Where did it go? Already time to look back at 2011-12
Another year, another time to unveil the top 10 moments of the 2011-12 school year for DuPage County boys athletics.
Next week Josh Welge will introduce the top 10 moments for the girls.
Here we go, in chronological order:
Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, 2011: NORMAL and FRANKFORT — The golden age of Lisle soccer continues at the Corn Crib, where the 2010 Class 1A champs face Quincy Notre Dame for the title. After five straight 1-goal victories, however, goalkeeper Kazim Khan and the Lions must settle for second in a 2-0 loss.
The Class 3A championship at Lincoln-Way North between Naperville Central and Morton goes scoreless through 80 minutes. At 1:06 into overtime, Morton scores and the 19-5 Redhawks are runner-up in their first title-game appearance since 1988.
Nov. 27, 2011: CHAMPAIGN — Thirteen IHSA title-game team records and seven individual records are set or tied in the Class 5A state championship football game between Montini and Joliet Catholic. Montini wins its third straight 5A title, 70-45, headed by Broncos quarterback John Rhode’s 587 yards passing and 7 touchdowns, 5 of them to receiver Jordan Westerkamp. Joliet Catholic’s Ty Isaac runs for 515 yards and 6 touchdowns in a losing cause.
In 7A Wheaton Warrenville South loses its attempt for a title three-peat, 21-14 to Rockford Boylan.
Jan 27, 2011: ELMHURST — York coach Tom Kleinschmidt has never seen a high schooler shoot the basketball like David Cohn does against Hinsdale Central. The junior guard scores a program-record 47 points in a 75-64 victory. Cohn scores York’s first 26 points and makes 14 of 17 field-goal attempts, 7 of 8 from 3-point range.
Feb. 18 and 25, 2012: CHAMPAIGN and BLOOMINGTON — At the individual state wrestling tournament at the University of Illinois’ Assembly Hall, Glenbard North’s Jered Cortez (120 pounds) wins a Class 3A title on his way to a 51-0 season record. Teammate Brian Murphy (152) and Wheaton North’s Mike Swider (220) lose their first matches in the finals; Lake Park’s Farai Sewera (160) and Downers Grove South’s Cullen Cummings (132) also place second in their classes. In Class 2A Montini’s Tommy Pawelski wins a state title at 106 pounds while teammates KeVon Powell (2-1 in over time at 120) and Chris Garcia (132) finish second.
The following weekend in Bloomington’s U.S. Cellular Coliseum, Montini (21-0) slams Crystal Lake Central, Bloomington and Yorkville to win its fifth straight dual-team state championship and 10th overall. Coach Israel Martinez’s Broncos counter a 3-0 deficit with runs of 23 and 30 points to pummel Yorkville 53-12 in the Class 2A championship. In 3A Glenbard North follows its 2011 title with a third-place finish.
Feb. 25, 2012: EVANSTON — Overcoming nearly team-wide sickness the week before state finals, Naperville North trails only New Trier to earn its first swimming trophy since 1997. Coming off bronchitis, senior Andrew Eiken places third in the 200-yard freestyle and sixth in the 100 free. “We didn’t want the other guys swimming next to us,” said junior Sam Hiller, sixth in the 100 backstroke; clean health helps senior Nick Bessler take third in the 200 individual medley, fourth in the 100 butterfly. Naperville Central senior Sean Lehane repeats as 100 backstroke champion while Hinsdale Central senior Danny Thomson helps the Red Devils to a fourth-place tie with a state 500 freestyle record and 200 free victory.
March 6 and March 7, 2012: GLEN ELLYN and AURORA — St. Francis was a No. 8 seed in the Class 3A Glenbard South basketball sectional. Led by coach Bob Ward and senior Ryan Coyle, the Spartans defeated No. 8 Wheaton Academy, upset No. 1 Orr in the regional final and on March 6 beat No. 5 seed Crane 64-51 to reach the sectional final. No. 2 seed Marshall ends the magic March 9, a 45-41 decision.
In Class 4A second-year program Metea Valley rides Ryan Solomon’s game-high 20 points and 19 from fellow senior Kenny Obendorf to upend favored Downers Grove South 60-51 in the East Aurora sectional semifinals March 7. The Mustangs, who started the season 14-0 and won the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division title, fall 69-61 to West Aurora in the sectional final.
May 11, 2012: FRANKFORT — Not even the Wheaton co-op gymnastics team captains believed they’d return to the state finals after a 2011 second-place finish. Yet they’re here at Lincoln-Way East, and winning the title. Depth is the key — no individual champion but strong performances by Ethan Sansone, Danny Heller, Mark Ciesielski, Conner Ritchie, Max Jurkowski, Nick Ronaldson and captains Chris Jordan and Zach Neal.
Also, Glenbard West freshman Alex Diab wins the all-around title, Naperville North’s Billy Suta places fifth.
May 26, 2012: ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — Paced by Martin Joyce and Sam Bloom — fourth and fifth individually — and state doubles champions Alex Hagermoser and Peter Heneghan, Hinsdale Central wins the boys state tennis title at Hersey High School. Coach John Naisbitt’s Red Devils beat two-time defending champion New Trier by 12 points to earn the program’s record 22nd state tennis title.
May 26, 2012: CHARLESTON — In the heat at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium, nine Lake Park individuals and two relays score points to capture a third straight Class 3A track and field title, the longest run since Thornwood from 2001-04. Junior Scott Filip scores in high jump, long jump, triple jump and on the 400-meter relay. Glenbard South coach Andy Preuss heads into retirement off a 2A runner-up finish, mirroring his Raiders’ place in the cross country championships in November 2011.
???: Moment No. 10 is up for grabs, because there is still some IHSA hardware remaining to be won.
Lake Park and unbeaten Wheaton Warrenville South compete in Friday’s volleyball state quarterfinals. In baseball Willowbrook, Naperville Central, Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley play for sectional titles.
Congrats to the champions and best of luck to those still playing.
doberhelman@dailyherald.com