Colleges: Benet’s Sobolewski enters Big 10 fray
BY DAN CHAMNESS For Sun-Times Media January 8, 2013 5:34PM
Northwestern point guard Dave Sobolewski is averaging in double figures in scoring and leads the Wildcats in assists with 61. | NORTHWESTERN PHOTO
Updated: February 10, 2013 6:11AM
The Northwestern basketball team built a 9-4 overall record before Christmas.
But every Wildcat, including Naperville resident and Benet graduate Dave Sobolewski, had to know when the 2013 portion of the season started, the real war was on. And the Wildcats could not have started the Big 10 Conference schedule with a tougher matchup — Michigan, the second-ranked team in the country.
“Michigan is a very tough team,” said Sobolewski. “If you look at the conference from top to bottom, there are no easy games. They will all be tough. There have been ups and downs in the first 14 games of the season. Our team is constantly changing, because of injuries. My role is changing by the day. I am just trying to help us win some games.”
Through the first 14 games, Sobolewski is averaging in double figures, scoring 11.0 points per game. In addition to his 154 points, he also has a team-leading 61 assists, 33 rebounds and 12 steals. The 6-foot-1 sophomore guard, has hit 45-of-97 field goals and 39-of-60 free throws. He is over 40 percent from beyond the arc as well, nailing 25-of-54 from beyond the arc.
In the 94-66 loss to Michigan, Sobolewski finished with seven points, five assists and three rebounds. He started and played 34 minutes.
While Northwestern can count on the services of Sobolewski, the Wildcats will have to do without the services of Naperville Central graduate Drew Crawford for the rest of the year. The 6-5, 210-pound senior was injured in game 10 and will require shoulder surgery. He is eligible to return in one year after receiving a medical hardship.
Through the 10th game the Wildcats were 7-3. Crawford, along with Sobolewski, was one of three athletes that was averaging in double figures at the time. Crawford, who was averaging 31.8 minutes per game, had 135 points and 46 rebounds, respective averages of 13.5 and 4.6 per game. The former Redhawk also had 17 assists, 10 steals and seven blocked shots. Crawford hit 48-of-120 field goals and 22-of-27 free throws. He had 17 treys.
“Drew aggravated a previous injury in early September and attempted to play through it, but it just hasn’t responded as we all would have liked,” said Northwestern head coach Bill Carmody. “While it hurts to lose a player of Drew’s caliber, it provides an opportunity for his teammates to step up and contribute.”
Northwestern is currently 9-6 and 0-2 in the Big 10 after a loss Sunday at Minnesota. The Wildcats play at Penn State Thursday.
Cameron Brate (Naperville Central) was a second-team NCAA Division I-Football Championship Series All-American pick by the Beyond Sports Network. But in the classroom, the Harvard tight end was a first-team pick. He earned NCAA Division I-FCS Academic All-American pick by Capital One/CoSIDA. Brate was one of 24 players named to the team. He was the only Ivy League player named to the academic team. The former Redhawk, who started and played in 10 games, finished with 592 receiving yards on 41 catches. Of his catches, six were touchdown snares. He helped the Crimson finish 8-2.
Roosevelt’s Becky Williford (Waubonsie Valley) scored 13 points to help defeat San Diego Christian 89-82. Williford, 4-of-7 from the field and 5-of-8 from the free throw line, also had three steals, two rebounds and two assists. She started and played 38 minutes. Roosevelt teammate Erica Jordan (Waubonsie Valley), who played 12 minutes off the bench, finished with two points and seven rebounds. Roosevelt is 12-3.
Austin Peay got seven points from Matt Hasse (Naperville North), but it was not enough to power the Governors past High Point, which won 76-70. Hasse also had two rebounds and two assists. He came off the bench and played 15 minutes. Austin Peay is 4-10.
Eastern Illinois swimmer Joe Ciliak (Naperville Central) helped the Panthers win two relay events in a 198-170 dual meet victory over Evansville. Ciliak was a member of the victorious 300-yard breaststroke relay (3 minutes, 4.77 seconds) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:19.26). He also was a member of the runner-up 500-yard freestyle relay (4:25.13) and 800-yard medley relay (8:14.31).
In its CCIW opener, Millikin women’s basketball team was beaten by Carthage 83-57. Millikin junior forward Bria Williams (Neuqua Valley) finished with seven points, four rebounds and two steals. In the Big Easy Challenge in New Orleans, Millikin (5-6, 0-1) was topped by Wisconsin-Whitewater 58-49. Williams finished with six points, eight rebounds and five steals.
Oberlin freshman swimmer Allison Susin (Naperville Central) placed in the top five of three different events at the Oberlin Invitational. She was second in the 400-yard individual medley (5:4.52) and was also a part of three fifth-place Oberlin relays — the 400 freestyle relay (3:58.25), the 800 freestyle relay (8:50.61) and the 200 freestyle relay (1:47.89). Oberlin (699.5) finished second to Centre College (718.5).
Cornell’s Peter Catchings (Neuqua Valley) had four points and three rebounds in each of Cornell’s losses to Carroll (83-65) and Westminster (80-68) and Carroll (83-65). With the pair of losses, Cornell slipped to 4-7 overall.
DePauw’s Emma Ondik (Naperville Central) finished with two points in 18 minutes against Rockford. DePauw (11-0) is No. 1 in Division III and recently won the Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.
New York-Polytechnic junior Ryane Pappa (Waubonsie Valley) has played in five games this year. The guard, who averages 10.4 minutes per game, has six points and five rebounds. She also has two assists and two steals.
