Tim Rucks was just doing his due diligence.

Three years ago, Rucks, the Carthage College football coach, recruited Tyler Funk, knowing full well the then-Horlick High School standout kicker would likely sign with an NCAA Division I school.

And he did. Funk signed a national letter of intent to attend Illinois State.

"I remember recruiting Tyler out of high school," Rucks said. "You go to all the local high schools and try to recruit the good players.

"But in the back of mind, I felt we had no chance of getting him. Still, you recruit players like Tyler because you never know what will happen."

What did occur, though, shocked Rucks. After two seasons in which he shared the kicking duties, Funk decided to transfer … and not to another D-I school but to

D-III Carthage.

Funk longed to get closer to home and Carthage was the perfect fit.

Suffice to say, Rucks is ecstatic with Funk's decision. Rucks is convinced Funk can make an immediate impact, especially considering the Red Men don't have any experienced kickers on their 2009 roster.

"He'll definitely help us," Rucks said of Funk, who has two years of college eligibility remaining. "Any time you can get a Division I player, no matter at what position, at a Division III school, you consider it a bonus.

"Tyler's got an unbelievable strong and live leg. As a coach, it'll be nice calling plays when you know he can kick a ball 40 yards or farther.

"He's very, very good."

Funk is among several former Racine County athletes who are changing colleges:

n Nick Schultz, a former Horlick High School track and field and football standout who competed in the shot put and hammer throw at the University of Minnesota, is transferring to UW-Whitewater.

It isn't known whether Schultz, who was also a top-flight football player for the Rebels, will compete in either track or football for the Warhawks.

n Cody Winiarski (Union Grove) is headed for the East Coast.

Winiarski, who just competed his sophomore year at Madison Area Technical College and has been playing for the minor league Madison Mallards, will be attending the University of Virginia.

Winiarski recorded a 6-2 record with a 2.40 earned run average. He pitched a team-high 56⅓ innings.

n David Lojeski will be calling UW-Parkside his new college home this fall.

Lojeski, a former standout infielder for Horlick, had played two seasons at Madison Area Technical College.

But after hurting his shoulder last year, Lojeski transferred to Milwaukee Area Technical College. Lojeski's intentions are to resuming playing baseball at Parkside.

n Anton Graham (Park) has left Minnesota State-Mankato and transferred to UW-Whitewater. Graham is a tight end and will have two years of eligibility left.

Baseball

Jared Andreoli (Union Grove) had an outstanding freshman season for Western Kentucky.

Andreoli, an outfielder, batted .298 and had a .987 fielding average. The Hilltoppers posted a 21-8 record in the Sun Belt Conference and were 42-20 overall.

n UW-Platteville junior second baseman Jason Jacobson (Case) was chosen to the all-NCAA Division III Midwest Region team.

Additionally, Jacobsen was chosen to the all-American Baseball Coaches Association second team.

Jacobson batted .364 and scored 43 times this season, the third-most in Pioneer history.

n Sophomore outfielder Chris Barker (Racine Lutheran) of Madison Area Technical College has earned a 2009 NJCAA Rawlings Gold Glove. Barker had a fielding percentage of .978.

n Anthony Porcaro (Burlington) and Zach Bickel (Racine Lutheran) both were honorable-mention selections on the all-Northern Athletic Conference teams. Porcaro, a designated hitter for Marian University, was the only freshman to receive all-conference recognition. Bickel was a senior outfielder for Concordia Chicago. Marian first baseman Jace Unrein (Case), along with Porcaro, was a member of the all-NAC Freshman Team.

Honors

Jayce Apelgren (Waterford) was given the Iden Charles Champion Cup award at Lawrence University. The award recognizes excellence in scholarship, athletic ability and college spirit.

Apelgren, a senior biology major, helped Lawrence win three Midwest Conference championships and advance to the NCAA Division III tournament three times.

Basketball

Former Prairie School standout Brittany Holterman has been hired as an assistant coach at Niagara (N.Y.) University.

Holterman had been a student assistant for her alma mater, Dayton, after being the Flyers' co-MVP in 2008.

Football

It looks like the UW-Whitewater football team could be in for another banner season.

The Warhawks, who won the NCAA Division III national championship in 2007 and were runners-up last season, are ranked No. 1 in the SportingNews college football preview.

The Warhawks are expected to have several Racine players on the roster this fall, including junior linebacker Lane Olson (Horlick), junior defensive tackle Justin Ankley (Case), senior wide receiver Terrence Fitch (St. Catherine's), freshman linebacker Vince Lang (Park) and Graham.