Six New Inductees Announced For LHS Athletic Hall Of Fame

LEMONT, IL — The newest members of Lemont High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame will be introduced at a ceremony on Sept. 18, at Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont. Included among the hall of fame’s 16th induction class will be Al Albrecht ‘59, Tyler Jay ‘12, Tim McAuliffe ‘13, Rick Prangen, Kyra Udziela ‘15, and Jessica Urban ‘10.

The 2022 Lemont High School Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony will begin with a reception at noon, according to a release from the school. Lunch will be served at 12:45 p.m., with the induction ceremony beginning at approximately 1:30 p.m. Cog Hill Golf Club is located at 12294 S. Archer Ave.

Tickets are $25 each ($10.50 for children) and cover the cost of lunch; reservations must be made through the Lemont High School Athletic Department by Sept 12. To make a reservation, call the athletic department at 630-243-3207.

The Lemont High School Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2004, and provides an opportunity for the school to recognize alumni, coaches, parents and community members for outstanding athletic accomplishments and extraordinary support.

Lemont High School is seeking nominations for potential future Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, the school said in a release. Nominations are accepted in one of four categories - Athlete, Coach, Parent/Community Member or Pride of Lemont.

Lemont High School provided information on the 2022 inductees:

AL ALBRECHT ‘59

Worked for 32 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator... taught social studies, physical education, and driver education... served stints as a head coach in baseball, cross country, girls’ volleyball, and wrestling... coached cross country for three seasons (1969-71) and designed the school’s first cross country course... led Lemont to 91 wins and two district titles over nine seasons as the wrestling coach (1969-78)... Lemont advanced its first three wrestling state qualifiers during his tenure... served as the head baseball coach for 12 seasons (1971-83), as Lemont won three baseball conference titles and its first-ever regional crown... collected 77 wins and two conference runner-up finishes in four seasons as girls’ volleyball coach (1990-93)... served as Lemont’s Athletic Director for 10 years (1991-2001)... supported the girls’ sports programs as they gained footing in IHSA competition... helped spearhead several facility improvements during his tenure, as Lemont added a wrestling room, weight room, concession stand, field house, outdoor stadium, and tennis courts... helped expand the Lemont Christmas Classic basketball tournament... as a student, earned two varsity letters in baseball, helping Lemont to consecutive winning seasons (1958-59)... served as a member of the Lemont Lions Club for more than 50 years, and also was part of the Lemont Jaycees... served as a board member for the Lemont Library and Lemont-Bromberek School District 113A... worked more than 30 years as a registered official for sports including baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball... earned induction to the Lemont Christmas Classic Hall of Fame (1999) and the Lemont High School Alumni Hall of Fame (2017)... named as Grand Marshal of the 2022 Keepataw Day Parade.

TYLER JAY ‘12

Earned three varsity letters in baseball and two in football... helped Lemont’s baseball teams to a 70-26 record over three seasons (2010-12)... Lemont captured three South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Regional crowns (2010-11)... went 16-6 with a 2.28 ERA and 182 strikeouts in three seasons... also was a .430 career hitter with 52 RBIs... cited as a 2012 Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State honoree... went 7-3 with a 1.24 ERA and struck out 80 in 45.0 innings as a senior, while also leading the team with a .512 batting average and 32 RBIs... helped Lemont to a 23-2 record over two football seasons (2010-11), as the team won two SSC Blue titles and posted two undefeated regular seasons... earned All-SSC Blue honors in football as a senior in 2011 after totaling 28 catches, 611 yards receiving, and 11 touchdown receptions... earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Illinois... left Illinois with season (14) and career (24) records in saves... was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree... played for the United States Baseball Collegiate National Team in 2014... went 5-2 with 14 saves and 1.08 ERA as a junior in 2015... helped Illinois to a 50-win season, a Big Ten title, and an NCAA Tourney appearance... honored as the 2015 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, as well as the 2015 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District V Player of the Year... tabbed as an All-American by several organizations, and was a finalist for several national awards... drafted No. 6 overall by the Minnesota Twins in the 2015 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.. struck out 232 batters in 236.0 innings over five affiliated minor league seasons.

TIM McAULIFFE ‘13

Earned three varsity letters in football... was a three-time All-South Suburban Conference performer (2010-12)... helped Lemont to a 34-4 record and three IHSA playoff appearances, as Lemont went 17-1 in conference play and won three SSC Blue titles... was a stalwart on the offensive line who helped Lemont to more than 12,000 total yards and 36.6 points per game... helped Lemont to an undefeated regular season, an IHSA Class 6A Quarterfinal appearance, and an 11-1 record in 2010... helped Lemont to an undefeated regular season, an IHSA Class 6A Semifinal appearance, and a 12-1 record in 2011... earned Offensive Line MVP accolades while helping Lemont to an IHSA Class 6A Semifinal appearance and an 11-2 record in 2012... was cited as a 2012 Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 6A All-State honoree... also earned all-state honors from the Champaign News-Gazette and Chicago Tribune... earned a football scholarship to Bowling Green State University... started 49 games over four seasons (2014-17)... was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List three times... twice served as a team captain (2016-17)... was a member of two Mid-American Conference Championship teams (2013, 2015), and was part of three teams that qualified for bowl games (2013-15)... earned All-MAC honors and was MAC Player of the Week in 2016... coached at Syracuse University.

RICK PRANGEN

One of a handful of Illinois prep soccer coaches to win 300 matches in both boys’ and girls’ soccer... posted a record of 375-237-63 in his first 30 seasons as a boys’ soccer coach... amassed a record of 414-174-26 in his first 27 seasons as a girls’ soccer coach... cited as the 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Illinois Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year... tabbed as the 2014 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Illinois Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year... honored as the 2022 Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association District Girls’ Coach of the Year... totaled 12 20-win seasons (3 boys’ seasons, 9 girls’ seasons)... led his teams to 29 conference titles (12 boys’ titles, 17 girls’ titles)... guided his teams to 33 IHSA Regional titles (15 boys’ titles, 18 girls’ titles)... led his teams to 14 IHSA Sectional titles (6 boys’ titles, 8 girls’ titles)... guided the boys’ team to the 2007 IHSA Class AA State Finals.. led the girls’ program to IHSA Class 2A State Finals berths in 2009 (2nd), 2011 (3rd), 2013 (4th), 2015 (4th), 2017 (4th) and 2018 (3rd)... the boys’ team set a school record for wins while finishing 22-3-3 in 2007... the girls’ team set a school record for wins while finishing 25-2 in 2018... served as the Social Studies Department Chair... cited with both the Extra Mile Award and Pride in Excellence Award during his career. (Note: Accomplishments listed through the 2021-22 school year.)

KYRA UDZIELA ‘15

Earned four varsity letters in girls’ bowling.. was a three-time All-South Suburban Conference performer (2013-15)... was a two-time team captain and MVP (2014-15)... helped Lemont to two SSC Blue titles (2013-14)... made three IHSA State Finals appearances (2013-15)... was the 2015 IHSA Bowling Individual State Champion... became the first female individual state champion in any sport in school history... also was the first Lemont student-athlete to win a state championship in an IHSA all-classes event... set a school record by averaging 213 as a senior in 2015... averaged 206 at the 2013 IHSA State Finals... won SSC Blue, IHSA Regional and IHSA Sectional medalist honors in 2014.. helped Lemont qualify as a team for the 2014 IHSA State Finals... averaged 200 at the 2014 IHSA State Finals... averaged 229 to win the 2015 IHSA State Championship... threw her first career perfect game at the 2015 IHSA State Finals.. was a National Junior Gold participant... was inducted to the National Honor Society... earned a bowling scholarship to St. Francis (Pa.) University... named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year and as a first-team All-NEC performer in 2016... helped the Red Flash to an NEC regular-season title in 2016... was a two-time NEC All-Tourney Team performer (2016, 2018)... helped St. Francis to an NEC Tourney title and NCAA appearance in 2018.

JESSICA URBAN ‘10

Earned four varsity letters in girls’ tennis... played at the No. 1 singles positions four straight seasons... posted a 101-20 record over four seasons... was a four-time South Suburban Conference champion at No. 1 singles... earned team MVP honors three times (2007-09)... twice named a team captain (2008-09)... helped her team to four SSC Blue titles and four 20-win seasons... became the first tennis player in school history – male or female – to make three IHSA State Finals appearances (2007-09)... posted a 29-4 record as a freshman in 2006... was 24-8 as a sophomore in 2007... posted a 21-3 mark as a junior and won an IHSA Sectional title.. was 27-5 as a senior in 2009... was inducted to the National Honor Society and was a member of the Student Council... earned a tennis scholarship to Winona State University... posted 105 wins at Winona State (50 singles, 55 doubles)... earned All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors in both singles and doubles in 2013 and 2014... twice was named to the NSIC All-Academic Team (2013-14).