Locals Help Illinois Wesleyan Double Fun This Weekend

While the state’s basketball fans probably will be spending their time this weekend keeping up with the Class 3A and 4A boys tournament in Peoria as well as the NCAA’s March Madness, they also should be sure to check out the Division III men’s and women’s tournaments.

Illinois Wesleyan made some history by becoming the fifth D3 school to send both of its teams to the Final Four during the same season.

The men, who are 23-7, take on Cabrini at 5 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center in Virginia. The women, who are 26-5, play St. Thomas at Hope College in Holland, Mich.

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Both teams have locals who contribute.

On the men, Stephen Rudnicki and Eric Dortch both played at Evanston.

Rudnicki, a 6-3 senior guard, was a senior when the Wildkits finished third in the state. He averages 6.4 points a game in more than 20 minutes.

Dortch, a 6-3 sophomore forward, plays about 13 minutes a game and averages 3 points and 2.7 rebounds.

On the women’s team, Karen Solari is a Maine South product. The senior guard has started 18 of the 21 games she’s played in and averages about 20 minutes a contest. Christina, her older sister, was one of the best to ever play for the Titans.

Michelle Bilek is from Mount Prospect and played at Loyola. The junior guard has played in all 31 games and averages 6 points a game.