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4 Marian Catholic Athletes Sign Letters of Intent


Emily Kobel, Valerie Finnin, Amber Simonton and Natalie Ward.

Student-athletes (Left to right) Emily Kobel, Valerie Finnin, Amber Simonton and Natalie Ward make commitments to college. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)

Chicago Heights, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Four Marian Catholic High School student-athletes made commitments to continue their athletic careers in college by recently signing National Letters of Intent. Women’s basketball will send Valerie Finnin (SIU-Edwardsville) and Emily Kobel ( University of Illinois-Chicago ) to the next level. Meanwhile, Natalie Ward has made a commitment in softball ( University of St. Francis ) and Amber Simonton in volleyball (Wisconsin-Milwaukee).

The basketball duo has helped ignite the Spartans to a combined 53-11 mark for the last two seasons, including a visit to the Class 4A IHSA Elite Eight last season. Kobel, the daughter of Joe and Debra of Palos Heights, scored 196 points with 88 rebounds and 31 assists last season, while Finnin (John and Leslie of Mokena) tallied 181 points with 60 rebounds and 34 steals.

Ward, daughter of Doug and Laura of Crete, has played three softball varsity campaigns, pacing Marian to a 74-28 mark. In her junior campaign, Ward set the single-season school-record mark for home runs with 11 and also posted marks of 53 hits (fifth best all-time) and a .486 batting average (sixth best all-time).

Simonton is actually a three-sport standout for Marian (basketball, state qualifier in track and field), but will make her mark in college with volleyball. Possessing an incredible leaping ability and strong presence in the front row, Simonton has helped lead the Spartans to 29 victories over the last two campaigns.


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