Prep sports insider: Crystal Lake Central's Cole Barkocy is Athlete of the Week, plus notes and state tennis pairings

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Cole Barkocy

Crystal Lake Central, sr., cross country

Barkocy had an opportunity to win the boys title at the Fox Valley Conference Cross Country Meet, but stopped to help another runner, Crystal Lake South's Jack Becker, about 200 meters from the finish line.

Becker and Cary-Grove's Alex Ratkovich, who were running 1-2, both experienced physical problems. Becker did not finish; Ratkovich eventually finished, but was 14th.

Barkocy initially thought he would help Becker down the final hill at Veteran Acres Park and they could finish together. But Becker stopped on that hill, and by that time four other runners had passed Barkocy, who finished fifth.

"That meant much more, doing that for him, than it would have to win the conference race," Barkocy said. "We still won it as a team, so that was incredible. The team always comes first. The fact we won and I was able to help Jack was definitely very satisfying."

Barkocy wants to run next year and is considering the Air Force Academy and Notre Dame, among other schools. He plans on going into aviation.

NOTEWORTHY

Boys cross country

Take it easy: Becker spent Saturday night in Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn and returned home Sunday, feeling close to normal again after he collapsed in the FVC Meet on Saturday.

Becker was leading the race, but had overexerted himself on the tough Veteran Acres Park course and his legs were dead. Barkocy tried to help Becker to the finish, which is legal, but Becker could not make it.

Gators coach Rich Eschman figures Becker will be ready to run Saturday in the Class 3A Grant Regional.

"We'll monitor it during the week," Eschman said. "On Wednesday, we'll do something a little more upbeat. If he can't handle it, he probably won't run. I'm not going to put him in a situation where he can't succeed. Luckily, Jack doesn't have to be on top of his game. We can go in a little more relaxed. you can get out (of the regional as a team) without pushing it too hard. Just get out and give him another week to make sure everything's checking out OK."

Becker suffered with fatigue issues last season, but has been in top form all season until Saturday, either winning races or being in the top five.

"This whole season's been going great until yesterday," Becker said Sunday. "I just have to take it easy (in the regional) and move on and go from there. I have to think about the long-term."

Eschman said Becker and his parents didn't think his problem was anything like last year.

"It's not even comparable to last year," Eschman said. "He felt bad all the time. Here, he recovered and he says he's good. He was just sore all the time. This is, hopefully, a totally different situation."

Girls tennis

What's new with two: This week's state tournament comes with a new wrinkle, a split into two classes. The move from unified 128-entry singles and doubles brackets to 1A and 2A tournaments, however, didn't come with an expansion of the field. That means the draw for each class has shrunk to 64 singles players and 64 doubles pairings. There was some skepticism locally when the move was announced last year, and the overall feeling at last week's Class 2A Cary-Grove Sectional still was aprehension about how the split will affect the tournament.

"It's going to be different," Jacobs coach Jon Betts said. "It's definitely more concentrated talent. It's always tough, everyone at state, whether it's the 128 draw or now the 64, they've all earned it. They've beaten somebody to earn their spot. So even if you're the weakest player at state, you're still a good competitor and you're a threat."

EVENTS TO WATCH

Girls tennis

State tournament, Thursday-Saturday, various sites

The state tournament begins Thursday at sites across the state, with play scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Here are the opening matches and sites for all 18 local players. Complete brackets for both classes can be found at ihsa.org/SportsActivities/GirlsTennis:

Singles

Lulu Nicks (Woodstock North) vs. Emilee Mossman (St. Anthony) at Buffalo Grove High School

Kelly Mink (Marian Central) vs. Kelley Hodyl (IC Catholic) at Rolling Meadows High School

Doubles

Caroline Yuk and Cate Yuk (Marian Central) vs. Alison Bowman and Anna Bowman (Galesburg) at Hoffman Estates High School

Faith Vela and Aly Cullotta (Woodstock North) vs. Lauren Hird and Noely Baumann (Alleman) at Wheeling High School

Shannon Fetzner and Brenda Ordonez (Woodstock) vs. Brooke Akrami and Raquel Robertson (Chicago Christian) at Hoffman Estates High School

Singles

Annie Timm (Prairie Ridge) vs. Jacquelyne Qi (Naperville Central) at Palatine High School

Haley Steinkamp (Jacobs) vs. Erin Klein (Lincoln-Way East) at Elk Grove High School

Doubles

Katie Toomire and Kylie Skepnek (Jacobs) vs. Kamila Czosnyka and Marti Wind (Maine South) at Conant High School

Abbey Roeser and Becca Fishman (Huntley) vs. Francesca Bucaro and Ashley Yoon (Conant) at Conant High School

Skylar Olsen and Hannah Rakofsky (Crystal Lake South) vs. Leraaen Abbott and Kayla Vittore (Belvidere North) at Fremd High School

Claire Atkinson and Julia Kopfman (Crystal Lake South) vs. Jasmine Abunaim and Sophie Sjo (Sandburg) at Conant High School