Hall of Fame induction heads big weekend at Stevenson High School
The weekend is shaping up to be a beauty at Stevenson High School.
“It’s homecoming, so that’ll be fun. It’s also my 25-year reunion as well. All these things coincide with the weekend, so it’s pretty exciting,” said Class of 2000 Patriot David Simon.
Unsaid is that Simon is among five individuals and one team to be inducted into the Lincolnshire school’s hall of fame.
A brunch and ceremony will be held Saturday morning in the school’s Patriot Wellness Center. The inductees will be honored at halftime of Friday’s varsity football game.
Simon, whose 13-inch growth spurt after entering high school led to a 19-year professional basketball career mainly overseas, is joined in this seventh hall of fame class by volleyball star Christine (Smeele) Reese; all-state linebacker Brad Saar; gymnast Amanda Kaufman-Moons; her mother-in-law, 46-year District 125 board member Terry Moons; and the first team to be inducted, the 2004 girls gymnastics team.
That undefeated squad coached by Judy Harwood, still at it after 33 years, won the program’s fourth straight state title with a score of 152.77, the state record.
“I am excited see Judy Harwood, she’s been there, gosh, forever. And I think John Martin, the former athletic director, is supposed to be there this weekend, too. It’ll be nice to see him and connect as well,” said Amanda Kaufman-Moons, who will be introduced by her sister, Stephanie.
The Kaufman girls collected 17 all-state honors between them.
Both Kaufman-Moons and Simon have stayed close to their sport, though Simon had greater early success playing volleyball in high school and at Loyola-Chicago before hitting it big on the court starting at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne.
Simon is in his second year as director of player development for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. He also assists Stevenson boys basketball coach Will Benson.
“It’s the place where I started my basketball journey that led to the rest of my life, basically. It all started there. It’s very humbling, and an honor,” Simon said of the hall.
Kaufman-Moons, married 18 years to high school sweetheart Dan Moons, has been a coach, school psychologist, and in June 2023 became owner of Ultimate Gymnastics in Gurnee.
A full-scholarship recipient at the University of Illinois for gymnastics, she remembered the bonds she made with her high school teammates. She loves that she’s being inducted alongside her mother-in-law.
“I think it’s fantastic,” Kaufman-Moons said. “She was on the school board over 40 years and did so much for the school and athletic department. She’s one of my favorite people, so it’s an honor.”
The young Lions
Since we wrote about Lisle High School’s football program temporarily moving to a junior varsity schedule this season, it seemed appropriate to note how the Lions are doing so far.
They are 2-1 entering Friday’s home contest at Benedictine University against Peotone’s junior varsity.
Lisle opened with a 21-13 win over Dwight, getting a game-high 80 yards rushing by sophomore quarterback Nathan Garcia.
On Sept. 8 Lisle beat Seneca 33-20. Sophomores J.T. Tumbarelli and Sebastian Osslund each ran for more than 100 yards to help Lisle average 7.9 yards a carry.
In Week 3 despite sophomore Collins Miles’ 99 yards rushing on 9 carries, Lisle lost 37-7 to Coal City. There’s no shame in losing to Coal City, at any level of football.
Dave Key, super fan
Dave Key, who went to Glenbard South High School from 1996-2000, will be attending his 100th consecutive Raiders home football game on Friday, against Fenton.
His streak started Sept. 9, 2005. Searching the archives, Game No. 1 in Key’s streak was a 10-7 loss to Plainfield Central in Week 3 of the 2005 season.
With relative stability among Raiders football coaches, Key has witnessed five seasons of the Dan Starkey administration, five years under Jeremy Cordell, and now the 11th season of current coach Ryan Crissey.
Key’s favorite team enters Friday night with a 67-32 record when he watches the games in Glen Ellyn.
“Certainly Glenbard South made an impact on him in his younger days to the point he wants to be here and support our teams,” said athletic director Tim Carlson.
“I anticipate we’ll see him Friday and the rest of the season as we always do.”
Living in Downers Grove the past seven years, Key said he keeps going to games simply because he likes to support Glenbard South, its players and coaches.
Being a fixture there, many fans know Key’s familiar face. If he’s not walking the grounds he generally watches the game from a position along the fence near the home grandstand.
Back in 2022, Key told the Daily Herald he’d missed only one home boys basketball game in 24 years. Overall, he figures he’s attended more than 1,000 Glenbard South athletic events.
Key doesn’t drive, so Carlson was amazed when one day, at a weekend cross country meet in Aurora, he bumped into Key watching the action.
“I remember coming back to school on Monday thinking, ‘He’s everywhere.’” Carlson said.
Still young at 43, Key said he will continue his football streak as long as he can. His goal is “maybe” 300 games.
“It’s Friday night lights,” he said. “There’s no better place to be.”
doberhelman@dailyherald.com