Eric Shrigley has been piling up soccer accomplishments lately. Someday he might have time to savor them.
On Sunday, he and his Wheaton Warrenville South teammates celebrated the championship of the Pepsi Showdown at Toyota Park. A day later, he scored two goals before halftime in a 3-0 victory over Batavia that made him the fifth player in school history to break the 100 mark in points.
“It was kind of a quick moment for me,” said Shrigley, who will play at Ohio State next year. “I had the 10 minutes [at halftime] to think about it, and then I had to go right back into the game.”
With six more points, the lanky forward will move into second all time behind former Sting player Charlie Fajkus’ 172 points. Sixth-ranked Wheaton South is 13-2-1.
“It was one of my major goals for my career here,” said Shrigley, who has 16 goals and 10 assists this season, and 42 and 17 for his career. “I’m pumped to think about it. We’ve really been coming together as a team.”
*The Central Suburban and Mid-Suburban Leagues plan to stage the first CSL/MSL Challenge next Aug. 18-19. The event will pit teams from one league against the like finishers from the other. Six games will be played each day.
Dave Surico
Family trio
Don’t be surprised if Naperville North’s girls cross-country opponents complain about being triple-teamed. Three sisters — senior Erica, sophomore Jamie and freshman Adrienne Schertz — have played key roles in the Huskies’ success.
The Schertzes have helped North win the Pleasant Valley Challenge and take second at the Peoria Woodruff Invitational. Last weekend the Huskies were second to Wheaton North in the Glenbard West Invitational as Adrienne took ninth and Jamie 10th.
This weekend the Huskies have another difficult test in Wheaton North’s 30-team Falcon Classic, a flight meet with a loaded field that includes the host team, preseason No. 1 Hinsdale Central and Stagg.
“It does run in the family,” Erica said of the sisters’ passion for running. “Both my parents (Renee and Tim) run.”
Erica said the sisters don’t talk much to each other during a race.
“We’ll just say ‘good job’ and sometimes use a hand slap,” she said. “After a race we’ll find each other. I love it. It’s a great way to enjoy my senior year.”
On thing does miff Erica: “They always steal my clothes.”
Sounds like taking the shirts of a Schertz’s back.
Alan Sutton
Recruiting buzz
Marshall basketball player Ryan Hare has made an oral commitment to Oregon State, where he’ll join ex-Marshall teammate Mike Stovall, while Driscoll’s 6-9 Jake Lindfors has committed to Albany, according to Brian Stinnette of ChicagoHoops.com. DePaul has landed 6-9 Devin Hill of New Caanan St. Luke’s in Connecticut.
Stinnette also reports that former Harlan center Clarence Holloway underwent heart surgery last week and the 7-1 Louisville player is expected to make a full recovery. Fast-rising Warren junior Brandon Paul, who already has offers from Illinois and Northwestern, is attracting strong interest from Texas, Wisconsin and Notre Dame. Foreman sophomore guard Lavonte Dority is being looked at by Wisconsin, and sophomore backcourt mate Mike McCall has an offer from NIU.
Kentucky is checking out 6-6 Washington junior Michael Haynes. Junior Terrence Johnson, a Seton transfer, could be an impact player for St. Rita.
Bob Sakamoto
High-water mark
Rain or shine, homecoming will be all wet for Becca Thompson and the Evanston swim team this weekend. The Wildkits are hosts to New Trier on Friday night and an invitational Saturday.
“We’re not going to be able to go to the football game [Saturday], but I think that’s OK because we’re going to have a great meet,” Thompson said of a field that includes Loyola, Lake Forest, Peoria Notre Dame and perennial Wisconsin power Arrowhead. “Then there’s a dance right after. It’s a great day.”
The Wildkits don’t have a superstar but do have talent and depth that includes seniors Grace and Sophie Borchers and Anne Frigo, junior Becky Ramsey and sophomores Kristina Walsh and Jane Munro.
“That provides a great cohesiveness for our team,” said Thompson, who believes they can contend for the Kits’ second state trophy and first since 1989. “We do a lot to push each other. “
