Who Made Lisle’s Prep Spring Sports Honor Roll?

Just as schools have released their spring semester academic honor rolls, Patch has released its spring sports honor roll for Lisle’s high schools: Lisle Senior High School and Benet Academy.

The recently concluded 2011 spring sports season was one that turned out to be chock-full of top-notch performances.

Here is the honor roll (10 athletes), in alphabetical order, along with five honorable mentions:

Mackenzie Buchelt, junior, Lisle softball—Buchelt, the team’s RBI leader in 2011, will lead a lineup that remains virtually intact going into . She was solid defensively for the Lions at third base, and swing a big bat all season. Buchelt brought her “A” game to the Class 2A state tourney, driving in the team’s only run in the third-place game and going 3-for-4 with two RBIs during the Lions’ loss to Morrison in the semifinals.

Bekka Houda, senior, Lisle softball—After enduring  supersectional losses in 2009 and 2010, the Lions made it to the promised land of the Class 2A state tournament this spring, and Houda is a big reason why they got there. The Lions’ ace struck out 231 batters while going 21-4 and registering a 1.01 ERA. One of her victories was a no-hit gem against Geneva. Houda takes her game to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater next spring.

Maeve McGuire, sophomore, Benet softball—The sky’s the limit for McGuire, who went 3-for-5 in the Class 4A state third-place game, led the teams in runs (49) and doubles (26), tied for the team lead in homers (five) and hit .469—an average that was second on the squad. She did all this as the team’s leadoff hitter. McGuire also was one double shy of equaling the state record for most two-base hits in a single season (the state record is 27).

Nick Moore, senior, Benet baseball—Recruited by the University of Missouri, Moore posted statistics this season (.389 average, four homers, 29 RBIs) that were nearly identical to his numbers as a junior (.404, four homers, 30 RBIs). Moore’s batting average led the team, and he was an all-East Suburban Catholic Conference selection.

Claire Munaretto, senior, Benet girls soccer—Undoubtedly one  of the top goalkeepers in the area—coach Henry Wind has said she’s one of the top goalies in the state—it was a major feat if an opponent managed to score off Munaretto. She posted 14 shutouts and recorded a stingy 0.55 goals-against average for the Redwings, who were 18-5-3 this season.    

Allyson Staats, senior, Benet softball—Staats was the catalyst behind Benet’s march to its first appearance at the state softball tournament in school history (the Redwings finished third in the state). A workhorse on the mound, she established a new school record for most pitching victories in a single season with 29 and piled up 222 strikeouts in 264 2/3 innings with a 1.48 ERA. At bat, Staats hit .397 and was second on the team in RBIs with 34. She will play at Union College next year.

Summer Stitt, freshman, Lisle softball—Stitt played shortstop with the poise of an upperclassman throughout Lisle’s run to the state tournament. Lisle’s leadoff hitter, she batted .376, belted a team-leading three homers and was second on the team in RBIs.

Nicole Urban, senior, Lisle girls soccer—Although the Lions suffered a quick exit in the postseason, added to her school-record total for career goals this season. Urban, who’s among the state’s top 15 goal-scorers of all time, came into 2011 with 104 career goals, and found the back of the net 25 more times this spring despite missing eight games due to an injury. She leaves Lisle with 129 career goals. Next stop for Urban is Iowa City, where she’ll begin her college career with the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.

Ryan Van Volkenburg, sophomore, Lisle baseball—Named to the all-Interstate Eight Conference team for the second straight season, Van Volkenburg hit either second or third in the Lions’ lineup. He had 44 hits, two homers and 30 RBIs. On the mound, the left-hander was 4-0 with 45 strikeouts.

Anne Yahiro, junior, Benet girls track—Yahiro earned her second all-state medal in as many years in the Class 3A triple jump. After placing eighth as a sophomore, she jumped up to fifth this time around.

Honorable mention

Melanie Early, junior, Lisle softball—Early hit over .400 for the Lions and had a 7-2 record as a pitcher with an ERA under 1.00.

R.J. Gatto, senior, Benet baseball—Gatto, recruited by the University of Chicago, hit a team-best seven homers and tied for the team lead in RBIs with 30.

Bobby Martin and Mike Schutt, Benet boys tennis—The duo won four of the six matches it played at the state tournament, and advanced to the fifth consolation round.

Anthony Ventrella, senior, Lisle boys track—Ventrella just missed getting all-state honors in the long jump and triple jump at the Class 1A state meet with 10-place finishes in both events.

Bobby Wehril, junior, Benet boys volleyball—The outside hitter collected almost 300 kills and 100 digs for Benet in 2011.