Team at a glance
NICKNAME Friars
COLORS Black and white
STADIUM Morton West, 26th Street and Harlem Avenue, Berwyn
ENROLLMENT 1,175
CLASS 7A
COACH Joe DiCanio
2007 RECORD 5-6
CONFERENCE 3-1, 2nd

TOP RETURNERS
Jack Dittmer    jr    DE
Don Cundari    sr.    DE
Jon Osterhout    sr.    OT
Emilio Alcarez    sr.    OG
Austin Brown    sr.    LB
Robert Fulton    sr.    DT
Mike Rosemeye    sr.    FS
Jim Honan    sr.    CB
Connor Caldicott    sr.    CB
Gregory Killingsworth    sr.    RB
Nate Welch    sr.    OT
Quintin Wright    sr.    SS

PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Joe Romano    jr.    QB
Mike Ember    jr.    RB
Brett Strzelczyk    jr.    LB

2008 schedule
Aug. 30 vs. Lane Tech, 1 p.m.
Sept. 5 at Providence Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 vs. Bogan, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Hales Franciscan, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 26 at McNamara, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 vs. St. Ignatius, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 vs. St. Rita, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 17 at St. Laurence, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 vs. De La Salle, 7:30 p.m.

games to watch
Aug. 30 vs. Lane Tech Friars kick off season on Chicago’s biggest football stage at Soldier Field
Oct. 11 vs. St. Rita Mustangs should serve as a solid gauge for the Friars in conference crossover
Oct. 24 vs. De La Salle Toyota Park to play host to senior night as Friars hope to avenge last year’s loss to Meteors

five-year record
overall    conference    playoffs
‘07    5-6 3-1 1st Rd.   
‘06    6-4 3-3 1st Rd.
‘05    6-7 1-5
‘04    10-3 6-0 Quarter
‘03    4-6 4-2




Three-headed tailback
With the graduation of running back Colin Tobin, who is now at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, the Friars will feature a by-committee ground attack. Leading the group will be Gregory Killingsworth. The senior was Tobin’s complement throughout 2007 and is now in more of a feature role. Complementing Killingsworth will be juniors Ember and Strzelczyk. This rotation is expected to wear down defenses.
“We think Gregory (Killingsworth) is as good as anybody we’ve had here,” DiCanio said. “We’re going to keep a fresh body in there all the time and we’re going to do what major league managers do with pitch counts. We’re going to look at carries and make sure that we stay fresh until November.”

Upper-class grows up
Although the Friars went through growing pains at times last year, the benefits gained by those underclassmen should be felt in full force in 2008. Fenwick returns 16 starters from a team that made the playoffs after beginning 2007 with a 0-2 record. Many of last season’s underclassmen were placed into important starting roles, so expect the majority of the team to be as experienced as any team in the conference.
“Our seniors from a year ago should be credited,” DiCanio said. “I always call them the forgotten children because they were the transition group. They kept it going and they taught our juniors how to get to the playoffs. And that’s important. Now, we’re a little hungrier and we’re a little older.”

Jack attack
According to DiCanio, defensive end Jack Dittmer has the potential to be rated as one of the top five juniors in Illinois. As a sophomore in 2007, Dittmer was a starting linebacker at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds. Today, Dittmer is bigger, stronger and more experienced than a year ago. The junior also plays basketball and lacrosse for Fenwick and carries a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. If he continues to sustain his undeniable motor on the football field, then don’t be surprised to see the junior live up to his coach’s billing.
“This year I have that full-year of experience,” Dittmer said. “I’m ready to go. I know what’s happening. We have a ton of experience. Nothing is going to surprise us. We’re not going to sneak up on anybody.” 


Toyota Park
Fenwick will hope to avenge last season’s conference championship loss to De La Salle with a rematch against the Meteors at Toyota Park in Bridgeview. The game was tied at 7-7 midway through the fourth quarter before all-state running back Cordero Gaston got hot with two touchdown runs to preserve the 21-7 win. However, Gaston has now graduated, which should have an effect on Fenwick’s mentality heading into its last regular-season game. This will be the Friars second neutral site game of 2008 after opening the year against Lane Tech at Soldier Field.
“It’s a good send off for our seniors that night,” DiCanio said. “They’ll be on the jumbotron with a big crowd.”

 BY THE NUMBERS
250 Weight in pound and then some for a handful of Fenwick’s offensive linemen, making this is the biggest team Joe DiCanio has coached


2 Number of times Fenwick has qualified for the playoffs in as many season. The Friars have been knocked out in the first round both times


16 Number of starters Friars return 16 from a season ago


SENIOR SAYS
Gregory Killingsworth
What expectations do you have for yourself this season? “I just want to be a leader on the team and help us win games.”

What expectations do you have for this team?
“We just want to win conference and hopefully make a good run towards state.”

The team opens the season against Lane Tech at Soldier Field. What are you anticipating with that big stage?
“I just look forward to the next practice. When the game comes up, we’ll be ready.”