Maine West easily passing the generosity test

During the holiday season, Maine West's girls basketball team has surely been in the giving spirit.

This past Saturday, the varsity girls took the opportunity to fund raise through a bake sale and raffle at its annual 16-team junior varsity tournament won by Fremd followed by Geneva, Schaumburg and Maine West.

They were able to raise $400 through donations from the tournament and are trying to schedule another event later this month or in February.

The proceeds are going toward offsetting some team expenses, fundraising for a Lake Forest High School coach (three of his five children have serious medical conditions, two have cancer and one has to have heart surgeries throughout her life) and to raise funds for a youth cancer foundation (yet to be determined).

For more information on the Johnson family's challenge, visit the link http://lettistrong.blogspot.com/p/about-Johnson-family.html

The team is also trying to host another "dine and share" event to increase the fundraising amount.

The Warriors are grateful for any donations whether it be monetary or items to raffle off; a Starbucks in Mount Prospect donated two goody bags to raffle off.

The Warriors have also volunteered their time for other special events or fundraising for good causes. On Dec. 11, they gave their time to help at the Des Plaines Park District Winter Festival at the Frisbie Senior Center.

On Dec. 20, they did a fundraiser at the freshman tournament through a bake sale and raffle

"The parents truly believe that having the girls participate in many team events together, especially when it involves supporting others in need, will help them become more well-rounded individuals," said Maine West parent Victoria Liwag.

Women's basketball

Millikin's Alyssa Saklak (Schaumburg) led the Big Blue (10-2, 1-0) with a double-double (27 points and 10 rebounds) in a 69-66 conference opening win at North Park.

She also had 12 points and 4 assists when the Big Blue topped Olivet College 80-73 in Olivet, Mi. and 10 points in a 60-55 win at St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, In.

Women's hockey

St. Cloud State University junior goalie Katie Fitzgerald (Maine West) was brilliant in a 3-0 victory over No. 9 Bemidji State and for her efforts was named the Women's Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Week.

Fitzgerald stopped all 34 shots she faced, including 25 over the final two periods, for her second shutout of the season.

Women's cross country

Wisconsin-LaCrosse junior Ellen Smith (Palatine) had an exceptional cross country season as she finished 10th at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet and sixth in the NCAA division 3 Midwest region meet.

Smith was also 50th in the nation in the NCAA Division III meet in Mason, Ohio.

Men' soccer

Lewis University junior midfielder Luke Comerouski (Christian Liberty Academy) has been named to the 2014 National Soccer Coaches Association of America College Division Scholar Honorable Mention All-North/Central Region men's soccer team.

To be named to a Scholar All-Region Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) throughout his or her career; start more than 50 percent of all games and be a significant contributor to the team; and be nominated by an institution that is a current NSCAA College Services member.

Comerouski finished the 2013-14 school year with a 3.94 cumulative grade-point average in biology. In 2014, the Itasca native started 13 games and recorded the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory over UIS.

As a team, Lewis finished 2014 with a record of 11-5-3 and advanced to the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference

Men's basketball

North Park freshman Jordan Robinson (Hoffman Estates) was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin men's basketball player of the week.

Robinson, a sports management major, averaged nearly a double-double in two games for the Vikings.

He scored a career-high 30 points, pulled down 9 rebounds and shot 12-of-17 from the field in a 69-62 win over Saint John's. He also had 26 points and 9 rebounds in an overtime loss to the University of Chicago.

Robinson shot 23-of-34 from the field including a 6-of-9 effort from the 3-point line between the two games.

• Augustana junior post Brandon Motzel (Carmel), a native of Buffalo Grove, has a team-high 7 blocked shots.

Rugby

The Arlington Stallions Rugby Club will begin its winter preparation period with a very important Parents/Players meeting on Sunday, Jan. 11 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Hendrickson Room on the second floor of the Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

"This important meeting will lay out our schedule and preparation plan for our competitive Spring and Summer seasons as well as giving an opportunity to anyone who missed the signup day to still get involved," said Stallions President Vinnie Lapiana.

The Stallions will start their indoor training sessions on Sunday, Jan. 18 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Mt. Prospect Park District RecPlex.

The club offers competitive sides for boys from fifth to 12th grade.

For more information, visit the club's website at www.arlngtonstallionsrugby.com or call head coach Paul Bergman at 847-845-4982.

• Please e-mail Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com