Seven Lemont student-athletes make college commitments

Seven Lemont High School student-athletes have announced their commitments to compete collegiately beginning in Fall 2024. They include bowler Trevor Anifer (Webber International University); football players AJ Carlson (University of Dayton), Jacob Katauskas (Coastal Carolina University) and Nathan Kunickis (Brown University); women’s golfer Leila Rexhepi (Aurora University); and women’s volleyball players Jessica Rimbo (Bloomsburg University) and Madie Skwarek (Milwaukee School of Engineering).

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Trevor Anifer – Career Highlights

• Has earned four varsity letters, including three for head coach Frank Kovach
• Four-time South Suburban Conference champion and a two-time all-state performer
• Led Lemont in average four straight years, and was named the team MVP each season as well
• Posted a career-best 235.3 average as a senior during the 2023-24 season
• Improved on his own program best and earned his second state medal by placing fourth at the 2024 IHSA State Finals
• Averaged 221.3 over 12 games in the state finals, which included a 752 series on the first day of competition
• Won the IHSA Sectional (254.5 average), which included a 300 game, and placed 10th at the IHSA Regional (207.7 average)
• Won his fourth straight SSC title
• Averaged 225.9 to lead Lemont as a junior during the 2022-23 season
• Won his third straight SSC title, and also was the IHSA Regional champion (243.0 average)
• Led Lemont with a 218.4 average as a sophomore during the 2021-22 season
• Became the first state medalist in program history by placing 10th at the 2022 IHSA State Finals
• Averaged 220.3 over 12 games in his state finals debut, which included a high game of 298
• Placed fourth in IHSA Sectional competition (235.3 average) and sixth in IHSA Regional play (211.7 average)
• Repeated as the SSC champion
• Averaged 222.7 to pace Lemont as a freshman during the 2020-21 season and earned his first SSC title
• The IHSA State Series was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Also an accomplished youth bowler who has won multiple events across four tours
• Finished fifth at the Junior Gold 2023 national tournament, and among the top 15 at the Junior Gold 2021 event
• Placed in the top five in the Illinois State Pepsi Youth Championships in 2021 (4th), 2022 (5th) and 2023 (2nd)
• High Honor Roll student
• Will bowl for head coach Del Warren at Webber International University, an NAIA institution that is located in Babson Park, Fla. Warren is a United States Bowling Congress Gold Level Coach and a two-time Professional Bowlers Association champion. He has guided the Warriors to five national championships, and one of his bowlers is the defending Intercollegiate Singles Championship winner.

Webber International University Men's Bowling

AJ Carlson  – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters, including one as a senior playing for head coach Willie Hayes
• Helped Lemont to a composite 17-6 record over two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Playoff berths
• Totaled 25 catches for 237 yards (9.5 yards per catch) and 16 rushes for 123 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and three touchdowns during his career
• Served as a starter at tight end as a senior in 2022
• Caught 10 passes for 80 yards, and added 56 rushing yards and a score on seven carries
• Lemont went 5-5, captured the SSC Blue, and qualified for the IHSA Class 6A Playoffs
• Was a major contributor as a junior in 2022, posting career highs in receptions, receiving yards, rushing yards, and touchdowns
• Caught 10 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and totaled 67 rushing yards on eight carries
• Lemont went 12-1, posted a perfect regular season, won the SSC Blue, and reached the IHSA Class 6A Semifinals
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Trevor Andrews at the University of Dayton, an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision institution that is located in Dayton, Ohio, and is a member of the Pioneer Football League. Andrews just finished his first season leading the Flyers, who went 4-7 in 2023 and ended the season on a two-game winning streak.

University of Dayton Football

Jacob Katauskas – Career Highlights

• Earned three varsity letters, including one as a senior playing for head coach Willie Hayes
• Helped Lemont to a composite 28-7 record over two seasons, as well as three South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and three IHSA Playoff berths
• Two-time all-conference performer as a left tackle
• Tabbed as a Class 6A all-state honoree by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association as a senior in 2023
• Cited with Suburban Life and Daily Southtown all-area honors and Champaign News-Gazette first team all-state accolades, and repeated as an All-SSC selection
• Team captain who won the team’s “Sledge Hammer Award” as the player with the most knockdowns during the season
• Overcame an early season injury to lead the team with five pancake blocks per game
• Helped Lemont score 40 or more points four times in a five-week stretch
• Lemont went 5-5, captured the SSC Blue, and qualified for the IHSA Class 6A Playoffs
• Cited as an All-SSC performer as a junior in 2022
• Helped pave the way for Lemont to average 42.2 points per game, as it reached the 30-point mark 10 times, and scored at least 50 points on three occasions
• Lemont went 12-1, posted a perfect regular season, won the SSC Blue, and reached the IHSA Class 6A Semifinals
• Joined Lemont’s starting lineup as a sophomore in 2021
• Lemont averaged 45.3 points per game, reached the 30-point mark 10 times, and set a school scoring record in a 73-36 win over Springfield in the second round of the IHSA Playoffs
• Lemont went 11-1, put together an unbeaten regular season, won the SSC Blue, and reached the IHSA Class 6A Quarterfinals
• Also has competed in the throws for Lemont’s boys’ track and field team and qualified for the 2023 IHSA Class 3A State Finals in the shot put
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Tim Beck at Coastal Carolina University, an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision institution that is located in Conway, S.C., and is a member of the Sun Belt Conference. In his first season leading the Chanticleers, Beck guided his squad to an 8-5 record and a Hawaii Bowl win in 2023.

Coastal Carolina University Football

Nathan Kunickis – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters, including one as a senior playing for head coach Willie Hayes
• Helped Lemont to a composite 17-6 record over two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Playoff berths
• Played all over the field during his career, seeing time as a quarterback, running back and tight end on offense, and as a linebacker, defensive end and safety on defense
• Totaled 594 total yards (257 yards passing, 305 yards rushing, 32 yards receiving) with eight touchdowns in two seasons
• Served as a team captain as a senior in 2023, but had his season cut short due to injury
• Threw for 139 yards and one touchdown, and added 86 rushing yards
• Also collected nine tackles (seven solo), which included 2.5 tackles-for-loss
• Lemont went 5-5, captured the SSC Blue, and qualified for the IHSA Class 6A Playoffs
• Proved to be a versatile offensive weapon as a junior in 2022, totaling seven touchdowns
• Completed 12-of-14 passes for 118 yards and four touchdowns, rushed 32 times for 219 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and one touchdown, and caught two passes for 32 yards and two receiving scores
• Lemont went 12-1, posted a perfect regular season, won the SSC Blue, and reached the IHSA Class 6A Semifinals
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach James Perry at Brown University, an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision institution that is located in Providence, R.I., and is a member of the Ivy League. Perry recently finished his fourth season leading the Bears. Brown went 5-5 overall in 2023, posting the most overall wins and league wins in Perry’s tenure.

Brown University Football

Leila Rexhepi – Career Highlights

• Earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Bill Mondrella
• Improved her average by 10 strokes over three years
• Earned team MVP accolades as a senior in 2023
• Led Lemont with a 43.4 9-hole average
• Helped Lemont to a conference title and earned all-conference honors with her third-place finish individually
• Qualified for sectional competition after finishing fourth individually at the IHSA Regional with a career-best round of 79
• Placed seventh at the conference meet and helped Lemont to a conference title as a junior in 2022
• Also helped Lemont to a conference championship as a sophomore in 2021
• Competed at the 2023 IHSA Journalism State Finals after winning an IHSA Sectional title in Photo Story Telling
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Justin Wyeth at Aurora University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Aurora, Ill., and is a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Wyeth has served as the Spartans head coach since 2011 and has led them to seven conference titles.

Aurora University Women's Golf

Jessica Rimbo – Career Highlights

• Earned four varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Zogata
• Helped Lemont to a composite 84-42 record over four seasons, as well as three South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Regional crowns
• Helped direct Lemont’s offense from the setter position, and increased her assists total each year
• Totaled 1,042 assists (4.34 per game), as well as 146 service aces and 265 digs
• Repeated as an All-SSC performer as a senior in 2023, and also was tabbed with the team’s “Best Server” award
• Was second on the team with a career-high 344 assists
• Also was second on the squad in assists per game (4.47) and third in service aces (42), and had a career-high 103 digs
• Earned all-tournament honors at Metea Valley
• Lemont went 26-11 and posted a perfect 13-0 conference record to win the SSC Blue
• Cited with All-SSC honors and led Lemont in assists (332) and assists per game (4.15) as a junior in 2022
• Was second on the team with 159 service points, and added 27 service aces and 89 digs
• Lemont finished with a 26-13 record, was a perfect 13-0 in the SSC, captured an IHSA Regional title, and reached the IHSA Sectional final
• Paced the team in assists (301), assists per game (4.63), service aces (57), service aces per game (0.88) and service points (147) as a sophomore in 2021
• Tabbed with the team’s “Best Server” award
• Lemont posted a 20-17 record, was 12-1 in league play and won the SSC Blue title, and captured an IHSA Regional
• Debuted on the varsity squad as a freshman during the shortened 2021 spring season
• Was second on the team in assists per game (3.61), service aces (20), service aces per game (1.11) and service points (48)
• Lemont posted a 12-1 record and was second in the SSC Blue
• Plays club volleyball for 1st Alliance
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Dan Kreiger at Bloomsburg University, an NCAA Division II institution that is located in Bloomsburg, Pa., and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Kreiger recently completed his sixth season and is the only women’s volleyball coach in program history. The Huskies won nine matches in 2023.

Bloomsburg University Women's Volleyball

Madie Skwarek – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Zogata
• Helped Lemont to a composite 52-24 record over two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and an IHSA Regional crown
• Played as both an outside hitter and defensive specialist
• Totaled 54 kills, 209 digs and 35 service aces during her career
• Collected a career-high 109 digs and averaged 1.43 digs per game as a senior in 2023
• Also posted a .902 serve receive percentage
• Landed a career-high 22 service aces and committed just four service errors in 227 attempts (98.2 percent)
• Lemont went 26-11 and posted a perfect 13-0 conference record to win the SSC Blue
• Collected a career-high 42 kills as a junior in 2022
• Added 62 service points, including 13 service aces, and 100 digs, and was third on the team in digs per game (1.49)
• Lemont finished with a 26-13 record, was a perfect 13-0 in the SSC, captured an IHSA Regional title, and reached the IHSA Sectional final
• Plays club volleyball for 1st Alliance
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Tom Wood at Milwaukee School of Engineering, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Milwaukee, Wis., and is a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Wood has served nine years as the Raiders head coach and led them to a school-record 21 wins in 2021. Last year’s squad won nine matches.

Milwaukee School of Engineering Women's Volleyball