Sexton Signs with Newman University

Sexton recently committed to Div. II Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. (Jim Cummins)

 

PALATINE, Ill. – Harper men's basketball point guard Kevin Sexton (/Prospect) recently signed his NCAA Letter of Intent to continue his college basketball career at Div. II Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.

Sexton, a Second Team All-Conference and All-Region Selection for the Hawks, started all 31 games this past season and scored 12.3 points per game. He averaged a team-best 4.4 assists per game and was also the best free throw shooter in the nation at the NJCAA Div. III level at 86.9 percent.

He joins a Jets program coached by Mark Potter, who is 290-180 in 16 seasons at Newman. The Jets finished 9-17 overall and 6-12 in Heartland Conference play last season.

"They play an up-tempo game, and I really like the way coach Potter coaches the game," Sexton said. "He has confidence in his players, and it was just a perfect fit."

Potter and his coaching staff saw Sexton at a junior college showcase in Kansas City, and he visited the school the following weekend. He feels his Harper experience prepared him for this next step in his college basketball career.

"It was good to play against college competition and the guys that I grew up with," he said.

Sexton plans to major in sports management.

Four Baseball Players Commit to Four-Year Schools

Yfantis, Kiesel, Jones and Ori are all moving on to play at four-year schools. (Jim Cummins)

 

PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College baseball team won 24 games in 2014, and now four players from that team will be continuing their college baseball careers at four-year schools. Starting pitchers Steven Yfantis (Prospect Heights, Ill./Wheeling) and Brent Kiesel (Streamwood, Ill./Streamwood), catcher Zack Jones (/Maine South) and second baseman Neal Ori (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) all recently committed.

Yfantis will play for NCAA Div. II Colorado State University-Pueblo. The right-handed pitcher went 5-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 2014. He led the Hawks in several pitching categories including games started (9), innings pitched (56 2/3) and complete games (8).

Kiesel will play for NAIA Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill. The right-handed pitcher went 4-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 2014 and earned Second Team All-Region honors. Kiesel's brother, Ryan, played for the Trolls from 2010-13.

Jones joins Kiesel, as he recently committed to Trinity Christian College as well. As a freshman, Jones was Harper's starting catcher and hit .297 with 13 RBIs in 37 games. He earned Second Team All-Conference honors for the Hawks and was outstanding defensively behind the plate, throwing out a nation-best 19 runners attempting to steal.

Ori will continue his collegiate career at NCAA Div. III University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He started 44 games for the Hawks and drove in 14 runs and led the team in walks with 21. Ori was a steady presence at second base with a .957 field percentage and only committed six errors.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Butman Back to His Roots at Harper College

PALATINE, Ill. – Back in the mid 1970s, the Harper College men's basketball team played their home games at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights because the fieldhouse at Harper burned down.  A young Wally Butman, a graduate of Conant High School, began his college basketball career at Harper College playing for Roger Bechtold. Little did Butman know things would come full circle and that he would be coaching at the college where he first received an opportunity to play.

Butman earned team MVP honors for the Hawks in 1976 and graduated from Harper with his Associate of Arts degree in Education. He moved on to Northern Illinois University and played AAU basketball while pursuing his Bachelor of Education degree.

Butman discovered his passion for coaching after graduation from NIU, as he taught and coached at the junior high and high school level for six years before moving into the business world. Currently, Butman is the Vice President of Sales at Buffalo Grove-based Profile Products, a manufacturer of erosion control and sports field products, where he has been for the last 10 years.

He credits his experience at Harper as having a huge impact on his career path, leading him to success. While Butman thrived in the business world and seemed to have left coaching basketball behind, a young Justin Welke began his coaching career in Evanston.

Butman had been long-time family friends with the Welkes and began following Justin's coaching career. He was very impressed with what he saw.

"I went to a number of the games and I found his coaching style and work ethic to be really great and refreshing," he said.

Welke was hired to be the new coach of the Hawks in mid-April. He didn't hesitate to ask Butman, who lives in Crystal Lake with his wife Eileen, to help out with the Harper program.

"This was a great opportunity to connect with him here and help out," Butman said. "Student-athletes have a lot at their disposal, and it's fantastic. To be a part of it and be able to help some of the young student-athletes is a flashback and a real dream come true."

Butman relishes the opportunity to help new student-athletes on their basketball journey. Looking at his experience at Harper, he still is very close with former teammates Steve Schmidt and Gary Davis and plans on inviting alumni back to support the program.

Butman, Welke, and their other assistant, Mauricio Vaca, have put together some creative things to help players develop as students and athletes to get them to the next level.

"I know from personal experience they'll reflect on it years from now and say 'boy that Harper experience was fantastic.' Hopefully I can be a part of that."

Igielski Signs with Harper College

Igielski recently signed to play for the Harper volleyball program. (Bill Smith)

 

PALATINE, Ill. – St. Edward High School volleyball player Shannon Igielski signed her NJCAA Letter of Intent to play for Harper, joining high school teammate Alicia Martinez as the latest players to join the Hawks.

Igielski, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, was a three-year letter winner and earned All-Conference Honorable Mention playing for the Green Wave and coach Jamie Dovichi. Harper head volleyball coach Bob Vilsoet remembers watching her play as a freshman in high school, hoping she would end up playing at Harper where hes older sister, Stephanie Igielski, played from 2011-2012.

"I like it when siblings play at Harper College," Vilsoet said. "It means the older sister had an enjoyable experience, otherwise, why would the younger sister play here, too."

A proven winner, Igielski's club team, the Sky High Volleyball Team, won four tournaments and finished runner-up in two tournaments. She plans on studying nursing at Harper College and is eager to begin her college volleyball career playing for coach Vilsoet.

"He's very honest and very energetic," Igieslski said. "It's exciting that I already know most of the girls on the team."

Website Relaunch Set for June 4

PALATINE, Ill. – In collaboration with SIDEARM Sports, harperhawks.net will be relaunching with a brand new look on Wednesday, June 4.

"We are excited and proud to continue our partnership with Harper College Athletics, and we anticipate continued visitor growth and a more user-friendly experience on all devices moving forward," said Dave Meluni, SIDEARM Sports Vice President Sales/Business Development.

SIDEARM Sports is currently powering the websites of 727 NCAA DI, DII, DIII plus NAIA, NJCAA, NCCAA, CIS and high school athletic programs.

"We are thrilled to continue this great partnership with SIDEARM and cannot wait to unveil the fresh, new look," said Harper Sports Communications Assistant Bill Smith. "They have provided amazing service over the last few years and have come up with a new design that will make any student –athlete proud to be a Harper Hawk."

Pratscher Signs with Harper College

Pratscher recently signed to play for the Harper men's basketball team and new head coach Justin Welke. (Bill Smith)

 

PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College men's basketball program added some size to its recruiting class, as 6-foot-11 center Jonathan Pratscher recently signed his NJCAA Letter of Intent to play for the Hawks.

Last season, Pratscher was forced to redshirt due to injury but is ready to play for head coach Justin Welke and his staff.

"I like how they are really involved in the students' lives and really build into you," he said. "Last year I learned a lot and was able to scout, and it gave me a better understanding of what I'm going up against (this year). It taught me to be patient and wait my turn."

While he could not help the Hawks on the court last year, the gentle giant reached out and embraced honorary team member Kadeen Alansari.

"Jonathan's 7-foot stature became even taller in my eyes," said Harper Director of Athletics and Fitness Doug Spiwak in a February article. "When I saw the student-athlete reach out to befriend his new teammate, I was reassured that our program attracts individuals with good character."

Off the court, Pratscher is studying sports medicine and aspires to be a doctor for a sports team.

Martinez Signs with Harper College

Martinez recently signed to play for the Harper volleyball program. (Bill Smith)

 

PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College volleyball program recently signed St. Edward High School volleyball player Alicia Martinez.

The 5-foot-6 defensive specialist was a two-year letter winner for the Green Wave and coach Jamie Dovichi. Harper head volleyball coach Bob Vilsoet has been impressed with Martinez since her sophomore year in high school. This past year, she also played at Sky High Volleyball Club and was coached by former Harper player Becky DePaepe.

"Alicia is an excellent serve receiver, defender and has a very strong serve that she will place anywhere she wants on the court. Over the years, she has continued to improve dramatically into a very effective DS/Libero," Vilsoet said.

Martinez said her decision to come to Harper was easy because it's a good school, and the volleyball program is the best in the area. She is planning on majoring in either health care administration or eduction and is thrilled about starting her collegiate volleyball career in the fall.

"We've all basically played together, and we all love each other," Martinez said of her future Harper teammates. "Coach Bob is really supportive and gives a lot of positive reinforcement."