Wheaton North takes 4th straight DVC crown
Wheaton North's Ben Moore won the 100-meter dash at Friday's DuPage Valley Conference boys track meet, and before he got off-task, Falcons assistant coach Jim Martin approached.
"We've got more scoring to do," the veteran said.
True that. The host Falcons amassed 188 points to Lake Park's 122 to win their fourth straight DVC title. Wheaton North coach Don Helberg and brother Ken Helberg of Wheaton Warrenville South have kept the title in Wheaton since 1991.
The Falcons weathered Lake Park's inevitable field events bounty, including senior Mike Prestigiacomo's meet-record 190-foot, 8-inch discus throw.
They held firm as Naperville North won the opening 3,200-meter relay and Huskies John Klaiber and Kerry Gschwedntner went 1-2 in the open 3,200. Gschwedntner added the 1,600 to claim the annual "Gil Dodds Trophy."
Piling on early success by long jumpers Chico Jackson, Jon Karow and Michael Bloss, the Falcons hit the track running with Steven Connor in the 110 hurdles, .06 seconds off Lake Park defending Class 3A champ Antonio Shenault's 14.38.
Moore followed, then Danny Steeno's seven-second personal record 800 win at 1 minute, 56.44 seconds.
"I think having three entries this year with only six teams, that changed the whole dynamic for the meet," Don Helberg said. "I think that really helped us because we're pretty deep in just about all the running events, especially the sprints."
Moore also ran on the 400 relay, one of Wheaton North's three winning relays, and won the 200.
"I've just been working for this for so long," he said. "Since I got here I've been looking up to guys like (graduates) Zach Gordon, Patrick Sharp. It feels great."
Having spent more time in rehab guru Steve Major's chiropractic office than on the track with ankle and hamstring issues, Connor's return added pep to Wheaton North's step. The lanky senior won the 300 hurdles at 39.51 seconds.
"I'm just glad to be back," he said, "and even though it hurts I'm still willing to hurt for the team because that's what matters."
Naperville North took third with 95 points, followed by hurdler Kyle Hilton and Naperville Central, then WW South and Glenbard North. The final two teams flipped positions to go 1-2 on the sophomore level.
A pair of varsity newcomers looked good. Lake Park's Chago Basso, sophomore brother of long jump winner Gio Basso, followed only Prestigiacomo in discus.
Asked what it meant to him, Chago said, "It means I need to beat Mike."
WW South junior Blaze Barista won triple jump at a personal-best 44-0½ - a 12-foot improvement since the start of his sophomore year.
"All the hard work I've put in every week is coming out right now," Barista said, "and I just can't wait for sectionals."
Other varsity champions included 400-meter winner Brandon Bell of WW South, Lake Park's duo of Ethan Koval in pole vault and Dylan Scheirich in shot put and Wheaton North's Devante Pearson in high jump.