7 More Harlem Student-Athletes Moving on to Compete in College

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Journal
Congratulations to Harlem athletes (from left) Damarian Stark – Lincoln College-Basketball and Track; Thomas Morris – Lora’s College – Football; Brooke Mirshak – Rockford University-Volleyball; Kendra Belisle – North Park University – Tennis; Emily Derry – North Central College – Wrestling; Preston Schuelke – Luther College-Wrestling; and Becca Hagerman – McKendree University – Bowling.

7 more Harlem student-athletes moving on to compete in college
By Bob Balgemann
REPORTER
Seven student-athletes representing the tennis, basketball/track, football, wrestling, volleyball and bowling programs at Harlem High School have signed national letters of intent to attend colleges and universities in the Midwest.
Another large crowd turned out in the Commons area of the school April 17 to witness the ceremonial signings and hear the athletes express their thanks to those who made that day possible.
Also last week the weather was such that a number of Harlem’s spring sports teams were able to get in some games.
Kendra Belisle is bound for North Park University in Chicago, where she will play tennis.
She was part of Harlem’s No. 1 doubles team last season, with Samantha Flaningam, and they qualified for state. Both were first team, all-conference as well. Samantha signed earlier this season to attend Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.
North Park, an NCAA Division III school, is home of the Vikings and competes in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Emily Derry plans to wrestle for North Central College, an NCAA Division III school, in Naperville. The Cardinals are members of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
McKendree University in Lebanon attracted another Harlem bowler – Rebecca “Becca” Hagerman. Her older sister, Sammi, is a graduate of McKendree and currently an assistant varsity bowling coach at Harlem. Now Becca will be joining Harlem grads Dawson Jones and Jake Nimtz, incoming juniors, at McKendree.
Becca has amazing credentials that include being most valuable player of not only the NIC-10 but of the state tournament, the latter for the past two years. She helped the Lady Huskies win the state championship in two of the last three years and to repeat this year as conference champion.
Brooke Mirshak will continue playing her chosen sport, volleyball, at Rockford University in Rockford. The Regents are a Division III school that participates in the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference.
Thomas Morris transferred from suburban Waukegan to Harlem for his senior year. He will continue his education, and playing football, at Loras College, a Division III school and home of the Du-Hawks. They compete in the American Rivers Conference.
As a Huskie, he participated in three sports. He started in the offensive line for the varsity football team and finished with a 26-15 record while wrestling at 285 pounds. Currently, he is leading a talented group of throwers on the track and field team, competing in both the shot put and discus events.
Another wrestler, Preston Schuelke, will continue in that sport at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Home of the Norse, Luther is a Division III school that participates in the American Rivers Conference. He qualified for the sectional tournament last year, after taking second place at 152 pounds in the regional, and finished the season with a 20-16 record.
Damarian Stark has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball and run track for Lincoln College in Lincoln, an NAIA Division II school. The Lynx are members of the Association of Independent Institutions Conference. Stark was a reserve on the basketball team and currently is part of various relay teams in track.
Week’s results
Harlem’s varsity boys volleyball team rallied from an opening 25-18 loss to visiting Rockford East to win the NIC-10 match, 25-17, 25-17. The junior varsity also won, while the freshmen took their match in straight sets, 25-17, 25-12.
The frosh/soph softball team took second in the Harlem Invitational, losing 14-6 to Hononegah in the finals. Previously, the Lady Huskies defeated Hoffman Estates, 9-8, and Hampshire, 15-2.
Harlem’s junior varsity also participated in the invitational, defeating DeKalb, 11-5, and Elgin Larkin, 24-3.
Belvidere North handed the Harlem boys tennis team another tough loss, 3-2.
The Huskies No. 1 doubles team remained undefeated by winning in two sets, 6-0 and 6-1. The other win came from the No. 3 doubles team, which took the decisive third game, 6-3. Harlem’s No. 2 doubles team suffered a three-set loss.
In girls soccer, DeKalb defeated Harlem, 5-1, in a non-conference game.