SportShorts for Friday, Feb. 3, 2022

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Ryan signs with Concordia: Sterling standout receiver Carter Ryan has signed to play football next year at Concordia University St. Paul, the school announced Wednesday.

Ryan had 25 catches for 363 yards and four touchdowns this past fall despite missing the start and end of the season due to injury. He was a second-team all-Western Big 6 selection.

Concordia St. Paul struggled to a 1-10 season this past fall, after canceling the 2020 season because of COVID-19. The Golden Bears were 6-5 in 2019, their first winning record since 2011.

Drew Ackman honored: Sat Ambrose defensive end Drew Ackman was named first-team all-conference in the Midwest League of the Mid-State Football Association on Monday.

The former Newman standout had 21 tackles for loss this season, the third-most in SAU program history in a single season. He also had 7.5 sacks, which ranked hum 20th nationally in the NAIA.

Ackman had at least one TFL in 10 of St. Ambrose’s 11 games, and had multiple TFLs in nine games. He finished the season with 46 tackles. three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

The Bees finished 4-7 this season, including 3-4 in the MFSA.

PREP SPORTS

Area resident earns officiating honor: Dave Gilliland was been selected by the IHSA as an Illinois Official of the Year in boys basketball, one of 22 officials in the state to earn the honor.

Gilliland is a member of the White Poines, Rock River, Blackhawk, and Galesburg officials’ assocations, and is the only Jo Daviess County resident to ever work a boys basketball state tournament in the modern era.

Gilliland is completing his 27th year in officiating. He began officiating while a student at Augustana College, then coached boys basketball at Burlington Central and Brussels high schools. He returned to officiating in 2002 after becoming a full-time school administrator, including as Stockton superintendent from 2007-20018, when he retired.

He officiated at the state finals in 2018 & ‘19, and officiated the Class 1A state championship game in 2019.

LOCAL BOWLING

Senior bowlers hit the lanes in January: The Sauk Valley Senior Bowlers competed every Tuesday and Thursday morning at Plum Hollow Lanes in Dixon through the month of January.

Individual high scores were: Bill Bontz 211 game, 550 series; Dave Bucher 170, 447; Norma Burmeister 186, 456; Steve Byars 191, 501; Chico Contreras 225, 572; Ray Craney 118, 344; Charlotte Dierdorff 148, 374; Aniti Dunphy 152, 430; Dan Dunphy 248, 623; Ron Erickson 279, 764; Barb Jacobs 181, 456; Dave Jacobs 192, 530; Terry Janes 171, 433; Dick Janssen 205, 568; Jan Kuepker 119, 344; Ken Masters 204, 527; Ron Meagher 191, 489; Doug Near 168, 430; Ron Odenthal 218, 540; Linda Richards 191, 513; Cruz Rivera 212, 555; Rich Senn 104, 297; Jim Shuman 223, 591; Therma Smith 140, 351; Frank Stenzel 119, 298; Karen Stenzel 104, 277; Glenn Stroh 90, 248; Dee Szymanski 172, 428; Ed Webb 146, 413; Shirley Webb 155, 320; Charlie Werner 178, 462; LaVerne Woesner 197, 566; Jay Wolfe 193, 500.

The league meets at 9 a.m., and any senior is welcome to attend.