-14 season.

Coach Dan Loprieno has an outstanding track record in his 15 years as head coach of the Hawks, winning three national championships (2001, 2006, 2010) and finishing runner-up three times. In the 2012-13 season, the Hawks took 10^th place at the NJCAA Nationals. Josh Tardy (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) captured a national title at 149 pounds while teammate Steven Dewitt (Sterling, Ill./Sterling) finished sixth at 157 pounds.

Tardy and DeWitt have departed, but Loprieno is confident in this year's squad after what he described as a down year in the 2012-13 season.

"We had one of our better recruiting classes in the last few years with several state place winners," Loprieno said. "A lot of what we do in the fall is to just get them ready for the grind of a college wrestling season."

Loprieno explained that the fall helps prepare the younger guys for seven minute matches when they were used to wrestling six minute matches in high school.  He is also confident in his group of sophomores led by Blake Santi (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park), Mike Romanelli (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Crystal Lake South) and David Hughes (Marshalltown, Iowa/Marshalltown).

In the first month of the season, the Hawks also compete at the Dan Gable Open at UW-Oshkosh, Coe College Invite, Parkside Open and Art Kraft Memorial Open. Their home schedule opens on Dec. 19 with a Waubonsee Dual, and the calendar year closes out with the Midland Wrestling Championships at Northwestern University Dec. 29-30.

Following winter break, the Hawks wrestle at the National Duals (Jan. 11-12) and the Al Hanke Invitational (Jan. 18).

Harper then competes in home meets on back-to-back weekends on Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 with the Harper College Wrestling Invitational and Harper Open.

The Hawks wrestle at the Central District Championship at Triton on Feb. 16. NJCAA Nationals run from  Feb. 27-Mar. 1 at North Idaho College.

"With the combination of the great recruiting class and the guys we have coming back, it looks to be like a successful year," Lopreno said. "I expect us to be in the top five or six every year at nationals."

Hawks Ready to Tip Off 2013-14 Season

The Hawks begin their season tonight at College of Lake County. (Jim Cummins)

PALATINE, Ill. – With seven returners and a solid group of newcomers, the Harper basketball program will look to get started on the right foot as they open their season tonight at 7 PM at College of Lake County.

Head coach Tony Amarino's squad went 13-17 last year, but he and his players are confident that won't be the norm for the Hawks.

"We have the potential to go really far," said sophomore guard Tyler Gaedele (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows ), who averaged 12.0 PPG and knocked down a team-high 84 3-pointers last year. 

"With the group of returners and new guys coming in, our team goal is to definitely win conference and go to nationals."

Gaedele, forward Michael Rose (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) (12.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG as freshman) and guard/forward Charles Wright (Cheyenne, Wyo./Cheyenne East) (8.5 PPG as freshman) are the top returners scorers for the Hawks while forward Eric Porter (Arlington Heights, Ill./Lake Zurich) and center Stefan Vucicevic(Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) return for their second seasons. Harper also gets a boost to its frontcourt with 6-foot-9 center Will Botefuhr (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect), who missed last season with an injury. Keven Zelaya(/Elk Grove) also returns for his sophomore season after playing for the Hawks in the 2010-11 season.

The Hawks are deep at the guard position with sharpshooter Luke Potnick (/Buffalo Grove), Kevin Sexton (/Prospect), Kyle White (/De La Salle), Kameron Hill (/Wheeling) andMichael Boyd (/Lake Zurich) all ready to contribute.

Bradley Reibel (/Prospect) and Kevin Walsh (/St. Viator) provide versatility for Harper while forward Dexter Henley (/Thornton Township) provides more size in the frontcourt.

"I'm excited about our group. I think our players can really play the game," Amarino said. "We have the potential to be a really good basketball team. I'm looking forward to us meshing more as a team."

The Hawks finished fifth in the N4C last year with a 6-8 mark. While Joliet (13-1) and Triton (12-2) were atop the conference in the 2012-13 season, Gaedele and his teammates will prepare hard for every game.

"I see every team as big competition. You don't know who they have, who they brought in or who they're returning," he said.

In the first five weeks of the season, the Hawks play eleven non-conference games and the Highland Tournament (Dec. 13-14). The conference slate tips off with a road duel at Joliet on Jan. 8.

"Our conference will be strong again, but we shouldn't overlook our nonconference schedule," Amarino said. "South Suburban is very good, Illinois Central is solid and we'll play three solid teams at the Highland Tournament."

Fresh Start for Hawks under Turpel

PALATINE, Ill. – After enduring two straight losing seasons, the Harper College women's basketball program appears primed for a bounce-back season after going 9-14 last year. Jenny Turpel, who served as a Harper assistant for two years, takes over as the head coach and makes her coaching debut tonight as the Hawks travel to Elgin Community College for their season opener at 5 PM.

"It feels good, I'm definitely excited. I think I've got a solid group of girls this year," Turpel said.

That solid group starts with sophomore center Monica Hinderer (Arlington Heights, Ill./The Willows Academy), a Second Team All-Conference player in the 2012-13 season who led the Hawks in scoring (19.9 PPG) and rebounding (11.5 RPG). Hinderer and sophomore guards Rachel Payne (Wheeling, Ill./Schaumburg Christian Academy) and Ashley Packard (Wheeling, Ill./Buffalo Grove ) are the three returners for the Hawks.

Turpel is looking forward to Payne embracing her role as a scorer and Packard stepping up as a spot-up shooter.  She also acknowledged the importance of Hinderer to the team's success.

"She's (Monica) a great athlete, huge competitor and great leader," Turpel said. "We're looking to improve her game a bit more so she can become that much more of a threat."

Hinderer said coach Turpel has emphasized fundamentals and conditioning in the first month of practice. She likes what she sees from her new teammates, who she described as "solid passers, solid shooters and players who are interchangeable."

Turpel has nine first-year players this year who are good ball handlers and athletes. She acknowledged that they'll have to keep working to make the transition from the high school game to a more fast-paced college game. She also brought in Todd Zasadil, a talented recruiter and basketball mind, to be her assistant coach and bring a fresh intensity to the program.

Harper sophomore center Monica Hinderer returns for her sophomore season. (Jim Cummins)

Harper opens its home slate next Tuesday (Nov. 12) against Illinois Central College. The Hawks play 11 non-conference games and a tournament (Kennedy King Tournament Dec. 6-7) in the first two months of the season before beginning N4C play on the road at Joliet on Jan. 8.

The N4C figures to be a strong conference once again this year, highlighted by defending national champ Rock Valley, who went 32-2 last year with an unblemished 13-0 conference mark. DuPage also looks to be strong once again after an 11-2 conference record last year, and Madison and Joliet also finished with records above .500 in the conference.  

The Hawks were 5-9 in the N4C last year. That mark is something Turpel would like to improve this year.

"We'd love to beat Rock Valley this year," Turpel said. "With the other teams last year, we hung with them for a while but got gassed out at the end. I just want to keep bettering the program."

Hinderer likes the direction her coach is taking the team and is aiming high with her goals.

"I definitely think we can have a winning season and get to regionals. We just need to take it game-by-game."

Hawks Nearly Knock off No. 1 Madison in Region IV Final

The Hawks beat defending national champ Rock Valley before falling in a five-set thriller to No. 1 Madison. (Jim Cummins)

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The fifth-ranked Harper College volleyball team knocked off defending national champ Rock Valley (25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 25-20) in the Region IV Semifinals on Saturday morning to set up a title match with No. 1 Madison. The Hawks took the WolfPack to a fifth set, and the match was tied at 10-10 before Harper lost 15-12. The scores of the match were 25-18, 15-25, 25-23, 20-25 and 12-15.

Harper's season ends with a 31-21 record. Three Harper players – outside hitter Alex Messner (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd), libero Kelly Spychala (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) and middle hitter Veronica Dabrowski(Mount Prospect, Ill./Rolling Meadows) – made the NJCAA Div. III Region IV All-Tournament team for their efforts.

Harper vs. Rock Valley-Region IV Semifinals

Messner had a season-high 17 kills to go with 17 digs in the four-set victory over the defending national champ Golden Eagles on their home court. She also showed her versatility with four big blocks. Setter Lindsey Murphy(Lake in the Hills, Ill./Crystal Lake South) added to her nation-leading assist total with 35 assists and added 10 digs to record another double-double.

In the service game, Murphy was a perfect 25-for-25 with three aces while Dabrowski was 17-for-19 with three aces of her own. Defensively, Spychala was all over the court with 27 digs while freshman Morgan Peterson (Roselle, Ill./Conant ) contributed 16 digs.

"We played very well against the defending national champions and deserved the chance to play against the No. 1 team in the nation," said Harper head coach Bob Vilsoet.

The victory was the Hawks' third consecutive win over the Golden Eagles after losing the home opener to them in four sets back on Aug. 27.

Harper vs. No. 1 Madison-Region IV Finals

With a berth to the NJCAA National Championship on the line, both teams played their hearts out in an excellent five-set match.

The Hawks took the first set 25-18, but the WolfPack rebounded with a 25-15 win in the second set.

Harper claimed the third set with a 25-23 victory to take a 2-1 advantage in the match and inch closer to a bid to nationals. Madison once again showed its resiliency, bouncing back with a 25-20 win to set up the deciding fifth set.

In that fifth set, the WolfPack (31-3) found a way to beat the Hawks and win their 18^th straight match.

"Both teams deserved to win this match. We were at 10-10 in game five, and we were playing well. Either team could have won this match," Vilsoet said.

Messner once again led the Hawks with a 14 kills coupled with 22 digs. Melina Villaber (Chicago, Ill./Taft) played a strong match, putting down 14 kills while tallying 16 digs. Murphy once again provided a steady presence in the setting game, handing out 36 assists while adding 22 digs.

On the defensive end, Dabrowski had four blocks while Spychala recorded a season-high 38 digs.

Harper Men Soar to First at Region IV Championship

The top-ranked Hawks won the Region IV meet on Saturday. (Jim Cummins)

Results

JOLIET, Ill. – The top-ranked Harper College men's cross country team took first of two teams at the Region IV Championships on Saturday. The Hawks also captured top team honors out of the nine teams who had enough runners to earn a team score.

Harper scored a perfect 15 points in the Div. III scoring, placing seven runners before Joliet's first runner crossed the finish line. The Wolves totaled 50 points. Including all nine teams, the Hawks earned top team honors by a wide margin, scoring 35 points to outpace nearest competitors College of DuPage (76 points) and Morton College (84 points).

Juan Barajas (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Schaumburg) once again led the Hawks, taking third place overall in the 8K race in a time of 26:25. Brennan Albuck (/Hoffman Estates) ran an outstanding race with PR time of 26:29 to take fourth place overall while Zach Stella (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) placed fifth with a time of 26:51.

Sophomores Jhoan Lino (León, Guanajuato/Streamwood)  and Nick Modlin (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) rounded out the scoring for the Hawks, as Lino finished in 27:48 to take 10^th place and Modlin in 27:54 to take 11^th place.

Freshman runners Sebastian Ramirez (Lima, Peru/Palatine) and Andrew Guibord (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) also had strong showings for Harper. Ramirez came in with a time of 28:17 while Guibord finished in 28:26. John Majerus (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) also finished the race in 28:26.

The Hawks leave Thursday for the NJCAA Championships in Northfield, Mass. on a mission to capture their consecutive national title.

Harper Women Sixth Overall at Region IV Championship

The Hawks took sixth overall out of nine teams at the Region IV Championship. (Jim Cummins)

Results

JOLIET, Ill. – The Harper College women's cross country team bested Joliet in the Region IV Championship on Saturday to take top honors among Div. III schools. Including the Div. I teams that had enough runners to earn a team score, the Hawks placed sixth out of nine teams.

In the Div. III results, the Hawks scored 23 points to beat Joliet, who scored 33 points. Counting the nine teams, the Hawks scored 133 points. College of DuPage was the overall meet winner (44 points), followed by Waubonsee Community College (51 points) and College of Lake County (97 points).

Stephanie Chaires (Palatine, Ill./Christian Liberty) was Harper's first finisher, completing the 5K course in 21:30 for a 16^th place finish out of 62 total runners. Mary Piltaver (/Conant) came across the finish line in 22:38 as the Hawks' second runner.

She was followed closely by Marisa Andreuccetti (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Conant), who took 24^th in a time of 22:41. Lori Delfin (/Wheeling) came in next with a time of 23:14, good for 34^th place. Gabby Beaupre (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Elk Grove) rounded out the top five with a time of 25:23, good for 42^nd place. Cindia Salgado (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) took 44^th place in a time of 26:56.

The fifth-ranked Hawks leave Thursday for the NJCAA Championships in Northfield, Mass.