Diana Karouzos
Class of 2007
Sport: Hockey
College: St. Cloud State
Diana Karouzos is a senior defender from Chicago, Illinois. An
all-state player and team co-captain, Karouzos has lettered three times for
the Lane Tech High School Indians and is coached by her father, Dean
Karouzos. Since 2004, Karouzos has tallied 29 goals and 38 assists in her
prep career. Karouzos is currently a member of the 2006-07 Colorado Selects
Team. She is also a three-time Chicago Showcase participant, has
participated in the USA National Championships the past two seasons and was
selected to participate in the USA Players Development camps in Lake Placid,
N.Y., the past four years. Karouzos has played on Team Illinois, scoring 14
goals and 31 assists from 2004-2006, and has lettered twice in prep
softball. An honors student at Lane Tech and the daughter of Dean and Nadine
Karouzos, Diana plans to pursue a business and marketing degree at St. Cloud
State University.
"Diana (Karouzos) is a great skater who sees the ice well and has great puck
handling skills," said Giesen. "She will be a solid addition to our blue
line and will be a great student-athlete for the University."
St. Cloud State University (5-6-1, 2-6-0 WCHA), under the helm of first year
head coach Jeff Giesen, is coming off its most successful season in school
history in 2005-06. Last year, the Huskies posted an 18-18-1 overall record,
which marked the most wins in a single season at SCSU.
"Overall, our coaching staff is extremely excited about our early signers,"
said Giesen. "Each player brings unique qualities to our squad and the
individual pieces from Nixon, Mickelson and Karouzos will help work towards
completing the puzzle for successful Husky Hockey."
Jenene Ebstein
Class of 2006
Sport: Softball
College: Southern Illinois University
2007
Played in 10 games, primarily in pinch-running situations... Tallied two
at-bats and three runs scored.
Pre-SIU /Lane Tech
Lettered four years in softball at Lane Tech. . . Led the team in batting
average as a junior (.386) and as a senior (.398)... Named Pioneer Press
Athlete of the Year as a senior... An all-conference selection in her junior
and senior years... Also lettered in volleyball... Played for the Illinois
Trevians and Elk Grove Heat summer teams... Placed fifth at nationals as a
sophomore with the Elk Grove Heat...Also a member of the National Honor
Society.
Personal
A public relations major and political science minor with plans of attending
law school... Daughter of Mary Jo and Michael Ebstein... Older sister Lauren
played softball at Tufts University... Her father, Michael, played football
at SIU from 1969-72... Born on June 24, 1988 in Chicago, Ill.
ELIZABETH SMITH
Class of 2004
Sport: Softball
COLLEGE: GRAND VALLEY STATE
2007: Earned NFCA Scholar-Athlete honors...A member of the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District IV Softball Team...Honorable Mention All-GLIAC...Led the GLIAC with 49 runs batted in...Recorded a batting average of .366, seventh in the GLIAC, in 153 at-bats with 18 runs and 49 runs batted in...Finished fourth in the GLIAC with 10 home runs...Started and appeared in all 54 games...Notched 56 hits and seven doubles, along with 10 home runs for a team-high slugging percentage of .608...Scored and brought in three runs with two hits against West Virginia Wesleyan (3/23) and against Wayne State (5/4)...Recorded three hits, three runs and three runs batted in against Wayne State (5/12).
2006: Played in 52 games, starting in 48...Recorded 40 hits in 140 at bats for a .286 batting average...Tallied five doubles, five home runs, 19 RBI, and five runs scored...Added 12 walks, including one intentional...Went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in a 5-0 win over Olivet (3/22)...Was 1-for-2 with a home run, walk, two RBI, and a run scored as GVSU defeated Lake Superior State, 7-0 (5/1)...Went 2-for-4 with a home run in the Lakers 7-0 win over Northwood in the GLIAC Tournament (5/5)...Was 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI as GVSU upset SIUE, 3-2, in eight innings in the Great Lakes Region Tournament (5/11)...Tallied 11 hits in the GLIAC Tournament and 13 hits in postseason play.
2005: Played in 39 games, starting in 29 as a freshman for the Lakers...Hit .234, tallying 22 hits in 94 at bats...Added 20 RBI, six runs scored, four doubles, and four home runs...Recorded three sacrifice hits and nine walks...Was 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBI, and a run scored in a 10-2 win against Lake Superior State (4/3/05)...Went 2-for-4 with two RBI as the Lakers defeated Cornerstone, 4-1 (4/11/05)...Was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored in a 7-5 GLIAC win over Gannon University (4/15/05).
High School: Prepped at Lane Tech High School under coaches Howard Newman and Brent Braddish...Was a three-year team captain...Named a preseason Areas Top 100 Softball Player in Chicago for three years...Lerner Newspaper Female Athlete of the Year in 2004...Participated in the Indiana High School Association hitting derby...Posted a .449 batting average, 15 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 57 hits, and 46 RBI as a sophomore...Tallied 44 hits, a .484 batting average, 36 RBI, and three home runs her junior season...Helped team to city championship all four years...Led team to regional championship her junior and senior seasons....Also played volleyball and basketball...Was a Student Council Officer...Member of National Honor Society, Red Cross Club, and Letterman Club...Received National Army Scholar Athlete and Wabeno Award.
Personal:Daughter of Mike and Elizabeth Smith...Enjoys juggling...Majoring in Special Education.
Melissa Wenger
Class of 2002
Sport: Softball
College: Lake Forest
2006
Started all but four of the
team's games at shortstop. Led the squad in batting average, runs scored, on
base pct., stolen bases, and assists. Also ranked among the team's top three
in base hits, doubles, home runs, and slugging. Ranked among the top five in
the Midwest Conference in runs scored, home runs,
doubles, stolen bases, total
bases, and slugging pct. during league play Became Lake Forest's all-time
leader in runs scored Also finished career ranked second in team history in
career hits and total bases and among the top five in doubles, home runs,
stolen bases, and sacrifice hits.
Became the first player in program history to earn Academic All-America
honors