Sports
L-W West Looking for Conference Football Title
Secondary has plenty of experience, but the Warriors will need some less seasoned players to step up and linebackers, defensive line to tackle formidable opponents.
Lincoln-Way West Warriors
Coach: Mark Vander Kooi (third season).
Last year: 8-3 overall, 5-2 in the Southwest Suburban Red
Opener: Aug. 27 at Joliet Central, 1 p.m.
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Outlook: Many new faces are expected to emerge for the Warriors. Will these new players be able to respond quickly enough after a strong 8-3 showing last year? “We have to replace a lot of talented starters from last year’s team,” Lincoln-Way West coach Mark Vander Kooi said. “But we have some depth and good character kids. We are going to have to do everything well to be competitive in our league.” Vander Kooi said he believes the program is heading in the right direction, and he hopes to see further improvement this year. “You watch the losses from last year, and you look for areas you can improve on. Of course, you never want to lose a game, but you also want to try to improve each year, too.”
Offense
Backs: Senior Kyle Millner replaces Justin Butterfield at quarterback. Senior Brad Watson and junior Nick Dangles are expected to do the bulk of the work at running back, while Jake O’Leary, a catcher on the baseball field, is expected to play fullback and tight end.
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Line: Jake Benson (6-2, 215) and Erwin Ferreria (6-0, 235) appear to be the leaders of the offensive line. Derek Gurnea and Colin McGovern could be the most pivotal newcomers, while Parker Niemann and Brennan Mulroe, among others, are still fighting for a position heading into the season opener.
Tight ends/receivers: Brian Skowronski (6-0, 170) is the biggest weapon for Millner to find this fall. Look for Adam Slattery, Nick Andrade and Pat Allen as wide receivers as well and O’Leary at tight end.
Placekicker: Senior Cole Lukanis was the backup last year. He brings a soccer background to the position.
Defense
Linebackers: Tommy Demma is the leading returnee here, so the Warriors will need some other guys to step up and make plays. Vander Kooi is hopeful that Gus Mendez, Josh Hilt and Josh Uthe can mature quickly to fill the holes in the unit, as well as outside guys, Jake Bohne and Matt Sutor.
Line: Colin Mulroe, who has played for Vander Kooi throughout his high school career, returns for his senior season on the defensive line. March Schade also returns, while Chris Adlington, Mitch Reitzner, Keegan McShane, Nick DeAngelis and Gino Manzella are likely to be given a very thorough look as the defensive coaching staff looks to stabilize the group.
Secondary: Perhaps the area with the most experience for the Warriors, is in the secondary with standout defensive back B.J. Bello returning along with corner back Andy Hensel. Look for Jake Bax, brothers Alex and Andrey Gray and Sam Tiberi to spend some time on the field as well.
Punter: It appears the Lukanis will handle the punting duties as well as the placekicking.
Coach Mark Vander Kooi said: The season will be a success if “we can compete for a conference title and make a run for the playoffs. From an objective standpoint, that’s what we want to see. It’s not going to be easy because you’re capable of being beat every week in this league. So, it's going to be a fun year from a competitive standpoint. We want to win a conference title, though, and we’re going to try to play at our highest potential.”
