Regina Dominican Panthers

Regina student-athletes uphold a tradition of excellence on and off the field. Top row: Katie Trela, Molly Freund, Brittany Johnson, Ellen Strenk, Margaret Archibald and Kelcey Traynoff. Front row: Elizabeth McCann, Amber Seo, Lexie Pyles and Kristin McDonald.
(Al Podgorski/Sun-Times)

December 2, 2008 BY KATHERINE ROCHE

Font Size

Bookmark

Black Text

White Text

TOP SPORTS MOMENTS

Back-to-back

1. The 1982 golf team won the first state championship in school history. Coach Vi Reego’s team not only won the title, but set the team-record score of 692. The following year, players such as state champion Heather Hodur along with Kathy Flakus, Jennifer Reego, Nancy Rourke, Kelly McCarthy and Bridget Healy went on to bring home another state championship.

She’s still the one

2. Along with being part of two team state championships, golfer Heather Hodur won the 1983 individual state championship. Shooting a 71 (32-39) at Highland Park Golf Club in Bloomington, Hodur still ranks as tied for fourth overall among best single-round performances in IHSA history. Regina has eight team titles in golf, but Hodur is still the only individual titlist in school history.

Last but not least

3. In 1992, 10 years after its first state championship, the golf team not only won another title, but it set a school record, shooting 687 against St. Charles. Players such as Jackie Rubin, Laura Costello, Michelle Westol, Gretchen Wochner, Maureen Phenner and Molly Cleland are among the Panthers to bring home the title. Regina still holds the record for most girls golf state championships.

Golfers reign supreme

4. From 1986 to 1990, the Panthers won five consecutive state championships. With Reego, the Panthers won eight state titles, 11 regionals and 11 sectional titles. From 2003 to 2008 under the guidance of Mark Szczepkowski, Regina had six all-conference individual selections and five sectional qualifiers as individuals. In 2006, Claire Costello won the regional championship.

Dancing at the Hall

5. Coach Mike Small led his basketball team to a history-making upset, beating defending champ Marshall 44-42 in the 1984 IHSA Class AA state tournament. Small led the girls to three consecutive IHSA sectional titles and was later inducted into the Regina Hall of Fame along with coach Rich Majcin. Five of Small’s players from the 1984 team went on to play Division I basketball in college.

WHAT REGINA MEANS TO ME

By Bridget Venturi Veenema: Athletic director Venturi was an All-State softball player, All-Big Ten at Michigan and a champion American Gladiator.

Why an all-girls school? I get asked that question a lot these days as athletic director of Regina Dominican.

My parents knew best. I blossomed at Regina. It’s a school where girls do it all and are taught they can become anything they want. Sports gave me an arena in which to excel and gain self-confidence as a young woman.

With daily affirmations from my teachers, coaches, family and the wonderful Adrian Dominican sisters that ‘‘I could do anything I set my mind to,’’ I was able to take a firm hold of my athletic blessing and let it take me through life.

My sports career has taken me around the world. The success I have lived and that I preach to all young people is to pursue and excel at what drives you from the inside. While my Catholic school challenged me daily in accountability, respect and integrity, it was my internal desire that fueled my dreams. Having an atmosphere of focus and of endless possibilities at Regina taught my classmates and me that our potential was limitless.

At Regina, I helped lead the 1984 basketball team to a third-place finish at the state tournament and earned Catholic All-America honors. As an All-State softball player, I earned a full ride to Michigan. In 1990, I won the American Gladiators grand championship, and I became an inaugural member of the 1994 Silver Bullets, the first women’s pro baseball team since the WWII era.

The best part about being athletic director is getting to meet and work with men and women who also are dedicated to teaching and inspiring young people through athletics.

I can only hope I can perpetuate the tradition of women leading women and share such aspirations with current and future Regina students.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Carol Barney: Architect, redesigned the Oklahoma City Federal Building.

• Pattie Cowles: Played basketball for Cornell, two-time captain, two-time All-Ivy League All-Star, Cornell Hall of Famer.

• Liz Howard: Director of development for the Northwestern Kellogg School of Business.

• Virginia Kendall: U.S. District Court judge.

• Erin Luby: Former captain of Notre Dame cross-country team.

• Angela Marino: U.S. naval flight officer.

• Corrine McClintic: Senior V.P. at Northern Trust.

• Pam Mueller: ‘‘Jeopardy’’ Tournament of Champions finalist.

• Heather Hodur Penn: 1983 Class AA individual state champion in golf.

• Christina Quaye: Two-time All-State basketball star, Girls Catholic Athletic Conf. 2004 player of the year.