Several local graduates are playing significant roles on the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, which was 12-8-1 (5-2 Big Ten) through Jan. 26 and had won four of their past five games. Through 21 games, junior forward Ryan Wagner, a Park Ridge native, had five goals and 13 assists, ranking fifth on the Badgers in points.
Junior forward Matt Ustaski, a Glenview native and Lake Forest Academy graduate, has two goals on the season. Peter Tischke, a sophomore defenseman from Hinsdale, has two goals and three assists and has played in every game for the Badgers. Sophomore goaltender Matt Jurusik, a La Grange native, has 205 saves in 10 starts this season.
Demos selected to FCS All-Star Game
Glenbrook South graduate Mike Demos, a Butler redshirt senior offensive lineman, was selected to the 2016 FCS Bowl All-Star Game in Daytona Beach, Fla., which took place Dec. 4. Demos played in all 11 games in 2016 after he missed all of the 2015 season, helping lead a rushing attack that tallied 171 yards per game. He was named to the All-Pioneer Football League second team and the Academic All-PFL second team.
Nwoko off to fast start with Illini track
Illinois freshman Chisom Nwoko, an Oak Park-River Forest graduate, tied for second overall in women’s pole vault at the Illini Classic on Jan. 14. Nwoko cleared a height of 3.80 meters, a season-best mark, tying with teammate Sara McKeeman. Nwoko also helped Illinois’ 4 400-meter relay team clinch a victory with a time of 3:48.86.
A week earlier, Nwoko won the pole vault event at the Border Classic on Jan. 7 with a height of 3.75 meters.
On the Illini men’s track and field team, Eddie Smoliak, a sophomore pole vaulter from Highland Park, hit a new personal-best mark with a height of 4.70 meters on Jan. 14 at the Illini Classic.
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Sam Brief is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.