Looking back at a year filled with champions

While we are a few days into the New Year, I'd like to take one last look at a memorable 2014 for area high school athletics.

State champions

Last February, Geneva freshman Claire Ginsberg became the area's first girls gymnastics state champion as she captured the all-around title in the 38th annual state meet in Palatine. Ginsberg, who placed third individually on floor exercise and was fourth on vault and balance beam, earned a 37.975 total for the all-around crown.

That same February weekend, Marmion senior Johnny Jimenez became just the 12th wrestler in the 77-year history of the state tournament to win consecutive championships after his 5-1, 126-pound victory over Glenbard North's Jon Marmolejo at Assembly Hall in Champaign.

Last March, seniors Makur Puou and Mangisto Deng helped lead Mooseheart (29-3) to its first state championship as the basketball team claimed the Class 1A crown with a 63-47 victory over Heyworth.

In May, West Aurora senior Emma Spagnola claimed a pair of state titles in the 100 high hurdles (14.10) and 300 low hurdles (42.45) at the Class 3A girls track and field meet in Charleston. The Blackhawks placed second in the team standings as Spagnola added a third-place finish in the long jump.

Third-place St. Charles East also earned a pair of relay state victories. Torree Scull, Anastasia Honea, Corrin Adams and Jordan Shead combined to win the 4x800 relay (9:08.03) while twin sisters Elizabeth Chmelik, Allison Chmelik, Casey McNichols and Shead teamed to capture the 4x400 relay (3:49.33).

Last spring, Aurora Christian's girls and boys track teams captured Class 1A state championships at O'Brien Stadium.

Top-4 finishes

Additional top-4 state finishers included Aurora Central Catholic wrestler Eduardo Gonzalez (2nd at 285 pounds in 1A); Marmion's Trace Carello (4th at 152 in 3A), Nathan Traxler (4th at 182) and Lucas Warren (4th at 220).

St. Charles East's Jordan Shead (56.53) and Torree Scull (5:01.26) added 4th-place finishes in the 400 and 1,600, respectively, at the 3A girls state track and field meet while St. Charles North senior Erik Miller placed second in the high jump (6-10) at the 3A boys state track and field meet.

West Aurora sophomore Chris Walker also finished second in the triple jump (46-11 ½).

Last February, St. Charles East senior Will Shanel placed fourth in the 500 freestyle (4:36.66) while Marmion added a 4th-place showing in the 400 free relay.

In November, St. Charles East's Shea Hoyt took third in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.07) while sophomore teammate placed fourth in the 100 back (56.06). Rosary sophomore Anne Gosselin added a fourth in the 200 IM (2:05.05).

Aurora Christian sophomore Tanner Chada placed third (15:02) in the Class 1A state cross country meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

Led by seniors Sidney Santos, Michaela Loebel and Morgan Seberger, Geneva's girls basketball team went on a 14-game winning streak en route to its 4th-place Class 4A state showing. Freshman Grace Loberg and junior Janie McCloughan were the team's top 2 leading scorers for coach Sarah Meadows' Vikings (26-7).

Last spring, Darcy Cunningham and Amanda Hilton guided St. Charles East's girls soccer team to its first state championship appearance since 2000. The Saints (19-5-5), who edged St. Charles North 2-1 in the Class 3A sectional semifinals, lost a 1-0 state title decision to New Trier.

Notable achievements

Last March, Geneva's boys basketball team captured its first regional title since 1986 with a come-from-behind, 66-63 victory over Bolingbrook. Fueled by juniors Pace Temple (24 points) and Nate Navigato (16 points), the Vikings scored 34 fourth-quarter points to rally from a 15-point second-half deficit.

Senior Chris Parrilli's 8-foot fadeaway jumper with 4 seconds remaining lifted the Vikings to a 70-68 sectional semifinal victory over West Aurora before Benet ended Geneva's postseason run in the sectional championship.

Meanwhile, West Aurora claimed its 40th regional basketball title with a 73-59 triumph over Plainfield North behind senior Jontrell Walker's game-high 31 points.

Batavia's girls basketball team enjoyed a banner year of its own by winning its first regional title since 1990. In mid-January, senior guard Liza Fruendt poured in a school-record 51 points during the Bulldogs' 75-68 victory over host Geneva.

Senior Drew David connected on an 18-footer with 2 seconds remaining to lead Kaneland to a 62-60 Class 3A regional championship victory over Marmion in Maple Park.

Last spring, Batavia's baseball team compiled an amazing 24-game winning streak on its way to capturing conference and regional titles.

Down to their last out in the bottom of the 8th against Bartlett, coach Matt Holm's Bulldogs tied it on Micah Coffey's RBI double and pulled out the 5-4, 10-inning regional semifinal victory when Laren Eustace raced home on a wild pitch.

Meanwhile, Marmion senior left-hander Alex Troop fanned 15 while tossing 1-hit ball for 8 innings during the Cadets' 2-1, 10-inning triumph over St. Francis. Troop later threw a complete-game shutout in Marmion's 2-0 Class 4A regional win over Downers Grove North.

In October, Geneva senior Kirby Einck pocketed her first sectional singles championship while helping lift the Vikings to the sectional team title. Einck won 4 of 6 matches while making her fourth state tournament appearance.

St. Charles East senior Jasper Koenen capped a brilliant 4-year tennis career of his own by reaching the singles state semifinals last May.

This past fall, Aurora Christian, Aurora Central Catholic, Batavia, Geneva, Marmion and St. Charles North qualified for the football state playoffs.

Led by quarterback Daniel Santacaterina and 2-way star Pace Temple, Geneva advanced to the 7A state quarterfinals before falling 44-26 to eventual runner-up Cary-Grove.

Other regional/sectional champions included Kaneland baseball (3A regional), boys track (2A sectional) and girls track (2A sectional); Aurora Christian baseball (2A regional); Batavia boys golf and soccer (3A regional); Geneva girls soccer (3A regional) and volleyball (4A regional); Rosary track (2A sectional), volleyball (3A regional) and swimming (sectional); St. Charles North baseball, softball (4A regional), girls golf (2A regional) and boys tennis (sectional); St. Charles East boys cross country (3A regional), softball, girls volleyball (4A regional), boys and girls swimming (sectional); and West Aurora girls track (3A sectional).

Sad note

St. Charles high school "Super Fan" Jim Wheeler passed away last April at the age of 68.

Basketball games at St. Charles East and St. Charles North this season are not the same without Wheeler's familiar face in the stands.

Something positive

While speaking with Geneva baseball coach Matt Hahn at a basketball game last month, I learned that his 13-year-old son Drew, recently received the best possible news - a cancer-free call from his doctors.

Diagnosed with anaplastic large-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma last March, Drew underwent surgery in April and several rounds of chemotherapy over the next few months.

Now, Drew is back to being a full-time 8th-grade student at Harter Middle School in Sugar Grove.

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com