Kaneland football senior wide receivers Quinn Buschbacher and Sean Carter both have made their college decisions within the past week, each choosing a Wisconsin school.

Buschbacher selected Wisconsin-Platteville, while Carter opted for Wisconsin-Whitewater. Both Division III schools are part of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The two took multiple visits together, visiting Platteville, Whitewater and Minnesota State-Moorhead. Carter also consider Saint Joseph's (Ind.).

Buschbacher and Carter were key playmakers for a prolific Knights offense that advanced to the 5A state semifinals.

For more on the duo's college destinations, check out sports editor Jay Schwab's Prep Zone column in Wednesday's Kane County Chronicle.

ELGIN – The St. Charles North girls basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak on Thursday, thumping Elgin, 57-19, in Upstate Eight Conference River Division play.

North (8-18, 7-5 UEC River) played its entire roster and enjoyed a balanced offensive attack. Liz McNally led the way with 12 points, while Natalie Winkates (eight) and Jerica Balousek (seven) were next.

The North Stars are set to host a UEC Valley foe to be determined in a playoff crossover at 7:15 p.m. next Thursday before beginning play in the 4A Bartlett Regional opening round on Feb. 13.

St. Charles East senior point guard Charlie Fisher noticed Kurt Wehrmeister's tuxedo and his robust rendition of the national anthem before Saturday night's game at Geneva.

The rest of the longtime Vikings public address announcer's routine, however, slipped through the cracks. It had nothing to do with Wehrmeister, one of three inductees to Geneva's Athletic Hall of Fame that night. Fisher simply knows how to clear the mechanism once the ball goes up in the air.

"Some guys say you can hear [announcers], but when you're on the court, you're focused on what's going on out there," Fisher said. "You don't hear anyone. Or what anyone says."

Geneva will host an IHSA girls gymnastics regional for the third successive season on Thursday, entertaining the St. Charles co-op and Batavia, among others, at the Mack Olson Gym.

"We're still focused," Vikings junior Ashley Puff said, "but it's definitely more of a comfortable atmosphere being at home."

Behind a standout performance from Puff, Geneva recorded a school-record team score of 144.75 points to win Saturday's Upstate Eight Conference meet at Lake Park. Puff tied a school record with a 9.2625 in the all-around.

The regional champion automatically advances to sectionals, with the top two non-champions from the entire sectional complex advancing as an at-large team. For individual events, the top five finishers in each event and the all-around advance as ranked qualifiers, with the next 12 scorers from the sectional complex advancing as at-large bids.

"Last year's regional was really awesome because we won, so hopefully that happens for us again on Thursday," Geneva coach Kim Hostman said.
 

Wednesday's national signing day was a far more interactive experience than in 2011.

Remember when the aftermath of "Snowmageddon" affected athletes' paths to faxing their letters of intent?

On a mild morning, afternoon or evening – depending upon the campus – Chronicle-area schools held much more accessible ceremonies Wednesday. Families, friends, coaches and administrators were on hand to celebrate the rites of passage with student-athletes.

"Just getting more and more excited," said Geneva's Ben Rogers, a Cornell football recruit. "It seems crazy that high school is winding down, but I'm excited about the opportunity. Today was very cool. It's cool to have some of the teachers there that made this possible for me, who have known me since I was born."

Rogers was one of seven Geneva seniors to sign a letter of intent. Check out Thursday's Kane County Chronicle for more stories and photos of athletes' college decisions.