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PACK fi PI. \IVDE ALER - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5.1*2 World's Number One Sport : • 1 Invading McHenry Parks MIKE LAMB Soccer. It's a sport that isn't among America's top popular sports. The traditional American sports such as football, baseball, basketball, golf and tennis still rule the roost in this country. But, soccer is gaining fast in popularity all over. And McHenry is no different. The Parks and Recreation soccer program in McHenry is in its third year and each year more children participate. * The first summer program at­ tracted 80 boys and girls between the ages of six and 14. The next year 130 girls and boys signed up and this past summer 225 part icpa ted. And for the first time, a fall program was started and 300 boys and girts signed up. Those are pretty good numbers when you stop and think about the number of established ativities soccer has to compete with. What makes soccer so attractive to children this age? "It's an easy sport for kids to pick up," said Pete Merkel, Park and Recreation Director. "It's not like baseball were you can stick a kid out in right field. It's really a simple game. All the basic skills can be picked up easily. "And its not an expensive sport. It doesn't need any equipment or fancy uniforms. For a park department, it's an easy program to adopt and not a big cost." Merkel's program uses parents and other volunteers to operate the program. Merkel says the response from parents, especially in the past fall program is good. in most cases, acording to Merkel, parents are learning about the sport. The parents knew little about soccer before they got involved, but through clinics and just getting involved, parents have picked up the necessary knoweledge. GOAL SAVING -- The Red Go Fors soccer team held a practice at Freand Field Wednesday. They are the league leaders In the It and 11 year-old age division. Last Saturday they defeated the Gold Mustangs 3-0. Vetsonphan Bouttahpaanh is shown protecting the goal after one of his teammates kicked the ball. STAFF PHOTOS -- MIKE LAMB Jeff Piatt moves the ball down field towards the goal area, while Shelly Jargstorf runs along side of him. "They are learning and playing at the same time," said Merkel cm the players and the parents. "It's simple picking up the rules and basic skills. We just get them out playing. The more they play, the faster they pick it up" Witn the fall program schedule coming to a close, Merkel has graded it a success. The reasoning: less activities to compete with. Merkel says the soccer program might continue just in the fall. The program is separated in four age groups; 6-7, 8-9, 10-11 and 12-14. Eventually, as the program grows, high school ages will be added. Now the interest isn't there, said Merkel. The uniqie aspect of the program is that boys and girls play together, that makes it diferent from Little League and other programs which separate the two. The one characteristic Merkel thinks his program has developed is, "Playing for the fun of it. Standings are not important and it's not blood or guts." Merkel says he has seen soccer programs grow in other communities also. Before McHenry had a program, many boys and girls traveled to areas like Crystal Lake just to play soccer.. To the baseball, football and basketball diehards, soccer will never take over. But, while soccer may still rank low in America, it's the world's number one popular sport and its growing. SATURDAY RESULTS 6-7 AGE DIVISION Blue Streaks tied Red Rug Rats 0-0. Maroon Lightning defeated. Green Hornets 3-1 (goals: Burmeister, O'Dwyer, Lindberg, Mazurek.) Orange Eagles defeated Gold Sockers 1-0 (goals: Wirch.) 8-9 AGE DIVISION Red Sting Rays defeated Blue Blazers 1-0 (goals: Marinangel). Maroon Lightning defeated Green Machine 2-1 (goals: Lee, Sears, Ekstrom.) Orange Demons tied Golden Bears 1-1 (goals; Harvey, Cunningham.) 10-11 AGE DIVISION Red Go Fors defeated Gold Mustangs 3-0 (goals: Jargstorf, Piatt 2.) Blue Demons defeated Green Machine 1-0 (goals: Ricci.) 12-14 AGE DIVISION Green Leprechauns defeated Blue Streaks 3-2 (goals: Ballowe 2, Strom, Hoffman, Threlkeld. The Long Road To The State Meet * Skyhawks Advance To Sectional Title Match Boys' Take On Tough Field At Harrier Sectional Meet "Pretty tough" Thats how McHenry Warrior cross country Coach Bill Hut- the boys' meet in Schaumburg Saturday. A total of 16 schools and 20 individuals will be battling for a spot in the state meet. Even at full strength, Hut­ chinson doesn't expect his team to capture the sectional title. "The toughest team there will be Palatine. They were fifth at state last year. Deerfield won their regional and so did Loyola Academv "Palatine is very tough. We're going for second, but hoping for a first. We really have to run our . We hav best race. ive to get all our runners up there. Our fourth and Fifth runners have to finish up high." Last Saturday, the Warriors placed second at the Hoffman Estates regional. Conant, who was also at the meet, finished first. Chris Creutz was the in­ dividual champion. The other 11 schools represented are: Palatine, Frwnd, Maine West, Arlington, Hoffman Estates, Maine East, New Trier, Glenbrook, Highland Park,Libertyville and Mundelein. Hutchinson says his team is at its peak right now and so are his two top runners; Steve Carby and Creutz. They will be battling Tim Phillips pf St. Viators for the individual championship. Best Effort Not Enough For Girls' Cross Country Race Sometimes your best is not enough and that is the situation the McHenry girls' cross country team finds itself. ** If his girls are to qualify for the Illinois state cross country meet in Peoria, Coach Bill Hutchinson figures "they will have to run better than their best race." Last Saturday the Warriors captured third place to qaulify for Saturday's sectional meet in Schaumburg. In the same breath that Hut­ chinson says how tough it will be, he knows his girls' can do it. "We can do it if everybody runs a good race. It will be pretty tough. We hope to qualify, but it will be tough." Hutchinson says Hoffman Estates will be the team to beat. If the Warriors don't happen to make it as a team, Hutchinson says a couple of his girls' could make it individually. Delia Saunders is one of them. She was slowed a bit by a foot injury and still finished eighth at the regional meet with a time of 12:34. Kelly Brough and Pam Bradley could also make it, according to Hutchinson. Bradley finished 10th and Brough finished 12th. To qualify individually, Hut­ chinson says, "they will really have to run though." SCOTT MCCLORY HAMPPSHIRE - The Johnsburg girls' volleyball team traveled to Hampshire on Tuesday to begin sectional competition. ; r The Skyhawks faced Shabonni and beat them in two games. This win increased their seasonal record to 15- 6. The Skyhawks faced the Raiders of Earlville for the sectional cham­ pionship on Thursday. "We seemed a little nervous and tense, but we managed to pull it together to take one more match," said Johnsburg Coach Sharal Koenigseder. "Gail (Wroblewski) and Jane (Pecucci) did a nice job setting considering the absence of Theresa Hauck. The school spirit was great and we really appreciate it. This type of support can sometimes make a difference in a game. "Thursday we need to relax and play our game against Earlville." In the first game, with the score at 1-2, Gail Wroblewski served for Johnsburg. She served two points for the Johnsburg squad, which gave them a 3-2 advantage. Senior Diane Heard followed with four serves of her own, increasing the Skyhawk lead to 7-3. With the score at 8-4, junior Mary Ann Christie apprcached the serving line. She pounded fife b^er the! net, increasing the Skyhawk marginlto a 12-4 blow-out. Lori Nichols added two serves of her own and Heard recorded the deciding serve. Johnsburg beat Shabonna by a 15-5 score. Heard led all players with three spikes and one kill. Wroblewski and Jane Pecucci each had five sets to their credit. The Skyhawks were still strong in the second game and the same score was recorded. With the score tied 2-2, Heard had two straight serves, giving the Skyhawk squad a 4-2 lead. The Indians brought the score to 5-5 and Pecucci served at this time. She recorded four serves and the Skyhawks regained the lead 9-5. Three serves by Wroblewski raised the Skyhawk lead to 12-5. Then Nichols earned credit for three serves also and Johnsburg won the second match 15-7. Heard had six spikes, four of which were kills. Pecucci led the squad in sets with seven. The McHenry Plaindealer 6ports Johnsburg To Face 7-1 Warren Squad In Final With only one win, the Warren Blue Devils isn't the type of team the Johnsburg Skyhawks would like to face for the last football game of season. Warren is in second place in the Northwest Suburban Conference with a 5-1 record and a 7-1 overall record. Only the Antioch Seqouits have a better record, a 6-0 conference record. Johnsburg, meanwhile, is pulling up the rear in the conference with a 1-5 record and a 1-7 overall record. After finally winning its first game of season against Lake Zurich, the Skyhawks lost last week to Round Lake 34-14. Warren defeated Lake Zurich 20-7 to keep pace with Antioch. "Warren is an excellent football team. They are state playoff material," said Skyhawk Coach, Randy Oberembt. "Were going to work on fun­ damentals. Were going to have to play extremely well. It's the seniors last Jackson Ready For Sectionals-State HOW DO YOU WIN THIS MUC #1-MAKE YOUR FAMILY MORE WARM & COMFY THIS WINTER . #2-SAVE LOTS OF MONEY BY DOING #1 #3-DO #1 AND #2 WITH Magnetic (Thermo! Windows He's 100 percent and ready to go. That's the word on Johnsburg's only cross country representative left after regional competition. Jay Jackson, recovering from a leg injury since the Amboy Invitational Oct. 11, is one of four favorites to win the Amboy sectional individual title. John King of Immaculate Con­ ception is the favorite to win, along with Don Schaefer of Wathern Lutheran and Brian Spitz of Latin School. Both Skyhawk Coach Bob Texidore and Jackson himself feel the chances are excellent. "I should be in the top 10 and that should get me down there (state)," said Jackson. "I can run with him 1 (King), not saying I can't beat him." After seeing the ratings, Texidore says Jackson should have no problem making it to state. "I think John King will win. I think at the state meet Jay will challenge him. Jay is an underdog and so is Schaeffer a underdog. He does have a shot at winning it if he stays healthy. "We're developing his program so he peaks at the right time. We're not only preparing for Saturday, but next Saturday as well. The season has been a roller coaster of ups and downs for the senior Skyhawk. Things were going really good until the injury. He missed several meets, including the McHenry County meet. He feels he could have beaten Steve Carby of McHenry, the individual winner of that meet. "Hie injury hurt me mentally more than physically, but I have that worked out," said Jackson. Jackson's first meet after the injury was the Northwest Suburban Con­ ference. He placed fifth while only about 80 percent healed according to Texidore. The leg still wasn't com­ pletely healed at the regional meet at Burlington. He placed sixth with a time of 15:36. "It all depends on the weather," said Jackson on what kind of time he is capable of. "If it's a good day, I'm hopeful of 14:50 or under." Jackson added, "What he does will be on guts and strength. He's a pretty tough guy and shouldn't have too much trouble. I don't worry too much about him." his Winter, more than ever, you cant afford _ not to!! FACTORY SHOWROOMS I HWV. 14 No. WALWORTH, Wl 53184 HOURS: Daily 8-5 Saturdays 9-12 or CALL 414-275-2176 < ADMIRATION 'See today at game and we are just going to go out and play." Warren is led by its all-state quarterback Kent Iwema. Oberembt says the Blue Devils are mainly a running team, but will pass also. During their last week of practice, the Skyhawks have been working on something that killed them last week against Round Lake -- pass protec­ tion. The Warren defense chased quarterback Jeff Jayko enough to hinder the Skyhawks from moving forward. Jayko only completed 11 passes on 28 attempts. Parks & Recreation Basketball The Biddy Basketball program is back again for the winter months. Second thru fifth grade boys and girls will drill on basics on basketball such as dribbling, passing, pivoting and shooting. The City of McHenry Department of Parks and Recreation is taking registration for this program. Dan Boland will be teaching this class on Saturday mornings over at the McHenry Junior High School. The first class will begin on Jan. 8 and run for six weeks. For the different times of the classes and fees call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 344-3300. SOCCER Soccer is going to be played this winter at Parkland Junior High School. The program is being offered by the city of McHenry Department of Parks and Recreation. This game stresses and helps to develop speed, agility and sportsmanship, as well as physical fitness for boys and girls in first grade to fifth grade. This soccer program will be held on Saturday mornings starting on Jan. 8 for sue weeks. There are different times for each age group so call the Department of Parks and Recreation for further information at 344-3300. TIRED OF DRIVING ¥0 THE AIRPORT? TRY US? Mclienry-O'hare Limousine Service 7 Days a Week 24 Hr. Service r j i SCUBA LESSONS Join The Fun - Learn How To Dive Now NEXT CLASS BEGINS SUNDAY - NOV. 21 AT CAMP DUNCAN YMCA Call Today For Details 312-546-4664 BRING IN THIS AD AND GET 10°o OFF ON PURCHASE OF MASK, FINS, & SNORKEL 202 E. Main St. * Route 134 .Round Lake Park, II. _ 1 60073 HOURS: MQN.-TUES.-THURS.-FR1. 2-9 WED. 2-6 SAT. \Q-6