Friday will be a special night at St. Charles East

A former professional football player, an All-American volleyball standout, a rare 4-sport athlete and a state championship baseball coach will be spotlighted this weekend at St. Charles East.

Honored as Jodie Harrison Lifetime Achievement Award recipients for 2018, the quartet will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame prior to Friday's 7 p.m. boys basketball game against Batavia.

Len Asquini (Baseball Coach)

Asquini, who began his coaching career at St. Charles in 1995, has served as head baseball coach from 1996-2003 and from 2012-present.

His teams have captured 6 conference titles, 9 regional crowns and 3 sectional titles, highlighted by the 1999 state championship squad.

"It's a huge honor," said Asquini, who owns a 371-158-1 record (. 700 winning percentage) in 14 seasons. "I'm humbled and very appreciative."

The 1999 team (31-11) featured all-state pitcher-outfielder Jim Caine, Justin Lata, Pat Durr, Brad Zoelle, Kyle Robinson and Jason Kiley.

"It was a different time with one high school," said Asquini. "The entire community was behind us."

Asquini, who guided the Saints to summer state titles in 1999 and 2001, led the team to a third-place showing in 2013.

While his 2002 squad reached the state quarterfinals, Asquini has held the 2001 team (31-8) in high regard.

"That might have been our most talented team," he said of a group led by Adam Milauskas and Brian Szarmach which lost 2-1 to Lyons in the sectional finals.

Pitcher Matt Reynolds, a 2003 graduate, enjoyed a 7-year MLB career with Colorado, Arizona and San Francisco.

Asquini also coached his youngest son, Jake, in 2014-2015.

"That was awesome," he said. "It's not easy coaching your son but I was very fortunate those two years.

"I'm grateful to all the players, coaches, parents and grounds crew workers over the years. It might be under my name but they're all coming into the Hall of Fame with me."

Tom Cavallo (Class of 1989)

A 3-sport athlete at St. Charles, Cavallo starred in football, hockey and baseball, earning all-conference, all-area and all-state honorable mention accolades during his senior football season.

In baseball and hockey, Cavallo was a 2-time varsity letterman who earned all-conference status in both sports.

While Cavallo went on to become a 3-year starting linebacker at the University of Louisville and enjoyed a professional career in the CFL, World League and NFL, his high school days were most memorable.

"If I had one last wish, it would be to play one more high school game with my friends," said Cavallo, 46. "You grow up playing with your friends for 8, 9, 10 years and then it's over. It was pure joy.

"You move on and find different friends but playing with your childhood buddies is hard to replicate."

Collegiately, Cavallo was a member of the Louisville team that defeated Alabama 34-7 in the 1990 Fiesta Bowl.

As a senior, the Cardinals capped a 9-3 season with an 18-7 win over Michigan State in the 1993 Liberty Bowl.

Cavallo played in two World League Bowl games, capturing the 1995 title as a member of the Frankfurt Galaxy.

He earned a tryout with the San Francisco 49ers in 1996 and spent the next year (1997) on injured reserve.

"It was the same year Jerry Rice was hurt," said Cavallo. "I spent time with a legend of the game."

Today, Cavallo, his wife, Lori, and daughter live in San Diego where he is executive vice president of Sales Dividend Finance.

Fred "Swede" Nelson (Class of 1950)

Nelson is one of the few 4-sport athletes in St. Charles history, as he lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track.

Nelson, who attended the University of Iowa where he played football and baseball, also spent 4 seasons playing semipro football with the Aurora Clippers.

"He loved all sports," Teri Hoscheit said of her father, who passed away in 2010. "Growing up, he was very involved in hunting, fishing and swimming."

A lifelong resident of St. Charles, Nelson was a champion diver at Pottawatomie Park and remained active in the community coaching youth sports.

"I suggested it (Hall of Fame) to him when he was alive but he was a very humble guy," said Hoscheit. "I'd run into Bob Burger, who was a year younger than my dad, and he'd always tell me my dad was the greatest athlete he ever met."

In his later years, Nelson attended countless Saints games watching Hoscheit's children, Mike, Maggie, and Joe compete.

"He followed everything my kids did," said Hoscheit. "Mike and Joe wore jersey number 34 playing football because that was the number my dad wore in high school."

Nelson's wife, Nancy, their children and many grandchildren are expected to attend the ceremony.

Dani Nyenhuis Phillips (Class of 2002)

A 3-year letter winner on the girls' volleyball team, Dani helped lead the Saints to the 2001 state championship during her senior season.

"I was blessed with the amount of talent I got to play with in high school," she said. "It was a lucky time to be there."

Nyenhuis was named Illinois' Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year in 2001.

Joined by teammates Kim Holm, Kristin Halt, Amanda Rohrsen, Sarah Vitali and Ashley White, Nyenhuis recorded more than 300 kills and 50 blocks for a Saints team that finished 40-2.

"We're all still friends and keep in touch," said Dani. "It was also the year that our gym was closed due to the mold problem so we played our home matches at the middle school."

According to Saints coach Jennie Kull, Dani is the first volleyball player to reach the school's Hall of Fame.

"She was fantastic," Dani said of Kull. "She was a good mixture of coach, mom and teacher. It was great to be able to give her the first state title."

Dani enjoyed a distinguished collegiate career at the University of North Carolina where she was named the ACC Volleyball Player of the Year in 2005.

The 6-foot- outside hitter finished her college career with 1,376 kills and 1,164 digs - 1 of just 9 Tar Heels to reach the prestigious 1,000-kill, 1,000-dig club.

Dani, whose parents, Paul and Sue, live in St. Charles, resides in Charlotte with her husband, Justin, and their 3 children.

Craig Brueske can be reached at csb4k@hotmail.com.