Former Crystal Lake S. football star dies in motorcycle crash

The life of a former standout football player and Woodstock firefighter-in-training was claimed Friday in an early morning motorcycle crash.

Trent Steckel, 24, of Crystal Lake, was pronounced dead at about 1:10 a.m.

McHenry County Sheriff's Department officials said he had been traveling north on Live Oak Road south of Spyglass Ridge when the crash occurred.

According to police, Steckel's 2005 Honda motorcycle left the roadway for unknown reasons. Steckel lost control and ran into a culvert.

Sheriff's Sgt. Carolyn Hubbard confirmed that Steckel was riding alone. He was not wearing a helmet.

"We're unsure as to why he left the roadway. We're waiting on toxicology results," she said.

Steckel, who had spent the past year training to be a firefighter in Woodstock, was just about to move from the department's cadet program into the apprenticeship program, Deputy Chief Terry Menzel said.

"Just yesterday he completed his interview for paramedic class," Menzel said. "He would have passed. He would have been into that (class) in August."

Menzel described Steckel as "an excellent kid."

As a Crystal Lake South High School student, Steckel starred on the football team, and was named Daily Herald all-area co-captain in 2002. He went on to play as a tight end for Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

The fire department is in mourning.

"Here's a kid out of our district that we were able to give a chance to," Menzel said.

He was scheduled to work a shift at fire station two on Dean Street Saturday.

Firefighters have lowered the stations' flags, and held their own private ceremony, Menzel said.