Think of Tom Achtien this way: If he were a baseball player, the York senior would be batting 1.000 this season.
He has been perfect so far in this fall’s two major cross-country invitationals. He won Sept. 22 at Palatine, and he took first last weekend in Peoria’s invitational at Detweiller Park, site of the state finals four weeks from Saturday.
But Achtien had mixed feelings at Palatine, where the Dukes lost for the first time (by two points to the Pirates) since he joined the varsity at the end of his sophomore season.
“It’s definitely motivational to lose,” said Achtien, who will be among the Class 3A individual favorites along with Neuqua Valley’s Chris Derrick and Hersey’s Kevin Havel. “There’s been a definite increase in the effort of some of the guys.”
Achtien said York coach Joe Newton, who is going for a 27th state title, told the team that it is “fit, completely ready.” It’s the mental part of the sport the Dukes need to get straight.
Achtien has narrowed his college choices to Illinois, Iona, Iowa and Georgetown. He finished 17th at state as a sophomore and eighth last season.
— Alan Sutton
Furio sets furious pace
Barrington’s Francesco Furio has absolutely nothing to be defensive about when it comes to his high school soccer career. Actually, he’s positively offensive.
A defender in club soccer, he switched to forward for the top-ranked Broncos (14-1), with impressive results. The four-year varsity player leads Barrington with 14 goals and 31 points.
“It’s a pretty big transition,” said Furio, who’s talking with several Division I schools for college soccer. “Playing both positions makes you understand each position better. Forward, it’s not so uptight — very free, and I can be creative if I need to.”
Furio ranks fourth on Barrington’s all-time goals list with 37 and seventh in points with 86, but he’s thinking more about earning Barrington’s second state quarterfinals trip than personal accolades.
“This year the way our team chemistry is, everything’s just clicked,” Furio said. “It’s pretty much a family, regardless of what happens. When we get off the field, it’s the same thing as on the field.”
— Dave Surico
Recruiting buzz
Brian Stinnette of ChicagoHoops.com reports that Curie point guard Donovan Foster has made an oral commitment to Detroit Mercy.
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Meanwhile, Lincoln Park guard Jeremy Montgomery is being pursued by Northern Illinois and Kent State, and 6-foot-4-inch Seton junior Tony Nixon is attracting interest from Wisconsin, NIU, Northeastern, Ball State and Drake.
Bartlett’s 6-6 Cory Hrynyk has offers from St. Joseph and Lewis and is also being recruited by Ball State, Rollins and Winona State, among others. Hrynyk’s teammate, 6-9 Kamil Janton, has committed to Eastern Illinois.
Beecher softball ace Alex Lagesse, who pitched a one-hitter in the 3-0 Class A title-game victory over Casey-Westfield, has made an oral commitment to Valparaiso. Former teammate Jill Jacobson is a freshman outfielder at Valpo.
— Bob Sakamoto