Scouting the West Chicago Wildcats
Football excels at teaching how to overcome adversity.
Even before the season began West Chicago needed to do that.
A 2002 West Chicago graduate and 14-year assistant, Tyler Belding came to the rescue when on July 18 Jack Rustman accepted a college coaching job after one year as Wildcats head coach.
Belding praised his players for their resilience.
"They've gone through a lot of turmoil over this year, especially the seniors over the last four years," said Belding, also the team's offensive coordinator.
"But they've stuck together and their work ethic's never faded," he said. "They've worked hard in the off-season, have played other sports, they work hard in the summers."
Players like relentless senior Miguel Rodriguez. Early last season he broke a finger and eventually returned wearing a "club." He played three defensive line positions and earned Upstate Eight all-conference honors.
"He probably was our best player last year, and that was with one arm," Belding said.
The Wildcats graduated another all-UEC pick, receiver Mike Wagner. Returning senior quarterback Luke Krogh found that tall target 54 times last season, more than a third of Krogh's 144 completions for 1,435 yards and 11 touchdowns.
With offensive linemen Eulises Serriteno and Adrian Carranza back the Wildcats will continue to hand the ball off to their leading rusher, tough, diminutive Jordan Garcia.
West Chicago returns starting linebackers Alex Resendiz and Marco Calderon, who returns a team-high 35 tackles. Rodriguez heads the defensive line, where Duncan Camaro arrives via transfer from Glenbard West.
Senior receiver Mark Pinkevich is intriguing. He's a first-year player who stands 6-foot-4, similar to Wagner.
"The key thing for us is we don't have a ton of numbers on varsity, we won't have a ton of depth," Belding said. "We've got to stay healthy. Players aren't allowed to get injured."
One to watch: South Elgin in Week 1 will show the Wildcats where they are as a team.
The breakdown
Coach: Tyler Belding (first year).
2018 record: 1-8, 1-8, tied for ninth in the Upstate Eight Conference.
Top players: LB Marco Calderon, jr.; OL Adrian Carranza, jr.; DB Omar Contreras, sr.; RB Jordan Garcia, jr.; QB Luke Krogh, sr.; LB Alex Resendiz, jr.; DL Miguel Rodriguez, sr.; OL Eulises Serriteno, sr.
- Dave Oberhelman
Schedule
Fri, Aug 30, South Elgin at West Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 6, West Chicago at Fenton, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 13, Glenbard East at West Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 20, West Chicago at Larkin, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Sep 27, West Chicago at Elgin, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 4, Bartlett at West Chicago, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 11, West Chicago at East Aurora, 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Oct 18, Streamwood at West Chicago, 7 p.m.
Fri, Oct 25, West Chicago at Glenbard South, 7:30 p.m.