Five Lemont Student-Athletes Make College Commitments

LEMONT, IL — Five Lemont High School student-athletes have announced their commitments to play collegiately beginning in Fall 2024, according to a news release from LHS. They include golfer Cooper Black (Olivet Nazarene University), softball player Natalie Pacyga (Western Illinois University), baseball player Jacob Parr (Ohio State University), volleyball player April Rice (Elon University), and soccer player Ella Simpson (Western Michigan University).

Lemont High School provided information on the students below:

Cooper Black – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Mark Hollatz
• Was part of two teams that won South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and advanced to the IHSA Class 2A State Finals
• Posted a career-best 9-hole scoring average of 42.0 as a senior in 2024, ranking fifth on the team
• Secured one medalist finish with a career-best 9-hole score of 35
• Tied for second individually and earned all-conference accolades with a career-best round of 77 at the SSC Blue Meet
• Played one round at the 2024 IHSA Class 2A State Finals, with Lemont placing eighth in the team standings
• Will play for head coach Brent Wright at Olivet Nazarene University, an NAIA institution that is located in Bourbonnais, and is a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Natalie Pacyga – Career Highlights

• Has earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Traina
• Three-year starter in the middle infield and a two-time all-conference honoree
• Has helped Lemont to a composite 84-19 record, as well as three South Suburban Conference titles and two IHSA Class 3A State Championships
• Enters her final season as a .364 career hitter with four home runs, 75 runs batted in, 68 runs scored, and 16 steals
• Has hit at least .300 each year of her career
• Earned all-conference honors as a junior in 2024 after batting .304 with two home runs and 18 RBIs
• Lemont went 25-12 overall, won the SSC Blue, and captured both IHSA Regional and IHSA Sectional titles
• Plays travel softball for the New Lenox Lightning
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Alisa Goler at Western Illinois University, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Macomb, and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.

Jacob Parr – Career Highlights

• Has earned one varsity letter playing for head coach Brian Storako
• Starred at the plate and on the mound as a junior in 2024, and was tabbed as an Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State selection
• Batted .407 with three home runs, 35 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases
• Led the team in batting average, RBIs, hits (46), triples (five), extra base hits (16), total bases (73), slugging percentage (.646) and OPS (1.127)
• Also was second on the team in runs scored (37) and on-base percentage (.481)
• Was a key contributor on the mound, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.19 ERA
• Struck out 29 batters in 26.2 innings of work
• Earned All-South Suburban Conference accolades and was cited among the Suburban Life, Joliet Herald News and Daily Southtown all-area squads
• Lemont went 31-10, tying for the second-most wins in a season in school history, and was the SSC Blue runner-up
• It went on a terrific postseason run, winning IHSA Regional, IHSA Sectional and IHSA Super-Sectional titles, and finishing as the 2024 IHSA Class 3A State Runner-Up
• Has played travel baseball for Chicago Elite and Cubs Scout Team
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Justin Haire at Ohio State University, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Columbus, Ohio, and is a member of the Big Ten Conference.

April Rice – Career Highlights

• Three-time all-conference performer who earned four varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Zogata
• Setter who helped Lemont to a composite 102-49 record in four seasons, as well as four South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and three IHSA Regional crowns
• A .230 career hitter who averaged 1.65 kills, 1.70 digs and 4.47 assists per game over 325 games
• Totaled 1,453 assists and 232 service aces, and finished among the team’s top two in both categories each season
• Added 537 kills, 552 digs and 111 blocks
• Tabbed as the SSC Blue Player of the Year and as an Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State First Team selection as a senior in 2024
• Led the team with career highs of 467 assists and 102 service aces, and paced the squad with a .322 hitting percentage
• Was second on the team with a career-high 201 kills and 174 digs
• Averaged 2.34 kills, 5.43 assists, 2.02 digs, and 1.19 digs per game
• Earned three all-tourney accolades, and was named to the IVCA All-Academic Team
• Lemont was 30-8, won both the SSC Blue and an IHSA Regional title, and was an IHSA Sectional Runner-Up
• Plays club volleyball for Adversity Volleyball Club
• Also a participant in the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Mary Tendler at Elon University, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Elon, North Carolina, and is a member of the Coastal Athletic Conference.

Ella Simpson – Career Highlights

• Earned three varsity letters playing for head coach Rick Prangen
• High-scoring central midfielder who is a three-time all-conference honoree
• Ranks among the program’s career leaders with 58 goals (5th), 52 assists (1st) and 168 points (3rd) over 66 matches
• Has helped Lemont to a composite record of 53-16-1 in three seasons, as well as three South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Regional crowns
• Served as a team captain as a junior when she earned both all-conference and Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-Sectional accolades
• Set a school single-season record with 21 assists, led the team with 49 points, and was third on the squad with 14 goals
• Lemont went 17-5 overall and won the SSC Blue
• Plays club soccer for Galaxy Soccer Club
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Lewis Robinson at Western Michigan University, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is a member of the Mid-American Conference.