Early successes for Harlem as weather allows some contests

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Journal
Harlem track team members Taylor James, Jordynn Warren, Kahleea Washington, and Katie Dietmeier came in at 1:48.05 breaking the school record 4×200, a 51-year-old record at the Cogdal Relays meet.

By Bob Balgemann
REPORTER
About the only sure thing in the March weather roller coaster ride has been indoor track and boys vol-leyball .
Mother Nature has allowed a few outdoor games and matches for Harlem’s baseball, softball, soccer and tennis teams, with more wins than losses being recorded.
The indoor track season is winding with with the girls team taking a close second to Belvidere North, 140-131, in the NIC-10 meet. The 4-by-200-yard relay team won its face and set a new school record with a time of 1:48.05.
Another first-place effort was turned in by Kathleaa Washington, in the long jump. She also was third in the 60-meter dash, close behind the runner-up, teammate Jordynn Warren.
Chloe Fare won the 60-meter hurdles; Olivia Lewis came in second.
Emily Kern was second in the shot put as was Annie Meyers in the pole vault.
Third-place efforts came from Taylor James in both the 200-meter dash and 400-meter run; by Klaire Boisvert in the 800-meter run; both the 4-by-400 and 4-by-800-meter relay teams; and Katie Dietmeier in the long jump.
For the boys, Jayvious Johnson won the 60-meter hurdles; the 4-by-800-relay team also finished first.
Justin Braskett was second in the shot put as was the 4-by-200-meter relay team.
Third-place finishes came from Jalon Benson in the 60-meter dash; Jose Marquez in the pole vault; Mi-chael Gille in the 400-meter run; and Gabe Haun in the 200-meter dash.
The outdoor season should be starting soon.
Boys Volleyball is the only indoor sport that will continue into the spring season.
The Huskies started with a three-set victory over Belvidere Co-Op, winning the decisive game, 25-21. They took the first game, 25-14 and then lost, 25-23, as the Bucs forced a third game.
In their next outing they fell to Jefferson in straight sets, 25-21 and 25-19.
The girls soccer team is off to a good start, winning two of its first three games.
Bailee Blecker scored the game’s only goal, in the 41st minute of the second half, to give the Lady Huskies a 1-0 opening victory over visiting DeKalb. Adela Pelayo was credited with an assist.
Leah Starnes and Sydnie Gribble scored two goals each, while Pelayo added one, in a following 5-0 win over NIC-10 opponent, Jefferson. Harlem’s only loss was 3-0, at the hands of Burlington Central.
After an opening 3-3 tie with Rochelle, Harlem won its first baseball game of the season, 12-2, and in doing so handed Woodstock North (3-1) its first loss. Eric Steiner had another solid day at the plate with two hits, and three RBIs. He also scored twice.
Harlem’s junior varsity was successful against North as well, 6-3, with Noah Mandujano pitching the win.
In boys tennis, Harlem edged DeKalb at both the varsity and junior varsity levels by identical scores of 3-2.
The Lady Huskie softball team has been invited to participate in the Chicago Bandits Jamboree on May 20 at The Ballpark in Rosemont. They will play River Forest Trinity at 6 p.m.
Trinity is a college prepatory, Roman Catholic high school for girls with an enrollment of more than 500.
The Bandits are a professional, fastpitch softball team.
In a coaching change, Scott Lemke has been named head coach of the boys golf team. He replaces longtime head coach Jared Day, who retired late last year after 17 years in that position.
Day was a Harlem coach of the year in 2014 and also that year, freshman Austin Young became the first Huskie to qualify for state.
Lemke also is the head boys basketball coach.