Looking to build on a successful inaugural season which ended at the Region IV Quarterfinals in 2021, the Lady Cavs are looking to take the next step this year.
“We have added some key players to our roster that will make a huge impact on making that happen this year,” said Head Coach Mike Barclay. "Returning a solid core of last year’s players, our learning curve for this upcoming season is well ahead of schedule, and the ladies are hungry for the upcoming campaign.”
Alayna Valone-
Alayna Valone a standout winger at Reed Custer High School will add some speed and creativity on field for the Lady Cavs this upcoming Fall season. Alayna’s pace will cause defensive thirds some trouble and help create scoring opportunities. She adds that creativity factor in the final with her crossing ability with both feet and her finishing! Excited to welcome aboard Alayna Valone.
Scotty Eldridge-
The defense for the Cavaliers is in good hands with incoming freshman Scotty Eldridge. Eldridge brings to the Cavaliers a defensive tenacity that is hard to find. Hard nose for winning 50/50 balls coupled with his smart decision making out of the back, will allow the Cavs to be very dynamic moving forward in the attack.
Samantha Porras-
Very excited to have Samantha Porras joining the Lady Cavs this fall. Samantha was a standout goalie for Southland Striker and Slayers Academy. Samantha brings an amazing work ethic/drive to be the best player she can be. She also brings a fearlessness approach to goalie that will provide as a great anchor to the defense.
Aiyana Lopez-
The rich keep on getting richer! We are excited to bring on Aiyana Lopez a stand out winger at Kankakee High School! Lopez is bringing to the Lady Cavs a can dot spirit along with her attacking third creativity. Aiyana Lopez final third creativity will be vital for the Lady Cavs this upcoming fall! We are excited to bring on such a talent like Aiyana Lopez.
Mia Robbins-
We are very excited to have Mia Robbins joining the Lady Cavs this upcoming Fall! Mia is a force to be reckon with in the back of the net! She brings an elite level of athleticism to the goalie position! Mia will be a vital part of the Lady Cavaliers!
Jesus Guzman-
Jesus has been a anchor for the Bradley Bourbonnais High school Men’s team, and will bolster the Cavs defense. Jesus has a great soccer IQ, and his size will pose a problem for opposing teams.
Tess Wallace-
The general of the middle field has been appointed! Tess Wallace a dynamic center mid for the BBCHS Boilers over her four years there, will come aboard for the Cavaliers this upcoming Fall! Tess’s decision making with the ball is going to create chaos for the opponent. Tess offensive mindset in setting up teammates for goal scoring opportunities.
Hailey Brady-
Goals are the name of the game! We are excited to add a dynamic goal scorer in Hailey Brady! Hailey has a knack for putting the ball in the back of the net! Hailey is very good in the air and winning headers off corners! She provides great runs into the box giving opportunities to score or her teammates!
Hailey Brooks-
The Lady Cavaliers are happy to welcome Hailey Brooks to the program! Brooks will help anchor the Cavaliers defensive! Hailey’s defensive IQ will help sure things up in the back along with her ability to go forward she poses the opposing team as serious threat!
Two teams and 23 individual athletes from Kankakee Community College have been awarded NJCAA honors for academic achievement during the 2020-21 school year. The awards were formerly called Academic All-American.
The women’s volleyball and men’s soccer teams were named 2021 NJCAA All-Academic Teams for having team GPAs above 3.0. The women’s volleyball team had an overall team GPA of 3.32 and the men’s soccer team GPA was 3.17.
The All-Academic First Team members, with a 4.0 grade point average, are:
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Kankakee Community College police officer Vernal Turner does a lot of walking around the college. In his second job, he runs the sidelines as a basketball official.
In spring 2021, Turner will be inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his work as an official. For 17 years, Turner has been an Illinois High School Association official.
He currently officiates for the Northern Athletic Conference, Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference and the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. For eight seasons, Turner has been an official at NBA training camps for the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls. In 2019, he became a court side administrator, working for the NBA.
Among the noteworthy high school games he has officiated are seven Chicago city championships; three IHSA boys basketball championships (3-A in 2013, 4-A in 2014, and 3-A and 4-A in 2019); and the McDonald’s All-American game in 2016. He will be the first person to have played in IBCA All-Star Game (1981), officiate the IBCA All-Star Game (2016), and be inducted into the IBCA Hall of Fame.
In all, there will be more than 100 new IBCA Hall of Fame members, including nine officials. Due to COVID-19, the IBCA has not finalized its plans for an induction ceremony.
Turner also is president of Top Notch Officiating Camp for Officials Training and Development. In 2019 and 2020, he organized the Top Notch Health Awareness Challenge at KCC. The event pitted Kankakee-area high school basketball teams playing teams from Chicago. Each team also participated in health awareness sessions.
At KCC, Turner has been a part-time police officer since 2015.
Following the NJCAA’s announcement this week that fall and winter sports will be held, but on a delayed schedule, KCC athletics will spend the fall preparing for next year’s competitions.
The seasons for indoor sports, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, will begin in January 2021. Volleyball is traditionally a fall sport, and basketball seasons usually begin in November. Fall outdoor seasons for men’s and women’s soccer will be delayed until April 2021.
Schedules for individual teams will be posted to athletics.kcc.edu as soon as they are available. Additional information on the NJCAA Plan of Action are on KCC’s news site and at njcaa.org.
Posted On: 06/04/20
Twenty-three Kankakee Community College student-athletes have received NJCAA honors for academic achievements during the 2019-20 school year.
The All-Academic First Team members, with a 4.0 grade point average, are: Leighann Allison of Kankakee, volleyball; Mallory Drake of Watseka, women’s basketball; Paige Glass of Kankakee, softball; Anna Jennings of Cissna Park, volleyball; Kloe Longtin of Herscher, volleyball; and Lanie Malone of Manteno, softball.
The All-Academic Second Team members, with grade point averages between 3.80-3.99, are: Makenna Goldtrap of Chebanse, softball; Eddie Saner of Springfield, baseball; and Julian Stadeli of Cissna Park, men’s basketball.
The All-Academic Third Team members, with grade point averages of 3.60-3.79, are: Madison Allen of Bushnell, women’s basketball; Owen Behrens of Prophetstown, baseball; Sloan Boyce of Cissna Park (pictured), volleyball; Sierra Cureton of Manteno, volleyball; Andrew Douglas of Watseka (pictured), men’s soccer; Ashley Harwood of Kankakee, volleyball; Isabelle Hille of Fort Wayne, Ind., women’s basketball; Michael Machnic of Walkerton, Ind., baseball; Michael Moshkovitz of Jerusalem, Israel, men’s basketball; Andrew Saliba of Peotone, men’s soccer; Emma Schriner of Bourbonnais (pictured), softball; Clayton Thompson of Schererville, Ind., baseball; Peyton Williams of Lafayette, Ind., baseball; and Kierra Williamson of Hazel Crest, women’s basketball.
Women’s soccer is coming to KCC in Fall 2020!
Interested? Fill out the women’s soccer recruitment form.
Mike Barclay is entering his ninth year as men’s head soccer coach and is beginning his third year as the women’s head soccer coach. In addition, he was the assistant men’s coach during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
As a player, Coach Barclay was a three-time All-Region, two-time All-Sectional and two-time All-State goalie for Downers Grove South High School (1983-85). For three seasons, Coach Barclay played NCAA Division I collegiate soccer for Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. As a goalkeeper, he still holds top rankings of No. 1 in saves percentage, No. 2 in goals against average and No. 3 in total saves in EIU history. In 1989, Coach Barclay led the Panthers to the NCAA Division I National Indoor Championship for the first time in school history.
He also played for one season in the semi-pro Chicago Metro League. In addition to coaching at KCC, Barclay was the goalkeeper coach for Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais) women’s team from 2002-12. He has coached numerous recreational teams for Dynamo Soccer and travel teams for Southland Strikers FC for more than 16 years. Barclay has a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) “E” certification. Along with his wife, Tammie, he resides in Bourbonnais. They have five grown children and one grandchild.
James Ashby is entering his eighth year as an assistant coach with KCC. In all, Coach Ashby has more than 40 years of soccer experience on multiple levels. As a player at Rich South High School, Ashby received several recognitions as a center back. One notable honor was National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) defensive player of the year.
Coach Ashby has coached with Southland Strikers FC and has trained players of all ages, with many of them continuing on to play at the collegiate level. Coach Ashby is licensed through the NSCAA and U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) with specialties in goalkeeping and agility. He resides in Bourbonnais with his three children.
John Hall returns to the Cavaliers staff after a four-year hiatus for his fifth year as an assistant coach. Hall comes to the Cavaliers with a diverse background/history in soccer. He is the former president of Dynamo Soccer in Bourbonnais which has served more than 1,000 players per year since 2008.
Hall is not only a former player for Olivet Nazarene University, but he has coached numerous travel teams for USSA-DUFC soccer club, Chicago Magic, Slayers Academy, and numerous independent teams. He is a licensed referee, and currently holds a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) “E” license.
He resides in Bourbonnais with his wife Cassie, their four children, and two grandchildren.
Peter Sinise is entering his fifth season as an assistant men’s coach, and his third season as an assistant women’s soccer coach. Coach Sinise was a standout player for the Cavaliers during the 2012 & 2013 seasons. He went on to compete with NCAA Div. III Millikin University in Decatur.
Coach Sinise is a well-known player and coach in the area, coaching multiple teams with Southland Strikers FC as well as competing as a player with many teams in the area. Coach Sinise started the Dynamo Slayers Soccer Academy in Bourbonnais in 2021 and is now coaching at Chicagoland United. He resides in Manhattan, IL.
Will is entering his first year as an assistant coach at KCC. He has been a staple in the local soccer community for the past 10 years.
He has been involved with the local Rec programs serving as a board member and President for the past 8 years. Will also has been an assistant coach with Southland Strikers for 6 years, as well as Vice President of the club for the past 4 years.