Staff Report

ROCKFORD – Although it didn’t pan out the way the athletes planned, two success stories evolved in two Rockford Public Schools sports this fall.

Auburn sophomore Belen Nevenhoven was looking to be the highest NIC-10 finisher ever in the IHSA Class 2A tennis tournament. She fell though to Tyra Richardson of Chicago St. Ignatius College Prep, 6-4, 6-2, to finish in fourth place.

That matches Guilford’s Tonya Bogdonas, who finished fourth in 1987 back when it was a one-class tournament. Nevenhoven, the two-time NIC-10 champion, will have two more tries to better that level.

Rockford East’s soccer team was in Huntley this morning taking on Elgin, the top seed in the sectional. The E-Rabs were seeking the school’s first IHSA regional title since 1987. Elgin, though, shut down the high-scoring E-Rabs in a 2-0 win.

East finishes the season at 15-7-1, including a 7-2 mark and second place in the NIC-10. It was the best conference season for East since 1986. East only graduates one of its top four scorers and its goaltender so the E-Rabs should be back contending next season. R.