The has the most wins in school history since moving up to the NCAA Division-II level in 2009.
They now have a bigger goal in mind 鈥� reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.
The聽Prairie Stars聽(11-4-1)聽can clinch that automatic bid by winning the聽upcoming聽Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament. UIS,聽the聽No. 2聽seed,聽opens the first round by hosting聽No. 7 Missouri St. Louis (8-7-1) at noon聽on Sunday.聽
The Stars have particularly rallied around Mario Gonzalez. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin鈥檚 lymphoma聽in July and said聽earlier this week聽he was about to undertake his seventh round of chemotherapy.聽聽
Gonzalez said his prognosis has improved since undergoing treatment.
鈥淚鈥檇 say it鈥檚 been a year full of challenges,鈥� Gonzalez said. 鈥淥f course I would love to be out here practicing and playing, but I鈥檓 really proud of the team where they鈥檙e at right now getting ready for the quarterfinals. Even though it鈥檚 been a hard year for me, I鈥檓 really happy where I鈥檓 at right now and I鈥檓 grateful for that as well.鈥�
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on Nov. 6, 2021.