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Illini Spring Sports Festival

News-Gazette staff writer Jeff

Huth takes a look at Saturday''s University of Illinois Spring Sports Festival:

Women''s Golf

When: 8 a.m.

Where: UI Blue Course

What to look for: After trips this spring to such balmly

locales as Florida and Hawaii, the Illini take their first stab at playing

in unpredictable Midwestern spring weather. The 12-team tournament, which

concludes Sunday with the final 18 holes, is Illinois'' last tune-up for

next month''s Big Ten meet.

Volleyball

When: 9 a.m-7 p.m.

Where: Huff Hall.

What to look for: First chance for Illini fans to see

middle blocker Cristy Chapman, a transfer from Louisville, in action. UI

will play six matches as part of the Networker Invitational.

Women''s Tennis

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Atkins Tennis Center.

What to look for: It''s been an inconsistent 1997 for the

9-11 Illini but they do enter this Big Ten dual against Ohio State on a

two-match winning streak. Illinois also is at home Sunday at approximately

11:30 a.m. against Indiana.

Men''s & Women''s Track

When: Noon.

Where: UI Outdoor Track Stadium.

What to look for: With only DePaul and North Central coming

in, Illini fans will have to wait until UI hosts Big Ten Championships in

May for a spirited team competition. Should be fun to watch former UI women''s

greats Tonja Buford-Bailey, Celena Mondie-Milner and Tonya Williams in action

again. All are scheduled to run unattached.

Men''s Tennis

When: 2 p.m.

Where: Atkins Tennis Center.

What to look for: Senior Jerry Turek goes for a share

of the UI record for career victories when No. 18 Illini host Iowa in a

Big Ten dual. He''s one shy of mark held by Mark Long (1984-88), who won

102 matches. If successful, Turek can claim record for his own when Illini

play Minnesota at 9 a.m. Sunday at Atkins.

Pitcher Jeff Chiles, who had a 9-1 record last season for Crystal Lake South High School, has signed a national letter of intent with the University of Illinois.

In 1996, the 6-foot-3 left-hander was a first-team all-area selection of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald and a first-team All-Fox Valley Conference pick. In 70 innings, Chiles struck out 78 batters and allowed just 50 hits while compiling a 1.60 earned run average.

This spring, backed up by a less experienced starting lineup, Chiles is 1-2 but has a 1.80 ERA. In 34 innings, the Gators senior has struck out 19 and walked two.

Chiles also made official visits to Notre Dame and Valparaiso before committing to the Illini.

Guarneri signs.

It's official. Lisa Guarneri is headed to the UI to play women's basketball.

Illini coach Theresa Grentz announced Wednesday she has received a signed letter of intent from the 5-foot-8 point guard from Piscataway, N.J. Guarneri had orally committed after visiting the UI campus last weekend.

Guarneri averaged 16 points, 6.9 assists, 5.2 steals and 4.7 rebounds last season as a 29-2 Piscataway team won New Jersey's Group 4 (large school) state title. She was named most valuable player of the state tournament. Piscataway was 76-8 over the last three seasons with Guarneri in its starting lineup.

Guarneri also arrives with solid academic credentials. She scored a 1260 on the SAT and 28 on the ACT, and was nominated for the New Jersey Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

"Lisa brings a great many attributes to our program," Grentz said. "She is an outstanding academic student who will fit in very well with the academic environment here. She is also a spirited, enthusiastic and feisty competitor."

Romagnoli an All-American

At Thursday night's NCAA championships, Travis Romagnoli became the first University of Illinois freshman gymnast in nine years to earn All-American honors.

A native of Ontario, Canada, Romagnoli finished in a third-place tie in the all-around. The top six are named All-Americans.

"Travis was just flawless," Illinois coach Yoshi Hayasaki said. "From the first event, the high bar, to the last event on the vault, he stuck his routines perfectly."

Romagnoli, the first UI freshman All-American since Dominick Minicucci in 1988, scored 57.675, tying Ohio State's Drew Durbin.

He advanced to Saturday's finals in the high bar (9.775), floor exercise (9.75) and vault (9.775).

Also moving on: Senior Greg McGlaun, who had the best performance of anyone on the high bar (9.80).

Big track news.

Aleisha Latimer, who was named the 1997 High School Indoor Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News, has signed a letter of intent with Illinois.

Latimer, of Colorado Springs, Colo., runs for the Colorado Flyers, whose alums include Illini Aspen Burkett and Collinus Newsome.

A 1997 World Championship Indoor Championship Team member, Latimer holds national high school records in the 50-, 55- and 60-meter dashes.

She took third behind Olympians Gail Devers and Gwen Torrence in the 60 at this year's U.S. Championships.

Latimer picked Illinois over Texas, Notre Dame and Oregon.

"Aleisha is just a phenomenal athlete who will contribute right away," UI coach Gary Winckler said.

Illinois' other spring signee, Decatur Eisenhower's Lindsay Martin, placed third in the 800 at last year's IHSA meet.

Kruger camps.

Lon Kruger and staff will host three basketball camps this summer, including the first annual Parent-Child Basketball Weekend, to be held June 13-14.

Sessions for the Lon Kruger Boys' Basketball Camp will run from June 8-11 and July 13-16.

For more information, call 333-3401.

College Volleyball Schedule: Networkers Invitational

8 a.m. – UI Alumni vs. Illinois State; Wisconsin

vs. Eastern Illinois

9 a.m. – Illinois vs. Miami (Ohio); Wisconsin vs.

Iowa

10 a.m. – UI Alumni vs. Iowa; Illinois State vs.

Eastern Illinois

11 a.m. – Illinois vs. UI Alumni; Miami (Ohio) vs.

Wisconsin

Noon – Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois; Illinois State

vs. Miami (Ohio)

1 p.m. – Illinois State vs. Wisconsin; Iowa vs. Eastern

Illinois

2 p.m. – Illinois vs. Iowa; UI Alumni vs. Miami (Ohio)

3 p.m. – UI Alumni vs. Wisconsin; Miami (Ohio) vs.

Eastern Illinois

4 p.m. – Illinois vs. Wisconsin; Illinois State vs.

Iowa

5 p.m. – UI Alumni vs. Eastern Illinois; Miami (Ohio)

vs. Iowa

6 p.m. – Illinois vs. Illinois State