18U Naperville Diamonds BK

It’s an awesome day for student -athletes we love! Great job Ellie! https://www.shawlocal.com/kane-county-chronicle/high-school-sports/girls-basketball/2021/02/13/wisconsin-softball-recruit-ellie-hubbards-career-high-32-points-carry-wheaton-north-past-batavia/

Wisconsin softball recruit Ellie Hubbard’s career-high 32 points carry Wheaton North past Batavia BATAVIA – On the softball diamond, Ellie Hubbard is a power-hitting shortstop, committed to play collegiately for Wisconsin.She knocked one out of the park on the basketball court Saturday.Hubbard, Wheaton North’s 5-foot-9 senior, scored a career-high 32 points – 22 coming in the first half al...

Incredibly, for the past 12 straight years, Moira Danko (left) and Grace Klingbeil have put on the Naperville Diamonds uniform - and for the past 11 of those years, they were on the same team. This summer ends a remarkable run for those two young ladies - all the best on your next college chapter and thank you for being such great teammates on the 18U Naperville Diamonds BK team this past season - and thank you for your unwavering loyalty to the Naperville Diamonds Softball Association! Shannon Ryan Danko Laurie Klingbeil Richard Cannavino Sharon Kachmarik Cannavino Naquita Jones Ellie Hubbard Kelly Thomas Hubbard Jay Hubbard Mary Lavorato Mary Wiorkowski Lavorato Katie Kowalczyk Scott Kow Lisa Kowalczyk Laura Gironda Mirabella Kugelberg Gianna Saverino Frank Saverino Jr Karen Mau Saverino Lynn Pustelnik

Congratulations to our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK! They went 7-3 this weekend playing in two different events - ultimately going 6-1 in USA Metros and winning the 18U Chicago Metros title! Great way to wrap up your last tournament in Illinois - especially to our seniors!!

Very busy weekend for our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK crew! Three games in Orland Park today - 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. - then it's off to Elgin for three more on Friday (8:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.) with the potential for a few more on Saturday! Come on out and see your favorite Diamonds player this weekend!!

The 18U Naperville Diamonds BK train keeps rolling - wrapped up a 4-1-1 weekend in Akron, OH with a 2nd place tie! Best part is the girls are making this an incredible season they will never forget! Keep going ladies - next stop, Chattanooga - choo, choo!!

Starting this Sunday, these young ladies will have 8 games in 7 days - can't wait to get them back on the field - and I KNOW THEY CAN'T WAIT!!

Happy birthday to our own Tiana Cannavino!! Have a great day T - and an even better year!! Richard Cannavino Sharon Kachmarik Cannavino

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK player Katlyn Allen on her graduation from Naperville Central!! Katlyn will be joining the Air National Guard soon - so awesome Katlyn - great job!!! Naquita Jones

BIG news today! Our own Katlyn Allen (2020 graduate from Naperville Central) has decided to join the Air National Guard! Congratulations Katlyn to you and your family! You are going to do an awesome job serving our country - and we're so PROUD of you! Naquita Jones

Happy Mother's Day from the 18U Naperville Diamonds BK to all the Mom's out there who do so much and make all of this possible!

Super excited to share yet another recognition for one of our players Katie Kowalczyk, who was recognized for her awesome work at Oswego High School - great job Katie!!!! Lisa Kowalczyk Scott Kow

BIG congratulations to our own Mary Lavorato for being awarded one of the Hinsdale South Breakfast Club Award Winners! Students from each dept. are given this prestigious honor for the they bring to our building. Our Admin Team visited the houses of each winner, honking horns, screaming YAY!, and giving each winner a certificate & a gift card. Great job Mary!!! Mary Wiorkowski Lavorato Bill Kugelberg

HUGE congratulations to our own Allison (AP) Pustelnik, who was selected as Outstanding Senior in the Area of Behavioral Sciences by the Social Studies Department at Downers Grove North High School. Great job AP - we're super proud of you!

Congratulations MB! We can't wait to hear how Samford is (we know you already love it!). Let's get you back in the circle for one more summer - get that bread!! Mirabella Kugelberg Laura Gironda

Today’s Diamonds senior spotlight shines on Mirabella Kugelberg of St. Francis. MB plays for the 18u Kugelberg squad and is academically committed to Samford in the fall. Congrats on a great career MB and thanks for all you’ve done for the Diamonds all these years. Best of luck in Birmingham!

Congratulations on a ridiculously long career with the Diamonds Grace! You're going to be awesome in college - and can't wait to get on the field this summer!
Laurie Klingbeil

Today’s Diamonds senior shout-out goes to Grace Klingbeil from Oswego East. Grace also plays for the 18u Kugelberg squad and is academically and athletically committed to Waubonsee Community College this fall. Congrats on a great career Grace. We are excited to watch the next chapter!

Congratulations Mo! See you soon and Go Illini!!
Shannon Ryan Danko

Today’s Diamonds senior shout-out is Moira Danko from Metea Valley High School. Moira plays for the 18u Kugelberg squad and is academically committed to the University of Illinois. Moira — congrats on all the success you’ve had on the diamond. Can’t wait to hopefully see you back in the field this summer. And best of luck in Champaign!

We continue to feature players from our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK team! Today, Mirabella (MB) Kugelberg stops by to share a little bit more about herself!
Name – Mirabella Kugelberg
High School and Graduation Year – St. Francis, Class of 2020
College Attending – Samford University in Birmingham, AL
What do you want to be as a career, I want to be a leadership and inclusion facilitator or an author of mystery books
Clubs/Sports you were/are in at high school – I was involved in softball, student ambassador leadership team and student ministry team
Do you have a job – if so, where do you work – I give pitching lessons to young girls at The Diamond Mine
Favorite travel softball memory – Winning nationals for sure 😊
Something not many people know about you – Many people may not know that I really want to go on the show Survivor at some point in my life
What music are you listening to these days – Country music and Mumford and Sons
How are you spending your days during this pandemic – Lots of e-learning and watching movies, plus drawings on my driveway
Do you have any pets – Two dogs (Cooper and Sam) and two cats (Chewy and Luke)
Favorite sports team – San Francisco Giants (hence why I wear #48 for Pablo Sandoval)
Favorite food – Pasta or steak
Favorite store - Lululemon
Favorite app – Snapchat or Tik Tok (I could spend hours on that one)
Favorite TV show – Survivor and The Bachelor
Favorite movie – The Sandlot, La La Land or Shawshank Redemption
What will you be in doing in 10 years – Hopefully I’ll be in the midst of writing a book with a steady job and traveling the world!!
Laura Gironda Mirabella Kugelberg

Congratulations T! Hope to see you soon!! Richard Cannavino Sharon Kachmarik Cannavino

Today’s Diamonds senior we’d like to salute is Tiana Cannavino from Oswego High School. Tiana plays for the 18u Kugelberg squad and is academically committed to the University of Missouri. Tiana congrats on a great career and best of luck in Columbia!

Congratulations to our own Katie Kowalczyk! Awesome job Katie!!!
Scott Kow Lisa Kowalczyk

Happy Monday! Today we continue to feature players from our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK team. Today, we get a visit from Ellie Hubbard!
Name – Ellie Hubbard
High School and Graduation Year – Wheaton North High School, Class of 2021
College Attending – University of Wisconsin - Madison
What do you want to be as a career – Something where I am not sitting at a desk all day long
Clubs/Sports you were/are in at high school – Student Council, varsity basketball and varsity softball
Do you have a job, if so, where do you work – No job
Favorite travel softball memory – Every time we are together, I have a new favorite memory 😊
Something not many people know about you – I can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 30 seconds
What music are you listening to these days – Country music
How are you spending your days during this pandemic – Playing basketball in the driveway, playing softball, making memories with the fam and watching Netflix
Do you have any pets - No pets anymore ☹
Favorite sports team – CUBS
Favorite food - Pasta
Favorite store - Target
Favorite app - Snapchat
Favorite TV show - Friends
Favorite movie – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
What will you be in doing in 10 years – Hopefully living my best life and starting a family
Ellie Hubbard Kelly Thomas Hubbard Jay Hubbard

Happy Friday! Today, we continue featuring one of our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK teammates - today Moira Danko drops by!
Name – Moira Danko
High School and Graduation Year – Metea Valley, Class of 2020
College Attending – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
What do you want to be as a career – Marketing analyst or neuroscientist
Clubs/Sports you were/are in at high school – softball team, basketball team, Fellowships of Christian Athletes, Student Athlete Leadership Team, Captain’s Council, and Black & Gold Stampede
Do you have a job – if so, where do you work – No, I don’t have a job, but I babysit and help my dad with his business
Favorite travel softball memory – My first home run because it won the game for us
Something not many people know about you – When I was younger, I was riding my bike and my hair was so curly that a bird landed on my head because it thought it was a nest
What music are you listening to these days – Anything from The Beatles to Maroon 5, but I love country music
How are you spending your days during this pandemic – Working out, cooking/baking, painting, playing games and watching shows with my family
Do you have any pets – A cavachon named Charlie
Favorite sports team – The Bears
Favorite food – Waffles or tacos
Favorite store – American Eagle
Favorite app - TikTok
Favorite TV show – The Office
Favorite movie – Cheaper By The Dozen
What will you be in doing in 10 years – Hopefully I’ll be married with a healthy family
Shannon Ryan Danko

Today, we continue to feature some cool information about our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK players that you may not know - today, Katlyn Allen drops by!

Name – Katlyn Allen
High School and Graduation Year – Naperville Central, Class of 2020
College Attending – Undecided
What do you want to be as a career – Athletic training
Clubs/Sports you were/are in at high school – J Kyle Braid (JKB), Basketball, Softball
Do you have a job, if so, where do you work – I don’t work
Favorite travel softball memory – Hitting my first grand slam
Something not many people know about you – Not many people know that I ran track and played volleyball
What music are you listening to these days – Whatever Pandora is playing
How are you spending your days during this pandemic – Working out, cleaning, homework, softball
Do you have any pets – Sincere (bird), Chaos and Buddy (dogs)
Favorite sports team – Warriors, Rockets
Favorite food - Seafood
Favorite store – Starbucks and Five Below
Favorite app – YouTube, Pandora
Favorite TV show – Sponge Bob
Favorite movie - Fences
What will you be in doing in 10 years – Being at a professional game of some sort on the sidelines as an athletic trainer
Naquita Jones

We put together a quick video of our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK season so far!!! Enjoy!! Shannon Ryan Danko
https://youtu.be/kc_aMSWOV18

18U Diamonds team video (so far!) Here's the highlights of our season so far!

Today, we continue to feature some off-the-field information about our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK players! Today, Katie Kowalczyk stops by to give some insight as to who she is!

Name – Katie Kowalczyk
High School and Graduation Year – Oswego High School, Class of 2020
College Attending - IUPUI
What do you want to be as a career – Elementary School Teacher
Clubs/Sports you were/are in at high school - Softball
Do you have a job – if so, where do you work – Teacher’s Aid at Fox Chase Elementary
Favorite travel softball memory – Winning Nationals last season!
Something not many people know about you – I can juggle
How are you spending your days during this pandemic – School, sleep, Netflix, eat
Do you have any pets – 3 dogs, 1 cat and a hedgehog
Favorite sports team – Chicago Cubs
Favorite food - Tacos
Favorite store - Target
Favorite app - TikTok
Favorite TV show – The Office
Favorite movie - Stepbrothers
What will you be in doing in 10 years – Hopefully teaching in a cool state living my best life 😊
Katie Kowalczyk Scott Kow Lisa Kowalczyk

18U Naperville Diamonds BK updated their business hours.

18U Naperville Diamonds BK updated their website address.

Today we continue to feature more in-depth information about our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK players! Today, Allison Pustelnik checks in with us! (Though just about everyone calls her AP!) -
Name – Allison (AP) Pustelnik
High School and Graduation Year – Downers Grove North 2020
College Attending – University of South Carolina
What do you want to be as a career – Sports psychologist
Clubs/Sports you were/are in at high school – Softball, Erica’s Lighthouse, student council, National Honors Society, North Stars
Do you have a job – if so, where do you work – I own an Etsy business - http://kintsugigifts.com/kintsugi-kintsukuroi-for-sale.html
Favorite travel softball memory – Winning nationals, it was the coolest thing ever
Something not many people know about you – I love to paint
What music are you listening to these days – Disney (because I need a little Disney to get me through quarantine)
How are you spending your days during this pandemic – sleeping, painting, exercising, watching Netflix, trying to find other stuff to do
Do you have any pets – One dog, the love of my life, Sugar!
Favorite sports team – It’s a tie between the Chicago Cubbies and the Chicago Bears
Favorite food - Popcorn
Favorite store – Target (though I don’t really have a favorite)
Favorite app – Pinterest I guess? Not a huge phone person
Favorite TV show – Stranger Things or The Office
Favorite movie – There is no way I can pick a favorite movie (there are way too many that I love)
What will you be in doing in 10 years – In 10 years, I hope to be traveling the world and helping people along the way (community service or something like that)

Every few days, we're featuring one of our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK players to give you a glimpse into who they are off the field - today, Gianna Saverino drops by! (We call her G!)
Name – Gianna Saverino
High School and Graduation Year – Saint Viator High School – Class of 2021
College Attending - Unknown
What do you want to be as a career – I want to work as a coroner
Clubs/Sports you were/are in at high school – Volleyball and softball
Do you have a job – if so, where do you work - No
Favorite travel softball memory – Traveling to Colorado
Something not many people know about you – I love art
What music are you listening to these days – My music taste depends on my mood
How are you spending your days during this pandemic – Working out and focusing on my health
Do you have any pets – Two dogs – Jeter and Zoe
Favorite sports team – Chicago Blackhawks
Favorite food - Sushi
Favorite store - Target
Favorite app - Snapchat
Favorite TV show – Vampire Diaries
Favorite movie – Finding Nemo
What will you be in doing in 10 years – In 10 years, I wish to be married and have a good job where I can support myself and life a happy life
Frank Saverino Jr Karen Mau Saverino

So awesome seeing the smiling faces of our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK players! They’re working hard on school and softball and staying safe - great to see you all ladies, keep up the great work!

Today, we continue letting you get to know our 18U Naperville Diamonds BK players a little better off the field! Today, Leah Karel is sharing a little more about herself - thanks Leah!
Name - Leah Karel
High School and Graduation Year - Batavia High School 2021
College Attending - Undecided
What do you want to be as a career – A career in Environmental Science
Clubs/Sports you were/are in at high school – Interact club, Best Buddies, Softball
Do you have a job – if so, where do you work – I work at a pizza restaurant called Pal Joeys as a hostess and carry out
Favorite travel softball memory – Going to Michigan for a tournament and jumping into the lake with our clothes on
Something not many people know about you – My favorite animal is a monkey
What music are you listening to these days – Anything by Surfaces
How are you spending your days during this pandemic – Playing video games, painting, puzzles, baking, watching shows, working out/practice, school work
Do you have any pets – Two cats named Bear and Pepper
Favorite sports team – The Brewers
Favorite food - Pancakes
Favorite store - Target
Favorite app - Netflix
Favorite TV show – The Office
Favorite movie – La La Land
What will you be in doing in 10 years – Working in the environmental field