Batavia, Geneva add power to Upstate Eight
The breakup of the Western Sun Conference could have been the best thing for the Upstate Eight.
The Western Sun's dissolution left Batavia and Geneva without affiliation. The UEC welcomed the two Kane County powers, increasing its numbers to 14 and creating two divisions by enrollment.
"I think it's a good thing for all teams involved," said Neuqua Valley coach Bryan Wells, who joins Waubonsie Valley, Lake Park, South Elgin, Bartlett, first-year varsity program Metea Valley and South Elgin in the UEC's Valley Division.
Established UEC teams Elgin, Larkin, Streamwood, St. Charles East and St. Charles North absorbed Batavia and Geneva in the UEC River.
"I think it's going to be competitive," Wells said. "You look at the Valley side and I think there are four legitimate and maybe five playoff teams there. Eventually I think you may have five to six playoff-type teams in it, and that's pretty deep."
Not all are overjoyed. Separating Elgin Area School District U-46 teams didn't sit well with a couple coaches who saw lively rivalries end.
Regardless, the refreshed Upstate Eight Conference should provide stiff conference races and postseason preparation.
"I love it," said Larkin coach Mike Scianna. "The conference structure is great. If you come out of our division, you'll be pretty prepared for a first-round matchup."
The Valley Division might be regarded higher yet the River will be a battle.
"I don't think there's a wide-open favorite (in the River)," said St. Charles North coach Mark Gould, who graduated all 11 starting defensive positions from a Class 7A quarterfinalist.
The four Kane County teams are expected to vie for the title, if they hold off playoff-hungry Elgin, led by do-it-all senior Jordan Dean.
Batavia, 2-7 in 2009 while coach Mike Gaspari went young, anticipates a bounce. St. Charles North was depleted on defense but returns ace receiver Josh Mikes and running backs Ben Hodges and Dirk Schmitt.
St. Charles East also must retool after graduating 29 seniors, but Fields' squad wins the close ones. The team he left after 10 years as an assistant, Geneva, has won six straight conference titles dating to its Suburban Prairie Conference days.
Given that Batavia plays Bartlett in a crossover, Gaspari said, "Certainly there's nobody we can look past."
Bartlett seeks a postseason return after its nine-year streak ended last year. Yet it is Dale Schabert's South Elgin squad, which in 2009 made the playoffs for the first time, that may be favored in the River.
Quarterback John Menken, tailback Brad Birchfield, receiver Dom Failla and defensive tackle Jake Randich - one of the last refugees of late, great Driscoll Catholic - are among the Storm's 17 returning starters. South Elgin's senior and junior classes each went 9-0 as sophomores.
Neuqua Valley, however, returns nine starters on defense, including top two tacklers linebacker T.J. Rhattigan and safety Mike Festa. Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy offers Northwestern recruit Mark Szott at tight end plus what he thinks is his best secondary since his 7-3 squad of 2007.
Lake Park coach Andy Livingston - in his 17th and last season - will finally see what happens when he has several 280-plus linemen. Metea Valley isn't expected to vie for the Valley title with its group of juniors, but Mustangs coach Ted Monken took St. Charles East to the playoffs four of five seasons.
"I think any one of five teams can win it, to tell you the truth," Murphy said.
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