Plenty for Stortz to smile about

Getting the media-reluctant Bryan Stortz to return my phone calls -- or those of any other reporter for that matter -- can be tough enough sometimes.

He has told me that he's "just not good at that kind of stuff," and that even his wife Jamie says so.

But trying to turn Stortz into a media hound is nothing compared to getting him to occasionally crack a smile or revel in the moment.

Even if, mind you, that moment is the nirvana of a state championship.

That's how stoic and serious Lake Zurich's football coach can be.

You know what Stortz said to me when I got some one-on-one interview time with him in the wake of his team's 7-3 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South in last weekend's Class 7A state championship in Champaign? It was typical Stortz.

"Well, we still don't feel like we've played the complete game yet," Stortz said straight-faced, which is also typical Stortz.

When I scoffed loudly and started laughing, he added, "But we'll take this one."

And then he cracked a smile.

Hey, a smile.

You know, if Stortz was the smiley kind, he could have been grinning from ear to ear this entire season -- and much of last season as well.

It's been a whirlwind, that's for sure.

Not many young football coaches start out their careers like Stortz has.

First of all, he's 2-for-2 in state championship games. In two seasons at the helm, he's guided his team to the state title game each time. And, of course, this year, the Bears won the whole darn thing.

He's a sparkling 26-3 over the last two years and also has a North Suburban Conference Lake Division title to add to his resume.

Not bad for a rookie one year removed.

But don't tell Stortz that, of course.

"I don't think you can talk about all of this on a personal level," said Stortz, who may be reluctant to speak with the media, but is usually very eloquent when he does. "There are so many people that are so invested in the program. All the kids, the coaches, and the community with all of its overwhelming support. Even our families at home have to make so many sacrifices so that we can go through the season.

"This isn't about one person, this isn't a personal victory. It's a family thing. That's what we always talk about. We're all about family."

Speaking of family, Stortz has also had some exciting news in that department this year as well.

About six months ago, as preparations for this season were being made, Stortz's wife gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter named Avery.

Avery, now about six months old, has been out to a few of her dad's games this season, bundled warmly in a stroller.

"It's been busy and hectic," Stortz said of parenthood mixed in with coaching and teaching. "But it's been so great. We love (being parents). It's been so rewarding."

Stortz also became an uncle about a year ago. It was right around the time that his mother Barb died of cancer and an autoimmune disorder.

"The last couple years have been amazing on a lot of different levels," Stortz said. "But it's been a tough couple of years as well."

Barb died just before the start of last season.

"My mom was really supportive of us, just like my dad (Barry) and my brothers (Ben and Brett)," Stortz said. "They all still come to every game and I think it really means so much to them to see us be successful because they know what it would have meant to my mom.

"I think that today (during the state championship game) she was probably watching."

And smiling. And hoping that her son would crack a smile, too.

White after Labor Day: An all-white outfit probably isn't the most practical choice for a football game.

But it seemed to work quite well for the hundreds of fans in the Lake Zurich student section. They were dressed in white from head to toe for the football team's playoff games.

The bright, crisp and clean ensemble -- called the "Whiteout" effect -- became the section's signature look and made quite a statement everywhere from Rockford to Champaign, where the Bears won the Class 7A state championship last weekend.

"Our student section is obviously just nuts," Lake Zurich linebacker Tyler Lafontaine said after the win over Wheaton Warrenville South at Memorial Stadium. "It's amazing how into it they all are."

But, according to Lafontaine, the mania didn't stop with the students.

Just about everyone in the community caught Bears fever.

"All of our parents are really supportive, too," Lafontaine said. "My parents can't even talk after games. Their voices are too shot. A lot of people have been like that. Everyone backs us 100 percent.

"(Last week), I was driving down Route 12 and there were signs everywhere, the movie theater, all over the place. It just makes you feel good knowing that everyone supports you."

Cha-ching: A football state championship brings out the cheers, and it also seems to bring out the pocket books.

Fans in Lake County have had a history of getting quite generous when their teams come home from Champaign with the goods. Consider Carmel and Libertyville.

A few years ago, both teams followed up their runs to a state title by raising enough funds throughout their communities to completely overhaul their fields and install synthetic turf.

Now, the fundraising wheels are turning at Lake Zurich, where the football team is fresh off its 7-3 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South in last weekend's Class 7A state championship game.

"The success of a team, especially a football team, will really catch on," Lake Zurich athletic director Rolly Vazquez said. "It gets more people to come out and people just want to help the program become even better."

Since Lake Zurich already has the much-coveted synthetic turf that Carmel and Libertyville upgraded to, new bleachers and concession stands may be the next order of business.

"I've already heard some people talking about that," Vazquez said. "That was kind of being talked about before (the state title), but I could really see that moving ahead now."