Team at a glance
School Wheaton Academy
Conference Private School League 
Nickname Warriors
Colors Maroon, white
Stadiums Memorial Stadium, 326 Joliet St., West Chicago; McCully Stadium, College Ave. and Chase St., Wheaton

Enrollment 630
Class 5A
Coach Ben Wilson (2nd season)
2007 2-7
Conference 1-5, T-5th

Top returners
Brian Pell                    jr.    QB
Christian Reddick      sr.    RB
Anthony Ritchie          jr.    TE
Jake Jones                sr.    WR
Colin Kruse                sr.    WR
Sam Cote                  so.    RB
Christian Park             jr.    RB
Louis Bianco               jr.    FB
Israel Perez               sr.    LB
Clay Berg                    jr.    OL
Dan Smith                  sr.    OL
Tyler Friedl                 sr.    OL
Matt Hattendorf           sr.    DL
Connor Reilly              sr.    DL

OUTLOOK

Sophomore season
Last year marked the first season of football at Wheaton Academy in 20 years, and remarkably the Warriors were able to chalk up two wins, including a big win over Kirkland in their opener. They continue to be a gypsy team this year, since the school is without a stadium, but coach Ben Wilson says the year of experience is already beginning to show. “Last year a lot of these kids had to be told everything at first,” says coach Ben Wilson. “This season we’re really starting where we left off, and there’s a huge difference.

Team attitude
With 14 returning starters, now with a season under their belts, Coach Wilson is seeing a whole different level of aggressiveness and intensity in this year’s squad.

“Even though we only won two games last year, these kids have a much higher confidence level this season,” Wilson explains. “They know that some of those losses were just due to plain inexperience, and not executing properly. That excuse isn’t quite as strong this season.”

Strengths
The Warriors were able to put some points on the board last season, scoring four or more times in four of their games, due primarily to a surprisingly talented group of skill-position players led by now-experienced junior quarterback Brian Pell and his favorite receiver, all-conference tight end junior Anthony Ritchie. “We scored more than 30 points in two of our losses,” says Wilson. “So we know we can stay with al lot of our opponents offensively. We do however need to hone our fundamentals at the offensive line positions, and if we do that, we have the potential of being a high-scoring ball club throughout the season.”

Weaknesses
It’s not surprising that Wilson considers defense his biggest concern. “When you’re a brand new team, that’s always the case,” he points out. “Learning to read plays and developing solid tackling techniques takes years of experience, and here we are with just a year’s worth of it. “We have to improve our pursuit, swarm to the ball more and compete more intensely in the trenches.”


2008 schedule
Aug. 29    at Momence, 5:00 p.m.
Sept. 5     Genoa @ West Chicago H.S., 7:30 p.m.
Sept.  13  at Luther South, 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 20   Luther North @ West Chicago H.S., 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 26   at Walter Lutheran @ Serpico Field, 7:00p.m.
Oct. 4       Christian Life @ West Chicago H.S., 3:00 p.m.
Oct. 10     at Chicago Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 17     Lake Forest Academy @ Wheaton College, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24     Aurora Christian @ West Chicago H.S., 7:30 p.m.

Games to watch
Aug. 29 vs. Momence and
Sept. 5 vs. Genoa Two early wins might mean playoffs for Warriors

Senior says
Christian Reddick

What do you see as the biggest difference this year?

“We won two games last season, so we know we can win. Last year we had our doubts.”

How did preseason practices go?

“We have a ton more plays this year, and the coaches spend a lot less time having to explain things to us.”

Will the Warriors improve this season?

“We want to win every single game."

By the numbers
3 If the Warriors allow three or less touchdowns per game, their offense should be able to keep them in contention in every one of their contests.

88 Anthony Ritchie’s number. All conference honorable mention tight end is hard to stop.

0  Number of Warrior home games is a problem that should be resolved in the near future if the school is serious about building a program.