13 Lemont Student-Athletes Make College Commitments

LEMONT, IL — 13 Lemont High School student-athletes have announced their commitments to play collegiately beginning this fall, the high school shared in a news release. They include baseball players Mike Biscan (College of DuPage), Patrick Gardner (Heartland Community College), Sean Hollendoner (Illinois Wesleyan University) and Ryan Klukas (University of Wisconsin-Parkside); basketball player Brooke Panush (North Park University); football players Jacek Blaszynski (Indiana State University), Austin Brown (Valparaiso University), Luke Hagedorn (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater), Nick Hawkins (Illinois State University), Drew Indestad (Roosevelt University) and Noah Taylor (North Dakota State University); soccer player Paige Bingen (Augustana College); and softball player Frankie Rita (Drake University).

Lemont High School provided information on the student-athletes below:

Paige Bingen – Career Highlights (soccer):

Has earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Rick Prangen; will serve as a team captain this spring; has helped Lemont to a composite 33-8-1 record in two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Regional crowns; Center midfielder who has totaled 27 points on eight goals and 11 assists in 41 career games; tabbed as the SSC Player of the Year and earned Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State accolades as a junior in 2022; plays club soccer for Chicago Inter; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Scott Mejia at Augustana College, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Rock Island.

Mike Biscan – Career Highlights (baseball):

Has earned one varsity letter playing for head coach Brian Storako; righthanded pitcher who will be a key contributor this spring; appeared in 10 games as a junior in 2022, posting a 2-2 record with a 2.80 ERA; Lemont finished 25-9, won the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division, and captured an IHSA Regional title; plays travel baseball with Cangelosi Sparks; has earned three Perfect Game all-tournament honors; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Bobby Wilson at College of DuPage, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division III institution that is located in Glen Ellyn.

Jacek Blaszynski – Career Highlights (football):

Earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Bret Kooi; helped Lemont to a composite 26-4 record over three seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles, one IHSA Class 6A Quarterfinal appearance, and one IHSA Class 6A Semifinal finish; two-time all-conference performer as a center; cited with Suburban Life and Daily Southtown all-area honors and Champaign News-Gazette honorable mention all-state accolades as a senior in 2022; also was tabbed as an All-SSC selection, and was named an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Academic All-State pick; helped pave the way for Lemont to average 42.2 points per game in 2022, 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; cited with all-conference honors as a junior in 2021; also has competed on the boys’ track and field team; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Curt Mallory at Indiana State University, an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision institution that is located in Terre Haute, Indiana

Austin Brown – Career Highlights (football):

Earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Bret Kooi; helped Lemont to a composite 23-2 record over two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles, one IHSA Class 6A Quarterfinal appearance, and one IHSA Class 6A Semifinal finish; served as a starter at inside linebacker as a senior in 2022; was fifth on the team with 46 tackles (11 solo) and added one tackle-for-loss and one pass breakup; contributed to a defense that allowed eight or fewer points six times and posted two shutouts; Lemont went 12-1, posted a perfect regular season, won the SSC Blue, and reached the IHSA Class 6A Semifinals; also has competed on the boys’ track and field team; honor roll student; and will play for head coach Landon Fox at Valparaiso University, an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision institution that is located in Valparaiso, Indiana

Patrick Gardner – Career Highlights (baseball):

Has earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Brian Storako; lefthanded pitcher and first baseman who will be a major contributor on the mound and at the plate this spring; has helped Lemont to a composite 48-20 record over two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Regional crowns; is a .309 career hitter who has been successful on 12-of-13 stolen base attempts in his career; also has posted a career on-base percentage of .456 while scoring 34 runs and driving in 26; has posted a 5-2 record with a 3.25 ERA in 12 career appearances, fanning 48 in 36.2 innings; batted .291 with seven doubles and 12 RBIs as junior in 2022; plays travel baseball with Illinois Premier, has earned multiple Perfect Game all-tournament selections, and was the 2022 Prep Baseball Report All-State Games MVP; also earned two letters playing boys’ basketball; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Chris Razo at Heartland Community College, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II institution that is located in Normal.

Luke Hagedorn – Career Highlights (football):

Earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Bret Kooi; helped Lemont to a composite 26-4 record over three seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles, one IHSA Class 6A Quarterfinal appearance, and one IHSA Class 6A Semifinal finish; served as a three-year starter on the defensive line, totaling 71 tackles, 19.5 tackles-for-loss, and six sacks in his career; earned All-SSC honors and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Academic All-State accolades as a senior in 2022; racked up a career-high 46 tackles (16 solo), was second on the team with four sacks, and finished third with 11 tackles-for-loss; Lemont went 12-1, posted a perfect regular season, won the SSC Blue, and reached the IHSA Class 6A Semifinals; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Jace Rindahl at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

Nick Hawkins – Career Highlights (football):

Earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Bret Kooi; helped Lemont to a composite 26-4 record over three seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles, one IHSA Class 6A Quarterfinal appearance, and one IHSA Class 6A Semifinal finish; served as a starter for three seasons at tight end, excelling as a receiver and run blocker; earned All-SSC honors and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Academic All-State accolades as a senior in 2022; collected 12 catches for 205 yards (17.1 per reception) with three touchdown catches; Lemont went 12-1, posted a perfect regular season, won the SSC Blue, and reached the IHSA Class 6A Semifinals; also earned one letter playing boys’ basketball; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Brock Spack at Illinois State University, an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision institution that is located in Normal.

Sean Hollendoner – Career Highlights (baseball):

Has earned one varsity letter playing for head coach Brian Storako; righthanded pitcher who will be a key contributor this spring; made four appearances as a junior in 2022, posting a 1-0 record with a 1.40 ERA and 0.50 WHIP; struck out 10 batters in 10.0 innings of work; Lemont finished 25-9, won the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division, and captured an IHSA Regional title; plays travel baseball with Chicago Select; has earned Perfect Game all-tournament honors; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Dennis Martel at Illinois Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Bloomington.

Drew Indestad – Career Highlights (football):

Earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Bret Kooi; helped Lemont to a composite 23-2 record over two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles, one IHSA Class 6A Quarterfinal appearance, and one IHSA Class 6A Semifinal finish; served as a starter at guard as a junior and senior; helped pave the way for Lemont to average 42.2 points per game in 2022, 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; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Jared Williamson at Roosevelt University, an NAIA institution that is located in Chicago.

Ryan Klukas – Career Highlights (baseball):

Has earned one varsity letter playing for head coach Brian Storako; has seen time as an outfielder and lefthanded pitcher, and is expected to contribute in both roles this spring; made 10 appearances on the mound as a junior in 2022, posting a 2-1 record with a 4.10 ERA; tied for the team lead in appearances, tied for second on the team with five starts, and struck out 35 batters in 27.1 innings (8.86 per seven innings); Lemont finished 25-9, won the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division, and captured an IHSA Regional title; plays travel baseball with Chicago Select; has earned two Perfect Game all-tournament honors and was a Prep Baseball Report All-State Games participant; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Zac Charbonneau at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, an NCAA Division II institution that is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Brooke Panush – Career Highlights (basketball):

Has earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Tracy Rainey; three-year starter as a post player who has helped the team to 41 wins during her career; serving as a team captain as a senior and is averaging 7.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in 2023; ranks second on the team in rebounding, third in scoring, and fourth in steals; Lemont has posted a 16-9 record (as of Feb. 1), which has included an 11-1 record in South Suburban Conference play; plays travel basketball for the Illinois Lady Lightning; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Annie Radenkovich at North Park University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Chicago

Frankie Rita – Career Highlights (softball):

Has earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Traina; rates as one of the state’s top catchers; has helped Lemont to a composite 62-11 record in two seasons, two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles, one IHSA Class 3A State Championship, and one state runner-up finish; two-time Illinois Coaches Association Class 3A Second Team All-State and All-SSC honoree who has earned all-area honors from the Daily Southtown, Joliet Herald News and Suburban Life; over two seasons, has batted .468 with 23 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 64 RBIs, 80 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases, while posting an on-base percentage of .494, a slugging percentage of .667, and an OPS of 1.161; earned all-conference and second team all-state honors as a junior in 2022 after batting .425 with three home runs and 33 RBIs; Lemont set a single-season school record for victories as it finished with a 34-6 record, won its second straight SSC Blue title, and captured the program’s first state championship; also has been part of three squads that have qualified for the IHSA Cheerleading State Finals; plays travel softball for the New Lenox Lightning; high honor roll student; and will play for head coach Rich Calvert at Drake University, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Des Moines, Iowa.

Noah Taylor – Career Highlights (football):

Earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Bret Kooi; helped Lemont to a composite 26-4 record over three seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles, one IHSA Class 6A Quarterfinal appearance, and one IHSA Class 6A Semifinal finish; served as a starter for three seasons, with time at outside linebacker and strong safety; two-time all-conference honoree who collected 193 tackles (86 solo), 12.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career; was named the SSC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2022 after posting career highs with 106 tackles (53 solo), 10 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks, leading the team in both tackles and sacks; cited with Suburban Life and Daily Southtown all-area honors, as well as honorable mention all-state accolades from both the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association and Champaign News-Gazette; also was named an IHSFCA Academic All-State pick; Lemont went 12-1, posted a perfect regular season, won the SSC Blue, and reached the IHSA Class 6A Semifinals; also has earned one letter playing baseball, hitting two home runs and stealing 15 bases as a junior in 2022; high honor roll and National Honor Society student; and will play for head coach Matt Entz at North Dakota State University, an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision institution that is located in Fargo, North Dakota.