The best of the 2007-08 season in DuPage County
About these awards
As the 2007-08 high school sports season comes to a conclusion, the Daily Herald DuPage County high school sports staff looks back on the year that was and looks ahead to the 2008-09 season. Many teams and individuals were nominated for the awards below, and many who do not appear on this page had outstanding seasons. That such talented athletes didn't make this list is a tribute to the excellence displayed at all 28 DuPage County high schools.
State champions
Boys
Neuqua Valley cross country Class 3A champion
Chris Derrick, Neuqua Valley cross country
Naperville North Class 8A football
Driscoll Class 4A football
Tony Ramos, Glenbard North wrestling
Jimmy Chase, Glenbard North wrestling
Vince Ramos, Glenbard North wrestling
Ben Apland, Downers Grove South wrestling
Garrett Goebel, Montini wrestling
Neuqua Valley swimming
Brian Alden, 50 free, 100 free swimming
Bryant Honsa, 500 free, swimming
Neuqua Valley 200 free relay
Montini wrestling
York boys gymnastics
Tim Krueger, Wheaton (coop), floor exercise, vault, parallel bars
Keith Lage, Naperville Central, floor exercise, still rings
WW South volleyball
Girls
Naperville Central volleyball, Class 4A
Monika Jakutyte, Neuqua Valley high jump
Karishma Kollipara, Hinsdale Central, badminton
Hinsdale Central badminton
Deepa Ramadurai & Anjylla Foster, Hinsdale South, doubles badminton
Nita Hamilton and Courtney Dolehide, Hinsdale Central doubles tennis
Waubonsie Valley soccer, Class AA
Hinsdale Central badminton
Best teams
Boys
1. Neuqua Valley cross country
2. Montini wrestling
3. Driscoll football
4. Naperville North football
5. Neuqua Valley baseball
Girls
1. Waubonsie Valley soccer
2. Naperville Central volleyball
3. Hinsdale Central tennis
4. St. Francis volleyball
5. Glenbard South softball
Best senior athletes
Boys
1. Garrett Goebel, Montini football, wrestling
2. Chris Derrick, Neuqua Valley cross country, track
3. David Schwabe, Driscoll football, basketball, baseball
4. Brian Alden, Neuqua Valley swimming
5. Jordan Tassio, Naperville North football, baseball
Girls
1. Casey Short, Naperville Central soccer
2. Colleen Ward, Naperville North volleyball
3. Sarah Langlas, WW South basketball, soccer
4. Monika Jakutyte, Neuqua Valley track
5. Amy Prestinario, Naperville Central swimming
Best coaches
Boys
1. Bill Schreier, WW South volleyball
2. Larry McKeon, Naperville North football
3. Mike Bukovsky, Montini wrestling
4. Paul Vandersteen, Neuqua Valley cross country
5. Jay Kramer, Hinsdale Central tennis
Girls
1. Julie Bergstrom, Waubonsie Valley soccer
2. Brie Isaacson, Naperville Central volleyball
3. Jason Nichols, Montini basketball
4. Jerilyn Scardina, Hinsdale Central tennis
5. Cray Allen, Lake Park softball
Teams to watch next year
Boys
1. Driscoll football
2. Hinsdale Central tennis
3. WW South volleyball
4. Neuqua Valley swimming
5. York gymnastics
Girls
1. Waubonsie Valley soccer
2. Montini basketball
3. St. Francis volleyball
4. Hinsdale Central tennis
5. Lake Park basketball
Athletes to watch next year
Boys
1. Mike Trumpy, Wheaton North football, track
2. Chris Watt, Glenbard West football, basketball, track
3. Ian Krol, Neuqua Valley soccer, baseball
4. Drew Crawford, Naperville Central basketball
5. Evan Watkins, Glenbard North football, baseball
Girls
1. Bri Rodriguez, Waubonsie Valley soccer
2. Samantha Arnold, Lake Park basketball
3. Shakeia Pinnick, Waubonsie Valley track
4. Michaela Johnson, Montini basketball
5. Courtney Dolehide and Nida Hamilton, Hinsdale Central tennis doubles team
Story of the year
1. Class Expansion
2. Waubonsie Valley girls soccer goes undefeated a second straight season
3. IHSA won't permit photographers to shoot state football finals
4. Three DuPage Valley Conference teams play in state football championships
5. Driscoll wins seventh straight football championship