Former area stars earn Big Ten honors

By Phil Brozynski

More than 50 boys and girls are participating in youth volleyball programs sponsored by Sports Performance Volleyball Club at the new Lake Barrington Field House.

The Lake Barrington Field House is a massive 175,000-square foot facility for football, baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball that opened this fall. Sports Performance is just one of several tenants occupying the facility.

“We have girls teams for 16s and down and one boys 18 team right now,” said Sports Performance’s Joe Jablonski. “Sure, you’d always like to have more kids. But we’re happy with the initial turnout.”

The Lake Barrington Field House includes a single artificial field turf playing surface that accommodates a full-size soccer field, two baseball/softball diamonds, a full-size football field or a full-size lacrosse field.

The facility also features 40,000-square feet of maple hardwood court surface that accommodates eight volleyball courts and four basketball courts. The courts have a 30-foot clear height roof.

Occupants include Sky High Volleyball, Lacrosse America and the Barrington Area Soccer Association.

Other occupants are Kessel’s Training, a leading provider of camps, clinics and private instruction in basketball and volleyball, and ProSport, a unique sports training and rehab facility that is the leading provider of sports enhancement and rehabilitation in Chicagoland.

Sports Performance has already held one tournament at the facility, but does not expect to sponsor large high school events like the St. Charles East/Mizuno Cup tournament held at its Aurora location.

“The facility is really nice, but it does not accommodate as many spectators as the Aurora facility,” Jablonski said. “It may be good for a smaller high school event.”

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Congratulations to former Sun-Times All-Area standouts Laura DeBruler (Downers Grove North) of Illinois and Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington) of Michigan after being named unanimous All-Big Ten first team selections.

Arielle Wilson (Proviso East) of Penn State was also named to the Big Ten first team, while Beth Karpiak (Lyons Township) of Michigan earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors.

llinois’ Lizzie Bazzetta (Naperville North) and Iowa’s Kiley Fister (St. Francis) were among the 11 recipients (one from each team) of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

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On the recruiting front, Wheaton Warrenville South’s 6-foot-9 middle Rob Samp has committed to Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne while Marist’s 6-7 Joe Smalzer has committed to Loyola University (Chicago).