(Sugar Grove, IL.) – Waubonsee Community College held its Annual Athletic Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 18. Haley (Kilbride) Jochim, a women's soccer All-American for Waubonsee in 2014; John Sudges, a standout Chiefs' baseball player and fastpitch softball National Champion; and Perry Clark, the winningest softball coach in Waubonsee history were all formally enshrined into the college's Hall of Fame. In addition, Waubonsee student-athletes from the 2022-2023 school year were recognized during the evening for their accomplishments. All-American basketball player Joey Niesman was honored as Sophomore Male Athlete of the Year, with record-setting basketball player Brooke Heiman was named the Sophomore Female Athlete of the Year. Baseball player Matt Bivens was selected the Freshman Male Athlete of the Year, while two-sport athlete Emily Hurst was unanimously chosen the Freshman Female Athlete of the Year. Softball player Taylor Warren was chosen the Vermillion and Gold Award winner, and baseball player Chazz Crook was the S.T.A.R. Award recipient.
Jochim, a graduate of Rosary High School in Aurora, helped lead Waubonsee to the Region championship and a berth in the 2014 NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Florida. She was an NJCAA Division I Second Team All-American that season, tallying 15 goals and 14 assists. The Batavia native was also selected the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) and Region Player of the Year as the Chiefs won the conference title with a perfect 6-0 record and won the Region title by outscoring their opponents 23-0. Jochim finished in the top-10 in the Chiefs' record book in several different categories, and excelled in the classroom as well. She made the Dean's List and earned ISCC All-Academic all four semesters at Waubonsee, culminating with NJCAA Second Team Academic All-American honors her sophomore year.
Sudges graduated from Aurora West High School where he earned All-Upstate Eight Conference First Team honors before helping the Chiefs capture the 1984 Skyway Conference title. As a sophomore he led Waubonsee in nearly every offensive category on the way to being named All-Skyway First Team and represented the Chiefs in the Region 4 All-Star game at Wrigley Field. Sudges transferred to Marietta (OH) College where he was an All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) First Team selection on the Etta Express' 1986 National Championship team. His capped off his collegiate career by earning All-OAC, All-Region, All-District and NCAA Division III All-American honors. Sudges then played fastpitch softball at the highest level for over 20 years, winning an International Softball Congress (ISC) National Championship in 1995 with the Decatur Pride. He was twice named to the ISC All-World Team, was the leading hitter at the 1999 ISC World Tournament, participated three times at the USA National Team Camps, and earned American Softball Association First Team All-American honors in 2005.
A graduate of Oswego High School in 1983, Clark co-founded the Northern Illinois Thunder Softball organization and served as President, Advisory Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for over 20 years. He began assisting Waubonsee's program in 1998, helping transform Chiefs' softball and elevate it to a national level. Under Clark's guidance Waubonsee won an unprecedented seven straight ISCC crowns going a combined 80-8 in conference play during that span. His teams won 30 or more games six times, were ranked in the top-25 nationally seven times, and reached the Region 4 title game three times before finally breaking through in 2017. Clark's crew won the Region Championship for the first time and made their first-ever appearance at the NJCAA Division II World Series, finishing ninth overall. Clark directed the Chiefs to 302 wins overall, the all-time leader in program history, and a 104-25 mark in the ISCC for a winning percentage of 81 percent. Clark was chosen the ISCC Softball Coach of the Year eight times and was named the Region 4 Coach of the Year and the ISCC Women's Coach of the Year in 2017.
An Oswego native, Niesman led the Chiefs' basketball team to the Region 4 title and an appearance at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament en route to being named an NJCAA Second Team All-American. The 6'2" guard led Waubonsee in scoring with an 18.3 points-per-game (ppg) average and finished in the top-50 among all NJCAA Division II players in nine different categories, including ranking 12th in steals (78) and 16th nationally in assists (162). Niesman averaged 4.6 assists, 6.7 rebounds per game, shot 45 percent from the field overall and nailed 61 three-point baskets on the season. In addition, he was named to the Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 26.7 ppg in the Chiefs' title run as the four-seed. Niesman scored in double figures in 31 of 35 games he played, including 21 straight to close out the season, and joined Waubonsee's 1,000 Point Club in February. He finished his Chiefs' career with 1,154 points over 68 games played, an average of 17.0 ppg every time he stepped on the court. Niesman was both a two-time All-ISCC First Team and All-Region First Team selection, and will be continuing his academic and athletic career at McKendree College.
Heiman, an Indian Creek High School product, led the Chiefs in scoring with a 21.6 points-per-game (ppg) average to finish sixth nationally among all NJCAA Division II players. She also averaged 9.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 41.5 percent from the floor. Heiman was in the top-25 nationally in eight other statistical categories as well including third in total points (671), fourth in free throws made (163), fifth in field goals made (238) and seventh in free throw percentage (86.2), which were all Waubonsee single-season records. She was named the Region 4 Division II Player of the Week three times during the season. Overall the 5'9" shooting guard established 10 new standards in the Chiefs' record book including career marks for defensive rebounds (339) and free throw percentage (83.7 percent). Heiman also finished in the top-5 of Waubonsee's record book in 10 other categories, finishing second in career points with 1,161 and offensive rebounds with 211, and third in career double-doubles with 27. The Compton, Illinois native averaged 19.7 ppg over the 59 games she wore a Chiefs' uniform the last two years.
Bivens, a Yorkville High School alumnus, was second on the Chiefs' baseball team with an on-base percentage of .447 and a batting average of .352 on the season. The outfielder and fill-in first baseman also smacked six doubles, a triple and two home runs while driving in 21 runs. Bivens led Waubonsee with 13 hit-by-pitches and posted a .969 fielding percentage over 122 total chances on the way to being named All-ISCC Second Team.
A Rosary High School graduate, Hurst was a standout on both the basketball court and the softball diamond for Waubonsee. The 5'10" forward was named All-ISCC Second Team after averaging 14.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, and finished 15th nationally among all NJCAA Division II players with 93 steals. This Spring she rewrote the Chiefs' softball record book compiling a .543 batting average, a .590 on-base percentage and a 1.126 slugging percentage, all Waubonsee single-season marks. The Chiefs' shortstop and leadoff hitter, Hurst also set program records with 95 hits, 26 doubles, 22 home runs and 76 runs batted in. Not surprisingly, she was named the ISCC Player of the Year and to the All-Region First Team.
Warren, also a Yorkville High School graduate, was the ISCC Pitcher of the Year and All-Region First Team as she went 22-7 in the circle overall, posting a 1.92 earned-run-average (ERA) over in 193 and two-thirds innings pitched. The right-hander set a new Chiefs' career record by winning 33 games the last two years, while also setting program marks for complete games in a season with 26 and career with 41. Among NJCAA Region 4 players Warren finished first in ERA and innings pitched, second in wins and fourth in strikeouts with 161. She will be continuing her collegiate playing career at North Central College in Naperville.
Crook, a native of Orem, Utah earned All-ISCC Second Team status after batting .337 with a team-leading 46 runs driven in. The Chiefs' shortstop also smacked 16 doubles, two triples and three home runs to go along with a dozen stolen bases. Crook compiled a .408 on-base percentage and .489 slugging percentage in a team-leading 55 games played and 190 at bats.
Several other student-athletes were recognized throughout the evening for their stellar performances this past school year. Among them was women's soccer player Amy Flores who was chosen the ISCC Player of the Year for the second straight year. In addition, her teammates Sarai Munoz and Bailey Prichard were recognized for being the only players in program history to be a part of three ISCC title teams.
Waubonsee coaches were also honored for leading their teams to success. Women's Soccer coach Brad Schlemmer, who has guided the Chiefs to 133 wins over his 11 seasons as head coach, was recognized for leading his team to the conference crown. Softball coach Joe Spitzzeri and baseball coach Rodney Lopez were honored for both leading their teams to ISCC championships. Men's Basketball coach Lance Robinson received special mention after directing his squad to the Region 4 title and a berth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, along with being named a Co-Coach of the Year by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
The evening's celebration was capped off as basketball player Brice Langford and two-sport athlete Sarah Sandusky, representing the Waubonsee Student-Athlete Council, presented new Waubonsee President Dr. Brian Knetl with the ISCC All-Sports Trophy. The Chiefs edged out Moraine Valley Community College for the award which recognizes the top athletic program in the conference each year. This is the ninth time that Waubonsee has won the award since its inception in 1976, and the first time since 2019.
