COLLEGE CHECK-UP: Hickey wins two MVC indoor titles

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La Salle-Peru graduate and Illinois State University sophomore Rachel Hickey had a strong showing at the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships over the weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

On Saturday, Hickey teamed with Annie Moore, Audrey Harrod and Hattie Plumb to win the distance medley relay in 11:45.99, which is the eighth-best time in ISU history.

Hickey came back Sunday to win the mile in 4:52.11.

Hickey also claimed the indoor women’s track and field Elite 17 Award, which is given to the athlete with the highest achievement in athletics and academics in each MVC sport.

Hickey’s performance over the weekend helped the Redbirds claim their third consecutive MVC indoor title with a conference-record 190.16 to beat second-place Southern Illinois (125).

L-P alumna Megan Krolak contributed to the Salukis second-place finish as the senior placed sixth in the 5K in 17:26.47.

At Geneva, Ohio

St. Bede graduate and University of Illinois sophomore Bret Dannis tied his personal best with a 7.97 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to place eighth in the event at the Big Ten Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday.

BASEBALL

At Frisco, Texas

Hall graduate Ty Rybarczyk got a no-decision in the University of Illinois baseball team’s 4-2 win over No. 23-ranked Oklahoma State at the Frisco Classic over the weekend.

Rybarczyk, who is in his first season with the Fighting Illini after playing at Parkland College last year, allowed one earned run on five hits with no strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.

He has made three appearances with two starts this season. Rybarczyk has a 1.29 ERA with 11 strikeouts and four walks in 14 innings pitched.

Fellow Hall graduate Cam McDonald went 1-for-3 with a double in Illinois’ 1-0 win over No. 13 Texas A&M.

The Illini also lost 14-1 to No. 1 UCLA to finish 2-1 on the weekend. Illinois is 5-4 on the season.

At Greenville, S.C.

Former St. Bede standout Jarret Olson helped the Michigan State University baseball team go 3-0 over the weekend at the First Pitch Invitational.

Olson earned the win on the mound in the Spartans’ 4-3 victory over Western Carolina. He allowed two earned runs on three hits with six strikeouts and six walks in 6 2/3 innings.

Olson has made three starts this season. He’s 1-1 with a 2.18 ERA, 20 strikeouts and 12 walks in 20 2/3 innings pitched.

At Edwardsville

Hall graduate Brant Vanaman blasted a home run Sunday to help the Parkland College baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Muskegon.

Vanaman, who is in his first season at Parkland after playing at Kent State University last year, hit his home in the Cobras’ 10-3 win in the first game.

The Cobras won the second game 10-7.

SOFTBALL

At Jacksonville, Fla.

St. Bede graduate and University of Akron freshman Maggie Sons went 1-for-7 over the weekend as the Zips went 0-5 at the Jacksonville/North Florida Tournament.

Sons has appeared in 14 games with nine starts.