Ljunggren opts for St. Norbert basketball

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Before Chad Ljunggren could go about the business of finding a college for athletics, he had to decide which sport he would be playing.

The 6-foot Prairie Ridge senior has six varsity letters – three in baseball and three in basketball. He was an integral part of the Wolves’ IHSA Class 4A state championship baseball team in 2008 as a sophomore. He was a Northwest Herald All-Area first-team selection in basketball this year, after making the second team last season.

Ljunggren opted for basketball and a few weeks ago committed to NCAA Division III St. Norbert in De Pere, Wis.

“Over the summer, I got mono and missed the Stevenson Showcase (for baseball), and I missed some big tournaments (in travel baseball),” Ljunggren said. “I didn’t get a lot of looks (from baseball coaches). There weren’t a lot of baseball guys talking to me. I like basketball most anyway. That’s where my heart is.”

Ljunggren will join three other former Fox Valley Conference players at St. Norbert playing for coach Gary Grzesk. Former Dundee-Crown forward Paul Mallers and former Grayslake Central player Mike Brumm play for the Green Knights, and Grayslake Central’s Josh Rappaport will be in Ljunggren’s freshman class.

“Their program was great,” Ljunggren said. “The way they run their program is something I liked. They were 23-4 and made the second round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament, and they lose one senior.”

That might make it tough for Ljunggren to find playing time as a freshman, but he is not overly concerned.

“Coach [Grzesk] is a good coach, and I’ll be learning from guys who have been in the program for four years,” Ljunggren said.

Ljunggren averaged 15 points a game as a junior on a Wolves team that was 18-12 and won the FVC Fox Division. He averaged 15.2 points this season, and Prairie Ridge finished 12-16. He is a starter in baseball for the third consecutive season, this time as shortstop.

Good sports: Crystal Lake Central won an IHSA “Do What’s Right” for the Class 2A Dual Team Wrestling State Tournament. The awards are given to teams and their fans who demonstrate positive interaction with the opposing team, display modesty and grace in victory or defeat, respect officials and generally exhibit positive behavior.

Anderberg, Schultz to Judson: Huntley senior Katlyn Anderberg and Crystal Lake South senior J.R. Schultz have signed to play golf next year at Judson University in Elgin.

Anderberg finished third in the FVC Tournament last year and was a Northwest Herald All-Area second-team selection. Schultz was part of a Gators team that took third in the FVC Tournament.

Three out, three in: Jacobs boys basketball coach Jim Hinkle has all 16 teams under contract for the Jacobs Holiday Classic next season.

Three teams left the tournament – Chicago Lindblom, Wauconda and Woodstock – while three others – Huntley, Chicago Hope and Chicago Tilden – are coming in. Huntley played in the tournament several years ago, but then switched to the DeKalb Tournament.

• Joe Stevenson covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at 815-526-4513. He also can be reached by fax at 815-459-5640 or by e-mail at jstevenson@nwherald.com.