JAMESON JOHNSON, a former Pecatonica High School athlete, opened the season for the Rock Valley College (Ill) baseball team.
Johnson, a 6-2 sophomore utility player, hammered a pair of solo home runs for the Golden Eagles; one against Lake Land College (Mo) with the other against Highland Community College (III).
The Golden Eagles fell to Lake Land, 14-4, before defeating Highland, 4-3.
Johnson also slapped a double and a single against Highland.
RVC (1-3, 0-0) travels to Union, Mo., to play a four-game series against East Central College (Mo) beginning Saturday.
ELIJAH KNUTSON, a former Pecatonica High School athlete, is playing another season on the WLC baseball team.
Knutson is a 5-10 sophomore catcher for the Warriors and wears No. 26.
AIDEN GRUENENFELDER, a former Pecatonica High School athlete, had a strong weekend for the Loras men’s wrestling team.
Gruenenfelder, a freshman at 125 lbs, went 3-1 and captured third place at the DIII Regional 6 meet in Dubuque.
By virtue of his finish, Gruenenfelder earns a trip to the NCAA DIII national championships in Cedar Rapids, Ia.
He placed third following a nodoubt 18-5 major decision over Carter West from Central College (Ia).
Gruenenfelder’s first match in the consolation bracket had much more drama; he battled Shelton Chastain from University of the Ozarks (Ark) and prevailed 13-12.
Following a 2-0 decision over Jase Van Pelt from Cornell College (Ia), Gruenenfelder was upended by eventual champion Brett Birchman from Wartburg, 12-8, in the semi-finals.
The Duhawks were runners-up to Wartburg College (Ia) after scoring 173.5 points.
Loras (17-3, 3-1) returns to action in the national championships, March 13-14.
AVA WIEGEL, a former Argyle High School athlete, was on the diamond for the Beloit College softball team last Saturday.
Wiegel, a freshman C/1B, had one at bat each in losses to UW-Superior, 7-0, and Wisconsin Lutheran College, 8-1.
She struck out against the Yellowjackets and lined into a double play against the Warriors.
Beloit (1-3, 0-0) travels to Winter Haven, Fla., for the Spring Games beginning Sunday.
ANNA TISCH, a former Pecatonica High School athlete, was in one event for the University of Mary (ND) women’s track team last weekend.
Tisch, a sophomore sprinter/hurdler, made the most of her appearance at the NSIC championships by running a new personal best.
She placed eighth in the 600m in 1:38.64, and missed advancing into the finals by three-tenths of a second. The Marauders tallied 111 points to place second among the 15 teams.
UMary is scheduled to begin its outdoor season on March 21.