Vikes' success pleases their former coach
CHAMPAIGN - In the last three years, both Batavia and Geneva have taken their shots at bringing home a state championship.
Both came up short. So did in Aurora Christian Friday night.
Kaneland won consecutive state championships under Joe Thorgesen in 1997 and 1998. What Tri-Cities school will break through and bring home a title?
Is it a question of if, or when?
One coach who saw both of Geneva's cracks at a state title, Jerry Auchstetter, isn't sure. The Hall of Fame head coach who guided the Vikings to the 1975 state championship game, Auchstetter returned to work with Rob Wicinski's staff this season.
"You don't get many of these opportunities," Auchstetter said. "It's very difficult to get to this level. To get to the final game in the state of Illinois in 7A football, it is very challenging, but this team answered the challenge. They fought gallantly."
Auchstetter couldn't say enough about the job Wicinski has done with the Geneva program.
"Coach Wicinski and his staff have done a tremendous job turning the program back around again," Auchstetter said.
"We're back on the map in football again, and that's good to know and good to be part of. To watch these coaches work and the work they put into it, it's amazing the time and effort they put into this program to get this turned around the way it is. I can't say enough about the staff here and the opportunity to be back and be a little bit a part of it. That was good for me."
Good to see: Both Aurora Christian and Geneva were glad to have assistant coaches Chris Risch and Marc Fagot on the sidelines this weekend at state as both coaches continue to battle cancer.
Eagles head coach Don Beebe said Risch helped him with several key play calls during the game, including third-down conversions on passes to Zac Copple and David Zielke.
"We've been tyring to be uplifting for him as much as possible," Eagles quarterback Jordan Roberts said. "Hopefully he'll get through suffering and get back in his groove and battle it out."
"We're just praying he beats cancer," Beebe said.
"We're praying he gets healed."