Five Lemont Student Athletes Make College Commitments

LEMONT, IL — Five Lemont High School seniors have made commitments to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. The school said the student-athletes are bowler Kendra Anifer (Upper Iowa University), basketball player Jaxson Dian (Illinois College), and softball players Nicole Brace (North Central College), Gianna Maida(North Central College) and Nina Mardjetko (Illinois Wesleyan University).

Kendra Anifer – Career Highlights

• Three-year starter for head coach Mark Hollatz’s girls’ bowling program
• Two-time team MVP who led the squad in average in consecutive seasons
• Enjoyed her finest season as a senior in 2019, when she averaged a career-best and team-high 190
• Earned team MVP accolades and served as a team captain
• Won the individual regional title after shooting a 1,247 series (207.8 average) at the IHSA Oswego Regional
• Placed eighth individually with a series of 1,223 (203.8 average) at the IHSA Romeoville Sectional
• Was 39th individually at the 2019 IHSA State Finals after averaging 194.7 over 12 games (2,336 total pinfall)
• Also a member of both the girls’ cross country and girls’ track and field programs
• High Honor Roll student and a Girl Scouts Gold Award recipient
• Signed a National Letter of Intent to bowl for head coach Nichole DePaul-Miller at Upper Iowa University, an NCAA institution that is located in Fayette, Iowa.

Nicole Brace – Career Highlights

• Has earned two varsity letters as a catcher and designated player for head coach Chris Traina
• Currently batting .286 (14-49) with seven runs scored and 10 RBIs in 19 games
• Leads the team with seven doubles and 12 walks, and ranks sixth on the team in hits and RBIs
• Made her varsity debut as a junior in 2018 and posted outstanding numbers in limited action
• Lemont posted a 25-10 record, finished second in the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division, and won IHSA Regional and Sectional titles
• Plays travel softball with the Lockport Pride
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Jim Kulawiak at North Central College, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Naperville, and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW).

Jaxson Dian – Career Highlights

• Earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Rick Runaas
• 6’2” guard who averaged 7.1 points, 2.0 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 83 career games while shooting 35.7 percent (122-342) from 3-point range
• Served as a team captain and earned honorable mention all-conference accolades as a senior in 2019, playing in 30 of 31 games
• Averaged a career-best 11.8 points per game, which ranked second on the squad
• Advanced to the 2019 IHSA Class 4A Three-Point Showdown
• Recipient of the team’s “Charges Award” as a senior
• Lemont posted a 16-15 record, finished fourth in the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division, and was an IHSA Class 4A Regional Finalist
• Debuted on the varsity squad as a sophomore in 2017, averaging 2.9 points per game in 25 appearances
• Plays travel basketball for Chicago LockDown
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Steve Schweer at Illinois College, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Jacksonville, and is a member of the Midwest Conference.

Gianna Maida – Career Highlights

• Has earned two varsity letters as an infielder for head coach Chris Traina
• Currently batting .429 (6-14) with nine runs scored and seven RBIs in 12 games
• Has posted an on-base percentage of .556, a slugging percentage of .643, and an OPS of 1.198
• Made her varsity debut as a junior in 2018
• Lemont posted a 25-10 record, finished second in the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division, and won IHSA Regional and Sectional titles
• Plays travel softball for the Downers Grove Outlaws
• Also earned one varsity letter in girls’ basketball
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Jim Kulawiak at North Central College, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Naperville, and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW).

Nina Mardjetko – Career Highlights

• Four-year letterwinner for head coach Chris Traina
• Right-handed hurler who has helped the Indians to three IHSA Regional crowns and one IHSA Sectional title
• Has posted a 6-4 record with a 2.26 ERA in 12 appearances this spring
• Leads the team in wins, ERA and innings pitched (62.0), and has struck out a team-high 67 batters while posting a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 7.4-to-1 (67 Ks, 9 BBs)
• At the plate, she is batting .415 (17-41), leads the team with two triples, and ranks second with 13 RBIs
• Debuted on the varsity squad as a freshman in 2016, posting a 7-3 record and a 2.69 ERA with two saves in 15 appearances
• Plays travel softball for the Illinois Bombers
• Also earned two varsity letters in girls’ basketball
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Tiffany Prager at Illinois Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Bloomington, and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW).