West Chicago Wildcats building stronger future
After last season a West Chicago student told coach Ted Monken how much fun it had been to watch the Wildcats.
The players? Monken said they felt “deflated” seeing a 3-2 start and possible playoff berth go by the wayside.
“That was actually a good thing,” the coach said.
Instilling excitement and ownership, on and off the field, was why Monken took the job in the first place.
He intends to keep that faith.
“For the most part we're just trying to keep building and hoping to take a little step forward. We know it's not going to happen overnight,” he said.
Returning to the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division after a year in the UEC River, West Chicago offers potential at receiver, experience in the defensive secondary and a little bit of size on the lines.
Athletic, 6-foot-2 wideout Mikey Bibbs returns 14 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. He's the most experienced of a group that includes Jacob Wiegele and Marcus Mazzuca, the latter a starting safety added to bulk up the offense.
New starting quarterback Alex Turney hopes to rekindle some of the red-zone magic enjoyed by last year's combo of Peyton Seidler to Alex Mitchell. Dante Pascal is a good-sized running back.
Mason Otzwirk, coming off 35 tackles at linebacker, will help at tight end. In blocking situations he'll be joined by returning guard Justin Ross, who with Abraham Ramos and Damon Dombek give the Wildcats decent size up front.
Defensive backs Peter Dolan and Justin Yackey resume starting roles; Dolan's 3 interceptions led West Chicago in 2014.
Explaining his team's top strength, Monken said it's a coachable, egoless group that works like mad. A coach looking to build can't ask much more than that.
“If we do our jobs the way we're supposed to do them we should be able to hang in there with anybody,” he said.
The breakdown
Coach: Ted Monken (second year, 3-6; ninth year overall, 44-36).
2014 record: 3-6, 2-5, sixth in the Upstate Eight River.
Top players: Mikey Bibbs (WR, 6-2, 170, sr.), Peter Dolan (DB, 5-10, 175, sr.), Marcus Mazzuca (WR, 5-10, 175, sr.), Mason Otzwirk (TE-LB, 5-10, 175, sr.), Devonte Pascal (RB-LB, 6-2, 185, jr.), Justin Ross (OL-DL, 6-0, 290, jr.), Alex Turney (QB, 5-9, 160, sr.), Jacob Wiegele (WR, 5-10, 160, sr.), Justin Yackey (DB, 5-8, 160, sr.).
— Dave Oberhelman
Schedule
West Chicago
Fri, 8/28 Oswego East at West Chicago, 7:30 pm
Fri, 9/4 West Chicago at DeKalb, 7:30 pm
Fri, 9/11 West Chicago at St. Charles North, 7:30 pm
Fri, 9/18 West Chicago at East Aurora, 7:30 pm
Fri, 9/25 Glenbard East at West Chicago, 7:30 pm
Fri, 10/2 West Chicago at West Aurora, 7:30 pm
Fri, 10/9 West Chicago at Bartlett, 7:30 pm
Fri, 10/16 WW South at West Chicago, 7:30 pm
Fri, 10/23 South Elgin at West Chicago, 7:30 pm