By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
In August, a relatively short time before the start of the college basketball season, Saint Xavier lost the services of women’s basketball coach Travis Brewster, who left to coach at Division II Chadron State College in Nebraska.
Leading the Cougars this season will be one of their former players. Sidney Lovitsch, who graduated in 2022 and served as an assistant to Brewster last season, will serve as interim head coach for the 2023-2024 campaign.
“I am truly honored to be named interim head coach of the women’s basketball team,” Lovitsch stated in an SXU news release. “I am beyond excited to begin this journey and I am committed to continuing the success and tradition of this already prestigious program.
“Being an alumnus, I know how important this program is and am grateful to continue to be a part of it. It will be a special year with a talented group of women.”
While playing for Saint Xavier, Lovitsch set the program record for most games played with 146 and is one of 22 SXU players to score 1,000 or more career points. The Grayslake native finished her career with 1,266 points, putting her at No. 14 in team history.
Lovitsch also is No. 10 in steals with 257, 11th in assists with 329, 13th in blocked shots with 80 and 14th in field goals made with 485.
She was a four-time Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honoree, a two-time Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, a two-time All-CCAC Second Team selection and was the CCAC Defender of the Year in 2021-22.
The Cougars were 20-9 last year and 16-4 in the CCAC.
The Cougars will make their debut with Lovitsch at the helm at noon on Oct. 2 when they host Bethany College at the Shannon Center.
Johnson goes camping
Morez Johnson, who played basketball for three years at St. Rita before transferring to Thornton for his senior season, attended the USA Junior National Team Minicamp held Oct. 6-8.
According to usab.com, 84 athletes were scheduled to attend the event, which took place in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There were 55 players with USA Basketball experience.
McFarland wins Triple-A title
Stagg graduate T.J. McFarland did not get a ton of work for the New York Mets this season, but he is making a mark on the professional level.
The veteran helped the Norfolk Tides win the Triple-A National Championship.
The left-handed hurler made three appearances for the Mets this season. He became a free agent and signed a minor league deal with Baltimore on July 22.
Norfolk, the Orioles’ Triple-A team, won the national championship on Oct. 1 with a 7-6 win over the Oklahoma City Dodgers. McFarland picked up the win, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
Good guy
Former Brother Rice baseball star Michael Massey was awarded the 2023 Mike Swanson Good Guy Award by the Kansas City Baseball Writers of America Association, who cover the Royals.
Malec named Coach of the Year
District 230 co-op girls lacrosse coach Jim Malec was named the 2022-23 IHSA Coach of the Year after helping the team to a fourth-place finish in the state. The D230 co-op consists of athletes from Stagg, Sandburg and Andrew.