Eye on Sports

There are only 30-match winners heading to state. And that makes sense as the best wrestlers make it to Assembly Hall in Champaign.

So without further ado, here are those Libertyville High School wrestlers heading to state next weekend. The most successful Wildcat on Saturday was 36-match winner Luke Gaeth (130). He placed second at the Barrington Sectional and will lead the Wildcats to state. He'll have some company. Kevin Tavakoli, wrestling at 145, took fourth place, and this senior will take a 35-13 record to state.

At 215, another senior, Luke Miller, placed second. His mark is 32-10. Now marked down as an alternate is Charlie Meyer at 125. He stands at 31-15 on the season.

Boys Swimming: This football player does quite well diving into a pool as well. Teddy Kelley is headed for more football at Wheaton College in the fall. But he's staying busy this winter as Libertyville's top diver. On Saturday, he placed second in diving at the NSC Meet with 376.7.

The young Wildcats scored 166 points good for fifth place in this event at Lake Forest. Fellow senior Ben Snader took second in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.39). And that freshman to watch, Alex Snarski, also took home a second place medal. He turned in a time of 53.84 in the 100 backstroke.

Girls Basketball: Before the NSC title game, Jackie Hansen's claim to fame was her address. As in her next door neighbor.

Who lives next door to Libertyville girls basketball player Hansen? Why it's the Wildcats' top player Savannah Trees. It seems these girls have been playing hoops together since they were little girls.

Trees was again the star of the NSC title game with Wauconda last week. She scored the last 10 points in the 37-27 win. What was more startling was the fact the unbeaten Wildcats struggled early. And that's when coach Kathie Swanson reached for her bench early and off came No. 33 Hansen. The junior, who rarely saw action this season, gave the Cats plenty of energy and some needed defense. She might be a player to watch next year when the key seniors graduate.

The next victory by this team will be a school record. Just imagine running the table in girls basketball. It's quite remarkable this team won 27 games in a row.

Next up is the Deerfield Regional. Naturally the Wildcats are the top seed in the Mundelein Sectional. Libertyville takes on the winner of Deerfield and Round Lake on Tuesday night. Also in this regional is Prospect. The Knights were Libertyville's first victim of the season.

Boys Basketball: Now this team does get to play on their home court for the regional. Coach Scott Bogumil's club is the 15th seed in the Barrington Sectional. Regional play opens for this club on Feb. 28. Palatine is the guest. The Pirates are the 19th seed. Libertyville's reward for winning this game would be to play the next night against third-seeded Barrington.

Friday night was a tough one for Libertyville. Neighbor Mundelein put the hurt on to the tune of 92-62. Ryan Barth led the offense with 16 points.

Saturday night's game closer. Maine South beat the Wildcats 41-34 in Milwaukee. It marked the Wildcats' fifth straight loss.

Ice Hockey: After 23 games, this team has 5 wins and 6 ties. And those goaltenders Erich Held (454 saves) and Max Laughlin (176 saves) are still getting tested nightly. Nick Young still paces the team in goals with eight. Scott Miller and Patrick Quinn both have five assists.