Mocchi sisters join Dineen at Stevenson

For 29 seasons of coaching girls basketball at Buffalo Grove High School, hall of famer Tom Dineen never had an assistant.

That changed when he took over the Stevenson program three years ago and hired a very popular face from the area’s girls basketball circles.

Dineen called upon his former all-state guard, Ashley Standstead.

Earlier this season, the former Bison and Illinois State star Sandstead accepted the head job at Prospect.

But everyone will be familiar once again with Dineen’s new assistant.

Make that, assistants, with the same last name.

Former BG standouts Maggie and Allison Mocchi will take over Sandstead’s duties.

“It needed to be a good fit,” Dineen said. “I could not have asked for a better assistant in Ashley. We got along great and worked well together. She was a great role model for the girls both on and off the court.”

Dineen and the Patriots will miss Sandstead.

“It was a great opportunity for Ashley at Prospect,” Dineen said. “The girls and I will miss her.”

Needing to replace Ashley was not an easy task.

“We have a unique situation at Stevenson,” Dineen said. “My assistant can’t just be anybody. Again it needed to be a good fit.”

The Mocchis, who played at Northwestern, were as good as it comes.

“Allison and Maggie are two of my best friends and just wonderful people,” Dineen said. “They have tremendous basketball backgrounds, but most importantly are great examples to the players in our program. Stevenson, the girls and I are very fortunate to have them.”

The Mocchis are two of many former players for Dineen who have gone on to coach basketball.

The list includes Lindsay Hamma (Hoffman Estates), Melissa Gorski (Libertyville), Jennifer Guth (Barrington), Allison Guth (Northwestern University) Kelly McIntyre (Antioch), Kendra Ryl (Hutchinson), Patty Vermiglio (Peterson), Christina Jost (St. Viator) and Dineen’s daughter Jaime, who coached and coordinates the Stevenson Jr. Patriots.

“I’m really proud of all these young ladies,” Dineen said. “We have had lots of good times and good memories. It’s been awesome to see them grow. There was never any doubt in my mind that they all would be successful in no matter what profession, but really neat to see them be so successful coaching basketball.

“The student-athletes these girls have impacted are very fortunate. It’s neat how our relationships have changed. I feel like a proud father.”

Women’s volleyball

Harper sophomore setter Kelly Somers (Buffalo Grove) , who is leading NJCAA Division III in assists, will play at Concordia University in River Forest next season.

Playing for the No. 4-ranked Hawks, Somers has made the all-tournament teams at two Harper Invites this fall.

Football

Sophomore Justin Wallace (Fremd) had 25 carries for 108 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown with 30 seconds left to help MIT defeat previously-undefeated and Division III nationally-ranked Salve Regina 20-19.

MIT is now 4-3 on the year, equalling the victory total of the three previous years combined. It was MIT’s first victory over a nationally ranked team in school history.

Ÿ Millikin quarterback Matt Holmes (Wheeling) was 12-25-2 passing for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 24-14 loss at Augustana.

Rugby

The Arlington Stallions Rugby Club will have its annual Information/Early Sign-Up Meeting for the Spring 2013 season on Nov. 11 at the Arlington Heights Athletico office located at 88 S. Arlington Heights Road.

The Stallions were the largest rugby club in Illinois in 2012 with 110 active players.

The club fielded all levels of high school athletes, middle school and fifth-and-sixth grade teams in Illinois Youth Rugby Association competition. In 2012, the varsity made the state championship play-offs in their first year of competition in the IYRA’s most elite level of play. The middle school team also made the play-offs and was the state championship runner-up for the second consecutive year.

The high school program includes players from Conant, Elk Grove, Rolling Meadows, Hersey, Prospect, St. Viator, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Christian Liberty and Stevenson High schools. Four of them toured England and Wales with the IYRA All-State team last summer.

Conant’s Kevin Lydon (Class of 2012) is at Davenport University on a combined academic/rugby athletic scholarship. Other class of 2012 alumni currently playing rugby at their respective universities are Josh Bojes (Conant) at Western Illinois, Josh Cunningham (Hersey) at Xavier, Joey Conley (Buffalo Grove) at DePaul and Andrew Collins (Hersey) at Dayton.

For more information, visit the Stallions website, www.arlingtonstallionsrugby.com or call (847) 845-4982 (evenings only please).

Men’s soccer

In a 2-1 win over Knox College, Millikin took a 1-0 lead in the game’s fourth minute on a goal by Zach Solorio (Elk Grove).

Fundraiser

The 12th Annual Shannon McNamara Memorial 5K hosted by Rolling Meadows High School will be Sunday.

Just a few days before her 22nd birthday, Shannon was murdered in her apartment near Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. Her legacy is rich with diverse fulfillment. Shannon played the role of daughter, friend, sister, accomplished athlete, scholar, and ultimately hero in her lifetime.

The run will begin at 9 a.m. and a walk at 9:05 a.m. For the first time there will be a 400-meter kids race for those 10-and-under after the run and walk are completed.

The price is $15 for adults and $6 for high school students and younger. You can sign up online at https://www.signmeup.com/86951.

Feeder basketball

The Hersey Girls Feeder Basketball program will hold tryouts on Nov. 4 for all interested players in the

All tryouts are in the East gym at Hersey. Times are: eighth grade from 4:30 to 6 p.m.; seventh grade 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and sixth grade from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. (Callbacks or a second tryout may be conducted on Nov. 11). Further questions should go to coach Robert Pihl at robert.pihl@d214.org.

Wrestling

Registration for the Jr. Cougar Wrestling Club will be held on Monday, Oct. 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Conant High School wrestling room. Students from first through eighth grade are welcome to join. The cost for the entire season is $160, which includes uniform and all fees. Bring your birth certificate to registration. Practices begin Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 6:15 p.m. in the Conant wrestling room. Enter through door 19. Practices are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. For more information contact Brad Bessemer at (847) 844 7493 or www.jrcougars.com.

Ÿ Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.