Patch's Athlete of the Week is Jacobs' Pitcher Greg Mixon

Greg Mixon is a pitcher for the Jacobs High School baseball team.

Scott Germanetti: How long have you played baseball? Mixon: Probably 14 years. Ever since t-ball. S.G.: What got you involved? Mixon: Just my dad and brother playing. Following in their footsteps. S.G.: What do you like about it? Mixon: I enjoy the competition. Going out there and competing against other people. S.G.: What position do you play? Mixon: Pitcher. I'm a lefty. S.G.: What has been your favorite competition?  Mixon: When we swept McHenry. S.G.: What has been your hardest game? Mixon: Cary and Huntley because they're our two strongest rivals. S.G.: What is your proudest achievement in baseball? Mixon: My 13 strikeout game at Woodstock sophomore year. S.G.: Do you plan to play next year? Mixon: I'll probably end up playing summer …

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Jacobs' Runner, William Hennessy, is Patch's Athlete of the Week

Senior William Hennessy runs track as well as cross-country for Jacobs High School.

Scott Germanetti: How long have you been running competitively? Hennessy: I started track in seventh grade and cross country in eight grade. S.G.: What got you involved in track? Hennessy: I played all the other sports when I was younger and I realized all I liked about them was the running. Then I found out there was a sport just about running. I always wanted to do track, but my friends got me to do cross-country, too. S.G.: What do you enjoy most about running? Hennessy: The competitive side of the running. There aren't any frills or anything. It's just who can run faster. It's a lot more competitive than people think. S.G.: What races do you run? Hennessy: The 800, the 4x400 relay, the 1600 and the 4x800 relay. I usually end up doing 3…

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Jacobs' Soccer Player Cassidy Sherman is Patch's Athlete of the Week

Sherman plays Center-Mid for the Jacobs girls soccer team.

Scott Germanetti: How long have you played soccer? Sherman: Since I was 4 or 5. I played for ALITHSA.  S.G.: What got you to start playing soccer? Sherman: Its because my older sister played. S.G.: What do you enjoy about it? Sherman: I'm much better at it than other sports. S.G.: What position do you play? Sherman: Center-Mid. S.G.: What's been you favorite game this season? Sherman: The game against Andrew because we won. S.G.: What was a challenging game you played this season? Sherman: The first game because I got beat like crazy. Our whole team did. S.G.: What are you looking forward to this season? Sherman: Going far in the playoffs. Our record is 7-2-3. S.G.: What is your proudest accomplishment in soccer? Sherman: Getting a college…

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Jacobs' Softball Player Katie Kirker is Patch's Athlete of the Week

Senior Katie Kirker pitches for the Jacobs softball team.

Scott Germanetti: How long have you played softball? Kirker: This is my tenth year. I started playing in the AAYO Ponytail League. S.G.: What got you involved in softball? Kirker: A softball flier. The gym teacher at Westfield gave it to me. S.G.: What do you enjoy about it? Kirker: Pitching is fun because i have the most control. S.G.: What position do you play? Kirker: Pitcher. When I started Ponytail they rounded everyone up and decided what position we'd play. I could throw good overhand so they made me pitcher. S.G.: What teams are you looking forward to playing? Kirker: Barrington is tough and that's our biggest rival. Cary-Grove is the toughest though. S.G.: What are you most proud of from playing softball? Kirker: Getting a …

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Jacobs' Softball Shortstop Maggie Hansen is Patch's Athlete of the Week

Jacobs senior Maggie Hansen plays shortstop for the Eagles' softball team.

Scott Germanetti: How long have you played softball? Hansen: I started playing in kindergarden. It was tee ball. S.G.: Who got you involved with softball? Hansen: My dad. He just always put me in a bunch of sports when I was little. S.G.: What do you enjoy about it? Hansen: You get to meet a lot of new people. S.G.: What position do you play? Hansen: Shortstop. S.G.: What's been your favorite game this season? Hansen: Our win against Barrington was really exciting. We've never ever beat them in the history of ever. S.G.: Who is your biggest competitor? Hansen: Cary-Grove. They are a very good team and there has always been a rivalry. S.G.: What is your proudest accomplishment in softball? Hansen: It was in sixth grade. It was my last year …

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Jacobs' Dance Team Member Taylor Bruno is Patch's Athlete of the Week

Junior Taylor Bruno has danced for Jacobs on the varsity dance team since her freshman year.

Scott Germanetti: How long have you been dancing? Bruno: Since I was about 3. I took a ballet class. S.G.: Who got you involved with dance? Bruno: My mom. S.G.: What do you enjoy about dancing? Bruno: I just get really into it. It puts me in a good place. S.G.: What types of dance do you specialize in? Bruno: My favorite is hip-hop and i like poms. I wish we could do lyrical though. S.G.: What's been your favorite competition this season? Bruno: State probably. It was really intense. You had to be the best. S.G.: What was  your most difficult competition this season? Bruno: The first one because we learned our hip-hop routine in 4 days and had to perform. We got first though. S.G.: What is your proudest accomplishment in dance? Bruno: It …

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Jacobs' Dancer Who Competed in State Competition is Patch's Athlete of Week

Senior Olivia Flowers is a member of the H.D. Jacobs High School varsity dance team that recently competed at state in the pom and hip-hop categories.

The H.D. Jacobs Dance team recently competed in the 2012 TeamDance Illinois competition.  H.D. Jacobs placed fourth in the open pom category and second in the hip-hop category, according to the TeamDance state results page.  Patch writer Scott Germanetti chatted with senior Olivia Flowers, who competed at the state competition and has been selected as this week's Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch Athlete of the Week, to learn more about her background in dance.  Scott Germanetti: How long have you been dancing? Flowers: Since I was 3, so around 15 years. S.G.: Who or what got you involved in dance? Flowers: My mom kinda forced me into it. S.G.: Why do you enjoy dancing? Flowers: It gives me something to do. It's where I met all my friends…

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Athlete of the Week

Athlete of the Week: Alex Elston

Senior varsity swimmer Alex Elston recently competed at state.

Scott Germanetti: How long have you been swimming competitively? Elston: For 13 years.   S.G.: Who or what got you involved in swimming? Elston: I was just tired of sitting around.   S.G.: Why do you enjoy swimming? Elston: Because of the friends and rivals that I've made. S.G.: What races do you participate in? Elston: The 50, 100, and 200 free, the 100 and 200 fly, and the medly relay.    S.G.: What has been your favorite meet this season and why? Elston: State, you're swimming against the top kids in your region. It's hard not to get excited, and it also marks the end. S.G.: What was your most difficult meet this season and why? Elston: State was also the most difficult for the same reason its my favorite. Most part these swimmers have …

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Athlete of the Week

Athlete of the Week: Alex Glover

Senior Alex Glover is forward on the Jacobs Varsity Basketball Team.

Scott Germanetti: How long have you been playing basketball? Alex Glover: Since seventh grade. S.G.: Who or what got you involved in basketball? Glover: My neighbor said that I should try it so I did. We used to play in the driveway sometimes. S.G.: Why do you enjoy playing? Glover: I like how with practice you can become better at any part of the game. You get you what you put into it. S.G.: What position do you play? Glover: I play forward, post. S.G.: What has been your favorite game this season and why? Glover: I really liked the game when we beat McHenry at McHenry. S.G.: What was your most difficult game this season and why? Glover: When we played Quincy. They were really good. They had a really balanced team, really talented. S.G.: …

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Athlete of the Week

Athlete of the Week: Austin Ryan

Sophomore Austin Ryan is a wrestler at Jacobs High School in the 106 weight class.

Scott Germanetti: How long have you been wrestling? Ryan: Since I was in first grade. S.G.: Who or what got you involved in wrestling? Ryan: My cousin was the state champ wrestler. S.G.: Why do you enjoy wrestling? Ryan: Because it's different. It's just you and you don't have to rely on a team. S.G.: What is your weight class? Ryan: 106. S.G.: What has been your favorite match this season and why? Ryan: The match against Johnsburg. I wrestled up and pinned him. S.G.: What was your most difficult match this season and why? Ryan: The match against Reyes at Geneva because I lost in overtime. S.G.: What's your proudest wrestling accomplishment ever? Ryan: Winning state in 8th grade. S.G.: Do you plan on wrestling next year? Ryan: Yeah.

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