TEAM AT A GLANCE
Nickname Wildcats
Colors Navy blue, white
Stadium Memorial Stadium, 326 Joliet St., West Chicago
Enrollment 2,165
class 7A
Coach Hal Chiodo (1st season)
2007 record 2-7
Conference 1-6, 6th

Top returners   
Alex Pirela    Sr.    DB/RB
Pat Stremel    Sr.    LB
Dan Martin    Sr.    OT
Tyler Wrzesinski    Sr.    TE
Mike Dylla    Sr.    FB
AJ Romanelli    Sr.        QB
Drew Peterson    Sr.    DB

2008 schedule
Aug. 29    Evanston    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 5    at Batavia    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12    at Wheaton Warrenville South    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19    Naperville North    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 26    at Glenbard East    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3    at Glenbard North    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 10    Naperville Central    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 17    at West Aurora    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24    Wheaton North    7:30 p.m.
 

Games to watch
Aug. 29 vs. Evanston Wildcats cruised over Wildkits last year
Sept. 5 at Batavia Cats need this one for chance at playoffs
Sept. 26 at Glenbard East Weakest DVC opponent

Five-year record
    overall    conference   
07    2-7    1-6   
‘06    2-7    1-6   
‘05    4-5    3-4   
‘04    2-7    1-6
‘03    3-6    1-6

OUTLOOK
Revamped program
West Chicago’s football program gets a new head coach this year as part of a massive upheaval in its athletic department that started at the top with new athletic director Doug Mullaney. Chiodo takes over the coaching duties, replacing longtime coach Bob Stone. A veteran head football coach, Chiodo served 13 years in the role at downstate Morton High School earning playoff berths 12 times. During his three years as Lexington High School’s head coach, his team reached the playoffs every year, earning one state championship. Chiodo served as head coach for two years at Coal City and one year as an assistant coach at Illinois State University.

Change in philosophy
A new coach often means new schemes, but Chiodo doesn’t see that as the answer to moving the Wildcats up the competitive ranks.
“Like my predecessor, I’m a big believer in the Joliet Catholic ethic,” Chiodo said. “West Chicago has a reputation for being a tough grinding team and that won’t change. What I do believe, however, is that new coaches have a tendency to over coach. My philosophy entails a little less coaching and a lot more intensity.”

Season outlook
The Wildcat backfields on both sides of the ball are solid, led by returning defensive back Pirela, linebacker Stremel and fullback Dylla. Chiodo, however, concedes that almost every team in the DVC can say the same.
“The secret to success in this conference is to control the ball,” he said. “It’s absolutely the best kind of defense in a conference as strong as this one. That means things like good field position and keeping the other team’s offense off the field are absolutely critical.”

Looking to improve
If West Chicago hopes to improve in the conference, the team will have to avoid a lot of injuries and step up its level of play in the trenches. There are questions with both the offensive and defensive lines.
Martin returns to the offensive tackle spot while Wrzesinski is back as a tight end. Chiodo hopes the rest of his kids will be quick studies. Depth-wise, a series of injuries could devastate the team’s chances for success since the Wildcats only have five starters returning from last year’s squad.

BY THE NUMBERS
2 Number of trips the Wildcats have made to the playoffs in the last 30 years

1 Number of state football championships won by West Chicago

6 Years since last playoff berth