Willowbrook student-athletes represent Warrior Pride during spring sports season

Pictured is Willowbrook Athletic Director Brandon Murphy.

The Warrior athletes continued to improve all season long this spring and demonstrated what being a student-athlete at Willowbrook is all about. They left their mark on the school and community as they competed with pride. Thank you to all of the programs for leaving a legacy of excellence for future seasons to follow.
Below is a recap with highlights.

Badminton
The Badminton Team finished the season with an overall record of 16-4-2 under first-year head coach Eastman Tiu. The Warriors finished undefeated in Conference play, capturing the Conference Championship. The Warriors were led by Captain and MVP Hanna Konrath. All-Conference award winners were Charlotte Dewyer, Jonelle Faith Fabian, Sania Irfan, Hanna Konrath, Grace Wachholz and Sydney Wilson. Seniors named to the Academic All-Conference Team were Kayla Bjorklund, Charlotte Dewyer, Jonelle Faith Fabian, Kaitlyn Fox, Sania Irfan, Nicole Kapica, Hannah Klamecki, Hanna Konrath, Grace Wachholz and Sydney Wilson. The Warriors also sent Charlotte Dewyer and Hanna Konrath to the IHSA State Tournament, and Konrath finished her career with a top-16 finish.

Baseball
The Willowbrook Baseball Team continued to show why it’s one of the best teams in the state under head coach Vic Wisner. The Warriors finished the season with a 17-1 record in Conference play – which is the team’s best record in school history. The Warriors won their first Conference Championship in 17 years. Captains Jack Hines, Jack Nilles, Ryan Mintz, Trevor Jaloszynski, Marshall McDonnell and Scott Tumilty led the Warriors to an overall 24-7-1 record. Some of the outstanding honors earned by the players include the following athletes being named to the All-Conference Team: Joseph Guthrie Jr., Jack Hines, Trevor Jaloszynski, Ryan Mintz, Jack Nilles, Samuel Tumilty and Scott Tumilty. Jack Hines was named as the West Suburban Conference Gold Division MVP, and Ryan Mintz was named as the West Suburban Conference Gold Division Pitching MVP. Academic All-Conference athletes were Joseph Guthrie Jr., Jack Hines, Marshall McDonnell, Ryan Mintz, Jack Nilles, Joshua Roucka and Scott Tumilty. Jack Hines and Ryan Mintz were named to the Daily Herald All-Area Team as well. Hines also was selected to the IHSBCA 4A All-State Team.

Boys Gymnastics
The Boys Gymnastics Team continued to impress under the leadership of head coach Caleb Strecj. Captains Brendan Bailey and Cooper Ross led the Warriors to an undefeated record in dual and Conference meets this season on both the varsity and junior varsity levels. The Warriors won the Conference Championship as a team. All-Conference honors were awarded to Brendan Bailey, Collin Donaldson, Noah Pulli, Cooper Ross and Daniel Saldana. Seniors named to the Academic All-Conference Team were Brendan Bailey, Frank Clements, Collin Donaldson, Saad Omar, Ennio Poggi and Cooper Ross. Brendan Bailey and Cooper Ross also qualified for the IHSA State Meet.

Girls Soccer
The Girls Soccer Team was led by captains Maura Heneghan, Kaleigh Rugg and Caitlyn Owen. The entire team contributed to the program’s success, with goals coming from 15 players. The Warriors were successful on both offense and defense. The Warriors scored more than 60 goals on the season, and the defensive efforts of the team and goalie Ditza Montesinos led to eight shutouts. All-Conference honors were awarded to Sara Fitzgibbon, Elizabeth Florey, Maura Heneghan and Grace Tumilty. Seniors named to the Academic All-Conference Team were Maura Heneghan, Ditza Montesinos and Kaleigh Rugg. Elizabeth Florey was named to the IHSSCA All-Sectional Team, and Grace Tumilty was named as an All-Sectional Honorable Mention. Florey also was named to the Daily Herald All-Area Honorable Mention Team.

Softball
Head coach Rachel Karos’s passion for the game and ability to get the most out of each player resulted in the team’s continual improvement all season. The Warriors finished with a 20-win season and made it to the Regional Championship game. The Warriors were led by captains Samantha Mishlove, Amy Bussa, Katherine Pettinger and Sabrina Edwards to a 20-10 overall record and a 7-3 Conference record. All-Conference honors were awarded to Emma Barrington, Amy Bussa, Caroline Dooley, Annemarie Knudtson and Caitlyn Kulczyski. Seniors named to the Academic All-Conference Team were Emma Barrington, Amy Bussa, Sabrina Edwards, Samantha Mishlove and Katherine Pettinger. Annemarie Knudtson also was named to the Daily Herald All-Area Team, and Caitlyn Kulczyski was named to the All-Area Honorable Mention Team.

Boys Tennis
The Willowbrook Boys Tennis Team was led by captains Mark Lobdell, Drake DelValle and Benjamin Cavka. The Warriors finished with an 8-6 overall record and a 3rd-place finish in Conference. Head coach Eddie DeLaCruz had the team competing with some of the state’s best players. The team even had the opportunity to play at Medinah Country Club – a day the Warriors will never forget. All-Conference honors were awarded to Logan Bliss, Drake DelValle, Joseph Garner, Daniel Martinez and Abdullah Osmani. Seniors named to the Academic All-Conference Team were Nabeel Ahmed, Drake DelValle, Joseph Garner, Mohammed Kamal, Mark Lobdell, Tomas Pelesinas, Ashish Satsangi, Bilal Shahid and Uzair Syed.

Boys Track and Field
The Boys Track and Field Team achieved many of its goals this season. The Warriors were led by captains Mohamed Aly, Matthew Caron, D’onte Gholston, Tarell Regans and Tyler Walenga. Throughout the season, race times and field event marks improved because the athletes were focused and motivated. All-Conference honors were awarded to Mohamed Aly, Matthew Caron, D’onte Gholston, Jazmany Mares, Tarell Regans, William Stout and Tyler Walenga. Seniors named to the Academic All-Conference Team were Mohamed Aly, Matthew Caron, Michael Danielson, Thomas Danielson, Lucas Fleege, Gavin Hitzeman, Alejandro Medina, William Stout and Tyler Walenga.

Girls Track and Field
The Girls Track and Field Team had a record-setting year. The Warriors were led by captains Katherine Tortorici, Victoria Palma and Miani Blackwell. The team finished in 3rd place at the Conference outdoor championships. Victoria Palma set three school records this year: the indoor 3200-meter run, the indoor 1600-meter run and the outdoor 1600-meter run. Palma ran her heart out, finishing her career at the IHSA State Meet with her personal best and a school record run of 5:03.73 in the 1600-meter run! All-Conference honors were awarded to Miani Blackwell and Victoria Palma. Seniors named to the Academic All-Conference Team were Miani Blackwell, Melissa Florey, Marisol Magana, Kathleen Mitchell, Victoria Palma and Teresa Zaldivar.

Boys Volleyball
The Boys Volleyball Team’s season highlights include a dramatic victory over Hinsdale South, where the Warriors were down 19-23 in game one and came back to win the game 26-24. The Warriors went on to win the three-game series. The Warriors were not only successful on the court, but also in the classroom. Seniors on the team had an average cumulative GPA of 4.01 on a 4.0 scale. The team had an overall record of 10-23. Captains were Jevon Lowery and Joseph Cavazos. Seniors named to the Academic All-Conference Team were Connor Ashman, Joseph Cavazos, Kevin Cavazos, Jevon Lowery, Thomas Waldorf and James Whiting. Jevon Lowery also was named to the All-Conference Team.

Thank you, Warriors, for a remarkable spring season, and we look forward to the successes the 2019-20 school year will bring. Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior!

* Willowbrook is part of the West Suburban Conference Gold Division.