1) You must have a current physical on file in order to tryout or practice. There will be no acceptions. Physicals are good for one calendar year.

2) A participation fee of $100 per sport, $100 per season for cheerleaders (please indicate season on check), and $100 for pompons per season.

3) The Kaneland High School Athletic Department will host a mandatory pre-season meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 18, in the east gym beginning at 7 p.m. for fall athletes. One or both parents are required to attend the meeting with their athlete(s) in order to meet Kaneland High School’s eligibility requirements. Parents and students will meet with their fall coaches. The mandatory part of the meeting will be available on the Kaneland website as a podcast that fall parents and students must listen to by Aug. 27.

FOOTBALL— Equipment handed out on Monday, Aug. 9, from 5 to 6 p.m.

Football insurance is available to or parents may sign a waiver and use their own medical insurance.

Practice begins on Wednesday, Aug. 11. All levels will meet in the east gym at 7:30 a.m.

Practice will be from 8 to 10:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. (lower levels—bring your lunch. Practice for varsity is from 8 to 10:30 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Meetings will take place at 2:15 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL—Tryouts are Aug. 11 and 12, all levels 8 to 10:30 a.m. First practice is on Aug. 13, from 8 to 11:30 a.m. in the east gym.

TENNIS—Tryouts begin on Wednesday, Aug. 11, for all levels from 9 to 11 a.m. The location is at the tennis courts behind the high school.

GOLF—The opening meeting will take place on Monday, Aug. 9, at 8 a.m. in Room C114. You will not be playing at this time but will turn in physicals, receive practice schedules and go over team expectations. Tryouts take place on Wednesday, Aug. 11, and Thursday, Aug. 12, at Hughes Creek at 6 a.m.

SOCCER—Tryouts begin on Wednesday, Aug. 11. V/JV/Frosh from 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. at the soccer fields. All players must purchase from the school a spirit pack for $30. Bring cleats, shin guards, water and gym shoes (in case of inclement weather).

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY—Practice begins at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11. The team will meet in the high school cafeteria. The XC team will also embark on an overnight camping trip on Thursday-Friday, Aug. 12 and 13. Parents with questions can e-mail head coach Chad Clarey at theclarey5@yahoo.com.

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY—Practice begins on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 a.m., meet in Room C117.

POMS—Mandatory practice begins on Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 8 to 11 a.m. Meet in the high school commons.

CHEERS—Mandatory practice begins on Thursday, Aug. 12, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Meet in the east gym balcony.

Mandatory fall sports meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.

Knights Under The Lights is Thursday, Aug. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Opening Contests for KHS Fall Athletics

Football—
Friday, Aug. 27, at
Burlington Central,
7:30 p.m.

Volleyball—
Wednesday, Aug. 25, at
Wheaton North Tourney,
TBA

Tennis—
Tuesday, Aug. 24, vs.
Wheaton Academy,
4:30 p.m.

Golf—
Monday, Aug. 16, vs.
Wheaton Academy,
8 a.m.

Soccer—
Tuesday, Aug. 24, at
Marengo,
4:30 p.m.

Boys’ XC—
Tuesday, Aug. 31, vs.
W. Chicago/Wheaton Admy,
4:30 p.m.

Girls’ XC—
Tuesday, Aug. 31, vs.
W. Chicago/Wheaton Admy,
4:30 p.m.

For girls cross country, Shelby Koester and Lisa Roberson were recognized by the team as captains, while Shaela Collins and Jessica Stouffer won the most improved runners nods. Junior Andie Strang took home the Most Valuable Runner award and was also recognized for her all-Western Sun Conference nomination.

In Knights golf action, the varsity most improved player award was given to Adam Grams, while Most Valuable Player was Hayley Guyton. Rhys Childs took home the frosh/soph MVP, and Dan Miller was named the frosh/soph most improved player. Guyton was also lauded for her second-place finish at the girls’ golf State gathering.

For soccer, Kevin Szatkowski, Marcos Dorado, Joe Garlinsky and Genaro Garcia were recognized as captains, and Alex Dorado and Sam Rymarz were given coach’s awards. Jake Tickle won the most improved player award, while J.P. Minogue was named team MVP thanks to his play in goal. Marcos Dorado, Derek White and Minogue were named to the All-WSC squad, while Dorado was also named the 2009 All-Sectional team.

For the tennis troops, Randi Bader, Lindsay Jurcenko and Kelsey Lenhardt were recogznied as garnering the best individual records this season with 18-7 records. Most Valuable Player awards were dished out to Jurcenko, Olivia Emmanouil and Liz Webb. Bader, Webb, Megan Cline and Mel Mazuc were recognized as captains. Jordyn Withey took home the team spirit award, while Stephanie Rosenwinkel and Jess Woodward nabbed the most improved player honors.

For the State-going boy cross country, Joe Levita, Edgar Valle, Dominic Furco, Matt Reusche and Logan Markuson were recognized as captains.

Trevor Holm and Reusche took the most valuable runner awards, while Levita was named most improved runner. Valle and Markuson were given the Larry Eddington Award for Courage, Leadership and Strength. The Golden Knight award, given to one representative of each grade level, was given to freshman Brad Kigyos, sophomore Jake Ginther, junior Tommy Whittaker and to Furco, a senior.

Reusche and Holm were lauded for their nomination to the all-Western Sun Conference team.

John Meisinger, Ginther, Billy Hart, Nate Rehkopf, Conor Johnson, Holm, Reusche, Levita, Valle, Furco, Markuson, Whittaker and Clayton Brundige were recognized as State qualifiers.

For the playoff-going Knight football team, Brock Dyer, Ryley Bailey, Brett Ketza, Eric Dratnol and Derek Bus were recognized as captains, while Kyle Davidson won the most improved player award. Dratnol was named the Most Valuable Player. Bailey was named the offensive MVP and Taylor Andrews won the defensive MVP award.

Bailey, Joe Camaliere, Andrews, Tyler Callagahan, Dratnol, Ketza, Jimmy Boyle and Blake Serpa were given all-WSC honors, as mentioned in last week’s Elburn Herald.

In volleyball, Jessica Lubic was named the Most Valuable Player, while Katy Dudzinski was given the top offensive player nod. Kylie Siebert won the top defensive player nod. Tara Groen was named best server, and Meredith Ament took home the spirit award. Mackenzie Curran won the most improved player nod, and Lubic and Dudzinski were nominated for the all-Western Sun Conference roster.

Photo: Tennis asset and tri-MVP Lindsay Jurcenko was one of the many KHS athletes noted for exceptional play during the fall season. File Photo

Not even the host.

Kaneland gave up four goals in the first half to the Sequoits enroute to a 6-0 season-ending defeat.

Going into the postseason, KHS was the 13th seed compared to Antioch’s fourth seed. Kaneland finishes 2009 at 7-14-1 and 2-5 in the final Western Sun Conference season.

“We had a really hard time finding the right lineup this season,” KHS coach Scott Parillo said. “But we were just young, so we’re going to have those bumps and bruises along the way. This is a learning experience for them, and it showed today.”

The final output provides a drop from last season’s end, which had the Knights finish 10-10-3 and make it to the Kaneland Regional title match against Oswego.

On Oct. 14, the Knights lost a 7-0 affair with host Oswego East during Senior Day for the Wolves.

Oswego East scored four goals in the first 40- minutes before adding three in the second half.

With the loss, KHS soccer says goodbye to Kevin Szatkowski, Joe Garlinsky, Genaro Garcia, Carlos Hufschlag, Marcos Dorado and Jake Tickle.

The Knights head to the homestretch of regular season play with a 7-12-1 record and a 2-5 record in their final Western Sun Conference go-around.

Kaneland dropped a 3-2 match with the visiting Sycamore Spartans on Thursday, and lost to the host fledgling Plainfield East Bengals on Saturday morning in a 2-1 battle. Tuesday saw a 2-1 win over Belvidere in the last scheduled home match of the season.

Kaneland has lost eight of its last 11 contests.

The Knights made it interesting against their conference rivals with goals by Genaro Garcia and Chad Swieca occurring in the final five minutes

Kaneland was set to finish the regular season with a meeting at Oswego East High School on Wednesday.

Against the visiting Bucs, Jake Tickle and Swieca found net.

The Class 2A regional is hosted by Kaneland and features the 13th seeded Knights facing off against No. 4 Antioch on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. sees (5) Crystal Lake Central against (12) Wauconda.

KHS took care of Shabbona’s Indian Creek High School in Maple Park by a final of 5-1 on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The Knights (6-10-1, 2-4 Western Sun Conference) found goals from Gennaro Garcia (twice), Derek White, Pedro Perez and Jack Tickle. Marcos Dorado added two assists.

On Saturday morning in Batavia, the Knights dropped a WSC match with a 7-1 loss at the hands of the Bulldogs.

Anders Winquist-Bailey scored the lone goal for the Knights.

Against Rochelle in a road match, the Knights built a 5-1 lead on their way to a 6-4 win. Garcia, Winquist-Bailey, Jordan Escobedo and Alex Gil found the net.

The Knights, who are set to face Antioch in the Class 2A regionals at Kaneland on Tuesday, Oct. 20, host Sycamore on Thursday, Oct. 8.

The Knights’ opening match ended with a 3-1 loss to Glenbard North of the DuPage Valley Conference.

Kaneland also dropped a 3-2 meeting with Plainfield South on Thursday in the invite, a 3-1 match to Burlington Central in the final meeting of the Invite, a 3-0 Western Sun Conference clash at DeKalb on Monday and a 3-0 skirmish to visiting Geneva on Tuesday.

The rough week sent KHS down to a 4-8-1 record, and 1-2 in the WSC.

Falling victim to two goals in the first 40 minutes for a 2-0 halftime deficit against the Glenbard North Panthers, Kaneland regrouped and played better on both ends of the pitch, finally finding the net thanks to a Marcos Dorado penalty kick. The margin kept firm thanks to clutch goal play by J.P. Minogue. The goal with 36:41 remaining in regulation made it 2-1, but a third Panther goal with 17:59 to go on a breakaway made it 3-1. An Alex Gil shot with just under seven minutes to go was defended, and the clock ran out before the Knights could catch up.

“We came out flat,” Kaneland coach Scott Parillo said. “Credit Glenbard, they came out and played. We weren’t getting any 50/50 balls; we weren’t passing well. I thought in the second half, we played better. J.P. played a great game, not that the game wasn’t ugly, but it could have been really ugly if he wasn’t in there.”

Jordan Escobedo’s goal against Plainfield South gave the Knights a 1-0 lead at the half, but PS scored three in the final four minutes for the win. Jake Tickle scored in the second half for KHS.

Chad Swieca scored the lone goal against the Rockets, in a match that had BC score two goals in the second half for the win.

Nicely recovered from a 1-3-1 start to the 2009 season, coach Scott Parillo’s roster has taken three matches in a row, most recently a 7-0 affair in Aurora against the host Illinois Math and Science Academy Titans on Thursday.

Marking its third win in a row, the Knights have now upped their record to 4-3-1 and have outscored their opponents by a total of 14-1 in the last 240 minutes of action.

Against the Titans, KHS scored all seven goals in the first half. Goals were had by Derek White, Alex Gil on three separate occasions, Chad Swieca, Thansi Pesmajoglou and Jordan Escobedo. Swieca had two assists, while Kevin Szatkowski added three of his own.

Coming up for the Knights in the ensuing days are another St. Charles East Invite matchup on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m., and the invite finale at the home of the Saints on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The Knights evened up their season slate at 3-3-1 and started the final Western Sun Conference season off right with a Wednesday, Sept. 9, win against Hinckley-Big Rock, 4-1, and a win on Tuesday vs. Yorkville, 3-0.

Taking on the visiting Royals, Derek White’s goal in the first half helped the Knights to a 1-1 tie at halftime before Gennaro Garcia, Jordan Escobedo and Chad Swieca found the net in the second half. White had two assists, while Garcia and Thanassi Pesmajoglou did, as well.

Against Yorkville, White, Alex Gil and Kevin Szatkowski scored goals, while Pesmajoglou, Pedro Perez and White contributed assists.

Coming up for Kaneland soccer: a visit to Aurora to face the IMSA Titans on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 4:45 p.m. and a visit to Somonauk on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 9:30 a.m.

Unfortunately, Knights soccer didn’t get the ending it was looking for.

Giving up three quick goals to Hampshire, the Knights fell to the Whip-purs by a 3-1 final.

The loss sent the Knights to sixth place in the annual Burlington Central Invite, after finishing second a year ago. The Knights are now 1-3-1 as they continue to search for a winning formula.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had to say 1-3-1,” KHS coach Scott Parillo said. “That’s tough. I know we’ve got the talent. We’re just not gelling, but we’re close. It’s OK that were struggling right now, as long as we’re not struggling at the end of the season. “

The goal came when Chad Swieca scored on a feed from Jordan Escobedo with 35:32 remaining in the match. The first half of the contest occurred under foggy conditions.

Wheaton Academy came into Maple Park on Thursday and handled the Knights in a 6-0 match. The Warriors scored five times in the first 40 minutes.

On Saturday, the host Rockets sped past Kaneland at the Burlington Central Tourney by a 5-4 final.

The Knights, playing a man down for nearly 60 minutes, found the net thanks to Derek White’s goal and two goals by Marcos Dorado for a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes.

White’s next goal made it 4-2, but Kaneland gave up three goals in the last 15 minutes.

The Knights also tied Genoa-Kingston out at Burlington in a 2-2 battle.

White got on the board in the first half, while teammate Gennaro Garcia found the goal in the second half. Anders Winquist-Bailey had an assist for the Knights.

JV action saw Sycamore best Kaneland in a 3-2 Tuesday match.

The 4-2 win on Tuesday started off with a 1-1 tie after the first 40 minutes, but Jordan Escobedo’s goal six minutes into the second half gave Kaneland a 2-1 lead.

“I called for the ball and Kevin (Szatkowski) gave me a nice pass. I’m excited, it was the first goal in high school,” Escobedo said.

Kevin Szatkowski had three assists. Derek White had two goals with Alex Gil adding another goal. Joe Garlinsky had an assist.

The Knights host Wheaton Academy on Thursday, Aug. 27.

Photo: Mark Breon of Kaneland goes all out to protect the net in Kaneland’s season-opening 4-2 win over Marengo on Tuesday. Photo by Mike Slodki

A regional win producing six goals over Yorkville, and encouraging play from a core featuring Santiago Tovar, Chris Ott, Matt Haffner, Nick Williams and Kevin Durrenberger, gave the team a solid base.

“Those guys were on varsity for so long, it was tough for these guys to get a spot, and you hope these guys can step up,” Kaneland coach Scott Parillo said.

Now, Kaneland will have to seek out new personnel to replace the departed seniors in a Western Sun Conference that doesn’t seem to have gotten weaker.

Ending last season at 10-10-3 and still looking for its first regional championship since 2004, returning coach Scott Parillo reflected on the task ahead.

“You try not to dwell on the past too much,” Parillo said. “You always think, ‘man, what could we have done differently.’ But that’s over with; we graduated 12 seniors. This is a new beginning once again.”

In order to make a go of it in the last season of the WSC and beyond, Kaneland will need to look to Gennaro Garcia, senior forward and midfielder, forward and midfielder Derek White, defender and midfielder Joe Garlinsky, defender and midfielder Marcos Dorado, who has recovered from surgery, goalkeeper J.P. Minogue, and midfielder and forward Anders Winquist-Bailey.

Personnel also expected to contribute are midfielder/forward Kevin Szatkowski, defender/midfielder Pedro Perez, midfielder/forward Jordan Escobedo, defender/midfielder Thanasi Pesmajoglou, defender Trevor Wolf, plus new varsity additions Alex Gil, Chad Swieca, Alex Dorado, Mark Breon and Jake Tickle.

The current crop of Knights might do the trick, provided several things happen.

“Lot of good kids, just need to get them experience and get them to gel. We need to have some of the older kids to take the reigns,” Parillo said.

Kaneland looks to meet its goal of double digit wins again.

“Our goal all the time is to win as much as we can, never had the guns to do it. We’ll see. If we can get double digit wins, we’ll need some conference games. I think we can do it,” Parillo said.

Even with the wins amassed by the Knights last season, Kaneland spent a lot of energy with shots on goal, not always seeing the goals match up to the output.

“There were lots of shots, and the goals never matched up. I hope we shoot a bit. The ones who shot a lot graduated, so we need guys like Gennaro and Derek to step up,” Parillo said.

To begin the 2009 season, the Knights set up vs. Marengo on Tuesday, Aug. 25 and host Wheaton Academy on Thursday, Aug. 27.

Yorkville becomes the first WSC opponent for the season on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and the Oswego East Wolves host Kaneland for the final regular season match on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

At an informational meeting open to the public where two community members, one student, and 20 coaches attended, the School Board heard a presentation on the reasons for switching from the Western Sun Conference to a newly formed conference with schools as far away as Dixon.

“With the new conference proposal we will still be able to compete against schools of our size and IHSA classification on our area,” Superintendent Charlie McCormick said.

The schools in the farther-reaching districts have enrollments closer in size to Kaneland’s, so presumably Kaneland could win more games than it has been able to do with Geneva, Batavia and Glenbard South, in its current conference.

“It’s in our best interests for what we have. It’s good that every school’s the same size,” head girls cross country coach Doug Ecker said. “The conference will give good competition and Kaneland kids can all compete.”

Board member Cheryl Krauspe had questions about the cost of the switch.

“Here’s the question that I continue to ask—how much is it going to cost? It will cost more to drive to Geneseo than it does to Geneva, and you know transportation is the one area where the state reimbursements are not coming in,” Krauspe said.

Financial implications will be discussed further at the regular board meeting Tuesday, May 26.

Enrollment comparison

Division #1 (new) Ottawa 1,602, LaSalle-Peru 1,280, Streator 1,030, Sterling 1,033, Dixon 969, Geneseo 914

Division #2 (new) DeKalb 1,710, Yorkville 1,295, Sycamore 1,162, Rochelle 1,116, Morris 1,075, Kaneland 1,040

WSC Geneva 1,978, Batavia 1,858, DeKalb 1,710, Glenbard South 1,421, Yorkville 1,295, Sycamore 1,162, Rochelle 1,116, Kaneland 1,040

Travel comparison from Kaneland

Proposed conference (miles) DeKalb 14, Sycamore 16.4, Yorkville 18.6, Rochelle 32.9, Morris 38.8, Ottawa 51.2, Dixon 55, Streator 67.1, Sterling 68.5, LaSalle-Peru 71.4, Geneseo 112

WSC (miles) Geneva 11.3, Batavia 12.2, DeKalb 14, Sycamore 16.4, Yorkville 18.6, Glenbard South 27.5, Rochelle 32.9

Now, in the spring of 2009, the Western Sun Conference looks as if its going supernova.

In late-April, Kaneland met with 11 other schools to draw up plans for a new 12-team conference that would kick off in the fall of 2010. The administration will recommend to the Kaneland School Board at the Tuesday, May 26, meeting to exit the eight-team Western Sun Conference.

Joining the exodus of the WSC with Kaneland would be DeKalb, Rochelle, Sycamore and Yorkville.

The proposed unnamed conference would also potentially include old SPC rival Morris, which is slated to join the North Central Illinois Conference in the fall. The new conference would only have Morris as an NCIC school for one year after leaving the Southwest Prairie Conference.

NCIC schools Dixon, Geneseo, LaSalle-Peru, Ottawa, Sterling and Streator, which make up the NCIC’s Reagan Division would round out the rest of the conference.

The shift would lead Western Sun rivals Batavia, Geneva and Glenbard South looking for new conference homes.

In the Western Sun Conference, KHS ranks eighth in enrollment with 1,140. Geneva’s 1,978 was first in the group.

The new conference would have Kaneland sixth out of 12. DeKalb’s 1,710 students would be at the top of the list, while Geneseo’s 914 would be at the rear.

The conference would likely use two six-team divisions, with the WSC schools pairing up with Morris for one of the divisions.

- Have your voice heard -

Kaneland Board of Education
Special Public Workshop
Monday, May 18 • 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Kaneland High School Library

District personnel will address Kaneland’s history of conference affiliations;
several reasons why a change in conferences is being considered at this time;
and, various aspects of the option being considered.
Questions and comments from the public can be heard.
The board will not consider the recommendation for conference change until Tuesday, May 26