A summer filled with accomplishments, and sadness

Believe it or not, we are about to dive head first into another high school sports season.

After a record-breaking June filled with rainouts, July seemingly flew past and the last week of August is upon us.

That means it is time for the opening week of the high school football campaign.

While the traditional conference openers are still a couple weeks away in most cases, there's nothing quite like Week 1 of the high school football season.

Emotions are high, anticipation is great and optimism reigns supreme for everyone heading into the season debut.

However, I would like an assist from Mother Nature Friday night.

Thanks to a round of thunderstorms, the past two Friday night season openers were pushed back to Saturday for the majority of our area squads.

It would be nice to get past this Friday night without a hitch and not shoot for a "three-peat."

For me, the most intriguing local Week 1 matchups include Batavia at Oswego; West Aurora at Geneva; and Aurora Central Catholic at St. Edward.

Boys of summer

After suffering first-round Class 4A regional tournament losses the past 2 seasons, St. Charles East's baseball team took a few steps in the positive direction this summer.

Coach Len Asquini's Saints overcame a 4-0 early deficit to beat rival St. Charles North 9-6 in the regional semifinals before knocking off Waubonsie Valley to claim the regional championship and secure a berth in the 8-team state tournament.

Led by pitchers Matt Breidigan, Steve Podany, Niko Klebosits, Jon Recchia, Steve Abruzzo and Keegan Kochis, and position players Anthony Adduci, Jimmy Dale, Austin Gift, Monty Carbonell, Thomas Adams, Corbin Marucco, John Dellostritto and Aiden Wright, the Saints advanced all the way to the semifinals of the double-elimination state tourney before dropping a 5-4 decision to eventual champion Lincoln-Way North.

While the Saints' hopes of capturing their third summer state title (1977, 2001) ended, they compiled an impressive 29-9 record. More importantly, they may have built added confidence that they can carry into the upcoming 2016 campaign.

More summertime fun

Several current and former high school standouts enjoyed a successful run for their respective teams this past summer.

On the diamond, Batavia graduates Micah Coffey, Laren Eustace, and St. Charles North graduate John Brodner all played on summer collegiate teams that captured championships.

Coffey, a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, played the final part of the season with the Kenosha Kingfish in the Northwoods League.

The Kingfish swept the St. Cloud Rox in the best-of-3 series to win the Northwoods League Summer Collegiate World Series for the first time in franchise history.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Coffey, who made 12 starts at shortstop in 14 games, batted .310 with 3 doubles, 7 runs scored and 4 RBI for the Kingfish (52-24).

Brodner, a 6-1, 195-pound junior at Wright State, hit .447 (17-for-38) with 1 home run and 11 RBI in 13 games for the Kingfish. He supplied the game-winning, walk-off single in Kenosha's 2-1 win over the Madison Mallards in the Northwoods League South Divisional Playoffs.

Brodner added a pair of hits in Kenosha's 8-1, title-clinching victory over St. Cloud on Aug. 14.

Kenosha's roster included players from UCLA, Florida, Stanford and Illinois.

Former St. Charles North star Jake Johansmeier went 7-1 with a 3.01 ERA pitching for Wisconsin Rapids in the Northwoods League this summer.

Johansmeier, a senior at Eastern Illinois, started 7 games and pitched a team-high 62⅔ innings. The right-hander walked 13 and struck out 40.

Eustace, a sophomore at Indiana, batted .314 (27-for-86) for the New England Collegiate Baseball League champion Vermont Mountaineers.

The fleet-footed Eustace finished with 1 home run, 5 doubles, a triple, 7 stolen bases and 13 RBI as the Mountaineers captured the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup with a 3-2, 10-inning title triumph over the Mystic Schooners to win the best-of-3 series.

On the basketball court, area high school players Canaan Coffey (Batavia), Loudon Vollbrecht (Geneva), James McQuillan (St. Charles East), Mikey Schroeder (St. Charles North), Brett Bowman (Batavia), John Fitch (Batavia), Brady Smith (Geneva) and Jarod Karom (St. Charles North) participated for the Tri-City Thunder 17U AAU basketball team this past spring and summer.

Coached by former Geneva guard Josh Rader, the Thunder competed in several Midwest tournaments, including Chicago (3), Milwaukee (2), Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Kansas City.

During the team's final tourney in Kansas City, Coffey poured in 20 points during a 6-point loss to a Minnesota team that featured the top-ranked shooting guard in the Class of 2017, Gary Trent Jr., and a roster where every player has a Division 1 offer.

Among the college coaches in attendance were John Callipari, Tubby Smith and Bruce Pearl.

Coffey and Schroeder averaged 16 points apiece while Vollbrecht added 14 points per game and double-figure rebounding totals. Vollbrecht earned a spot on the all-tournament second team.

Summer sadness

On a personal note, my summer began with a resounding thud.

During the day, I work with autistic students as a Mid-Valley Special Education Co-op teacher's assistant at Munhall School in St. Charles.

One week after school ended, I found out that Munhall physical education teacher T.J. Sportsman died in an auto accident while returning home from winning a bass fishing tournament in Wisconsin. He was 34 years old.

Sportsman, who had the ideal name for a P.E. teacher, was the ultimate role model for his students.

He was the P.E. teacher I wished I had for myself back when I was a kid.

His compassion, patience, understanding and ability to control a group of energetic 6- and 7-year-olds were something to behold.

He could come up with a variety of engaging activities, including sizzle ball, scooter tag, bowling, square dancing, magic tricks, Halloween-themed games, learning the "Thriller" dance, and his famous stations.

He was at his best when discussing the different functions of the heart (heart obstacle course) and retelling of his numerous fishing and hunting stories with students.

As one of few males in the building, I quickly learned that T.J. and I shared many things in common despite our nearly 20-year age difference.

We loved working with the students - and we loved sports.

Our numerous lunchroom conversations ranged from Chicago Bulls basketball to his high school playing days as a 2-sport athlete at Burlington Central.

I later learned that Sportsman was the Daily Herald Fox Valley Honorary Captain for the 1998-99 basketball season.

Averaging 19.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a senior, the 6-foot-3 Sportsman was a 4-year varsity basketball player at Burlington Central. He graduated having played the most varsity games in school history and was the career second-leading scorer.

Sportsman was survived by his wife, Charity; and children, Drew and Abby.

Last week, Munhall opened its doors for another school year.

It isn't the same without him.

Craig Brueske can be reached at csb4k@hotmail.com