KRISTIN LEWICKI has skated her way to an outstanding collegiate career. The Adrian College (Mich.) senior is one of the premier Division III hockey players in the nation.

The All-American forward added yet another impressive honor recently as she was featured in the Jan. 12 issue of Sports Illustrated as part of its Faces in the Crowd section.

The John Marshall High product is the first Adrian student-athlete to be featured in iconic Sports Illustrated since women’s soccer standout Sam Barker on Jan. 9, 2012.

“I didn’t find out about it until the article came out. Our athletic director tagged me about it on Twitter,” Lewicki said. “I had no idea that it was happening or even could happen. It was definitely a surprise.

“It is something I am very honored and something to be proud of,” she continued. “I could not have done the things I did to get recognized without my teammates.”

Sports Illustrated recognized the Moundsville native for her sizzling start to the current season. She leads all NCAA women in hockey scoring, averaging 2.33 points per game. So far this season, Lewicki has netted 11 goals while dishing out 27 assists.

“The season is going really well. We are playing strong and working very well together,” Lewicki said. “Overall our record is 12-2 and 10-0 in the conference.”

Her senior season success comes on the heels of a prodigious junior campaign. She was a consensus Division III All-American after setting Adrian single-season records with 32 goals and 49 points.

Lewicki is already the Bulldogs’ all-time leader in goals (69), assists (72) and total points (141). She is just 10 points shy of being one of the top 25 scorers all-time in NCAA Division III history.

Lewicki is majoring in criminal justice.

Faces in the Crowd has been published every week in Sports Illustrated since 1956.

TOM GRALL

FORMER WEST Liberty swimming coach icon Tom Grall died recently. He built the Hilltoppers into an aquatic dynasty during his five years at the helm in the early 1970s.

Grall is a member of the West Liberty Athletic Hall of Fame, being enshrined in 1990. His five WL swimming teams captured four West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. His 1973 team was a juggernaut, producing an undefeated season while placing second in the NAIA National championships. That squad placed 11 swimmers on the NAIA All-American team and had 24 swimmers on the 26-member All-WVIAC team. Grall’s Hilltopper teams produced 30 All-Americans.

Grall coached 42 NAIA All-Americans and six Olympians and his teams compiled 140 wins against only 26 loses. He is a member of the NAIA National Swimming Hall of Fame.

He was also on the U.S. Olympic Swimming Committee for eight years, president of the National Association of the Intercollegiate Athletics Swimming Coaches Association and a member of the coaching staff for the United States National team at the World University games in Turin, Italy.

At West Liberty, Grall’s coaching expertise was not confined to the pool. He also served as the Hilltoppers’ football team as defensive coordinator. During that time, WLU won two WVIAC grid titles and played in a pair of NAIA playoff games.

Grall also spent time coaching the Bethany College swim team.

Donations may be made to the WLU Foundation. Memo on checks should note Coach Grall.

BUBBA’S BITS

A FORMER mainstay with the beloved Wheeling Ironmen died Jan. 12. Ivan Toncic died in Georgia at age 78. The Midland, Pa. native was a three-year starter at quarterback for Pitt before embarking on a Canadian Football League career. He spent a year with the Boston Patriots in the AFL before coming to Wheeling. He played three years with the Ironmen before a knee injury ended his playing career. He was named league MVP in his second year with the Ironmen. He was inducted into the Midland Sports Hall of Fame and the Minor Pro Football Hall of Fame in Pittsburgh.

THE NFL is down to its conference championship games today. Green Bay is at Atlanta while Pittsburgh travels to New England. The Packers’ Aaron Rodgers is truly amazing. The Dallas Cowboys can attest to that. But I am picking the Falcons, 28-24. The Steelers, meanwhile, have the offensive weapons to expose the Patriots’ defense. I call it Steelers 27, Patriots 20.

THE OHIO High School Athletic Association Board of Directors has decided that the state football championship games will be played in Canton in 2017 and 2018. After a 24-year stay in Stark County from 1990-2013, the grid title games were held at Ohio Stadium in Columbus in 2014-2016.

THE UNIVERSITY of North Alabama women’s basketball team is now a sparkling 13-3 on the campaign. The Lions are coached by former Bellaire High and West Liberty hoop standout Missy Tiber.