Glenbard South has big plans for final year in Western Sun

Glenbard South has one goal for the final Western Sun Conference football season.

Go out with a bang.

After only four years of existence, the Western Sun is folding at the end of this school year as the eight schools go their separate ways. While Geneva and Batavia will join the Upstate Eight Conference, Kaneland, Rochelle, Yorkville, DeKalb and Sycamore are joining the Northern Illinois Big 12.

That leaves Glenbard South without a conference next year, but the Raiders are working the phones trying to find a new place to call home.

Regardless of the future, Glenbard South's focus remains on dethroning Geneva, which has won at least a share of all three prior Western Sun crowns while losing only once during that time.

With eight returning starters from a Class 6A quarterfinalist squad, the Raiders are cautiously optimistic competing in what will be a tough final Western Sun field.

"Geneva is obviously at the top until someone knocks them off," said Glenbard South coach Dan Starkey. "If we stay healthy, we'll be up there."

Among the Raiders' returners is a core of four top players.

Defensive end-fullback Austin Teitsma boasts four college scholarship offers, including Division I offers from Northern Illinois, Ball State and Buffalo. Quarterback Trace Wanless accounted for more than 2,000 total yards and 25 touchdowns last year. Nick Slezak and Connor Douglas both aim for big contributions on offense and defense.

The question is whether it's enough to top Geneva, which edged the Raiders 14-7 last season. Although the Vikings graduated most of their Class 7A state runner-up team, including all-state running back Michael Ratay, the team remains strong with quarterback Brandon Beitzel, who threw for nearly 1,400 yards last year, and three-year starting defensive lineman Frank Boenzi.

Kaneland made the playoffs last year with a young group and is poised for a strong return behind junior quarterback Joe Camiliere, who threw for 2,500 yards. Batavia, despite graduating all-state quarterback Jordan Coffey and most of its 2008 offense, looks to rebuild around a trio of three-year defensive starters in linebackers Mike Greco, Ian Powers and Piotr Koczmara.

As the Western Sun Conference prepares for its farewell tour in 2009, expect everyone to try and end it on a high note.

"It's really disappointing it's splitting up," Starkey said. "I thought this was going to be a stable situation, but it's just something we'll have to deal with and move on."