Note: The Vedette reached out to every school in our coverage area. These previews are based on coaches’ responses.
Boys basketball
Beecher
It starts for the Bobcats with the returning backcourt of Dom DeFrank (11.3 ppg, 2.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 3.6 rpg) and Wences Baumgartner (8.4 ppg, 2.7 apg, 1.2 spg, 3.6 rpg). Two players stepping into big roles will be 6-2 junior forward Brian Oldenburg and 5-11 freshman guard Gavin Van Ness. As many as five sophomores and freshmen could be in the rotation.Goals include 20 wins and competing for River Valley and regional titles.
Grant Park
New coach Joe Smuskiewicz takes over an inexperienced team that has no starters back. Three juniors do offer some experience: 5-10 forward Aiden Overbeek, 5-11 guard Ian Hamann and 5-7 guard Luis Maldonado. Maldonado is one of the area’s most inspiring stories as he returns to action after being sidelined by cancer since last January.
Illinois Lutheran
The Chargers will build around three returning starters: 6-0 senior guard Jace Danzy (9.3 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game), senior forward Dawveed Holland (6.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and sophomore point guard Posi Abayomi (2.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Holland became Illinois Lutheran’s first-ever state track and field placer last spring, taking fifth in the Class 1A triple jump. Trent Searcy, a 6-1 senior forward, also will contribute to a team aiming to be competitive in the River Valley.
Manteno
The Panthers return three experienced seniors in 6-4 guard/forward Braden Campbell, who averaged eight points per game; 6-2 guard Eric Eldridge and 6-5 forward Mitchell Boyd. Also expected to contribute are a pair of juniors: 6-2 forward Colin Saathoff and 6-1 guard Landon Bukowski. Goals include finishing in the top half of the Illinois Central Eight and competing for a regional title.
Peotone
The Blue Devils have to replace 44 points and 21 rebounds per game, but do have decent experience with seven returning lettermen. They are 6-0 junior guard Alex Chenoweth, 5-10 senior guard Caleb Greenquist, 6-3 senior forward Chase Becker, 6-5 senior center David Tomczyk, 5-10 junior guard Nick Cronin, 6-4 junior forward Ethan McNeill and 6-0 junior forward Tyler Walker. Chenoweth, a two-year starter, will be expected to provide offense. “Rebounding could be a problem,” veteran coach Ron Oloffson said. “We are not very big with certain lineups. … (But) just like last season, I do think we will surprise some people before it’s all over, and be a very good basketball team.”
Girls basketball
Beecher
The Bobcats are young with just two seniors and no juniors. But coach Adam Keen expects to compete for the River Valley title. Top returners include senior guard Aubrey Tiltges (4.5 ppg, 1 apg, 1.7 spg, 2 rpg last season), 5-11 senior center Molly Vladika (3.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and sophomore guards Madison Smith and Makenna Mead. Two more sophs who missed significant time because of injuries last season are healthy and set to play big roles: 5-7 guard Gianna Bonomo and 5-10 forward Caitlin O’Neil. Yet another soph to watch is guard Carmela Irwin.
Manteno
The Panthers are looking to repeat as Illinois Central Eight and regional champs as well as make a run at the first sectional title in program history. There is good experience with six key players returning: 5-1 senior guard Lila Prindeville (9.6 ppg, 2.4 spg, 32% 3-point shooting), 5-8 senior forward Emity Horath (9.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.1 spg), 5-5 senior guard Alyssa Singleton, 5-6 senior forward Brooke Peterson and 5-11 junior center Maddie Gesky (11.7 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg). Gesky came into the season needing 272 points to reach 1,000 and 312 to tie the program scoring record of 1,040 points. Also back is 5-4 senior guard Sophie Peterson, who missed all of last season with a foot injury.
Peotone
With four key players returning, the Blue Devils are looking for a bounceback season and a top-half finish in the Illinois Central Eight. Back are senior guards Peyton Bisping (5.7 ppg) and Mal Schroeder (5.8 ppg), senior forward Addison Brandau (4.5 ppg, 152 rebounds) and junior guard Olivia Moe (5.1 rpg, 109 rebounds). Also watch freshman guards Giana Pagliarulo and Payton Pape.
Boys wrestling
Crete-Monee
Junior Gerard Fleming (144-150) is a returning sectional qualifier. Other top veterans include junior Trevon Williams (157-165) and junior Dominic Jackson (285). Posting a winning record in duals and competing for the Southland title are goals.
Manteno
After a rebuilding season, the Panthers are still young but hope to take a step forward. Among the veterans are juniors Kayden Budimir (165), Brady Anders (144) and Tyler Hoots (285) along with sophomores Lucas Hetman (175), Shaun Chantome (190) and Ethan Punzalan (132). Senior 165-pounder David Skonieczny, a transfer from Lisle, should contribute right away along with soph 126-pounder Kasyn Peters.
Peotone
The Blue Devils are talented and experienced. Junior Blake Anderson (113-120 pounds) is a returning state qualifier. Seniors to watch include Omero Isais (220), Tom Raschke (145) and Evan Pane (195). Two promising freshmen are Jonah Young (120-126), who won an IESA state title last season, and Jimmy O’Connor (106), who was sixth at IESA state.
Girls wrestling
Peotone/Manteno co-op
Senior 135-pounder Anne Bergeron is the top returner to the co-op, which has 10 Manteno wrestlers joining the Peotone contingent.