Conforti commits to Dayton

Ever since Jake Conforti was a kid, he's always dreamed of playing football in college.

That dream will come true in the fall, as the senior from Geneva's highly successful football team has recently signed on with the University of Dayton.

"He was always destined to play," Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. "He's always been a very good player."

Conforti, who will be a safety for Dayton, chose the Ohio-based Division-I AA school over Northern Michigan, the University of Indianapolis, Butler, Valparaiso and Quincy.

"It's an awesome fit," Wicinski said. "It's a great fit. (Dayton) really wanted him, and he felt really good about them."

Conforti is listed as Dayton's No. 1 recruit, even though he has overcome a serious knee injury he suffered junior year.

"He really ran into a speed bump with the knee injury," said Wicinski, noting he knew Conforti would make a solid comeback.

Conforti was a big reason the Vikings went 11-1 in the 2007 season. He helped Geneva tie a school record in wins, win the conference title four consecutive seasons and reach the Class 7A quarterfinals.

He finished this year with 81 tackles and 4 interceptions.

Benjamin blossoms: Martha Benjamin, a 2007 grad of Aurora Central who played for the girls basketball team for two varsity seasons, was recently named junior college national player of the week in her freshman year at Joliet Junior College.

In the first game against Triton College, the forward/center scored 34 points, grabbed 26 rebounds and had 2 blocks. Against Rock Valley College, she tallied 22 points, 20 rebounds, and an assist, steal and block.

Benjamin is averaging 14.2 points (second on the team, 48th in the nation) to go with her team-leading 11.8 rebounds a game (14th in the country). Her 55 percent field goal percentage also leads the team and is eighth in the country.