Schools

With First Senior Class, LW-West Sends Student Athletes to College

Six students at Lincoln-Way West signed to play sports in college and were recognized Thursday.

A couple years ago, when the Lincoln-Way High School District opened its West campus, some students inevitably had to become competitors of friends they had for so long called teammates.

West Senior Michael Marotta grew up playing basketball with his best friend, Alex Severson, but the two weren't teammates after Marotta went to West and Severson stayed at Lincoln-Way Central. Now, the two will reunite on the court at Ashford University in Iowa.

"I love hanging out with Alex. He's a good guy, a great basketball player," said Marotta, who hasn't decided a major but said he's interested in biology.

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Marotta was one of six student athletes recognized Thursday at Lincoln-Way West for signing to play sports in college. Joining him are:

  • Monica Hahn, who will run cross country at Lewis University. She plans to study psychology. She's been to state the last three years and finished 13th in state once. "I like the feeling of accomplishing my goals. I love going out and competing."
  • Brent Hodge, who will play football at McKendree University. The right tackle helped with a strong Warriors run game last year, and he could move to center on the offensive line in college. He plans to major in sports management.
  • Kevin Kintzel, who will play football at Western Illinois University. The star linebacker was two-time All-Conference and holds the school's career tackles record. The linebacker could play free safety in college, and he was also looking at Southern Illinois and Illinois State He plans to major in law enforcement.
  • Sara Losacco, who will play basketball and track at Trinity University. She plans to major in nursing, and after being recruited for basketball she asked if she could also run track. "I've always been busy. I fee like if I didn't do anything I'd be bored."
  • Kaitlyn Ray, who will play basketball at the University of St. Francis. The leader of the Warriors reached the 1,000-point milestone this year and plans to study physical therapy in college.

Marotta wasn't the only person affected by moving to a new school; all the students were. It took building a new athletics program and getting the word out about the talented students at the school. But the strength of sports in the area helped out.

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"It's a great area for high school athletes, so we knew we'd have some good (athletes)," athletic director Ted Robbins said. "We've got quality people coaching who already have lots of connections. And the Lincoln-Way name carries a lot. (Recruiters) know the quality of the kids here."

The high school opened and recruiters were immediately calling, Robbins said. One from a Mid-American Conference school was driving through town and saw West. He didn't know there was a new high school, but decided to stop in because he liked the students from this area.

Regardless, getting recruited still takes a lot of work from students and their parents. Ray, for instance, played Amateur Athletic Union basketball over the summer and put out a recruiting tape everywhere possible. Kintzel said his parents put in hundreds of hours helping him with taping games and other ins and outs of reruiting, and that he spent last summer going to showcase camps.

"Last summer I hit every camp I possibly could," he said. "I didn't really have a life. But we're definitely starting a legacy here, starting new traditions. It's hopefully a big hint of what's more to come at Lincoln-Way West."

The student athletes all said that even though the programs at West are just two years in, the athletes here are great and have laid a foundation for future Warriors.

"If you want to play sports, it's a good place to come," Ray said. "We're about winning, but also about school."

The combination of athletics and academics is key, Robbins said, because it can help open even more opportunities for student athletes. Robbins goes to junior high schools and tries to drill home the point of doing well in the classroom the excel in sports. This senior class, the school's first, is an example of that, Robbins said.

"It's emotional to see them go," he said. "They just show, through hard work and perseverance, and taking care of things in the classroom, that you can go to the next level. It's just a byproduct of great kids and great coaches. It's good to see their hard work pay off."


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