Making some predictions for 2017

It is that time again - time to make my annual predictions for 2017.

Before I make my prognostications for the New Year, let's see how some of 2016 predictions fared.

The good: I accurately predicted that Marmion's Nathan Traxler and Dundee-Crown's Christian Brunner would win Class 3A individual state wrestling titles.

I also correctly said that Geneva and Montini would square off in the 4A girls basketball sectional finals at Schaumburg (Montini won 64-47).

I was on the mark when I picked St. Charles East's basketball team to capture its first 4A regional title since 2007 (the Saints downed Batavia 58-41).

I said that St. Charles North's baseball team would reach the 4A sectional finals - the North Stars placed third in the state - and I picked Jacobs and St. Charles East to claim 4A regional baseball titles.

I had Rosary repeating as girls state swimming champions and said that Geneva's girls basketball team would reach the semifinals of the Montini Christmas Tournament (the Vikings placed third).

I also said that the Cubs would reach the World Series - and we all know how that turned out.

So-so: I said that West Aurora's Chris Walker and DaVion Cross would repeat as 1-2 state finishers in the triple jump (Cross and Walker placed second and third, respectively, behind Lakes junior Cameron Ruiz.

I predicted that St. Charles North's girls golf team would finish second in the state (the North Stars placed fourth).

Not a chance: I only picked one of the Elite Eight participants in 4A boys basketball (Curie).

My Super Bowl picks were New England and Arizona (Denver and Carolina).

Here are my picks to click for 2017:

AFC Championship: New England 30, Pittsburgh 23.

NFC Championship: Dallas 41, Atlanta 24.

Super Bowl LI: New England 27, Dallas 20.

NHL: The Blackhawks reunite with Columbus' Brandon Saad in the Stanley Cup Finals.

NBA: The Bulls lose to Cleveland in a first-round series.

NCAA basketball: My Final Four includes Butler, Creighton, Gonzaga and defending champion Villanova. Locally, Northwestern reaches "The Big Dance" for the first time.

NCAA women's basketball: Maryland ends UConn's amazing 4-year title run and 109-game winning streak in the championship game.

MLB: The Cubs attempt to defend their World Series title in another epic 7-game clash with Boston.

Later this month, Larkin's Marlee Kyles scores the 2,000th point of her high school basketball career in a home game against Streamwood.

Geneva's boys basketball team sets a record for best start in school history (16-0) with Thursday's nonconference win over Woodstock, eclipsing the old mark established in 1958-59.

Geneva faces St. Charles East in the 4A girls basketball sectional finals at Glenbard West, while Larkin captures its first girls basketball regional title since 2004.

Kaneland's girls basketball team reaches its own 3A sectional finals.

St. Charles North wins its first 4A regional boys basketball title since 2009, while Jacobs repeats as 4A regional champs. The Hinsdale Central 4A sectional field includes Geneva, Benet, West Chicago and Wheaton Warrenville South.

Burlington Central and Aurora Central Catholic square off in the Genoa-Kingston 3A sectional.

Class 4A Elite Eight (girls basketball): H-F vs. Montini; Rockton Hononegah vs. Hersey; Benet vs. Edwardsville; Geneva vs. Evanston.

Class 4A champion: Montini.

Class 3A Elite Eight: Rochester vs. Civic Memorial; Marshall vs. Johnsburg; Morton vs. Kaneland; Bogan vs. Rich East.

Class 3A champion: Marshall.

Class 4A Elite Eight (boys basketball): Simeon vs. H-F; Bolingbrook vs. Benet; Jacobs vs. Conant; Curie vs. Stevenson.

Class 4A champion: Simeon.

Class 3A Elite Eight: Morgan Park vs. Hillcrest; Burlington Central vs. Bloomington; Ridgewood vs. North Lawndale; Centralia vs. Springfield Lanphier.

Class 3A champion: Morgan Park.

In 1A, Harvest Christian reaches the sectional finals.

In February, the list of local individuals reaching the state wrestling finals includes Marmion's Brad Gross and Nate Jimenez; St. Charles East's Joe Ruffino (3A); Burlington Central's Austin Macias; Crystal Lake Central's Lenny Petersen (2A); and Aurora Christian's Noah Villarreal (1A).

Next month, St. Charles East's boys swim team lands a top-10 state showing, while top-3 individual finishers include Marmion's Will Kamps, St. Charles East's Mitchell Milosch, and St. Charles North's Will Myhre.

In May, West Aurora's Camron Donatlan repeats as the 3A high jump state champion, while Kaneland's girls track team earns its second straight 2A state trophy.

Batavia, Jacobs, St. Charles East and St. Charles North all capture 4A regional baseball titles.

Football playoff qualifiers include ACC, Batavia, Cary-Grove, Huntley, Jacobs, Marmion, Prairie Ridge, St. Charles East, St. Charles North and South Elgin.

In November, Rosary wins its third straight girls state swim title while St. Charles East and St. Charles North play for the Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament title.

In December, St. Charles East's girls basketball team will capture the Wheaton North Holiday Tournament title.

Tape a copy of these picks to your refrigerator and see if any of them actually come true.

Craig Brueske can be reached at csb4k@hotmail.com