At 18 years old, Luke Labedzki may have all but maximized his growth potential, but that only applies to physical stature.
As a basketball player, the Bartlett senior showed this season that he is still capable of growing. It’s just one of the reason’s he is the 2009-10 Winter Boys All-Area MVP.
Flash back to early 2008 when Labedzki and the Hawks played Glenbard West in a sectional semifinal game at East Aurora and Labedzki scored a team-high 21 points with many coming from behind the arc, including a four-point play.
Come back to the 2009-10 season and Labedzki was less a spot-up shooter and more a slasher that attacked the hoop with fearless abandon. It was a part of his game many hadn’t seen at the high school level, but one he always had lurking.
“Sophomore year against Glenbard West, we had a lot more weapons,” Labedzki said. “I was really more of a role player and I took the shots when I was open, but I didn’t have to be the leading scorer because we had other guys who were able to score.
“Junior and senior year I had to find other ways to score because other teams were focused on taking away the outside shot, so I went to the rim. During the AAU season I’m more of a driver than a shooter. I’ve always had it, but I didn’t need it (for Bartlett).”
Labedzki, who became Bartlett’s all-time leading scorer this season, didn’t lose his long-range touch this season (he still led the Hawks with 36 three-pointers), but the aggressiveness he used at the AAU level came to the forefront for the Hawks this season. What emerged was a player able to zig and zag into the lane with his speed, able to get all the way to the rim with his strength and toughness, and a player able to finish in a variety of ways with both hands because of his skill and athleticism.
“Luke’s development has been a direct response to how opposing teams have attacked him,” Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. “If they give him space he can take the shot, if they crowd him he can drive or cut to the basket.”
Labedzki’s senior season was his third as a starter, but even as a freshman he found his way into the starting lineup a few times under head coach Tom Lamberti. It was initially a difficult transition for Labedzki to make, but it was an opportunity he had always wanted.
“It was a dream of mine because my dad did it and I wanted to do it, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to,” Labedzki said of starting as a freshman. “I came from middle school where I’d get 20 shots a game and lead the team in scoring, then in high school I’m getting two, three, four shots a game.”
Of course, a relentless practice and playing schedule meant varsity success was never too far away for Labedzki, and he quickly went from bit player to headliner for the Hawks. It’s led to two regional titles during Labedzki’s varsity stint, but he would have been OK with taking four a game if it meant the Hawks would win.
“I’m fine being a role player if the team needs a role player,” Labedzki said. “As long as we’re winning.”
It’s that kind of team-first attitude that only adds to Labedzki’s extensive legacy for the Bartlett program.
“Luke’s legacy is still being written,” Wolfsmith said. “He certainly has set a standard for scoring that future Hawks will be able to aim for.”
With a recent regional title, Labedzki’s senior season was extended into the sectionals this week for the second time, but his career is far from done. He has several collegiate offers on the table (from Roosevelt in Chicago, Grand View in Iowa, Spring Hill in Alabama and Jacksonville in Florida), but he’s waiting until after the season to make his choice. Right now, he’s soaking up the best of times with Bartlett.
“It’s amazing. It’s a great feeling,” Labedzki said of playing for Bartlett. “The whole high school experience, I’ve loved every game. I’m going to miss this. Half these guys, we’ve been playing together since seventh grade. It’s been fun.”
Meet the 2009-10 Winter Boys All-Area Team:
Logan Arlis
SCHOOL Batavia
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS One of the best Bulldogs wrestlers in the history of the program, Arlis capped his career with a win and a third-place medal at this year’s state meet. That medal came on the heels of a runner-up finish in 2009. This season he tied the all-time Batavia record for wins in a season with 43, and early in the year became just the eighth wrestler in Batavia history to top 100 wins. Twice a 40-match winner, he finished with 145 career victories, second-most in school history.
Brandon Beitzel
SCHOOL Geneva
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Beitzel’s toughness as a quarterback in football translated well to the hardwood, where he banged and bumped as a solid two-way low-post player for the Vikings. The team’s third leading scorer at 9.7 points per game, Beitzel was the leading rebounder with 5.9 per game. Beitzel displayed tremendous touch around the basket, touch that extended to the free throw line, where he sank nearly 61 percent of a team-high 111 attempts this season.
Nolan Block
SCHOOL Geneva
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Block stepped into the starting point guard role this winter after playing as a reserve his junior season, and he made the transition look easy. He ran the offense with confidence and precision, and also happened to be the Vikings’ best defender in the eyes of coach Phil Ralston. The Western Sun all-conference selection averaged a team-best 11.5 points and 5.3 assists per game to go with 3.5 rebounds per contest. Perhaps just as impressive as his stats were his consistency game-in and game-out and the way he fought through nagging injuries to start every game this season.
Tommy Childs
SCHOOL South Elgin
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS If a combination of skill, toughness and quickness could take human form, it would probably look a heck of a lot like Childs. Blessed with tremendous ball-handling skills and range that extended well beyond the 3-point line, Childs also brought track-team speed to the fold as well as mental toughness, which he combined with his speed and skill to get into the paint and finish around the hoop. He led the team in scoring (17.3 points per game), assists (3.7 per contest) and free throw shooting (80 percent), and also grabbed 3.5 rebounds per game.
Ricky Clopton
SCHOOL Batavia
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS A dream for Batavia head coach Jim Roberts and a nightmare for everyone else, Clopton brought fiery intensity and immense skill to the floor every night. A three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Clopton’s size (6-foot-5) was that of a forward but his dexterity at both ends of the floor was more that of a hybrid guard-forward-center. He had range (24 3-pointer made) and toughness around the hoop (136 free throws, more than any other Bulldog attempted). He was also the team’s second-leading rebounder (7.1 per game), assist man (2.1 per game) and shot blocker (34). Oh, and he happened to lead Batavia in scoring at 18.2 points per contest, nearly a third of Batavia’s points per game.
Jesse Coffey
SCHOOL Batavia
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS One of the top juniors in the area, Coffey was the perfect complement to a Batavia team that started three forwards 6-foot-5 or taller. A 6-3 guard, Coffey was also part of one of the tallest starting lineups around, but he brought long-range marksmanship and fearlessness this season. He was second on the team with 11.3 points per game and made 57 3-pointers by shooting 36 percent behind the arc. More than a spot-up shooter, he used his quickness to drive to the basket in a blur, and his skill to finish at the rim.
Reggie Davis
SCHOOL Glenbard North
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS The senior, who is expected to play at the Division III level next school year, was the Panthers’ second leading scorer this season with 11.6 points per game. Davis also averaged 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and one steal. He shot 57 percent from the floor and was an all-DuPage Valley Conference special mention selection. Davis provided a physical presence in 2009-10 by leading Glenbard North with 17 drawn charges.
Joey Gosinski
SCHOOL Glenbard North
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS After winning the St. Charles East regional and the Glenbard North sectional in Class 3A, the 125-pounder went on to capture a state title. The junior’s road to an individual championship came through wins over Kevin Moylan of Stagg, Matt Bystol of Libertyville and Jameson Oster of Lockport. The junior finished 2009-10 with an undefeated 47-0 record.
James Fleming
SCHOOL Glenbard North
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Fleming was a unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference selection and was runner-up for Player of the Year in the league. He was also named DVC Player of the Week three different times. The senior led Glenbard North in scoring by averaging 20.3 points per game. He went on to average 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 steals while shooting 74 percent from the foul line and 44 percent from the field. Fleming, who also netted 54 3-pointers, is currently receiving Division I interest.
David Johnson
SCHOOL St. Charles North
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS One of the only North Stars that returned from the 2009 sectional final team with extensive playing experience, Johnson moved into the starting lineup and continued to improve while establishing himself as a team leader. He had solid marksmanship behind the 3-point line, but he was just as adept at going into the paint and setting screens on forwards and centers. He was second on the team with 10.3 points per game and tied for the team lead with 3.7 assists per game. He was nearly automatic at the free throw line, hitting at a team-best 82-percent clip.
Luke Labedzki
SCHOOL Bartlett
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Need a player to knock down a big shot in crunch time? To sink a key free throw with fans going wild in the gym? To take charge and get to the rim for a basket and free throw? Labedzki was that player. The 2010 Press-Republican Player of the Year seemed to do it all for the regional champion Hawks. He led the team in points per game (17.4) and free throw percentage (79.3, tops among Bartlett regulars), and while undeniably a star on offense, Labedzki was also a force on defense, where he came up with nearly two steals per game by reading the defense and jumping passing lanes. Earlier this season he set Bartlett’s scoring record and had 1,579 points for his career entering the sectional round of the playoffs.
C.J. Logue
SCHOOL St. Charles East
SPORT Bowling
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS Logue finished second overall at the Lake Park sectional meet this winter with a total pinfall of 1,346, but the junior was just beginning to make history. That score qualified him for the state meet at St. Clair Bowl in O’Fallon, and he became the first bowler in team history to tread the lanes at the state meet. At state he bowled series of 558 and 536 with a high game of 213, and he finished the tourney with a 182.3 average.
Josh Mikes
SCHOOL St. Charles North
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS In his second season as a starter Mikes went from being the fourth or fifth option on the floor to the North Stars’ main force as the only returning starter. As such, he drew more attention from defenses, yet he was still able to guide North to a winning season. He led the team not only in scoring (15.4 per contest) but also rebounds (5.9), field goal percentage (61 percent) and 3-point percentage (35 percent). He was also named to all-tournament teams at St. Charles East and Jacobs.
Eric Moreno
SCHOOL Bartlett
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS For many wrestlers who medal at the state meet, it can take years of trial and error before they make it to the medal stand. As a senior Moreno didn’t have the luxury of another chance at state, so he made the most of his 2010 trip. A loss to the eventual 160-pound champ sidetracked his goal of a title, but he survived in the backdraw long enough to win his final match, take fifth place and earn the state medal that had been his goal for so many years.
Brian Murphy
SCHOOL Glenbard North
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Freshman
ACHIEVEMENTS Just a freshman, Murphy displayed the skills of a veteran during 2009-10. He won the St. Charles East regional and the Glenbard North sectional in Class 3A and eventually came in third place at the state tournament. After losing 14-7 to Edwin Cooper of Providence in the second round, Murphy (45-9) rebounded by posting wins over Jacob Bugajski of De La Salle, Greg Jackson of Edwardsville, Drew Bates of Lyons Township and Jason Montemayor of Grant.
Tim Noverini
SCHOOL St. Charles North
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Sophomore
ACHIEVEMENTS For a sophomore to qualify for state is a feat, and while Noverini’s state tournament was cut short, it didn’t lessen the success he had this season. With his third-place win at the sectional meet, Noverini became just the second North Star to make the state meet, and he did so by surviving a sectional tournament that produced three state champions and nine other wrestlers who finished third or higher in the state. His blend of quickness and strength should lead to more trips down state in the near future.
Andrew Preusse
SCHOOL St. Charles North
SPORT Swimming
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS In a rare off-year for swimmers in St. Charles, Preusse had a strong state meet showing in the 50-yard freestyle. He clocked a time of 21.68 seconds to finish 13th in the 50-yard freestyle, and while he didn’t make it to the second day of competition, he was only a fraction of a second away from an all-state (top 12) finish. His time marked a time drop of nearly half a second from his sectional time, a significant drop in a race as short as the 50 free.
Brandon Rubino
SCHOOL St. Charles East
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS A solid career that brought two trips to the state meet ended in fitting fashion — with Rubino stepping to the top of the medal stand as the 2010 112-pound champion in Class 3A. He exhibited grit, guts and determination on his way to the title (the eighth champion in school history). At the state finals he topped the top-ranked wrestler at 112 in the quarterfinals and the No. 3 wrestler in the semis to earn a shot at the top prize, which he took with an effort that could only have come from his years of hard work. The Nebraska-bound Rubino finished his career with 127 wins.
Kendall Stephens
SCHOOL St. Charles East
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Freshman
ACHIEVEMENTS Stephens already had prior experience in big-time games with his AAU basketball team, and that familiarity came through when he put on a Saints’ uniform. Stephens had range to match the best of them, and despite his wiry frame he had no fear about attacking the rim and he the skill to finish at the basket. A freshman on a team laden with senior starters, Stephens finished the season averaging around seven points per game. “Obviously he has unbelievable talent,” East coach Brian Clodi said, “But I think his best is yet to come.”
Sam Sutter
SCHOOL South Elgin
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS Sutter was a sniper with range that extended well beyond the 3-point arc. He was second on the team with 12.5 points per game and a 77.3 free-throw percentage, but he was tops on the team with 73 treys (nearly more than the rest of the team combined), which he hit with a team-best 42 percent accuracy. Teams were forced to respect his long-range shots and thus forced to defend him far away from the basket, which opened up the floor for playmaker Tommy Childs and inside threats like Sam Jordt and Matt Hattendorf.
Dan Trimble
SCHOOL Geneva
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Junior
ACHIEVEMENTS One of the reasons Geneva was able to overcome the departure of its top seven players from last season was this junior, who was solid at both ends of the floor for the Vikings. He was second on the team with 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, but his versatility was evident with his strong defensive stats. He led the Vikings in blocks (28) and was among the team leaders with 24 steals.
Drew Vazquez
SCHOOL St. Charles East
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Freshman Kendall Stephens offered raw talent and senior starters Zack Scott and Jess Striedl were key players, but as Vazquez went, so went the Saints. Vazquez was coach Brian Clodi’s go-to guy in crunch time, and with good reason — he had confidence to shoot the long-range shot and skill and finesse to get in the lane and finish at the rim. He led East at both ends of the floor (team-best 11 points per game and leader in assists and steals), and will be missed as the Saints look ahead to next year. “He’s probably our MVP and he did the most for our team,” Clodi said of the academic all-conference honoree ranked in the top 5 in his class.
Ryan Ward
SCHOOL Geneva
SPORT Wrestling
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Just the third Geneva wrestler since 2000 to qualify for the state tournament, Ward finished the season ranked eighth in the state by Illinois Matmen and finished with a record of 33-6. On the way to earning his state berth, Ward won regional and sectional titles, had first-place finishes in the Geneva and Western Sun Conference tournaments, made it to the title mat at Hoffman Estates and captured third place with a win in his final match at the Barrington invite.
Larry Whitaker
SCHOOL Bartlett
SPORT Basketball
YEAR Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS Whitaker had a breakout season as a junior last winter, mostly for his prowess on the boards. This year he showed his game involves much more than just rebounding. Whitaker still led the Hawks in rebounding (7.2 per game) and blocks (1.5 per contest), but the tenacious defender also swiped 1.7 steals per game. On the offensive end he was second on the team with 10.6 points per game, which he got a variety of ways. His quick feet and explosive athleticism allowed him to use a deep arsenal of moves to finish around the basket. He was also able to attack the basket on his own off the dribble, drain a midrange jumper or get to the free throw line, which he did a team-best 109 times.
HONORABLE MENTION
BARTLETT
Sal Annoreno, wrestling; Mike Banks, basketball; Donovan Coleman, basketball; Frankie Cleope, basketball
BATAVIA
Luis Campos, wrestling; Adam LeTourneau, basketball; Levi Maxey, basketball; Tyler Patton, wrestling; Elliott Vaughn, basketball; Augie Watson, wrestling
GENEVA
Will Doeckel, basketball; Will Duerr, wrestling; Joe Hollman, swimming; J.P. Landry, basketball; Scott Wendt, basketball
GLENBARD NORTH
Mike Carev, basketball; Dan Buyle, wrestling; Bryan Gonzalez, wrestling; Johnny Gosinski, wrestling; Wade Hazard, wrestling; Anthony Keener, basketball; Chris Wahrman, wrestling
ST. CHARLES EAST
T.J. Bindseil, swimming; Zack Burns, basketball; Joe Dede, wrestling; Jordan Heggen, swimming; Alex Maynard, wrestling; Corey Mondul, swimming; Nick Ruffino, wrestling; Nick Scimeca, wrestling; Shane Seuschek, swimming; Shaun Seuschek, swimming; Jess Striedl, basketball; Nick Watts, swimming
ST. CHARLES NORTH
Beau Blakeley, basketball; Chris Conrad, basketball; Joe Chokran, swimming; Chris Dieter, swimming; Kyle Gannon, swimming; Sam Gustafson, wrestling; Nick Kowaleski, swimming; Trevor Lilovich, wrestling; Kyle Passini, swimming; Alex Waskelo, swimming
SOUTH ELGIN
Sheldon Chaney, basketball; Sam Jordt, basketball; Nick Haseman, swimming; Jake Maestranzi, basketball; Jake Randich, wrestling; Tom Randich, wrestling; Tyler Toczek, wrestling
