Wheaton, Naperville mayors bet on volleyball match for a good cause

Two area leaders will square off during a volleyball match on Monday. But, don’t worry, Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk and Naperville Mayor George Pradel are not going to be on the court digging, setting and killing the ball against each other.

Instead, their involvement will have a less physical component.

In a match between Naperville Central and Wheaton Warrenville South, the mayor of the losing team’s city will have to display a hat representing the winning team during a future city council meeting.

The wager will help promote the match, a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.

“It’s a wonderful cause,” Gresk said. “You would be hard-pressed to find a family that hasn’t been touched by this horrible disease.”

The “Volley for the Cure” event will raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation. Last year, a game between the schools raised nearly $30,000. The teams will hold a silent auction and 50/50 raffle at the event. Admission to the match is $10 or free with a pre-bought T-shirt.

The lower level squads play at 4:30 p.m., and the varsity at 6 p.m. Monday at Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave.

Both Pradel and Gresk have their connections at the Naperville school. Gresk’s son is on the school’s faculty.

Pradel graduated from the school in 1955. The longtime Naperville leader said he agreed to the bet because the fundraiser affects the city and county because it focuses on a disease that affects everyone and seeing young people get involved impresses him.

“They want to be a part of it,” he said. “They want to make a difference. They will be out there giving it their all and fighting hard for the cause.”

Gresk has started to make this somewhat of a habit. In August, he challenged Glen Ellyn Village President Mark Pfefferman to a wager between the Tigers and Glenbard West Hilltoppers football teams. After the Hilltoppers beat the Tigers, 21-7, the school’s and the Glen Ellyn village’s flags flew over city hall for a week.