Eleven Lemont student-athletes make college commitments

Eleven Lemont High School student-athletes have announced their commitments to play collegiately beginning in Fall 2024. They include baseball player Noah Tomaras (University of Missouri-St. Louis); lacrosse player Sean Arundel (University of Indianapolis); soccer players Emma Amberg (Carthage College) and Casey Kittridge (Eastern Illinois University); softball players Alyssa DeMaio (University of Wisconsin-Green Bay), Raegan Duncan (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville), Rhea Mardjetko (Illinois Wesleyan University), Allison Pawlowicz (Loyola University Chicago), Ava Reed (Lewis University) and Avaree Taylor (Truman State University); and volleyball player Cael Whitchurch (Illinois Wesleyan University).

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Emma Amberg – Career Highlights

• Has earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Rick Prangen
• High-scoring forward who is a two-time all-conference honoree
• Enters her senior year with career totals of 35 goals, 24 assists and 94 points in 50 matches
• Has helped Lemont to a composite record of 51-14-2 in three seasons, as well as three South Suburban Conference titles and three IHSA Regional crowns
• Earned All-SSC accolades as a junior in 2023 as she posted career highs in goals (18), assists (15) and points (51)
• Tied for the team lead in assists, and was third in goals and points while starting all 24 matches
• Lemont went 17-6-1 and won SSC and IHSA Regional titles
• Returned from injury and was limited to nine games as a sophomore in 2022, totaling five points (two goals, one assist)
• Lemont finished 19-5 and won SSC and IHSA Regional titles
• Made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2021
• Was cited with all-conference honors and Daily Southtown all-area honors after posting team highs in goals (15), assists (8) and points (38) in 17 matches
• Lemont went 15-3-1 and won SSC and IHSA Regional titles
• Also has earned letters in girls’ cross country
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Ian Wilson at Carthage College, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Kenosha, Wis., and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. Wilson recently finished his sixth season heading the Carthage program. The Firebirds posted a 2-7-7 record in 2023.

Carthage College Women's Soccer

Sean Arundel – Career Highlights

• Has earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Tyler Zaremski
• Talented long stick defenseman who has helped Lemont to 16 wins in three seasons
• Served as a team captain and earned All-South Suburban Conference honors as a junior in 2023
• Also earned all-conference accolades as a sophomore in 2022
• Earned a starting role as a freshman in 2021 and helped Lemont to a 7-5 record
• Plays travel lacrosse for East Avenue Lacrosse Club
• Also has been selected to play for Team Illinois at the state level, and for Team Project Midwest at the national level
• Invited to play in the Under Armour All-America Spotlight Division Tournament
• Has been cited as a pre-tournament “Player to Watch” by Lacrosse Playground
• Named as “Midwest’s Best Defense” at the 2022 Fall Project Midwest Showcase
• Cited among Lacrosse Playground’s “Illinois Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch in 2024”
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Greg Stocks at the University of Indianapolis, an NCAA Division II institution that is located in Indianapolis, Ind., and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Stocks has led the Greyhounds to four GLVC titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances in eight seasons. Last year, they went 12-4 and reached the NCAA Quarterfinals.

University of Indianapolis Men's Lacrosse

Alyssa DeMaio – Career Highlights

• Has earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Traina
• Two-year starter in the outfield
• Has helped Lemont to a composite 69-7 record, two South Suburban Conference titles, and consecutive IHSA Class 3A State Championships
• A .227 career hitter who has scored 44 runs and posted an on-base percentage of .381
• Batted .212 with one triple, two runs batted in, and 22 runs scored as a junior in 2023
• Led the team with six hit-by-pitches, was second on the team with 11 walks, and posted a career-best on-base percentage of .406
• Lemont went 35-1 and set a single-season record for victories
• It also won the SSC title and captured its second straight IHSA Class 3A State Championship
• Earned a starting role as a sophomore in 2022
• Batted a career-best .241 with one double, six runs batted in, and 22 runs scored
• Finished second on the team with 16 walks, and tied for third with nine stolen bases
• Lemont finished with a 34-6 record, won the SSC, and captured the school’s first IHSA State Championship
• Earned her first two varsity at-bats as a freshman in 2021, and was a postseason call-up as Lemont finished as the IHSA Class 3A State Runner-Up
• Plays travel softball for the Naperville Diamonds
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Sara Kubuske at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Green Bay, Wis., and is a member of the Horizon League. Kubuske heads into her fifth season as Green Bay’s head coach this spring. The Phoenix went 22-31 and tied for fourth in the Horizon League last season.

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Softball

Raegan Duncan – Career Highlights

• Has earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Traina
• Three-year starter at third base
• Three-time all-conference honoree and two-time all-state selection
• Has helped Lemont to a composite 97-12 record, three South Suburban Conference titles, two IHSA Class 3A State Championships, and one state runner-up finish
• Enters her final season as a .420 career hitter with 12 home runs, 104 runs batted in, 81 runs scored, and 26 steals
• 49 of her 100 career hits have gone for extra bases
• Has hit at least .400 each year of her career, and has ranked among the top three on the team in both slugging percentage and OPS each season
• Tabbed with third-team Illinois Coaches Association Class 3A All-State honors as a junior in 2023
• Also was an All-SSC performer, and earned Daily Southtown, Joliet Herald News and Suburban Life all-area honors
• Batted a career-high .432 with 13 doubles, three home runs, 36 runs batted in, and 23 runs scored
• Led the team in doubles and RBIs, and was third in both slugging percentage (.728) and OPS (1.201)
• Lemont went 35-1 and set a single-season record for victories
• It also won its third straight SSC title and captured its second straight IHSA Class 3A State Championship
• Tabbed with second-team ICA Class 3A All-State honors as a sophomore in 2022
• Also was an All-SSC performer, and earned Daily Southtown, Joliet Herald News and Suburban Life all-area honors
• Was second on the team with her .422 batting average, and led the team in on-base percentage (.514), slugging percentage (.800) and OPS (1.314)
• Paced Lemont with career highs of six home runs, 46 runs batted in, and 18 walks
• Also tied for second with 10 doubles and three triples, and tied for third with 32 runs scored
• Lemont finished with a 34-6 record, won the SSC, and captured the school’s first IHSA State Championship
• Assumed a starting role as a freshman in 2021 and earned All-SSC honors
• Led the squad with 14 walks, was second in batting average (.403), triples (5) and on-base percentage (.500), and was third in home runs (3), stolen bases (9), slugging percentage (.761) and OPS (1.261)
• Lemont posted a 28-5 record, which included its first 19-0 slate in SSC play, and finished as the IHSA Class 3A State Runner-Up
• Plays travel softball for the New Lenox Lightning
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Ben Sorden at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Edwardsville, Ill., and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Sorden heads into his second season as head coach this spring. The Cougars went 30-26 and were the OVC Tournament runner-up last season.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Softball

Casey Kittridge – Career Highlights

• Has earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Rick Prangen
• Steady center back who is a two-time all-conference performer, as well as an all-state honoree
• Has totaled six goals, 14 assists and 26 points in 46 matches entering her senior year
• Has helped Lemont to a composite record of 36-11-1 in two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference titles and two IHSA Regional crowns
• Earned All-SSC and Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State accolades as a junior in 2023
• Tallied two goals and tied for third on the team with 14 assists while starting all 24 matches
• Helped Lemont post 12 shutouts on her way to Suburban Life all-area honors
• Lemont went 17-6-1 and won SSC and IHSA Regional titles
• Made her varsity debut and earned all-conference honors as a sophomore in 2022
• Scored four goals and helped Lemont’s defense post 17 shutouts while making 22 starts
• Lemont finished 19-5 and won SSC and IHSA Regional titles
• Also has earned letters in girls’ cross country, girls’ golf, and girls’ track and field
• Plays club soccer for Evolution SC
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Dirk Bennett at Eastern Illinois University, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Charleston, Ill., and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Bennett just finished his first season as head coach at Eastern Illinois. The Panthers went 4-9-4 and qualified for the OVC Tournament this fall.

Eastern Illinois University Women's Soccer

Rhea Mardjetko – Career Highlights

• Has earned one varsity letter playing for head coach Chris Traina
• Righthanded pitcher who is expected to be an important contributor as a senior
• Earned her first varsity innings as a junior in 2023
• Went 5-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 40.0 innings of work, covering nine appearances
• Struck out 62 batters and averaged 10.85 strikeouts per seven innings
• Was second on the team in appearances, starts (6), wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts
• Batted .238 with one double, five walks, and six stolen bases
• Lemont went 35-1 and set a single-season record for victories
• It also won an SSC title and captured its second straight IHSA Class 3A State Championship
• Was a postseason call-up as a sophomore in 2022, as Lemont won the IHSA Class 3A State Championship
• Plays travel softball for GenuWin Reign
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Tiffany Prager at Illinois Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Bloomington, Ill., and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. In seven seasons, Prager has led her team to more than 200 wins and four NCAA Tournament appearances, which included a national runner-up finish in 2018. Last spring, the Titans went 27-16 and were the CCIW regular-season champion.

Illinois Wesleyan University Softball

Allison Pawlowicz – Career Highlights

• Has earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Traina
• Three-year starter at shortstop
• Has helped Lemont to a composite 97-12 record, three South Suburban Conference titles, two IHSA Class 3A State Championships, and one state runner-up finish
• Enters her final season as a .345 career hitter with three home runs, 50 runs batted in, 85 runs scored, and 40 steals
• Had her season cut short due to injury as a junior in 2023
• Posted career highs with her .362 batting average, two home runs, and .511 slugging percentage
• Lemont went 35-1 and set a single-season record for victories
• It also won its third straight SSC title and captured its second straight IHSA Class 3A State Championship
• Was an All-SSC performer and earned Daily Southtown and Joliet Herald News all-area honors as a sophomore in 2022
• Batted .345 with 22 runs batted in, and ranked second on the team with 40 runs scored and 18 stolen bases
• Also was third on the squad with 40 hits and nine walks
• Lemont finished with a 34-6 record, won the SSC, and captured the school’s first IHSA State Championship
• Assumed a starting role as a freshman in 2021
• Batted .337 with one home run and 22 runs batted in, and posted a career-best OPS of .922
• Led Lemont with 14 walks and 15 stolen bases, and was second on the team with 33 runs scored
• Lemont posted a 28-5 record, which included its first 19-0 slate in SSC play, and finished as the IHSA Class 3A State Runner-Up
• Plays travel softball for the New Lenox Lightning
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Alicia Abbott at Loyola University Chicago, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Chicago, Ill., and is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. Abbott has completed four seasons as Loyola’s head coach. Last spring, the Ramblers went 27-23 and were the A-10 Tournament runner-up.

Loyola University Chicago Softball

Ava Reed – Career Highlights

• Has earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Traina
• Returning starter at second base
• Has helped Lemont to a composite 69-7 record, two South Suburban Conference titles, and consecutive IHSA Class 3A State Championships
• A .333 career hitter who has scored 31 runs and stolen 10 bases
• Also has posted a .407 on-base percentage, .551 slugging percentage, and .958 OPS during her career
• Batted .288 with two home runs and 16 runs batted in as a junior in 2023
• Added five doubles and five stolen bases and scored 21 runs, and posted a .475 slugging percentage
• Lemont went 35-1 and set a single-season record for victories
• It also won the SSC title and captured its second straight IHSA Class 3A State Championship
• Made her varsity debut as a sophomore in 2022
• Batted .600 in limited action, with one home run, four runs batted in, 10 runs scored, and five steals
• Lemont finished with a 34-6 record, won the SSC, and captured the school’s first IHSA State Championship
• Plays travel softball for the New Lenox Lightning
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Becky Pearl at Lewis University, an NCAA Division II institution that is located in Romeoville, Ill., and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Pearl has served as Lewis’s head coach for nine seasons. Last spring, the Flyers went 38-20, won the GLVC Tournament, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Lewis University Softball

Avaree Taylor – Career Highlights

• Has earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Traina
• Three-year starter who has seen time at first base and as a pitcher
• Two-time all-conference honoree who also has earned all-state honors
• Has helped Lemont to a composite 97-12 record, three South Suburban Conference titles, two IHSA Class 3A State Championships, and one state runner-up finish
• Enters her final season as a .366 career hitter with 10 home runs, 78 runs batted in, 61 runs scored, and 13 steals
• 34 of her 85 career hits have gone for extra bases
• Has posted a .470 on-base percentage, .638 slugging percentage, and 1.108 OPS during her career
• Also has gone 12-3 as a pitcher, with 114 strikeouts (10.06 per seven innings) and a 2.29 ERA in 79.1 innings
• Tabbed with second-team Illinois Coaches Association Class 3A All-State honors as a junior in 2023
• Also was an All-SSC performer, and earned Daily Southtown, Joliet Herald News and Suburban Life all-area honors
• Batted a career-high .500 with one home run and 24 runs batted in
• Was second on the team in batting average, hits (39), doubles (9) and on-base percentage (.612), and led Lemont in triples (4), slugging percentage (.756) and OPS (1.368)
• Also went 4-0 with a 1.11 ERA in the circle, fanning 41 in 19.0 innings (15.11 per seven innings)
• Lemont went 35-1 and set a single-season record for victories
• It also won its third straight SSC title and captured its second straight IHSA Class 3A State Championship
• Was an All-SSC performer as a sophomore in 2022 when she batted .260 with three home runs and 27 runs batted in
• Tied for the team lead in hit-by-pitches, and tied for second in home runs
• Went 8-3 with a 2.67 ERA in the circle, striking out 73 in 60.1 innings (8.47 per seven innings) 
• Lemont finished with a 34-6 record, won the SSC, and captured the school’s first IHSA State Championship
• Assumed a starting role as a freshman in 2021
• Batted .370 and led the team in home runs (6), slugging percentage (.907) and OPS (1.384), while placing third in triples (4), runs batted in (27) and on-base percentage (.477)
• Lemont posted a 28-5 record, which included its first 19-0 slate in SSC play, and finished as the IHSA Class 3A State Runner-Up
• Plays travel softball for the Dirt Devils
• Also a member of the 2023 IHSA Medium Division Cheerleading State Runner-Up squad
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Ron Ferrill at Truman State University, an NCAA Division II institution that is located in Kirksville, Mo., and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Ferrill guided the Bulldogs to a 17-37 record in his first season last spring.

Truman State University Softball

Noah Tomaras – Career Highlights

• Has earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Brian Storako
• Solid defensive catcher who is a career .292 hitter
• Has helped Lemont to a composite 54-16-2 record in two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference titles and two IHSA Regional crowns
• Earned honorable mention All-SSC honors as a junior in 2023
• Batted .280 with seven doubles, two home runs, 15 runs batted in, and a team-high seven hit-by-pitches
• Posted an on-base percentage of .412 and a slugging percentage of .453
• Lemont posted a record of 29-7-2, went 19-0 in SSC play for the first time in school history, and won an IHSA Regional
• Made his varsity debut as a sophomore in 2022
• Batted .357 with a double, triple, and five runs batted in
• Lemont went 25-9 and captured SSC and IHSA Regional crowns
• Plays travel baseball for Hounds Baseball
• Has twice earned Perfect Game all-tournament honors
• Was a 2023 Prep Baseball Report State Games selection, where he posted the best pop time of any catcher
• Threw out 46 percent of would-be base stealers in 2022 and 2023 
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Scott Eul at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, an NCAA Division II institution that is located in St. Louis, Mo., and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Eul led the Tritons to a 21-29 record in his first season last spring.

University of Missouri-St. Louis Baseball

Cael Whitchurch – Career Highlights

• Has earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Zogata
• Setter who has helped Lemont to a composite 39-25 record in two seasons
• A .291 career hitter who has averaged 1.47 kills, 1.38 digs and 4.51 assists per game over 136 games
• Also has totaled 50 service aces and 96 blocks
• Led the team in assists (294), kills (105), service aces (37), service points (138) and hitting percentage (.298) as a junior in 2023
• Also was second on the team with 112 digs and 54 blocks
• Averaged 4.20 assists, 1.50 kills and 1.60 digs per game
• Lemont finished with a 15-16 record and tied for second in the South Suburban Conference
• Made his varsity debut as a sophomore in 2022
• Was second on the team in assists (315) and service points (138), and was third in blocks (42)
• Hit .284 while averaging 4.77 assists, 1.44 kills and 1.15 digs per game
• Lemont finished with a 24-9 record and was a perfect 10-0 in SSC play
• Plays club volleyball for 630 Volleyball Club
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Brandon Mueller at Illinois Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Bloomington, Ill., and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. Mueller enters his fourth season and is the only head coach in program history. The Titans set a school record for wins when they finished 11-14 last season.

Illinois Wesleyan University Men's Volleyball