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Oakton Co-Captain Signs Letter of Intent with Judson
(June 2008)
Sophomore guard Kristi Siemers (Fenton) will continue her playing career at the University of Judson, according to Oakton head coach Rich Bolinder. Siemers, named to the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference First Team after the 2007-08 season, signed a letter of intent with Judson University in May. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school, Judson competes in the Chicago Collegiate Athletic Conference.

During her two-year playing career at Oakton, Siemers averaged 11.3 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. For the 2007-08 campaign, she made 75 three-pointers, three shy of the single-season school record. With 110 total three-point baskets, Siemers leaves as Oakton’s second leading scorer from long distance.

“Had Kristi not missed 15 games her freshman season, she would have rewritten Oakton’s scoring records,” said Bolinder. “The sky’s the limit for Kristi and Judson will be getting a great player.”

Prior to the start of the 2007-08 season, Siemers was named as co-captain of the Raiders and earned honors as a Preseason All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

“Kristi is very unselfish and always puts the team first,” said assistant coach Lisa Bolinder. “She is one of the finest ball handlers Oakton has ever had.”

Siemers graduates from Oakton with an Associate in Arts degree and plans on majoring in education at Judson.

2007-08 Season Recap
Stingy defense was a trademark of the 2007-08 women’s basketball team.
(March 2008)
Over the course of the season, the Raiders held opponents to just 54.8 points per game, which ranked 12th nationally. Oakton’s stellar defense was led by freshman Angie Rieger (Maine South), who set an Oakton single-season record for steals with 94. Offensively, Kristi Siemers (Fenton) drained 75 three-pointers on the season, three shy of the single-season school record. Such tenacity resulted in a 17-13 overall record and a 9-5 mark in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference for head coach Rich Bolinder and his squad.

The Raiders began the season with a five-game win streak and posted a 72-54 victory over previously undefeated Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference opponent Moraine Valley Community College on Feb. 12. “That was our best played game of the season,” said Bolinder, who completed his 20th season as head coach. “Everyone was at their best offensively and defensively. That game was the benchmark for all other games.”

Oakton’s season ended at the hands of Prairie State College on Feb. 28 in a 74-68 loss in the semifinals of the NJCAA Region IV Division II Tournament, marking the first time in seven years the Raiders did not advance to the second round.

Several Raiders were honored by the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference and the NJCAA for their stellar play throughout the course of the season. Rieger and Siemers were named to the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference All-Conference First Team. Rieger also was selected to the NJCAA All-Region IV Division II District D Second Team along with Ana Gonzalez (Niles West).

Player Notes

Daniela Barreto (Notre Dame for Girls), freshman forward. Barreto provided much needed post defense and rebounding at the center and power forward position. On Nov. 30, she had her best game of the season, scoring eight points and pulling down six rebounds against Olive- Harvey College.

Tisa Carter (Proviso West), freshman guard. Carter led the team in blocked shots with 23 overall and seven in conference play. With 158 boards, she was Oakton’s second leading rebounder. She shot 32.9 percent from the field and averaged 6.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Carter’s best game of the season came against Prairie State College on Feb. 19, when she scored nine points. In that game, she also had seven rebounds, four assists, four steals, and committed no fouls or turnovers.

Robin Cavanaugh (Lane Tech), sophomore guard/forward. Cavanaugh completed the season shooting 25 percent from three-point range and 70 percent from the free-throw line in conference play. She had a season high 12 points against Elgin Community College on Feb. 23.

Sam Espina (Niles North), sophomore guard. Espina was greatly missed the last three weeks of the 2007-08 campaign due to a shoulder injury. She had her best game of the season on Dec. 6, scoring nine points against Wright College. For the season, she shot 36.6 percent from the field.

Janel Gomez (Jacobs), freshman forward/center. Providing an immeasurable inside presence, Gomez was pivotal in the team’s run toward a conference title. She was greatly missed the final three weeks of the season with a stress fracture in her foot. She posted a season high seven points against Waubonsee Community College on Jan. 15.

Ana Gonzalez (Niles West), freshman forward. A strong inside force, Gonzalez led the Raiders in total rebounds with 234 and is closing in on the career record of 490 set by Agata Wojciechowska (Maine East, 2006-07). Overall, Gonzalez shot 43.1 percent from the field, while averaging a team-high 16 points per game. Her 10 rebounds per contest also led the Raiders, and ranked 22nd nationally. On Jan. 31, she had a season high 27 points in a 66-53 victory over conference foe McHenry County College. Gonzalez also posted back-to-back 20 point games against Miami Dade College (21 points) on Jan. 4, and Broward County College (22 points) on Jan. 5.

Shannon McNeill (Maine East), sophomore forward. In her second season, McNeill constantly provided leadership on and off the court. A strong rebounder and post defender, McNeill had a season high eight points and 11 rebounds against Morton College on Jan. 29.

Angie Rieger (Maine South), freshman guard. Rieger led the Raiders in steals and assists and was the team’s second leading scorer, averaging 14.2 points per game. In just her first season, Rieger already owns the single-season record for steals. Finishing the season with 94, she eclipsed the previous mark of 84 steals set by Jane Steffan Fullett (1993-94). With 425 points and 91 assists, Rieger has a legitimate shot of breaking the career record for assists and points next season. Natalia Jedlinska (2000-01) is the career leader in points with 888 and Fullett is the career assists leader with 200. Rieger had a season high 24 points against College of DuPage on Dec. 13.

Kristi Siemers (Fenton), sophomore point guard. Oakton’s most accurate long-distance shooter, Siemers was a 40.4 percent shooter from three-point range and also averaged 11.6 points per game. In conference play, she was even better, shooting 40.7 percent from behind the three-point line, while averaging 13.4 points and 3.3 assists per game. With 75, she was the team leader in three-point baskets and was three shy of the school record for treys in a single season set by Ginger Belter (1995-97). Siemers scored a season high 20 points on two occasions, Jan. 29 against Morton College, and Feb. 28 against Prairie State College.

Sam Zalewski (Taft), freshman forward. Zalewski completed the season shooting 31.3 percent from the field. She had a season-high six points on two occasions, Dec. 6 against Wright College, and Dec. 20 against Triton College.

Raiders Host Playoff Game Feb. 28
(February 22, 2008)
The Raiders will host a playoff game on Thursday, Feb. 28 in the NJCAA Region IV Tournament. Oakton’s opponent will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 24.

With one game remaining in the regular season, the Raiders boast an overall record of 17-11 and a 9-4 mark in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference. Offensively, the Raiders are led by the formidable trio of freshman forward Ana Gonzalez, freshman guard Angie Rieger, and sophomore guard Kristi Siemers. Gonzalez is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game. Rieger, a co-captain, contributes 15.3 points and 3.5 assists per contest and Siemers, also a co-captain, averages 11 points and three assists a game.

Other contributors to Oakton’s success include forwards Robin Cavanaugh, Shannon McNeill, Daniela Barreto, and Tisa Carter; guard Samantha Espina; and centers Janel Gomez and Samantha Zalewski.

Women’s Basketball 2006-07 Season Summary
(April 2, 2007)
For the 11th straight year under head coach Rich Bolinder, the Raiders advanced to the NJCAA Region IV semifinals.

While the Raiders were eliminated in the playoffs by Kankakee, sophomore Agata Wojciechowska (Maine East) highlighted Oakton’s season in which the Raiders finished 18-13 overall and 8-6 in conference play.

The 6-0 forward led her team in scoring during the 2006-07 season and finished her Oakton playing career with 641 points, which ranks seventh on the school’s all-time scoring list. Numerous postseason accolades also poured in for Wojciechowska as she was selected to the NJCAA Region IV Division II All-Region District D Second Team, the NJCAA Region IV Division II District D All-Tournament Team, and the Illinois Skyway Collegiate All-Conference First Team.

In addition to Wojciechowska, three other players were named to the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference All-Conference Team. Sophomore Jenna Rains (Maine West), who averaged 12.8 points, was named to the first team. Freshman Maria Karastamatis (Northtown Academy) and sophomore Amanda Kasdorf (Maine West) were second team selections.

Leslie Leaves Her Mark
Darcy Leslie finished her Oakton basketball career as one of the greatest players in school history.

The five-foot-seven forward from Mather High School leaves as Oakton’s leading rebounder. In the final game of the season, Leslie came up big with 17 rebounds finishing with 395, eclipsing the previous record of 389 set by Ann Brophy (1996 – 1998).

In addition, Leslie just missed out on ending her career as Oakton’s all-time leading scorer. She finished six points shy of surpassing the 888 point record set by Natalia Jedlinska (1999 – 2001).

Leslie also leaves as both the College’s third leading assists and steals leader in the history of women’s basketball at Oakton.

“Darcy is living proof of what determination and desire will do for you,” said Oakton head coach Rich Bolinder. “She was relentless on the boards for us in her two years at Oakton and always could be counted on to put up big numbers.”

Leslie was named NJCAA Region IV Division Player of the Week on Dec. 5, 2005. Her career ambition is to become a pharmacist.

News release
Oakton Hosts Men's and Women's Basketball Championships
(Feb. 28, 2006)